BROOKINGS – Avera has received a $100,000 grant through the South Dakota Community Foundation’s Beyond Idea grant program to further integrate behavioral health services into primary care visits in Brookings County.

A concept known as integrated behavioral health is the gold standard for behavioral health care in any setting, per the American Academy of Family Physicians. “Integrated behavioral health adds providers within primary care to increase access and care coordination while improving prevention and reducing barriers,” said Nikki Eining, outpatient clinical therapist for Avera Medical Group Behavioral Health in Brookings and project director for this pilot project.

While 75% of primary care visits nationwide include a mental health component, most of South Dakota lacks access to behavioral health services in any setting.

Brookings County is a federally designated mental health shortage professional area. Suicidality increased in 2022 to exceed the 10-year average of suicide attempts.

By innovating via integrated behavioral health, this pilot will reduce the disparity while increasing ease and access to care. Training for clinicians will increase their knowledge about identifying and referring behavioral health concerns. Equity training will help support cultural sensitivity and referrals for Hispanic and Native American patients. Another aspect of this grant is collaboration with South Dakota State University to identify behavioral health access gaps for Native American students.

The SDCF’s BIG Program has been designed to support community-based problem solving in South Dakota. In partnership with the Bush Foundation, the program will award $1.2 million each year for six years to eligible nonprofits in South Dakota. The program aims to develop, test and spread ideas that make the region better for everyone and inspire, equip and connect leaders to more effectively lead equitable change.

“Mental health has long been identified as an urgent need across South Dakota. Suicidality, drug abuse and family crises are just a few of the societal problems that result. We want to prevent these tragedies and help individuals and families experience higher quality of life,” said Ginger Niemann, senior program officer with the SDCF. “Solving this issue will take innovation and collaboration. We selected this project for BIG funding because it not only will benefit Brookings County, but could serve as a model for making behavioral health services more accessible and timely for patients in need.”

“We are incredibly grateful for the grant funding to launch this project and we are excited to see the difference it makes as this concept gains momentum,” Eining said.

To learn more about funding opportunities offered by the SDCF, visit their website at https://www.sdcommunityfoundation.org/