Vitality Unlimited receives $4M in federal funds to expand behavioral health care in Carson City and beyond
Submitted by Carson Now Reader on Fri, 07/30/2021 - 9:00am
In 2017, Vitality Unlimited, based in Elko, was among the first organizations in the nation to have received the Federal designation as a Certified Community Behavioral Health Center (CCBHC).
Vitality has been recognized again with the award of $4 million dollars to continue CCBHC operations and in Carson City and expand them to Reno.
A subsequent $2M will be awarded in the second year of each grant.
“It is an honor to have our hard work and commitment to quality, comprehensive behavioral health care recognized, again, by the Federal government,” said Ester Quilici, CEO of Vitality Unlimited. “When Vitality was founded in Elko 50 years ago as a public-private partnership with federal and local agencies we began the mission that continues - to instill hope, restore wellness, and improve the quality of life for those we serve.”
“I’ve worked hard to make sure that Nevadans in every corner of our state have access to quality, affordable, community-based health care,” said U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez-Masto. “CCBHCs like Vitality Unlimited are essential to making sure that Nevadans with mental health or substance use issues can get the supportive care they need.”
Vitality Unlimited has offered substance abuse treatment in Reno through Vitality Footprints since 2006.
By wrapping the CCBHC structure around Footprints, it will expand services clients can receive through one organization to include all nine core services a CCBHC must provide, including:
- Crisis mental health services;
- Screening, assessment and diagnosis;
- Primary care screening and monitoring;
- Patient-centered treatment planning;
- Outpatient mental health and substance use services;
- Psychiatric rehabilitation services;
- Peer support, counseling and family support services;
- Services for veterans;
- Targeted case management.
One organization, however, does not mean one location.
Vitality Unlimited kept the doors of all of its clinics open for in-person service throughout the pandemic and it adapted quickly to the need to provide telehealth and mobile services, which will continue.
“If a client cannot come to us, for example an adolescent suffering from anxiety or a physically handicapped adult, we go to them in our mobile unit with a therapist, peer support counselor, case management, whatever is needed,” said Judith Ricketts-Stookey, Northern Nevada Director for Vitality Unlimited. “Treatment is our mission; it’s that simple.”
All Nevadans are eligible to receive services from CCBHC’s, including individuals with Medicaid, Medicaid HMOs, Nevada Check-Up, Medicare, Tricare, Blue Cross/Blue Shield and most other insurances.
A sliding fee scale is also provided for those with no ability to pay.
“An investment in substance abuse and mental health treatment is an investment in Nevada’s workforce,” concludes Quilici. “Prevention works, treatment is effective, and recovery is possible – that’s what Vitality Unlimited is here for, to help Nevadans regain their lives.”
To learn more about Vitality Unlimited visit https://vitalityunlimited.org/
