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Welcome to the June Edition of the Southwestern Plains Hub Newsletter!
As summer begins, we're reflecting on recent opportunities to connect and learn alongside CMHIS Hubs from across the country.
In May, our team gathered in Seattle for the annual CMHIS meeting to share ideas, strengthen partnerships, and explore ways implementation support can help organizations move from planning to action and sustain meaningful change.
| | In this issue, you'll find upcoming learning opportunities, tools, and resources to support your work. | | UPCOMING LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES | | | |
Data to Action: Turning Findings into Action
Jul 14, 2026
11 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. PT, noon-1:30 p.m. MT, 1-2:30 p.m. CT, 2-3:30 p.m. ET
Collecting data is only one part of evaluation. The real impact comes from how organizations interpret findings, communicate insights, and use what they learn to improve programs and support long-term sustainability.
This three-session learning series will help participants move from collecting and interpreting data to using findings for meaningful action. Participants will explore practical strategies for translating evaluation results into decision-making, communicating findings to different audiences, and creating sustainability action plans that support continuous improvement.
By the end of this learning series, participants will be able to use evaluation findings to inform program decisions, create an “Action from Data” plan that links findings to concrete next steps, and develop strategies to communicate data effectively to different audiences.
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June 23, 2026
1:00-2:30 PM CT
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Practical Tools for Evaluation in Resource-Limited Settings
This learning session will walk through practical, low-cost ways to collect and use data to support program improvement and day-to-day decision-making.
Participants will learn about simple tools and strategies that can help teams better understand what is working, identify areas for improvement, and build stronger continuous quality improvement (CQI) practices over time.
Register Now
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Aug 4, 2026
10:30-12:00 PM CT
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Funding for Sustainment
This three-part learning series is designed as a capacity‑building implementation strategy to help small nonprofit and peer‑led organizations' funding approaches and plans for long-term sustainability.
The series will guide participants through assessing the external funding landscape, selecting context‑appropriate financing strategies, and developing an actionable sustainment plan.
Register Now
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Fidelity in Peer Support Programming
Are you interested in learning more about how to strengthen the role peer support services in your organization? This event will use guided discussions, scenario analysis, and collaborative planning to explore the distinct role of peer support, internal team dynamics, and develop strategies to maintain the integrity and effectiveness of peer support services.
The series will also include breakout sessions for deeper dialogue and policy planning, ensuring that peer support remains true to its values while aligning with organizational goals.
Learn More
| | Technical Assistance in Action: I am Bienestar | | |
How Planning and Communications Supported Organizational Growth
I am Bienestar, a community-based nonprofit founded in 2022, was created to address a critical gap: access to appropriate mental health and emotional care for Latino and immigrant communities in the United States. What began as a single support group for immigrant women quickly expanded into multiple support groups, workshops, and a growing network of providers.
Community trust was strong, and participation was increasing — but the rapid expansion surfaced a key challenge: how to clearly define what the organization was delivering, align services with intended outcomes, and ensure that the right people could access those services. To support this next phase, I am Bienestar partnered with the Southwestern Plains Hub of CMHIS to bring greater clarity and structure to its work.
Through tailored technical assistance, the Hub supported I am Bienestar in developing an implementation logic model to define its programs, intended audiences, desired outcomes, and factors shaping participation. That foundation then guided a second phase of support focused on social marketing and communications, helping the organization strengthen how it shares its mission and connects community members to services.
To learn more about how this partnership supported I am Bienestar’s growth, planning, and outreach efforts, view the full project profile.
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| Team Member Spotlight: Annie Lenoir, PhD | | |
Meet Annie Lenoir, PhD, Evaluator and Implementation Consultant at Southwestern Plains Hub!
Annie is a Research Associate V with the Texas Institute for Excellence in Mental Health at The University of Texas at Austin’s School of Social Work. Her work centers on applying statistical analysis and program evaluation to strengthen the implementation, effectiveness, and sustainability of mental health services.
Her areas of interest include trauma-informed care, distress tolerance, and the integration of evidence-based practices across systems through data-informed decision-making and continuous quality improvement.
As an evaluator for the Center for Mental Health Implementation and Support, Annie collaborates with state and community partners to support implementation tracking, outcome measurement, and the development of meaningful evaluation strategies that inform and enhance behavioral health services.
When asked what drives her approach to implementation support, Annie shared:
"I’m driven by helping people feel more confident and empowered in the work they are already doing. Implementation can feel overwhelming, especially when teams are balancing limited time, resources, and competing priorities. I try to approach implementation support in a way that is collaborative, practical, and grounded in the realities of day-to-day work, while helping teams use data and evaluation as tools for growth rather than judgment."
Our hub is so glad to have Annie on our team and grateful for all of the amazing work she does.
| | | 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, including Southwestern Plains Hub team member Mordecai Dixon, 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.
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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 Southwestern Plains Hub offers assistance to grantees funded by SAMHSA’s Center for Mental Health Services and mental health service providers in HHS Regions 6 & 8 which includes Arkansas, Colorado, Louisiana, Montana, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Texas, Utah, and Wyoming. 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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