The grant will be used for the Expanding Medication-Assisted Treatment and Care Coordination Services Project to improve mental health services for high-risk populations. The funding is provided by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services through the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.
“With the ongoing mental health challenges brought on by COVID-19, resources for mental health and substance abuse treatment providers cannot fall by the wayside,” Cornyn said in the news release. “I applaud this investment in Round Rock residents’ health and I will continue supporting efforts to strengthen these critical services.”
Bluebonnet Trails Executive Director Andrea Richardson said in the release her clinic is one of more than 220 health care providers across the country that were awarded funding through the SAMHSA. This is the second time Bluebonnet Trails has been given a national SAMHSA award to expand services for Central Texas.
“This grant enables us to serve an additional 900 persons who are not currently connected with our treatment teams – and allows access to newly available services for children and adults currently under the care of Bluebonnet Trails,” Richardson said in the release. “As a grantee, we are held accountable for achieving national standards demonstrating access to care and recovery outcomes for the persons served through the CCBHC grant funds.”
In 2016, Bluebonnet Trails was selected by the Texas Health and Human Services Commission as one of eight pilot sites to implement the certified community behavioral health clinic model in Texas. The model aims to achieve a national standard for health care services, Richardson said.
The new grant will allow Bluebonnet Trails to expand care access to Bastrop, Burnet, Caldwell, Fayette, Gonzales, Guadalupe, Lee and Williamson counties.
The expanded team in Williamson County will include:
- an addiction psychiatrist and registered nurses to expand the substance use detox program;
- licensed counselors for diagnostic assessments, therapies and behavioral interventions;
- family nurse practitioners for medical evaluations, treatment and medication administration;
- certified peer specialists to focus on personal life experiences for individuals seeking recovery;
- care coordinators to connect children, adults and families with services to ease transition into care; and
- a partnership with Texas A&M College of Nursing.
“The purpose of this two-year federal grant program is to increase access to meaningful mental health and substance use treatment services through the expansion of the CCBHC model supporting integrated health care,” Richardson said in the release.
In 2020, Bluebonnet Trails Community Services served over 31,000 Central Texas adults and children.
