The Arkansas Department of Human Services has announced a $9.5 million grant program with the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences in Little Rock.
DHS has also partnered with two federally qualified health centers and the Arkansas Behavioral Health Integration Network to use the five-year grant from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, according to an Oct. 10 news release from UAMS.
The funds will be used to develop a mental health and behavioral health collaborative care model at 36 clinics and health centers across Arkansas that will link patients to primary care providers, behavioral healthcare managers and psychiatric consultants.
UAMS will first add the collaborative model at three clinics and expand its availability to additional sites through the five-year grant period, with the FQHCs following a similar implementation plan.