LifeWays Community Mental Health in Jackson announced it will receive almost $4 million in federal funding after being certified as a Community Behavioral Health Clinic by federal regulators.
Lifeways will receive a total of $3,886,311, giving it the ability to expand its services in Jackson and Hillsdale.
This funding is a result of the Excellence in Mental Health and Addiction Treatment Act authored by Sen. Debbie Stabenow (D-Mich.) and Missouri Sen. Roy Blunt (R-Mo.). This law established new CCBHCs, which allow the company to expand its behavioral health and addiction treatment services.
Companies certified under the CCBHC designation are required to provide 24/7 crisis services including outpatient mental health and substance abuse treatment services. Immediate screenings, risk assessments, diagnoses, care coordination with emergency rooms, and law enforcement must also be included.
“The CCBHC designation requires us to integrate physical and mental healthcare into a single location. Through this new funding we will be able to open up our services to more uninsured or underinsured individuals and expand our integrated systems,” said LifeWays Public Relations Coordinator Rebecca Calkins.
The crisis services will be open to anyone, regardless of insurance “if they are going through a self-defined crisis,” said Calkins.
“They will be able to talk to a crisis clinician as well as a peer support specialist who is someone who has experience with a mental crisis or substance abuse in recovery,” said Calkins.
Sen. Stabenow said the funding provides “momentum” to fund mental health services across the nation.
“This historic funding increase will allow more Michiganders to get the help they need in their community. It also provides major momentum to fully fund certified behavioral health services across our country,” said Senator Stabenow.
The grant money allows the facility to provide more services to the community.
“LifeWays is now able to provide comprehensive 24/7 access to community-based mental and substance use disorder services, treatment of co-occurring disorders, and physical healthcare in one single location to any individual, regardless of their ability to pay or their place of residence,” said Maribeth Leonard, CEO of LifeWays. “This comprehensive healthcare approach is the fulfillment of our vision for the people of our communities, who we are honored to serve.
