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Behavioral Health Community Advisory Board
Study Overview
The COVID-19 pandemic produced and worsened multiple stressors, including sickness, grief, isolation, and economic instability, that contributed to an increase in the prevalence of mental illness and substance use (referred to by the term “behavioral health crisis”). The American Rescue Plan (ARP) – also known as the 2021 COVID-19 stimulus package – provided temporary additional funding for states and localities to support a range of services, including behavioral health crisis services. This study will explore how recipients used funding from ARP programs to provide behavioral health crisis services and prioritize needs.
The Behavioral Health Community Advisory Board (CAB) plays an essential role in this study to examine how American Rescue Plan (ARP) funding was used to expand and support behavioral health crisis services
This multi-year evaluation is being conducted by the American Institutes for Research (AIR), in collaboration with Abt Associates and Decision Information Resources (DIR). The study is overseen in partnership by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) and the U.S. General Services Administration (GSA).
For more information : oes.gsa.gov/american-rescue-plan.
Geographical areas of focus:
•Alabama - Wilcox, Perry, and Dallas Counties
•New Mexico – Albuquerque metro area
• North Carolina – Lenoir, Wayne, and Wilson Counties
•Wisconsin – Milwaukee metro area
[These areas were selected to represent different US regions, population densities, demographics, and levels of behavioral health infrastructure in each place, including behavioral health providers, administrators, advocates, consumers, and caregivers.]
AHRQ Safety Program for Telemedicine
About
Two million infections per year are caused by antibiotic resistant organisms, leading to 35,000 deaths per year in the United States. Meanwhile, one-third of outpatient antibiotic prescriptions and half of the prescriptions for acute respiratory infections are unnecessary. Learn how to improve patient safety and reduce harm associated with antibiotics in a free 18-month AHRQ program that starts in June 2024.
We’re recruiting clinics and providers that want to improve antibiotic prescribing.
Benefits of Participating:
- Improve efficiency and patient satisfaction with antibiotic prescribing, using approaches such as scripting for live and patient portal interactions.
- Perform better on antibiotic-related quality measures (e.g., Healthcare Effectiveness Data and Information Set [HEDIS], Merit-based Incentive Payment System [MIPS], and The Joint Commission Antimicrobial Stewardship standards).
- Receive continuing education credits (CEUs), continuing medical education credits (CMEs), and American Board of Internal Medicine Maintenance of Certification (MOC) points through live and/or self-paced materials.
Virtual Program Includes: Monthly 20-minute webinars and office hours to learn best practices in the treatment of common outpatient infectious concerns through live interactions with infectious diseases experts
Learn More:
- Visit the Join the Program page.
- Read our frequently asked questions.
Get to Know Grantees: RCORP III Successes
Episode 83
In this episode, JBS Technical Expert Lead, Sue Gadacz, returns to guest-host a repeat conversation with the Rural Communities Opioid Response Program(RCORP) grantee West Central Alabama Alabama Area Health Education Center (WCAAHEC). They discuss RCORP successes, highlighting the importance of building partnerships with community leaders, community organizations, and community health workers (CHWs) for sustainability. They touch on medication drop boxes and CHWs in clinical settings.
Timeline:
- Introduction to West Central Alabama Staff 1:55
- How Substance Use Disorder Programming Has Been Expanded in their Community 2:30
- How Has The Community Responded to West Central Alabama AHEC 7:00
- Has The Program's Message Become Apparent to Your Community 8:30
- Highlights of the Program 11:40
- Community Education Elements That Were Developed Out of Southwest Alabama Opioid Response Project (SAOR) 15:50
- Why Is Community Messaging Important to Your Organization 18:00
- Impact of HOPE Dealers 20:50
- What's Next 25:00
- Advice You Wish You Knew From the Start of Your Grant 28:15
Listen here
-Interview conducted October 2024
This podcast is supported by JBS International, Inc, through a grant award from the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) with 0% financed with non-governmental sources. The contents are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily represent the official views of, nor an endorsement, by HRSA, HHS, or the U.S. Government. For more information, please visit HRSA.gov. Hosts: Isha Taylor-Kamara and Tim Rabolt; Producer: Samantha Garonzik; Editor: Alex Serban
Developing a Foundational Health Collaborative
Rural Health Network Development: Grantee Spotlight
The Georgia Health Policy Center spoke to Annie Jones, the network director, and Dr. Liza Nicholson, deputy director of public health programs at the West Central Alabama Area Health Education Center (WCAAHEC) about their success in developing a foundational health collaborative for improving population health across a six-county region.
Listen/view here
-Interview conducted July 2024 (by Lori Solomon)
The video was made possible with support from the Federal Office of Rural Health Policy through contract 75R60219D00024.
Supporting Youth Impacted by Addiction in Rural Communities
Missed the live event?
Eluna is grateful to this incredible panel and moderator, who shared their personal stories and wisdom for this conversation.
In case you couldn't make it live in May 2024, or you would like to revisit their powerful words, you can view the event and explore additional resources here. This is an important and ongoing conversation, so feel free to share the video and resources with your community.
Thanks again to our moderator Amelia Ferrell Knisely and panelists: Dr. Liza Nicholson, Mary Beth Collins, and Shea Hausman.
Incredible attendee quotes below illustrate the impact of the conversation.
“A key takeaway for me was the importance and effectiveness of community-based models in providing care and support to children, adults, and families impacted by alcoholism or addiction.”
- CC Attendee
“I learned valuable approaches and activities to start conversations that I plan to use in the grief support groups I lead.”
- CC Attendee
“Excellent strategies and suggestions offered to rural communities struggling with SUD.”
- CC Attendee
“Working together with community partners is important for rural professionals.”
- CC Attendee
Interested in learning more?
- Explore and share the link to the resource page with your network.
- Request personalized support from the Eluna Resource Center.
- Find a Camp Mariposa location near you.
- Find a Camp Erin location near you.
- Learn about Camp Erin Online.
- View the Community Conversations page for more topics & resources.
- Want to help a child impacted by grief or addiction? Order a care package today.
The Role of Community Health Workers
Episode 16
In this episode, Sue Gadacz, the Technical Expert Lead for West Central Alabama Area Health Education Center (AHEC,) takes the role of guest host to discuss the importance of community health workers (CHWs) in rural communities. Listen as they explore how West Central Alabama AHEC is fulfilling its' mission to improve health equity by supporting CHWs and community-based initiatives that address social determinants of health. Discover how CHWs play a vital role in bridging healthcare gaps and promoting better health outcomes for rural populations. Tune in to gain insights into the transformative impact of CHWs in rural communities and the innovative solutions they bring to address healthcare challenges.
Listen here
-Interview conducted May 2024 (by Tim Rabolt)
This podcast is supported by JBS International, Inc, through a grant award from the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) with 0% financed with non-governmental sources. The contents are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily represent the official views of, nor an endorsement, by HRSA, HHS, or the U.S. Government. For more information, please visit HRSA.gov. Hosts: Isha Taylor-Kamara and Tim Rabolt; Producer: Samantha Garonzik; Editor: Alex Serban
Overview of the Rural Communities Opioid Response Program
Interviews with RCORP Program Teams
Programs serving rural Alabama, Iowa, Kentucky, Pennsylvania, and Virginia share how RCORP funding has made a difference in their communities, supporting their work addressing opioid use disorder.
Watch video here
-Interview conducted July 2023 (RCORP Reverse Site Visit)