In the spring of 2022, Better Health Together commissioned research firms Mathematica and Comagine Health to conduct a landscape analysis of Eastern Washington’s community-based care coordination system.
Read MoreHere’s a look back at 2022, and a glimpse into some of the exciting things to come in 2023!
Read MoreThe Behavioral Health Forum is a convening body for organizations that provide behavioral health services to Medicaid populations, enhance the behavioral health workforce, or interact with other ways with behavioral health systems in Eastern Washington. In 2022, the Forum engaged in a participatory budgeting process to allocate $1.2 million of integrated managed care funds to 12 initiatives that support the behavioral health workforce. This funding is available to eligible organizations and individuals as determined by Forum members. Descriptions and details for these initiatives can be viewed by clicking the plus sign (+) beside the orange headings below. Note that some are currently open and some have not yet launched.
For additional information, see our 2024 Behavioral Health Workforce Investments Update. If you have questions or would like additional details about the initiatives listed here, contact Hannah Klaassen, Program Manager (Hannah@BetterHealthTogether.org).
September 2023 update: all funds have been allocated to support provider organizations with supervision for master’s level behavioral health (including SUD) staff so they can gain critical licensure and the region can build supervision capacity.
Read results of the round one behavioral health supervision funding at this link. Stay tuned for reporting results from this second round of funding, coming in 2024.
Funding covers the cost for behavioral health providers serving Medicaid populations in the Better Health Together region to complete the SUDP Alternative Certification program through the Community Colleges of Spokane. Total available Forum funds: $66,000. Cost of the alternative certification program: $5499/person.
Please note that supervised SUD counseling hours are also required for certification and vary based on the applicant’s level of formal education. Visit the Department of Health Certification Requirements page for additional details about the SUDP credential.
For information about the program, see this flyer or visit this CCS web page.
Email Hannah Klaassen, Program Manager at Hannah@BetterHealthTogether.org to request funding.
The Forum has allocated a total of $207,864 in scholarships to support the first cohort (fall 2023 start date) in this new program at Spokane Falls Community College. The Bachelor’s of Applied Science in Integrated Behavioral Health (BAS-IBH) program builds on SFCC’s programs in addiction studies and integrated community services.
To learn more about the degree, visit the SFCC website. The scholarship program will be managed by the SFCC team, including the decision process and award distribution.
Funds provide flexible financial support to organizations in the BHT region (six counties and three reservations in Eastern Washington) that are training the behavioral health workforce through formal practicum and internship programs. By offering this funding, the Forum aims to support supervisors, administrators, clinicians, and clinicians-in-training to better train and retain members of the Medicaid-serving behavioral health workforce.
This initiative funds one week-long Certified Peer Counselor (CPC) training specifically for Eastern Washington candidates and several WRAP trainings for Peers.
Twenty people completed CPC training November 13-17, 2023.
WRAP training dates will be posted when confirmed.
To learn more about the Certified Peer Counselor role, complete the online prerequisite course, and apply for a Health Care Authority CPC training, visit this Health Care Authority web page.
Between April 2024 and March 2025, the Forum is funding three Wellness Recover Action Plan (WRAP) trainings for the peer workforce. The first training is scheduled for April 23-24 and registration is closed.
Information about the next WRAP training, scheduled for August 2024, will be sent to the Forum contact list when reg stration open.
Arranged by the Eastern Washington Community Health Worker Network, these dollars fund training opportunities for Peers, Community Health Workers, and other members of the community-based workforce.
Connect with the Network and find out about upcoming training opportunities by emailing EWCHWNetwork@BetterHealthTogether.org or visiting this web page: https://waportal.org/partners/eastern-washington-community-health-worker-chw-network
Trainings on motivational interviewing and trauma-informed practice are scheduled for the fall of 2024. Dates and registration information will be distributed to the BH Forum contact list, with attendance prioritization to member organizations.
This initiative is for Train the Trainer opportunities that will help to build local capacity for offering trainings relevant to the behavioral health workforce.
Behavioral Health Forum members are currently discussing which training(s) to offer. Additional details will be posted as they become available.
This initiative is for training opportunities for master’s level clinicians providing behavioral health services. Potential trainings and training topics include trauma-informed care, equity-related topics, motivational interviewing, managing aggressive behavior, and leadership/managing staff.
Additional details will be posted as they become available.
At the June 2024 meeting, members of the Better Health Together Behavioral Health Forum approved a motion to allocate $45,000 of training funds to offset lost billable hours. These dollars are designated to provide direct payments to member organizations to replace income lost when staff members are engaged in training that prevents them from billing for their time. Funds can cover any trainings attended by billable staff during the 2024 and 2025 calendar years.
The opportunity to request funds will be open from July 1 through August 16, 2024. The $45,000 of allocated funds will be divided evenly by the number of eligible requesting organizations, with notifications to go out the week of August 16.
Spokane Collaborative meeting materials for December, 2022.
Read MoreTopics: Design brainstorming for small bucket categories, planning for 2023
Read MoreIn 2017 a 100-day challenge to house 100 youth and young adults in Spokane. This effort grew into a collaborative effort to end youth and young adult (YYA) homelessness. In 2021 the HUD selected the Spokane community to participate in the Youth Homelessness Demonstration Program (YHDP). Learn more about the background leading up to Spokane’s YHDP.
Read MoreOverview of the Behavioral Health Forum’s 2022 body of work, which focused on identifying and developing workforce investments and initiatives to be implemented in 2023.
Read MoreThe Coordinated Community Plan for Spokane was developed through regular meetings with Core Team partners, including youth and young adults (YYA) with lived homelessness experience, service providers, and stakeholders. It represents the work of stakeholders from across the community — from YYA with lived experience, government, child welfare, education, workforce development, business, justice, affordable housing, advocacy, and community organizations.
Read MoreSpokane Collaborative materials for November, 2022. This month is a self guided reflection and ask to participate in a survey, we will not be convening this month.
Read MoreTopics: Results review, discussion, and decision-making in remaining two Big Bucket categories: Peers & CHWs, Training/Education - Evidence-Based Practices
Read MoreOregon has received federal approval to pilot first-in-the-nation changes to the state’s Medicaid program over the next five years. Under the agreement, Oregon would receive $1.1 billion in new federal funds to address inadequate food, housing and other root-cause issues that lead to poor health for people and families struggling to make ends meet.
Read MoreSpokane Collaborative meeting materials for October, 2022.
Read MoreTo further support our commitment, BHT is releasing funding out of our Community Resiliency Fund in a single Request for Proposal process to address racism and prioritize awarding dollars to organizations led by and serving impacted populations.
Read MoreOpen Enrollment season is upon us! New and existing Healthplanfinder customers can begin shopping for a 2023 Qualified Health Plan (QHP) and Qualified Dental Plan (QDP) on November 1, 2022. Our navigators can help customers select a plan by December 15, 2022 for their coverage to start January 1, 2023!
Read MoreTopics: Discuss results from September participatory budgeting, continue decision-making on funding activities and funding levels (10-10:45 am); MCO BH Access Survey presentation and wrap-up (10:45-11:00 am)
Read MoreSpokane Collaborative meeting materials for September 15, 2022.
Read MoreTopics: Decision-making on funded activities and funding levels (10-11:15 am); HCA FFS presentation (11:15-11:30pm)
Read MoreLast year, Better Health Together partnered with five community organizations with strong ties and trusted relationships with members of their community to provide housing assistance through the City of Spokane Emergency Housing grant. Through this work, organizations identified families impacted by COVID and needing financial assistance to stabilize their housing situation. The partner organizations have served more than 250 households to date! Many of these households had been facing imminent eviction.
Read MoreResources provided by The National Council for Mental Health Wellbeing
Read MoreSpokane Collaborative meeting materials for July 21, 2022.
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