The Center for Mental Health Implementation Support (CMHIS) and our 5 bi-regional Hubs provide support for organizations and systems on how to implement effective practices to deliver the best mental health care.

Dear Colleagues,

Welcome to our February 2026 newsletter! As always, we're incredibly grateful for the chance to share more free resources, learning opportunities, and connections to support your work.

Behind the scenes, we’ve been busy planning upcoming support activities and meeting with state mental health commissioners and provider associations across our bi-region to ensure our priorities are aligned with yours. These conversations help us stay responsive, grounded, and focused on what matters most in our work: providing effective, accessible care for all.

In this issue you’ll find:

• Upcoming events hosted by the Pacific West Hub and CMHIS nationally
• A preview of our workshop at the NASW-WA conference this March
• An announcement about the new CMHIS Learning Lab

As we continue to expand our work, we’re also pleased to welcome Erin Wright, LMHC, as our new Pacific West Hub Program Manager. Erin brings more than 15 years of experience across clinical, training, and leadership roles. Reflecting on why implementation science matters, she shares:



"Clinicians and the people they serve are deeply interconnected. When providers are supported, they are better able to deliver care that truly meets people's needs. In this way, implementation science improves both the sustainability of clinical work and the outcomes for those receiving services."

Erin’s perspective reflects the heart of our approach: strong connections are what make meaningful change possible.

If you have questions, want to talk about partnership opportunities, or need support, don't hesitate to reach out to us via email or through our website. We’re here to talk through your ideas and challenges, whether by email or a quick video call, to explore how we can support you and your priorities.

Warm regards,

Co-Directors Christina Clayton & Lydia Chwastiak

You can find upcoming learning opportunities held by each Hub and national events on the CMHIS events calendar. Learn more about new events and register below.

Understanding and Assessing

Artificial Intelligence (AI) for Community Mental Health

Weds. March 4th, 11th, and 18th 
9-10:00 AM Pacific

Peer Integration for Implementation Readiness: Building and Sustaining Peer Support Roles Across Systems

Tues. March 24th ~ 2-3:30 PM Pacific AND

Thurs. March 26th ~ 2-3:00 PM Pacific

Beyond the Numbers: Data Storytelling for Continuous Quality Improvement

Tues. April 28th ~ 2-3:30 PM Pacific AND

Thurs. April 30th ~ 2-3:00 PM Pacific

Building the Infrastructure for 
Long-Term Service Delivery

Tues. August 11th ~ 2-3:30 PM Pacific AND

Tues. August 18th ~ 2-3:00 PM Pacific

Social workers and behavioral health leaders are increasingly called upon to implement evidence-informed and responsive practices in complex, resource-constrained environments. Yet many of us lack access to the practical tools and strategies that support sustainable, effective change.

That’s why our Hub is excited to share that we’ll be exhibiting and leading a workshop at the 2026 National Association of Social Workers (NASW) Washington Statewide Conference, March 5–7 in Vancouver.

Our session is designed for social workers seeking practical, responsive strategies to lead sustainable change in behavioral health and social service settings. Drawing from implementation science (the “how” of effective change) we'll explore ways to move from ideas to impact by planning and sustaining programs and practices that reflect core social work values of care, compassion, and respect. 

If you’re planning to attend, we’d love to connect. Conference details and registration information are available on the NASW Washington website, and we hope you’ll stop by to say hello to our team and attend our session!

Not attending but interested in this topic? Get in touch with us to talk more about how we can present to your leadership teams and organizations.

CMHIS has launched the CMHIS Learning Lab, a new online collection of self-paced courses and recorded learning sessions developed by CMHIS and our bi-regional Hubs.

What you’ll find:


• Free, on-demand courses and recorded sessions, including certificates and continuing education credits
• Content covering the whole implementation process, whether you’re just getting started or trying to sustain an existing practice or program
• Updates to come! Stay tuned for more learning opportunities in the near future