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Foundations

  • The California Endowment (TCE), the largest health care foundation in California, endeavors to expand “access to affordable, quality health care for underserved individuals and communities, and promote fundamental improvements in the health status of all Californians.” treatment. Though it no longer has oversight, TCE originally launched the Integrated Behavioral Health Project (IBHP), this website host, as a strategic initiative. Much of the funding IBHP received from TCE over its first five years of operation has been awarded as grants to primary care clinics and consortia to accelerate integrated care throughout the state. The California Endowment also provided major support to the State of California for the development of its 1115 Medicaid Waiver to prepare for health care reform.
  • The Commonwealth Fund aims to promote a high performing health care system, particularly for low-income people, the uninsured, minority Americans, young children, and elderly adults. The Fund carries out this mandate by supporting independent research on health care issues and making grants to improve health care practice and policy. The fund has promoted integrated care in its policy research and analysis on approaches like bundled payment , patient-centered care medical home establishment, and health reform.
  • The Duke Endowment funds nonprofit healthcare agencies, academic health centers and health education centers in North and South Carolina to advance early intervention, community programs, equitable care, prevention and wellness and quality of healthcare. It has been working to further behavioral health integration in these states.
  • The Foundation for a Healthy Kentucky launched an Integration in Mental Health and Medical Services Initiative, awarding grants to integrate mental health services into FQHC primary care settings in that state.
  • The Hartford Foundation, as part of its mission to improve health care for older Americans, began Project Impact in 1999 with $8.4 million. The IMPACT model uses evidence-based practices, care management and collaboration between the physician, psychiatric consultation and a care manager to provide services for depressed elderly primary care clients. Their “turn-key” model incorporates screening and follow-up measures as well as a depression care manager working with the primary care doctor. The more than 30 research studies IMPACT generated, comparing their collaborative program with treatment as usual, found significant increases in client satisfaction and functioning.
  • Hogg Foundation for Mental Health has dedicated itself to advancing the mental health of the State of Texas for decades. Tofurther theintegrated behavioral healthcare, the Foundation awarded $2.6 million in three year grants to primary care clinics willing to incorporate four basic elements of the model: a mental health assessment tool; a clinical care manager; a patient registry; and psychiatric supervision and consultation. Clinics used the Impact model to address depression, anxiety and attention deficit disorders and collected data via the HITS program. In 2009, the Foundation sponsored legislation to create an integration work group, culminating in the 207 page legislative report “Integration of Health and Behavioral Health Services” Workgroup.  That year they also awarded a one year grant to Mental Health America to create a statewide learning community on integrated health care. The Foundation has also published an excellent resource for integrated care, entitled “Body and Mind: A Resource Guide to Integrated Health Care in Texas and the United States“.   Their 2013 “Window of Opportunity” briefing explores philanthropy’s role in eliminating health disparities through integrated health care.
  • The MacArthur Foundation’s Initiative on Depression and Primary Care began in 1995 when a group of scientists were challenged to make a difference in the treatment of depression in primary care. The researchers developed an agenda around three themes: identifying current practice patterns; evaluating new depression treatments; and developing new educational and office system strategies for clinicians. Results of the many studies they generated, as well as their depression toolkit and implementation stories are available on their web site.
  • The Milbank Memorial Fund, based in New York, engages in nonpartisan analysis, study, research, and communication on significant issues in health policy. In 2010, they published an exploration of collaborative care: “Evolving Models of Behavioral Health Integration in Primary Care“.
  • The New York Health Foundation has committed $10 million over five years to improve the integration of care for people in that state who cope with mental health and substance use conditions at the same time, with a focus on reducing clinical, regulatory, and financial barriers.
  • Robert Wood Johnson (RWJ) Foundation, one of the country’s leading health care foundations, funded a Diabetes Initiative (2002-2009) which involved screening diabetic patients for depression. The interventions and treatment protocols that emerged included enhancements of primary care, integrated mental health services, group therapy, and approaches emphasizing cultural traditions and mind-body focus. The Foundation has also awarded individual grants, such as the one to The Thresholds in Chicago, to develop an integrated system addressing the mental and physical health care needs of people with serious mental illness.