Latest news with #BehavioralHealth
CBS News
14-05-2025
- Health
- CBS News
Stanislaus County officials warn over uptick in overdose-related calls
Stanislaus County officials sound the alarm over concerning number of drug overdoses and poisonings Stanislaus County officials sound the alarm over concerning number of drug overdoses and poisonings Stanislaus County officials sound the alarm over concerning number of drug overdoses and poisonings CERES — Stanislaus County health officials said there were more than 10 nonfatal overdose-related emergency reports over the weekend, all within a 25-hour span. There have already been 44 drug-related deaths in the county this year. Dr. Bernardo Mora, with the county's Behavioral Health and Recovery Services, said "there were some that were fentanyl." Six of those deaths occurred in the city of Ceres. The Ceres Police Department said they've had a 35% increase in opioid related emergency calls within the month of April. Dr. Mora said that while the county has seen an uptick in community members using their services, a major concern is for those who don't know they've ingested deadly drugs. "The fact of it is with fake pills, pills that you think, 'oh, wow, that looks like I've taken x-y-z before.' That looks like x-y-z, but it's not," he said. "It's fentanyl or some other variant because people are coming up with variants all the time. That's the danger, and those are fatal." There have been over 1,200 drug-related deaths in the county since 2018. The deadliest year was 2023, with 213 deaths. Out of those deaths, 73% were opioid related while fentanyl accounted for 138 out of the 213 deaths. "Fentanyl has a legitimate use. Not saying that it doesn't, but to the wrong folks, or to the folks that's not meant for, it's deadly," Dr. Mora said. Now, Dr. Mora said it's about addressing the crisis before it spirals. "Certainly for older kids who might be more susceptible or peer pressure... don't experiment," he said.
Yahoo
13-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
City of Bakersfield awarded $22 million state grant to build substance abuse facility
BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KGET)– The City of Bakersfield was awarded a $22.8 million grant from the State of California to fund a substance abuse facility. The Behavioral Health Continuum Infrastructure Program, a grant provided by the state, was created to address substance abuse in Bakersfield and Kern County. Bakersfield City council votes to purchase hotel for future substance abuse facility 'We cannot stand by while many of our families are severely hurt by the nation's opioid crisis,' Bakersfield Mayor Karen Goh said in a press release. The facility is set to be located at 2310 Wible Road. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Time Business News
06-05-2025
- Health
- Time Business News
How to Open a Mental Health Clinic: Your Roadmap to Success
Opening a mental health clinic begins with identifying your clinic's guiding purpose. Will you address general mental health needs, or specialize in areas such as trauma, substance use, or adolescent care? Determine your clinical focus by assessing community needs, professional passions, and service gaps. Your vision sets the tone for everything that follows—from the types of services you offer to the culture you create within your team. Clearly articulating this vision helps shape a clinic that's not only viable but deeply relevant. Opening a mental health clinic requires thoughtful preparation and careful execution. Start by drafting a solid business plan that includes your clinic's services, target audience, and operational strategy. It's also important to secure funding through personal savings, loans, or investors. Next, ensure your clinic complies with all relevant regulations and obtain the necessary licenses and insurance. One essential step is how to open a mental health clinic, which includes meeting local, state, and federal requirements. You'll also need to hire qualified staff to deliver high-quality care and create a supportive environment for patients. Compliance is the bedrock of a legitimate practice. Each state enforces specific requirements for mental health facilities, often involving a combination of clinical, operational, and physical plant standards. States like California require DHCS Licensing for Behavioral Health, which mandates documentation of service protocols, staff credentials, and emergency procedures. Simultaneously, establish your legal business entity—LLC, partnership, or corporation—and secure an Employer Identification Number (EIN). Develop written policies for privacy, consent, telehealth, and record keeping that align with HIPAA and Behavioral Health regulations. Your clinic's location influences visibility, accessibility, and patient experience. Choose a space near public transit, with adequate parking and compliance with ADA standards. Zoning regulations must allow for healthcare services, so verify land use restrictions early. Internally, design with intention—quiet therapy rooms, private offices, a calming reception area, and thoughtful décor that fosters trust and comfort. Whether you lease or buy, the environment should embody your clinic's mission and enhance therapeutic engagement. Staffing is about more than filling roles—it's about creating a cohesive unit of professionals who reflect your clinic's values. Depending on your services, you'll need licensed clinicians, psychiatrists or prescribing nurse practitioners, intake coordinators, and administrative support. Every team member must meet your state's credentialing standards and receive thorough onboarding in clinic protocols and HIPAA compliance. Invest in cultivating a workplace culture that values supervision, collaboration, and continued education. The quality of your staff directly influences client retention, treatment outcomes, and overall clinic credibility. A successful mental health clinic runs on a solid financial engine. Start by calculating your startup costs—rent, payroll, technology, licensing, and insurance. Then map out projected revenue based on estimated client volume and billing rates. Secure initial funding through small business loans, private investors, or healthcare lending programs. Begin insurance credentialing early, as approval can take several months. Choose a billing solution that integrates with your EHR and automates claim submission, denial tracking, and revenue cycle reports. Financial foresight guards against the all-too-common cash flow crunch. Attracting clients in a sensitive field like mental health demands ethical and intentional marketing. Create a professional website with clear service offerings, provider bios, intake steps, and resources. Optimize your site for search engines using terms like 'how to start a private practice' or 'mental health clinic in [your city].' Build referral relationships with primary care physicians, schools, courts, and other health providers. Use blogs, social media, and community presentations to position your clinic as a trusted source of mental health care. Strong branding is built on transparency, expertise, and genuine outreach. Well-documented operational systems are the invisible backbone of your clinic. Develop written procedures for intake, risk assessment, safety incidents, medication management, and discharge planning. Choose a HIPAA-compliant EHR that supports treatment notes, appointment scheduling, and secure messaging. Implement telehealth tools that allow you to reach clients remotely while maintaining clinical standards. From phone systems to file storage, every operational decision should be centered around security, efficiency, and client-centered care. An organized infrastructure allows your team to function with consistency and confidence. Once your clinic is operational, focus on future-proofing your practice. Analyze client outcomes and satisfaction to improve service delivery. Consider expanding your offerings—adding psychiatric services, group therapy, or partnerships with schools and community organizations. Telehealth can widen your reach, especially in rural areas. Long-term sustainability comes from balancing clinical excellence with strong leadership, scalable systems, and a proactive approach to industry changes. Stay agile, stay informed, and stay anchored in your mission. Strategic guidance is essential for organizations looking to expand and optimize their operations in the dynamic healthcare landscape. Professionals in the field help streamline processes, evaluate market opportunities, and ensure sustainable growth. By analyzing financial health, competitive positioning, and potential acquisition targets, organizations are equipped to make informed decisions. MA Consulting Services is invaluable for identifying the right mergers and acquisitions, assessing risk, and guiding clients through integration processes. This expertise enables companies to increase their market share, achieve operational efficiency, and enhance service delivery, ultimately improving long-term success and positioning within the industry. Opening a mental health clinic is an intricate, rewarding journey—part strategy, part soul. Success lies not only in meeting regulatory checklists but in creating a space where clients feel seen, safe, and supported. From legal formation to hiring, financial planning to community outreach, every decision shapes the legacy you're building. With foresight, structure, and a heart for healing, your clinic can become a cornerstone of mental wellness in your community—a place where transformation begins and hope is restored. TIME BUSINESS NEWS
Yahoo
02-04-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Low-income care provider in Lewiston to layoff 40, cut services
Apr. 2—LEWISTON — Community Clinical Services Inc. will close several service sites and lay off 34% of its staff May 1, the organization announced Wednesday in a news release. The decision came due to the payment instability caused by the state of Maine's Medicaid budget shortfall and "ongoing federal funding challenges for Federally Qualified Health Center Look Alikes," the release said. Community Clinical Services is a Federally Qualified Health Center Look Alike, which provide primary care services on a sliding pay scale in underserved areas. It does not receive federal funding, instead relying on Medicaid payments. CCS will continue its primary care and mental health services at its 57 Birch St. location in Lewiston and its Behavioral Health Home case management program. Dr. Richard Kappelmann's internal medicine practice and CCS's pediatric clinic, both located at St. Mary's Regional Medical Center at 100 Campus Ave. in Lewiston, will continue operations. St. Mary's will acquire CCS's pediatric clinic. Sites with outpatient counseling, psychiatry, school-based health centers and pediatric dental clinic will close. CCS's pediatric dental clinic is the only clinic that accepts Maine's Medicaid program MaineCare for insurance. The press release did not indicate which physical sites would be closed and a representative from CCS was not immediately available for further details. Copy the Story Link
Yahoo
07-03-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
California is spending billions on mental health housing. Will it reach those in need?
This story was originally published by CalMatters. Sign up for their newsletters. The Newsom administration is moving swiftly to distribute by May billions of dollars from the 2024 mental health bond narrowly approved by voters, but concerns are emerging about whether areas of the state that have the greatest need will be left behind, according to testimony at legislative oversight hearing this week. Proposition 1, championed by Gov. Gavin Newsom, pledged to inject $6.4 billion into the state's overburdened mental health and addiction treatment system. Newsom promised voters the move would help the state address its homelessness crisis, which is often publicly associated with unaddressed mental health and substance use issues. A majority of the money, $4.4 billion, would be used to build treatment facilities to help meet the state's estimated 10,000-bed shortage. The rest of the bond money would be used on housing and managed by the state's housing department. Newsom wanted to move as fast as possible. Last year, he announced the state would release the bond money months ahead of schedule. During a press conference last year, Newsom told counties to move with a 'sense of urgency.' 'You're either part of the problem or you're not. Period,' he said at the time. But that timeline could neglect counties that have the fewest mental health resources. 'Moving this money out fast does come at a cost, because there will be some who are left behind,' said Susan Holt, Fresno County Behavioral Health director, during the Tuesday Assembly Health Committee hearing. Small and rural counties say they simply don't have the manpower or expertise to navigate the complex grant requirements governing this one-time, multibillion-dollar investment. A recent Legislative Analyst's Office report found that a majority of money distributed from programs similar to Prop. 1 in the past went to regions of the state that need it least. The area with the highest unmet need, the southern San Joaquin Valley, didn't get any state money in previous rounds of funding. To meet the population need, the region needs to nearly triple its capacity. Prior to Prop. 1, Holt testified that Fresno County submitted nine grant applications for primarily acute care beds and did not receive any money from the state. 'I can speak with conviction and assurance that we understand the urgency,' Holt said. 'Sometimes with this much money we need to go a little bit slower in order to go faster in the end.' Counties are also concerned that the state has provided money for treatment facilities but not for workforce or services. Ryan Miller, an analyst from the Legislative Analyst's Office, examined how the state spent similar building funds in the past. His analysis found that the state has historically awarded funds to 'launch ready' projects that can be completed on a quick timeline, a criteria that gives an advantage to more sophisticated counties. For example, a 2022 RAND study found that Los Angeles and the greater Sacramento region have sufficient adult acute care capacity, yet collectively those areas received nearly three-fourths of the funding distributed for acute care beds, roughly $130 million, according to the analyst's office. Instead, those areas have a higher need for sub-acute care and community residential treatment. 'A great deal of resources and staff are needed to put together a compelling launch ready project,' Miller said. Other areas of the state that received less money than expected based on need were the Inland Empire, Central Coast and Bay Area, Miller said. Assemblymember Jacqui Irwin, who authored the legislation that put Prop. 1 on the ballot, said voters were very skeptical about how the state spends its money and that promises were made to get the money to counties quickly. But the Democrat from Thousand Oaks also questioned whether the accelerated timeline was sensible. Prop. 1 passed by the narrowest of margins last year, 50.2% to 49.8%. 'Do you think the administration's…implementation has been too aggressive, or are the goals realistic?' Irwin said. Marlise Perez, a division chief for the Department of Health Care Services, pushed back against the notion that awards would leave small counties behind. 'I don't want it to appear that we're only awarding the shiniest applications,' Perez said, pointing to almost $200 million in grants that were awarded to small counties prior to Prop. 1. At the same time, the administration must support projects that can actually be completed, Perez said. According to the analyst's office, 18 small counties received no funding in previous grant rounds. According to Perez, 16 of them didn't apply. 'Unfortunately we can only award who applies. That has been a challenge,' Perez said. Her office is helping those counties with the application and now expects seven to apply for the next round of funding. One of the more difficult grant requirements is that facilities guarantee they can provide services for the next 30 years. Still with more than $3.3 billion rolling out in two months, there's little room to pivot how the money will be targeted. This round of grants will focus once again on 'launch ready' projects. The remaining $1.1 billion will be awarded by early 2026. Applicants have submitted projects totaling more than $8.8 billion, double the amount of money available, an indication of the severe needs across the state. Assemblymember Joaquin Arambula, a Fresno Democrat, said when the system rewards those who have historically been able to provide services there is a risk of 'baking in historical inequities and disparities.' Supported by the California Health Care Foundation (CHCF), which works to ensure that people have access to the care they need, when they need it, at a price they can afford. Visit to learn more. This article originally appeared on Ventura County Star: Newsom wants swift use of mental health housing money; concerns arise
