A two-part SAMHSA sponsored webinar, developed under the TA Coalition contract by the National Association of State Mental Health Program Directors titled: “Securing and Using the Right Data to Improve Your State’s Mental Health Block Grant Application” will take place August 21, 2018 (Part I) and August 27, 2018 (Part II) both from 12:30 -2:00pm Eastern Time.
Description:
Over the past few years, the National Association of State Mental Health Program Directors (NASMHPD) has seen a rapid turnover of State Mental Health Authority (SMHA) staff who collaboratively work on the Mental Health Block Grant (MHBG), in particular state planners and state data staff. This two-part series will define and underscore the importance of the relationship between the block grant planner and the state data manager/staff. A brief history of the Mental Health Block Grant, the Data Infrastructure Grant, and the Uniform Reporting System sets the context for the importance of each aspect of block grant planning. The presenters will review the required data elements for the MHBG and for the Annual Report following the structure of the WebBGAS. While the current requirements will be reviewed, it will be emphasized that these elements most likely will change over time and that the mutual understanding of the parameters within which the planner and the data manager work is the essential element of success for both the block grant planner and the data manager. Examples of how the interaction between the planner and the data manager enhance the planning process both specific to the block grant and in general will be cited. The target audience is block grant planners and data managers, particularly those who are relatively new to the process. An expected outcome is an increased understanding of and appreciation of the respective roles and responsibilities and how to make the relationship successful for both parties. In addition, viewers will gain a better understanding of history of the block grant, block grant requirements and guidance of how to more efficiently organize their state’s application.
Presenters:
•Molly Brooms, retired State Planner of the Alabama Department of Mental Health
•Melanie Harrison, Retired Chief Information Officer and IT Director of the Alabama Department of Mental Health
•Steven Dettwyler, Ph.D., SAMHSA Public Health Analyst and State Project Officer
If you have any questions please contact Kelle Masten via email at kelle.masten@nasmhpd.org or at 703-682-5187.
**We do not offer CEU credits however letters of attendance are offered upon request.
***Closed-captioning is available for this webinar.