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Welcome to the June issue of Inside the Hub—your source for updates from the Northeast Atlantic and Caribbean Hub of the Center for Mental Health Implementation Support (CMHIS). In this issue, you’ll find information about our upcoming events, an overview of how sustainability supports long-term success, resources for developing a sustainment action plan, and a highlight of our team in action.
We’re also excited to share our CMHIS Welcome video.
| Video: Reintroducing the Center for Mental Health Implementation Support | | |
We’re excited to share a new short video reintroducing the Center for Mental Health Implementation Support (CMHIS) and our work with mental health organizations and state agencies nationwide. Funded by SAMHSA, CMHIS provides nationwide, no-cost support to help your team implement effective mental health care in your community.
In this video, you’ll hear from our team and audience about how we partner with organizations to navigate implementation challenges, build capacity, and create meaningful, real-world change. Watch the video and learn more about CMHIS on our website.
| | Implementation Science Corner | | |
Often, mental health service delivery becomes focused exclusively on the day-to-day activities—responding to daily issues as they arise rather than planning for the future. To truly sustain practices, we need to shift from a reactive to a proactive mindset. Long-term success means evolving alongside the changing needs of the communities we serve.
We’re Here For You!
We’re here to help you thrive. At CMHIS, we equip mental health programs with the tools and strategies needed for lasting success. We work with you to map out sustainability action plans, break down barriers, and address funding objectives. Ultimately, our mission is to ensure your program keeps delivering excellent outcomes for years to come. Ready to secure your program's future? Contact us today!
| | 10 Steps for Developing a Sustainment Action Plan | | |
10 Steps for Developing a Sustainment Action Plan is an easy-to-follow infographic designed to help organizations maintain their effective services when a grant ends or funding changes. It provides a practical, step-by-step process from clarifying goals and identifying potential barriers, to selecting strategies, implementing your plan, and continuously evaluating and refining your approach.
We’d love to support you in developing your sustainment action plan! Reach out to us here.
| | Vermont Department of Mental Health Conference | | The Northeast Atlantic and Caribbean Hub of CMHIS attended the annual Vermont Department of Mental Health conference in Killington, VT on May 28th. Team members Sean Karyczak and Jill Fort-Valiant presented a workshop and engaged with a lively room full of providers discussing the promotion of successful outcomes through tailored and intentional implementation planning and support. Sean and Jill were thrilled to connect with so many passionate providers who are committed to delivering effective services throughout Vermont!
| | We have lots of exciting upcoming events for our Hub! | | |
Measure What Matters: Beyond the Checkbox
Wednesday, July 8 & 15 2026 @ 12 p.m. – 1 p.m. ET
Join us for this two-part interactive series exploring how to move beyond compliance and use program evaluation to strengthen everyday practice in your setting. Whether you are new to program evaluation or looking to enhance your existing practices, this series is for you! We encourage you to bring anyone from your organization who will be part of your program evaluation team. This series is designed to build from session 1 through session 2, so please plan to have at least one person from your organization in attendance throughout.
This event is being offered to HHS Regions 1 & 2 – ME, VT, NH, MA, CT, NY, RI, NJ, Puerto Rico, and the US Virgin Islands.
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Navigating Roadblocks and Key Drivers for Mental Health Leaders
Tuesday, July 14 & 21 2026 @ 12 p.m. – 1 p.m. ET
Have you ever wondered what really gets in the way of successfully implementing a program or service in your organization – and what you can do about it? In this series, we will explore common roadblocks that can hinder your efforts, and ways to identify what might be slowing you down. We will also delve into how to recognize and harness your organization’s strengths while incorporating evidence-based implementation strategies to support success. We encourage you to bring a small group of key players from your organization.
This event is being offered to HHS Regions 1 & 2 – ME, VT, NH, MA, CT, NY, RI, NJ, Puerto Rico, and the US Virgin Islands.
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Voices into Action: Powering Implementation through Engagement of People with Lived Experience – Learning Community
July 21, August 12, & September 15 2026 @ 2 p.m. – 3:30 p.m. ET
This session presents an opportunity to join a groundbreaking three-part Learning Community. Designed for 8 to 12 committed organizational teams in mental health services, this community empowers participants to harness a new Lived Experience Engagement Toolkit for impactful implementation projects. The Learning Community will include three group sessions and four individual coaching sessions per team. See below for the application link. Application deadline has been extended to 6/23/26, with participant notification by 6/29/26.
This series is being offered to HHS Regions 1 & 2 – ME, VT, NH, MA, CT, NY, RI, NJ, Puerto Rico, and the US Virgin Islands.
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Deepening Community Connection: Engaging Key Partners and Assessing Needs for Mental Health Services
Wednesday July 22 & 29 2026 @ 11 a.m. – 12 p.m. ET
Effectively meeting the mental health needs of our communities depends upon our ability to connect and understand what those needs are. But how do you know when you have effectively connected with your community? Join us for this two-part series exploring community engagement and needs assessment and their application in your setting. Whether you are new to these topics or you are looking to improve your existing practices, this series is for you!
This event is being offered to HHS Regions 1 & 2 – ME, VT, NH, MA, CT, NY, RI, NJ, Puerto Rico, and the US Virgin Islands.
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The following events are open to all states and territories.
Sustainable Financing of Evidence-Based Mental Health Practices: Tools for a Future-Proof Approach
Wednesday, July 22, 2026
1 p.m. – 2 p.m. ET
Sustained delivery of evidence-based practices (EBPs) is essential to large-scale impact of the important programmatic work of mental health service organizations. This 1-hour workshop will provide tools that mental health service organizations can use to identify sustainable financing strategies for EBPs.
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Elevating Mental Health Services with Quality Improvement Approaches
Tuesday, August 11 & 18 2026
12 p.m. – 1 p.m. ET
Are you thinking of making changes to the mental health services your program delivers? Wondering where to start and how to work through the process in a structured way? Join us for this two-part interactive series exploring continuous quality improvement (CQI). We will be exploring the use of data for service improvement, the importance of a collaborative team approach, helpful tools and strategies, and the long-term view of CQI.
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Kaitlin Mitchell, PhD, LCSW is a senior training & consultation specialist and adjunct faculty member in the Rutgers University Department of Psychiatric Rehabilitation and Counseling Professions. She earned her MSW from Fordham University and her PhD in psychiatric rehabilitation at Rutgers University. Kaitlin’s research focuses on the intersection of identity development, internalized stigma, and positive psychology in adults with serious mental illness (SMI), with the goal of enhancing recovery-oriented care within psychiatric rehabilitation. She has participated in developing applied positive psychology interventions for use in various mental health settings including inpatient, partial hospital, intensive outpatient, supported housing, and other community-based programs.
In addition to over a decade of clinical practice, Kaitlin’s work experience also includes the implementation of program evaluation and continuous quality improvement (CQI) projects. In her free time, Kaitlin loves exploring new places and spending as much time as possible outdoors, usually with her dogs by her side.
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We’d love to hear from you! Is there something you want us to cover in an upcoming newsletter? Send us your thoughts, stories, or feedback.
What to Expect Next Month
In July, you’ll receive the newsletter from CMHIS, with nationwide updates and highlights.
We’ll be back in August with more Hub news, stories, and insights. In the meantime, feel free to visit our website, send us an email, or follow us on LinkedIn.
Request Support
As part of the Center for Mental Health Implementation Support (CMHIS), the Northeast Atlantic and Caribbean Hub offers assistance to grantees funded by SAMHSA’s Center for Mental Health Services and mental health service providers in HHS Regions
1 and 2, which include Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, Vermont, New Jersey, New York, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. We can help you strengthen your mental health programs through community engagement, implementation planning, data use, outcome evaluation, and more. Please review our guidelines and submit a request.
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