Covenant Community Care Receives $600,000 Service Expansion Grant from U.S. Department of Health and Human Services

Covenant Community Care, a faith-based, nonprofit Community Health Center based in Detroit, has received a $600,000 grant from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to help bolster its behavioral health care service options for its nearly 20,000 metro Detroit patients. Covenant Community Care, one of 39 federally-qualified health centers in Michigan, was recently awarded a Fiscal Year 2024 Behavioral Health Service Expansion grant that will be used to expand access to the organization's behavioral health care infrastructure servicing patients with mental health issues and substance use disorders.According to a 2022 Access to Behavioral Health Care study study released by the Michigan Health Endowment Fund, there's an unmet need for greater access to behavioral health care services in metro Detroit.The region ranks near the bottom for access to both mental health and substance use disorder (SUD) care "resulting in a large number of Michiganders not receiving mental health services and SUD care in the most densely populated region of the state.”

“This grant allows us to expand our capacity to meet the growing mental health needs of our community," said Joslyn Pettway, Covenant Community Care President & CEO. “Access to mental health services is a critical component of our holistic approach to healthcare. Reaching people right where they live and removing cost barriers ensures that we’re creating equitable communities throughout Metro Detroit.”

More specifically, the federal grant dollars will be utilized to help the organization increase the number of patients receiving mental health and substance use disorders services by addressing barriers to receiving these services, including: identifying gaps in currently available behavioral health services and health-related social needs as well as stigma and discrimination. Around 87% of participants in the Michigan Health Endowment Fund study indicated that they cannot afford to pay for their treatment. According to the study, “Participants continuously mentioned economic limitations. These limitations took several forms but focused on transportation, out-of-pocket costs, and insurance costs.” Participants who attempted to access treatment were often frustrated by the experience due to challenges with navigating the mental health system in Detroit.Regarding health-related social needs, a Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) study found that 40% of Detroit children have had adverse childhood experiences which cause trauma later in life and can contribute to substance use disorders and mental health issues if not appropriately addressed. These numbers are even more alarming when paired with the fact that unaddressed adolescent mental health issues often continue and/or worsen into adulthood.Finally, stigma continues to be a barrier for accessing mental health services in Detroit.

Providers participating in the Michigan Health Endowment Fund study reported that their clients working toward sobriety were facing more social stigma for their substance use and mental health issues than in previous years.

‍About Covenant Community Care

‍Covenant Community Care, founded in 2002, is a faith-based, charitable, non-profit Community Health Center, providing medical, dental, obstetric, and behavioral health care services to the people of Metro Detroit. As a Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC), it offers integrated health care services to everyone, regardless of their ability to pay.

Covenant cares for its patients every year through a team of around 150 full- and part-time staff and four community health centers, including three in Detroit and one in Westland. It also serves the community through a mobile dental team and the Recovery Center, an outpatient substance use treatment clinic.

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