Providence St. Joseph Health and Well Being Trust Support Life-Changing Mental Health Initiatives Across California with $10 Million in Grants

OAKLAND, Calif. and RENTON, Wash., July 26, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Providence St. Joseph Health, a faith-based not-for-profit parent organization to a diverse family of 50 hospitals, 829 clinics and hundreds of programs and services offered across the Western United States, and Well Being Trust, a new national foundation focused on innovation and improvement for mental health and wellness outcomes in the U.S., jointly announce the first round of $10 million in grants and contracts to mental health and wellness initiatives that will help vulnerable Californians.  Selected initiatives are far-reaching, supporting preschoolers to seniors, the homeless and those struggling with addiction.

When Providence Health & Services and St. Joseph Health came together last year, the new organization promised to transform the way care is delivered and address the greatest health needs in its communities ? especially for the neediest patients facing the greatest risk. For Providence St. Joseph Health, the grants help actualize the organization's mission to serve the health care needs of its communities and a commitment made in 2016 to address California's mental health needs. Providence St. Joseph Health has committed $30 million in total to mental health and wellness across the state, with the initial $10 million signifying the first round of grants fulfilling the promise.

"There is an urgent need for health care organizations to step up and address the mental health crisis affecting communities across California. None of us can meet this challenge alone ? we must work together and leverage our resources to help those most in need," said Rod Hochman, MD, CEO, Providence St. Joseph Health. "We must make a substantial commitment to improving care and awareness, and also create deep partnerships with community organizations and social service advocates. These grants and initiatives are a crucial first step toward improving the state's overall mental, physical and spiritual health."

PSJH's partner in administering the grants is Well Being Trust, which was formed when the health system made a $100 million commitment to mental health across the entire service area. Well Being Trust is dedicated to advancing mental, social and spiritual health in the nation and partners with other health systems and philanthropies to identify and implement strategies that address: critical mental health challenges; promote resilience in children; teens and families; and lead to human and community well-being. Part of Providence's $30 million California commitment will continue to support the Trust's efforts in the state, which focus on creating a data and technology platform, monitoring and evaluation, communications and engagement and community and coalition building.

"Nearly one in six Californians live with mental health challenges, and we know that roughly half of adults and two-thirds of children are not receiving the care they need. That burdens families across the community and the state," said Tyler Norris, MDiv, chief executive, Well Being Trust. "Significant gaps remain and, through these early grants, we are working with our partners to bridge these gaps to provide for California's most vulnerable populations facing mental health, substance use and related challenges."

In selecting the California slate of grants, Well Being Trust worked with Providence St. Joseph Health and community partners to identify the most significant areas of need and the programs that would have the greatest impact. The first round of grants is, in part, focused on new and existing Providence St. Joseph Health programs that are working in communities across the state to address health and wellness challenges such as mental health, addiction and homelessness. Some of these initiatives include:

Northern California

• Committee on the Shelterless - Sonoma County Coordinated Health, Wellness, and Housing Initiative - The grant will support a pilot program serving nearly 1,000 people who are homeless, many of whom struggle with mental health and or substance use disorders. Services provided include assessments, stabilization, necessary health and preparation for placement into permanent supportive housing.
• Addressing Mental Health, Addictions and Homelessness - In collaboration with Napa County Health and Human Services and other partners, the program will expand tele-psychiatry available in the emergency department and hospital, add CARE Network staff to facilitate access to mental health and substance abuse interventions, and establish new mental health crisis stabilization services, detoxification services, respite care and housing.
• Humboldt County Mental Health and Wellness Initiative - This initiative will address the issue of co-occurring mental health and substance abuse by: (1) creating Waterfront Recovery Services, the first and only dual-diagnosis, medical detoxification and residential treatment facility in the county; and (2) establishing Humboldt ACH, a rural Accountable Community for Health. This program is administered by St. Joseph Health's Humboldt County Mental Health and Wellness Initiative (HCMHWI).

Southern California

• School-Based Adolescent Mental Health System ? This initiative will equip teachers, parents and high school students within the Anaheim Union High School District in Orange County with the tools to address mental health issues, including the train-the-trainer and peer-to-peer models. The program is administered by the Promotion, Prevention and Intervention Mental Health Network at St. Joseph Hoag Health.
• Outpatient Crisis Stabilization ? This Los Angeles County-focused initiative will support the start-up phase of the Providence Outpatient Center for Crisis Stabilization (POCCS) at Providence Little Company of Mary Medical Center. Crisis stabilization is an outpatient service designed to address immediate psychiatric emergencies, many of which can be resolved in less than 24 hours.
• Safety Net Integration Program ? Strengthening the support system for disadvantaged and vulnerable populations in the San Fernando Valley, this initiative increases vulnerable populations' access to health and wellness services at Providence Holy Cross, Mission Hills. Patient navigators will assess patients; tele-psychiatry services will be implemented; and a program manager will coordinate monthly case conference meetings with members of the care team.
• Mental Health Community Partnership ? The Community Mental Health Partnership initiative addresses homelessness and substance abuse by contracting with community agencies to expand services led by Providence St. Joseph Medical Center in Burbank. A mental health advocate will conduct initial mental health and social care intervention for emergency department patients and those inpatients recommended by clinical social workers and physicians. In addition, the grant will help provide shelter to homeless patients.
• Mental Health Navigation ? Licensed clinical social workers at Providence Saint John's Health Center will provide a coordinated, culturally and linguistically appropriate case management approach for Medi-Cal and Medicare patients who need to connect with mental health providers in the community.

For a complete list of programs across California that will be supported by these grants, click here.

About Providence St. Joseph Health
Providence St. Joseph Health is committed to improving the health of the communities it serves, especially those who are poor and vulnerable. With 50 hospitals, 829 physician clinics, senior services, supportive housing and many other health and educational services, the health system and its partners employ more than 111,000 caregivers (employees) serving communities across seven states ? Alaska, California, Montana, New Mexico, Oregon, Texas and Washington. Formed in 2016, the Providence St. Joseph Health family includes the founding organizations, and in: Texas, Covenant Health and Covenant Medical Group; California, Facey Medical Group, Hoag Memorial Hospital Presbyterian and St. Joseph Heritage Healthcare; Washington, Kadlec Regional Medical Center, Pacific Medical Centers and Swedish Health Services.

About Well Being Trust
Founded in late 2016 with a $100 million endowment from Providence St. Joseph Health, Well Being Trust is a national foundation dedicated to advancing mental, social and spiritual health. Created to include participation from organizations across sectors and perspectives, Well Being Trust is committed to innovating and addressing the most critical mental health challenges facing America, and transforming individual and community wellness. www.wellbeingtrust.org  

SOURCE Providence St. Joseph Health