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Tags Posts tagged with "behavioral health"

behavioral health

The Hispanic/Latino Behavioral Health Center of Excellence has announced the Vamos por Más Hispanic/Latino Behavioral Health Empowerment and Leadership Academy 2024–2025. This innovative 12-month program aims to select up to 10 behavioral health services personnel from community-based organizations serving Hispanic and Latino populations. Participants will have the opportunity to access mentorship and leadership skill-development sessions, focusing on various behavioral health-related topics. These include fostering culturally responsive leadership, driving system changes to enhance the well-being of Latino communities, and strengthening advocacy skills for Hispanic and Latino populations. Additionally, the program emphasizes building cross-sector partnerships between communities and behavioral health systems. Healthcare providers, including those in substance use disorder prevention, treatment, and recovery, are encouraged to apply for this unique opportunity.

Applications can be submitted here. The deadline for applications is April 30, 2024.

The newly established Pennsylvania Certification Commission for Addiction Professionals (PCC AP) is now offering certification and training for clinical supervisors and counselors who provide clinical treatment services in licensed substance use disorder (SUD) treatment facilities. Historically in Pennsylvania, the Pennsylvania Certification Board (PCB) has provided these certifications and trainings.

PCC AP, which also offers SUD and mental health peer certification, is affiliated with the Pennsylvania Association of Addiction Professionals and the National Association of Addiction Professionals (NAADAC). Both PCB and PCC AP/NAADAC offer certifications and training beneficial to those in the SUD field.

PCC AP aligns with Pennsylvania regulations and is currently providing a test-exempt period from February 1, 2024, to December 31, 2024. During this time, field licensure or certification holders can obtain PCC AP certification without a test, including certification for peers, counselors, and supervisors.

Detailed information about each certification level, including application processes and fees, can be found on the NAADAC website. Additionally, an FAQ page is available.

Registration for the Pennsylvania Association of Area Agencies on Aging’s (P4A) 2024 Aging and Behavioral Health Conference is now open. The conference agenda will equip behavioral health practitioners and professionals with essential tools and knowledge regarding mental health and substance use disorders affecting older adults. The conference is set for May 29 – 30 at the Best Western Premier Hotel & Conference Center in Harrisburg. The deadline for registration is Friday, May 17. You can register and find details regarding the conference here.

The National Association of State Directors of Developmental Disabilities Services (NASDDDS) has announced the second installment of the Adaptive Strategies Video Series. The Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) series was written and led by the Missouri Department of Mental Health and a stellar group of professionals from that state. The project has been an enormous undertaking and a true labor of love by professionals and clinicians in both Missouri (DBT series) and Louisiana (CBT series). We want to particularly highlight staff from Missouri since inadvertently not providing them appropriate credit in our original announcement. A special thank you to Dr. Sharon Robbins, Dr. Lucas Evans, Dr. Jessica Sergio, and Dr. Brandy Baczwaski for their incredible contributions to this body of work currently positioned to make a significant impact on the experiences of people with I/DD nationally. We would also like to thank Dr. Angeline Stanislaus, Chief Medical Director at the Missouri Department of Mental Health, along with Jessica Bax, Director of the Missouri Division of Developmental Disabilities, and Valerie Huhn, Director of the Missouri Department of Mental Health, for their leadership and support of this project.

We would also be remiss not to take a moment to mention the team from Louisiana who led the work on the first Adaptive Strategies series, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT). We would like to thank Julie Foster-Hagan, Assistant Secretary at the Office for Citizens with Developmental Disabilities at the Louisiana Department of Health for her leadership and support. We are also incredibly grateful to Dr. Brandi Kelly and Dr. Tab Bounds for their innovative vision and immense contributions to this project.

Despite long-held beliefs that people with intellectual and/or developmental disabilities (I/DD) may not benefit from mental health treatment, we know that people with I/DD can successfully utilize integrated medical, mental, and behavioral healthcare (Ervin, Williams, and Merrick, 2014). NASDDDS is pleased to announce the second installment of its Adaptive Strategies video series featuring specific interventions and treatments highlighting modifications and adaptations for people with I/DD.

People with I/DD experience behavioral and physical health issues at rates higher than the general population and can benefit from the same evidence-based interventions that are used for people without I/DD. This second installment in the video series, developed in collaboration with Louisiana’s Office for Citizens with Developmental Disabilities, will focus on modifying Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) for people with I/DD.

Check out the video series here!

Transforming Behavioral Health Systems Through Measurement-Based Care
April 25, 2024 at 1:00 pm EDT
Visit
here to register!

Greenspace Health has announced a highly requested and anticipated educational Measurement-Based Care (MBC) panel, featuring three key leaders driving behavioral health transformation from within a leading accreditation body, across a national system, and within a managed care organization.

As MBC adoption spreads rapidly within clinics, hospitals, large organizations, health systems, and national accrediting bodies like the Joint Commission recognizing it as a foundational component of any high-quality and evidence-based behavioral health service, there is a need for industry education surrounding large-scale and system-level implementations.

Hosted by Greenspace President and Co-Founder Simon Weisz, the panel will feature Melinda Lehman, Executive Director of Behavioral Health & Human Services at the Joint Commission; world-renowned applied psychologist and leading global expert on MBC Dr. David Clark; and Dr. Sandra Berg, Senior Director of Complex Health Solutions, Behavioral Health at CareSource. The panelists will dive deep on MBC, its relationship to value-based care, and share insights to inform any implementation.

Moving From Fear and Fantasy to Find Functionality: Leveraging AI in Behavioral Health
Wednesday, March 27
2:00 pm EST
Register Here

Are you navigating the intricate terrain of artificial intelligence (AI) and what role it plays at your behavioral health organization? Register for a virtual session guided by industry leading experts who specialize in charting this new territory as they discuss practical ways to learn and apply AI into your day-to-day or leverage it to innovate your services.

Tailored for executive leaders of behavioral health organizations, this session is your compass in understanding the dynamic AI landscape. The speakers will explore the latest regulations, practical applications, and strategies for effectively navigating fear in this evolving field. Whether you’re seeking to innovate your services or ensure compliance with changing regulations, this webinar will provide invaluable guidance.

Speakers include:

  • Tonya Long of Quantum Crow Advisory;
  • Mari Savickis of CHIME; and
  • Stacy DiStefano of RCPA Business Member Consulting for Human Services.

Register Here

The Pennsylvania Department of Human Services (DHS) today released recommendations from its Blueprint Workgroup, an interdisciplinary group comprised of representation from state and local governments, health care, education, service providers, managed care, and family advocates. The workgroup sought to evaluate challenges children and youth with complex, co-occurring physical and behavioral health care needs, and their families experience like accessing care and services that adapt to a youth’s changing circumstances and needs, lessening the likelihood of child welfare system involvement, reducing trauma experienced by instability, prioritizing emotional wellbeing, and supporting family- and youth-driven care and choice.

“The detailed recommendations outlined by the Blueprint Workgroup set a course that now allows DHS and partners at the local level and systems of care to begin the work necessary to see how we make change happen so children with complex needs get the care that improves their quality of life, and the family is supported as they navigate these systems,” said Dr. Val Arkoosh, Secretary of DHS. “Systems of care should uplift those we seek to help, not create confusion and consequences from lack of coordination. The Blueprint Workgroup recommendation align our focus around the children and families we must always prioritize, and I am grateful for the work to this point and moving forward that will build a better future for children and families in Pennsylvania.”

Read the full press release, including details on the Blueprint Workgroup’s priorities, here.

RCPA will continue its work on the complex care needs through our Residential Services Steering Committee and ongoing efforts for the implementation. If you have any questions, please contact RCPA Policy Director Jim Sharp.