Grant will help expand telecounseling services, provide greater access to mental health care
Day One Behavioral Health Clinician Molly Reed conducts a telecounseling session.
More clients will be able to talk with a therapist from the privacy of their homes or cell phones thanks to a $60,000 grant from the Ethel and James Flinn Foundation.
Oakland Family Services received the grant to expand its telecounseling services in an effort to provide more convenient treatment to those who need it. Just like physicians see patients for medical reasons over web cams, now mental health counselors are meeting with qualifying clients using the same technology. This pilot project would allow therapists to provide better access to mental health services for those who live in remote areas or don’t have reliable transportation, as their sessions can be held online.
“Oakland Family Services hopes to increase access to services for underserved populations and geographies and improve client engagement,” said Natalie Marchione, vice president of Quality and Planning at Oakland Family Services. “This grant funding will assist us in creating an innovative and holistic system that matches the confidentiality and security our current office-based service delivery provides.”
Telecounseling is a convenient alternative to traditional, office-based therapy. Through this service, qualifying clients no longer will have to come into the office to complete paperwork to commence treatment. They will also be able to electronically sign documents, schedule appointments, and send text messages.
“This provides accessibility to therapy for a lot of people who struggle with getting transportation or may be sick and unable to attend therapy sessions,” said Andrea Orsini, director of Day One Behavioral Health Services.
Funding from the Ethel and James Flinn Foundation will allow Oakland Family Services to purchase a client portal, a video application or "app" that can be used by clients for their therapy sessions on mobile devices or computers, and secure e-sign technology, which will allow that remote ability to fill out and sign forms.
The grant will also fund creation of an application program interface (API) between Oakland Family Services' electronic health record system and the new software. This will ensure these new software programs can "talk" to each other. It also will allow maintenance of efficient and streamlined processes surrounding counseling services, whether provided in person or virtually.
In this pilot phase, Oakland Family Services anticipates serving 100 new clients as awareness of telecounseling builds throughout the community.
The Ethel and James Flinn Foundation is a Detroit based private foundation established in 1976 by Ethel “Peggy” Flinn and her brother, James “Jim” Flinn, Jr. Peggy passed away in 1994. Jim Flinn, Jr. who was diagnosed with schizophrenia in his early 20’s, led a remarkable life until his passing away in 2007 at the age of 91. The Foundation is committed to improving the scope, quality and delivery of mental health services in Michigan. Since inception, over $32 million in grants have been awarded. The Foundation’s geographic focus is primarily Southeast Michigan, defined as the counties of Wayne, Oakland, Macomb and Washtenaw.