The Arkansas Department of Human Services (DHS) was recently awarded a five-year, $9.5 million grant through the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration to implement a program aimed at expanding mental health services in Arkansas. This initiative, in collaboration with Arkansas Behavioral Health Integration Network (ABHIN), UAMS, and two federally qualified health centers (FQHCs), will implement the Collaborative Care Management (CoCM) model in 36 clinics and health centers statewide. CoCM fosters connections between patients, primary care providers, behavioral health care managers, and psychiatric consultants, aided by an electronic registry for tracking treatment progress. These changes are set to streamline healthcare, enhance coordination, and simplify access to psychiatric services for the community. Read more about this program here.