Advancing Public Policies for People with Mental Illness, Chemical Dependency or Developmental Disabilities
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Governor Cuomo Announces $5 Million Available to Recruit Vital Personnel Needed to Assist New Yorkers Seeking Addiction Treatment Services
Governor Andrew M. Cuomo this week announced $5 million in state funding is available to support the recruitment and retention of Certified Recovery Peer Advocates and nurse practitioners to assist New Yorkers suffering from addiction. The New York State Office of Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Services will award up to 170 grants to certified outpatient and opioid treatment providers to help secure approximately 120 nurse practitioner and 50 Certified Peer Recovery Advocate positions across the state.
The availability of this funding supports the Governor's ongoing efforts to increase support for New Yorkers in obtaining services needed to recover from substance abuse, while also fighting the broader battle to combat addiction.
Certified Peer Recovery Advocates are individuals who hold an OASAS approved certification and provide peer support services. Read more
here.
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ASAM and CARF Reshape Addiction Care with Landmark Treatment Delivery Certification
The American Society of Addiction Medicine (ASAM) and CARF International (CARF) this week announced the pilot launch of a national certification program for addiction treatment programs that demonstrate the ability to deliver services consistent with established national guidelines for levels of care.
The certification program will provide an independent, comprehensive assessment of an individual treatment program's fidelity to a specific level of care as outlined in The ASAM Criteria. ASAM and CARF have clearly defined roles in the development and operation of the program to deliver accuracy and ensure independence throughout the certification process. Read more here.
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New York State Announces $2.2 Million in Grants to Reduce Recidivism
New York State has awarded more than $2.2 million in funding for jail-based programs to help individuals who are incarcerated change patterns of thinking, improve positive motivation and further develop social skills that will help them lead crime-free lives. Administered by the state Division of Criminal Justice Services, the funding will allow nine not-for-profit organizations and one local agency to offer cognitive behavioral intervention services at 11 county jails across the state for the first time. The funding will continue four existing programs in three counties and in New York City.
Collectively, the programs will enroll about 1,300 individuals either serving a jail sentence or in pre-trial detention, each of whom are deemed at either a moderate or high risk of reoffending when they are released. These new grants triple the number of jail-based cognitive behavioral intervention programs supported by the state. Read more here.
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October 22, 10 - 11:30 am, OMH
Medicaid Innovation Accelerator Program: Data Analytics State Learning Webinar "Solving Missing Data Problems"
October 23, 3 - 4 pm, National Academy for State Health Policy
State Options for Promoting Recovery among Pregnant and Parenting Women with Opioid or Substance Use Disorder
October 24, 1 - 2:15 pm, National Academy for State Health Policy
SOAR: A Reentry Tool for Individuals Involved in the Criminal Justice System
October 24, 3 - 4:30 pm, SAMHSA
Access and Engagement in the Value Equation: Solutions That Work
October 25, 12 - 1 pm, CTAC/MCTAC
Stepping Up Four Key Measures #3: Increasing the Number of People with Mental Illnesses Connected to Treatment
October 25, 2 - 3:15 pm, National Association of Counties
Recovery Dialogues: An Avenue for Culture Change in Psychiatric Hospitals
October 25, 2 - 3:30 pm, National Empowerment Center
Refresher Webinar for Children and Family Treatment and Support Services: OLP, CPST, and PSR
October 25, 3 - 4 pm, MCTAC
October 30, 12 - 1 pm, PsychU
VBP Lessons Learned
October 30, 2 - 3:30 pm, DOH
October 30, 2:30 - 3:30 pm, Manatt Health
October 31, 3 - 4 pm,
National Academy for State Health Policy
PSYCKES Access and Implementation
November 1, 10 - 11 am, OMH
PSYCKES Mobile App for iPhones & iPads
November 6, 3 - 4 pm, OMH
November 7, 12 - 1 pm, PsychU
The Role of Technology in Solving the Opioid Crisis
November 7, 2 - 3 pm, National Council for Behavioral Health
November 8, 11:30 am - 12:30 pm, National Council for Behavioral Health
November 15, 12 - 1 pm, PsychU
PSYCKES Train the Trainer
November 21, 12 - 1 pm, OMH
Integrating Behavioral Health and Primary Care: Solutions That Work
November 29, 12 - 1 pm, CTAC/MCTAC
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CLMHD Executive Committee Call
November 7: 8 am, GTM
CLMHD Office Closed - Veterans Day
November 12
CLMHD/DOH/OMH/C-SPOA Meeting
November 15, 3 - 4 pm, GTM
Children & Families Committee Meeting
November 20, 11:30 am - 1 pm, GTM
CLMHD Office Closed - Thanksgiving
November 22 - 23
CLMHD Directors Meeting
November 28, 9:30 - 11 am, GTM
Contact CLMHD for all Call In and Go To Meeting information, 518.462.9422
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New Rochester Clinic Will Be Like an Urgent Care for Mental Health, Substance Abuse
You're despondent after an argument with someone you love.
Or suddenly, you feel anxious.
Or you worry about falling back into using drugs.
A number of things can spark a mental health crisis. As with physical injuries, not all emotional pain requires the full-on approach of a hospital emergency room.
But they still can't wait.
Starting Oct. 16, adults in non life-threatening distress can get help at a lower level of intensity.
Rochester Regional Health is opening the
Behavioral Health Access & Crisis Center at the St. Mary's Campus, 89 Genesee St. The entrance to the crisis center is off Chili Avenue, just west of the intersection at West Main and Genesee Streets.
The walk-in site initially will be open from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m, Monday through Friday, with the goal of 24/7 access by the end of 2019.
Other non-emergency sites tend to be mutually exclusive. They treat people who either have mental health or substance abuse concerns, but seldom both at once, said Colin Scantlin, a registered nurse and director of acute psychiatric services. Read more
here.
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Collaborative-Care Model Best for Behavioral Health, Study Shows
A study conducted at Montefiore Health System's primary-care sites concluded that a collaborative-care approach achieves better outcomes for behavioral-health patients than a colocation model does.
With collaborative care, a care manager or social worker works with a psychiatrist and a primary-care provider to create and manage treatment plans. In the colocation approach, patients are screened by primary-care providers and referred to a behavioral health care provider at the same location.
The
study found that 44% of patients treated under the collaborative-care model had reduced depressive symptoms, compared with 31% of patients in the colocation model. Read more
here.
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SAMHSA Releases First Annual CCBHC Report to Congress
Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinics (CCBHCs), a new comprehensive mental health and addiction treatment model that is currently active in eight states, have been transforming care across the country since they launched in mid-2017. As required by the legislation that gave rise to CCBHCs, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) issued its
first annual report to Congress
on the status of the program late last week. The report outlines the genesis of the CCBHC program, the process that clinics have undergone to become CCBHCs, the current status of the program's implementation, and long-term sustainability efforts. Read more
here
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Upstate's Psychiatry High Risk Program Adds Insurers and Staff to Meet Demand
A behavioral health program launched last year by Upstate Medical University that specializes in the treatment of youth and young adults (ages 16 to 40) who are at risk for suicide is expanding.
When the program opened in March of 2017, POMCO was the only insurer providing payment for services. Now Excellus BlueCross BlueShield has signed on as well Fidelis Care and Molina Care.
Recent staff additions to the program include two licensed clinical social workers, Abigail Riggall, LCSW-R, and Glenn Forsythe, LCSW, and a part-time nurse practitioner, Ann Arezzo, who is a graduate of Upstate's innovative nurse practitioner psychiatric fellowship program.
Seventy patients have been seen by the program since it began in March 2017. Read more
here.
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Groundbreaking Treatment For Behavioral And Medical Challenges Available Statewide
Baker Victory Services in Lackawanna is using 'groundbreaking' treatment for children with duel diagnosed behavioral and medical challenges. WBFO's senior reporter Eileen Buckley tells us this is a 'first of its kind' program in New York State.
"To serve what is one of the most difficult populations to serve. Young children who have significant intellectual disabilities as well as significant behavioral health challenges," said Terese Scofidio, CEO, Baker Victory Services.
Baker Victory Services is known for its legacy of providing children and families with a variety of services and residential programs.
Scofidio tells WBFO News they currently care for more than 3,600 adolescents. They have physical and mental health challenges and disabilities. Baker Victory is now teaming with several agencies. The State Office of Mental Health, State Education Department, Office of Persons with Development Disabilities, Dr. Michael Cummings at ECMC and the Buffalo Psychiatric Center to provide the Intensive Therapeutic Program.
"It requires intensive one on one staffing, it requires highly trained and skill staff, which is why it has never been done before," Scofidio explained.
Read more here.
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Mental Health Stigma Dissipates, but Cost and Coverage Barriers Remain
Although demand for mental health services is stronger than ever, treatment is often inaccessible, according to a new survey.
More than half (56%) of 5,024 Americans
surveyed want mental health services either for themselves or for a loved one, but about three-quarters said there are access issues, with 34% pointing to cost or poor insurance coverage, according to a survey commissioned by Cohen Veterans Network and National Council for Behavioral Health. Others pointed to social stigma, lack of direction and poor quality of care as barriers to mental healthcare.
"Access has been a major problem. It is a crisis in America," said Anthony Hassan, president and CEO of Cohen Veterans Network. "When you wonder why there are such high suicide rates among children, it's because they are not getting the care when they need it."
Sometimes cost is prohibitive and providers are overworked. Some CEOs of community health centers are operating on shoestring budgets that make it hard to hire skilled staff, employ evidence-based practices and adopt new technologies, he added. Read more
here.
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Using Data to Improve Effective Responses to Individuals in Crisis
Crisis intervention teams work with law enforcement officials to recognize a person who is in crisis and safely direct them to treatment appropriate for their condition. This model has been successful in many communities, bringing together police and other first responders with resources such as mobile crisis teams and crisis hotlines. The result is a decrease in the number of mental-health related arrests while increasing public safety. To support communities in creating and evaluating their own crisis intervention teams, SAMHSA has published a new report titled
Crisis Intervention Team Methods for using Data to Inform Practice: A Step-by-Step Guide.
With any community-wide program, it is important to make sure that the effort produces the desired results. This new report provides a roadmap to help communities create a system for effective data collection and review. Once the data is collected, communities can understand the effectiveness of their crisis intervention program and discover any gaps where improvements may be needed. Read more
here.
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Governor Cuomo Announces Nearly $1 Million to Support Housing for Homeless New Yorkers Living with HIV/AIDS
Governor Andrew M. Cuomo this week announced that seven organizations have received awards totaling $982,000 for the Operational and Support for AIDS Housing program. The funds will be used to provide services and operational support for projects funded through the Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance's Homeless Housing and Assistance Program that house homeless and formerly homeless individuals and families living with HIV/AIDS.
Funding for the Operational and Support for AIDS Housing program allows contractors to meet the special support services needs of residents and cover maintenance and operating expenses. It is used for costs associated with personnel, supplies, utilities, consultants, travel, equipment, contractual obligations, maintenance needs and rental subsidies. Read more
here.
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Virtual Care Comes To Complex Consumers
Conventional wisdom in the field has been that consumer-facing technology is not "appropriate" for consumers with complex needs-particularly consumers with mental or cognitive disabilities. This conventional wisdom has driven policy and practice.
But we're seeing some changes in that thinking. Recent research shows that 96% of all health plans use telemental health services. And while only 41% of all health plans use eCBT, 21% using some type of online engagement tool, and 16% of all health plans use consumer-facing portals-among Medicaid health plans, where you will generally find the most complex consumers, adoption of these technologies is around 50% or higher, far above the adoption rates of these technologies in Medicare plans and sometimes surpassing adoption rates among commercial plans.
These stats are just the beginning. On the ground, we're seeing the development of innovative new programs and partnerships to expand the use of consumer-facing technologies across the care continuum for complex consumers. Read more
here.
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Mental Health Patients, With Nowhere Else to Go, Are Overwhelming Emergency Departments
When I walk through my hospital's emergency department, I'm sometimes overwhelmed by the number of people languishing there as they wait for help with a mental health issue, like the woman clutching her chest as if she's having a heart attack but is really suffering from a panic attack. It's her third time here in a week.
She is just one of the hundreds of patients who will be admitted this year to my emergency department in the Mat-Su Regional Medical Center in Palmer, Alaska, experiencing psychiatric emergencies.
Many stay in the emergency department for hours; some even stay there for a few days.
The practice, called psychiatric boarding, occurs when an individual with a mental health condition is kept in an emergency department because no appropriate mental health care is available. It's rampant around the country.
Millions of Americans with mental health issues are not getting the care they need. It's a crisis so profound that it is overwhelming emergency departments and the entire health care system.
Read more
here
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