Johnson County Mental Health Center (JCMHC) announced this week it has received full certification as a Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinic (CCBHC) from the Kansas Department for Aging and Disability Services. JCMHC had been provisionally certified as a CCBHC since July 2022. 

The certification, a national model for behavioral health care, was established in Kansas in 2021 through legislation passed in Topeka. To earn the certification, community mental health centers like JCMHC must meet criteria set by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration and pass an in-person review from KDADS. 

The model’s goal is to expand access to comprehensive, community-based behavioral health services and emphasize care coordination, helping those receiving mental health or substance use services connect with physical health care, social services and other supports. The result is a whole-person, whole-health approach that addresses social determinants of health and improves community outcomes. 

“We know that caring for a person’s mental health goes beyond just providing mental health treatment,” said Tim DeWeese, Johnson County Mental Health Center’s director. “Being a CCBHC means, yes, we’re helping people achieve recovery from a mental health diagnosis or substance use disorder, but we’re also helping them with connections to housing, employment and treatment for chronic health conditions.” 

Many of the services required to be a CCBHC were already provided by JCMHC prior to being certified. In addition to emergency and crisis services and comprehensive mental health and substance use services throughout the lifespan, JCMHC offers vocational services that help clients continue their education, grow their skills and find jobs. 

Other long-standing services, like the Mobile Crisis Response Team that provides in-person interventions for people experiencing a mental health crisis in their homes or out in the community, are adding staff and expanding their reach to meet the CCBHC criteria.  

Still, some services are new. Last year, JCMHC added a primary care provider to its staff and opened a chronic care clinic. The clinic can provide treatment for certain chronic health conditions, like high blood pressure or diabetes, and serves as a bridge between starting treatment and connecting to further care in the community. JCMHC has also added physical health screenings, health education resources and whole-health treatment plans for its clients. 

The certification, DeWeese says, would not have been possible without contributions from JCMHC’s entire staff to provide that comprehensive range of services. 

“I’m proud of the work our entire team has done to achieve this certification and bring this transformative model of care to our community. From our direct care teams to our administrative staff and beyond, this is an acknowledgment of everyone’s hard work,” DeWeese said. 

The certification also brings federal tax dollars back to Johnson County. Higher reimbursement rates from Medicaid tied to being a CCBHC have allowed JCMHC to add 62 positions to its staff since 2022. The additional staff helps address the rising need for behavioral health services in the community and growing caseloads.