Trainings for Behavioral Health Providers
Colorado is transforming its behavioral health system. The goal is to expand access to care and enhance the quality of care delivered to all people in Colorado. As part of this reform, the Department of Health Care Policy and Financing (HCPF) launched a Training and Technical Assistance (TTA) program from August 2023 - September 2024 to address the diverse needs and goals of behavioral health providers. The TTA program was designed for all behavioral health providers.
This page features recordings of live trainings and links to pre-recorded trainings available for behavioral health providers. The focus is on expanding benefits and services, improving access to care, and elevating quality.
Click on the links below to access trainings by category or title. Please email hcpf_safetynetforum@state.co.us if you need assistance finding the right training for you.
Training Titles
- All Hands on Deck: Best Practice Strategies in Integrated Care
- Behavioral Health Workforce: Meeting Today's Needs and Building the Pipeline for the Future
- Breaking it Down: How to Navigate the BHA Provider Rules and Regulations
- Building a Harm Reduction Philosophy
- Building Enhanced Referral & Care Compact Relationships: Improving Outcomes Through Effective Collaboration
- Building the Bench for Early Childhood Intervention
- CCBHCs: Learnings from Changing the Landscape of Behavioral Health Services
- Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinics- Changing the Delivery of Behavioral Health Services
- Clinical Innovation for Improved Outcomes: Introduction to Measurement Based Care
- Co-Occurring Disorders
- Cost-Reporting: Capturing What's Important for Your Business to Provide What's Important for Your Patients
- Digital Technology Tools: Considerations for Achieving the Colorado "North Stars"
- Don't Go At it Alone - The Benefits of An Effective Team in Serving Persons with Complex Needs
- Empowerment through Engagement: Assertive Community Treatment (ACT)
- Equity Diversity & Inclusion for Organizational Leadership
- Feeling Like You Have One Foot In Two Worlds? Let's Get Grounded on the Transition to the Behavioral Health Entity License and Safety Net Approvals
- Foundations in Equity, Diversity, & Inclusion
- "Get Out & Stay Out!" Maintaining Care After Discharge
- Home and Community Based Services: The What, Who, How and Why of HCBS for those living with BH Conditions
- I Can Help You! Serving Populations with Complex Behavioral Health Needs
- Improving Health Care Equity, Access, and Outcomes for Coloradans Through Health First Colorado and Child Health Plan Plus: Medicaid 101 - Health First Colorado and Child Health Plan Plus Basics for New Providers
- Incorporating Inclusivity: Strategies for Cultural Humility in Action
- Increasing Access and Expanding Organizational Capacity for Individuals With Co-Occurring Disabilities
- Introduction to APMs for BH Providers
- Introduction to Behavioral Health Entity Licensure: On your Mark, Get Set… Go!
- Introduction to Value Based Payment (VBP) for Behavioral Health Providers
- Medicaid Billing for Evidence-Based Practices and Intensive Services
- Medications Assisted Treatment in Jails/Prisons: Supporting Re-Entry and Recovery
- Medications for Addiction Treatment
- Models for Engaging Transgender Youth
- Navigating Complexity: Overcoming the Unique Challenges to Mobile Crisis Response in Colorado
- "Nothing for Me Without Me": Why and How to Engage Clients in Co-Designing Models of Care
- Opening the Door to Residential Addiction Treatment
- Partners as Assets: Developing an Organizational Strategy to Optimize Partnerships to Advance Community Wellbeing and Health
- Paying Differently in Colorado
- Prospective Payment System Reconciliation
- Reducing the Impact of Traumatic Events with Trauma-Focused CBT
- Removing Structural and Organizational Barriers to Access: Addressing Workforce and Geography
- Safety Net Providers: Reaching Those That Need Your Help
- Spotlight on Universal and Condition Specific Screening
- The Intersection Between Behavioral Health and Law Enforcement: Building Strong Relationships to Support the Community
- The Intersection of Behavioral Health and Child Welfare - Working Together to Improve Outcomes for Children, Youth, and Families
- Treatment Approaches for Pregnant Persons with Opioid Use Disorder
- Understanding Opioid Treatment Programs
- Understanding the Intersection of Public Health and Behavioral Health Treatment
- Using a Wide-Angle Lens: Two Evidence-Based Approaches that Focus on Youth at Risk and Their Families
- We Can't Do it Alone and We Don't Have To: Advancing Mental Wellbeing and Connecting Communities to Care with Behavioral Health Workforce Extenders
- Who's on First? Understanding State Agency Roles in Colorado's Behavioral Health Services
- Who's on Second? What's a RAE and BHASO and Why Do They Matter for Colorado Behavioral Health Services?
- Wrap Around Supports: A 360 Degree Approach
Training Details
Behavioral Health Basics
Improving Health Care Equity, Access, and Outcomes for Coloradans Through Health First Colorado (30 minutes)
An overview of federal Medical Assistance Programs, policy changes brought about by the Affordable Care Act, and First Colorado and CHP+ general eligibility requirements, who the programs serve, program benefits, and delivery systems.
Learning Objectives:
- Describe Colorado’s Medical Assistance programs, including Medicaid (Health First Colorado) and CHIP (Child Health Plan Plus or CHP+).
- Describe who is eligible for Colorado’s Medicaid and CHIP programs.
- Describe the benefits and services offered by CHP+ and Health First Colorado, including behavioral health services.
- Describe the CHP+ and Health First Colorado's service delivery systems, including the role of the Department of Health Care Policy & Financing (HCPF) and Managed Care Entities (MCEs).
- Describe how services are reimbursed and the steps to become a Health First Colorado & CHP+ provider.
Who's on First? Understanding State Agency Roles in Colorado's Behavioral Health Services (35 minutes)
An introduction to public sector behavioral health in Colorado, roles and responsibilities of BHA and HCPF, funding sources for Medicaid and non-Medicaid services, and regulatory and statutory accountability.
Learning Objectives:
- Learn about the roles of the two largest funders of public sector behavioral health in Colorado to engage in funding and quality improvement opportunities.
- Recognize the appropriate agency for questions about regulation, licensure, funding, or other operational considerations to further your engagement in the safety net system.
- Describe non-Medicaid and Medicaid public sector behavioral health services and recognize opportunities for new services or changes in services.
Who's on Second? What's a RAE and BHASO, Why Do They Matter for Colorado Behavioral Health Services? (30 minutes)
An introduction to the purpose and role of intermediaries including Managed Care Entities (MCEs) and BH Administrative Service Organizations (BHASOs), and how they work with BHA, HCPF, and behavioral health providers. MCE references Regional Accountable Entities (RAEs) and Managed Care Organizations (MCOs).
Learning Objectives:
- Describe the roles of the two behavioral health intermediaries in Colorado and be able to distinguish when and how they will interact with each intermediary to inform how it impacts their practice.
- Prepare for engagement with intermediaries and initiate contract planning for launch of the new contracts in July of 2025 (State Fiscal Year 26).
- Describe intermediary roles in their communities and prepare for how that may inform other relationships with partnerships with other regional partners.
BHA Licensure and Approval
Breaking it Down: How to Navigate the BHA Provider Rules and Regulations
An overview of the Colorado Code of Regulations (CCR), along with the revised BHA rules and regulations, how these changes align with the broader BH policy reform, and key changes and considerations when navigating the regulations.
Learning Objectives:
- Describe the structure and purpose of the Behavioral Health Administration (BHA) rules and regulations.
- Describe how the Colorado Code of Regulations (CCR) applies to their organization and how to navigate the regulations.
- Describe the structure and content of the BHA rules.
- Identify how the rules impact services and service delivery under BHA authority.
- Identify supporting resources that assist with understanding of, and compliance with rule requirements.
Feeling Like You Have One Foot In Two Worlds? Let's Get Grounded on the Transition to the Behavioral Health Entity License and Safety Net Approvals (51 minutes)
An overview of changes to provider licensure, approval, and endorsement, how these changes align with policy reform, including the expansion of the behavioral health safety net, and how to transition to the new requirements.
Learning Objectives:
- Summarize several reasons why the state is moving to new safety net rules, licensure, and safety net approvals and the intended benefits to the behavioral health system.
- Determine how their organization fits with licensure and approval changes.
- Explain the different levels of licensure and approvals, frequently used acronyms, and general rule requirements and map their current services to the new licensure and approval opportunities.
- Identify the timelines for implementing any licensure and approval changes and apply the timeline to their organization’s specific circumstances.
- Apply the steps that are needed for their organization to move towards a new license or approval.
Introduction to Behavioral Health Entity Licensure: On your Mark, Get Set… Go!
An introduction to the Behavioral Health Entity (BHE) licensure, what it means to be a BHE, and the process for becoming a BHE.
Learning Objectives:
- Summarize the meaning of a Behavioral Health Entity License and Designation
- Describe why a BHE license is needed
- Identify the intended recipients of a BHE license and designation
- Explain the difference between licensure, Safety Net approval and designation
- Describe the requirements of the BHE license and designation
- Identify the clinical and financial benefits of being a BHE
- Describe the BHE licensing process
Safety Net Providers: Reaching Those That Need Your Help
An overview of what it means to be a safety net provider, the types of safety net providers and safety net provider requirements, as well as the benefits and the approval process.
Learning Objectives:
- What does it mean to be a Safety Net Provider?
- What are the differences between and requirements of the Safety Net provider types?
- What are the benefits of being a Safety Net provider?
- What is the Safety Net approval process?
Payment
Cost-Reporting: Capturing What's Important for Your Business to Provide What's Important for Your Patients (23 minutes)
An overview of basic cost reporting concepts, existing resources for cost reporting, how cost reports inform the Prospective Payment System (PPS) rate, and timeline considerations for implementing a cost reporting process.
Learning Objectives:
- Identify, at a conceptual level, how cost reports are used to inform prospective payment system (PPS) rate development.
- Describe the general capabilities and infrastructure needs required to implement a cost reporting process.
- Distinguish several key concepts, at a conceptual level, related to cost reporting such as allowable and unallowable costs.
- Recognize where to find examples of current cost reporting requirements from the national CCBHC demonstration and from Colorado’s current cost reporting processes.
Introduction to APMs for BH Providers (45 minutes)
An overview of the different BH payment models available for different types of providers, how these models were developed, how they have been operationalized for provider payment, and provider responsibilities when participating in APMs.
Learning Objectives:
- Explain in basic terms (during and after the training) the difference between Fee-for-Service payment and payment based on incentives.
- Articulate how value-based payment aligns with changes to clinical approaches to improve quality for individuals served by providers.
- Recognize alternative payment models along the Health Care Payment Learning & Action Network (HCPLAN) continuum to support understanding of future alternative payment models used by HCPF with behavioral health providers.
- Identify potential gaps in knowledge or potential operational challenges within their organization to participate in alternative payment models.
Introduction to Value Based Payment (VBP) for Behavioral Health Providers
An overview of APMs to support understanding of future payment models used by HCPF with BH providers, specific APMs outlined for Colorado specific provider types, and steps to take in preparation for discussions of value-based payment with MCEs.
Learning Objectives:
- After the training, participants will be able to recognize alternative payment models along the LAN continuum to support understanding of future alternative payment models used by HCPF with behavioral health providers.
- Following the training, participants will be able to identify the specific Alternative Payment Models outlined for Colorado specific provider types.
- During the training, participants will apply the LAN framework to specific value-based payment models.
- Following the training, the participants will be able to recognize that a payor is offering them a value-based payment.
- Following the trainings, participants will be able to list specific steps they should take in preparation for discussions of payment with the RAEs.
Medicaid Billing for Evidence-Based Practices and Intensive Services
An overview of coverage of Evidence-Based Practices (EBPs) and intensive services under Health First Colorado and the Behavioral Health Administration, including how to use available resources that describe how to submit encounters/claims.
Learning Objectives:
- Summarize the purpose of EBPs and Intensive Services and articulate how that matters to your organization.
- Use the most recent State Behavioral Health Services Billing Manual to submit claims/encounters for EBPs and intensive services utilizing the appropriate procedure codes and other required fields, including procedure codes under the Medicaid Capitated Behavioral Health Benefit, 1915(B)(3) (“alternative”) services codes, and the BHA.
- Describe the processes associated with claims or encounter submission and related reimbursement policies.
Paying Differently in Colorado
An overview of alternative payment models (APMs), how APMs vary from a fee for service payment approach, why models are shifting from volume to value driven payment, how changes align in clinical models, and provider roles in achieving quality outcomes.
Learning Objectives:
- Providers will be able to identify which specific alternative payment models (APMs) are available to behavioral health (BH) providers and under what circumstances.
- Providers will have a basic understanding of how the prospective payment system model and essential provider fee schedule work.
- Providers will know which types of topics to raise with Managed Care Entities (MCEs) related to the APMs during the contracting process.
- Providers will know what their specific responsibilities are when participating in Colorado’s BH APMs.
Prospective Payment System Reconciliation
An overview of the HCPF prospective payment system reconciliation process and relevant timelines, including when the reconciliation process applies and for which providers; the fiscal implications; and how providers work with MCEs to minimize potential financial challenges.
Learning Objectives:
- Indicate when the reconciliation process applies and for which providers
- Describe timelines and key milestones in the reconciliation process
- Articulate how the reconciliation process applies and the fiscal implications of the reconciliation process
- Identify how providers can work with MCEs to minimize potential financial challenges/risks in future reconciliation processes
Quality Improvement and Capacity Building
All Hands on Deck: Best Practice Strategies in Integrated Care (69 minutes)
An overview of evidence-based models and strategies for successfully integrating behavioral health, physical health, and social determinants of health services in healthcare settings.
Learning Objectives:
- Differentiate the more commonly known integrated care models available in primary care settings and in behavioral health entities.
- Explain how integrated care results in improved outcomes, lower costs, greater accessibility, and improved workforce retention and satisfaction.
- Understand the components of medically assisted treatments and innovative integrated care strategies for incorporating it into primary care settings.
- Identify the levels of integrated behavioral health care and where their entity is located currently.
- Identify potential clinical, operational, financial, and training strategies for implementing and sustaining integrated care models and practices.
Building a Harm Reduction Philosophy (59 minutes)
An overview of basic harm reduction principles, a harm reduction philosophy and how that manifests as risk reduction tools, an approach to care, and a policy platform. Harm reduction strategies and their evidence base are explored.
Learning Objectives:
- Define a harm reduction approach
- Identify at least 3 risk reduction tools that are offered by harm reduction programs
- Examine their own organization’s barriers and facilitators to integrating a harm reduction approach
Building Enhanced Referral & Care Compact Relationships: Improving Outcomes Through Effective Collaboration (74 minutes)
An overview of two types of collaboration that can enhance care for individuals and families, best practices for care compacts, and continuum of care compacts from two providers to multiple providers and system approaches.
Learning Objectives:
- Describe best practice approaches in building a care compact for individuals with complex needs.
- Discover the lessons learned in the Douglas County Mental Health Initiative Adult Care Compact and how this is informing design of the child/youth care compact.
- Distinguish components of effective collaborative partnerships and use this to build and inform coordination of care as well as development of care compacts.
- Identify elements of enhanced referral and learn specific steps to build enhanced referral networks.
- Apply tangible steps for engaging partners and patients in the referral process including determining the continuum of collaboration and shared treatment needed.
CCBHCs: Learnings from Changing the Landscape of Behavioral Health Services
An overview of lessons learned from CCBHC demonstration implementation at the provider level, including best practices and common challenges.
Learning Objectives:
- Identify the difference between a PPS rate and current payment models
- Identify one common challenge in CCBHC implementation
- Identify the one best practice in CCBHC implementation
Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinics- Changing the Delivery of Behavioral Health Services
An overview of the CCBHC model, including demonstration and grantees, the certification requirements, and how the model integrates care for people living with mental health and substance use disorder (SUD).
Learning Objectives:
- Understand the federal structure and oversight of CCBHCs
- Articulate the options to develop the CCBHC model in Colorado
- Name the 9 required services CCBHCs must provide
Clinical Innovation for Improved Outcomes: Introduction to Measurement Based Care (50 minutes)
An overview of evidence and examples of how clinicians use measurement based care (MBC) to inform clinical practice, as an engagement tool to gain better outcomes, and leveraging MBC for supervision and organizational value.
Learning Objectives:
- Describe how measurement based care is used by clinicians to improve clinical care.
- Gain understanding of considerations for selecting measurement tools and be able to apply a set of questions for determining the best tool for the population being served.
- Practice using measurement based care data to make decisions about care as well as how to use data at a supervisory level to support clinicians with improving quality of care.
- Recognize how measurement based care can be used at an aggregate level to demonstrate organizational outcomes and quality as well as potentially be used in value based payment arrangements to show value.
Co-Occurring Disorders (60 minutes)
An overview of co-occurring mental health, substance use, and physical health disorders and the evidence for providing integrated and whole-person care, best practices for screening and assessing, and models of integrated care.
Learning Objectives:
- Identify the prevalence of Co-Occurring Disorders (COD).
- Identify one evidence-based screening tool for COD.
- Identify one evidence-based practice for COD.
- Define COD as it relates to MH and SUD.
Digital Technology Tools: Considerations for Achieving the Colorado "North Stars" (63 minutes)
An overview of common digital tools, key considerations in determining the tool acquisitions and use, evolving impact of Augmented Intelligence (Ai), and methods to bring technology management and leadership into clinical planning and operations.
Learning Objectives
- Categorically define products designed to address WOC and improve patient outcomes
- Highlight current industry initiatives and how digital tools can assist organizations in both care delivery and operations
- Provide essential guidance to consider when assessing technology for analytics, outcome tracking and APMs
- Provide proven methods of digital governance inclusive of change management to increase staff efficiencies, reduce administrative burden and improve metric integrity
Don't Go At it Alone - The Benefits of An Effective Team in Serving Persons with Complex Needs (40 minutes)
An overview of the importance and effectiveness of using teams in caring for persons with complex needs in the Medicaid program, including the disciplines needed on the team and the steps to implement teams in their organization.
- Describe the benefits of teams in caring for people with complex needs
- Describe the disciplines needed on the team to best serve their populations
- Identify the steps to implement teams in their organization/communities
Empowerment through Engagement: Assertive Community Treatment (ACT) (60 minutes)
An overview of why it is critical to engage clients in designing care delivery models that are responsive to the needs of those the organization aims to serve.
Learning Objectives:
- Describe the value of client co-design to promote effective, equitable engagement and improve outcomes.
- Identify who to include in co-design (clients, families, prospective clients, providers, leadership, neutral subject matter expert).
- Develop strategies and techniques for co-facilitating inclusive, accessible, and equitable co-design and assessing the effectiveness of power-sharing in co-design.
"Get Out & Stay Out!" Maintaining Care After Discharge (54 minutes)
An overview of current practices for discharge, intake, and transition from institutional settings such as jails and hospitals, and emerging best practices and innovations supporting individuals after they leave an institution.
Learning Objectives:
- Identify key considerations to compare and contrast their current practices with alternative, innovative models in use.
- Summarize emerging and evidence-based practices that support the transition from an institution and continuity of care in the community and identify key components that are similar across the models.
- Identify ways their organization may be able to put into practice the key components discussed during the training that will support successful transitions not already in use.
- Identify those practices which may be hindering their organization’s ability to foster smooth transitions and support continuity of care.
Home and Community Based Services: The What, Who, How and Why of HCBS for those living with BH Conditions
An overview of what Home and Community Based Services are, who is eligible for them, how and where they can be provided, and why they are a valuable part of the care continuum for those with behavioral health conditions.
Learning Objectives:
- Gain awareness about the full array of Health First Colorado HCBS benefits
- Learn how to identify individuals who are eligible for HCBS services
- Consider which HCBS service options are appropriate for those served by their organization
- Consider which HCBS services might be appropriate for their organization to offer based on:
- The needs of those served
- HCBS workforce and administrative requirements options
- Availability of Peer Support Specialists, Community Health Workers (CHWs), and other BH Workforce Extenders able to provide HCBS services
Medications for Addiction Treatment (60 minutes)
An overview of the biology of addiction, why medications are essential in treating substance use disorders, a history of the use of medications for addiction treatment (MAT), FDA-approved medications, and how providers can deliver MAT.
Learning Objectives:
- Define agonist and antagonist medications.
- Describe the biological reasons medications are necessary to treat addiction.
- Compare and contrast each of the three FDA-approved medications for addiction treatment.
- Identify one method their organization can utilize to ensure access to medications for addiction treatment for the persons they serve.
Navigating Complexity: Overcoming the Unique Challenges to Mobile Crisis Response in Colorado (47 minutes)
An overview of Colorado’s mobile crisis response benefit, secure transportation following a mobile crisis response, best practice or lessons learned, and principles to support providers in managing complex scenarios.
Learning Objectives:
- List core state model elements for mobile crisis response and secure transport in Colorado.
- Describe national best practice or lessons learned in secure transport following a mobile crisis response.
- Identify potential principles to use in complex mobile crisis response and secure transportation to support decision making.
- Analyze needs or gaps for future training and support with Colorado.
"Nothing for Me Without Me": Why and How to Engage Clients in Co-Designing Models of Care (26 minutes)
An overview of assertive community treatment (ACT) eligibility and core principles, and specific services offered within the ACT model of care.
Learning Objectives:
- Understand who might benefit from ACT services
- Articulate at least 3 core principles Assertive Community Treatment
- Describe at least 3 services delivered by an ACT team
Partners as Assets: Developing an Organizational Strategy to Optimize Partnerships to Advance Community Wellbeing and Health (50 minutes)
An overview of why an organizational partnership strategy is vital for strategic planning to facilitate connections to BH care, advance BH equity, support whole person care, and promote organizational growth and fiscal stability.
Learning Objectives:
- Identify how local partnerships between behavioral health (BH) Providers and community-based organizations can improve outcomes.
- Consider the costs and benefits for various types of partnerships.
- Develop a plan for optimizing an array of partnerships and optimizing support via intermediaries, such as Regional Accountable Entities (RAEs), to meet organizational strategic goals.
- Identify strategies to sustain and grow partnerships using the data they collect and monitor for care planning and continuous quality improvement.
Reducing the Impact of Traumatic Events with Trauma-Focused CBT (82 minutes)
An overview of Trauma-Informed Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT) concepts, introducing or expanding TF-CBT in practices, signs and symptoms of trauma in diverse populations, and TF-CBT screening tools and interventions.
Learning Objectives:
- Explain the basic concepts of trauma-focused cognitive behavioral therapy (TF-CBT).
- Identify the indications, benefits, and challenges of providing TF-CBT.
- List common signs and symptoms of trauma across diverse populations and gain awareness of screening tools and sustainable workflows useful for meeting the needs of individuals who may benefit from TF-CBT.
- Identify commonly used interventions when providing TF-CBT.
- Recognize opportunities for training and continued education in TF-CBT.
Removing Structural and Organizational Barriers to Access: Addressing Workforce and Geography (49 minutes)
An overview of opportunities to address key structural and organizational barriers to behavioral health access, including examples of national innovations and best practices.
Training Full Description I Video I Slides
Spotlight on Universal and Condition Specific Screening (70 minutes)
An overview of screening tools for children through adults, including screening tools that span a variety of conditions, the importance of conducting culturally responsive screening interviews, and workflow options and methods.
Learning Objectives:
- Identify the workforce shortage and geographic challenges that affect their organization and those they serve.
- Describe three innovations or enhancements to mitigate the impact of workforce shortages and/or geography that have the potential for their organization.
- Examine one opportunity for their organization to remove access barriers.
- Plan for what initial steps they can take to explore this opportunity further.
Understanding the Intersection of Public Health and Behavioral Health Treatment (32 minutes)
An overview of the intersection of public health and behavioral health treatment, including the role of public health in identifying and addressing the risk factors and health disparities associated with mental health conditions and substance use disorders.
Learning Objectives:
- Describe the continuum of care as it relates to behavioral health and will be able to describe the role of public health agency partners across that continuum.
- Name at least three points of intersection between public health and behavioral health treatment.
- Name one thing they will do differently in their practice based on their understanding of the intersections between public health and behavioral health.
Using a Wide-Angle Lens: Two Evidence-Based Approaches that Focus on Youth at Risk and Their Families (80 minutes)
An overview of the utility of Functional Family Therapy and Multisystemic Family Therapy approaches to serving Colorado's youth and their families. Includes a discussion of application, similarities and differences.
Learning Objectives:
- Explain the core concepts anchoring Functional Family Therapy and Multi-Systemic Therapy.
- Identify indicators for the target populations Functional Family Therapy and Multi-Systemic Therapy are developed to optimally serve.
- Explain the similarities and differences between Functional Family Therapy and Multi-Systemic Therapy.
- Identify agency and staff training requirements for extending Function Family Therapy and/or Multi-Systemic Therapy
Wrap Around Supports: A 360 Degree Approach (45 minutes)
An overview of wrap around supports for people living with behavioral health conditions including an exploration of the components, model, and implementation of wrap around supports.
Learning Objectives:
- Identify two benefits of wrap around supports.
- Describe three core principles of wrap around supports.
- Articulate two components of wrap around supports in action.
Serving Specific Populations
Building the Bench for Early Childhood Intervention (55 minutes)
An overview of key principles of early childhood mental health and strategies for applying these principles to working with young children (0 to five years) and their families, including how to approach assessment and case conceptualization.
Learning Objectives:
- Identify key principles of early childhood mental health.
- Describe the impact of early childhood mental health principles on case conceptualization for young children.
- Learn about key considerations in determining treatment approaches for young children and become familiar with the primary distinguishing characteristics of evidence-based intervention approaches with young children.
I Can Help You! Serving Populations with Complex Behavioral Health Needs (60 minutes)
An overview of complex needs BH providers may encounter, best practices to utilize and challenges they may experience when serving populations who have one or more complex needs.
Learning Objectives:
- Describe at least two examples of complex needs.
- Define at least two challenges commonly experienced by BH providers serving populations of people with complex needs.
- Explain at least three best practice approaches to working with individuals with complex needs.
Increasing Access and Expanding Organizational Capacity for Individuals With Co-Occurring Disabilities (78 minutes)
An overview of working with individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities, including evidence-based practices, fundamental building blocks to deliver effective services and efforts the state is making to enhance access.
Learning Objectives:
- Identify how state policy changes are aimed at supporting providers in building capacity and improving access to deliver robust behavioral health services for individuals with co-occurring disabilities and identify needed organizational changes to minimize barriers to access.
- Identify principles, lessons learned and fundamental components of building effective behavioral health services for co-occurring behavioral health and intellectual and developmental disabilities within a behavioral health organization.
- Summarize how a national provider is delivering effective behavioral healthcare including evidence-based services for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities and begin to apply the steps needed to build readiness and capacity within their own organizations to improve the quality of care for co-occurring conditions.
- Gain awareness of evidence based practice and potential innovations in the co-occurring provider environment.
Medications Assisted Treatment in Jails/Prisons: Supporting Re-Entry and Recovery (37 minutes)
An overview of current policy and practice standards for medication assisted treatment (MAT) in carceral settings and key components to support effective MAT implementation in carceral settings, with a focus on re-entry transitions.
Learning Objectives:
- Outline evidence demonstrating the benefits of medication assisted treatment (MAT) in carceral settings.
- Briefly define the community and Bureau of Justice Assistance standards of care for managing opioid use disorder and withdrawal in jails.
- Describe barriers to MAT transitions experienced by carceral settings to support effective transitions of MAT in carceral settings to community-based settings.
- Describe strategies community-based providers and partners can deploy to support recovery upon re-entry to the community.
Models for Engaging Transgender Youth
An overview of transgender youth and best practices to engage youth in substance use treatment programs, and evidence-based interventions and harm reduction strategies to support transgender youth.
Learning Objectives:
- Describe and understand the unique health needs of transgender youth
- Identify risk factors associated with SUD among transgender youth
- Recognize the importance of culturally competent and affirming care when supporting transgender youth
- Summarize evidence-based interventions and harm reduction strategies for addressing SUD in transgender youth
Opening the Door to Residential Addiction Treatment
An overview of residential addiction treatment levels of care, the changes to these levels in the 4th edition of the ASAM Criteria, and lessons learned by the trainer after providing 15 years of specialty addiction treatment.
Learning Objectives:
- Compare and contrast the different residential levels of care for treatment of substance use disorder, based upon services provided
- Describe at least three changes to residential treatment levels of care in the 4th edition of the ASAM Criteria*
- Discuss the new 3.7 BIO level of care in the 4th edition and identify at least one patient population that could be treated at this level of care
The Intersection Between Behavioral Health and Law Enforcement: Building Strong Relationships to Support the Community
An overview of the steps for clinicians and behavioral health professionals to proactively build positive relationships with law enforcement in their community, including how it benefits a clinical practice and improves clients outcomes.
Learning Objectives:
- Describe how having a proactive relationship with law enforcement benefits your practice, your clients and your community
- Better understand the unique perspective of law enforcement as it relates to behavioral health
- Use this knowledge to establish contact and build trust between law enforcement and behavioral health providers
- Develop an action plan for engaging with local law enforcement
* Note: for our work in this session, when we refer to law enforcement, we are primarily focused on sheriff and police agencies and their members who enforce the law in the community
The Intersection of Behavioral Health and Child Welfare - Working Together to Improve Outcomes for Children, Youth, and Families
An introduction to the child welfare system and how it intersects with BH, Evidence Based Practices Colorado's child welfare system is focusing on, and how you can work together with child welfare to meet desired outcomes.
Learning Objectives:
- Articulate current initiatives of the child welfare system nationally and in Colorado and relate those initiatives to current priorities of Colorado’s behavioral health system.
- Identify which evidence-based practices Colorado’s child welfare system is prioritizing as part of their Family First Prevention Services Act (FFPSA) services array and summarize which of those priority programs are part of the current behavioral health service array.
- Apply critical thinking questions to their own agency or organization and analyze how they can work with child welfare for development of the needed service array, communication flows, and coordinated funding of services.
- Construct plans to advance improved collaboration with child welfare regarding services offered and creating new safety net programs.
Treatment Approaches for Pregnant Persons with Opioid Use Disorder (55 minutes)
An overview of how Opioid Use Disorder (OUD) in pregnant persons presents significant health risks to the person and infant, current trends in OUD and evidence-based treatment modalities for pregnant persons experiencing OUD.
Learning Objectives:
- Describe the key considerations for treating pregnant persons with OUD
- Evaluate the effectiveness of various treatment modalities for pregnant persons with OUD.
- Identify at least three short term risks or effects of perinatal OUD exposure and potential treatment options for the infant and dyad
- Identify when treatment may be needed and how to connect pregnant and parenting people with OUD care
Understanding Opioid Treatment Programs (44 minutes)
An overview of opioid treatment programs (OTPs), regulatory and accreditation standards, recent regulatory changes, associated treatment outcomes, and opportunities for expansion of OTP services.
Learning Objectives:
- Describe the regulatory and accreditation requirements for opioid treatment programs (OTPs)/narcotic treatment programs (NTPs)
- Characterize at least three outcomes, beyond reduction in opioid use, that are associated with OTP/NTP treatment
- Identify at least three recent regulatory changes to OTP/NTP treatment standards
- Discuss at least two opportunities for expansion of OTP/NTP services outside of the traditional OTP/NTP setting
Workforce
Behavioral Health Workforce: Meeting Today's Needs and Building the Pipeline for the Future (54 minutes)
An overview of the need for behavioral health professionals, the impacts of workforce shortages and discussion of a framework for recruitment, retention, and building a pipeline for training future behavioral health professionals.
Learning Objectives:
- Describe the framework for collectively addressing workforce challenges across systems.
- Describe new and promising strategies for addressing workforce issues at the local, state, and national level.
- Construct an action plan with 1 – 3 concrete steps for addressing workforce shortages.
Equity Diversity & Inclusion for Organizational Leadership
An overview of the knowledge, skills, and tools needed to create an inclusive workplace; and how management and leadership teams can develop strategies to promote diversity, ensure fair practices, and make all employees feel valued and supported.
Learning Objectives:
- Define inclusive leadership and its role in promoting diversity and equity.
- Identify behaviors and practices that inclusive leaders demonstrate in their interactions.
- Recognize unconscious biases and their impact on decision-making and interactions.
- Identify short- and long-term strategies to foster a culture of inclusion within teams and across the agency.
Foundations in Equity, Diversity, & Inclusion
An overview of the key concepts of EDI; knowledge and tools to contribute positively to an inclusive workplace culture; and an understanding of EDI concepts, importance of these practices, and how they help in decision-making processes.
Learning Objectives
- Define equity, diversity and inclusion (EDI,) and its dimensions.
- Practice techniques for fostering an inclusive, equitable and respectful work environment.
- Recognize the importance of inclusive practices in problem-solving and decision-making.
- Identify barriers and biases that may hinder equitable services and outcomes.
Incorporating Inclusivity: Strategies for Cultural Humility in Action (42 minutes)
An overview of the knowledge and skills necessary for understanding and fostering cultural humility in behavioral health practices, including recognizing personal biases and assumptions, and effective communication strategies.
Learning Objectives:
- Describe the concept of cultural humility and how it differs from cultural competence.
- Recognize and identify their own biases and assumptions that may impact their interactions in a multicultural context.
- Describe communication and behavioral strategies for navigating cultural differences and fostering understanding.
We Can't Do it Alone and We Don't Have To: Advancing Mental Wellbeing and Connecting Communities to Care with Behavioral Health Workforce Extenders (48 minutes)
An overview of the roles of community health workers, peers, crisis professionals, and qualified behavioral health assistants including the differences in their respective roles and information to support the extender role.
Learning Objectives:
- Describe how integrating support from trusted, trained local representatives who look and talk like the populations they serve are best able to engage, support and bring value to those they serve.
- Identify the ways in which community health workers, peer support professionals, crisis professionals, and qualified medication administration persons can support their organization’s population health strategy, including strategies for aligning efforts with existing CBOs who provide extender support and strategies for adding/expanding this workforce in-house.
- Identify strategies to effectively and sustainably recruit, train, supervise, support, and finance this workforce, including options for value-based contracting with local healthcare partners.
- Re-envision BH delivery of the future: outside of the clinic walls and beyond billing codes.