In the decades following deinstitutionalization, the U.S. has yet to find an effective model of a comprehensive behavioral health continuum of care, from prevention to intervention, treatment and recovery. Federal Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinics (CCBHC) have grown to be the dominant model for comprehensive community mental health services across the country since 2014. However, the mechanisms of federal policies and funding resulted in implementation of CCBHCs that is not consistent across all parts of the country, with large variations between states. Massachusetts’ Community Behavioral Health Centers (CBHC) is similar to the federal model and was launched in 2023.

In a new study in the journal Frontiers in Health Services, researchers from Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine compared the Massachusetts and federal models and found that these programs share a similar policy backbone and intention, such as a comprehensive outpatient clinic, 24/7 crisis services, bundled payments and quality incentives, but differ in important details like how they’re paid, who regulates them and how specific crisis services are structured.

Fewer than 1 in 4 children aged 2 to 4 meet the recommended daily physical activity levels, a new study has found.  Additionally, while children are much more active on days when they attend early years settings, most preschoolers are not meeting the recommended activity levels within early years settings or at home.