National Council for Behavioral Health

Needs and Readiness Assessments

During the demonstration planning year, states must conduct community needs assessments to identify particular areas of need for individuals served by each potential CCBHC. Based on these needs assessments, states will determine the minimum set of required services for all CCBHCS in their state; for particular CCBHCs with unique community needs, states may also opt to supplement the minimum set of services with additional evidence-based practices. Needs assessments must also address cultural and linguistic diversity among populations served by the CCBHC to ensure that the CCBHC provides care that is culturally and linguistically competent.

Resources from the National Council

Cultural and Linguistic Competence for CCBHCs: Approaches to Meeting New Requirements

• Recording
• Slides

Accreditation

To facilitate the process leading to certification, SAMHSA encourages States involved in CCBHC planning grants to require accreditation of CCBHCs by an appropriate nationally-recognized organization such as the Joint Commission, the Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities (CARF), or the Council on Accreditation (COA).

To help you understand how CCBHC criteria align with accreditation standards, below are three useful crosswalks from multiple accreditation agencies:

• Joint Commission Behavioral Health Care Standards & EPs Crosswalk

• Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities Behavioral Health Standards Crosswalk

• Council on Accreditation Standards Crosswalk

RESOURCES FROM SAMHSA & CMS

How States Can Conduct a Needs Assessment: This website provides a summary of the needs assessment requirements and outlines the key steps states should take to comply.

CCBHCs and Cultural Competence: This website defines cultural and linguistic competence, summarizes the competency requirements for CCBHCs, and provides links to learn more about ensuring culturally competent services for individuals with limited English proficiency as well as members of the military and veterans.

Webinars

• Assessing Staffing, Programming, and Cultural and Linguistic Competency Needs for Community Behavioral Health Organizations
  • Recording
  • Slides

Consultants

Joan Kenerson King, RN, MSN, CS

Senior Integrated Health Consultant

Joan Kenerson King, RN, MSN, CS

Senior Integrated Health Consultant

Joan Kenerson King has worked in the behavioral health field for over 25 years and currently is Senior Integration Consultant; in which capacity she [...] Read More

Joan Kenerson King has worked in the behavioral health field for over 25 years and currently is Senior Integration Consultant; in which capacity she consults with organizations, counties and states on developing systems of care that integrate physical and behavioral health and promote recovery and resilience. She works across all levels of care in promoting change; from the direct care staff level through case to care training (add link to information) to consulting with state level policy staff on implementing changes that support increased health and improved outcomes. Her work over the past 25 years has reflected this commitment to conceptual alignment (understanding the why) driving practice change at all levels of care. She is an advocate of peer support programs and has provided training and consultation in supporting the development of the voice and stories of people in recovery. Her work included state, local and agency related recovery-oriented change. Joan is passionate about facilitating transformation in systems so that they fully embrace the voice and knowledge of the people they serve. Her keen areas of interest are the development of wellness-oriented trauma informed systems that include the voice of people in recovery and their families, integration of care across various systems and supporting innovation in rural and frontier communities.