Santa Fe, NM — Four Corners Detox Recovery Center, a division of Santa Fe Recovery Center (SFRC), announced it has received $1 million from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) to establish a Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinic (CCBHC) in McKinley County. The grant is set to renew each year for four years and will allow the center to provide residents of all ages a comprehensive range of outreach, screening, assessment, treatment, care coordination, and recovery supports through access to high-quality mental health and substance use disorder services. 

“This funding not only signifies a tremendous vote of confidence in our mission but also represents a significant step forward in our ability to provide integrated mental health care alongside addiction services throughout the region,” said Stacy Martin, Santa Fe Recovery Center CEO. “This grant is not just an investment in our organization; it’s an investment in the well-being and resilience of our community.” 

The need for streamlined behavioral health care is significant. McKinley County has New Mexico’s highest rate of residents receiving “no treatment” for their behavioral health needs, and, according to a 2022 Community Health Needs Assessment, substance abuse and mental health problems were noted as the county’s top two health problems – ahead of obesity, diabetes, and heart disease. In that same survey, more than 75 percent of health professionals placed mental health at the top of the list for preventable hospitalizations, and 76 percent indicated that “inadequate or very inadequate” mental health screenings were the primary cause. 

“The idea of the CCBHC is to take away the need for patients to piece together behavioral health support across multiple providers by offering a wide range of services like counseling, therapy, medication management and crisis intervention under one roof. And, the integration of these services with primary care allows for a more holistic approach to patient needs which improves health outcomes, reduces recidivism and prevents costly hospital readmissions,” said Martin. 

The CCBHC model is a fairly new initiative piloted in eight states in 2017 through the passage of the Excellence in Mental Health Care Act of 2014. Since 2018, SAMHSA has funded clinics in dozens of states. To qualify for CCBHC funding, a program needs to provide services to anyone regardless of diagnosis and insurance status, and also offer 24/7 crisis services and care coordination for physical health care, social services and any other systems patients are involved in. 

According to the National Council for Mental Wellbeing, the success of CCBHCs hinges on innovative partnerships with key service providers throughout the community including law enforcement, schools, and hospitals. 

Four Corners Detox Recovery Center currently provides substance use disorder treatment and recovery support, medication assisted treatment (MAT), case management, peer support, counseling, and psychiatric services in both residential and outpatient settings. It also has a history of successful collaborations with community partners including Gallup Indian Medical Center, Gallup Community Health, and Rehoboth McKinley Christian Health Care Services for primary care and in-patient psychiatric services. Its partnerships with the McKinley County DWI Treatment Court and the Navajo Nation Department of Corrections Crownpoint District have been instrumental in offering a non-punitive option for individuals involved with the criminal justice system who also struggle with substance use disorder. 

“We have been working closely with our community partners in Gallup since day one on a number of meaningful collaborative efforts,” said Barry Ore, Four Corners Detox Recovery Center Program Director. “Being able to align priorities with other health care providers, nonprofits and service organizations reinforces the message that taking care of your mental health is no different than and just as important as taking care of your physical health. A CCBHC in McKinley County will go a long way in not only increasing access to all health care but also promoting awareness and reducing stigma.” 

Today, more than 500 CCBHCs are operating in 46 states, plus Puerto Rico, Washington D.C. and Guam. Once established, the CCBHC run by Santa Fe Recovery Center will be only the second program in New Mexico.