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WASHINGTON, D.C. (March 23, 2026) — The National Council for Mental Wellbeing and DLA-20 Insights have announced that they are now the exclusive source for the training required to implement the Daily Living Activities-20 (DLA-20) Functional Assessment.
Training through the National Council and DLA-20 Insights is the only program for behavioral health providers who want to use the DLA-20 Functional Assessment.
The DLA-20 is a standardized, reliable and validated functional assessment tool that measures how individuals function across 20 essential activities of daily living. Conducted at regular intervals throughout treatment, each assessment captures a 30-day snapshot of client functioning, giving providers an objective, consistent way to track progress and guide treatment planning. It is also a cornerstone of measurement-based care, which payers and regulators increasingly require.
“We’re excited to partner with DLA-20 Insights to continue providing the field with this critical, evidence-based tool,” said National Council President and CEO Chuck Ingoglia, MSW. “It’s important for providers to understand that the DLA-20 isn’t changing. The only thing that’s changing is how they access the training necessary to use the functional assessment, and we will make sure the transition is seamless.”
“For DLA-20 Insights, partnering with the National Council just made sense,” said Annie Jensen, MSW, LCSW, coauthor of the DLA-20 and cofounder of DLA-20 Insights. “They are the heart of the behavioral health community. What excites me most is the momentum this partnership creates — giving organizations across the country the opportunity to experience firsthand the difference the DLA-20 can make for their clients and their clinical teams. Looking ahead, I’m also excited about where technology is taking behavioral health data. This partnership puts us in a great position to grow with it.”
Getting started with the DLA-20 is straightforward. Through the National Council and DLA-20 Insights, organizations can train and certify up to 12 in-house trainers at a time through a fully virtual program, across any combination of four versions of the DLA-20: Adult Mental Health, Adult Alcohol & Drug, Youth Mental Health, and Intellectual Disability. Any staff member with a behavioral health background is eligible, making it easy for organizations to build the internal expertise they need to implement the DLA-20 with confidence.
“DLA-20 Trainer Certification gives organizations the in-house expertise to onboard staff quickly, train consistently and ensure every clinician is assessing clients the same way, every time,” Jensen said. When staff are equipped with that shared foundation, they can stay focused on what matters most — delivering effective treatment and making a real difference in their clients’ lives.”
Access the training at www.TheNationalCouncil.org/Service/DLA-20.
Learn more about the DLA-20 at DLA-20Insights.com.
About the National Council
Founded in 1969, the National Council for Mental Wellbeing is a membership organization that drives policy and social change on behalf of over 3,200 mental health and substance use treatment organizations and the more than 15 million children, adults and families they serve. We advocate for policies to ensure access to high-quality services. We build the capacity of mental health and substance use treatment organizations. And we promote greater understanding of mental wellbeing as a core component of comprehensive health and health care. Through our Mental Health First Aid (MHFA)
About DLA-20 Insights
At DLA-20 Insights, we believe measurement drives meaning. As the exclusive DLA-20 consulting firm we provide implementation consultation, training and hands-on support to help organizations move beyond compliance toward continuous improvement — where data informs decisions, strengthens provider confidence and transforms client outcomes. We help behavioral health professionals turn data into direction, because meaningful measurement is at the heart of everything we do.
