NYS Council for Community Behavioral Healthcare

National Council: Telehealth for Substance Use Services During COVID-19
2021-05-11 15:00 - 16:00 UTC
Adapting to telehealth services can pose unique challenges and opportunities for mental health and substance use treatment organizations working with adults and adolescents. Effectively delivering Screening, Brief Intervention and Treatment for substance use challenges via telehealth can improve access to treatment, patient engagement and overall health outcomes, especially during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.
Join us for our webinar, “Telehealth for Substance Use Services During COVID-19,” on Tuesday, May 11, from 3 – 4 p.m. ET in partnership with SBIRT Oregon, as we explore best practices, evidence-based approaches and practical tips for providing virtual screening.

OMH Children and Family Access Forum
2021-06-04 15:30 - 17:00 UTC
As children, adolescents, and their families have been acutely affected by COVID-19 both directly and indirectly, with disproportionate impact on families and communities of color and low-income families and communities, NYS OMH invites stakeholders to join a focus group.
This forum is to address an acute change reported across the state, an increasing level of presentations of children and adolescents in CPEPs, ERs and Inpatient.
The focus of this is to come together to identify approaches to understand these changes and to bring system resources to bear to help improve flow through the system, diversion and discharge options.
Target Audience: individuals who can comment on the presentation of children and youth in emergency and crisis settings and potential ways to address this challenge.
Please come prepared to share your thoughts and experiences.

Understanding Suicide Risk Among Children and Pre-teens: A Synthesis Workshop
2021-06-15 12:30 - 14:00 UTC
On June 15, 2021, NIMH is conducting a synthesis workshop culminating the work of three research roundtables focused on understanding suicide risk and risk trajectories among children and pre-teens, including groups with recent increases in risk.
The synthesis workshop will summarize the state of the science and highlight research priorities related to this critical topic. The goal of the series is to ultimately inform identiﬁcation of at-risk youth and timing and targets for intervening.

Practical Approaches to Supervising Behavioral Health Staff Working Remotely or in Hybrid Settings
2021-06-15 15:00 - 16:00 UTC
Behavioral health staff face new challenges, anxiety, and risk of burnout as they attempt to deliver the best care possible to clients in care settings impacted by the pandemic. That’s true whether staff members work remotely or in emerging hybrid environments in which care is provided both virtually and face-to-face. Supervisors play a critical role in helping staff work through stressful logistical, clinical, and even personal situations so that the focus remains on the client.
During this webinar, HMA behavioral health experts will offer practical approaches to managing staff in both virtual and hybrid settings, helping to ensure staff members remain productive, appreciated, supported, and focused on improving client outcomes.
Learning Objectives

Understand how the stresses of the pandemic, including social distancing, loss, and the challenges of staying connected to friends and family, have impacted the mental health of clients and providers.
Identify practical approaches to remote staff supervision, including huddles, group and individual supervision, and tactics for successful conference calls.
Learn how supervisors and staff can work together to manage work/life boundaries, especially given the need to oversee staff working in a combination of settings, including the home, and the complexities of vaccination disclosure.

Innovative & Engaging Total Wellness Activities
2021-07-07 10:00 - 11:00 (America/New_York)
Trainers: Caitlin Roeder, LCSW and Diana Rizzo, MPA
(NYS Council, Central Nassau Guidance & Counseling Services Inc)
Wednesday, July 7 (10-11:00am)
Funded by: SAMHSA

This workshop will focus on a variety of initiatives that were most successful engaging staff during the pandemic, including:

scavenger hunts that encourage staff to connect with each other and have fun;
CEO/CFO “fireside chats” and Town Halls that provide staff an opportunity to ask questions and connect with management; and
consistent efforts to acknowledge staff for hard work and dedication during the pandemic, including a “Thank You” campaign for RNs and residential staff.

Stronger Together: An Action Plan for a DEIB Culture
2021-07-14 10:00 - 11:00 (America/New_York)
Trainers: Christina Pearl, MAOL and Jennifer Loughran, LMSW
(NYS Council, Horizon Health Services)
Wednesday, July 14 (10-11:00am)
Funded by: SAMHSA

This year the nation demanded a call to action against racism. Horizon acknowledged their responsibility to raise the bar on accountability and identify real solutions as an organization. Horizon’s Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging (DEIB) team created a “Stronger Together” campaign to cultivate a new era of awareness, civility, respect, understanding and inclusion in our workplace and community. This workshop will describe the initiatives they have undertaken in this area including: the Life As Affinity Group, Social Justice and Anti-Racism book clubs, Summer Racial Equity Journey for Employees and the Internal Ignite presentations and Panel Discussions with Staff.

United Hospital Fund’s Annual Medicaid Conference
2021-07-15 09:30 - 16:00 UTC
The 2021 Medicaid Conference will be presented as a live webcast, from 9:30am to 4:00pm, with a break for lunch.
Opening Keynote: State of the State of New York Medicaid
Brett Friedman, Director of Strategic Initiatives and Special Medicaid Counsel in the Office of Health Insurance Programs, New York State Department of Health
Panel: Medicaid’s Role in Providing Holistic Health Care for People
Experiencing Homelessness in New York
Moderator: Bonnie Mohan, Executive Director, The Health and Housing Consortium, Inc.
Afternoon Keynote: To Be Announced
Panel: Addressing Community Needs through Medicaid
Co-moderators:
Kishor Malavade, MD, Vice Chair and Chief Medical Officer of the Department of Family Health, Maimonides Medical Center
Shari Suchoff, Vice President, Population Health Policy and Strategy, Maimonides Medical Center
More information on our website here.
Contact: info@uhfnyc.org

Increasing Financial Sustainability through Endowments and Philanthropy
2021-07-15 11:00 - 12:00 (America/New_York)
Financial sustainability is fundamental to your organization’s ability to carry out its mission and continue to serve the community for many years to come.

On July 15, join Grassi’s Nonprofit advisors and special guest, Walter Dillingham, to explore how endowments and expanded philanthropic efforts can help your organization achieve greater impact, recover from COVID-19 losses and rebuild with a more sustainable financial model. Topics of conversation will include:

Endowment concepts and best practices
Types of endowments and benefits for utilization within your organization
Strategies for navigating the changing landscape of endowments
Approaches for growing your endowment portfolio

Promoting Health Equity through Primary Care Innovation in Medicaid Managed Care
2021-07-20 15:00 - 16:00 (America/New_York)
Over half of individuals in the U.S. covered by Medicaid come from communities of color. The program also insures over 10 million people with disabilities. As a result, state Medicaid agencies and their partners can play a major role in advancing health equity and improving primary care for communities across the country that experience inequities in care and services.
This webinar, made possible by The Commonwealth Fund, will explore how state health equity goals can be advanced by Medicaid-led efforts that promote equity through their managed care programs, as well as at the provider-level through initiatives that are supported by broader delivery system and payment reforms. The 60-minute event includes perspectives from Michigan’s Medicaid director and representatives from Southern Jamaica Plain Health Center, a community health center in Boston, Massachusetts.
Health care policymakers, state officials, and other interested stakeholders are invited to join this event.

NYS Health: Implementing an Equitable Telehealth Model
2021-07-22 12:00 - 12:30 (America/New_York)
The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the deep inequities present within our health care system, particularly for underserved and historically marginalized communities. As the rise of telehealth solutions accelerated during the pandemic, New Yorkers with financial means and technological capabilities were better able to quickly adopt digital tools for meeting their health care needs.

Telehealth services remain inaccessible to and underutilized in many communities with rural, low-income, and minority populations—some of those most impacted by chronic disease and by COVID-19. Addressing these inequities will require reaching patients (both those who have and those who have not participated in telehealth), understanding their priorities, and providing them with culturally and linguistically competent services.

Please join us for a discussion with Shoshanah Brown, Founder/CEO at AIRnyc, to learn more.

Webinar Date:
Thursday, July 22, 2021
12:00 p.m. to 12:30 p.m.

The webinar will feature a short discussion followed by audience Q&A.

OASAS COVID Guidance Info Session
2021-07-27 14:30 - 15:30 (America/New_York)
OASAS has posted a new COVID-19 guidance document posted here.
Two informational sessions will be held to give providers/programs an opportunity to ask any questions.

Wellness for Essential Workers and Older Adults
2021-07-28 10:00 - 11:30 (America/New_York)
Trainers: Michelle Matics, MHA, CALA, CDP, Angel Santini, and Gabriela González, MA
(NYS Council, Acacia Network)
Wednesday, July 28 (10-11:30am)
Funded by: SAMHSA

Acacia has launched a series to nurture the physical, mental and socio-emotional wellness of essential workers and older adults (ages 60+) to address these groups’ specific vulnerabilities to feelings of isolation and despair. They engaged seniors enrolled in their Institute for the Puerto Rican/Hispanic Elderly (IPRHE) Senior Centers, the majority of whom were accustomed to attending in-person activities on a daily basis. The Virtual Wellness Series consists of weekly workshops and events through a virtual platform, with topics including physical fitness, relaxation, mindfulness, music and dance, among others.

OASAS COVID Guidance Info Session
2021-07-30 10:00 - 11:00 (America/New_York)
OASAS has released new COVID-19 guidance document posted here.
Two informational sessions will be held to give providers/programs an opportunity to ask any questions.

NYS Health Foundation: Addressing the Mental Health Needs of ﻿New Yorkers During COVID-19
2021-08-05 12:30 - 13:30 (America/New_York)
New York State has made significant progress against the coronavirus pandemic in recent months. But as the State begins to return to life as it once was, many New Yorkers will not. The impact of the pandemic’s loss of life, prolonged economic hardship, and societal upheaval has had—and will continue to have—a profound impact on the mental health of New Yorkers.

A recent report from NYSHealth examines rates of anxiety and depression in New York State by race and ethnicity, age, income, food security status, and COVID-19 vaccination status from the start of the pandemic through May 2021, using weekly self-reported survey data from the U.S. Census Bureau. The report contrasts recent improvements in mental health with persistent disparities by race, income, and food scarcity status.

Please join NYSHealth for a webinar with Lisa Furst, L.M.S.W., M.P.H., Chief Program Officer, Vibrant Emotional Health, and Sophie Wheelock, M.P.H., Policy and Research Associate, NYSHealth. The panelists will discuss the report’s findings, including key disparities and the continued need for mental health services across New York State. They will also provide recommendations on strategies that can be implemented to improve the emotional wellbeing of all New Yorkers.

Webinar Date:
Thursday, August 5, 2021
12:30 p.m. to 1:15 p.m.

The webinar will feature a short discussion followed by audience Q&A.

Innovative and Engaging Total Wellness Activities
2021-08-11 10:00 - 11:00 (America/New_York)
Trainers: Caitlin Roeder, LCSW and Diana Rizzo, MPA
(NYS Council, Central Nassau Guidance & Counseling Services Inc)
Wednesday, August 11 (10-11am)
Funded by: SAMHSA

The pandemic has forced organizations to reconsider how they think about and promote employee wellness. This workshop presents a variety of initiatives that have successfully engaged staff this past year. Ideas range from scavenger hunts that encourage staff to build camaraderie outside of work-related tasks; CEO/CFO fireside chats and Town Halls that provide staff an opportunity to connect with and ask questions of management; and “Thank You” campaigns that explicitly acknowledge staff for their hard work and dedication during the pandemic.

How to Promote Staff Wellness
2021-08-18 10:00 - 11:00 (America/New_York)
Trainers: Ed Chichon, Libby Pfonner, Tara McPherson, Tarah Frey
(NYS Council, Cazenovia Recovery)
Wednesday, August 18 (10-11am)
Funded by: SAMHSA

Easy challenges can make small but significant differences in people’s lives. This workshop will focus on how Cazenovia Recovery promotes staff wellness via simple tests that focus on heart-health activities, nutrition, gratitude and other topics. Encouraging staff to complete health- and wellness-related tasks for points can be fun and incentives like wellness debit cards provide tangible rewards for purposeful progress.

Stronger Together: An Action Plan for a DEIB Culture
2021-08-25 10:00 - 11:00 (America/New_York)
Trainers: Christina Pearl, MAOL and Jennifer Loughran, LMSW
(NYS Council, Horizon Health Services)
Wednesday, August 25 (10-11am)
Funded by: SAMHSA

Horizon’s Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging team has spearheaded a “Stronger Together” campaign that has become a pillar of support for staff’s mental health needs by confronting institutional racism through the cultivation of a new era of awareness, civility, respect, understanding and inclusion in the workplace and community. This workshop presents their initiatives of the past year—ranging from anti-racism and social justice book clubs to topical panel discussions with staff.

Community Oriented Recovery and Empowerment (CORE) Services Webinar: Intro to Core Services
2021-10-01 10:30 - 11:00 (America/New_York)
Attn: Adult Behavioral Health Home and Community Based Services (BH HCBS) Providers, Health Homes and Care Management Agencies (CMA), Medicaid Managed Care Health and Recovery Plans (HARP) and HIV Special Needs Plans (HIV SNP)
Please save the date for two Community Oriented Recovery and Empowerment (CORE) Services webinars:
* October 1, 2021, 10:30 am- 11:00 am: Introduction to CORE Services
o Audience: Behavioral Health Executive Leadership, including CEOs, COOs, CPOs, CFOs, and other Senior Staff
o Description: Bob Myers (OMH) and Pat Lincourt (OASAS) will share New York State’s vision for Community Oriented Recovery and Empowerment (CORE) Services with Executive Agency Leadership. This webinar is intended to introduce the new programmatic and business opportunities for behavioral health agencies, including BH HCBS providers, outpatient clinics, housing and residential providers, and care management agencies.

CORE Services Implementation Overview
2021-10-05 14:30 - 16:00 (America/New_York)
October 5, 2021, 2:30 pm- 4:00 pm: CORE Services Implementation Overview
o Audience: BH HCBS Program Staff
o Description: NYS OMH and OASAS will offer a detailed presentation on the CORE Services implementation plan.

OASAS COVID-19 Guidance Documents Q&A webinar
2021-10-13 09:00 - 10:00 (America/New_York)
OASAS COVID-19 Guidance Documents Q&A webinars. Please see below for the webinar information.

Wednesday, October 13, 2021, 9-10 am:
Link:

https://meetny.webex.com/meetny/j.php?MTID=md95f13d40138ff6a32c8edcab782b6b5

Rockefeller Institute: Developing Evidence-Based Drug Policy Conference
2021-10-14 08:00 - 2021-10-15 17:00 (America/New_York)
The drug policy landscape has changed dramatically over the past year. COVID-19 has contributed to the substantial increase in overdose deaths seen in all communities. Social distancing precautions necessitated innovations in substance-use disorder treatments and oversight policies. Recreational cannabis has been legalized in multiple states.
The change in federal leadership has brought new priorities in the policy landscape. In the coming years, state and federal policymakers will reimagine policies to address drug use and regulations, including substance-use disorder treatment, harm reduction, and regulation. Evidence-based policy requires input from researchers and practitioners across disciplines and sectors conducting quantitative and qualitative work to develop effective drug policy.
In light of the changing landscape, the Rockefeller Institute will bring together researchers, experts, and policymakers for a virtual conference to be held on October 14-15, 2021. The goals are of the meeting are to:

give researchers and practitioners an opportunity to present their work to policymakers,
highlight priorities for federal and state leaders, and
facilitate long-term connections between the research and policy communities.

KEYNOTE SPEAKER
Robert Kent
General Counsel
Office of National Drug Control Policy
Robert Kent will be providing an overview of federal drug policy priorities. Kent most recently served as the vice president of advocacy and general counsel for the American Association of Orthodontists, a national healthcare organization. Prior to that he served as the general counsel for the New York State Office of Addiction Services and Supports (OASAS). In this role, Kent provided overall legal support, policy guidance, and direction to the OASAS Executive Office and all divisions of the agency. Kent led OASAS efforts to implement New York State’s Heroin and Opioid Task Force recommendations, which included the Combat Addiction/Heroin Campaign, the Federal Opioid Targeted Grant program, and Medicaid Redesign Team initiatives. He also led efforts on the implementation of historic legislation to increase access to treatment, including harm reduction services. Kent has co-authored articles on patient confidentiality and sober homes and has presented nationally and throughout New York State on the addiction system of care.

Strategies for Complying with New ONC Data Sharing Rules, Including Collaborative Documentation
2021-10-14 13:00 - 14:00 (America/New_York)
Providers are just beginning to grapple with new rules that shift the way the healthcare system shares data – moving from a system where healthcare organizations may share data under HIPAA to one where they must share data. New rules outlined in the 21st Century Cures Act (Act) and by the Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology (ONC) at the Department of Health and Human Services took effect on April 5, 2021 that, among other things, allow patients to access information in their patient record, including clinical or medical notes prepared by the provider. Additional changes will take effect in 2022 and 2023.
Most providers will need to rethink the way they approach documentation. And these new rules may be the perfect opportunity to implement Collaborative Documentation, an approach that allows clinicians to document the clinical record with the patient present and contributing to the process. The results extend far beyond the record itself too often include improved client engagement, reduced no/show cancellations, improved medication adherence and enhanced quality of clinician work life.
Joe Parks, MD and Vice President of Practice Improvement and Medical Director for the National Council will provide an overview of the current and new rules. Michael Flora, Senior Management and Operations Consultant at MTM Services and an expert on Collaborative Documentation, will review clinical strategies for maximizing the opportunity presented by the new rules. And Valerie Westhead, MD MTM Services’ Medical Operations Consultant, will offer guidance for prescribers.

Time

The webinar is Oct 14, 2021 01:00 PM ET. Registration information available here – hope you can make it!

OASAS COVID-19 Guidance Documents Q&A webinar
2021-10-15 15:00 - 16:00 (America/New_York)
OASAS COVID-19 Guidance Documents Q&A webinars. Please see below for the webinar information.

Friday, October 15, 2021, 3-4 pm:
Link:
https://meetny.webex.com/meetny/j.php?MTID=m0c01cdf279ce88e0d969da1dc57d35b6

Mental Health Essentials: Finding Your Flow
2021-10-26 12:00 - 13:00 (America/New_York)
What are Mental Health Essentials Webinars?
Mental Health Essentials are interactive, live seminars designed for individuals interested in learning more about mental wellbeing. Expert facilitators will lead participants through topics and teach practical, culturally sensitive, recovery-focused techniques for thriving despite a mental health or substance use challenge. The following sessions will be available:

Finding your Flow:

October 26th @ 12:00 PM EST
This session will focus on how the pandemic experience has impacted our mental wellbeing, health, and motivation. We will explore strategies to build resiliency.

UHF/GNYHA Annual Research Symposium
2021-10-28 09:30 - 14:00 (America/New_York)
32nd Annual Symposium on Health Care Services in New York: Research and Practice

Thursday, October 28, 2021
9:30 am – 2:00 pm
Live Webcast

Keynote: Aletha Maybank, MD, MPH, senior vice president and inaugural Chief Health Equity Officer at the American Medical Association (AMA), will keynote the 32nd Annual Research Symposium, discussing the AMA’s Strategic Plan to Embed Racial Justice and Advance Health Equity.Dr. Maybank, whose leadership in health equity and diversity in medicine is internationally recognized, will discuss the AMA’s strategic plan to mitigate health disparities, including physician diversity initiatives, data collection, and partnerships and investments to benefit the broader community. Her keynote will also review the impact of COVID-19 on marginalized and medically underserved communities and how providers and policymakers can address inequities in care.
Research Presentations
This year the program will again be a live webcast, with the historic poster session replaced by panels and video poster presentations from a competitively selected group of research abstracts. Presentations showcasing health care services research in the New York metropolitan area were selected from more than 70 abstract submissions.
Webcast participants will be able to pose questions to the keynote speaker and research presenters as part of the live question and answer sessions. All registrants will receive a link to the recorded sessions after the Symposium.
More information can be found on our website here.
Registration is free. Register at the link below.
Presented by United Hospital Fund and Greater New York Hospital Association

HHS Overdose Prevention Strategy Briefing
2021-10-29 15:30 - 17:00 (America/New_York)
Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra today announced the release of the new HHS Overdose Prevention Strategy, designed to increase access to the full range of care and services for individuals who use substances that cause overdose, and their families. This new strategy focuses on the multiple substances involved in overdose and the diverse treatment approaches for substance use disorder.
To further discuss the Overdose Prevention Strategy, the HHS Office of Intergovernmental and External Affairs invites you to join us on Friday, October 29 at 3:30 PM ET for a Stakeholder Briefing.
The Stakeholder Briefing will include remarks from:

Counselor to the HHS Secretary, Rachel Pryor
HHS Acting Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation, Dr. Rebecca Haffajee
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Acting Director of the National Center for Injury Prevention and Control, Dr. Chris Jones
National Institutes of Health (NIH) Deputy Director of the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), Dr. Wilson Compton
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) Administrator, Dr. Miriam Delphin-Rittmon
Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) Deputy Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Shari Ling
HHS Director of the Office of Intergovernmental and External Affairs, Marvin Figueroa

Please register for the Stakeholder Briefing at this link:
https://www.zoomgov.com/webinar/register/WN_RwFWZ-QSTTC62PA5gHQHhQ

2021 Labor & Employment Webinar Series: OSHA Mandatory COVID-19 Guidance
2021-11-11 12:00 - 13:30 (America/New_York)
Topics Will Include: – Covered Employers and Employees – Employer Obligations – Mandatory Vaccine – Religious Accommodation – Disability Accommodation – Testing and Screening – Liability Issues – Q&A
Thursday, November 11, 2021, noon–1:30 p.m.
Presented by Rosemary Enright, Labor & Employment Practice Group Leader Michael Sciotti, Partner

OASAS Webinar for Providers on Patient-centered Care Approaches to Toxicology Testing
2021-11-17 09:00 - 10:00 (America/New_York)
Please note that OASAS has released Toxicology Guidance for OASAS Certified Providers. It can be found posted here. Please familiarize yourselves with the document. OASAS will be holding a webinar: OASAS Webinar for Providers on Patient-centered Care Approaches to Toxicology Testing, on Wednesday, 11/17/21, 9-10 am

Link: https://meetny.webex.com/meetny/j.php?MTID=m425d430bb886cbfd7327a6bcf9a43079

Please join us with your questions. The webinar will be recorded.

Policy Forum: What Does the Enactment of S4817a/A1141a Mean for Nonprofits?
2021-11-17 15:00 - 16:00 (America/New_York)
Nonprofit New York and the Lawyers Alliance for New York will hold a Policy Forum: What Does the Enactment of S4817a/A1141a Mean for Nonprofits? on Wednesday, November 17 from 3:00pm – 4:00pm. Assemblymember Amy Paulin, sponsor of A1141a, will join the call to introduce the forum that is designed to provide an overview of the proposed reporting requirement, discuss the successful advocacy strategies to repeal it, and clarify what nonprofits need to know about their filing obligations.

Mental Health Essentials: Please Hold: I am Connecting
2021-11-30 12:00 - 13:00 (America/New_York)
What are Mental Health Essentials Webinars?
Mental Health Essentials are interactive, live seminars designed for individuals interested in learning more about mental wellbeing. Expert facilitators will lead participants through topics and teach practical, culturally sensitive, recovery-focused techniques for thriving despite a mental health or substance use challenge. The following sessions will be available:

Please Hold: I am Connecting:

November 30th @ 12:00 PM EST
This session will focus on how social isolation and loneliness impact our wellbeing. We will learn how to reconnect to ourselves and others in new and creative ways that support women.
