Reports of fake texts and phone calls to Medicaid clients have been reported over the past couple weeks in other states. We’re asking Apple Health (Medicaid) clients to be aware of suspicious contact seeking money to maintain their health coverage.
Read MoreBH Forum materials - April 2023
/Topics: Updates and continued design planning on small bucket initiatives.
Read MoreTelehealth virtual appointment pilot offers equitable care to students
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Telehealth virtual appointments allow students to see a physician on-site at school with their school nurse there to assist in taking measurements and administering medication. These appointments help make accessing care more equitable, especially for parents who struggle finding the time or transportation to take their children to receive care.
Read More2022 Equity Assessment
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The 2022 Regional Report is now available!
Better Health Together offered the Equity Assessment to partner organizations throughout Eastern Washington as a way to continue our shared work of advancing equity in our region.
Read MoreBehavioral Health Supervision Support Funding
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February 2023 Update: The Behavioral Health Forum has allocated an additional $150,000 to support behavioral health supervision. Click for full information, including eligibility details and the application link.
We've released a funding application to support partner organizations with SUD and master’s level behavioral health supervision so that staff can gain critical licensure & build capacity for supervision in our region. Funding awards of up to $10,000 per partner are available until the $150,000 available is expended.
We're hiring!→
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Better Health Together is hiring! Visit our Careers page to learn more about current position openings and apply to join our team of tenacious problem-solvers.
Read MoreBH Forum materials - February 2023
/Topics: Review small bucket proposals for discussion and approval
Read MoreSpokane Collaborative Meeting Materials - February, 2023
/Spokane Collaborative meeting materials for February 2023.
Read MoreCommunity-based Care Coordination Landscape Analysis
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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 MoreBHT's 2022 Year in Review
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Here’s a look back at 2022, and a glimpse into some of the exciting things to come in 2023!
Read MoreBehavioral Health Forum Workforce Initiatives
/The 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).
Workforce Recruitment & Retention
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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.
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Funding covered 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.
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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.
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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.
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At the November 2024 meeting, members of the Better Health Together Behavioral Health Forum approved a motion to allocate $150,000 of their remaining available funds for member organizations to use at their discretion to support the behavioral health workforce. Visit this web page [LINK] to see full details. The opportunity to request funds closes December 31, 2024.
Peers & Community Health Workers
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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.
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Information about the next Wellness Recovery Action Plan training, scheduled for Q1 2025, will be sent to the Forum contact list when registration open.
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Connect with the Eastern Washington Community Health Worker Network to attend monthly meetings and find out more about future training opportunities: EWCHWNetwork@BetterHealthTogether.org.
Training & Education
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Training offered in fall 2024 included mental health first aid, intergenerational colonial trauma, and motivational interviewing.
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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 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.
Eleven organizations applied for funds and were awarded $4090 each to offset lost billable hours and support training for the behavioral health workforce.
Spokane Collaborative Meeting Materials - December, 2022
/Spokane Collaborative meeting materials for December, 2022.
Read MoreBH Forum materials - December 2022
/Topics: Design brainstorming for small bucket categories, planning for 2023
Read MoreYHDP Background
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In 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 MoreBehavioral Health Forum Year in Review, 2022
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Overview 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 MoreCoordinated Community Plan (CCP)
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The 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 - November, 2022
/Spokane 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 MoreBH Forum materials - November 2022
/Topics: Results review, discussion, and decision-making in remaining two Big Bucket categories: Peers & CHWs, Training/Education - Evidence-Based Practices
Read MoreFederal Government Approves Oregon Medicaid Waiver, Including First-in-Nation Medicaid Funding for Food and Housing.
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Oregon 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 - October, 2022
/Spokane Collaborative meeting materials for October, 2022.
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