TABLE OF CONTENTS

• Federal & State News

• Research

• Free Educational Opportunities

• Funding & Awards

• Helpful Resources & Links of Interest

• NRI Leadership

SPOTLIGHT 

On June 18, David Shern, PhD, president of NRI's Board of Directors and Senior Public Health Advisor at NASMHPD will present a webinar about the Role of the Criminal Justice System in Reducing the Duration of Untreated Psychosis. 

This SAMHSA sponsored webinar will show how members of the criminal justice system can support recovery of people experiencing FEP through effectively linking them to evidence-based treatment and services. This webinar builds on a Technical Assistance guide the NRI commissioned under a FY18 State TA Contract from SAMHSA. The report was written by the group presenting this webinar.

New Maryland Law Will Assist Uninsured Maryland State Tax Filers in Enrolling in Medicaid, CHIP, or Individual Health Insurance Under the Exchange 

Maryland Governor Larry Hogan (R) on May 13 signed into law a new Maryland Easy Enrollment Health Insurance Program (Chapters 423 & 424 of 2019), under which the state would proactively assist uninsured state tax filers under the age of 65 who say they lack minimum essential healthcare coverage at the time they file their taxes in enrolling in Medicaid, the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP), or Affordable Care Act individual coverage through the state Exchange. Read more.

Colorado Governor Signs Bill Aimed at Mental Health for Kids to Address Youth Suicide
Colorado's new governor, Jared Polis, signed into law on May 16th HB19-1120, legislation allowing youth ages 12 and up to seek out psychotherapy services without parental consent in an effort to reduce youth suicide. Read more. 

Hospitalization for Psychosis Tied to Substance Misuse, Treatment Delays, Medication Nonadherence

The hospitalization rate for patients with first-episode psychosis (FEP) may be reduced by avoiding delays in initial treatment, preventing substance misuse, and enhancing medication adherence, according to a study published in Psychiatric Services in Advance. Read more.

Trends in Suicide Among Youth Aged 10 to 19 Years in the United States, 1975 to 2016

This cross-sectional study of 85 051 youth suicide deaths published in JAMA Open Network found a significant reduction in the gap between male and female rates of suicide among youth aged 10 to 19 in the United States, with the most pronounced narrowing in younger individuals. Read more.  

JUNE 6: Innovative Programming for Veterans in the Criminal Justice System

Hosted by The Council of State Governments with funding support from the U.S. Department of Justice’s Bureau of Justice Assistance, this webinar will focus on the programming developed specifically for veterans in two jurisdictions—the Middlesex County Sheriff’s Office in Massachusetts and the San Diego County Sheriff’s Department in California—and explain how these jurisdictions developed partnerships with their Veterans Affairs resources and other entities in their criminal justice systems. Register now.  

JUNE 12: MHTTC Webinar: Workforce Challenges and Solutions in Mental Health 

Sponsored by the MHTTC Network Coordinating Office, this webinar will briefly review the major challenges and then present an array of strategies for finding, keeping and building a more competent workforce. Innovative practices from across the country will be highlighted. Register now.  

JUNE 20: Housing First and Permanent Supportive Housing Spotlight Series 

This three-part webinar series on Housing First and Permanent Supportive Housing will help providers of mental health and substance use services improve their practices and address housing instability among individuals and families affected by serious mental illness (SMI) and substance use disorders (SUDs). Deborah Werner, HHRN Technical Assistance Lead, will moderate the sessions. Register now.  

SAMHSA: Rural Opioid Technical Assistance Grants (DEADLINE: June 7, 2019)

The purpose of this program is to develop and disseminate training and technical assistance for rural communities on addressing opioid issues affecting these communities. It is expected that grantees will facilitate the identification of model programs, develop and update materials related to the prevention, treatment and recovery activities for opioid use disorder (OUD), and ensure that high-quality training is provided. Learn more.

SAMHSA: Provider’s Clinical Support System – Universities Grants (DEADLINE: June 7, 2019)

The purpose of this program is to expand/enhance access to medication-assisted treatment (MAT) services for persons with an opioid use disorder (OUD) seeking or receiving MAT through ensuring the education and training of students in the medical, physician assistant and nurse practitioner fields. Learn more.  

DOJ: Justice and Mental Health Collaboration Program FY 2019 Competitive Grant Announcement (DEADLINE: June 25, 2019)

The U.S. Department of Justice’s Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA) is accepting applications for the FY 2019 Justice and Mental Health Collaboration Program (JMHCP). JMHCP grants support cross-system collaboration to improve responses to and outcomes for people with mental illnesses or co-occurring mental illnesses and substance addictions who come into contact with the justice system. Application is open to states, units of local government, and Indian tribes that demonstrate that the project will be administered jointly with a criminal or juvenile justice agency and a mental health agency. Learn more.  

DOJ: Improving Reentry for Adults with Co-occurring Substance Abuse and Mental Illness Program (DEADLINE: June 25, 2019)

This program provides funding for states, local governments, and Indian tribes to improve reentry services and programs for people with co-occurring substance addictions and mental illnesses who are returning from incarceration. Specifically, its goal is to improve access to and delivery of standardized screening and assessment, collaborative comprehensive case management, and pre- and post-release programming that address criminogenic risk and needs, including treatment and services that address mental illnesses and substance addictions. It is funded by the U.S. Department of Justice's Bureau of Justice Assistance. Learn more.  

CMS Invites Extension, Expansion of Medicaid-Medicare Duals Demonstrations 

In an April 24 State Medicaid Director Letter entitled Three New Opportunities to Test Innovative Models of Integrated Care for Individuals Dually Eligible for Medicaid and Medicare, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) has invited states not currently participating in the Medicare-Medicaid duals demonstration projects begun in 2013 to launch their own versions, through the existing capitated financial alignment model being utilized in nine states, the managed fee-for-service model considered but never implemented in a handful of states, or some other state-specific model worked out with the agency. Learn more.

How #CrisisTalk is Transforming Dialogue in Behavioral Health The National Association of State Mental Health Program Directors (NASMHPD) and its Crisis Now partners* have launched the #CrisisTalk website, sparking much-needed dialogue on behavioral health crises. Learn more.  

Suicide: How You Can Make a Difference A recent CDC report on increasing suicide rates has brought the topic of suicide into everyday conversations. Learn more.

Family Involvement in Programming for Early Serious Mental Illness: A Tip Sheet for Clinicians