Director's Report

The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration's (SAMHSA)
Center for Mental Health Services (CMHS)
National Advisory Council
Bethesda, MD
September 1 - 2, 2004

Office of the Director

Transformational Leadership Meeting

On August 8-9, approximately 20 leaders representing consumers, mental health advocates, trade associations, universities, training programs and SAMHSA participated in discussions about creating effective transformational leaders, identifying the leadership positions to be considered, defining the concerns to be addressed, creating a vision and identifying broad-based strategies for recruiting and equipping transformational leaders, and developing a workplan focusing upon FY’05 and 06.

Technical Assistance Provider Conference

On July 29-30, more than 50 TA providers and many CMHS staff met to discuss successful applications of TA to transform mental health systems, and how TA can support transformation through: developing formal and informal leaders to carry the banner of systems transformation; expanding recovery-oriented partnerships with consumers and their families; strengthening planning technologies designed to achieve systems transformation; closing the gap between research and practice; and building a skilled and culturally-competent staff.

SAMHSA Strategic Prevention Framework Inservice

On July 28, the second in the series of SAMHSA Matrix Inservices was held on the Strategic Prevention Framework. It was attended by 137 staff members.

Federal Action Agenda

The National Action Agenda was created by 18 participating Federal Departments and agencies under the leadership of SAMHSA. This agenda of activities throughout government to transform mental health services has been edited, formatted and is in final review and clearance.

Associate Director for Medical Affairs

On September 1, 2004 the ADMA will convene a small group of psychiatrists with special interest in psychosomatic medicine and consultation liaison psychiatry to address ways in which the field might partner with CMHS in contributing to transformation of the mental health system.

CMHS Mental Health HIV Services Collaborative (MHHSC) Program

CMHS is participating in the SAMHSA initiative to provide free testkits for the new HIV Rapid Test (oral) to its grantees. CMHS will be providing these free testkits to its current Minority AIDS Initiative grantees that have the ability to do testing. It is anticipated that the first shipment of these testkits will be in the field by late September or early October. SAMHSA will be providing training (CDC recommended) to its grantees to ensure proper use of the new Rapid Test.

The HIV/AIDS Treatment Adherence, Health Outcomes and Cost Study

The Cost Study officially ended in August with the termination of all 9 cooperative agreement sites. The final reports from the coordinating center and the individual sites are due by November 30, 2004.
The journal AIDS CARE has accepted topical papers for a Special Supplement issue, funded by NIMH, featuring the background and context for the initiation of the Cost Study and its significance to improving the treatment of individuals with a triple diagnosis.
Seminal papers are being written and will discuss effects of integrated treatment interventions on HIV and psychiatric medication adherence, physical health status, mental health status, and substance abuse status; correlates of entry and retention in integrated and standard medical and behavioral health care, monthly/annual health care services utilization and cost; monthly/annual societal cost; and bio-psychosocial characteristics, including demographics.
Progress continues on the production of a Practical Guide for Community Based Service Providers by and for counselors, administrators and others involved with individuals with HIV/AIDS and a dual diagnosis of addictive and mental disorders.

American Psychiatric Association, American Psychiatric Institute for Research and Education (APIRE)/Psychiatric Practice Research Network (PRN)

An analytic report on psychiatry services for children with SED, psychotherapy and medications as found in the psychiatry survey of practice database will be provided by mid-September. In collaboration with the CMHS Child, Adolescent and Family Branch, this PRN analysis explores the utilization of recommended practices relevant to the evidence base in child, adolescent and family services. PRN website updates will be included to help disseminate the data.
An article on work disability and psychiatry services, directing attention to programs for supported employment will be published in the journal Psychiatric Services, utilizing the PRN psychiatry services database.

A recent article appeared on race, ethnicity, newer generation atypical anti-psychotic medications and payment sources, exploring equity issues in treatment, relevant to reducing disparities and systems transformation.

American Group Psychotherapy Association (AGPA)

The AGPA’s Task Force on Medical Illness has completed a series of four special reports on group interventions for patients with cancer and HIV Disease for International Journal of Group Psychotherapy. The final section supporting practice improvements and providing clinical and policy recommendations is due in September.

Associate Director for Organization and Financing

Publications

The following peer-reviewed article has been accepted for publication: Buck JA, Teich JL, Graver L, Schroeder D, Zheng D. Public Mental Health Utilization by Adults with Serious Mental Illness. Administration and Policy in Mental Health, Vol. 32, No. 1, September 2004 (in press).

Conferences/Meetings

In collaboration with the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services and the National Association of State Medicaid Directors, planning is proceeding to convene a two-day conference, "Medicaid and Mental Health 2004", in Baltimore in October 2004.

Presentations

The following abstracts have been accepted for presentation at upcoming meetings:

"Characteristics and Funding of School-Based Mental Health Services: A National Survey." Selected for oral panel presentation during the 132nd Annual Meeting of the American Public Health Association (APHA), November 2004,Washington, DC. A journal article reporting on the study's findings is also planned.
"Federal Multi-site Evaluations: Challenges and Choices." Selected for oral panel presentation at the annual meeting of the American Evaluation Association (AEA), November 2004, Atlanta, GA. This presentation will be based on a study conducted by the Office in 2003-2004, entitled "Assessment of Evaluation Design." A journal article reporting on the study's findings is also planned.

Associate Director for Consumer Affairs

Teleconference on Effective Anti Stigma Strategies: On June 22, SAMHSA/CMHS sponsored a national teleconference in which 170 persons participated to learn information from experts engaged in successfully addressing stigma and discrimination via contact approaches.
Criminal Justice Dialogue Meeting: On July 26 27, SAMHSA/CMHS sponsored a dialogue meeting between consumers who have experience in criminal justice systems and professionals, researchers, and policy makers that impact upon their lives. The goals of this dialogue are to foster improved partnerships to enhance recovery. A report of the meeting will be produced.
National Advisory Council Subcommittee Subcommittee on Consumer/Survivor Issues Meeting: On August 29 and 30, SAMHSA/CMHS will sponsor the meeting of the Subcommittee to provide expert guidance to the deliberations of the Council.
Division Of Prevention, Traumatic Stress And Special Programs
SAMHSA's National Mental Health Information Center
Division of State and Community Systems Development