FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Alexandra Walker, 718-938-2820
Bethesda, MD—The National Association of Community Health Centers (NACHC) and the National Council for Mental Wellbeing (National Council) today announced a strategic partnership aimed at advancing the integration of behavioral health and primary care throughout the nation’s health system. Drawing on the combined expertise, networks, and leadership of both organizations, this collaboration will drive systemic improvements through a Science, Education, Practice, and Policy (SEPP) framework.
NACHC represents America’s 1,512 Community Health Centers (CHCs), which are marking their 60th year of delivering affordable, comprehensive, effective, and integrated primary care to communities. Today, CHCs provide comprehensive care to at least 34 million and up to 52 million patients nationwide. They serve up to 1 in 7 people across the nation, including 1 in 3 in rural America with a 330,000-strong workforce, serving as the largest primary care system in the United States.
The National Council represents more than 3,200 mental health and substance use treatment organizations, reaching over 15 million children, adults, and families across the country.
CHCs are a key resource for these patients who otherwise would not have access to behavioral health services. CHCs integrate behavioral health into their model of care so patients who access primary care services can also receive mental health and substance use treatment in a familiar environment free from stigma. The demand for behavioral health services at CHCs has surged. In 2023, CHCs reported more than 43.5 million visits for mental health and substance use disorders, reflecting a 54 percent increase since 2018.
“CHCs and behavioral health providers have long been trusted anchors in their communities,” said Kyu Rhee, MD, MPP, President and CEO of NACHC. “This partnership allows us to combine our strengths to build integrated systems of care that address the full spectrum of physical and mental health needs. By advancing science, education, practice, and policy together, we can help ensure that mental wellbeing is treated as an essential component of comprehensive health care for all.”
“By coming together in our shared mission to provide effective care to people—regardless of their ability to pay or their preferred care location—the National Council and NACHC will be able to promote flexible, community-tailored models of care where they are needed most,” said Chuck Ingoglia, MSW, President and CEO of the National Council. “Together, we will work to eliminate barriers to integrating care in CHCs and Community Mental Health Centers to ensure healthier lives for the people our members serve.”
A Comprehensive SEPP Framework for Collaboration
The NACHC–National Council partnership is structured around four pillars:
- Science: Explore opportunities across clinical leader (Chief Medical Officer, Chief Behavioral Health Officer, Chief Nursing Officer and Chief Pharmacy Officer) teams to collaborate on education, research, and technical assistance delivery (e.g., leveraging Comprehensive Health Integration Framework as a resource to support integration of primary care and behavioral health).
- Education: Offering joint leadership development programs and shared educational resources. These will include upskilling opportunities such as Mental Health First Aid at Work certification and reciprocal member discounts on leadership academies such as NACHC’s Mid-Levels Manager Academy and Leadership Exchange for Chief Health Officers.
- Practice: Co-designing learning communities and roadmaps to advance behavioral health integration within CHCs and expand access to care through collaborative models. NACHC will work with the National Council to serve as faculty for two learning collaboratives this year: one on behavioral health integration and one on the Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinics model.
- Policy: Coordinating federal advocacy initiatives—including Hill Days and Action Alerts—to remove barriers to integrated care.
This strategic alignment will also create new opportunities for joint workforce development, shared conference programming, grant submissions, and cross-promotion of training and awareness campaigns.
A Shared Vision for Whole-Person Health
Both organizations share a vision for a health care system that integrates primary and behavioral health care seamlessly, ensuring that patients receive comprehensive, coordinated services that address both medical and social needs. Through this partnership, NACHC and the National Council aim to strengthen clinical integration, expand workforce capacity, and advance policies that support sustainable, whole-person care models.
About the National Association of Community Health Centers
NACHC’s mission is to champion Community Health Centers delivering affordable, effective, comprehensive primary care that is community-driven and improves health for all. For more information, visit www.nachc.org.
About the National Council for Mental Wellbeing
The National Council for Mental Wellbeing drives policy and social change on behalf of more than 3,200 mental health and substance use treatment organizations and the more than 15 million children, adults, and families they serve. The National Council advocates policies to ensure access to high-quality services. For more information, visit www.thenationalcouncil.org.