TOPEKA, Kan. — On Friday, Governor Laura Kelly announced Kansas is receiving a $1 million, one-year federal planning grant to support the transition of Community Mental Health Centers (CMHCs) to become Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinics (CCBHC) capable of treating mental health and substance abuse crises through integrated physical-behavioral care. The funding comes from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA).
In 2021, Governor Kelly signed Senate Substitute for House Bill 2208, which laid the groundwork to modernize the state’s mental health system to meet community-specific needs. With that bill, Kansas became the first state to pass legislation identifying the CCBHC model as a solution to the mental health and substance use crisis. Since then, KDADS has been transitioning the state’s 26 CMHCs to CCBHCs.
“The CCBHC model is at the core of the work my administration is doing to help Kansans overcome addiction and improve mental health,” Governor Laura Kelly said. “With his funding, more Kansans – including more members of the military and veterans -- will receive mental health and substance use disorder treatment, primary care, and intensive services in their own communities.”
CCBHCs are required to serve anyone who requests care -- including developmentally appropriate care for children -- for mental health and substance use, regardless of ability to pay, place of residence, or age.
“CCBHCs can help transform communities across Kansas by providing timely access to comprehensive behavioral and mental care,” Kansas Senator Roger Marshall said. “I value how CCBHCs work collaboratively with hospitals to step in and reduce emergency department visits and aid law enforcement officers in responding to individuals suffering from a behavioral health crisis.”
Kansas has been developing its CCBHC program since 2021 in cooperation with the state’s 26 Community Mental Health Centers (CMHCs). KDADS applied for the SAMHSA Cooperative Agreements for CCBHC Planning Grant in December 2022. Funding for this opportunity was made available through the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act, which builds upon the $300 million awarded in September 2022 for new and existing CCBHCs to expand access.
