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To celebrate the new year and start of the legislative session for many Pacific Southwest states and islands, this month's newsletter focuses on
Policy & Practice. The resources and news below focus on recent policy, upcoming legislative action, and best implementation practices at the state, local, and organizational levels. Read on to find tools to inform policy- and decision-making.
Help us spread the word!
The Pacific Southwest MHTTC is a SAMHSA-funded center for Region 9: American Samoa, Arizona, California, Guam, Hawaii, Marshall Islands, Micronesia, Nevada, Northern Mariana Islands, and Palau.
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The Pacific Southwest MHTTC provides an array of
low- and no-cost tools and resources, training and technical assistance (TTA) opportunities, communities of practice, virtual learning, and other supports. Our menu is a one-page overview of our services, including
topical tracks for this year.
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Please share your thoughts with us in
this brief online query about your needs, challenges, and practices. Please forward as you see appropriate among your team and partners:
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 Resources from Pacific Southwest MHTTC
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Contact us to request training or consultation
on these or other mental health topics!
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State and Organizational Policy for Workforce Diversity and Inclusion in the Pacific Southwest Region
The National Standards for Culturally and Linguistically Appropriate Services (CLAS) serve as the guiding framework for this workforce diversity and inclusion policy assessment. The focus of this assessment is CLAS-driven, state-level legislation and federal mandates.
This assessment identifies efforts to advance and sustain organizational governance and leadership that promotes CLAS and health equity. It includes a scan of CLAS-related policies in the Pacific Southwest, recommendations to improve CLAS implementation at the state and island level, and national and state resources.
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Community-Defined Evidence: A Culturally-Appropriate Approach to Meeting the Mental Health Needs of Diverse Populations
This
pre-recorded webinar session celebrates culture and communities, and explores community programs and practices that work and are helping people. The session explores
how we collectively approach the concept of evidence, effectiveness of practices, and the role of communities in achieving positive outcomes for individuals experiencing mental health conditions. This discussion is intended for clinicians, mental health program providers, evaluators, and others.
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More Pacific Southwest MHTTC Resources
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Assessing Workforce Diversity: A Tool for Mental Health Organizations on the Path to Health Equity
Workforce diversity improves access to health and health care for communities of color.
This self-assessment is designed to help mental health organizations explore their implementation of workforce diversity strategies. It addresses six areas: Leadership and Governance; Recruitment; Orientation, Onboarding, and Ongoing Training; Retention and Professional Development; Communication; and Partnership and Community Goals.
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Pacific Southwest MHTTC: Suicide Prevention
The Pacific Southwest MHTTC Suicide Prevention addendum provides resources specific to the states and islands in our region.
The resources compiled here focus on crisis intervention services that can meet immediate student needs, including crisis intervention services; linkages to no- and low-cost counseling; support groups; peer services; and trainings for educators.
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Trauma-
Informed and Resiliency-Oriented Schools Professional Development Opportunities
The Trauma-Informed and Resiliency-Oriented Schools Professional Development Opportunities addendum lists organizations and agencies that provide
trauma-informed, resilience-oriented training and professional development for schools and school communities. We provide these referrals to help school leadership select the right partner to support what evidence-based program to implement, as well as how and why to do so.
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School Mental Health Feature
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We are incredibly excited to provide technical assistance to our region to accelerate adoption and implementation of mental health services and evidence-based practices in schools; promote available information about school-based mental health practices; heighten awareness, knowledge, and skills of school staff; and foster linkages between schools and community mental health providers.
For any TA (on-site trainings, virtual coaching, in-person coaching) on the above track areas, please contact us at (844) 856-1749 or MHTTCPacSWinfo@cars-rp.org
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We wish all educators, systems change leaders, students, parents and family members, school counselors, psychologists, and social workers -- and the many other incredible people who make up the school mental health community -- a happy new year.
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New from Pacific Southwest MHTTC
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HIPAA and FERPA Laws: A School Mental Health Navigation Tool for Pacific Southwest States (Part 1)
HIPAA (Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act) and FERPA (Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act) are federal laws that protect health privacy and ensure that student records remain confidential. HIPAA and FERPA laws are crucial in protecting student and family health information when building school mental health referral pathways, integrated support systems, and student mental health structures.
Some states and islands have implemented additional regulations to these federal laws. This month, we're releasing Part 1 of a two-part HIPAA and FERPA tool.
Part 1 helps individuals in Hawai'i, California, Nevada and Arizona quickly access information about state-specific HIPAA and FERPA policies.
Stay tuned for Part 2, which will cover HIPAA and FERPA in American Samoa, Guam, Micronesia, Marshall Islands, Northern Mariana Islands, and Palau.
*Need TTA on what HIPAA and FERPA mean for you in your role or for your school community? Contact us at (844) 856-1749 or MHTTCPacSWinfo@cars-rp.org.
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Save the Date!
Compassionate and Trauma-Informed School Policies Webinar
Thursday, February 28
The Pacific Southwest MHTTC team is currently developing resources to support state, island, local, and school policies that are trauma informed and supportive. Next month, we look forward to hosting a one-hour interactive webinar on this topic. Stay tuned for more information about this distance learning opportunity.
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School Mental Health Events
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Discounted Learning Opportunity
We are excited to share that ECHO Parenting & Education is offering a discount for Pacific Southwest participants to attend their 2019 conference in Los Angeles, California, March 18-19, 2019. The conference will focus on Trauma Recovery: Community Evidenced Practices.
Use code cars315 for a discounted rate of $315 when you register before February 15.
More Events
If you would like a school mental health-related event promoted in our region's newsletter, please
email us.
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Spotlight Pacific Southwest Partner:
Nevada State and Community Partnerships
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In 2014, the Nevada Department of Education (NDE) received a
Project AWARE (Advancing Wellness and Resilience Education) grant through the
Now Is The Time initiative. NDE has used this five-year grant to 1) train adults on responding to mental health issues when interacting with school-aged youth; 2) connect children, youth, and families who may require support to appropriate mental health services; and 3) implement Mental Health First Aid and Youth Mental Health First Aid in state and local training programs.
Nevada's Project AWARE lives in collaboration with Student Support & Academic Enrichment, Safe & Supportive Schools, and School Climate Transformation grants and many other state grant programs, aligning shared goals and visions for student mental health. Check out the outcomes of "The Collaboratory" in this
Safe Schools/Healthy Students grant profile: learn about what this looks like at the state and local education agency levels, what evidence-based practices and programs have been implemented, and more.
We look forward to learning and sharing more with Project AWARE Nevada through our new Pacific Southwest MHTTC school mental health initiative.
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Youth and Young Adult Mental Health Feature
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SAMHSA in partnership with the U.S. Department of Education's National Institute on Disability, Rehabilitation and Research (NIDRR) funds two Rehabilitation, Research, and Training Centers focused on Transition-age Youth with Serious Mental Health Challenges (RRTCs).
The co-funded Centers address specific public health system needs that promote a positive pathway to adulthood and recovery to help improve outcomes for youth and young adults (YYA) of transition age (ages 14-30) with serious mental health challenges. Each supports information on YYA but focuses on different issues affecting this population.
Next month will feature the Transitions to Adulthood Center for Research - University of Massachusetts Mass Medical School.
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Spotlight: RTC for Pathways to Positive Futures
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The RTC for Pathways to Positive Futures aims to improve the lives of YYA with serious mental health conditions through rigorous research and effective training and dissemination. Their work is guided by the perspectives of young people and their families, and based in a positive development framework. Details on current and past research projects are available on the
Research tab from the Pathways homepage at
www.pathwaysrtc.pdx.edu.
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Key Resources
The
Featured Products page highlights Pathways publications and products from across their projects. Recent examples include:
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Pathways Research Articles
- Development and Testing of an Assessment of Youth/Young Adult Voice in Agency-Level Advising and Decision Making (link)
- Crossing the Age Divide: Cross-Age Collaboration Between Programs Serving Transition-Age Youth (link)
- Increasing Youths' Participation in Team-Based Treatment Planning: The Achieve My Plan (AMP) Enhancement for Wraparound (link)
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General Pathways Resources
- Pathways hosts quarterly webinars to share research findings and highlight important topics relating to YYA mental health.
- Pathways publishes an annual research review, Focal Point, which covers a topic related to YYA mental health and the transition to adulthood. Visit Focal Point to subscribe to the print mailing list and access previous issues.
- The monthly e-newsletter, rtcUpdates, includes details on the latest new Pathways resources and highlights developments of interest to the field.
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Pathways Webinar: Trauma-Informed Care in Youth- and Young Adult-Serving Organizations
January 22, 2019
11 a.m.-12 p.m. CT / 10-11 a.m. PT / 8-9 a.m. HT / 4-5 a.m. ChT
For this Pathways RTC webinar, Mandy Davis, director of Trauma Informed Oregon, will discuss how YYA-serving organizations can implement trauma-informed care. She will provide examples and tools developed by and with YYA.
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Research and Resources from the Field
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SMI Adviser: A Clinical Support System for Serious Mental Illness
SMI Adviser is a new SAMHSA-funded project developed by the American Psychiatric Association as part of the Clinical Support System for Serious Mental Illness (CSS-SMI). The SMI Adviser website provides education, data, and consultation for clinicians, as well as resources for patients and families.
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| Request for Input: Serious Mental Illness Educational Needs Assessment
This 4-minute survey will assist in identifying education and practice needs of those engaged in the care of individuals with SMI. Your responses will inform the five-year CSS-SMI initiative to provide resources and consultation to improve care for this population.
SMI includes one or more diagnoses of mental disorders combined with significant impairment in functioning. Schizophrenia, bipolar illness, and major depressive disorder are the diagnoses most commonly associated with SMI, but people with one or more other disorders may also fit the definition of SMI if those disorders result in functional impairment.
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Clinical Report: Supporting the Health Care Transition From Adolescence to Adulthood in the Medical Home
This clinical report is updated from a 2011 report. It provides more practice-based quality improvement guidance on transition planning, transfer, and integration into adult care. It also includes new and updated sections on guiding principles; barriers; outcome evidence; recommended processes and implementation strategies; special populations; education and training; and payment options.
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Research: Calling Transgender and Gender Nonconforming Youth by Chosen Name Reduces Risk of Suicide
In a study of 129 transgender and gender nonconforming youth, those who were able to use their chosen name in all situations had 71 percent fewer indications of severe depression, 35 percent less thoughts of suicide, and 65 percent less suicide attempts.
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Office for Civil Rights (OCR) Responds to Opioid Crisis
OCR is launching a new campaign to inform the public about civil rights protections regarding opioid use disorder treatment and recovery services. New OCR materials include fact sheets and videos for consumers and providers on HIPAA, nondiscrimination, and federal disability protections.
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Upcoming Events
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We encourage you to share mental health-related events with us!
Please
email if you know of a regional event we should promote.
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6th Cross Cultural Health Care Conference
January 25-26 - Honolulu, HI
The theme of this year's conference is "Collaborative and Multidisciplinary Interventions." Topics include Native Hawaiian health disparities, diversity in medical education, shared decision making, and more.
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NAMI Arizona 2019 Annual Meeting
January 26 - Phoenix, AZ
The theme of the 2019 NAMI Arizona Annual Meeting is "Caring Means Sharing." NAMI Arizona promotes activities through education, advocacy, research, and support. Meeting agenda coming soon.
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Arizona Rural & Public Health Policy Forum
January 28 - Phoenix, AZ
The Arizona Rural & Public Health Policy Forum is designed to address current policy issues and their impact on Arizona's rural and tribal communities, provide information on organizations' legislative priorities, and facilitate networking.
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Dignity Health Perinatal Mental Health Events
January 31-February 1 - Phoenix, AZ
Dignity Health Foundation, in collaboration with Maternal Mental Health NOW, has two upcoming free events.
Perinatal Mental Health Training is designed for RNs, MSWs, lactation consultants, mental health clinicians, and other community partners.
Integrating Perinatal Mental Health into Your Medical Practice is an evening training for OB/GYN, Family Practice, CNM, NP, and Psychiatric providers.
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Trauma Resource Institute Trainings
The Trauma Resource Institute is offering upcoming Trauma Resiliency Model Trainings and Community Resiliency Model Teacher Trainings (can be easily adapted to non-school settings) in California.
- TRM Level 1: February 22-24, Los Angeles, CA
- TRM Level 2: May 2-4, Claremont, CA
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Center for Applied Behavioral Health Policy (CABHP)
Phoenix, AZ
CABHP at Arizona State University has several upcoming professional development workshops. Continuing education hours available.
- Motivational Interviewing Intermediate: February 26
- Suicide Prevention & Intervention: March 14
- Compassion Fatigue & Self-Care: March 14
- Ethics in the Workplace & Cultural Intelligence Trainings: March 19
- Mental Health First Aid: March 27
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32nd Annual Children's Mental Health Research and Policy Conference
March 3-6 - Tampa, FL
Early bird registration is open for the "Tampa Conference" through February 15. This year's keynote speaker is Chirlane McCray, First Lady of New York City and founder of
ThriveNYC. The event will feature a plenary panel with school shooting survivors and helpers, and a plenary on innovating with young adults in research and practice.
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Changing the Paradigm Conference - Trauma Recovery: Community Evidence Practices
March 18-19 - Los Angeles, CA
The 2019 Echo Parenting & Education conference will focus on traditional as well as more recently discovered practices for healing trauma. Use code
cars315 for a discounted rate of $315 when you register before February 15.
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Call for Proposals: 45th Annual National Association for Rural Mental Health (NARMH) Conference
August 26-29 - Santa Fe, NM
NARMH invites proposals for the 2019 conference: "From Surviving to Thriving: Embracing Connections." Suggested proposal themes include: Dilemmas in Addressing Trauma, Rural and Frontier Workforce Development Strategies, Embracing the Reality of Behavioral Health in Rural Communities, and other areas.
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Early Psychosis and Clinical High Risk: State of the Science
January 30
11:00 a.m.-12:30 p.m. CT / 10:00-11:30 a.m. PT / 8:00-9:30 a.m. HT / 4:00-5:30 a.m. ChT
Robert Heinssen, PhD, National Institute of Mental Health, will present the "State of the Science" to kick-off the TA Network's Early Psychosis Clinical High Risk Learning Community. This Learning Community will include opportunities for accessing online resources and networking across communities.
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2019 Maternal Mental Health Now Webinar Series
Beginning in February, Maternal Mental Health Now is offering a webinar series for care providers who work with new families. Topics include the impact of homelessness, substance use, and incarceration on mental health.
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Regional Mental Health News
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Innovative Suicide Prevention Practices in Guam
This January 13, 2019,
Pacific Daily News article highlights suicide research from the Guam State Epidemiological Outcomes Workgroup. The article discusses cultural and socioeconomic that contribute to suicide risk, and it identifies evidence-based and community-defined effective prevention practices being used in Guam.
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Hawaii Ranked #1 In State Health Report
America's Health Rankings 2018 Annual Report rated Hawaii first overall for national health. Hawaii's strengths include low prevalence of frequent mental distress (9.5percent of adults, compared to 12.4 percent nationally). New Mexico was noted for its high rate of mental health providers (381.5 providers per 100,000 population, compared to 234.7 nationally).
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California Representatives Introduce Suicide Prevention Assistance Act
The Suicide Prevention Assistance Act (HR 7116) sponsored by Rep. Mark DeSaulnier (D-CA) would establish a new grant program at SAMHSA to expand suicide prevention efforts by integrating mental health screenings into primary care visits and providing immediate, on-site access to a mental health professional when necessary.
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Arizona to Offer Mental Health and Trauma Training to Educators
Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System (AHCCCS, Arizona's Medicaid Agency) is partnering with the Arizona Department of Education to offer teacher trainings on the biological effects of trauma and how trauma can impact a student's mental health. AHCCCS received $1 million from the Governor's Office for the program.
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Funding and Leadership Opportunities
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Capacity Building Opportunity
BRSS TACS
SAMHSA's Bringing Recovery Supports to Scale Technical Assistance Center Strategy (BRSS TACS) announces the 2019 Capacity Building Opportunity for peer-run organizations, recovery community organizations, family-run organizations, and youth- and young adult-run organizations. The 2019 Capacity Building Opportunity will offer consultation, training, and peer-to-peer support to up to 25 organizations.
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Addressing Health Disparities Leadership Program
National Council for Behavioral Health
The National Council's Addressing Health Disparities Leadership Program supports mid-level managers to develop their voice, agency, and power to advance health equity within their organization and across their broader communities. The eight-month program is provided at no cost to participants.
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Pediatric Mental Health Care Access Program
Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA)
This program will promote behavioral health integration into pediatric primary care by supporting pediatric mental health care telehealth access programs. State or regional networks of pediatric mental health care teams will provide tele-consultation, training, technical assistance, and care coordination for providers.
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