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August 13, 2021

In This Issue:


What's New:

NASMHPD Learning Opportunities:
 
Don't Miss These Headlines:

Resource Roundup:
including mobile crisis planning grants, workforce and educator training programs, funding to address behavioral health equity, and more.
including: a webinar, Roadmap to the Ideal Crisis System; the National Dialogues for Behavioral Health conference; a new Legal Action Center report on the role of Emergency Departments in substance use treatment; and more.

Explore opportunities on NASMHPD's Job Board

Washington State’s 988 Legislation Includes a 988 Tribal Crisis Line


Washington State is creating a 988 tribal behavioral health and suicide prevention line, which includes $1 million in funding to develop and operate the line and a tribal 988 subcommittee. Vicki Lowe, executive director at the American Indian Health Commission of Washington State, shares updates on the new crisis line and the Washington Indian Behavioral Health Hub, a coordinating communication center that assists tribes and providers and acts as a bridge between tribal and statewide behavioral health and crisis systems.

Read the August 3 #CrisisTalk.

The Chronic Misunderstanding of the Peer Role in Behavioral Health


Jess Stohlmann-Rainey, director of program development at Rocky Mountain Crisis Partners in Colorado, shares that peers are often thrown into roles more like behavioral health technicians due to a fundamental, nationwide misunderstanding of what peers do and the function they serve. “It’s why many crisis service providers find they’re struggling to retain their peer workforce,” she says. She hopes that as states prepare for 988, they fund peer support services and specifically support peers in peer roles.

Read the August 10 #CrisisTalk.

SAMHSA Releases Guidance for COVID-19 Mitigation Supplemental Funds
On August 10, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) released guidance on the $100 million COVID-19 testing and mitigation supplemental funding to state mental health authorities. The guidance outlines allowable activities, submission requirements, and deadlines. View the guidance here. 

State Spotlight: Tennessee’s Project Rural Recovery

The Tennessee Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services launched the Project Rural Recovery program in December 2020. Funded through a five-year SAMHSA grant, Project Rural Recovery brings integrated behavioral and physical health mobile care services to 10 rural counties in two recreational vehicles (RVs).
 
The RVs park at various sites in the communities, including grocery stores, shopping centers, libraries, health departments, and parks. The multidisciplinary mobile health team, comprised of a program director, nurse practitioners, behavioral health clinicians, integrated care community specialists/certified peer recovery specialists, and mobile office managers provides an array of services, including individual/group counseling, suicide risk screening, psychotropic medication dispensing, tobacco/nicotine cessation, primary health screenings, and access to nutrition and housing services, all at no cost to the patient. The mobile health team refers patients to community providers for specialty services that cannot be provided on the mobile bus.
 
Read more about the project here. See a video on Project Rural Recovery.

New Crisis Service Workbooks from NASMHPD's Center for Innovation in Health Policy and Practice

The NASMHPD Center for Innovation in Health Policy and Practice recently developed a series of crisis services workbooks and resources to help those impacted emotionally by the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic tap into their inner strength to get through crisis. These workbooks come in specialized editions for groups such as adults, children (with a parent supplement guide included), older adults, and faith based. These workbooks, that are in the public domain, can be found on our website.

SAMHSA Awards $17.8 million in COVID-19 funds to Prevent Suicide
On Friday, August 6th, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) released 26 grant awards totaling $17.8 million to help communities prevent suicide during the COVID-19 pandemic. The Emergency Response for Suicide Prevention Grants program helps states, tribes and communities advance efforts to prevent suicide and suicide attempts among adults 25 and older in order to reduce the overall suicide rate and the number of suicides in the United States. Read the press release.

HHS Awards Several Funding Streams to Address Substance Use Disorder
The US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has recently announced several funding streams aimed at supporting families and individuals affected by Opioid Use Disorder (OUD) and other Substance Use Disorders (SUD).

On July 29th, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) awarded $250 million to 100 Certified Community Behavioral Health Centers (CCBHC) to Improve community SUD and mental health treatment services. Read the press release regarding this funding distribution.

On July 30th, SAMHSA issued a total of $13.3 million in first-year funding between two grant programs that support direct treatment services for people with SUD and wraparound supports for their loved ones. One program focuses on pregnant and postpartum women grappling with a SUD. The other is an effort to enhance and expand comprehensive treatment, early intervention, and recovery support services for young people and their families and caregivers. Read the press release regarding this funding distribution.

On August 9, the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) announced it is providing nearly $90 million to help rural communities combat OUD and other forms of SUD, and to improve access to maternal and obstetrics care. HRSA's Federal Office of Rural Health Policy is making these awards through four key programs:

The Rural Communities Opioid Response Program-Implementation, which provides $78 million to 78 organizations across 35 states to reduce the morbidity and mortality of SUD/OUD in high-risk rural communities by strengthening and expanding SUD/OUD prevention, treatment, and recovery services;

The Rural Communities Opioid Response Program-Psychostimulant Support Program, which awards $7.5 million  to 15 rural consortia across 13 states to strengthen and expand prevention, treatment, and recovery services for individuals misusing psychostimulants;

The Rural Maternity and Obstetrics Management Strategies Program, which awards $2.9 million to three recipients to test models to address unmet maternal and obstetric needs for their rural target populations;

and The Rural Northern Border Region Planning Program, which provides $760,000 to four community-based organizations to plan and identify key rural health issues in the rural Northern Border Regional Commission service areas.

Division Spotlight: Forensic Division Presentation on Equity and Bias Issues in Forensic Evaluations


On August 5, Dr. Sarah Vinson, Licensed Psychiatric Physician and the Founder and Principal Consultant of Lorio Forensics, presented to the NASMHPD Forensic Division on Equity and Bias Issues in Forensic Evaluations. View the recording below.
 

New Consumer Financial Protection Bureau Rental Assistance Finder

The COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated housing challenges for many of the individuals we serve. With the CDC eviction moratorium ending on July 31, renters—and landlords—can apply for money from the U.S. Department of Treasury’s Emergency Rental Assistance (ERA) program. The funds are being distributed by state and local organizations to their local communities. CFPB's new Rental Assistance Finder allows people to find aid based on the state or territory or tribe or tribal lands where they live.

What is IPS? Introductory Presentation on the Evidence Supporting the IPS Model is Now Available

Individual Placement and Support (IPS) is a model of supported employment for people with serious mental illness (e.g., schizophrenia spectrum disorder, bipolar, depression). IPS supported employment helps people living with behavioral health conditions work at regular jobs of their choosing. Although variations of supported employment exist, IPS refers to the evidence-based practice of supported employment. Mainstream education and technical training are included as ways to advance career paths. Click here to access a new introductory PowerPoint which outlines the evidence supporting the IPS model. This tool can be useful to state leadership in understanding and communicating the value of the IPS approach.


The team at the IPS Employment Center has defined the Individual Placement and Support (IPS) approach to supported employment. The center’s activities focus on employment for people with serious mental illnesses. The center offers training, educational materials, and consultation services.  Learn more about training available through the IPS Employment Center.

NASMHPD Learning Opportunities
TTI Informational Exchange Recording: Crisis Services, 988, and How States are Working Towards Implementation. Matthew Taylor, Director of Network Development for the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline (NSPL) and Ted Lutterman, Senior Director of Government & Commercial Research from the NASMHPD Research Institute (NRI), discussed 988 preparation and crisis services. Matt Taylor presented on what NSPL has learned from their previous experience working with state call centers and their current collaboration with and surveying of states regarding 988 implementations. Ted Lutterman discussed data NRI has begun to gather on how states’ TTIs, crisis service arrays, and 988 preparations are intersecting. View the recording.
SAMHSA-Sponsored Webinar Recording: Integrating Peers in Crisis Response Services. Throughout the country, states and communities are implementing crisis response models ahead of the realization of the nationwide, 3-digit 988 hotline. Peer support specialists have the experience to help people in crisis and may be uniquely situated to better aid people in need. This webinar showcased how peers are currently working as part of the crisis response system. View the recording.
SAMHSA-Sponsored Webinar Recording: The Work of SAMHSA's Statewide Family Networks in the Lives of Children with Serious Emotional Disturbance and their Families. The purpose of the Statewide Family Network Program is to enhance state capacity and infrastructure to better respond to the needs of children and adolescents with serious emotional disturbance and their families by providing information, referrals, and support to families who have a child with a mental health challenge, and to create a mechanism for families to participate in State and local mental health services planning and policy development. View the recorded panel discussion with the Executive Directors of three Statewide Family Networks and the Public Health Advisor with the Child, Adolescent and Family Branch who serves as the Project Officer. View the recording.

Don't Miss These Headlines
HHS Mandates Covid-19 Vaccinations for Health Care Workforce
A. Cancryn | Politico

The Need for Better Crisis Prevention
N. Rawat | Psychiatric Times

The Simone Biles Effect on Mental Health
T. Reed | Axios

Global Prevalence of Depressive and Anxiety Symptoms in Children and Adolescents During COVID-19
N. Racine et al. | JAMA Pediatrics

Affordable Naloxone is Running Out, Creating a Perfect Storm for More Overdose Deaths, Activists Say
M. Kornfield | The Washington Post

Older Adults Less Likely Than Younger to Report Psychiatric Symptoms After Suicide Attempt
American Psychiatric Association

Mental Health Advocates Seek Crisis Hotline Expansion Resources
S. Raman | Roll Call

Mood Disorders Should be Considered Preexisting Condition for Increased COVID-19 Risks
J. Gramigna | Healio

The Mental Health Deal Boom
D. Primack | Axios

Substance Use Issues Are Worsening Alongside Access to Care
N. Panchal | Kaiser Family Foundation

Resource Roundup
Behavioral Health Guide. Released by SAMHSA this July in observance of National Minority Mental Health Awareness Month, this Behavioral Health Guide underscores the ways in which the National CLAS Standards can improve access to behavioral health care, promote quality behavioral health programs and practice, and ultimately reduce persistent disparities in mental health and substance use treatment for underserved minority communities.
Lists of Designated Mental Health Professional Shortage Areas. On July 7, the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) released a notice informing the public of the availability of the complete lists of all geographic areas, population groups, and facilities designated as mental health professional shortage areas as of April 30, 2021. View the notice.
Transformation Transfer Initiative (TTI) 2021 Resource Guide. NASMHPD developed a Resource Guide to support the work of the SAMHSA Transformation Transfer Initiative (TTI) awardees. The guide, separated into three folios based on the 2021 topics (Service Registries and Behavioral Health Crisis Services, Diversion from Jail, and Improving Mental Health Services within Jails) includes guidance, best practices, and noteworthy examples for areas in which states and territories have had challenges or seen opportunities.
988 Model Legislation is Available. Please find the latest version of 988 Model Legislation here on the NASMHPD website.
COVID-19 Vaccine Resources. NASMHPD has compiled various resources that may be useful to state behavioral health leadership as they work to effectively and equitably distribute COVID-19 vaccines. View them here.
SAMHSA Resource: Crisis Services: Meeting Needs, Saving Lives. SAMHSA has published Crisis Services: Meeting Needs, Saving Lives, composed of SAMHSA’s National Guidelines for Behavioral Health Crisis Care: Best Practice Toolkit and related papers on crisis services.
COVID-19 Information for SAMHSA Discretionary Grant Recipients. SAMHSA is allowing flexibility for grant recipients affected by the loss of operational capacity and increased costs due to the COVID-19 crisis. These flexibilities are available during this emergency time period. Flexibility may be reassessed upon issuance of new guidance by the Office of Management and Budget post the emergency time period. Learn more.
NASMHPD's EIP Resource Center. The Early Intervention in Psychosis virtual resource center, made possible by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, is designed to provide reliable information for practitioners, policymakers, individuals, families, and communities in order to foster more widespread adoption and utilization of early intervention programming for persons at risk for (or experiencing a first episode of) psychosis. Visit the resource center. These TA resources were developed with support from SAMHSA.
Crisis Service Resources: NASMHPD's 2020 Technical Assistance Coalition Working Papers. NASMHPD's 2020 TAC papers continue the Beyond Beds theme, highlighting different aspects of crisis services: 
Visit the SMI Adviser website for evidence-based education, consultation, and resources on serious mental illness (SMI). Request a free clinician-to-clinician consultation. Access dozens of online courses and earn free continuing education credits. Learn about the My Mental Health Crisis Plan app. See data on serious mental illness in the U.S. Find resources on COVID-19, clozapine, and long-acting injectables.

Upcoming Webinars:
August 19, 2021, 3:00 pm - 4:00 pm ET 
Credit: 1.0 CME, 1.0 Psychology CE
August 27, 2021, 12:00 pm - 1:00 pm ET 
Credit: 1.0 CME, 1.0 Psychology CE, 1.0 Social Work CE
 
Upcoming Virtual Learning Collaboratives:

These are interactive, 12-week courses that offer 12 CME credits:


EPINET is a national learning health care system from the National Institutes of Mental Health (NIMH) that links early psychosis clinics through standard clinical measures, uniform data collection methods, data sharing agreements, and integration of client-level data across service users and clinics. Clients and their families, clinicians, health care administrators, and scientific experts now have the opportunity to partner within EPINET to improve early psychosis care and conduct large-scale, practice-based research. Learn more about EPINET. Download a shareable flyer about EPINET. 
NASMHPD Staff
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