KDADS Announces Investment to Enhance Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinic Services

~ The CCBHC model of care has already helped people in the state; funding from Ballmer Group will expand access to care provided by CCBHCs~

TOPEKA - More people across Kansas will soon have access to high-quality care thanks to a grant to invest in Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinics (CCBHCs) and strengthen the services they provide to children, adults, veterans, and families.

The grant, announced today by the Kansas Department for Aging and Disability Services (KDADS), will be administered by the National Council for Mental Wellbeing, based in Washington, D.C. The National Council and its teaming partner, the National Association of State Mental Health Program Directors (NASMHPD), will provide technical assistance and training that will provide state agencies and providers with the tools to advance behavioral health care services.

The grant from Ballmer Group will be shared among three states.

"This initiative represents a pivotal opportunity for Kansas to lead in behavioral health innovation," KDADS Secretary Laura Howard said. "By partnering with the National Council, we're investing in our workforce, expanding access to care, and building a scalable model that can serve as a blueprint for other states. Our CCBHCs are at the heart of this work, and we're excited to equip them with the tools and support needed to drive real change for Kansans."

The grant is a demonstration of Ballmer Group's longstanding commitment to supporting children and families through sustainable programs intended to give people the stability they need to thrive.

"This is more than an investment in an innovative model of health care. It's an investment in the people of Kansas," said Chuck Ingoglia, president and CEO at the National Council for Mental Wellbeing. "Access to comprehensive behavioral health care is one of the most important ways to provide families with a stable economic foundation, and that realization fuels Ballmer Group's generous philanthropic efforts."

There are 26 CCBHCs in Kansas. This initiative will support states as they establish, advance, or expand the CCBHC model to meet state-specific goals. CCBHCs ensure access to a range of services, including:

• Crisis services

• Outpatient mental health and substance use services

• Person- and family-centered treatment planning

• Community-based mental health care for veterans

• Peer, family support, and counselor services

• Targeted case management

• Outpatient primary care screening and monitoring

• Psychiatric rehabilitation services
• Screening, diagnosis, and risk assessment

CCBHCs began as a federally funded demonstration project in 2017 with 66 clinics in eight states. Today, there are 500 clinics serving an estimated 3 million people in 46 states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico.

In Kansas, CCBHCs have helped thousands of people through innovative programs. "Our state has seen significant successes," confirms KDADS Behavioral Health Services Commissioner Drew Adkins. "We are dedicated to continuing on this path to maintain the best CCBHC program for our constituents."

Kansas has successfully implemented statewide CCBHC coverage by leveraging its existing Community Mental Health Center safety net provider network. This swift, comprehensive rollout was achieved through exceptional collaboration between the following key entities:

• The Kansas Legislature and Governor Laura Kelly.
• The Association of Community Mental Health Centers.
• The Kansas Department for Aging and Disability Services (KDADS).
• The Kansas Department for Health and Environment (KDHE).

The substantial investment in Kansas's CCBHC model is delivering measurable results. A 2024 KDADS study highlighted a 75% increase in access to behavioral health services across the state. This success is also reflected in national rankings: the state has moved from 51st overall just two years ago to 18th in the 2025 Mental Health America survey for mental and behavioral health care access. This swift, positive shift is a direct outcome of dedicated investments by the state and its healthcare providers to enhance care for Kansans.

While celebrating these achievements, Kansas remains committed to continuous improvement and securing its position as a national leader. Future CCBHC efforts will focus strategically on several key areas: addressing behavioral health workforce shortages, improving access for residents in rural and frontier parts of the state, ensuring the program's financial sustainability through data-driven decisions, increasing the overall quality of services, and developing robust partnerships to better coordinate comprehensive "wrap-around care" for the individuals served.

About Ballmer Group Ballmer Group is committed to improving economic mobility for children and families in the United States, funding leaders and organizations that have demonstrated the ability to reshape opportunity. We focus on multiple impact areas and systems that can impact economic mobility, such as early learning, K-12 education, college and career pathways, housing, behavioral health, and criminal justice. Ballmer Group is both a national and regional funder-we have a presence and invest deeply in southeast Michigan, Washington state, and Los Angeles County. Ballmer Group was co-founded by philanthropist Connie Ballmer and her husband Steve Ballmer, former CEO of Microsoft, founder of USAFacts, and chairman of the Los Angeles Clippers. Learn more at https://www.ballmergroup.org.

About the National Council for Mental Wellbeing
Founded in 1969, the National Council for Mental Wellbeing is a membership organization that drives policy and social change on behalf of over 3,200 mental health and substance use treatment organizations and the more than 15 million children, adults, and families they serve. We advocate for policies to ensure access to high-quality services, build the capacity of mental health and substance use treatment organizations, and promote a greater understanding of mental well-being as a core component of comprehensive health and health care.

About NASMHPD
Founded in 1959 and based in Alexandria, VA, the National Association of State Mental Health Program Directors (NASMHPD) represents the public mental health service delivery system in all states, territories, Pacific Jurisdictions, and the District of Columbia. NASMHPD (pronounced "NASH-bid") is the only national association to represent state mental health commissioners/directors and their agencies. NASMHPD is a private, not-for-profit 501(c)(3) membership organization.

More resources:
What is a CCBHC?
2024 CCBHC Impact Report