Reducing Race/Ethnic Disparities

The Center for Health Care Strategies has a research brief outlining strategies for policy makers, government oversight officials, managed care firms, and providers for reducing health disparities for racial and ethnic minorities.

Among the strategies include performance measurement, contracting for health outcomes and disparities reductions, and culturally appropriate treatment and community outreach.

Updated Links for Internet Training

Registration is open for the first four courses in the New England ATTC Internet training courses.

Previously, the Chemical Dependency and PTSD course did not have the correct registration info; that link has been updated. For each announcement, scroll down to the bottom to find the specific link to secure registration.

Additional Meetings Added

NAMI Tennessee's State Convention will be in Nashville, 20-21 Sep 2007, at the Millenium Maxwell House. One track will cover school-based services. Details are available at: www.namitn.org.

The Mental Health Association of East Tennessee (and others) present the 10^th Fall Psychiatric Symposium 21 Sep 2007, at the Knoxville Convention Center. A pre-symposium will be held on 20 Sep 2007. Details available at: www.mhaet.com. CEUs available.

Note: You can view these and other upcoming events through the T-ACT calendar in the top right corner of the blog. You do not need to register with Yahoo! to view events, but you will if you want to add events on your own. Email Robert at tactblog@yahoo.com or his Vanderbilt address, robert.c.saunders(at)vanderbilt.edu, if you want to add an event or be able to add events yourself.

Calendar Information

The Yahoo!Calendar link at the top of the right-hand side of the blog takes you to T-ACT's schedule of upcoming conferences and trainings that may be of interest to those involved in the adolescent treatment system.

To learn more about particular events listed in the calendar, simply click on the item you wish to see. This will pull up additional information about the meeting, usually the location and a website or phone number to access the additional information. A limitation of the Yahoo!Calendar right now is that the web links within those pages cannot be activated; so, you will have to cut-and-paste the website information to your browser.

Internet-based Training

From Nancy Reed and Stephanie Shapiro:

Colleagues - FYI

The Addiction Technology Transfer Center of New England (ATTC/NE), funded by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), Center for Substance Abuse Treatment (CSAT), is offering online education courses, which can be viewed at: http://www.attc-ne.org/education/index.html.

Click on courses below for specific information:

1. Basic Group Counseling Skills* (August 20, 2007)
   *Waiting list only - 4 weeks, 8 CEUs
   
   
2. Engaging the Indigenous Healer in the Recovery Process: Spirituality in Some African-origin, Latino and Indian Communities (Course scheduled August 27, Registration deadline August 27, 2007)
   4 weeks, 8 CEUs
   
   
3. Introduction to Ethics: Managing Ethical Dilemmas and Risk- Management Issues (Course scheduled August 27, Registration deadline August 27, 2007)
   4 weeks, 8 CEUs
   
   
4. Chemical Dependency and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (Course scheduled October 1, Registration opened August 13, 2007)
   4 weeks, 8 CEUs
   
   
5. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (Course scheduled October 15, Registration opens August 27, 2007)
   5 weeks, 10 CEUs
   
   
6. Women and Chemical Dependency (Course scheduled November 5th, Registration opens September 17, 2007)
   4 weeks, 8 CEUs

FYI - The National Association of Alcoholism and Drug Abuse Counselors (NAADAC) now has an exam for an adolescent specialist endorsement. Please check out the link below:
http://www.ptcny.com/clients/NCC/#Adolescent Specialist Endorsement Examination

Stephanie Shapiro, Ph.D; Stephanie.Shapiro@state.tn.us; 615-253-2714

Nancy. R. Reed, CMSW; Nancy.R.Reed@state.tn.us; 615-741-5714

DADAS Adolescent Advisory Meeting

The August edition of DADAS's adolescent advisory meeting (Herb Stone's group) met 08 August 2007. The meeting discussed the timing of changes at the division as it is reintegrated into TDMHDD, updates on SJR799, and T-ACT's project, including the services review being led by Mary Rolando at GOCCC.

Craig Anne Heflinger had submitted an article, about defining the comprehensiveness of services for a provider organization, for the group to discuss. In discussing the article, Mary Rolando mentioned an article about re-envisioning the child health service delivery system that she thought might be of interest to participants. I agreed to post them to our archive for the PAB's (and others') benefit.

Handouts from 26 July 2007 PAB Meeting

The presentation by Dr. Deboarh Garnick and Tracy Leeper at the most recent Project Advisory Board meeting and the measurement specifications and background articles that were distributed are posted to the T-ACT archive.