THE IMPACT AND IMPORTANCE OF CCBHCs Have you heard about Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinics (CCBHC), but are not sure what they are? A CCBHC is a specially designated clinic that receives flexible funding to expand the scope of mental health and substance use treatment services available in their community. The CCBHC model alleviates decadesold challenges that have led to a crisis in providing access to mental health and substance use care across the nation. In January 2021, the National Council surveyed the nation’s 224 active CCBHCs. Here’s a preview of our findings. • CCBHCs are closing the treatment gap that leaves millions of Americans with unmet mental health and substance use care needs, bringing thousands of new clients into care. • CCBHCs have improved access to treatment. Whereas wait times for services average 48 days around the nation, 93% of surveyed CCBHCs reported seeing clients for their first appointment within 10 days of their outreach. • CCBHCs provide support for significant hiring and workforce expansions, with peer specialists, medical directors and psychiatrists among the most commonly added staff. • CCBHCs are addressing the nation’s opioid crisis by expanding access to medication-assisted treatment (MAT), the “gold standard” of substance use care. • CCBHCs are delivering crisis support services in their communities, helping to divert people in crisis from hospitals, emergency departments and jails. • CCBHCs are working with law enforcement agencies and other criminal justice partners to reduce incarceration and improve crisis response. Download our CCBHC impact report to learn more. Want to become a CCBHC or learn how to maximize your impact as one? Visit our CCBHC Success Center to get started! Hill Day at Home Advocacy Solutions Guide
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