Oak Orchard Health (OOH) has been awarded $921,864 by the Finger Lakes Performing Provider System (FLPPS) in response to a proposal submitted to the FLPPS System Transformation Fund. This grant will fund the development of a collaboration between Oak Orchard Health, the Brockport Central School District, The College at Brockport, and University of Rochester – Division of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry.
Dr. James Goetz, long-time OOH pediatrician, provided the vision behind this collaboration. For quite some time, he has been concerned about the lack of behavioral health services on the western side of Monroe County. Goetz remarked, “For some time those of us caring for children have become alarmed at the increase in mental health and behavioral health problems in children and adolescents. Over the past 14 months Oak Orchard Health, with its newly established Behavioral Health Department, has led a coalition including the Brockport Central School System, the SUNY College at Brockport, and the Division of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry at the University of Rochester to address this issue.” He went on to say, “Our goal is to establish a first class behavioral health program that addresses prevention, early detection and treatment of mental health and behavioral health conditions in children and adolescents. This grant is a giant step forward in this effort.”
OOH provides a model of care that integrates patient-centered primary care, behavioral health, dental and vision services – treating the whole patient and focusing on wellness and prevention. OOH believes that offering behavioral health services in the comfort and familiarity of a child’s own doctor’s office will break down the barriers to care and will treat the child holistically.
OOH CEO Mary Ann Pettibon remarked, “The intent is to provide easy access to behavioral health care provided by a team of health care professionals who know the child … who know the family … and can help them on a road to wellness.” Staff will begin planning for the program immediately.
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