November 8, 2006
Contact: Bev Pfeifer-Harms
314.345.5500 office

MFH Awards $3.2 Million for Co-Occurring Disorders Programs

St. Louis -Missouri Foundation for Health (MFH) has awarded almost $3.2 million to
11 nonprofit organizations as part of its new Co-Occurring Disorders priority area grant funding opportunity. This milestone effort in Missouri focuses on eliminating the traditional barriers between mental health and substance abuse systems, by encouraging integration of services rather than parallel treatment.

These three-year grants enable organizations to integrate care and support services for co-occurring individuals. "An estimated 80,000 Missourians with a serious mental health issue also are dependent on alcohol or illegal drugs," says Dr. James Kimmey, MFH's president and CEO. "Traditionally, these people would receive parallel, or separate, treatment for mental health issues and substance abuse problems. This priority area grant fosters efforts to holistically treat co-occurring individuals, an approach which has been shown to improve outcomes and have higher success rates."

MFH began priority area grantmaking in 2006 as a way to target specific health-related issues affecting Missourians. In addition to the Co-Occurring Disorders grants, other current priority areas focus on dental sealants for children, diabetes self-management and health literacy.

Those organizations receiving Co-Occurring Disorders grants are:

Arthur Center, Mexico, $246,324. The organization's "Options for Hope" program targets persons living in Audrain, Callaway, Montgomery, Pike, Ralls and Monroe counties through outpatient treatment programs in Mexico, MO.

Bootheel Counseling Services, Sikeston, $273,024. The SEMO Recovery Unlimited Provider Consortium, a new collaborative effort with other area organizations and hospitals, is providing services to adults in Bootheel counties.

Burrell Behavioral Health, Springfield, $294,102. This program builds on the already existing mental health services offered by Burrell in seven southwest Missouri counties, and incorporates into the program the integrated dual diagnosis treatment (IDDT) model.

Crider Center for Mental Health, Wentzville, $301,890. The "Access to Integrated Treatment" program includes community collaborations in St. Charles and Lincoln counties, serving individuals as well as area drug court participants.

Family Counseling Center, Inc., Kennett, $303,360. Serving Butler, Cape Girardeau, Dunklin and Pemiscot counties, the "Recovery Unlimited" program targets adults throughout the Bootheel, where access to integrated treatment is limited despite a high-need population.

Gibson Recovery Center, Inc., Cape Girardeau, $299,254. The "Comprehensive Integrated Treatment" program serves mostly uninsured clients in the lower east central/Cape Girardeau area. With more than 25 years of service, Gibson also brings strong collaborations with area substance abuse/mental health organizations.

Hopewell Center, St. Louis, $300,000. This program targets adults who presently "fall through the cracks" due to their co-occurring disorders. The center's "Co-Occurring Substance Abuse" program builds on the organization's stature as an established mental health center.

New Horizons Community Support Services, Inc., Jefferson City, $258,551. This grant targets adults in Boone and Cole counties. The program includes providing services to the uninsured and underserved in supported housing and in the judicial system.

Ozark Center, Joplin, $299,193. Ozark Center is coordinating a collaborative effort between Ozark Center and Lafayette House to develop an integrated approach and to implement evidence-based practices to treat individuals with COD.

Phoenix Programs, Inc., Columbia, $296,314. The grant introduces the "Assertive Community Treatment" (ACT) program to residents in Boone County. A nationally recognized program, ACT uses treatment teams to bring appropriate services to clients.

Queen of Peace Center, St. Louis, $299,191. This program targets homeless women with co-occurring disorders. The organization has been providing drug/alcohol treatment services for women and their children for 15 years.

Established in 2000 through the for-profit conversion of Blue Cross Blue Shield of Missouri, MFH is the largest non-governmental funder of community health activities in the state. The Foundation is in its fourth year of grantmaking, issuing almost $180 million in grants and awards to date. It is dedicated to serving the uninsured and underserved in 84 Missouri counties and the City of St. Louis.

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