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Rural Health Information Hub

Northeast Nebraska Behavioral Health Network

  • Year Network was Established: 2013
  • Grant Period: 2020-2021
  • Program Representative Interviewed: Sandy Williams
  • Service Area: Northeastern and Northcentral Nebraska
  • Program Overview: The Northeast Nebraska Behavioral Health Network started as a coalition in 2013 in response to observed gaps in behavioral/mental health services due to significant shortages of behavioral/mental health specialists in their 24 rural county service area. They became a formal network in 2015 and and received 501(c)3 status in 2018.

    The Behavioral Health Network activities have focused around attracting and retaining psychiatric and advanced-practice psychiatric nurse practitioner students from area colleges, using Project ECHO and similar models as references, and educating communities in the region on behavioral/mental health issues.

    There are currently five network partners plus a representative from the Nebraska Department of Human Services Division of Behavioral Health. Members include:
    • Local public health
    • Nursing college
    • Regional behavioral health agency
    • Area health education center (AHEC)
    • An FQHC
    Read more about Project ECHO in our Rural Health Models and Innovations section.