Technical Assistance Update
November 15, 2011

Featured Resource
Grant and Funding Opportunities
HIT Update
National Council Events and Resources
Integration Information
Other Events and Resources
Affiliate Member Spotlight
Member Spotlight

Happy Belated Veterans Day!
We can show our veterans great gratitude by ensuring them great healthcare back home.

The National Council would like to thank all who serve, have served, and will serve our country!

FEATURED RESOURCE

Serving Our Veterans: A Home Front Approach

With approximately 39,000 U.S. troops slated to leave Iraq by the end of December 2011, behavioral health and primary care professionals are preparing to meet Veterans’ needs by participating in a new program: Serving Our Veterans Behavioral Health Certificate. The National Council for Community Behavioral Healthcare and the Department of Defense have teamed-up to develop this certification program to help veterans receive better mental health and primary care services from civilian health professionals. This 14-part, 20-hour online course will provide specialized instruction for doctors, social workers, psychologists, nurses, and other healthcare professionals on the unique treatment needs for individuals who have served in the military. 

“Our members — community health and addiction service organizations — are on the frontlines of the veterans’ battlefield back home. This curriculum will prepare health providers to support veterans and their families in local communities who are dealing with the aftermath of combat and deployment,” said Jeannie Campbell, Executive Vice President for the National Council and a retired Navy chief master petty officer.

On November 10th, the National Council hosted an informational webinar on the program. View the presentation and recording here. Find out about more webinars on the topic and access resources on veteran’s issues on the National Council website.

And if you’re interesting in learning more about the Serving Our Veterans Behavioral Health Certificate, click here.

GRANT AND FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES

Rural Health Care Services Outreach Grant Program
HRSA has announced the availability of $12 million to support outreach projects based on evidence-based or promising practice models. Eighty awards will be granted to projects that demonstrate an outcomes-driven approach to providing effective health care in rural communities through collaboration, replicability, and sustainability. Eligible applicants include non-profit organizations. Deadline to apply is November 22. Click here to read more about the Rural Health Care Services Outreach Grant Program.

HIT UPDATE

Help Us Out - HIT Capacity Information Requested
The National Council has long been advocating for increased resources to support HIT expansion. And because HIT requires funding, and funding requires data, we need data from YOU to help us support the requests we make on your behalf. We need to know the status and capacity of your agency regarding HIT implementation and exactly what your needs are. We urge you to take 15 minutes to answer the National Council HIT survey here. If you would like to review a copy of the survey before going online to complete it, you may download the PDF.

NATIONAL COUNCIL EVENTS AND RESOURCES

2012 National Council Conference Highlights Veterans Services
At the 2012 National Council Conference, April 15 – 17 in Chicago, you will have the opportunity to learn about serving our veterans “beyond the yellow ribbons.” The 42nd annual conference will feature multiple sessions dedicated to increasing provider competency to treat veterans and their families. Additionally, a preconference university "Addressing the Psychological Health of Warriors and Their Families,” will be offered on April 14 and will includes sessions on military culture and terminology, best practices for treating combat-related PTSD, and evidence-based treatment for depression and sleep disturbance. Learn more about other sessions and offered and register for the conference here.

2011 Behavioral Health Salary Survey
The National Council’s 2011 Behavioral Health Salary Survey is collecting data to help develop a comprehensive look at behavioral health salaries in your community and others across the country. The survey presents detailed information about salary structures across mental health and addictions treatment organizations, along with insights on how behavioral health salaries compare with other professions. Get a sneak peek with a free Executive Summary download. The full survey is available for purchase online ($100 for National Council members; $150 for nonmembers).

Upcoming Webinars…
The National Council will host several webinars in the upcoming weeks, including:

• Peer-delivered Services: Contracting with Managed Care (November 16th)
• Improve Access to Care: Eliminate No Shows and Wait Times (November 28th)
• Mental Health First Aid: Outcomes Evaluation Strategies (November 30th)

Learn more about the above webinars and register here.
 

INTEGRATION INFORMATION

Missouri’s Approach to Integrating Healthcare for Medicaid Beneficiaries
An article in The Commonwealth Fund highlights Missouri’s efforts to provide care coordination and disease management for Medicaid beneficiaries with severe mental illness in community mental health centers (CMHCs). The initiative, aimed at “addressing the whole person”, is a partnership among various stakeholders in Missouri and is part of a State Plan Amendment for the health home Affordable Care Act (ACA) provision.  Read the article here.

Communicating the Value of Integrated Care to Stakeholders
The Center for Health Care Strategies (CHCS) has released a brief that addresses the importance of engaging key stakeholders when states are discussing successful integration strategies for dually eligible Medicare and Medicaid beneficiaries. This brief offers information on why stakeholders are so vital to the strategy development process and how to communicate effectively with these constituents.  Get the brief here. 

Addressing Workforce Challenges
The SAMHSA-HRSA Center for Integrated Health Solutions has released a number of resources aimed at addressing the severe behavioral health workforce shortage in the US. These include:

• Understanding the National Health Service Corps: A Guide for Community Behavioral Health Providers and Primary Care Partners  -The guide provides guidance to behavioral health sites interested in applying to become NHSC-approved sites, as well as information for providers interested in capitalizing on the scholarship and loan repayment programs. Learn more about the program here.
• Guiding Principles and Recommendations for Workforce Development - This paper outlines areas that will help prepare the behavioral health field for the future.

Want more integration information? Subscribe to the SAMHSA-HRSA Center for Integrated Health Solutions newsletter, “e-Solutions” and check out CIHS’s new website!

OTHER RESOURCES AND EVENTS

Supporting America's Service Men, Women, and Their Families
In honor of Veterans Day last week, SAMHSA and the Department of Veterans Affairs have highlighted several resources to support the prevention, treatment, and recovery from mental health and substance use disorders in service members and their families.

• Data Spotlight: Youths Living with a Veteran Father are more Likely to Use Tobacco or Alcohol 
• Treating Clients with Traumatic Brain Injury
• Webcast: Access to Care for Active Duty, National Guard, Reserve, Veterans, Their Families, and Those Close to Them
• Handbook for Family and Friends of Service Members Before, During, and After Deployment

PTSD Coach for Your Smartphone
There’s an app for that! The Department of Veterans Affairs has developed a smartphone application for veterans and military service members that educates users on Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). The application provides self-assessment tools, offers guidance on how to find support and professional care, and includes tools to help manage the stress associated with PTSD. Learn more about the application here.

Alliance Brief on Homelessness among Veterans
The National Alliance to End Homelessness has released a one-page brief, Data Point: Veteran Homelessness in the United States. This brief provides data on counts and rates of veteran homelessness at the national level as well as by state, and offers an annual benchmarks scenario in decreasing the population of homeless veterans over the next five years. Read the brief here. 

Healthcare Entities in Violation of Federal Accessibility Standards
The Equal Rights Center has released a new report, Ill-Prepared: Health Care’s Barriers for People with Disabilities, in response to the discovery of alarming levels of federal accessibility violations at hospitals, doctor’s offices, and pharmacies. According to a series of investigations across the country, the Equal Rights Center found that less than 25 percent of medical service providers were compliant with accessibility standards outlined in the Americans with Disabilities Act.  This report highlights the findings from the investigations, components of the Americans with Disabilities Act, and opportunities within healthcare reform to address these problems. Download the full report here.

JPI Report: Education Under Arrest
The Justice Policy Institute (JPI) has released a report on the impact of having law enforcement on site in schools. According to Education Under Arrest: The Case Against Police in Schools, when law enforcement is present at schools, students are more likely to get arrested by police. The report provides information and data from schools around the country and states that behavioral issues should be dealt with by school officials.  Get the report here.

Upcoming Webinars…

Community Planning for Persons with Access and Functional Needs
On December 1st, the National Association of County and City Health Officials will host “Community Planning for Persons with Access and Functional Needs.” Topics will include current policies around functional needs and supportive services, integrated community planning, and a review of the American Red Cross’ guidance to local chapters on sheltering. Register for the webinar here.

The Latest Drug Use Trends and How to Stay Ahead of the Curve
On December 6th, the next Addiction Professional Webinar will be held. This webinar review the latest statistics and address the various drug testing options that addiction professionals should be aware of. Learn more and register for the webinar here.

AFFILIATE MEMBER SPOTLIGHT

Qualifacts has been named the 2011 “Company of the Year” by the Nashville Technology Council which honors technology companies, leaders and innovators who are growing technology businesses. Qualifacts is the largest Software as a Service (SaaS) provider of EHR and billing systems for behavioral health and human services providers.



Negley Associates is MHRRG’s underwriting management firm and serves the insurance needs of healthcare and social service providers. Coverage includes workers compensation, general and professional liability, directors’ and officers’ liability, property and physician policies.
 

MEMBER SPOTLIGHT

Please help us welcome DCCCA Inc. (Lawrence, KS) as a new member organization! DCCCA Inc. began as a small outpatient alcohol and drug treatment program in Lawrence, Kansas. Over the years, it has grown into a provider of quality education, prevention and treatment services for individuals and families across the State of Kansas.

On November 2nd, Cherokee Health Systems (Knoxville, TN) welcomed a delegate of thirteen medical professionals from the Kirov Oblast region of Russia. The visit was a part of Open World, a program of the United States Congress that is open to young professionals interested in visiting the States to learn the democratic process and business practices. The professionals included physicians and hospital administrators, and were accompanied by several facilitators and translators.