Grassroots is excited to announce that we have been awarded $430,000 in grant funding from the Maryland Community Health Resources Commission (CHRC) to expand our Outpatient Mental Health Clinic (OMHC) services, providing free mental health care to individuals throughout Central Maryland.
Since its launch in November 2023, Grassroots’ OMHC has provided open access to free, in-person therapy and medication management appointments within 24 to 48 hours to consumers who come to Grassroots with a mental health or substance use disorder concern and who face a barrier to mental health treatment. A barrier can be lack of insurance or access to affordable mental health care, extended wait times for an appointment, trouble finding an available provider, or technological restrictions associated with telehealth.
The OMHC supports consumers by providing them with high-quality and accessible mental health care, including therapy and stabilization using psychiatric medications, withdrawal management, and if needed, while bridging connections to longer-term treatment in the community.
Grassroots’ OMHC program helps to advance health equity among low income, uninsured and underserved individuals seeking mental health treatment by providing access to free, in-person therapy and medication management within 48 hours. This open access to mental/behavioral health care allows individuals to get help before a more serious crisis or decompensation of symptoms can occur.
For example, if someone experiences a lapse in their psychiatric medication due to homelessness or a lack of insurance, the sooner they resume their medication, the less likely they are to experience mental health crisis. Waiting 30-90 days for an appointment when help is needed today could contribute to a worsening of symptoms, acute crisis or disengagement from help-seeking altogether. Grassroots’ services are also designed to keep individuals out of the emergency department, hospitals and detention centers.
“While anyone experiencing a crisis situation can use Grassroots’ services, the majority of our clients are individuals who have low income, are experiencing homelessness, are seeking assistance for a financial crisis, are food insecure, or are experiencing a mental health or substance use disorder crisis,” said Dr. Mariana Izraelson, Psy.D, LCADC, Executive Director at Grassroots. “This population is most likely to experience barriers to accessing necessary mental health or substance use disorder care services. The OMHC is unique among programs offered by Grassroots. While most of our programs are intervention that occur during an existing crisis, the OMHC is the only Grassroots service for preventing a crisis.”
“The Maryland Community Health Resources Commission is pleased to support Grassroots Crisis Intervention Services as it expands its Outpatient Mental Health Clinic services,” said CHRC Executive Director Mark Luckner. “The funds awarded will provide access to much needed mental health services.”