The 131st Annual Meeting (November 15-19, 2003) of APHA

Abstract #55298

Neal H Adams, MD MPH, California Department of Mental Health, 1600 9th Street #151, Sacramento, CA 95814 and Sandra Naylor Goodwin, PhD, MSW, California Institute for Mental Health, 2030 J Street, Sacramento, CA 95814, (916) 556-3480 x103, sgoodwin@cimh.org.

California’s mental health delivery system is unique—ranging from the essential role of the counties to the size and diversity of its population. Most recently the system has had to absorb devastating cuts in budget and resources while maintaining services. While policy makers at all levels have verbalized a commitment to providing effective, efficient, quality care, consistent implementation of recently promoted evidenced based practices (EBPs) presents many challenges as well as opportunities. The California Institute for Mental Health has recently developed a strategic work plan to build statewide capacity for providing the most effective mental health services. This plan has focused on the issues of language and terminology, providing leadership in identifying and implementing effective practices, developing strategies to promote effective practices and providing training and technical assistance to identify and remove barriers to implementation and evaluate the impact of these efforts. This panel presentation will provide an update and progress report on these efforts from the perspective of key stakeholders including the State’s mental health authority, adult and children’s mental health providers, County government, ethnic services coordinators and consumers. The need to address the legitimate concerns of consumers about how EBPs can support individual recovery has been critical. In addition, assuring that EBPs and their implementation are culturally competent presents its own unique challenges. The panel will identify successful strategies along with continued opportunities to transform the California mental health system.

Learning Objectives:

• California’s mental health delivery system is unique—ranging from the essential role of the Counties to the size and diversity of its population. While policy makers at all levels have verbalized a commitment to providing effective, efficient, quality care, consistent implementation of recently promoted evidenced based practices (EBPs) presents many challenges as well as opportunities. The California Institute for Mental Health has recently committed to a strategic work plan to build statewide capacity for providing the most effective mental health services. This plan has focused on the issues of leadership in identifying and implementing effective practices, developing strategies to promote effective practices and providing training and technical assistance to identify and remove barriers to implementation and evaluate the impact of these efforts. This panel presentation will provide an update and progress report on these efforts from the perspective of key stakeholders including the State’s mental health authority, adult and children’s mental health providers, County government, ethnic services coordinators and consumers. The need to address the legitimate concerns of consumers about how EBPs can support individual recovery has been critical. In addition, assuring that EBPs and their implementation are culturally competent presents its own unique challenges. The panel will identify successful strategies along with continued opportunities to transform the California mental health system. Attendees will be able to learn from the California experience in implementing evidence-based practices and use this information to develop specific and targeted strategies for change in their own mental health services delivery systems.

Keywords: Mental Health Services, Evidence Based Practice

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.