The story so far: a mixed-methods evaluation of county-level behavioral health needs, policies, and programs

ABSTRACT

Introduction: Community needs assessments (CNAs) assess services that residents need and the programs and policies that can address these needs. Recent CNAs have identified a high demand for behavioral health services. A case example is Hillsborough County, FL and this specific need has had significant impacts on local programs and policies.

Methods: A 2018 social services mixed methods CNA of eight socio-economically disadvantaged neighborhoods revealed details on social determinant factors driving the need for behavioral health services.

Results: Survey data illustrated several barriers and challenges to meeting the local needs. Residents report an inability to access necessary mental health services. Community listening sessions provided themes on how behavioral health disorders have made life difficult for lower-income residents.

Discussion: The community-based participatory process of this CNA drew out important themes on social service needs that, when unmet, are contributing to and compounding, the mental health challenges and needs for services in lower-income communities.

Conclusions: Various policy and program factors emerge from this case example based on the methodology used and serves as an exemplary model where academia and government agency collaboration can extract new insights that support government policy innovation to meet local mental health service needs.

KEYWORDS:

• Community needs assessment
• mental health needs
• local policies and programs

Additional information

Funding

This CNA was conducted under a contract with the Hillsborough County Department of Social Services. Development of this paper was completed following the completion of the project; Hillsborough County Department of Social Services [NA].