Case Managers, Community Health Workers, and Peers to Receive Unique Trainings

Contact 202.684.7457 or Communications@thenationalcouncil.org

November 5, 2012 (Washington, DC) – The National Council for Community Behavioral Healthcare (National Council) has partnered with Presbyterian Health Plan (PHP) to develop the healthcare workforce in New Mexico to serve the integrated behavioral health, physical health, and long term care needs of the community. 

“Consumers of healthcare want one-stop shopping. Preparing the workforce to take a whole health perspective is a critical step toward meeting consumer demand and we congratulate Presbyterian for leading the way,” said Linda Rosenberg, MSW, National Council President and CEO.

PHP will invest in workforce training for more than 600 case managers and community health workers to broaden their knowledge and skills by offering enhanced training and support for behavioral healthcare. This workforce will serve as an extension of PHP’s workforce in rural, urban and tribal communities to support health literacy and care coordination.

“Serving our patients and members in a manner that incorporates their physical, behavioral health, long term care and socio-economic circumstances is the future of healthcare, and we recognize the need to ensure that this community’s workforce has the capacity to address these issues in tandem,” said Dennis Batey, MD, president of PHP. “We are pleased to partner with the National Council to offer this important training to the community.”

The three unique trainings that will be provided to the workforce include the following:

1.    Case Manager Training: Case managers who have served as key liaisons in helping people obtain treatment and support for behavioral health challenges are trained to navigate care for chronic physical conditions for patients with serious mental illness. In addition, they will learn how to understand common health problems, offer basic health interventions, collaborate with primary care providers for referrals, and change the health behaviors of those they serve.

2.    Community Health Worker Training: Traditionally, community health workers have worked in racial and ethnic communities that underutilize healthcare services by educating patients, coordinating their care, and becoming part of their support networks. While they have typically addressed chronic physical conditions, they are now being trained to identify mental illness and addiction disorders and offer interventions, supports, and referrals.

3.    WHAM Training: People who have experienced mental and addiction disorders and are now in the behavioral health workforce. These employees will be trained in Whole Health Action Management (WHAM). Trainees will be able to help their peers with chronic physical and behavioral health challenges set and reach whole health and wellness goals through an 8-week action plan and support groups.

The National Council for Community Behavioral Healthcare is a not-for-profit association of nearly 2,000 organizations that provide treatment and rehabilitation for mental illnesses and addiction disorders to more than eight million adults, children and families in communities across the country. Learn more at www.TheNationalCouncil.org.

Presbyterian Health Plan and Presbyterian Insurance Company Inc. serve more than 400,000 New Mexicans, and are part of the Presbyterian Healthcare Services family. Presbyterian Healthcare Services exists to improve the health of patients, members and the communities we serve. Presbyterian was founded in New Mexico in 1908, and is the state’s only private, not-for-profit healthcare system. Presbyterian offers eight hospitals, a statewide health plan and the largest and growing multi-specialty medical group. Presbyterian is the second largest private employer in New Mexico with more than 9,000   employees.