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Organizational Leaders Perceptions of Barriers to Accessing Behavioral Health Services in a Low-Resource Community

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Abstract

Little is known about how to effectively implement behavioral health programs in low-resource communities. Leaders from 20 community-serving behavioral health organizations in Flint, MI, were asked about their organizations and the barriers that they, and the populations they serve, face in providing and accessing behavioral health services. Barriers are reported using a mixed-methods analysis, reporting the number and percentage of organizations that experienced the barrier along with example quotations from the organization leaders. The most frequently reported barrier to providing services was finding adequate funding (50%) while the most frequently reported barrier for accessing services was finding adequate and reliable transportation (30%). Comparisons of these findings with barriers reported by providers in different settings and those seeking services are discussed. These comparisons may provide an important next step in identifying areas where providers perceptions and the needs of the population are misaligned and for systemic improvements more broadly.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, College of Human Medicine, Michigan State University, B601 West Fee Hall, 909 Wilson Road, East Lansing, MI, 48824-1030, USA

    B. W. Montgomery BS, PhD

  2. Flint Center for Health Equity Solutions, College of Human Medicine-Division of Public Health, Michigan State University, Flint, MI, USA

    L. D. Maschino MPH, J. W. Felton PhD & C. D. M. Furr-Holden PhD

  3. Flint Odyssey House, Flint, MI, USA

    K. Young MA

  4. Department of Systems, Population, and Leadership, School of Nursing, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA

    S. A. Stoddard PhD

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  1. B. W. Montgomery BS, PhD
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  2. L. D. Maschino MPH
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  3. J. W. Felton PhD
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Correspondence to B. W. Montgomery BS, PhD.

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Montgomery, B.W., Maschino, L.D., Felton, J.W. et al. Organizational Leaders Perceptions of Barriers to Accessing Behavioral Health Services in a Low-Resource Community. J Behav Health Serv Res 50, 36–48 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11414-022-09801-8

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