HFP Enters Into New Phase of Partnership With Philadelphia Department of Behavioral Health and Intellectual Disability Services

HFP/DBHIDS

The Health Federation of Philadelphia (HFP) is proud to enter into a new phase of partnership with the Philadelphia Department of Behavioral Health and Intellectual Disability Services (DBHIDS). Beginning in FY '24, DBHIDS will include support for HFP in its annual budget, which will enable HFP to expand its clinical leadership by hiring a Director of Behavioral Health Integration.

“To the best of our knowledge, this is a unique and innovative step on the part of a county government to make a targeted and sustained investment in capacity building and promotion of behavioral health integration in medical practice,” said Natalie Levkovich, CEO of HFP.

Since 2005, HFP has collaborated with a network of primary care providers, DBHIDS, Community Behavioral Health (CBH), and other funders to implement and expand integration of behavioral health in primary care and to build an infrastructure to support expansion, program innovation, quality, and sustainability. 

This mutually supportive relationship has led to the development of the Philadelphia Integrated Care Network (PICN) — operated by HFP —  which offers training and coaching to behavioral health providers, technical assistance and consultation to clinical teams and practice administrators, and system level advocacy. This structure now represents the largest multi-employer network of integrated practices in the United States, consisting of 18 healthcare organizations operating more than 70 clinical sites or practices throughout the region, with over 100 behavioral care professionals who have barrier-free access to PICN services.

With the new and novel funding relationship in place, HFP will be able to expand its clinical leadership and make PICN an even stronger partner in the region. The overall goal remains to advance the integration of behavioral health in medical care and public health services and increase access to comprehensive care for residents, particularly those who experience systemic barriers to care, in Philadelphia and beyond.

-HFP-