Home » $2M grant will expand mental health services in 5 Ky. counties

$2M grant will expand mental health services in 5 Ky. counties

LEXINGTON, Ky. — Substance Abuse and Mental Health Service Administration has awarded Lexington-based New Vista a $2 million grant to expand mental health and substance use treatment services in Fayette, Clark, Madison, Estill and Powell counties, integrating primary care into behavioral health care.

Formerly known as Bluegrass.org, New Vista will provide care via the Certified Community Behavioral Health Center (CCBHC) model to coordinate all forms of healthcare needs for vulnerable populations.

With this new grant, New Vista’s services will integrate primary care with expanded mental health and substance use services in rural areas of Central Kentucky. Plans include a new rural Assertive Community Treatment (ACT) team to assist those experiencing serious mental illness, enhanced crisis services and new outreach teams. New Vista also anticipates hiring additional staff, expanding clinical space, and offering free transportation to clients in rural areas.

“The CCBHC grant will help us reach more of our fellow Kentuckians,” said CEO Paul Beatrice. “We serve 25,000 Kentuckians and their families each year, but still more is needed. This grant will allow us to expand services and improve access to mental health and substance use services. The ability to integrate primary care will be invaluable to our clients.”

As the Community Mental Health Center serving 17 counties in Central Kentucky, New Vista has provided behavioral health services since 1966. New Vista was one of five centers in Kentucky to receive a CCBHC grant. This is a two-year award from SAMHSA with two-million dollars available in the first year with a potential for two-million in the second year.

“We hope that this grant will demonstrate the value of the CCBHC model in our region,” said Don Rogers, Chief Clinical Officer. “We can make a huge impact in the lives of children, adults and families by providing more of their healthcare services under one roof.”

New Vista is the nonprofit community mental health center, with regional offices located in Lexington, serving 25,000 Kentuckians in 17 central Kentucky counties. It rebranded in 2019 from Bluegrass.org and provides services in mental health, substance use and intellectual and developmental disabilities. Visit www.newvista.org.