Name
Increasing integrated care access in medically underserved communities: A mixed methods study on opportunities and challenges
Description

This mixed-methods study investigates implementation challenges and opportunities in integrated care (IC) within medically underserved communities (MUCs), which face significant behavioral health burdens and provider shortages. By analyzing data from surveys and interviews with site leaders and trainees across 16 federally-funded health centers, the research highlights varying levels of IC readiness and differing perspectives on stigma and service delivery. Key findings suggest that while trainees often engage in essential IC activities, they face barriers such as unclear expectations and resource limitations. The study emphasizes the importance of tailored approaches to improve organizational readiness and collaboration, ultimately recommending that health departments and clinical directors utilize these insights to enhance access to quality care in MUCs.

Speakers
Katie Hilton MA, Training and Consultation Specialist, Rutgers University Behavioral Healthcare, Piscataway, New Jersey
Holly Lister PhD, Program Manager, Rutgers University Center for Integrated Care,
Rina Haleva M. Ed, Training and Consultation Specialist, Rutgers Center for Integrated Care, Cranford, NJ
Stephanie Marcello PhD, Assistant Vice President of Academics, Integration, and Innovation, Rutgers University Center for Integrated Care,
Co-Authors
Jamey J. Lister, PhD, MSW
Andrew H. Kim, MSW
Shalyse Sangster, MSW
Blair N. Singer, BS
Alyssa M. Juntilla, BS
Thomas O’Kane, PhD
N. Andrew Peterson, PhD
Kristen Gilmore Powell, PhD, MSW
Stephanie Marcello, PhD
Content Level
All Audience
Tags
Team-based care, Underserved populations such as LGBTQ+, Workforce development
Session Type
Concurrent
SIG or Committee
Research & Evaluation (REC)
Objective 1
Identify key insights gained from the research evaluation of three federally-funded integrated behavioral health care programs with consideration to substance use treatment in New Jersey.
Objective 2
Describe the differences in experiences between trainees and clinical site leaders during the implementation of the integrated care training program, based on qualitative and survey data.
Objective 3
Discuss evidence-based recommendations to improve the implementation of integrated behavioral health care treatment models in primary care settings, informed by methodical triangulation of quantitative and qualitative data results.
Content Reference 1

Lister, H. H., Marcello, S. C., Lister, J. J., Toto, A. M., Powell, K. G., & Peterson, N. A. (2022). Advancing the behavioral health workforce: An innovative integrated care and substance use disorder training model to improve outcomes for people in medically underserved communities. Families, Systems, & Health, 40(4), 586.

Content Reference 2

Lister, H., Toto, A. M., Marcello, S., O’Kane, T., & Hilton, K. (2025). Examining integrated care training and practice implementation within academic medical settings: perceptions, attitudes and barriers. Journal of Integrated Care.

Content Reference 3

Lister, J. J., Lister, H. H., Powell, K. G., Cheung, S. P., Peterson, N. A., Toto, A. M., & Marcello, S. C. (2024). The Rutgers Integrated Care Evaluation (RICE) Research Framework: An Innovative and Rigorous Set of Methods to Evaluate Integrated Care Programs. International Journal of Integrated Care, 24(3), 22.