Consulting

Mental Health and Substance Use Integration

Access to mental health and substance use treatment services is a challenge across the nation. In CHRT’s home state, behavioral health provider shortages impact 4.2 million individuals in federally designated provider shortage areas. While this is an ubiquitous challenge, CHRT finds that there are significant access disparities for some populations such as young adults, caregivers, those in poor or fair health, those diagnosed with depression or anxiety, those who experience health care coverage gaps, those with employer-provided insurance, and those with Medicaid coverage. 

To improve access to mental health and substance use treatment services, CHRT works with provider organizations — including federally qualified health centers, health plans, health systems, and community mental health agencies — to integrate behavioral health and substance abuse treatment services into their existing health care infrastructure. Developing a seamless continuum of care can promote population health, diminish disparities, and maximize available resources.

CHRT consults on mental health and substance use treatment integration:

  • Providing expert consultation and technical assistance to address a myriad of regulatory, policy, and program needs.
  • Mapping resources to not only enhance financial capabilities, but also to better utilize human capital and in-kind and environmental contributions.
  • Developing customized integration plans based on identified needs and established goals.
  • Identifying best practices to address health disparities and improve health outcomes for people and communities.
  • Facilitating learning communities to promote continuous quality improvement and support best practices.
  • Promoting team building leadership through improved communication and collaboration.
  • Designing and managing programs during the capacity-building phase.
  • Conducting readiness and implementation assessments, either through facilitation of self-assessments or external analyses.
  • Developing robust evaluation plans and conducting independent program evaluations for clients and funders.

Located at the University of Michigan, CHRT has the unique ability to not only draw upon its extensive internal expertise, but also to draw upon the academic resources readily available at the University of Michigan and to work closely with Michigan Medicine and the Schools of Public Health and Public Policy.

For more information about CHRT’s mental health and substance use treatment integration consulting services, contact Nancy Baum, health policy director, at nmbaum@med.umich.edu.