[ST. PAUL, MN] – Today, Governor Tim Walz and Lieutenant Governor Peggy Flanagan visited the Zumbro Valley Health Center in Rochester to highlight an investment of $18 million in Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinics (CCBHCs) included in the budget that passed this last legislative session.  As a CCBHC, Zumbro Valley Health Center uses innovative treatments to address both mental health and substance use disorders.

“Too many families have felt the impact of addiction and mental health crises without knowing where to turn,” said Governor Walz. “It’s critical these essential services be readily available so that everyone has access to the care they need when they need it. That’s why we’re building behavioral health clinics across the state to make sure Minnesotans have a place to go for help and healing.”

“It is critical that we have health care facilities that are equipped to treat the whole patient, the whole person,” said Lieutenant Governor Flanagan. “This investment will be transformative for individuals and families across the state who are struggling with mental health and substance abuse.”

“Funding for behavioral health has been inadequate and fragmented for many years,” said Beth Krehbiel, CEO of Zumbro Valley Health Center “People living with a severe mental health illness live on average 20 years less, mainly due to treatable medical conditions.  The CCBHC model of care provides an opportunity for integrated coordinated services that also address basic primary care needs. We are so excited about the support and priority Governor Walz has placed on these important issues.”

The $18 million dollar investment will go towards establishing five new behavioral health clinics over the next five years. In addition to expanding the use of CCBHCs, the budget invests in a number of comprehensive mental health and substance abuse programs, including increased funding for school-linked mental health services, more residential treatment services available for children, and a strategic approach to addressing the opioid crisis.

About Community Behavioral Health Clinics
CCBHCs are community clinics that offer mental health and substance use disorder services as well as a range of other services. Results from Minnesota’s pilot program showed that CCBHCs improved access to care, reduced wait times, improved coordination, expanded scope of services and improved ability to meet individual needs.

The eight pilot sites in Minnesota include the Human Development Center in the Duluth area; People Incorporated in the Twin Cities metro area; Northern Pines Mental Health Center in the northcentral part of the state; Northwestern Mental Health Center serving seven northwest counties; Wilder Mental Health and Wellness in the Twin Cities metro area; Ramsey County Mental Health Center in the Twin Cities metro area; Western Mental Health Center in Marshall; and Zumbro Valley Health Center in Olmstead and Fillmore Counties in the southeast.

About Zumbro Valley Health Center
Zumbro Valley Health Center is a Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinic in Rochester that serves people with addiction disorders, mental illness or co-occurring conditions. The health center serves nearly 5,000 people annually, the overwhelming majority of whom were from under-served populations. The overwhelming majority of patients are individuals with low-incomes, Medicaid- and Medicare-eligible and public assistance populations. In 2017, an estimated 90% of clients utilize government-subsidized funding or sliding-fee scales to reimburse Zumbro Valley Health Center for services provided.

In 2015, they received a Commissioner’s Circle of Excellence Award from DHS.

In addition to investing in Community Behavioral Health Clinics, Governor Walz successfully fought to include the following provisions in the budget to support mental health:

Rural Mental Health
Farmers and other rural residents statewide are experiencing high levels of stress, linked to farm production challenges, financial difficulties, changes in the social fabric of rural living, and other factors beyond their control. The budget:

• Invests $468,000 to expand on collaborative rural mental health efforts, including one-on-one farmer counseling and a 24-hour hotline over four years.
• Adds one additional Farm Advocate to the current team of trained advisors, who provide one-on-one assistance for Minnesota farmers facing a crisis caused by either a natural disaster or financial problems.

Suicide Prevention
The Department of Human Services supports many programs and services for Minnesotans living with mental illness. The budget:

• Invests $7 million in suicide prevention resources, including a statewide 24/7 suicide hotline.
• Provides grants to communities across the state to address local mental health concerns.

School-Linked Mental Health Resources
Untreated mental health conditions can be a significant barrier to learning and educational success. State infrastructure grants support school-linked mental health services throughout Minnesota to increase accessibility for children and youth who are uninsured or under insured and improve clinical and functional outcomes for children and youth with a mental health diagnosis The budget:

• Invests $9.6 million in school-linked mental health grants to expand services statewide for K-12 students.

Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinics
Substance use disorder and mental illness commonly go hand in hand, but it is rare in Minnesota to be able to get treatment for both conditions in the same place. Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinics (CCBHCs) are an innovative model of care designed to increase access, improve services and serve as a one-stop shop for mental health and substance use treatment. The budget:

• Provides $18 million for 5 new behavioral health clinics years to expand the use of this emerging evidence-based approach in Minnesota.over the next 5