News

AHP awarded a contract to provide communications services for NYS Early Childhood Advisory Council

AHP is pleased to announce the award of a contract with the New York State Office of Children and Family Services. AHP will work with the Council for Children and Families (CCF) and the NYS Early Childhood Advisory Council (ECAC) to develop and implement a strategic course to enhance communication, dissemination, and effective use of information that results in increased awareness of the needs and benefits and subsequent support for a comprehensive system of Early Education and Care supports and services. 

To enhance our capacity to create an innovative and far reaching communication plan that convinces “connected” people to exert their energy and influence on behalf of ECAC’s mission, AHP has partnered with Early Childhood Associates, Inc. (ECA), a small, woman-owned company and a leading innovator in the development and assessment of policies and programs that serve children and families. ECA provides research and program evaluation, program development and curriculum design, and training and technical assistance to the early childhood field.

The contract will be carried out by AHP’s Marketing Division. AHP Marketing, formerly known as Berkshire Marketing Group, is a full service marketing communications firm founded in 1991. AHP Marketing services include branding, advertising, sales promotion, public relations, market research, media planning and buying, and interactive media/marketing strategies. For additional information, contact Darrell Berman, Director Health Care Marketing at dberman@ahpnet.com.

AHP Receives Distinguished Award from the Society for Technical Communication, Washington, D.C. Chapter

Advocates for Human Potential, Inc., in collaboration with Westat, has won the Distinguished Award from the Society for Technical Communication, (STC) Washington, D.C. chapter for our work on SAMHSA’s Permanent Supportive Housing KIT. The Society for Technical Communication is the world’s largest professional organization serving the technical communication field. STC recognizes and encourages excellence in online communication, technical art, and technical publication.

Current AHP staff who contributed to this project include Carol Bianco and Ann Denton, M.Ed., nationally recognized experts on homelessness, behavioral health, systems change, and housing for people with mental illnesses, co-occurring disorders, and other disabilities; and AHP senior writers Susan Hills, Ph.D. and Alan Marzilli J.D., M.A. Other contributors include former AHP staff members Lynn Aronson, Priscilla Ridgway, and Sara Andre.

The KIT covers many common issues that mental health administrators, practitioners, and housing agencies face when establishing a supportive housing program, including building and sustaining evidence-based practices in Permanent Supportive Housing (PSH) programs, training staff, and evaluating the program. In addition, the KIT provides consumers with important information about the PSH program.

The following is praise for the PSH Toolkit from the Society for Technical Communication.

“Impressive content, design, and usability, especially given the document’s scope, the multiple audiences it addresses, and the diverse activities it supports.”

“The KIT is well-written and well-organized. It reflects the fact that much thought went into presenting the information. I think it will be very helpful to those who need to use it. The challenge of addressing a range of audiences with different information needs has been met effectively.”

“These booklets are attractive, informative, and well organized. They include lots of practical ideas, checklists, and case studies. The tone is professional yet refreshingly down to earth. The authors seem to truly care about empowering agencies and their staff to move people with mental health issues into supportive housing. Tools for Tenants not only sets out practical considerations for consumers with mental health issues who wish to get a home in the community, but encourages them to do so without sounding patronizing. Nice work!”

AHP's Andy Klein and Jon Grand Team with RSAT Program to Provide Training and Technical Assistance

AHP has begun its latest U.S. Justice Department-Sponsored program to provide training and technical assistance (TTA) to jail and prison residential substance abuse treatment (RSAT) programs funded by the Bureau of Justice Assistance.

AHP, under the leadership of Project Director Dr. Andrew Klein, who has extensive experience in community corrections and is widely published on criminal justice topics, will implement and manage this initiative to provide on-site TTA across all 50 states and the U.S. territories. as part of the project, AHP will develop a series of training curricula, establish a national RSAT TTA Web site, and create a learnning community among RSAT providers

In December of last year, Dr. Klein and Jonathan Grand, TTA Coordinator for the project, traveled to Washington, D.C. to address an assembly of state officials responsible for dispensing Justice grants within their states, including the $28 million of RSAT funding provided to states and territories in FY 2010.

In partnership with Treatment Alternatives for Safe Communitites (TASC) and AdCare Criminal Justice Services of Massachusetts, AHP launched the intitiative late last year with the creation of a new dedicated Web site, the RSAT TTA National Resource Center (www.rsat-tta.com). One of the many goals of the site is to offer training and TA via a series of Webinars.

AHP is developing and piloting a test model, online cross-training curriculum for corrections and treatment professionals on the correctional authority's responsibilities of care, custody, and control on substance abuse addiction, residential substance abuse treatment, and aftercare. AHP will also develop and pilot test a training curriculum for treatment professionals on incorporating trauma-informed care and HIV/AIDS education during residential substance abuse treatment.

The RSAT Training and Technical Assistance Project, successfully implemented, will reduce the future substance abuse and, as a result, reincarceration rates of inmates in RSAT programs.

Susan Milstrey Wells completed Toolkit for State Mental Health Commissioners

AHP Senior Writer Susan Milstrey Wells recently completed work on Responding to a High-Profile Tragic Incident Involving a Person with a Serious Mental Illness: A Toolkit for State Mental Health Commissioners.

This was a joint effort of the National Association of State Mental Health Program Directors (NASMHPD) and the Council of State Governments Justice Center.

NASMHPD contracted with Ms. Wells to research and write the toolkit, which is designed to guide State commissioners who face a high-profile tragic incident in which a person believed to have a mental illness is involved (e.g., Virginia Tech).

It includes resources such as backgrounders on mental illness and violence, involuntary commitment, and gun laws, as well as strategies and tips for communicating with the media.

The toolkit was unveiled Tuesday, October 5, at the State commissioners’ meeting in Alexandria, VA. NASMHPD Executive Director Robert W. Glover, Ph.D., publicly thanked Ms. Wells for her work on the toolkit and encouraged State commissioners to familiarize themselves with the document in advance of needing to use it.

He noted that the toolkit is a “living document” that will be updated as it is used in the field. The PDF version of the toolkit includes links so users can move easily throughout the document.

MeHI Certifies Advocates for Human Potential, Inc. as an Implementation Optimization Organization

Massachusetts-based Advocates for Human Potential, Inc. (AHP), a health and behavioral health consulting and research firm that specializes in changing or improving organizational systems, was recently certified by the Massachusetts e-Health Institute (MeHI) as an official Implementation Optimization Organization (IOO). The designation is given exclusively to organizations that meet MeHI’s capability requirements for the installation, implementation, and optimization of Electronic Health Record (EHR) systems that support achievement of "Meaningful Use." To date, only 18 organizations have been granted the certification.

"We are pleased to have Advocates for Human Potential join our select list of certified health IT companies that will help thousands of health care providers across Massachusetts successfully transition to electronic health records," said Rick Shoup, Ph.D., Director of the Massachusetts e-Health Institute." Widespread deployment of electronic health records leads to better quality care for patients, reduces health care costs and spurs new jobs in the health care industry."

The Massachusetts e-Health Institute (MeHI), a division of the Massachusetts Technology Collaborative, is the state-designated entity for health care innovation, technology, and competitiveness. Established by Governor Patrick and the Massachusetts Legislature in Chapter 305 of the Acts of 2008, MeHI is responsible for advancing the dissemination of health information across the Commonwealth, including the deployment of EHR systems in all healthcare provider settings that are networked through a statewide HIE. For more information on MeHI, go to www.maehi.org.

AHP’s eHealth division has assisted a wide variety of organizations to implement Health Information Technology systems including EHRs and Electronic Practice Management systems. Our services encompass the complete EHR product lifecycle from inception through go live and continuous improvement. Our clients range from small provider practices to large systems of care. AHP has been involved in EHR implementation projects in community health centers since 2004 and has achieved significant success with over 571 providers implemented.

AHP has developed, and proven in a wide range of settings, an approach for helping clients understand their current processes and (what opportunities exist to improve their respective organizations) afforded by the implementation of EHR technologies. Our workflow processes have been adopted as best practices by several Federal and state agencies.

The collaboration between MeHI and AHP will allow MeHi-affliated provider practices to utilize AHP’s approach to understanding their current processes, move seamlessly toward the goal of implementing electronic health records, and achieve "meaningful use." As a certified IOO, AHP will work cooperatively with MeHI and support the vision of the REC for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.

AHP’s COO, Charlie Galland commented that “the concept of REC and IOO in Massachusetts originates from the basic philosophy that serves as the cornerstone of AHP’s approach to an EHR project—the EHR project is not an IT project but rather an effective integration of people, processes, and technology. AHP is committed to incorporating health IT to maximize outcomes, increase efficiency, and transform our health care delivery system."

Contact:
Charlie Galland, COO
cgalland@ahpnet.com
1.800.795.5486

Pam Stanley Earns CGMP Certification

After an intensive training and certification course, AHP’s Manager of Meetings and Travel, Pam Stanley, has earned the title of Certified Government Meeting Planner (CGMP).

This certification demonstrates proficiency in all areas of government meeting planning including, in depth knowledge of Federal Travel and GSA regulations, Federal procurement and management processes, contract negotiation as well as protocol and ethics.

This highly regarded industry certification will enhance AHP’s competency in the area of meeting planning and logistics and further positions AHP to serve its clients in these areas.

AHP's John Rio Presents Webinar on Assessment in Supported Employment

As part of the Homelessness Resource Center's free webcast series, AHP's John Rio presented a webinar on assessment in Supported Employment with people experiencing homelessness. The webinar focused on the role vocational assessment plays in Supported Employment and the skills staff need to conduct assessments. The presentation included a discussion of how staff should help job seekers to consider their need for change; commitment to change; knowledge of themselves in relation to work; undertsanding of the demands of employers in the working world; and wellness self-management.

AHP Staff Author Article on Shared Decision Making

Laurie Curtis, Susan Wells, and Darby Penney, of AHP, co-authored an article in the Summer 2010 issue of the Psychiatric Rehabilitation Journal. The article focuses on shared decision making in health and mental health. For more information, view the publications page.

AHP's Dr. Klein Speaks at NIJ's Stalking Research Workshop

On Thursday, June 17th, the National Institute of Justice brought Andy Klein to Washington, DC to speak and participate in its Stalking Research Workshop, a meeting of lead researchers, criminal justice practitioners and federal officials brought together to develop the U.S. Justice Department’s agenda for future stalking research and grants. Klein was invited in recognition of his role as principal investigator of AHP’s recently completed research on stalking, with Nick Huntington and Amy Salomon. The AHP stalking study is featured on both the AHP website under “Publications” as well as the website of the U.S. Justice Department’s National Center for Criminal Justice Reference Service (NCJRS).