A federal grant to strengthen mental health and substance abuse treatment in Missouri has potential to do much good.
We confess announcements of federal grant funding sometimes cause us to cringe, thinking there goes more millions of tax dollars down the drain.
But Missouri has established the goals and laid the groundwork to use the nearly $1 million federal grant effectively.
Gov. Jay Nixon announced last week the state will receive $982,373 from the federal Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration to participate in a national, year-long planning process to improve the delivery of services for mental health and substance abuse disorders.
Missouri is one of 24 states selected for the one-year program under the Excellence in Mental Health Act, championed by U.S. Sen. Roy Blunt of Missouri and enacted in 2014. After the one-year planning period, eight states will be selected to take part in a two-year Excellence Act demonstration program.
States will direct the grant funding to create a broad set of local certified community behavioral health clinics, which will provide crisis care, screening, treatment, prevention and wellness services for people with serious mental illnesses and addiction disorders.
Nixon said that by establishing partnerships with a variety of health organizations, including primary care, the clinics will ensure Missourians will have a network of partners ready to to deliver high-value care in a more seamless system of integrated care.
We believe the federal funding and program will build on the framework of mental health services already established under Nixon's 2013 Strengthening Mental Health Initiative, which lawmakers have supported with $10 million annually since Fiscal Year 2014.
Nixon's initiative is responsible for the establishment of mental health liaisons, based in community mental health centers statewide, who work with law enforcement and court personnel to connect people in behavioral health crises to treatment.
Mark Stringer, director of the Missouri Department of Mental Health, called the grant program "an exciting opportunity for Missouri to be a national leader." He added: "The creation of this demonstration program will increase access to care and expand the array and quality of treatment services for individuals with mental health and substance use disorders. It also diverts them away from the criminal justice system."
We urge Missouri officials to be good stewards of the grant funding, to enhance the delivery of mental health services in the state and to establish a model for other states to follow.