It’s no secret that we live in an extraordinarily dynamic moment for behavioral health, and the healthcare system in general. Major changes to healthcare laws, including the Affordable Care Act and mental health parity legislation, have opened up access to behavioral health care. At the same time, the value of lived experience as a professional […]
Focus: Peers at the Center of New Approaches to Coordinated Care Read More »
One of the goals of the mental health consumer movement is to change the system. People with lived experience want a more compassionate system of care, that sees people with mental health challenges as experts in their own lives, relies on recovery principles, and considers the strengths of an individual as a whole person, instead
Make Your Voice Heard through Boards, Committees and Councils Read More »
At the 2013 Alternatives conference in Austin, TX, The CAFE TA Center invited people with lived experience to share their thoughts on recovery. Dozens of people chose to participate, and offered their reflections on the recovery process, how the concept of recovery has changed their perspective on mental health, and what public policy makers and
The “Recovery Stories” Video Project Read More »
For any organization, recruiting, managing and retaining qualified professional staff is an essential part of doing business. For consumer mental health organizations, taking care of their employees while providing quality services to the community is an even more complex challenge. Not only must organizations ensure that the supports and services their employees provide are of
Managing Peer Support Employees Experiencing Mental Health Crisis Read More »
It’s no secret that student mental health and suicide prevention have become major issues on college campuses across the country. While some institutions have made meaningful efforts to encourage dialogue, counter stigma, and make mental health services readily accessible, concerns about liability, an inability to adequately serve students and other factors have made higher education
Focus: Thirty Schools Recognized for Quality Mental Health Programming Read More »
As last year’s SAMHSA report to Congress on the nation’s substance abuse and mental health workforce noted, the demand for behavioral health services in the US exceeds what is available. With expanded access to care through the Affordable Care Act and new Mental Health Parity rules, that demand will only increase in coming years, and
A Focus on The Mental Health Workforce Crisis Read More »
What is “accreditation” and why does it matter? “Accreditation” is the process whereby a health care provider obtains impartial, outside approval for the manner in which it provides services. Traditionally, the accreditation process has involved outside experts looking closely at health care providers, their staffs, their internal processes, and other measurable factors. Rarely has accreditation
Focus: Behavioral Health Leads the Way in Changing the Accreditation Process Read More »
One of the long-standing debates in the discussion about how to best meet the needs of people with serious mental illness centers around the issue of whether treating people in the community is the best course, or if in-patient treatment is the better choice for society. For people in the recovery community, the value of
A Focus on the Debate Over Community Care and Compulsory Treatment Read More »
From wild fires in the West to hurricanes in the Gulf, disaster can reach people in every corner of the country. People with mental health needs can be particularly challenged by disasters, which can disrupt treatment routines and trigger trauma. Fortunately, there is one reliable way to get through a disaster intact, and that is
Are You Ready for the Next Disaster? Read More »
The word “sequestration” has been in the news a lot lately. There is a lot of argument about the state of the economy, the federal budget, deficit and debt. What does it all mean? And how does it impact the vital services that people with mental health needs rely upon? To help provide some answers
A Focus on Sequestration Read More »
