Revitalizing California’s Behavioral Health
The nation’s behavioral health infrastructure and workforce are struggling to meet the demands of our most vulnerable residents.
As we emerge from a pandemic and continue to combat the opioid crisis, public health and managed care strategies still face resistance. That’s why AHP is proud to support California in rebuilding its behavioral health system. We can also work with your state to assemble a robust, diverse behavioral health workforce.
For more than 35 years, Advocates for Human Potential, Inc. (AHP) has been improving health and human services systems of care and business operations to help organizations and individuals reach their full potential. We are committed to helping California health providers fully integrate their services, creating programs that are sustainable and efficient.
We listen–really listen.
At AHP, listening to our clients means connecting with them. That’s how we’ve worked with national and California-based health organizations to improve:
- Behavioral health capacities.
- Workforce development and integration.
- Substance use disorder services.
- Integrated care services.
- Administrative efficiencies.
- Telehealth sustainability.
We also provide:
- Innovative solutions design.
- Training and technical assistance (TTA).
- Evaluations that reveal what is working and where gaps exist.
“We had to make sure our Administrative Entity had the knowledge and experience to really expand capacity and provide technical assistance (TA). We chose AHP to support us in large part because they provide leadership and bring innovation to the work we do together. With challenges like the opioid crisis and chronic homelessness to contend with, we couldn’t afford to do less. Our programs must be successful, which is why we have invested in such a competent partner.”
– Marlies Perez, Chief, Community Services Division, California Department of Health Care Services (DHCS)
Add capacity and expertise to your behavioral health team.
Our administrative services, thought leadership, TTA, and evaluation can be instrumental in waging innovative campaigns to strengthen your state’s behavioral health system.
Consider how we’ve advanced behavioral health in the following projects:
The Los Angeles County Department of Public Heath Substance Abuse Prevention and Control Services. LA County engaged AHP to develop the financing formula and fiscal structure that would support its services under California’s new Drug Medi-Cal Organized Delivery System.
Crisis Care Mobile Units (CCMU) and Behavioral Health Justice Intervention Services (BHJIS). AHP
is the administrative entity for both CCMU, a DHCS program that provides funding for counties, cities, and tribal entities to implement new and enhanced mobile behavioral health crisis services, and BHJIS, which helps address intervention points for individuals with mental and substance use disorders so they are diverted from criminal justice involvement.
Hub and Spoke System. AHP is the administrative entity for this project, disbursing approximately $57.4 million of State Opioid Response (SOR) 2 funding from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration throughout California. Each region has a Hub (or specialized addiction center) and Spokes (offices or clinics with a buprenorphine prescriber).
Behavioral Health Workforce Development.
This California program aims to overcome a severe behavioral health workforce crisis in the state. It involves:
- The Mentored Internship Program, a grant for behavioral health organizations to develop and implement mentored internships to assist in the treatment and recovery of patients with substance use, mental health, or co-occurring disorders.
- The Expanding Peer Organization Capacity project, which helps emerging peer recovery organizations
build their infrastructure and capacity. - The Peer Workforce Investment Grant, which provides a chance for behavioral health programs
to “set the table” for the future Medi-Cal peer support services benefit.
Community Care Expansion (CCE) Program.
DHCS’s CCE program focuses on acquisition, construction, and rehabilitation to expand adult and senior care facilities, including for those who are at risk of homelessness or are currently experiencing it. These investments ensure care can be provided with outpatient alternatives, urgent care, peer respite, wellness centers, and social rehabilitation models.
California Youth Opioid Response (YOR California).
AHP partners with the California Institute for Behavioral Health Solutions to lead YOR California’s efforts to reduce the impact of the opioid and stimulant crisis on youth and young adults. YOR California has provided $22 million in SOR 1 and 2 funds to California agencies and increased access to medications for addiction treatment and other prevention, intervention, and recovery services for youth who are misusing opioids and/or stimulants.
About Us
Advocates for Human Potential, Inc. (AHP) creates powerful solutions to improve health and human services systems. By partnering with the federal government, states, municipalities, healthcare systems, and nonprofits, we help people experiencing the greatest disadvantages lead full and productive lives. We are national leaders in training and technical assistance, research and evaluation, publishing, and dedicated consulting. On issues from workforce development to mental health, substance use disorders to housing and homelessness, we help our clients enhance behavioral health care through systems change. AHP was founded nearly 40 years ago to develop solutions for some of the biggest social infrastructure challenges across the nation. Our company has offices in metro Boston, Chicago, and Los Angeles. Find out more at www.ahpnet.com.
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