North Side Christian Health Center

HEALTH CENTER CLUSTER

HEALTH CENTER CLUSTER

RECOVERY ACT HEALTH CENTER CLUSTER PROGRAM

AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN ACT FUNDING FOR HEALTH CENTERS

FY 2024 BEHAVIORAL HEALTH SERVICE EXPANSION - NORTH SIDE CHRISTIAN HEALTH CENTER GRANT # H80CS12881 NORTH SIDE CHRISTIAN HEALTH CENTER (NSCHC) WAS ESTABLISHED IN 1993 WITH A MISSION TO PROVIDE WHOLE-PERSON PRIMARY HEALTH CARE TO UNDERSERVED PERSONS ON PITTSBURGH’S NORTHSIDE AND SURROUNDING URBAN NEIGHBORHOODS. A SECOND SITE WAS ESTABLISHED IN 2008, AT THE NORTHVIEW HEIGHTS LOCATION TO PROVIDE MEDICAL CARE AND DENTAL CARE; NSCHC IS THE ONLY PITTSBURGH FQHC CO-LOCATED IN A PUBLIC HOUSING COMMUNITY. NSCHC PROVIDES PRIMARY CARE, DENTAL SERVICES AND BEHAVIORAL HEALTH SERVICES. ABOUT 70% OF NSCHC PATIENTS IDENTIFY AS ETHNIC MINORITY, 97% OF ITS PATIENTS ARE BELOW 200% OF THE FEDERAL POVERTY LEVEL; 18% LIVE IN PUBLIC HOUSING, 14% ARE UNINSURED; AND 5.5% ARE HOMELESS. THE BEHAVIORAL HEALTH DEPARTMENT (BHD), WHICH OPENED IN 2020, IS COMPRISED OF A PSYCHOLOGIST, AN LCSW AND 2 LPC. THE DEPARTMENT IS IN THE SAME BUILDING AS THE MEDICAL DEPARTMENT. THE TWO DEPARTMENTS COLLABORATE CLOSELY TO IMPLEMENT AN INTEGRATED BEHAVIORAL HEALTH SERVICE AND TO PROVIDE A WARM HAND-OFF, WHEN THE PATIENT IS WILLING. THE MEDICAL DEPARTMENT SCREENS FOR BEHAVIORAL NEEDS AND SUBSTANCE USE DISORDERS; THEY OFTEN CONSULT WITH THE NSCHC PHARMACIST. THE FAMILY MEDICINE PROVIDERS ADDRESS SOME MOUD NEEDS BUT MUST REFER OUT FOR COMPLEX CASES AND ALL SUD BEHAVIORAL HEALTH SUPPORT. CURRENT BHD STAFF TREAT GENERAL BEHAVIORAL HEALTH DIAGNOSES, BUT THERE IS NO MOUD TREATMENT OR PSYCHIATRY FOR MEDICATION MANAGEMENT. THUS, THE NEED FOR BEHAVIORAL HEALTH SERVICES (BHS) FOR BOTH GENERAL MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES AND SUBSTANCE USE DISORDER EXCEEDS CAPACITY. IN 2023, OUT OF 3982 UNIQUE PATIENTS, 52% (2083/3982) HAD A BH (MH AND/OR SUD) DIAGNOSES. OF THOSE 2083 PATIENTS, ONLY 26% (492/2083) RECEIVED BHS; NO NSCHC PATIENT RECEIVED A SUD SERVICE BY THE BEHAVIORAL HEALTH DEPARTMENT. THE LIMITED BHS CAPACITY IS DUE TO MULTIPLE RETIREMENTS IN 2022, AND A CURRENT FINANCIAL INABILITY TO RECRUIT BEHAVIORAL HEALTH SUPPORT STAFF, THERAPISTS, AND PSYCH IATRY EXPERTISE. NSCHC STRIVES TO SUPPORT THE ALLEGHENY COUNTY HEALTH DEPARTMENT’S “PLAN FOR A HEALTHIER ALLEGHENY 2023 – 2027.” THE PLAN, PUBLISHED IN 2023, INCLUDES THE FOLLOWING GOALS: [#4] PEOPLE HAVE ACCESS TO BEHAVIORAL HEALTH SERVICES, INCLUDING TREATMENT FOR SUBSTANCE US DISORDERS; AND [#4.5] “REDUCE THE SUICIDE MORTALITY RATE…TO 13 PER 100,000.” ONLY 13% OF ALLEGHENY COUNTY IDENTIFIES AS BLACK, WHEREAS NSCHC PATIENTS ARE 68% BLACK. NSCHC IS PARTICULARLY FOCUSED ON THE SUPPORTING THE COUNTY’S INITIATIVE [#4.6] :“THE RACIAL DISPARITY IN DEATH FROM OVERDOSE DECREASES.” ADDITIONALLY, ALLEGHENY GENERAL HOSPITAL, LOCATED JUST 6 BLOCKS FROM NSCHC ALSO IDENTIFIED SUD AS A HIGH PRIORITY NEED IN ITS MOST RECENT COMMUNITY NEEDS ASSESSMENT. THIS PROJECT PROPOSES TO EXPAND THE CAPACITY, LOCATIONS AND THE EXPERTISE OF THE BEHAVIORAL HEALTH DEPARTMENT AND ADDRESS THE UNMET NEED OF THE NSCHC PATIENTS. THE YEAR 1 BUDGET INCLUDES LIMITED RENOVATIONS AT THE NORTHVIEW HEIGHTS LOCATION, TO EXPAND BEHAVIORAL SERVICES TO THIS LOCATION. THIS PROJECT WOULD EXPAND THE CAPACITY BY ADDING TWO THERAPISTS, ONE OF WHOM WOULD BRING EXPERTISE IN ADDICTION MEDICINE TO TREAT SUD. IT WOULD EXPAND THE SERVICES OF THE DEPARTMENT BY CONTRACTING WITH A PSYCHIATRIST TO OFFER MEDICATION MANAGEMENT AND ADDITIONAL PATIENT ASSESSMENTS. LASTLY, THIS PROJECT AIMS TO PROVIDE ALL BEHAVIORAL HEALTH PATIENTS ADDITIONAL SOCIAL SUPPORTS, SO THAT THEY ARE BETTER ABLE TO ENGAGE WITH BEHAVIORAL HEALTH SERVICES, ADHERE TO AND STAY IN TREATMENT; THIS PROPOSAL INCLUDES A NURSE DEDICATED TO BEHAVIORAL HEALTH CARE, AN BH CARE NAVIGATOR, A COMMUNITY HEALTH WORKER TO CONNECT THEM TO SERVICES AND A SUD PEER TO CONSULT WITH ON THE MULTITUDE OF LIFE CHALLENGES. THIS WOULD CREATE 5557 ADDITIONAL APPOINTMENT SLOTS FOR 641 UNIQUE PATIENTS (BASED ON NSCHC’S AVERAGE NUMBER OF VISITS PER PATIENT FOR BEHAVIORAL HEALTH)WHO WOULD BE REFERRED FROM THE MEDICAL DEPARTMENT. THUS, NSCHC WOULD MEET OVER 50% OF ITS CURRENT BEHAVI ORAL HEALTH DEMAND.

HEALTH CENTER CORONAVIRUS AID, RELIEF, AND ECONOMIC SECURITY (CARES) ACT FUNDING

FISCAL YEAR 2025 EXPANDED HOURS. - GRANT #H80CS12881 NORTH SIDE CHRISTIAN HEALTH CENTER (NSCHC) WAS ESTABLISHED IN 1993 WITH A MISSION TO PROVIDE WHOLE-PERSON PRIMARY HEALTH CARE TO UNDERSERVED PERSONS ON PITTSBURGH’S NORTHSIDE AND SURROUNDING URBAN NEIGHBORHOODS. A SECOND SITE WAS ESTABLISHED IN 2008, AT THE NORTHVIEW HEIGHTS LOCATION; NSCHC IS THE ONLY PITTSBURGH FQHC CO-LOCATED IN A PUBLIC HOUSING COMMUNITY. NSCHC PROVIDES PRIMARY CARE, DENTAL SERVICES AND BEHAVIORAL HEALTH SERVICES. ABOUT 70% OF NSCHC PATIENTS IDENTIFY AS AN ETHNIC MINORITY, 97% OF ITS PATIENTS ARE BELOW 200% OF THE FEDERAL POVERTY LEVEL; 18% LIVE IN PUBLIC HOUSING; 14% ARE UNINSURED; AND 5.6% ARE HOMELESS. NSCHC STRIVES TO MAKE ITS SERVICES ACCESSIBLE, AFFORDABLE, AND CULTURALLY RESPONSIVE. NSCHC STAFF REFLECTS THE PATIENT POPULATION IT SERVES: 52% IDENTIFY AS BIPOC (BLACK, INDIGENOUS, PEOPLE OF COLOR) AND 48% AS WHITE. THIS IS NOTABLE IN A COUNTY WHERE ONLY 13% OF RESIDENTS IDENTIFY AS BLACK. ADDITIONALLY, 13% OF NSCHC STAFF PUBLICLY IDENTIFY AS LGBTQ AND 10% SPEAK ENGLISH AS A SECOND LANGUAGE. JUST OVER 40% ALSO LIVE IN ONE OF THE FEDERALLY DESIGNATED MEDICALLY UNDERSERVED AREAS WITHIN THE NSCHC SERVICE AREA. NSCHC CURRENTLY OFFERS EXTENDED HOURS ON WEDNESDAY EVENINGS AND SATURDAY MORNINGS TO BETTER CONNECT ITS PATIENTS TO CARE. HOWEVER, WITH THE SUPPORT OF THIS FUNDING OPPORTUNITY, NSCHC PROPOSES TO EXTEND THE EXPANDED HOURS AT BOTH OF ITS LOCATIONS. CURRENTLY, ITS MAIN LOCATION IS OPEN 46 HOURS A WEEK, WHICH INCLUDES ONE EVENING A WEEK AND SATURDAY MORNINGS. THE PROJECT PROPOSES TO INCREASE THE EXPENDED HOURS BY 13%, OR AN ADDITIONAL 6 HOURS. THESE HOURS WOULD INCLUDE OPENING A HALF-HOUR EARLIER MONDAY – THURSDAY AND ADDING 2 MORE EVENINGS A WEEK OF EXTENDED HOURS. AT THE SECOND SITE, LOCATED IN A PUBLIC HOUSING COMMUNITY OF ALMOST1000 HOUSEHOLDS, THIS PROJECT PROPOSES INCREASING CLINIC HOURS BY 25%, OR 8 HOURS. DUE TO THE PANDEMIC AND SUBSEQUENT LABOR SHORTAGES, THIS SITE’S HOURS WERE REDUCED TO 32 HOURS A WEEK. ADDITIONAL HOURS WOULD OPEN THE CLINIC 40 HOURS A WEEK. THE NORTHVIEW HEIGHTS PUBLIC HOUSING COMMUNITY IS COMPRISED OF MULTIPLE REFUGEE AND IMMIGRANT COMMUNITIES, AS A WELL AS PREDOMINANTLY BIPOC RESIDENTS. ALTHOUGH ACCESSIBLE BY BUS, THE COMMUNITY IS ISOLATED FROM COMMERCIAL AREAS AND GROCERY STORES, AND OTHER COMMUNITY FOCAL POINTS, SUCH AS MUNICIPAL POOLS AND PLACES OF WORSHIP. THUS, EXPANDING THE AVAILABILITY OF MEDICAL CARE AND DENTAL HYGIENE CARE AN ADDITIONAL DAY PER WEEK, WOULD SIGNIFICANTLY IMPACT THE ACCESSIBLY OF HEALTH CARE FOR A GEOGRAPHICALLY AND SOCIO-ECONOMICALLY MARGINALIZED COMMUNITY. THE TOTAL NUMBER OF EXTENDED HOURS IS 14 HOURS, AND ALL 3 SERVICE LINES WOULD OFFER IN-PERSON VISITS SIMULTANEOUSLY DURING SOME OR ALL THESE HOURS. THE CURRENT UTILIZATION OF WEDNESDAY AND SATURDAY HOURS IS VERY STRONG. THE 5.5 HOURS A WEEK OF EXTENDED HOURS ARE ONLY STAFFED BY ONE MEDICAL PROVIDER AND ONE BEHAVIORAL HEALTH PROVIDER. YET, THE APPOINTMENTS ARE FILLED AND OVER THE COURSE OF A MONTH (OR A TOTAL OF 22 EVENING/WEEKEND HOURS), AS MANY AS AN ADDITIONAL 90 PATIENTS ARE SEEN. NSCHC IS 6 BLOCKS FROM THE NEAREST EMERGENCY ROOM; EXTENDING HOURS WOULD ALLOW PATIENTS TO SEEK CARE WITH THEIR NSCHC PROVIDER RATHER THAN SEEK CARE IN AN EMERGENCY ROOM. THERE ARE NO OTHER HEALTH CLINICS IN THE VICINITY WHICH OFFER CARE FOR THE UNINSURED, WHICH ARE OPEN SATURDAYS MORNINGS AND OFFER MULTIPLE SERVICES IN THE SAME BUILDING. HOWEVER, TO EXTEND HOURS, ADDITIONAL SUPPORT STAFF AND PROVIDERS FOR MEDICAL AND DENTAL DEPARTMENTS WILL BE REQUIRED. WITH EXTENDED HOURS, NSCHC WOULD IMPROVE ACCESS TO CARE TO CARE IN A COMMUNITY WHERE CARE OUTSIDE OF TRADITIONAL BUSINESS HOURS IS NEARLY NON-EXISTENT. EXTENDED HOURS WOULD REDUCE UTILIZATION OF THE ED AND ALLOW MORE LOCAL RESIDENTS TO SEEK THE CARE, WHILE REDUCING HOURS MISSED AT WORK OR SCHOOL. THE EXTENDED HOURS, BASED ON STAFF RECRUITMENT, WOULD BECOME EFFECTIVE AT LEAST 6 MONTHS AFTER THE START OF THE PROJECT PERIOD.

FY 2020 EXPANDING CAPACITY FOR CORONAVIRUS TESTING (ECT)

ARRA - CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM

FY 2023 EXPANDING COVID-19 VACCINATION

ARRA - INCREASE SERVICES TO HEALTH CENTERS

HEALTH CARE AND OTHER FACILITIES

FY 2020 CORONAVIRUS SUPPLEMENTAL FUNDING FOR HEALTH CENTERS

FY 2023 BRIDGE ACCESS PROGRAM