Senator Stabenow Announces Nearly $3 Million in Funding to Expand Mental Health and Substance Use Disorder Services in Southeast Michigan

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Debbie Stabenow today announced nearly $3,000,000 to expand mental health and substance use disorder services at three locations in Southeast Michigan. This funding builds on Senator Stabenow’s effort to transform the way we fund mental health and substance use disorder treatment in America through her signature Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinics. Since 2018, Michigan has received over $187 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.”

Three organizations will receive funding (per year for four years) to establish new clinics:

• $999,999 Black Family Development (Detroit)
• $1,000,000 Lincoln Behavioral Services (Redford)
• $1,000,000 Oakland Integrated Healthcare Network (Pontiac)

“We are excited to be awarded a CCBHC grant, but more importantly, we are grateful for the opportunity as a FQHC to further our work related to integrated care with our patients and community.  This work both as an FQHC and CBBHC grantee would not be possible without the support and leadership of Senator Stabenow,” said Debra Brinson, Oakland Integrated Healthcare Network CEO.

“Black Family Development, Inc. applauds Senator Stabenow’s long-term investment in healthcare access and equity across the state of Michigan. It is an honor to bring the CCBHC services to a new segment of Detroiters,” said Kenyatta Stephens, Black Family Development, Inc. CEO.

Last year, Senator Stabenow led the passage of the transformational initiative to fully fund high-quality mental health and substance use disorder services through Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinics, a program implemented and supported by SAMHSA. Due to the passage of the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act, every state and the District of Columbia can expand transformational behavioral health support to their residents. Michigan began participating in Stabenow’s behavioral health initiative in 2021. 

These Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinics are transforming community care by setting high-quality standards of care and then funding mental health and substance abuse disorder services as health care through Medicaid. This is the same successful structure used for federally qualified health centers.

In order to receive enhanced Medicaid funding, the clinics are required to provide crisis services that are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week and serve anyone who requests care for mental health or substance use disorder, regardless of their ability to pay. Other high-quality services are required as well, including outpatient mental health and substance use disorder treatment services; immediate screenings, risk assessments, and diagnoses; and care coordination including partnerships with emergency rooms, law enforcement, and veterans’ groups.

The Department of Health and Human Services found that people who receive care at these clinics had:

• 74% reduction in hospitalization
• 68% reduction in visits to the emergency room
• 33% 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.

###