Governor McKee’s Executive Office of Health and Human Services, Providers Announce Launch of RI Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinics

Published on Thursday, October 10, 2024

CCBHCs include Community Care Alliance, Family Service of Rhode Island, Gateway Healthcare, Newport Mental Health, The Providence Center, and Thrive Behavioral Health

CRANSTON, RI (OCTOBER 10, 2024) – Governor Dan McKee, Rhode Island Legislators, the Rhode Island Executive Office of Health and Human Services (EOHHS), Medicaid, Department of Behavioral Healthcare, Developmental Disabilities, and Hospitals (BHDDH), Department of Children, Youth, and Families (DCYF), and providers announced today the launch of the state’s Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinics (CCBHCs).

As of October 1, the following locations are CCBHCs in Rhode Island: 

 “The CCBHC initiative expands access to behavioral health care for all Rhode Islanders, regardless of age, insurance, immigration status, or diagnosis”, said Governor Dan McKee. “In fact, 91 percent of Rhode Islanders live within the coverage area of a CCBHC. I applaud EOHHS, Medicaid, BHDDH, DCYF, and our providers for working together to bring this impressive program to the Ocean State.”

CCBHCs offer many types of behavioral health services, which include: 

  • 24/7 mobile crisis response year-round
  • Screening, diagnosis, and risk assessment​ 
  • Psychiatric rehabilitation services​ 
  • Outpatient primary care screening and monitoring​ 
  • Targeted case management​ 
  • Outpatient mental health and substance use services​ 
  • Person- and family-centered treatment planning​ 
  • Community-based mental health care for veterans​ 
  • Peer family support and counselor services​ 

“A very important component of CCBHCs is ‘mobile crisis response’ - in which trained behavioral health specialists can come to you when and where you need it. That could mean assisting a child in the school setting or going to someone’s home,” said EOHHS Secretary Richard Charest. “Whether you’re requesting help for yourself or a loved one, CCBHCs’ mobile teams are trained to assess the individual experiencing the emergency, de-escalate or calm down crisis situations, and connect people to needed services.”

 The CCBHC model is a national set of standards for comprehensive behavioral health care that is jointly supported by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) and the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). Rhode Island is one of only 10 States that were selected to participate in the most recent cohort of the federal CCBHC Demonstration Program. ​

 Other states that already established CCBHCs have reported increased availability of appointments, reductions in emergency department visits, and reductions in law enforcement involvement.

“The CCBHC model has been proven to improve community health outcomes, reduce health disparities, and support providers to deliver higher quality, more sustainable services,” said Medicaid Director Kristin Sousa. “Those outcomes closely align with the mission and values of the RI Medicaid Program, where we envision a Rhode Island where every person and every family can access the right level of care at the right time, regardless of their employment status or income.”

“The opening of eight CCBHC sites this month represents a generational shift in Rhode Island’s approach to behavioral healthcare. These clinics provide evidence-based services and 24/7 mobile crisis response for anyone who needs help with mental health or substance use conditions,” said BHDDH Director Richard Leclerc. “It's important to spread the word and let people know that help is available for anyone who needs care for a mental health or substance use condition.”

"Implementing the CCBHC model in Rhode Island is a transformational step forward for supporting children and youth who need comprehensive mental health services that can also holistically treat the family,” said DCYF Director Ashley Deckert. “CCBHCs will provide urgently needed services throughout the state and to specific communities that have historically not had access. This re-establishes Rhode Island as a national leader for mental health supports."

“CCBHCs transform community care,” said Dayna Gladstein, LICSW, President & CEO of Newport Mental Health (Newport County). “The CCBHC model allows Statewide equity, empowering local communities to build unique services so all communities thrive. Through collaborations and partnerships, we can create comprehensive solutions that address the root causes of behavioral health challenges, leading to improved outcomes for all.”

“With multiple CCBHCs established across the State, we will see a stabilized workforce,” said Benedict Lessing, CEO, Community Care Alliance. “CCBHCs support thousands of employees by providing the higher wages that they deserve, and in doing so, improve the status of behavioral healthcare professions— from registered nurses and clinical supervisors to licensed chemical dependency professionals and peer specialists; from mobile crisis team workers and case managers to housing specialists. We finally are acknowledging these heroes and all the other positions that are necessary to make this system work.”

“Our certification as a CCBHC is a unique opportunity to make lasting change to the behavioral health system in Rhode Island,” said Tom Rodrigues, a Licensed Clinical Social Worker, Qualified Mental Health Professional, and Mobile Response and Stabilization Services Clinician at Family Service of Rhode Island. “As a clinician who works with children and youth when they are their most vulnerable, I am grateful that the CCBHCs will expand our mobile crisis services to reach more children and families.”

“The CCBHC initiative has given Thrive Behavioral Health the resources we need to serve the unique needs of Kent County community members,” said Katie Hansen, LCDP, LCDCS, Thrive Program Manager of Substance Use Treatment Services. “Through the implementation of the CCBHC model, Thrive has successfully increased our staffing and expanded our services. We enhanced our substance use treatment programs including Ambulatory Withdrawal Management, Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP) and Youth Substance Use Treatment Services; along with offering more service options through our partnerships with Bridgemark Addiction Recovery Services and CODAC Behavioral Healthcare. Together, we are ensuring that individuals facing substance use and co-occurring mental health challenges receive the support necessary for gaining stability and wellness when they need it.”

“I am so thankful for The Providence Center, a CCBHC, which was there for me when I needed help,” said Pasquale Moretti, a client of The Providence Center. “The high-quality care, compassion, and professionalism provided by The Providence Center helped me better understand my symptoms and gave me the guidance I needed to take the next steps in my personal care journey. They also connected me to services that allowed me to live a healthier and more productive life.”

“Launching these health clinics across our beloved Ocean State will bring immediate accessibility to early intervention and quality care for thousands of Rhode Islanders,” said Kasim Yarn, Director of the Office of Veterans Services. “For our Veterans, this is another resource in the toolbox when they have difficulty accessing benefits. The new CCBHCs include trained community-based Veteran Service Officers from Burrillville to Barrington, Woonsocket to Westerly, offering our military heroes more mental and physical health support options.” 

If you or someone you know is seeking mental health support, help with a substance use disorder, or 24/7 crisis support, call 988 to get connected with a CCBHC or visit a CCBHC near you today. To learn more, please visit bhddh.ri.gov/CCBHC.