PROJECTS
Active and past projects ABHIN has had the pleasure to be a part of
Active Projects
A-ROUTE
A-ROUTE is a network of community partners, providers, and healthcare teams collaborating to educate the community, destigmatize opioid use disorders, and provide high-quality services that ultimately eliminate overdose deaths. We educate individuals, providers, and communities about the benefits of integrating behavioral health and physical health services in rural primary care practices to address Opioid Use Disorder. We also develop educational materials and trainings for primary care teams and communities in Arkansas to promote prevention, treatment, and recovery, link rural residents in Arkansas with resources, and bring people together to fill gaps.
PROJECT AWARE
Project AWARE (Advancing Wellness and Resiliency in Arkansas), funded by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), aims to improve the social and emotional well-being of youth and prevent school violence by implementing statewide mental health initiatives. The project targets educators, students, parents, and community stakeholders, with a focus on the Earle, Marion, and Searcy School Districts, reaching over 8,000 students. It is executed in partnership with the Arkansas Foundation for Medical Care (AFMC) and the Arkansas Department of Education (ADE).
FREE-C
FREE-C stands for Faulkner Recovery and Empowerment Expansion for Community. It’s a community-based initiative helping justice-involved individuals residing in Faulkner County reclaim their lives through support, resources, and connection. It is designed to fill gaps in current treatment and recovery systems and support our community in moving towards long-term recovery.
BHI HUB
In partnership with the state of Arkansas and the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS), ABHIN achieved significant milestones to advance behavioral health integration, particularly through the Collaborative Care Model (CoCM) in its first year of the 5-year SAMHSA-supported initiative, Integrating Behavioral Health in Arkansas (IBHA-Hub). ABHIN initiated monthly state planning council meetings, which feature updates, resources, and a place for providers who are interested in integrating CoCM in Arkansas to come together and discuss the successes and challenges of implementation. The CoCM Webpage and Resource hub, which provides toolkits, training recordings, office hour access, and a dedicated support email for providers statewide, was also created and launched. ABHIN has delivered educational presentations to the Arkansas State Legislature on CoCM efforts, expanded statewide reach through monthly CoCM webinars offering CE credits and sharing best practices, and continues to work closely with East Arkansas Family Health Center (EAFHC), an FQHC, by working to develop a readiness assessment and help support the CoCM implementation process. Overall, this project has allowed ABHIN to strengthen behavioral health integration in primary care settings, build sustainable peer networks among FQHCs, and provide high-quality training to providers across Arkansas. These initiatives lay the groundwork for long-term improvements in access to behavioral health care for rural and underserved communities.
Past Projects
ALINC
The ALiNC project successfully improved suicide prevention, intervention, and postvention efforts in the rural target area by enhancing access to care for individuals at risk of suicide, increasing provider competency in managing suicide risk, reducing stigma among providers and communities, and strengthening the capacity of clinical and community teams to identify and respond to suicide risk. Notably, the project conducted specialized Youth Suicide Prevention training, benefitting 40 providers and staff who reported increased comfort in managing suicidal patients. We also hosted two Community Gatekeeper trainings that reached 263 (in-person and virtual) participants, including clinicians, social service providers, pastors, and first responders, equipping them with knowledge and skills to identify and respond to suicide risk. Additional training included Risk Stratification, Addressing Suicide in Marginalized and Minoritized Communities, Billing and Coding, and Comprehensive Suicide Risk Management. All participating clinics incorporated mental and behavioral health screening into their workflows, fostering stronger connections with community organizations and mental health providers, ultimately improving screening rates and provider comfort with the process.
