Every May, Behavioral Health Services (BHS) takes the opportunity to provide
information and education to the Community regarding Mental Health issues
and services in recognition that May is National Mental Health Month. This year,
BHS staff at the Shegoi clinic in District 6 held an interactive information booth
with activities that resulted in individuals who desire behavioral health services
submiting self referrals .
In addition to the Community focus, BHS staff decided to take this opportunity to
focus on the mental health and wellness of our own BHS staff. The staff activities
included several staff trainings on “Burn Out and Vicarious Trauma,” the latter
being the short and long‐term consequences of working with trauma victims/
survivors and the disruptive effect this can have on the trauma worker.  Staff
trainings focused on personal, professional and organizational strategies that can
be used for wellness.
Lastly, the staff participated in a “Your Momma” potluck (bringing dishes to share
that their mother or other caregiver made that brings back good memories/
comfort food). The potluck ended with a line‐dancing lesson from a colleague.
BHS wanted to spread the word that May is Mental Health month, and share
some of the activities we are doing for the Community and ourselves.

For more mental health month activities, check out our statewide calendar.

View the slides: The Path to Recovery: Strategies for Arizona’s Community-Based Behavioral Health System for Individuals with Serious Mental Illness (slides from DBHS Stakeholder’s Meetings on May 22-23)

View details about these meetings here.

• Meeting with behavioral health providers, including peer and family-run organizations that serve individuals with SMI: May 23, 2012, from 8:30 am to 10:30 am at ADHS/DBHS rooms 215A & B.  If you can’t attend in person, you may call in at 1-877-820-7831 code 117270; or join online (registration required for online attendees; click here to register).  Tele-med will also be available through the local RBHA.  Please contact them for details.
• Meeting with peers, family members and advocates involved with the SMI service-delivery system: May 23, 2012, from 2:00 pm to 4:00 pm at ADHS/DBHS rooms 215A & B.  If you can’t attend in person, you may call in at 1-877-820-7831 code 117270; or join online (registration required for online attendees; click here to register).  Tele-med will also be available through the local RBHA. Please contact them for details.

ADHS/DBHS is located at 150 North 18th Avenue, Phoenix, AZ 85007.  You may park on the garage across the street, in the first floor.

 Read details about the topics to be discussed at these meetings here.

Dear Arizona behavioral health members, family members, advocates, providers, and other valued and interested stakeholders:

 The Arizona Department of Health Services, Division of Behavioral Health Services (ADHS/DBHS) is pleased to share some very important and positive information related to the recently approved Fiscal Year 2013 (FY13) state budget. .

In January, Governor Brewer released a proposed budget[1] that included an additional $38.7 million for community-based, recovery-oriented behavioral health services for individuals with serious mental illness (SMI).  The Governor was successful in securing these funds, and on May 7, signed a budget[2]  presented to her by the Arizona Legislature.  (See Press Release[3] for additional details).　

 ADHS/DBHS intends to use this additional funding to provide behavioral health services to persons with Serious Mental Illness (SMI) who are not eligible for Medicaid.  The services we expect to offer include:

• Supported employment
• Peer and family support
• Permanent supportive housing
• Living skills training
• Health promotion
• Personal assistance
• Case management
• Respite care
• Medications and medication management services
• Crisis services

 Together these services will help those persons most in need to achieve their recovery goals through, self-empowerment and the opportunity to live and work within our communities.  By focusing on skill-building, self-management of health conditions, coaching, community-based peer and family support, employment, and community integration, we can offer members a choice to become independent and improve their individual quality of life outcomes. . 

 This additional funding offers a unique opportunity for all stakeholders to work together to make important advancements in our service delivery system for some of Arizona’s most vulnerable citizens.  Arizona made a commitment long ago to develop and maintain a comprehensive behavioral health system that successfully supports individuals to live successfully in their own homes and communities.  While the services offered by this additional funding certainly support this commitment; it is important to emphasize that they are not unlimited and must be spent strategically and responsibly to support the individualized needs and goals of each member. From a historical perspective, we know that spending on case management services has been much higher than many of the other supportive services listed above (e.g. living skills training, health promotion, supported employment) combined. We believe now is the time to reassess that approach and ask the question: How can we safely and appropriately reallocate funds that would be used for case management services to other less costly services that offer a greater benefit to our members?

 To assist us in achieving the outcomes we expect from a community-based behavioral health system that successfully supports individuals to live successfully in their own homes and communities, we want your input.  ADHS/DBHS will be hosting several stakeholder meetings on May 22-23, 2012 to share our thoughts and hear your ideas and proposed approaches on the best use for this funding. . If you are unable to attend the appropriate meeting below, please feel free to provide your input through our online feedback forum.  

• Meeting with Tribal and Regional Behavioral Health Authority (T/RBHA) Chief Executive Officers (CEOs) and Chief Medical Officers (CMOs): May 22, 2012, from 2:00 pm to 3:00 pm at ADHS/DBHS.
• Meeting with behavioral health providers, including peer and family-run organizations that serve individuals with SMI: May 23, 2012, from 8:30 am to 10:30 am at ADHS/DBHS rooms 215A & B.  If you can’t attend in person, you may call in at 1-877-820-7831 code 117270; or join online (registration required for online attendees; click here to register).  Tele-med will also be available through the local RBHA.  Please contact them for details.
• Meeting with peers, family members and advocates involved with the SMI service-delivery system: May 23, 2012, from 2:00 pm to 4:00 pm at ADHS/DBHS rooms 215A & B.  If you can’t attend in person, you may call in at 1-877-820-7831 code 117270; or join online (registration required for online attendees; click here to register).  Tele-med will also be available through the local RBHA. Please contact them for details.

Together, we and our members who have had to deal with cutbacks in services have endured a very challenging time over the last few years as a result of Arizona’s severe fiscal crisis.  During this time, our community has risen to the challenge by coming together and collaborating like never before.  Many new partnerships have been created, and efficiencies have been realized. From innovative and award-winning suicide prevention programs, to new crisis response centers, to peer-run warm lines, to physical and behavioral healthcare integration initiatives, we have continued to sustain the high level of quality in service delivery and, in some areas, made improvements to our system during this time.  Now we have another opportunity to come together, and develop new and creative approaches to use this funding in ways that truly make a difference in the lives of our members by fostering independence and hope for a better future.   With your help,   I look forward to our continued success. .   

  Sincerely,

Laura K. Nelson, M.D.

Deputy Director

The 2012 theme is Nurses: Advocating, Leading, Caring and it provides an opportunity to recognize the many ways the nursing profession contributes to the health of our country.  Often described as an art and a science, nursing is a profession that attracts dedicated individuals with varied interests, strengths and passions because of the many opportunities the profession offers. Nurses work in emergency rooms, school based clinics, and homeless shelters, as well as in our State Hospital and throughout our agency. Please take a moment to thank the many wonderful and caring nursing professionals working among us.  You can also read more about the history of Nurse’s Week here.

Dear Nurses: Thank You for All You Do!

In our “Dimensions of Wellness” section in this issue you will find stories highlighting the “Emotional Dimension of Wellness”. Each issue explores one of the eight dimensions of wellness and provides you with ideas or resources to help address that particular dimension of wellness in your life. We hope you continue to find inspiration, encouragement, and practical knowledge through this publication. Don’t forget you can also view past issues of Recovery WORKS on our website.

If you enjoy reading Recovery WORKS, please share this newsletter with colleagues and associates — they can sign up to receive future issues of the newsletter.

Read our entire newsletter online, and view past issues.

Mental Health: Everyone Has It!

Join your community at one or more of the events planned to celebrate mental health this month.  This afternoon, for example, there is a “Children’s Mental Health Awarness: Day Celebration and Awards Ceremony for Poster Contest and Creative Writing Contest”  starting at 5:30pm.  The event will be at the Family Involvement Center: 1430 E. Indian School Rd. Phoenix AZ 85014 (map).  Attendees will enjoy music, dancing and a variety of activities. For more information call 602-288-0155 or email.

Also, this Saturday, there is a Community Health and Wellness Festival in Tucson beginning at 9 am.  It will be at 6503 East Tanque Verde Road Tucson, AZ 85715 (map).  There will be booths dedicated to highlighting community resources available to young people and their families, along with hands on services such as: athletics, stress reduction, yoga and meditation, journaling, expressive arts and crafts projects and nutrition. This is a special tribute to the children of our community.  View the festival results from last year.  

For these and more mental health month events visit our statewide calendar.

• Section 1115 Research and Demonstration Projects,
• Section 1915(b) Managed Care Waivers,
• Section 1915(c) Home and Community-Based Services Waivers and
• Concurrent Section 1915(b) and 1915(c) Waivers and gives a state-by-state list of all current, expired, and pending waivers.

For each waiver, the site provides a summary of activities, implementation date, expiration date, and any other materials (such as fact sheets) that may be available.

URAC, an independent, nonprofit organization, is well-known as a leader in promoting health care quality through its accreditation, education and measurement programs. URAC offers a wide range of quality benchmarking programs and services that keep pace with the rapid changes in the health care system, and provide a symbol of excellence for organizations to validate their commitment to quality and accountability. Originally, URAC was incorporated under the name “Utilization Review Accreditation Commission.” However, that name was shortened to just the acronym “URAC” in 1996 when URAC began accrediting other types of organizations such as health plans and preferred provider organizations.

May is a time to celebrate mental health awareness across the nation and to learn the importance of early detection and treatment of mental illness. 

Throughout this month, ADHS/DBHS is challenging all of its staff, regardless of specific roles and backgrounds, to join in the celebrations for mental health month.  Employees are encouraged to speak to non-behavioral health staff, friends, family, and anyone they wish, about…

• the importance of mental health in a person’s overall health and wellbeing;
• ways to reduce stigma because we all know that language matters! And,
• share tips on things to do this month to help increase mental health awareness.  

The challenge will be tracked by a team of volunteers and small prizes will be given out to staff participants.  We may even share some stories in this blog!   

If you are participating in or holding a mental health month challenge (or similar activity to support mental health month), please share with us in this blog.  Also, check out the Mental Health Month fact sheet for tips that you can easily share with others or if you wish to pass it out when you’re engaging with others about mental health. 

To your mental health!