HealthWest Partners With Muskegon Civic Theatre

HealthWest has collaborated with the Muskegon Civic Theatre to improve the understanding of Autism.

The theater is staging "Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time," portraying the challenges of a fifteen-year-old from a first-person perspective. The child, Christopher, is portrayed as exceptional at mathematics but ill-equipped to interpret everyday life.

For our part, we have created resource videos to debunk Autism myths, provide information on available resources and supports, and highlight signs of Autism. Furthermore, we have set up a table at each performance with our Autism Program brochures and a document listing various available resources.

HIPPA Privacy and Security

Reviewing healthcare records of family, friends, neighbors, co-workers, and celebrities is one of the most common HIPAA violations committed by employees. Accessing the health records of patients for reasons other than those permitted by the Privacy Rule is a violation of patient privacy.

To safeguard our patients' privacy, all employees have been assigned Policy 05-023, HIPPA Privacy and Security in Relias. Everyone must complete this assignment by Wednesday, January 31.

Free Chronic Pain Workshop

Work From Home Tax Letter

The 2023 city tax letter template is available for supervisors to complete for their staff. The purpose of this letter is to provide tax return proof for your employee regarding how much time they worked outside of the Muskegon city limits so they can get a refund on their Muskegon city taxes. Supervisors should work with their staff to estimate the percentage of time the employee worked outside of the city limits. In most cases, it would mean working from home, and their home is outside the city limits. Other examples would be staff working at some of our school locations or police departments outside of the City of Muskegon.

Please contact Human.Resources@Healthwest.net if you have any questions.

January Human Trafficking Training Now Available

HealthWest is offering a Human Trafficking course with CEUs free of charge to assist individuals in meeting their licensure requirements.

This training will discuss what human trafficking is, how to recognize potential victims, address barriers around reporting and legalities, and share best practices for providing support and restoration to victims and survivors. This presentation will also discuss the role of trauma and the impact it has on victims and survivors in their journey of restoration.  

There are a few seats left for the Human Trafficking course on Friday, January 19, from 9:30 am - 12:30 pm. Register today!

New Groups Calendar

Call for Presentations  

25th Annual Substance Use and Co-Occurring Disorder Conference Dates: Sept. 16-17, 2024

Conference Theme: Positive Outcomes through Integrated Approaches

Join us at the Suburban Collection showplace in Novi or Virtually!

Share Your Expertise! Deadline: March 8, 2024

Purpose of this form: To collect details about proposed conference workshops. CMHA will use the information requested in this form to assure appropriateness of content, to assess whether the presentation meets criteria for social work “Continuing Education Clock Hours” and/or addiction professionals' certification “Contact Hours,” and to develop program descriptions.

What we are looking for: Presentations that fit into the theme of the Substance Use and Co-Occurring Disorder Conference that address topics such as health and wellness, health disparities, health equity, integration of behavioral health (prevention and treatment of mental health and substance use disorders) and physical health, co-occurring disorder, peers and recovery coaching and strength-based services as well as other topics. Please feel free to submit proposals on other topics that you think are appropriate for the conference.

Presenter Compensation: Two presenters per session will receive complimentary registration for the main conference. Additional presenters are required to pay the conference registration fee unless approved in advance of the conference by MDHHS and CMHA. The conference budget will not provide honorariums for workshop presenters.

Having Fun at Work  

Your work here can be difficult, but you continue to show up to support our community through their best and worst days. We are sure you know the importance of self-care and have your own ways to keep your spirits up and build resiliency. But did you know having fun at work can help? The Staff Support Committee has put together another spirit week that is sure to add a little fun and laughter to your day. Dress up with daily themes and wrap up the week with a team photo to celebrate National Have Fun At Work Day on January 26.

Monday, Jan. 22 - Sports Day

Tuesday, Jan. 23 - Hat Day

Wednesday, Jan. 24 - Fictional Hero Day

Thursday, Jan. 25 - Funky Sock Day

Friday, Jan. 26 - Team Color Day

Share the fun that your team had dressing up by sending the photos to Michelle Lyons.

Ethics Training Dates

Community Mental Health Association of Michigan Presents: Virtual Navigating Ethical Challenges: An Interactive Virtual Training for Social Workers, SUD Professionals, and Recipient Rights Experts.

Join us for a comprehensive virtual training, "Navigating Ethical Challenges," where social workers, substance use disorder professionals, and recipient rights experts come together to explore the intricate landscape of ethics. This seminar offers a deep exploration of ethical considerations in the field, covering essential topics such as autonomy and competence, ethical codes and standards, informed consent, boundary management, dual relationships, ethics surrounding telehealth, conflicts of interest, and common ethical challenges and pitfalls. Ethical problem-solving models will be presented, discussed, and utilized through interactive case studies. Engage in in-depth discussions, learn from expert lectures, participate in interactive breakout sessions, and develop practical strategies for ethical problem-solving. This multi-media seminar aims to equip you with the knowledge and skills to navigate ethical dilemmas effectively, enhancing your ethical practice and professional growth.

This course qualifies for 6 CEs and fulfills:

• The Michigan Social Work Licensing Board’s requirement for licensure renewal for ethics.
• The MCBAP approved treatment ethics code education – specific.

Pain Management Training Dates

Community Mental Health Association of Michigan Presents: Virtual Cultivating Compassion: A Multidimensional Approach to Pain Management in Mental Health Practice

Chronic pain is a complex and often debilitating condition that can have profound impacts on an individual's mental and emotional well-being. As mental health professionals, we play a critical role in the holistic care of individuals experiencing pain. Join us in this 2-hour virtual training, "Transforming Pain into Resilience," which is tailored to empower mental health professionals with holistic insights into chronic pain management. Pain, with its intricate sensory and emotional facets, will be unraveled, clarifying the multifaceted nature of pain. Participants will delve into comprehensive pain assessment tools, appreciating the physical, psychological, and social factors contributing to suffering, all while fostering an empathetic and collaborative approach within multidisciplinary teams. This seminar offers psychotherapeutic approaches to pain management, including CBT strategies, Motivational Interviewing tools and Mindfulness exercises. Attendees will gain essential knowledge and practical skills to better support individuals in treatment who are dealing with chronic pain issues. This seminar will feature interactive and engaging elements, including lectures, discussions, Q&A sessions, and multimedia components.

This course qualifies for 2 CEs and fulfills the Michigan Social Work Licensing Board’s requirement for licensure renewal for pain management. 

DBT Foundational training is a comprehensive program of study designed specifically for individual therapists or skills trainers who are members of an intensively trained DBT Consultation Team and have not completed DBT Intensive Training themselves. It is meant to assist teams who have hired new staff or experienced turnover by providing newer team members with training in the standard content of DBT. Foundational training includes 4 hours of content specific to risk assessment, management, and treatment of suicidal behaviors. Lecture, video, demonstration, and practice will be used to teach DBT theory and strategies in depth. This live, remote, instructor-led course consists of twenty 90-minute modules delivered via video conference for a total of 30 instructor-led hours. Each module includes reading and homework tasks.

Prerequisites: This training requires that participants work in an active DBT program, currently participate in a consultation team, and will continue learning DBT with a mentor/team leader. (If you are a new team/in process of developing a team, please reach out so that we can explore ways to support your team with mentor/team leader). Only people who have attended an approved comprehensive training in DBT (e.g., Intensive or Foundational) may serve as mentors for team members attending Foundational Training. The following specific requirements must be documented in your application:

• Membership in a comprehensively trained DBT Consultation team that has been functioning for at least 1 year past completion of comprehensive training.
• A member of the same consultation team as you must serve as your mentor/team leader during the training and for 1 year after completion of your training.
• Mentors/team leaders must meet the following qualifications: 
• Be an active member of a functioning DBT consultation team for at least 2 years post their own comprehensive DBT training, and
• Must have received comprehensive training.

More Information & Registration Coming Soon!