Crusader utilizes an integrated model of treatment in which mental health and/or substance use treatment services are provided in a primary care setting for child, adolescent, and adult patients. WCCMHB grant funding has enabled Crusader to increase the behavioral health workforce and expand services offered for the third year in a row. Crusader has full-time, Behavioral Health Consultants who provide mental health and substance abuse services such as assessment, diagnosis, and therapy. Additionally, Crusader has Behavioral Health Case Managers who work with patients, as well as their families; this includes patients receiving medication assisted treatment (MAT) services for opioid use disorder or alcohol use disorder,and one of whom is also the coordinator of MAT services. Case management services include coordination, collaboration, advocacy, psychoeducation, crisis intervention, and supportive counseling. The case managers are the primary point of contact for patients receiving behavioral health services, including telepsychiatry services, thus increasing accessibility, availability, and timeliness to address the needs of patients and reduce barriers to care. Crusader also offers part-time telepsychiatry services to provide diagnostic evaluation and medication management for child, adolescent, and adult patients and peer-to-peer consultation services for medical and behavioral health providers. Finally, a Behavioral Health Department Assistant/Certified Medical Assistant (CMA) provides departmental support, provider practice management, community outreach and engagement, and staff on-boarding and training coordination and is the medical assistant for Crusader telepsychiatry services.

Established Crusader patients (child, adolescent, adult) can make an appointment while they are in the clinic, over the phone, or they can even be seen in-the-moment if they are already in the clinic for other services. There is no “referral” needed, a patient just needs to express the desire for behavioral health services. Behavioral health staff will meet with the patient and together determine their treatment needs.