Highlights from the front lines
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 Northland Counseling Center’s BHH Services:
Northland Counseling Center Inc. is a non-profit community mental health center that has been providing mental health, counseling, psychiatric and chemical dependency services for individuals in the counties of Itasca and Koochiching since 1959. The BHH services program at Northland Counseling Center is delivered out of the Kiesler Wellness Center which is dedicated to providing programs to encourage wellness within the community and aims to deliver person-centered support for individuals impacted by mental illness.
A specific program that the BHH services team has been able to provide to individuals receiving BHH services is the access to onsite foot care. Regular foot care is essential to addressing foot problems before they limit an individual’s ability to function. Northland Counseling Center’s very own BHH services Integration Specialist, Lisa Carsrud, identified the need to start a foot care clinic at Northland Counseling Center after working with several individuals with diabetes and helping to trim their nails. Lisa is a registered nurse and has previous experience with foot care clinics from several years working in home care. Lisa says there are many different reasons why individuals need foot care including people who have a difficult time reaching their toes or seeing well enough to cut them on their own. Additionally, toenail thickening advances with age so people may need help with nail care as they get older. Aside from providing the opportunity for direct care of people’s feet, the foot care clinics at Northland Counseling Center also allow for the chance to provide people with needed education regarding recommended care for their feet. Lisa is now able to offer regular foot clinics on a monthly basis. The foot clinics occur on designated days by appointment and they are available to all individuals receiving BHH services.
For more information about the foot care clinics offered to individuals receiving BHH services with Northland Counseling Center Inc. please contact Lisa Carsrud at lcarsrud@northlandcounseling.org
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 Information related to the use of commercial tobacco products and how to help people address their use of them.
Did you know that, according to the American Lung Association, tobacco use is the number one cause of death in people with mental illness? Not only that, but it affects people with mental illness at alarmingly disparate rates compared to the general population. This section will provide ongoing information related to tobacco and other nicotine products and how to help people address their use of them.
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Supporting smoke-free public housing
The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) adopted a rule which requires each public housing agency (PHA) to implement a smoke-free policy by July 30, 2018.
Each PHA must implement a smoke-free policy that prohibits tobacco products in all public housing living units, indoor common areas in public housing and in PHA administrative office buildings. The smoke-free policy also extends to all outdoor areas up to 25 feet from the public housing and administrative offices. The smoke-free rule improves indoor air quality for the health and safety of all residents and staff. To learn more about the HUD smoke-free rule and find free tools and resources for Minnesota public housing agencies and residents, visit http://sfpublichousingmn.org/. Click on the following links for information specific to providers who work with people with mental illness and/or substance use disorder.
A Toolkit to Address Tobacco Use in Behavioral Health Settings
The American Lung Association in Minnesota developed a toolkit to provide mental health and substance use treatment professionals with information, instruction and resources when addressing tobacco use.
Many of the materials are also appropriate for primary care and other health care providers focused on mental illness and substance use disorders. The toolkit may be found on the American Lung Association website.
Step-by-step tool-kit instructions include:
- Low burden means of assessing readiness to quit
- Tobacco treatment
- Strategies for implementing policy
- Strategies to increase cessation opportunities and success
- Referral to community resources
Trainings Related to Addressing Tobacco Use
ICSI Webinar: How Can the EHR Help You Identify and Intervene with Patients Who Use Tobacco?
Electronic health records (EHRs) contain tools that can improve how you identify, document, track, and treat patients who use tobacco. One challenge is knowing what tools are available and how to start making system changes. This Tobacco Health Systems Change presentation explores ways that you can leverage the EHR to deliver efficient evidence-based tobacco dependence treatment interventions and where to start within your organization.
Tobacco Policy and Treatment in Behavioral Health Settings
Earn 6 Free Continuing Education (CE) Credits!
The Wisconsin Nicotine Treatment Integration Project (WiNTiP) is pleased to provide online training that addresses tobacco policy and treatment in the behavioral health setting. You can earn up to 6 FREE CE Credits by completing both courses! Trainings can be found on the Inter-professional Continuing Education Partnership webpage of the University of Wisconsin – Madison website.
Target Audience
Practitioners who provide health care to people with mental illness/substance abuse disorders, obligated to address the nicotine addiction of their patients as part of their scope of practice, including physicians, nurses, physician assistants, social workers, and mental health and substance abuse providers.
Program Directors and Quality Improvement staff will also benefit from this activity, as they are obligated to adopt policies regarding the use of tobacco.
Upon completion of this activity, learners will:
- Be able to articulate what constitutes evidence-based tobacco dependence treatment.
- Have developed a plan to integrate evidence-based tobacco dependence treatment and policy that is tailored to their setting.
- Within one year of completion, have a tobacco policy in place in their treatment setting and more evidence-based tobacco dependence treatment will be provided to patients.
 Information on upcoming learning opportunities, available resources, and important dates to remember.
eLearning modules
As a reminder, the Minnesota Department of Human Services (DHS) developed eleven eLearning modules for BHH services providers. These eLearning modules are intended to introduce the guiding principles of BHH services in Minnesota and to train BHH services provider team members on BHH services policy. DHS expects that all BHH services staff view the eLearning modules. Directions on how to access these modules are available on the MN Behavioral Health Home services webpage under the additional materials heading.
Population health management webinar series
The aim of this webinar series is to increase understanding of the principles of PHM and provide useful information that will help BHH services providers feel like they can start performing basic PHM activities. If you would like a recording of the first webinar, please contact megan.lokken@state.mn.us. The second webinar is tentatively scheduled for August 2018 and the third and final webinar in November 2018. Once the dates are finalized, authorized representatives of each BHH services team will receive information about how BHH services staff can register.
Third Biennial Learning Day for MSHO/MSC+ and SNBC Care Coordinators
The MN Department of Human Services, in collaboration with Minnesota health plans, is hosting a 2018 Care Coordination Learning Day event on Friday, October 26, 2018 at the Radisson Blu - Mall of America in Bloomington, MN. This is the third biennial Care Coordination Learning Day event providing opportunities for new and experienced Minnesota Senior Health Option (MSHO)/ Minnesota Senior Care Plus (MSC+) and Special Needs Basic Care (SNBC) care coordinators to learn about current trends and issues surrounding MSHO, MSC+ and SNBC care coordination and the people they serve. This event is also intended to help care coordinators understand how to effectively address on-the-job issues and heighten awareness about available resources.
This all day event anticipates approximately 400 care coordinators attending in-person, with 400 care coordinators also participating remotely via webinar. The event is free of charge and provides CEUs for registered nurses and licensed social workers. There is also an online registration process required for all attendees, available typically two months prior to the event. Please contact Sophie.Burnevik@state.mn.us if you are interested in more information about this event.
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 Important dates specific to BHH services providers
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Save the date! Behavioral Health Integration Summit
You are invited to a Minnesota Behavioral Health Integration Summit for Health Care Homes, Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinics and behavioral health home services providers and their community partners. Joan King from the National Council of Behavioral Health will be the speaker/trainer at this full day event focused on behavioral health integration in Minnesota. The event is free and lunch will be provided. Authorized representatives of each BHH services team will be provided with registration information once it is available.
When: Tuesday September 25, 2018 | 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Where: Shoreview Community Center, 4580 Victoria Street North, Shoreview, Minnesota 55126
Save the Date! BHH services fall learning event: Medical Assistance & Managed Care
The purpose of this event is to provide an overview of how managed care works in Minnesota for people receiving Medical Assistance (MA) and to give BHH services providers the opportunity to hear from and ask questions of representatives from Minnesota’s MA managed care organizations (MCOs). Prior to the event DHS will survey BHH services providers to gather questions and feedback to tailor the training needs of BHH services providers.
When: Friday, October 19, 2018 |10:00 a.m. – 12 noon
Where: DHS Elmer A. Andersen Building, Room 2380 – or by Webex
 Building collaborative relationships with other providers to address whole-person care & promote service sustainability
Intersection between HCH and BHH services
Thanks to the well-attended regional convenings in St. Cloud and Mankato, facilitated by the Institute for Clinical Systems Improvement (ICSI), HCH and BHH services providers were able to make new connections with primary care and other partners in their area. State staff is committed to helping providers continue to develop those relationships. Please email Behavioral.Health.Home.Services@state.mn.us to request help in supporting your networking efforts or if you have any other comments. If you have not already done so, please subscribe to the LEARN bulletin. This will keep you informed of all future learning opportunities offered through the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) Health Care Homes (HCH).
Legal services and BHH services
DHS is working to facilitate conversations between BHH services providers and area Legal Services providers. There is a significant overlap in people being served by Legal Services providers and BHH services providers. The goal of these meetings is to facilitate referrals from both entities. So far, DHS has held two meetings in the metro area with metro providers. DHS is also working to set up regional meetings to connect rural BHH services providers with area Legal Services providers. Stay tuned for upcoming dates and more information. If you have any questions about these meetings please contact Leah at leah.montgomery@state.mn.us
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 Connect with your community partners
Community of Practice: Pediatric Care Coordination
Please join the MDH Children and Youth with Special Health Needs (CYSHN) section in building a community of practice for all who provide care coordination for children and youth.
MDH CYSHN is developing a statewide list of people that are actively working in this area. This list will improve access to local resources and both build and support your networking community.
Who should register:
- Care Coordinators, Care Navigators, Health Coaches at Specialty Clinics and Primary Care Clinics
- BHH services team
- Public Health Nurses, School Nurses
- Case Managers: county, non-profit, school, etc.
- Anyone…..providing care coordination activities to pediatrics and wanting to network with others!
Please REGISTER NOW.
You will receive a follow-up email inviting you to access a MDH SharePoint site: Community of Practice: Care Coordination for the Pediatric Population.
This site will have a master list of those registered and the ability to post and share resources with a discussion board.
Mental Well-Being and Resilience Learning Community
The Minnesota Department of Health leads a monthly, interactive statewide webinar and local discussion - at multiple locations - for anyone who is interested in promoting mental well-being. Following the webinar, local discussions occur to identify local needs, share resources, and contribute to community planning. An informational brochure provides further details and instructions on how to participate and join the conversation.
Submit a networking opportunity
Please send any networking opportunities you wish to share to Sophie Burnevik at Sophie.Burnevik@state.mn.us.
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Behavioral.Health.Home.Services@state.mn.us
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