Update
These are tough times for behavioral health care providers. Shrinking funding coupled with greater demands for services put continued strain on operations. And, it is difficult to grow and keep well trained staff. Organizations need a broad array of tools at their disposal to survive. Process improvement methods are a useful resource to improve substance abuse treatment access and retention.
The Department of Children and Families (DCF) Substance Abuse Mental Health Program Office (SAMHPO) is committed to continuing support of process improvement activities and the peer mentor learning network. Practitioners, peer mentors, coaches and consultants play a critical role in the development of Florida's peer learning and performance improvement systems.
An important goal in expanding the peer network is to establish a peer learning community in each DCF region of the state that utilizes the experience and knowledge of mentors who work closely with substance abuse/mental health agencies and community coalitions to guide them to build capacity to implement and disseminate continuous quality improvement strategies, including implementing evidence-based practice tools with fidelity.
Building upon the successes of the STAR-SI grant, the RWJ grant, Family Intervention Specialist and co-occurring initiatives, DCF contracted with FADAA to identify and recruit peer mentors and coaches who have expertise in performing improvement and specific evidence based practices. Potential new peer mentors interested in learning about the process will be targeted as part of an on-going recruitment process.
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What's Next It's important to collaborate with each other to borrow, adapt and create new and innovative ways to provide services in this tough environment. Peer Mentor Conference Call Peer Mentor Meeting FADAA's P2P Website - A web page devoted to process improvement and peer mentors. |
Your Ideas We want to hear from you! Your feedback, suggestions and ideas are valuable to the process improvement initiative! As a way to provide on-going communication, we want your feedback, suggestions and ideas. There is a place to input your questions and feedback provided below. We'll be responding to your questions and comments in future e-Communications.
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For more information, contact Anika Foster at afoster@fadaa.org or call 850-878-2196.
or contact Sheila Barbee at Sheila_Barbee@dcf.state.fl.us or call 850-717-4400.
