×
Our Priorities Serving Three Focus Areas
Systems Improvement
The Behavioral Health Program (BHP) contracts directly with states and other stakeholders to optimize delivery of behavioral health care. A sample of specific projects that reflect the WICHE Behavioral Health Program’s current systems-improvement work includes:
- Needs assessment and strategic planning
- Policy analysis and development
- Quality improvement and accreditation initiatives for hospitals and programs
- Systemic process reviews, including fidelity reviews, billing compliance, customer/client service, clinical quality, and program monitoring
- Operational plans for program facilities
Another example of the BHP’s work can be found in Together With Veterans, a community-based initiative that addresses the high suicide risk among returning veterans. With U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs support, this initiative expanded beyond a Colorado pilot project to other states in 2017.
Partnerships on these projects may range from a few months to several years. The BHP engages directly with state and federal entities under WICHE’s auspices as an interstate agency, established by U.S. Congress in 1953 and now serving 16 member states and territories.
Workforce Development
The BHP initiatives and partnerships support the capacity, competence, and compassion of the people who serve the behavioral health needs of Western residents, be they psychologists, substance-abuse counselors, support staff, or community liaisons.
Successful psychology doctoral internships in six states are a prime example of BHP at work. The internships enable states–which may struggle to attract capable professionals, particularly in rural or remote areas–to develop behavioral health care workforce networks to gain and retain qualified psychologists. Though each state manages its own internship program, WICHE provides the conceptual framework, APA accreditation support and alignment, and administrative efficiencies to assist these six programs.
Another key initiative the BHP, under a grant from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), operates the Mountain Plains Rural Opioid Technical Assistance Center (Mountain Plains ROTAC). Mountain Plains ROTAC provides publicly accessible training and technical assistance to address the misuse of opiates and stimulants across the behavioral health continuum of care in HHS Region 8, covering Colorado, Utah, Wyoming, South Dakota, North Dakota, and Montana. Through training, webinars on evidence-based practices, supporting a Regional Advisory Workgroup, and providing robust Community of Practice learning opportunities, Mountain Plains ROTAC aims to reach populations impacted by health disparities in rural, tribal, and frontier communities to reduce morbidity and mortality associated with opioid and/or stimulant use in rural communities.
Beyond these initiatives, the BHP engages in partnerships to bolster behavioral health care resource capacity. Examples include:
- Marketing, recruitment, screening, and referral for staff for remote public-school vacancies
- Development of a training academy to increase expertise in select evidence-based practices
Research, Data, and Evaluation
The BHP directly conducts research on behavioral health needs and gaps and advises on methodology, survey design, and analysis. The BHP also develops tools and resources used by professionals across the health care spectrum. Efforts of the Program help to promote accountability, inform decision-making for WICHE member states, and support sound public policy.
An important resource produced by the BHP in partnership with the Suicide Prevention Resource Center is the Suicide Prevention Toolkit for Primary Care Practices. It is a much-used reference in primary care clinical settings, which often are front lines for the diagnosis and intervention of individuals considering self-harm and suicide – especially in remote areas.
Other ways in which the BHP’s assessment and advisement capabilities serve partners and clients include:
- Fidelity reviews of evidence-based practices
- Planning and program evaluation for higher education
- Salary analyses in conjunction with reimbursement rates and regional cost-of-living considerations
- Data consultation related to meeting federal reporting requirements
What's Next?
The BHP’s unique experience and perspectives can help you better support the behavioral health care needs of those you serve.