Grant Opportunity for Community Behavioral Health Organizations

The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Service Administration (SAMHSA) recently announced that it plans on issuing up to 32 Primary and Behavioral Health Care Integration (PBHCI) grants for community behavioral health organizations. These grants will be provided in order to help develop integrated care models for primary and specialty care medical services. The ultimate goal of this is to assist those adults who suffer from serious mental illness and are currently at risk for (or have) co-occurring physical health issues as well.

SAMHSA plans to offer grants totaling up to $35,775,795, and applications are due June 8, 2012.

If you are interested in learning more about this, SAMHSA is hosting a free webinar today at 2PM ET – click here to join!

Regardless of whether your agency pursues these grants, the webinar should be a great opportunity to learn more about the requirements for and implications of primary / behavioral integration, and should be required viewing for every community behavioral health provider!

Upcoming National Council Webinars

There are two free webinars put on by the National Council coming up over the next month or two – the following is are brief summaries and links to register for them:

Wraparound Milwaukee: The Family Connection

Tuesday, March 27, 2012 — 2 pm ET

Wraparound Milwaukee, winner of Harvard University’s 2009 Innovations in American Government, provides comprehensive, individualized and cost-effective care to children with complex mental health and emotional needs. Bruce Kamradt, Director of Wraparound Milwaukee, describes how his program has improved the lives of children and their families with a strength-based and individualized service approach that supports families caring for youth with complex needs. He explains how families are paired with care coordinators and assisted in identifying personal, community, and professional resources to meet their unique needs and to “wrap” those services around the youth and family. Join Bruce on this webinar and more effectively support the most vulnerable children and families in your community. Register at: https://www2.gotomeeting.com/register/865460746

 

Successful Transitions: from Youth to Adult

Tuesday, May 1, 2012 — 3 pm ET

Positive intervention at the transition stage between child/adolescent mental health services and adult mental health services is one of the most important ways to facilitate recovery. However, all too often in most countries, there is an absence of an integrated, coordinated system of care between child and youth services and adult-serving mental health agencies. This lack of integration jeopardizes the life chances of transition-age youth, aged 16-25 years, who need support during the difficult transition to adult roles and responsibilities. Simon Davidson,  Medical Director, Mental Health Patient Service Unit, Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario and Chief Strategic Planning Executive, Ontario Centre of Excellence for Child and Youth Mental Health, shares years of study and experience in developing effective transition services. He discusses transitional models, explains why mental health transition interventions need to be tailored to fit the needs and strengths of the individual and offers tips for success. Register at: https://www2.gotomeeting.com/register/642452002.

Upcoming National Council Webinars

There are lots of great free webinars put on by the National Council taking place this month – the following is a brief summary and link to register for all of them:

The Promise and Peril of Social Media: HIPAA and More – 02/16/2012, 2:00–3:30 pm EST

A discussion of how to use social media while complying with HIPAA and avoiding other potential conflicts of interest – a must for any tech-savvy provider!

Early Intervention: Hope for Youth with Serious Mental Illness – 02/21/2012, 1:00–3:00 pm EST

This webinar will examine a broad range of biological and psychosocial investigations and interventions in prodromal and first-episode psychosis and mania, reviewing symptoms and possible causes of psychosis as well as early intervention treatments and supports.

Professor Patrick McGorry, international researcher, clinician and advocate for youth mental health reform will be speaking during the webinar. McGorry was nominated Australian of the Year 2010 for putting his nation at the forefront of prevention and treatment of mental illness. McGorry leads the Orygen Youth Health Research Center, targeted to the needs of young people with emerging serious mental illness.

Addressing Trauma through Mental Health First Aid – 02/22/2012, 2:00–3:30 pm EST

A discussion about how those certified in Mental Health First Aid can more effectively deal with those who have suffered trauma – estimated to be around 90% of those receiving mental health services and more than 50% of the general population.

 

Upcoming National Council Webinars

This month, the National Council for Community Behavioral Healthcare is hosting several webinars on a variety of topics which should be of interest to human services providers. They include:

1/11/2012 – Preparing for New Treatment Expectations: Addressing Comorbid Mental and Physical Conditions

Based on the fact that almost 68% of individuals with a mental disorder possess at least one medical condition, it is important to have a good understand of how to develop collaborative care models that treat not only the mental condition, but also the physical as well. This webinar will discuss the ‘key ingredients’ for successfully treating comorbid conditions.

1/26/2012 – Integrating Primary and Behavioral Healthcare: New Risks and Liabilities

Similar to the previous webinar, the integration of primary and behavioral healthcare presents interesting challenges in addition to exciting opportunities. However, there are also unique legal risks and liability issues, which this webinar will review. It will also cover how your agency’s insurance needs will change and how to ensure your agency remains in compliance with regulatory bodies as well.

1/24/2012 – Your Social Media Passport: How to Get on Board NOW

This instructional webinar provides an overview of social media – including blogs, Twitter and Facebook, and how to use them as tools to increase engagement with your community and ensure that news of your agency’s work reaches a larger audience. Additionally, it describes how social media enables you to better reach clients and funders without requiring a significant time investment on your part.

The Three Legged Stool: Program Models, Performance Improvements and Outcome Research

On December 8^th, Behavioral Healthcare, the leading monthly publication for the behavioral health industry, will host a free informational webinar about how to successfully implement evidence-based practices at your organization using an electronic health record system.

In this webinar, the speakers – Hughes Johnson from Youth Villages, a national leader in providing child, youth and family services, and Fran Loshin-Turso, President and CEO of Defran Systems, will together:

• Examine the role of research in implementing evidence-based practices
• Discuss the challenges in creating an infrastructure and environment that supports data collection and utilization
• Explore how to create action steps to address barriers to successfully implementing evidence-based practices at your organization

These speakers will share many industry best practices, including checklists for development of program models and adherence measures, scorecards that track clinical and operational indicators, and recommendations for best practices for long-term follow-up.

Click here to register for this free informational webinar.

Webinar – External Audits and Medicaid RACs: What You Need to Know

This webinar, hosted by the Business Operations for Behavioral Health Collaborative, will provide an introduction to Recovery Audit Contractors (RACs), which are organizations that identify overpayments and underpayments to health care providers in the Medicare program, and as of 1/1/2012, in Medicaid programs as well.

This webinar will educate you about how to prepare for potential audits in order to ensure your agency does not have to repay its valuable funding dollars – a critical achievement in today’s challenging economic environment. If you are responsible for your agency’s compliance, this webinar will definitely be of use to you.

The presentation will take place this Thursday, October 27th, from 2PM-3:30PM ET. Click here to register for this free webinar.

Webinar – Easing the Burden of Compliance: Why EHR is the Missing Link

This webinar, hosted by Behavioral Healthcare Magazine and sponsored by Defran Systems, discusses many of the compliance challenges that all human services organizations face, and how EHR technology can help your agency mitigate risk in its operations.

The speakers are Fran Loshin-Turso, President and CEO of Defran Systems, and Daniel Brown, Associate Executive Director of Franziska Racker Centers, a provider of disabilities services based in Ithaca, NY.

If maintaining compliance is a particular difficulty for your organization, it will definitely be worth your time to attend this presentation. Registration is free, and can be done here.

Webinar – Coordinating Primary Care and Behavioral Health Services Among Homeless Populations

Next week, SAMHSA and the National Council for Community Behavioral Healthcare are sponsoring a webinar aimed at community behavioral health and primary care providers, both those who are currently in partnership or that are seeking partnerships, in order to better serve homeless populations.

The webinar’s speakers include the Director of Policy for the National Health Care for the Homeless in addition to executive staff from primary and behavioral health providers.

Additionally, the webinar will:

• Feature services provided to homeless populations by community health and behavioral health providers
• Highlight best practices of integrated partnerships that work in meeting the needs of individuals experiencing homelessness
• Share real-life examples of successful partnerships

Click here to register.

Webinars – National Council, “HIT: Disaster Planning and Recovery”

Tomorrow, the National Council for Community Behavioral Healthcare, along with the National Association of Community Health Centers, NIATx, and the State Associations of Addiction Services, are collaboratively sponsoring  a webinar about how your agency can and should prepare for any foreseeable disaster. This includes successfully managing, upgrading and backing up your information systems and preparing your people for potentially worrisome situations as well.

The webinar takes place from 2PM-3:30PM ET tomorrow – click here to register for free!

 

Defran Systems’ President and CEO Featured In “Health Thought Leadership One-to-One”

Defran Systems, a provider of integrated electronic health systems for human services organizations, recently announced that its president and CEO, Fran Loshin-Turso, is featured in Health Thought Leadership One-to-One. The blog and monthly podcast interview series with Doris Gilman covers thought leadership in the healthcare and life sciences industries.

This entry, entitled “Information Technology for Health and Social Service Not-for-Profits,” provides details how to successfully position a company in the face of constantly changing industry requirements. Ms. Loshin-Turso provides a profile of Defran Systems, describes the company’s origins and how leadership style can create a positive corporate culture.

The free podcast is hosted by Doris Gilman, host of Health Thought Leadership One-to-One. Ms. Gilman’s expertise lies in thought leadership content development and integrated communications for conferences, speaking engagements, tradeshows, and on the web.

Click here to listen to the podcast and read the blog.