Untreated mental health and substance use challenges continue to undermine the stability and long-term health of at-risk adults in Blount County. At-risk adults in Blount County, including individuals who are justice-involved, navigating re-entry, experiencing housing instability, or managing substance use challenges, face elevated risk for untreated depression, anxiety, and addiction. Although behavioral health services exist, many adults do not access care due to barriers such as cost, transportation, stigma, distrust of systems, and scheduling constraints. These unmet needs increase the likelihood of relapses, crisis utilization, overdose, and preventable loss of life, contributing to ongoing regional concerns about community health outcomes.

Compassion Counseling proposes Phase 1: Community Listening, Prevention Research, and Collaborative Planning to better understand and reduce barriers to care. Over a defined four-month period, they will administer the Barriers to Access to Care Evaluation (BACE v3) to approximately 100 at-risk adults referred through probation services, housing partners, recovery supports, faith-based organizations, and other established community partners. Data will be aggregated and analyzed to identify the most significant structural and perceptual barriers that prevent timely engagement in treatment.

Findings will be reviewed with community partners through structured planning sessions to develop a coordinated, prevention-focused response plan that improves referral pathways, reduces access barriers, and strengthens early intervention efforts.