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Recognizing All of You for All That You Do!
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WELCOME TO THE MAY EDITION OF THE DHHS HEALTH CARE PROFESSIONAL NEWSLETTER
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Our Health Care Professional Work-Groups continue to develop strategies for Education and Training, including a statewide training related to Forensic Diversion, scheduled for June 2nd.
See more details below under this month's feature article.
Significant work is also continuing on regulations for behavioral health licensing boards, including: Alcohol, Drug and Gambling Counselors; Marriage and Family Therapists/Clinical Professional Counselors; Psychologists and Social Workers.
Other ongoing
Education and Training work includes Cultural Competency, Documentation and Ethics.
We welcome your input and feedback, to Laura Hale, via email at ljhale@health.nv.gov.
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SAVE THE DATE for
INTRODUCTORY TRAINING on the CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM and BEHAVIORAL HEALTH SERVICES:
JUNE 2ND 8:30-11 a.m.
Locations
DPBH, 4150 Technology Way, Rm 303, Carson City; with video-conference to:
BEIS 1020 Ruby Vista Dr, Ste 102, Elko;
NNAMHS, 480 Galletti Way, Bldg. 22, Sparks;
DHCFP, 1210 S. Valley View Ste 104, Las Vegas; and
HCQC, 4220 S. Maryland Pkwy, Bldg D, Suite 810, Las Vegas
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Dr. Betsy Neighbors Teams up with Tom Durante and Jessica Flood to Deliver Statewide Training
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Many behavioral health professionals work with clients who interact with the criminal justice system. Figuring out where clients are in the process and how to support their return to the community can get really complicated.
Dr. Betsy Neighbors, Statewide Forensic Mental Health Program Director, has worked in multiple state venues with a variety of roles since 1989. In her current role, she assists with program planning and policy for the two state forensic facilities: Lakes Crossing in Sparks and Stein Forensic Unit in Las Vegas, and oversees forensic psychologists, while maintaining her own clinical caseload.
Dr. Neighbors also trains staff on the 5-point Sequential Intercept Model including 1) Law enforcement and emergency services; 2) Post arrest; 3) Jails and Courts; 4) Re-entry from Jail; and 5) Community corrections and support services. Historical training efforts targeted individual staff or programs, but given the level of interest in this topic, we persuaded Dr. Neighbors to share her expertise on a broader scale.
The first training is planned for June 2, 2017 from 8:30 - 11 a.m. in public hearing room 303 at the Division of Public and Behavioral Health, 4150 Technology Way, Carson City. We will be video-conferencing to other locations and will also try to record the training for those who can't participate in the live event.
The planning for this training arose out of specific questions about the criminal justice process and how to support clients who are caught up in the system. Accordingly, the first training will start in the middle of the intercept model, with some specific examples of what happens in the jails and the courts.
Colleagues Tom Durante, Director, Lakes Crossing Center and Jessica Flood, Regional Behavioral Health Coordinator for Carson, Churchill, Douglas and Lyon counties, will be joining Dr. Neighbors to add their perspectives. Jessica will talk about diversion programs she is working with, and Tom will compare civil and forensic processes based on his administrative experience with both types.
Subsequent training will be developed to look at the Sequential Intercept Model in more depth.
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IMPROVING THE REGULATORY ENVIRONMENT
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Representatives for the DHHS HCP Licensing Boards Work Group will be attending meetings of the Social Work Board and the Marriage and Family Therapists/Clinical Professional Counselor Board, both scheduled for May 19th.
The Board of Examiners for Social Work have approved a standing agenda item to work with us on improving the regulatory environment. Specific recommendations for changes or additions, as well as questions, suggestions and concerns will be part of the ongoing discussion. The full agenda for the meeting will be posted on their website: http://socwork.nv.gov/Board/Mtgs/
A request will be made to the Board or Examiners for Marriage and Family Therapists & Clinical Professional Counselors to also establish a standing agenda item for the same purpose. Their agenda will be posted on their website: http://marriage.nv.gov/Board/Meetings/2017/Meetings/.
Once recommendations are completed for the two remaining behavioral health boards - Alcohol, Drug and Gambling Counselors and Psychologists - we hope to get on their agendas, as well. |
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CULTURAL COMPETENCY
and DOCUMENTATION
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Development of strategies for Education and Training in the areas of Cultural Competence and Documentation continues.
Cultural Competence is a common goal for anyone working in human services, particularly behavioral health care. Although health care professionals from many programs and divisions have some orientation to this topic, the level of exposure varies significantly, starting with basic awareness, through improving knowledge and developing skills. System of Care staff from the Division of Child and Family Services have leveraged materials from the National Center for Cultural Competence that we hope to make available on a broader basis, throughout the Department.
Documentation can also encompass a range of knowledge and skills, from general issues of client privacy under HIPAA, to accessing government resources for Medicaid reimbursement or housing and other social determinants of health. Kathryn Baughman is leading the charge with support from staff at the Division of Health Care Financing and Policy to develop training and guidelines for documentation, consistent with Nevada Medicaid chapters. |
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Brian Sandoval Richard Whitley, MS
Governor Director
Nevada Department of Health and Human Services
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Laura Hale | Health Care Workforce Development | (775) 684-4041 |
ljhale@health.nv.gov |
dhhs.nv.gov/HCPWD/home
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