4C Health’s CCBHC changing the terrain for supporting criminal justice system needs
Last Updated on April 12, 2025 by Cass County Communication Network
4C Health is 1 of 8 pilot sites for Indiana’s Certified Community Behavioral Health Center (CCBHC) model. This new model of mental health and substance use treatment enhances access to care, quality, expansion of the service array available, better care coordination, and creates greater transparency for consumers in organizational outcomes. Indiana is part of a Federal Demonstration for the model over the next several years. Federal and State support are critical to making this change.
4C Health sees even greater benefit to the transition from Community Mental Health Center (CMHC) to Certified Community Behavioral Health Center (CCBHC). Each Community Mental Health Center in the State of Indiana receives some federal pass through and local county funding. Under the existing CMHC model, those funds help support general services and operations on many fronts. 4C Health views shifting from the CMHC model to CCBHC creating an opportunity to rethink how those dollars are directed while still meeting their stated intention.
“The CMHC model is one of just trying to survive and be present for your communities. Since its inception in the 1960s, it has just never been consistently, adequately funded. I like to say that CMHCs are the best at doing the most with the least. The existing funding systems underlying it really becomes all about how to simply ensure the safety net system is present and does not disappear. This leads to a chronic tension about how dollars are used and allocated within each CMHC and the role of federal, state, and local dollars in such services” stated Carrie Cadwell, CEO of 4C Health.
Cadwell goes on, “CCBHC is game changer in that narrative. Indiana CCBHCs can not only adequately support themselves and expand services, they can make clear investments in the local communities that the CMHC model cannot. So here at 4C Health, we are now able to look at how continuing smaller pools of federal and local dollars that we receive get directed in ways that meet community needs. To that end, we are directing those dollars toward supporting needed mental health and substance use services with the criminal justice system based on the community
needs. This may be for services in jails, community corrections, pre-trial services, or specialty courts. We hear every day about the criminal justice system as a de facto mental health system. We hope that this not only enhances access to needed services for those who are justice-involved but allows our criminal justice partners to optimize their existing budget dollars toward public safety. This is only one way that CCBHC enhances the system of care in local communities.”
Chris Sailors, 4C Health Board Member and retired Fulton County Sherriff adds, “This new model is welcomed and has been needed in our communities. It will allow the leveraging of funds to provide additional services to those individuals in the criminal justice system that are not able to get access and local budgets do not have the funding. It will help to fill the gaps that exist and the ability to provide access to services and care that are needed for mental health and substance abuse.”
4C Health has begun those discussions with local areas and hopes to have all plans within each community served finalized in the coming months.
“None of this is possible without federal and state support. Kudos to our previous and current Administrations’ committed leadership to CCBHC. It exemplifies how Federal and State agencies can make investments in health and well-being that are clear positive impacts at the Local level”, Cadwell ends.
If you are experiencing crisis, contact 9-8-8, text IN741741, or call 4C Health directly at 800-552-3106
4C Health is also celebrating 50 years in North Central Indiana communities. In gratitude for the 1st 50 years, with vision for the next 50 years! To learn more about our 50th anniversary click this link to watch a short video https://youtu.be/s7Ua2HNk8E4?si=VMqtFDGRk79Rn608 To learn more about 4C Health visit www.4CHealthIN.org.
SOURCE: News release from 4C Health