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The The Office of Technical Assistance ("OTA" - formerly NTAC) addresses system issues through Technical Assistance in a variety of ways, including: assessing the role and function of the State Mental Health Agency within a managed care environment; creating strategies for involving consumers and families in mental health service planning, delivery, and evaluation; building coalitions among key stakeholders within state systems; and implementing models of excellence and innovative practices (e.g., cultural competence, employment services, and co-occurring disorders).
In addition, OTA facilitates state, regional, and national consultation; supports special topic technical assistance and training; organizes consensus development conferences and teleconferences; maintains a consultant database; produces publications and reports; and promotes model service system standards review and analysis.
OTA accepts requests for technical assistance from State Mental Health
Agency directors on a continuous basis throughout the year. Requests must
be aligned with the recommendations of the President’s New Freedom Commission
on Mental Health.
For more information on how to apply for Technical Assistance from OTA,
and for complete guidelines for the process,
click
here.
Recent Technical Assistance Activities
(*last updated July, 2005)
Completed Technial Assistance-listed chronologically:
South Carolina (peer certified specialists training)
Requested technical assistance and support to create a training manual
for the state’s peer support certification curriculum and a train-the-trainers
event. Initial call held on October 19 with state staff and their identified
consultant, Ike Powell, to determine scope of work and time frame. Onsite
occurred for November 15-19, 2004.
South Carolina (hospital/nursing assessment)
Requested technical assistance and consultation regarding the nursing
structure and patient care environment at the state’s largest adult
acute psychiatric hospital. Initial call held on October 21 with state
staff to determine scope of work and time frame. Consultants: Kevin Huckshorn,
RN, MSN, ICADC and Valerie Devereaux. Onsite occurred on November 29-30,
2004.
Alaska
Requested technical assistance and training at the first annual Alaska
Prevention & Treatment Symposium. Kevin Huckshorn presented on reducing
the use of seclusion and restraint and the emerging science of trauma
informed care. Staff from NTAC met with several groups (state staff, providers)
presented the template for developing an action reduction plan both at
the state and facility levels, and participated in a brainstorming sessions
about the state’s trauma initiatives. Onsite occurred on November
15-18, 2004.
Multiple states: NACBH event
Requested NTAC to provide training on the reduction of seclusion and restraint
at the annual NACBH meeting (National Association for Children’s
Behavioral Health). NACBH represents not-for-profit facilities that serve
public mental health consumers under contracts with SMHAs. Approximately
90 participants representing over 20 facilities (inpatient, residential,
and group homes), and 15 states scheduled to attend. In addition, several
state mental health agency staff are also attending. Confirmed faculty
include: Kevin Huckshorn, Keith Bailey, Beth Caldwell, Kurk Lalemand,
Janice Lebel, Chris Moran, Kathy Regan, Nan Stromberg, and Conni Wells
(family member/consumer). Onsite occurred on December 9-10, 2005.
Arkansas
Requested technical assistance in developing and implementing comfort
rooms at the Arkansas state hospital. Initial call held on October 12
to determine scope of work and time frame for the project. Second call
held on October 19 with identified consultant, Gayle Bluebird, RN. Onsite
occurred on November 8-9, 2004.
Washington (state)
Requested onsite assessment and training around the reduction of seclusion
and restraint in three state hospitals. NTAC engaged Beth Caldwell (core
SR consultant/faculty). Onsite occurred on November 8-9, 2004.
Maryland
Requested NTAC to participant in symposium on the reduction of seclusion
and restraint in facilities treating children and adolescents. Identified
consultant: Kevin Huckshorn, RN, MSN, ICADC. Onsite occurred on October
29, 2004 with over one hundred child and adolescent providers attending.
Illinois
Requested technical assistance in developing and implementing comfort
rooms at state hospitals. Identified consultant was Gayle Bluebird, RN.
Onsite occurred on April 25-26.
Indiana
Requested onsite technical assistance for an assessment of children mental
health and addiction needs and strengths and recommendations regarding
the transformation of the public mental health system for children and
implications for the Block Grant plan. Mental health providers that contract
with DMHA are required to use a functional assessment tool to determine
eligibility for state funding. A Cross System Team, representing state
agencies that serve children and the Federation for Families has been
working together since 2002 to develop and implement routine mental health
screening, assessment, and treatment for children in the child welfare
system. The state identified a consultant, John S. Lyons, Ph.D., from
Northwestern University to present and facilitate at two planning events
(April and May 2005). The outcome should be recommendations on a tool/process
that would serve multiple purposes: inform treatment/case planning, provide
outcome measures, indicate eligibility for an appropriate level of care,
engage the family, and provide information for risk adjusted funding.
Florida
Requested technical assistance at a statewide meeting/training of clinical
directors and other clinical staff representing the state’s 17 Medicaid
funded residential treatment centers. The purpose is to discuss issues
surrounding the use of Per Ne Nata (PRN) orders for psychotropic medications,
Emergency Treatment Orders (ETOs) for medication and 42 CSR Part 483,
Subpart G, which contain the Medicaid regulations for Conditions of Participation
for the Use of Restraint or Seclusion in Psychiatric Treatment Facilities
Providing Inpatient Psychiatric Services for Individuals Under 21, and
address “Medication Used as a Restraint.” The event, held
in conjunction with the Florida State Mental Health Office, Bureau of
Children’s Mental Health, occurred on May 18 at the Florida Mental
Health Institute in Tampa, Florida.
Massachusetts
Requested mini-NETI training on the reduction of seclusion and restraint
for state staff. Expected participants from nine state facilities and
central state staff including the SR SIG project staff (approx 150 people).
The faculty identified include: Donna Ashbridge, Maggie Bennington-Davis,
Russ Hughes, Kevin Huckshorn, Janice LeBel, Timothy Murphy, Beth Caldwell,
and Tom Lane (consumer), Clayton Shealy, and Nan Stromberg. Onsite training
occurred on July 14-15, 2005.
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For more information,
e-mail us at ntacinfo@nasmhpd.org.
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