KCH expands mental health offerings
SANDPOINT — A Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinic program is in Bonner County and Boundary counties’ future, thanks to a grant awarded to Kaniksu Community Health.
The grant, given by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration will pave the way for more people in Bonner and Boundary counties to have access to mental health services.
The CCBHC is specifically designed to deepen and expand the range of mental health and substance use services KCH already provides, especially for individuals who have the most complex needs, KCH officials said.
“For years our community has struggled with limited access to mental health services,” they said. “Reporting more frequent days of poor mental health than the state average, Idaho has the fifth highest suicide rate in the nation, and our two counties report the second highest in the state.”
Both Bonner and Boundary counties are designated as official mental health provider shortage areas — and this shortage has continued to grow as the population has swelled over the past few years. KCH intends to fill the mental health care gap in North Idaho by improving access to mental health services, as well as improving the overall health of its patients, whether they are insured or underinsured, and regardless of their ability to pay for services, officials said.
“Our goal is to lead the charge in providing comprehensive mental health services for our community, Kevin Knepper, CEO of Kaniksu Community Health, said. “This project is guided by nine service elements, including crisis mental health services, patient-centered treatment planning, psychiatric rehabilitation services, intensive mental health care for active and retired military, and peer support, counseling and family support.”
As part of the program, KCH will also focus on meeting the medical and mental health needs of pregnant women and women of childbearing age, officials said. With the community facing a shortage of women’s health services, KCH will work in collaboration with local hospitals to provide a full spectrum of women’s health services, including prenatal and postnatal care. The program will also focus on substance abuse, anxiety, depression, and suicide in pregnant women and women of childbearing age.
“We recognize that this four-year project will be challenging,” Knepper said. “Our first challenge will be finding the right talent to help us make a difference. Of particular need is filling the shortage of qualified behavioral health therapists. Our hope is that by building this new program, we will be able to attract knowledgeable and experienced staff to help ensure the success of the project.”
Information on open positions: kchni.org/careers.