CFMC Taking Bold Steps to Ensure Access to Behavioral Health Treatment

Caswell Family Medical Center, Inc. (CFMC) has received a grant award from the US Department of Health and Human Services, Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA). CFMC is one of 1,208 grant recipients across the nation to receive this grant, which will be ongoing funding to specifically support the further development and capacity of integrated behavioral health services, which are designed to prevent and treat mental health conditions and substance use disorders. HRSA’s total investment is more than $200 million, of which CFMC will be receiving $167,000.

This is tremendous news for our community!, said William Crumpton, CFMC’s Chief Executive Officer. “This funding will help CFMC to expand our reach and capacity to provide greater access to counseling and treatment for a wide range of behavioral health and substance use issues.

“Since starting CFMC’s Integrated Behavioral Health Program in May of this year, I have been overwhelmed by the unmet need in Caswell. I have seen so many people have been trying to function day-to-day while battling untreated and serious depression and anxiety. These conditions lead to many other problems, including substance abuse, that if untreated would significantly limit their success as individuals working to make their way through life” says Tania Majette, Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) and CFMC’s Behavioral Health Program Director.

“An individual’s mental health directly impacts their physical health”, said Dr. Stephen Kikel, CFMC’s Chief Medical Officer. “Through our Integrated Behavioral Health Program, we are now able to offer treatment for the ‘mind’ and the ‘body’”.

According to the National Institute of Mental Health,
“The same risk factors that increase the risk of depression in otherwise healthy people also raise the risk in people with other medical illnesses. These risk factors include a personal or family history of depression or loss of family members to suicide.

“…In people with depression, scientists have found changes in the way several different systems in the body function, all of which can have an impact on physical health:

• Signs of increased inflammation
• Changes in control of heart rate and blood circulation
• Abnormalities in stress hormones
• Metabolic changes typical of those seen in people at risk for diabetes”

“With this funding, CFMC intends to hire another full time, and one part-time, Behavioral Health Clinicians who will work alongside Hyppolite and CFMC’s medical staff to provide greater access to behavioral health services both inside and outside the walls of CFMC’s facility”, said Crumpton. “CFMC is committed to creating a community-wide infrastructure by providing services directly and through a partnership with other community organizations that is sustainable and capable of ensuring access to care for everyone in our community.”