Behavioral Health Resource Center

The Behavioral Health Resource Center (BHRC), with offices at Family Health Centers’ (FHC) Portland clinic, provides integrated behavioral health services to patients of FHC.

Under the integrated model of care, behavioral health clinicians act as consultants and members of the primary care treatment team and serve as technical resources to both the patient and the primary care provider.  Behavioral health services are provided by a team of LCSWs, a consulting psychiatric ARNP, and graduate level students.  Patients access services by referral from their Primary Care Provider.  Patients may be seen in the clinic during their health care visit or by appointment when appropriate.  Individual counseling sessions are very brief (20-30 minutes) and limited to no more than four meetings.  Patients in need of longer-term mental health or substance abuse services are linked by the behavioral health clinician with community-based services.

Patient education and self-management of symptoms are emphasized.   The behavioral health clinician provides patients with information about their health disorders, education in self-management techniques, support for making needed behavioral changes, and assistance with setting self-management goals.  Follow-up by telephone or in person is important toward providing needed support and monitoring the patient’s progress.  Another learning opportunity available to patients through the BHRC is the Lunch & Learn series, which is presented periodically.  Patients may self-refer for participation in Lunch & Learn, although registration is required in order to insure sufficient lunches.  Patients in need of a medicine and/or diagnostic evaluation by the consulting psychiatric ARNP are first seen by a BH clinician upon referral from their Primary Care Provider.

Other services available through the Behavioral Health Resource Center are case management, medicine assistance, including help with applying to the manufacturers Patient in Need programs, enrollment in the KPC program, and help with enrolling in the Medicare Part D program.  Patients may self-refer for these services which are provided by one full-time case manager, one full time Office Coordinator, one full-time Patient Advocate, and 4 part-time volunteers

To learn more about programs and services available through the Behavioral Health Resource Center, contact Sharron Alexandersmith, Behavioral Health Coordinator, 772-8175.