Senator Nancy Barto was given the Arizona Alliance for Community Health Centers’ (AACHC) Legislator of the Year Award during the AACHC Annual Meeting. The award was presented by Michael Dattola, LCSW, Integrated Behavioral Health Director for El Rio Community Health Center in Tucson.

Community Health Centers pride themselves on their ability to integrate high quality primary care services and behavioral health services. Integration of behavioral health care and physical health care involves intentional, ongoing, coordination and collaboration between all providers treating the individual.

However, this model is not possible without licensed providers and Arizona is facing a shortage of qualified, licensed, professional behavioral health providers. Senator Nancy Barto has met with many behavioral health specialists and she understands their work and their concerns. She is addressing the barriers to licensure in order to help facilitate true integration of primary and behavioral health.

The Arizona Alliance for community Health Centers gave Senator Barto the Legislator of the Year Award for her outstanding work on behavioral health integration issues and for her continued support for Community Health Centers.