10 Dec Citrus Counseling services uses Kaiser Foundation Hospital, Fontana grant to increase access to services
Citrus Counseling Services (CCS) recently received a $24,500 grant from the Kaiser Foundation Hospital, Fontana to establish a new licensed mental health therapist in the Inland Empire. The CCS Board praised the Kaiser Foundation’s dedication to increasing behavioral health service capacity.
Project Information:
Redlands, CA December 7, 2021- Roger Uminski II, CEO, at CCS announced to his board that the Kaiser Foundation Hospital, Fontana awarded a behavioral health service capacity grant to CCS. These funds will be used to cover the salary for a licensed mental health therapist new to the Inland Empire while they go through the insurance credentialing process.
Until a therapist has been credentialed, CCS cannot bill an insurance company for the services they provide. This limits them to serve people who can pay out of pocket or qualify for special services funded by state and county programs. This grant will allow CCS to provide about 160 hours of services to about sixteen individuals during the 3-6 month credentialing process. More importantly, a desperately needed mental health therapist will serve our community going forward. CCS is contracted to provide mental health services to Kaiser Members.
The 2019 Kaiser Community Health Needs Assessment for the San Bernardino County Area reports that poor mental health is higher in this service area than the state of California and the southern California region. The California Healthcare Foundation 2018 report on physician supply in California documents that the Inland Empire is woefully underserved. There are 34.5 primary care physicians and 64.3 specialty care physicians per 100,000 residents. Orange County’s ratio is 52 primary care/108.4 specialty clinicians per 100,000 residents. California’s overall is 49.8/104.1. Specialty care includes mental health. CCS is a practicum site for Master’s Level students from Loma Linda University, Cal Baptist University, University of Redlands,
Cal State San Bernardino, Azusa Pacific University, and others. We do this to support a pipeline to create more mental health therapists for this region. After a student earns their degree, they must practice as an Associate Therapist under a licensed therapist’s supervision for two years and pass an exam to become licensed. It then takes 6-9 months for them to complete the insurance company panel processes to see patients with insurance.
About Citrus Counseling Services, Inc
Citrus Counseling Services (CCS) is a non-profit mental health agency providing counseling and mental health services throughout the Inland Empire since 1978. CCS was started through five partnering faith communities as Citrus Counseling Services of the East Valley, Inc. Over 30 congregations, community non-profits, and schools continue to support CCS. Our mission is to provide comprehensive mental health services and bridge clients to community services.
CCS provides mental health therapeutic services that focus on the relational well-being of clients of all ages, focusing on evidence-based treatments that target low- to moderate-income families with young children. CCS provides counseling, assessments, treatment, and program eligibility screening. CCS also offers psychoeducational classes (i.e., parenting education, domestic violence, anger management), NCTI Curriculum-based training programs for Youth, and Trauma services. All services are based on best practice standards and employ evidence-based models. CCS is uniquely equipped to provide treatment for families, particularly those with very young children.
About Kaiser Foundation Hospital, Fontana
Kaiser Permanente is committed to helping shape the future of health care. We are recognized as one of America’s leading health care providers and not-for-profit health plans. Founded in 1945, Kaiser Permanente has a mission to provide high-quality, affordable health care services and to improve the health of our members and the communities we serve. We currently serve almost 12.5 million members in eight states and the District of Columbia. Care for members and patients is focused on their total health and guided by their personal Permanente Medical Group physicians, specialists and team of caregivers. Our expert and caring medical teams are empowered and supported by industry-leading technology advances and tools for health promotion, disease prevention, state-of-the-art care delivery and worldclass chronic disease management. Kaiser Permanente is dedicated to care innovations, clinical research, health education and the support of community health.
Kaiser Permanente’s San Bernardino County Service Area has provided comprehensive, affordable health care to the Inland Empire for more than 75 years and serves over 650,000 members. The San Bernardino County Service Area includes the Kaiser Foundation Hospitals in Fontana and Ontario, and medical offices in Fontana, Ontario, Chino, Claremont, Colton, Hesperia, Montclair, Rancho Cucamonga, Redlands, San Bernardino, Victorville, and Upland.
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