Senator Stabenow Announces Nearly $1 Million in Funding to Expand Mental Health and Addiction Services at LifeWays

New and Expanded Services Made Possible by Stabenow’s Excellence in Mental Health and Addiction Treatment Act

Friday, September 30, 2022

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Debbie Stabenow (D-MI) today announced nearly $1,000,000 to expand mental health and addiction services at LifeWays in Jackson. This funding builds on Senator Stabenow’s effort to transform the way we fund mental health and addiction treatment in America through her signature Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinics.

 

Lifeways will receive $998,990 in funding (per year for four years) to continue and expand services in Jackson. Since 2018, Michigan has received over $151 million in grant funding for Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinics. 

“Because of the hard work of so many of our community partners, our mental health care and addiction initiative is a proven success story,” said Stabenow. “In Michigan and across our country, we are finally transforming the way we deliver high-quality services in our communities and the results are clear. Now more people who are struggling with mental health issues or addiction will get the treatment they need close to home.”

 

“This is a proud moment for LifeWays, as we have strategically worked to align ourselves with the requirements of the Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinic grant. The need for mental health and addiction services is at a crisis level in our nation. We are fortunate to have the leadership, passion, and dedication of Senator Stabenow to develop resources to meet those needs. Over the years, her strong advocacy has allowed us to improve the delivery of mental health and addiction services in Jackson and Hillsdale counties. We are living her vision of becoming a Center of Behavioral Health Excellence,” said LifeWays CEO Maribeth Leonard.

 

Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinics are required to provide a comprehensive set of services including 24/7/365 crisis services; outpatient mental health and substance abuse treatment services; immediate screenings, risk assessments, and diagnoses; and care coordination including partnerships with emergency rooms, law enforcement, and veterans’ groups. The clinics will be reimbursed through Medicaid for the full cost of providing services—the same way we fund community health centers for physical care. Senators Stabenow and Blunt created these community clinics through the Excellence in Mental Health and Addiction Treatment Act, which became law in 2014.

 

Earlier this year, Senators Stabenow and Blunt championed the passage of the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act, which included their nationwide initiative to provide every state with funding for Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinics in their communities—building on a successful effort that has shown results across the country. Michigan joined their initiative in 2020.

 

A report authored by the National Council for Mental Wellbeing shows that these community clinics are increasing access to high-quality mental health and addiction treatment that is making a difference in the lives of thousands of people in communities across the country.

 

Statistics from the Department of Health and Human Services show that people who received services at these clinics: 

·         Had 69% fewer emergency department visits. 

·         Spent 60.3% less time in jails. 

·         Saw a 40.7% decrease in homelessness.

 

Also, 84% of these clinics either already provide direct services on site at elementary, middle, and high schools or plan to in the future.

 

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