This Resource Page contains information our team hopes you will find helpful in increasing your understanding of integrating behavioral health in various settings, especially the San Joaquin Valley!
Integrating behavioral health into primary care is an effective way of addressing the behavioral health needs of our rural communities. Check out this article on the American Psychological Association’s website regarding current models of integrating behavioral health into primary care. You will learn what a ‘Behavioral Health Consultant’ does and why integration helps address health access equity!
Did you know that, with exception of the City of Fresno, the San Joaquin Valley is considered a Mental Health Provider Shortage Area, according to the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA)? Check out the information at data.HRSA.gov.
Many rural communities in the San Joaquin Valley are served by Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs), such as Valley Health Team, as well as Rural Health Clinics (RHCs), such as Adventist Health Central Valley. These are safety net providers that focus on primary care and prevention, and many with Medi-Cal seek services there! Here is a list of FQHCs in Fresno County. We are giving a special shout-out to VHT and Adventist Health, our current partners that help train our clinical psychology doctoral students in integrated behavioral health through the support of our HRSA GPE grant!
The Rural Health Information Hub is a great place to search for anything related to promoting physical and mental well-being in rural communities! You can find statistics, current issues, best practices, grant opportunities, and more. As you are aware, most of the San Joaquin Valley is rural. This Hub will come in handy when you need to search for information and connect community organizers to resources!