Community Mental Health of Ottawa County (CMHOC) is a Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinic (CCBHC). In August 2021, CMH was awarded the CCBHC Expansion Grant funded by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) through the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) and the Lakeshore Regional Entity (LRE), to become a CCBHC clinic. The CMHOC 2023 Annual Report states that its number one goal is to “Continue Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinic (CCBHC) initiates and other efforts to expand service delivery options.” One of those initiates is explored in this article.
According to SAMHSA, a CCBHC clinic is: “required to provide a comprehensive array of behavioral health services so that people who need care don't have to piece together the behavioral health support they need across multiple providers. In addition, CCBHCs must provide care coordination to help people navigate behavioral health care, physical health care, social services, and the other systems they are involved in.”
Similarly, MDHHS states that a CCBHC will “provide a range of mental heath and substance use disorder services, focusing on better integration of mental and physical health care and whole person wellness. We take a person-centered approach, meaning prioritizing quality care while working towards outcomes identified by individuals to improve their lives. We collaborate with community organizations to ensure coordination of care for mutually served individuals.”
Critically, the CCBHC “cannot refuse service to any person based on either ability to pay or residence.”
Like so much woke jargon, words and phrases that sound admirable are being used to conceal meaning through ambiguity. This integration of no cost health care to anyone regardless of residence has also been called socialized medicine and an invitation to open borders.
The CCBHC is implemented at the direction of the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services CCBHC Demonstration Handbook. The Handbook sets forth Program Requirements. One of those requirements is cultural competency.
The CMHOC Cultural Competency Plan 2023 states:
These statements are followed by a “Key Concept” of “Cultural Humility,” defined as “A process of lifelong commitment to self-evaluation and critique to address the power imbalances between individuals providing services and those receiving services”
The Plan further states:
“At Community Mental Health of Ottawa County (CMHOC), developing one's own cultural competency begins with employee orientation and continues throughout employment with ongoing training and learning opportunities.”
“CHMOC is dedicated to creating a culturally diverse workforce”
“CMHOC is continually committed to promoting cultural competency within our organization, hiring purposes, and services provided.”
The Plan Key Concept “Health Disparity” adds “A particular type of health difference that is closely linked with social, economic, and/or environmental disadvantage. … include[s] but [is not} limited to: Racial or ethnic group, Gender, Sexual orientation or gender identity.”
All this sounds like the wheel of power and privilege, swooning over the slogan “Where You Belong,” implicit bias tests, re-education, and doing the work.
According to the CMHOC Cultural Competency Plan, to meet its commitment to promoting cultural competency within the organization and hiring purposes following its demographics analysis, the racial and/or ethnic composition of the CMHOC workforce and board should be
Notably, Asians don't get a euphemism. Maybe they all look alike to the progressives. How about Orientx?
By setting quotas, it looks like the CMHOC is opening itself up to race discrimination lawsuits. In any event, is this consistent with its Mission Statement? The CMH Mission Statement is: ““Community Mental Health of Ottawa County partners with people with mental illness, intellectual/developmental disabilities, substance use disorders and the broader community to improve lives and be a premier mental health agency in Michigan.”
So how does LGBTQIA+, cultural competency improve lives for people with MI, IDD, and SUD? Does it make them feel loved and safe? Or, does it groom them into the woke mindset?
It looks like CMHOC is still focusing on diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) even though the Ottawa County DEI Department was eliminated on January 3, 2023.
It also looks like Barbara Lee Van Horssen of the Momentum Center and CMH Executive Director Lynne Doyle share a grift in common – cashing in on DEI. But, that is the MDHHS coaches game plan being executed by its CMHOC players on the field. See:
(Diversity, Equity & Inclusion)
(Health Equity, Implicit Bias, Stigma and Antiracism)
(Michigan Equity Practice Guide)
Van Horssen is correct. She said to Doyle at two CMHOC board meetings, to paraphrase, “What's the problem, I am only doing what you asked me to do.”