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Community Calendars
 
Cenpatico Integrated Care AZ Community Events
  
Mercy Maricopa of Integrated Care Community Events 
  
Health Choice Integrated Care Community Events 
  
AZ Center for Applied Behavioral Health  Events

Arizona Trauma Institute Trainings 
  
NAMI AZ Calendar
  
Sign up here for a Mental Health First Aid class near you!




2016 Board of Directors 
 
Michael Shafer, Ph.D. Chair  
Joshua Mozell, J.D., Vice Chair  
Jason Bernstein, C.P.A., Treasurer

Jack Beveridge
Max Dine, M.D.

Sheri George
Charles Goldstein, M.D
Laurie Goldstein

Emily Jenkins, J.D.
Marcus Johnson , M.P.H.
Karen Pitico, M.P.H.
Mohamed Ramadan, M.D. 
Clarke Romans
July 15th, 2016
 
 
MHA Applauds House Passage of H.R. 2646, Commends Bipartisan Leadership and Collaboration

Alexandria, VA-Mental Health America (MHA) applauds the members of the House of Representatives for passing H.R. 2646, The Helping Families in Mental Health Crisis Act of 2015.

"Speaker Paul Ryan, Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy, and Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi are to be commended for making mental health reform a priority this session," said Paul Gionfriddo, president and CEO of Mental Health America. "MHA thanks Representatives Fred Upton and Frank Pallone and Representatives Joe Pitts and Gene Green for their leadership in engaging the members of the Energy and Commerce Committee and the Health Subcommittee in building a strong bipartisan bill.

"MHA recognizes Representatives Tim Murphy's and Eddie Bernice Johnson's tireless efforts to find policy consensus and make sure that mental health reform happened this session. MHA thanks all of the members of the Energy and Commerce Committee that worked together to make sure that the bill begins to address a number of priority issues. MHA knows that mental health is personal to every family and every community, and appreciates all of those Members who shared their stories and helped to make this happen."

There are several provisions that have come from the bipartisan collaboration in the House, which MHA strongly supports for inclusion in the final legislation, including:
  • Elevation of mental health in the Federal government;
  • Support for innovation, both through SAMHSA and CMS;
  • Funding to support the growth of the peer support specialist workforce;
  • Interagency planning to reduce incarceration of individuals with mental health conditions;
  • Focus on early intervention and screening in primary care; and
  • Medicaid provisions that make sure that children in inpatient mental health settings have access to the services they need to be healthy.
"MHA urges the Senate leadership to act quickly to get a strong mental health bill to the President's desk," concluded Gionfriddo.
Advocacy Institute Program: Brought to you by the Arizona Behavioral Health Corporation



The AZ Behavioral Health Corporation is again hosting the  Advocacy Institute.  In the links below there is a flyer announcing the dates and the application for interested participants must be completed and returned by August 29th.
  
This is a series of 6  Saturday sessions in September, October, November & December that equips individuals to better understand the public behavioral health system in AZ.

Note: There is a $10 application fee, and for those accepted into the class, a $50 program fee.

Historic grant will benefit the long-term health of Arizonans

Senator Barbara McGuire (LD-8) released the following statement on the  awarding of a $43.3 million peer-reviewed National Institutes of Health grant to the University of Arizona Health  Sciences and Banner Health to participate in the Precision Medicine Initiative® Cohort Program: 

"The health of Arizonans is vital, especially in rural areas where medical care can be hours away, which is why I  championed UA/Banner's application for this NIH grant and am thrilled they received what is the largest NIH peer- reviewed grant in state history," said Sen. McGuire.

"The addition of Arizona to this critical research will also allow the inclusion of our Native American and Hispanic communities in order to provide a more diverse view of disease treatment and prevention. I am proud that the University of Arizona's world-class bioscience research has been recognized and rewarded with this far-reaching grant."
SAVE THE DATE: Refugee Behavioral Health Training on August 4th

August 4th, 2016;  8:00am - 4:30pm

Desert Willow's Conference Center
4340 E Cotton Center Boulevard
Phoenix, AZ 85040
 
Focus:   Behavioral Health -  Integrating Resource to Meet the Behavioral Health Needs of Arizona's Multi-Ethnic Refugee Communities
 
This training session is free! 
   
Some of the topics to be covered include:
  • Introduction to Refugee Behavioral Health
  • Female Genital Cutting
  • Adverse Childhood Experiences
  • (Break out A) Trauma
  • (Break out B) Survivors of torture and Survivors of War
  • (Break out A): Refugees with Chronic illness
  • (Break out B): Access to care among Somali refugee
Contact Stella Kiarie for more information

Stella Kiarie, MPH
Refugee Health Coordinator
Arizona Department of Health Services
150 N 18th Ave., Suite 110
Phoenix, AZ 85007
 
Office: 602-364-3592
Ask a Doc: What can be done about the opiates epidemic?



In an article run by the Arizona Republic, Dr. Will Humble participates in a Q & A session discussing the current opioid epidemic that is taking the nation by storm. 

Read more at:  Arizona Republic: Ask a Doc
Bringing Awareness to Mental Health Issues: The Ice Breakers

In an article by CNN, runners are making headlines and bringing awareness to the suffering of those with mental health issues. 

"They call themselves the Ice Breakers: six runners with a history of mental illness and a coast-to-coast mission.  Their goal: Break the ice of talking about a once-taboo subject so other sufferers might find help.  These men and women spent the past few weeks running across America -- the first time, they say, that a  six-person relay team  has made such a journey. Together, they've logged 5 million steps  over 3,100 miles ."

Sex Trafficking Resources & Help in Arizona

New sex trafficking services website developed as part of our U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Children's Bureau grant.

This website highlights the trauma-focused and victim-centered agencies throughout Arizona that serve victims of sex trafficking.  Specific information about each agency is listed including eligibility and location.
 
This is not a website for detection of new sex trafficking victims, for a victim who needs immediate investigatory or child welfare services please continue to call law enforcement, the Arizona child abuse hotline and the Polaris hotline.

 
Updates from the National Institute of Mental Health

  • New online fact sheets available to educate the public about first episode psychosis:
  1. RAISE: Early Warning Signs of Psychosis Fact Sheet: Lists changes in behavior before psychosis develops that may be early warning signs of psychosis. Here 
  2. RAISE: First Episode Psychosis Fact Sheet: Lists some facts about psychosis in general and specifically first episode psychosis, as well as a variety of treatments. Here 
  • Rates of nonmedical prescription opioid use and opioid use disorder double in 10 years  Here 
  • Report provides rates of serious suicidal thoughts among young adults in every state and the District of Columbia Here 
  • SAMHSA releases new quality measurement tools for mental health and substance use treatment Here


 
Mental Health America of Arizona wants to acknowledge the support of Janssen Pharmaceutical Company. Corporate support is key to assuring there is a voice in the community.


We invite your participation and sharing of this newsletter by forwarding to your friends and colleagues.  If they wish to receive the newsletter, encourage them to simply click on the link here.  Let's share the word.  Time to get involved.
 
 
Kristina Sabetta, LMSW
Executive Consultant