Ozark Guidance in Springdale awarded $4 million grant
by February 4, 2021 11:29 am 865 views
The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) has awarded Springdale-based Ozark Guidance a $4 million expansion grant to develop a Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinic (CCBHC) program over the next two years.
Ozark Guidance is an affiliate of Springdale-based nonprofit Arisa Health, which has 1,200 employees and operates four affiliated community health centers in Springdale, Conway, Jonesboro and North Little Rock.
The grant will be used for outreach and new service availability for underserved communities such as the Latinx and Marshallese populations in Northwest Arkansas. The funds will also support new evidence-based specialized services such as Assertive Community Treatment.
“We have data from several recent community needs assessments that underscore the importance of recognizing and addressing health disparities in Northwest Arkansas,” Ozark Guidance vice president Dr. Jared Sparks said in a statement. “Our collective experience with COVID further informs the need for targeted outreach programs that will improve access to care. The CCBHC grant will do just that by creating a new and accessible space for the underserved to receive expert care”.
Arisa Health CEO Dr. Laura Tyler added, “We are grateful for this opportunity to enhance behavioral health services in the area and look forward to working in collaboration with others to bring integrated care to individuals with the ultimate goal of a holistic focus on improved health for all.”