Overview
From 2018-2025, the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation funded the Delta Center for a Thriving Safety Net to foster effective and sustainable collaboration between state primary care associations (PCAs) and state behavioral health associations (SBHAs) to foster better behavioral health integration in primary care. The ultimate goal was to advance policy and practice change for a better system of care.
The National Association of Community Health Centers, in partnership with JSI, the National Council for Mental Wellbeing (National Council), and the Center for Accelerating Care Transformation (ACT Center) at Kaiser Permanente Washington Health Research Institute, helped convene PCAs and SBHAs from 19 states to elevate local insights on improving patient experience and access to behavioral health care in primary care settings.
Resources
National Policy Scan
NACHC and the National Council have released a joint policy scan of federal and state policies and grant programs impacting Health Centers and Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinics. Opportunities for joint action to further policies that benefit and foster growth for these providers are identified.
Webinar
Fostering Collaborative Partnerships: Lessons from Primary and Behavioral Healthcare Associations
Watch past Delta Center grantees from Oklahoma and New York primary care and behavioral health associations to speak about their experiences forming partnerships to strengthen bi-directional primary care and behavioral health integration. Panelists discussed lessons learned in building and sustaining partnerships including:
- Intentional relationship building across associations
- Opportunities for collective action
- Centering people with lived experiences
Collaboration Playbook
Fostering Collaborative Partnerships: Lessons from Primary and Behavioral Health Care Associations
With this Delta Center Partner Playbook, NACHC and the National Council have documented grantees’ successes, lessons learned and opportunities for collaborative problem solving so state primary care associations and behavioral health state associations can benefit from them. The Playbook is structured around five themes that were instrumental in building successful partnerships, and grantee stories highlight real-life examples in action. It provides a framework other health care associations can follow when forging sustainable, effective partnerships.
Grantee Videos
During the Delta Center’s final convening in March 2024, the program team interviewed grantees to hear about their experiences in Phase II of the State Learning & Action Collaborative. As a result of their participation, PCAs and BHSAs built relationships with each other and collaborated to achieve key policy successes. Watch grantees share their kay takeaways from the initiative.
Phase 2 Recap
Alaska
The Alaska Primary Care Association and Alaska Behavioral Health Association collaboratively advanced comprehensive telehealth legislation in their state.
Gulf States
The Community Health Center Association of Mississippi, Mississippi Association of Community Mental Health Centers, Louisiana Primary Care Association, and Louisiana Public Health Institute improved their care systems by building the capacity of state associations and providers.
Kansas
The Association of Community Mental Health Centers of Kansas and Community Care Network of Kansas worked to align policy, payment, and practice through an integrated model of care.
Oklahoma
Oklahoma Primary Care Association and Oklahoma Behavioral Health Association worked together to improve the integration of health networks in preparation for the state’s implementation of Medicaid managed care at the beginning of 2024.
Pennsylvania
Rehabilitation and Community Providers Association and Pennsylvania Association of Community Health Centers advanced telehealth expansion which included ensuring integrated whole-person care and equitable access to care for Pennsylvanians.
Funding statement
Support for this program was provided by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF). The views expressed here do not necessarily reflect the views of RWJF.
Funding stipulations from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation prohibited the use of Delta Center funds for engaging in direct or grassroots lobbying. Grantees used their Delta Center funding to support a broad array of policy activities, including background research, education and training, stakeholder engagement and convening, and building shared policy agendas. As state associations, Delta Center grantees used other non-Delta Center funding sources when they engaged in lobbying and legislative advocacy to advance policy.
