Focus on Improving Care for People with Mental Illness and Addictions

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Washington, DC (April 6, 2011)—The National Council for Community Behavioral Healthcare (National Council) announces the eight psychiatrists chosen for its 2011 Psychiatric Leadership Development Program (see list below). The program provides executive leadership development and mentoring for medical directors in community behavioral health organizations. As the industry still faces crushing workforce challenges, the Psychiatric Leadership Development Program's long-standing mission remains to mentor and inspire leaders dedicated to improving the quality of care for people with mental illnesses and addictions, especially in a time of increased demand and decreased resources.

“Like most Americans, psychiatrists in executive positions in community mental health and addictions organizations are trying to do more with less. Usually underpaid and overworked, they struggle to balance a growing caseload, administrative responsibilities, and their own desire to be agents of positive change. We have to call attention to their struggles and also offer them the skills and supports they need to become leaders in our industry,” said National Council President and CEO Linda Rosenberg. “Of the many outstanding applications we received it was a challenge to select only eight,” she added.

“This is a great opportunity to meet with and learn from others committed to advancement" said Dr. Lawrence Adu, Chief Medical Officer for Behavioral Healthcare, Inc. of Gainesville, FL. "I’m grateful to the National Council for their support, and I'll use the experience gained in this unique program to further serve my community and improve the care it depends upon.”

The National Council’s Psychiatric Leadership Program gives medical directors an opportunity to look beyond day-to-day survival and engage in designing, implementing and improving innovative treatment and support services.

The program’s comprehensive curriculum focuses on the development of leadership skills for participants, including:

• Assessment and development of personal leadership
• Applying knowledge and skills for transformational leadership
• Human resource development, financial management, strategic planning, performance improvement and team, organizational and inter-organizational dynamics
• Conflict resolution, group facilitation, negotiation, and communication
• Concepts and implementation of recovery, change management, person-centered planning, data-based decision making and developing strategic alliances

The program also nurtures participating psychiatrists as leaders that can inform public policy in their agency and the broader behavioral health system.

The eight psychiatrists chosen to participate in the 2011 Psychiatric Leadership Program are:

Lawrence Adu, MD, Meridian Behavioral Healthcare, Inc., Gainesville, FL
Matthew Behan, MD, Safe Harbor Behavioral Health, Erie, PA
Curley Bonds, MD, Didi Hirsch Mental Health Services, Culver City, CA
Marc Kaplan, DO, Sweetser, Saco, ME
Alpa Patel, MD, Child and Family Guidance Center, Northridge, CA
Noel Schenk, MD, Davis Behavioral Health, Layton, UT
Sandy Stein, MD, Community Partnership of Southern Arizona, Tucson, AZ
Brian Welsh, MD, Coleman Professional Services, Kent, OH

You can learn more about the Psychiatric Leadership Program, including past participants, by visiting the National Council’s website.

The National Council for Community Behavioral Healthcare is a not-for-profit, 501(c)(3) association of 1,800 behavioral healthcare organizations that provide treatment and rehabilitation for mental illnesses and addictions disorders to nearly six million adults, children and families in communities across the country.