Shared Lessons Learned
Members of the Advisory Council are submitting technical assistance information
regarding managed care to CONTAC. Two members of the council are consumer employees of
managed care organizations, others are affiliated with managed care organizations or live
in states that are transitioning to managed care. Materials are being solicited by other
consumers and consumer groups who have experience with managed care. A concerted effort is
being made to build relationships between CONTAC and MCOs to help identify protocols for
successful collaboration of consumer services and managed care.
WVMHCA staff and board members have been leaders in consumer/provider education. In
house curriculums such as "Recovery: A Journey Beyond", "An Overview of
Psychiatric Rehabilitation" and "The IAPSPRS Registry" have been designed
and presented to consumers and providers throughout West Virginia. Consumers of WV are the
presenters of the educational programs. In addition, staff and board members are
responsible for the design and implementation of one of the nation’s first Community
Behavioral Health Associate degrees. An introduction to recovery-oriented treatment
methodology is the primary philosophy of a state of the art, degree program at West
Virginia State College. Two WVMHCA board members and another staff member serve as adjunct
faculty. WVMHCA also serves as a source for student practicums. These
college-based resources are available to CONTAC for curriculum planning.
Jaime Delgado, Ph.D., from the University of Illinois is committed to leading a TAG
regarding cultural competency. Dr. Delgado is presently designing a Cultural Competency
program for the University of Illinois. Other TAG members include specialists in
native-American, Latino and rural issues of women. It is the charge of this TAG to develop
methodologies to encourage networking, training, and writings that are culturally and
linguistically appropriate. Materials will also be developed and disseminated to ethnic
minorities utilizing appropriate outreach practices that are customized for each
population.
A one-day training has been developed by WVMHCA, which will be available to CONTAC. The
curriculum includes: Concepts of Recovery, The Process of Recovery, Phases of Recovery,
Aspects of Recovery, Barriers to Recovery, Recovery and Rehabilitation, and the Role of
the Mental Health System (in recovery). This comprehensive curriculum is presented by
instructors who are in recovery themselves and, in addition to readily available materials
from West Virginia State College, will provide an invaluable resource to both CONTAC and
consumer organizations.
In order to address the needs of female consumers or trauma victims, a specialist
serves on the Cultural Competency TAG. The responsibility of this group, staff members and
the advisory council is to help consumers design a protocol to gather and distribute
relevant educational materials. For example, consumer organizations could be educated
specifically about the need for gender specific literature and support groups in order to
address the needs of women who have been abused. One component of the expanded peer
support package will include information and instruction to interested people who are
interested in self-help and mutual support programs. As the group establishes additional
criteria for this specific population the peer support packet will be updated.
