Survey for individuals receiving mental health or substance use services: https://bit.ly/hcrs-survey
Survey for providers of mental health or substance use services: https://redcap-cha.org/redcap/surveys/?s=KTCYC8H9PN
We are collaborating with the Institute for Community Health (ICH) to conduct a community needs assessment. This confidential assessment survey seeks to understand people’s needs and experiences related to improving the system of care for mental health and substance use services in Windsor and Windham counties.
This survey is focused on capturing the experiences and needs of individuals who receive services in Windham and Windsor county, those seeking services, and those who have had services in the past. These individuals receiving services who complete the online survey will be entered into a drawing for one of five $100 gift cards. The first 500 individuals to complete the survey will also receive a $10 gift card.
A second survey will be released in late February (see link provided above) to capture the perspectives of community providers and HCRS staff on enhancing the quality of care in our communities. Providers completing this survey will be entered into a drawing to win one $100 gift card.
The assessment results will be a key factor in HCRS’ plans to improve the quality of mental health and substance use services, and collaboration among providers, as part of their effort to become a Certified Community Behavioral Health Center (CCBHC).
CCBHC is a national model that seeks to address health disparities and social determinants of health that contribute to mental health and substance use experiences. This is achieved through a certification process, a focus on population specific evidence-based practices, and enhanced funding through a four-year CCBHC Planning, Development, and Implementation Grant from the national Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA).
George Karabakakis, Ph.D., Chief Executive Officer of HCRS, said, “The rates of adults struggling with mental health issues as well as opioid-related overdoses in Vermont are higher than the national average. We know from other community needs assessments that mental health services are one of the top three most important health issues in our communities. We also know that many in need of services in our community are mostly disconnected from services. Our community needs assessment will seek to understand why.”
HCRS also intends to host a series of listening sessions for folks with mental health or substance use disorders, as well as service providers, in March and April. Information on these sessions will be posted on HCRS’ website, hcrs.org, as soon as the schedule is available.
Karabakakis adds, “We will be focusing on those whose voices are often left out of these processes, so that we can better understand the specific support needs of communities of color, LGBTQIA+ community members, community members impacted by generational poverty and homelessness, and other diverse needs as it relates to mental health and substance use services.”
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