Technical Assistance & Training

TA and training are central to AHP's mission. We are known for providing targeted, innovative, and flexible TA at the Federal, state, and community levels and have been involved in many major TA projects undertaken by HRSA, SAMHSA, and other Federal agencies.

A hallmark of our TA is working closely with clients to tailor assistance to the target population and its needs. We establish long-term TA relationships, sometimes involving individual mentoring and regularly scheduled telephone/video consultation; conduct customized assistance directed at particular needs, strategies, or barriers; and follow up to assess client satisfaction and TA impact. AHP develops and implements the following TA strategies:

• » Diagnostic site visits with follow-up needs assessments and monitoring activities
• » Interactive teleconferences and Webinars to address key topics
• » Training documents and curricula in print, electronic, and Web-based formats
• » Train-the-trainer sessions to enable programs to conduct TA in their communities
• » Coordination of expert TA providers for ongoing consultation, carefully matching expertise with client needs
• » TA and training conferences and workshops, bringing grantees together with subject matter experts, government officials, researchers, and innovators in the field
• » TA and professional development to Federal program staff
• » IT tools and resources to maximize the effectiveness of TA

Co-Occurring Disorders and Behavioral Health

Manuals for MISSION Program for Veterans with CO-Occurring Disorders. Maintaining Independence and Sobriety Through Systems Integration (MISSION) is a program that provides support to formerly homeless veterans with co-occurring disorders. AHP is supporting staff in developing manuals to facilitate replication and enhance consistent delivery of the program.

Report to Congress on the Prevention and Treatment of Co-occurring Substance Abuse Disorders and Mental Disorders. Two senior AHP staff drafted the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA)'s Report to Congress on the Prevention and Treatment of Co-occurring Substance Abuse Disorders and Mental Disorders. This was a significant policy document that served as SAMHSA's 5-year Blueprint for Action and reaffirmed the agency's commitment to help states and communities develop increased capacity to screen, assess, and treat co-occurring disorders. AHP staff researched and wrote all initial text for the 150-page report, which includes demographic and epidemiological data, prevention strategies, a summary of evidence-based practices for co-occurring disorders, and SAMHSA's 5-Year Blueprint for Action. With six months between contract award and the due date for the first draft of the report, AHP worked expeditiously to manage the constituent input process. This involved collecting and analyzing both verbal and written input from other Federal agencies, national organizations, states, providers, advocates, consumers, and families. AHP staff also reviewed epidemiological literature and consulted with experts in the field to determine 12-month and lifetime prevalence rates of co-occurring disorders. Because communication and coordination between the mental health and substance abuse fields is often strained, at best, AHP staff had to negotiate competing priorities and help participants who advised the process to arrive at consensus on values, best practices, and resources.

Criminal Justice

Missouri Department of Corrections Division of Probation and Parole Domestic Violence Training Program. AHP conducted a comprehensive domestic violence training program for Missouri’s probation and parole officers in order to enhance officers’ ability to assess and supervise domestic violence offenders across that state. The training program was based on a training manual and curriculum researched and written by AHP staff, centering on evidence-based practices and policies that enhance victim safety and offender accountability.

Ohio Supreme Court Domestic Violence Training Program. AHP conducted a multi-site domestic violence probation training program for probation and parole officers, sponsored by the Ohio Supreme Court. The training featured presentations of original research by AHP staff on specialized probation supervision of batterers conducted for the National Institute of Justice. There also were presentations for the Office on Violence Against Women and the National Center on Full Faith and Credit pertaining to enforcement of federal and state firearm prohibitions against court restrained and convicted domestic abusers.

Cultural Competency

AHP has worked hard to ensure that cultural competency is embedded in every aspect of every project. We have provided expert consultation and TA to the Pacific Territories and Native American communities, including the Navaho Nation and Alaskan tribes. In August 2009, AHP went to Puerto Rico on a site visit that included a bilingual expert in cultural competency.

Our project work has provided many opportunities to put our cultural competency skills and knowledge in action to benefit the audiences we serve and in the process, learn from them and through each experience how to achieve even better results. Examples include:

The New Freedom Initiative. AHP provided TA to support states in developing culturally competent programs. We also addressed the unique cultural needs of Pacific territories and developed a version of our Inside/Outside video for Hispanic/Latino audiences.

State of Massachusetts Governor's Task Force on Hate Crimes. AHP researched training options and developed an anti-hate crime curriculum that met the stated needs of community-based organizations representing diverse ethnic and racial populations to increase understanding and improve cooperation with enforcement organizations.

CSAT-funded Co-Occurring Disorders Initiative. AHP hired a bicultural, bilingual Research Associate to respond to the needs of the Spanish-speaking populations included in the study.

Multicultural, Multilingual Behavioral Health Managed Care in Rhode Island. AHP conducted a study on the identification of behavioral health managed care needs of African American, Southeast Asian, and Hispanic populations in Providence, Rhode Island. A special emphasis was placed on reaching these specific disenfranchised populations within the state's managed care system.

Grantee TA and Support for the Office of Performance Review (OPR)/Health Resource and Services Administration (HRSA). AHP has developed and managed TA tracking systems that monitor the delivery of TA to diverse audiences in a culturally competent manner. The major component of this project is the Technical Assistance Processing System (TAPS). The TAPS allows HRSA regional and central office staff to request technical assistance (TA), search its comprehensive database of qualified experts, approve and evaluate TA, manage TA budgets, and receive on-demand, real-time activity reports via a comprehensive, user-friendly web site.

Database Development

The AHP IT Team provides database development services for MSSQL, MySQL, Oracle, and Access databases. We use the latest development technologies including C#, ASP.NET, JEE, and open source to insure that custom applications function properly. AHP's experienced database developers develop entire projects from design through training and implementation as well as provide specific aspects of database development through subcontracts.

AHP is currently under contract to build several databases for SAMHSA utilizing MS SQL server database as a backend to consolidate old database to provide efficiencies and cost effectiveness. We are providing database development for both the SAMHSA Mental Health Transformation and the Workforce Development Resource Center Web Portals.

Homelessness and Housing

Monitoring and Promoting Effective Implementation of PATH-Funded Services. AHP conducts site visits for PATH-funded states or Territories each year to encourage the adoption of exemplary practices and identify TA needs of local PATH-funded providers. For each monitoring site visit AHP conducts, through a subcontract with AFYA, the site visit team writes a report of findings and recommendations and then follow-ups within six months of the site visit to monitor implementation of recommendations. The AFYA/AHP team also has developed a trained cadre of site visit team monitors. AHP provided formal training for monitors in January, 2005, and has continued to provide oversight and support as new monitors join teams.

TA Services for the Homeless Programs Branch (HPB) and its Services in Supportive Housing (SSH) Grantees. AHP provides comprehensive technical assistance (TA) through targeted consultation, training, data analysis, and materials development for the Homeless Programs Branch (HPB) of the Center for Mental Health Services (CMHS) and its Services in Supportive Housing (SSH) grantees. AHP conducts site visits to new grantees to assess their capacity to perform their responsibilities within the scope of their grants. AHP also conducts problem-focused, technical assistance site visits to address areas where grantees may be experiencing difficulties achieving the objectives of their grants.

Technical Assistance Services for the SAMHSA/CSAT Co-Occurring and Homeless Activities Branch (CHAB) and its Grantee Project. AHP's team provides diagnostic site visits to grantees; TA to CHAB staff, grantees, and programs directly and through expert consultants; plays a substantive role in annual grantee meetings; and prepares TA and training materials and curricula.

Implementing Supportive Housing and Supported Employment Evidence-Based Practices in Detroit/Wayne County. AHP is supporting and guiding Detroit/Wayne County in a three-phase project to establish an organizational culture and infrastructure that will undergird and facilitate recovery and provide supportive housing and supported employment. AHP has provided technical assistance and training, assessment activities, capacity-building and infrastructure development, strategic planning, mentoring, and guidance with developing and expanding community coalitions.

Chronic Homeless Employment Technical Assistance (CHETA). For this recent Department of Labor project, AHP collaborated with the Corporation for Supportive Housing (CSH) to develop and implement the CHETA Center, which has three goals:

• » Provide technical assistance to the five demonstration sites that received awards through the DOL and HUD program, "Ending Chronic Homelessness through Housing and Employment"
• » Create a repository of information regarding employment and training services for people with disabilities who are chronically homeless
• » Identify policy concerns or issues in the workforce development system regarding employment services for chronically homeless individuals and policy challenges to building collaboration between the workforce and homeless systems

Internet-Based Training Tools and Interactive Web Sites

AHP designs and manages innovative Internet-based training tools and informative Web sites for targeted audiences, the larger public, and individual use. Much of our work in this area is designed to support consumer and advocacy groups to become more effective advocates and partners in system change in mental health within their states and communities. Examples include the following:

Workforce Development Resource Center Portal. For SAMHSA, AHP created the Workforce Development Resource Center Portal, a comprehensive TA and information resource regarding mental health and substance abuse treatment and prevention workforce issues. The interactive Web site includes a searchable "virtual library" of information, including original materials AHP has developed, along with links to a wealth of external resources. The online community of portal users can use the site to share job openings, training opportunities, and information about professional credentialing requirements.

SAMHSA Mental Health Transformation Web Portal. The Mental Health Transformation Web Portal (MHT Portal) is a valuable resource in aiding mental health system transformation at every level through providing ready access to information and opportunities, including interactive capability. The MHT Portal connects users with evidence-based and emerging best practices; facilitates cross-learning, collaboration, and knowledge development. It offers a virtual library, interactive training tools, and, through its collaborative social networking component, allows authorized users to share and collaborate on documents, manage projects, and both collect information from and share it with colleagues and stakeholders.

Web Portal for Community Care Behavioral Health Organization (CCBH). CCBH, the largest nonprofit managed care organization in the country, contracted with Pat Deegan & Associates, in partnership with AHP, to provide consultation and training on their system-wide efforts to implement recovery at all levels of their behavioral health system. A key aspect was an innovative Web site to support development of an online "Recovery Learning Community" to build and sustain a culture of recovery and support acquisition of new skills and knowledge. The Web site serves as a central portal for information about the Community Care Recovery Initiative, and enables all stakeholders to access information and post recovery-related activities, including agency and county-level success stories.

Meeting and Conference Management Support

AHP capabilities include: Coordinating logistics for meeting and event planning including: site selection, online registration, vendor negotiations, catering, and travel planning; Utilizing a "state of the art" Strategic Meetings Management Software program to effectively plan, manage, budget, and source meetings with participants ranging from 10 to 1,000; and Carrying out conference tasks, such as preparing conference packets, handling participant check-in, staffing information tables, trouble-shooting during the conference, preparing meeting proceedings.

AHP has served clients and staff on contracts awarded by SAMHSA, HRSA, and other Federal and state agencies including:

Annual Treatment for the Homeless TA Workshop. AHP establishes the agenda, organizes the content, recruits speakers, coordinates all the logistics regarding the presentations, facilitates workshop sessions, prepares written summaries of all sessions, and makes plenary presentations.

Women's Leadership Conference for SAMHSA, May 18 -22, 2009, Silverado Lodge, Park City, Utah. AHP coordinated the logistics for meeting and event planning. The logistics included site selection, on-line registration, vendor negotiations, catering, and travel planning for meeting participants.

Services in Supportive Housing (SSH). AHP plans and implements the SSH annual grantee meetings, providing full logistical support, establishing the agenda, organizing the content, recruiting speakers, facilitating workshop sessions, preparing written proceedings and reports summarizing meeting evaluation results, and making plenary presentations.

2009 NIATx Summit and SAAS National Conference/State Association of Addiction Services. July 29-Aug 1, 2009, Tucson, Arizona. AHP successfully negotiated airline contracts for discount fares for meeting participants. In addition, AHP provided on-line registration and air logistics for approximately 700 attendees.

State Systems Development Program (SSDP). AHP planned, organized, and managed a series of medium and large meetings to deliver TA from national experts in support of the SSDP and in areas of need identified by the State substance abuse offices or by CSAT. AHP provided logistical support for these meetings, and developed reports and documents to support the literature requirements of the SSDP.

Health Resources Services Administration (HRSA). AHP worked closely with all 10 Regional Offices as well as Headquarters staff from the Office of Regional Operations (ORO), part of the Health Resources Services Administration (HRSA). AHP managed the delivery of technical assistance, selecting experts and providing logistical support to enhance the overall program performance of grantees. AHP coordinated more than 300 individual trips for, and provided logistical support to, consultants who provided technical assistance and support to ORO/HRSA grantees, mostly community health centers. During this period, AHP staff identified and recruited experts in the health care field to provide consultation; the quality and impact of these consults were measured through evaluations with the grantees and ORO staff.

CSAT Treatment Improvement Exchange (TIE). For this multi-year contract, the AHP team planned, organized, convened, and facilitated two major national conferences in 2002 and 2004. AHP planned, organized, convened, and facilitated other topic-specific events, including the last series of regional TIE meetings in 2005. In total, AHP supported TIE events comprising more than 495 training sessions with more than 535 presenters between 2000 and 2006.

Mental Health Policy and Services

AHP is regularly called upon to analyze, evaluate, and recommend approaches to address mental health policy and practice issues. These range from comprehensive national reports to inform policy involving extensive literature reviews, interviews with experts, and review group of input to targeted issue briefs or technical assistance (TA) and training plans for a specific community or well-defined problem.

AHP has participated in numerous policy analysis and assessment efforts for clients within HHS, other Federal agencies, and State and local agencies. A number of senior AHP staff came to us from management positions in public agencies where they were directly involved in policy decisions in health and human services. We are adept at bringing together stakeholders, creating opportunities for all voices to be heard, presenting and thoughtfully assessing the costs and benefits of various choices, analyzing the impacts of current policies and potential policy changes, and preparing policy "white papers," briefings, and reports for our clients and their stakeholders.

For example, in 2007, AHP conducted a national needs assessment for CMHS on the Mental Health Block Grant Program. The assessment focused on technical assistance needs of State Planning Council members and helped improve the focus and quality of TA for states.

SAMHSA Behavioral Health Workforce Development Initiative. The recruitment and retention of staff, managers and leaders in the behavioral health (BH) workforce are vexing issues that have taken center stage as a Program Priority at SAMHSA and as a defined action step in the Federal Action Agenda, a collaborative of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, seven other departments, and the Social Security Administration. It is primarily through this Initiative that SAMHSA is leading the effort to transform the behavioral health workforce by creating a National Strategic Workforce Development Plan which will be implemented in collaboration with other Federal partners, provider organizations, states, counties, universities and other stakeholders. As such, AHP is working with SAMHSA to define policies and program priorities; develop systems that can leverage the various workforce development efforts underway in different disciplines and organizations across the country; develop implementation strategies regarding core competencies, licensing and credentialing, recruitment and retention and other key issues; and develop communications tools that facilitate more comprehensive and effective education, training and technical assistance to the field.

For this project and many others, such as the SAMHSA Shared Decision-Making in Mental Health project, AHP's experienced staff did extensive literature reviews, conducting an exhaustive search of peer-reviewed journals and other reputable sources, and prepared a well-organized summary of findings with concise summaries of resources that logically lead readers through often complex topics. Identify existing proven decision-making technologies from general healthcare or other sources and adapt and pilot test them for use by mental health care practitioners and consumers.

The AHP Team is customizing, adapting, and pilot testing shared decision-making technologies for use in mental health with the help of practitioners, consumers, and program administrators. The AHP team includes both subject matter experts and design and graphics professionals to design and package the final, selected technologies; develop promotion and dissemination strategies; and provide limited training and technical assistance to help providers apply the strategies.

The practice of shared decision-making in mental health care can serve as a valuable tool in advancing and achieving consumer-driven care and recovery-key recommendations in the President's New Freedom Commission on Mental Health Final Report and the Federal Action Agenda. This SAMHSA-funded project proposes to advance the application and use of such technologies to facilitate shared decision-making in the mental health field.

AHP is highly adept at using key informant interviews to gather data for planning, product development, and evaluation. For the SAMHSA-funded Alaska State Incentive Grant for Treatment of Persons with Co-Occurring Substance Related and Mental Disorders evaluation, AHP conducted key informant group and individual interviews at four sites over a three-year period with consumers of substance abuse and/or mental health services. The Shared Decision-Making project also includes the use of key informants in the form of audience testing by consumers of mental health services of shared decision-making materials.

For its Mental Health Transformation State Incentive Grant (TSIG) from SAMHSA, the Oklahoma Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services (ODMHSAS) contracted with AHP to conduct needs assessment activities and a Needs Assessment and Resource Inventory. In Year one, AHP:

• » Developed a Needs Assessment Plan, including preparation of structured focus groups reflecting the goals of the TSIG grant
• » Completed more than 100 focus groups and key informant interviews with a wide range of constituency groups and with the leadership of State agencies
• » With ODMHSAS Decision Support Services staff, conducted secondary analyses of relevant state data and constructing tables and figures to illustrate need
• » Prepared and submitted a draft Needs Assessment/Resource Inventory

In years two through five, AHP is partnering with the ODMHSAS Decision Support Services to evaluate the implementation of the Comprehensive Mental Health Plan.

Washington State Involuntary Treatment Act (ITA Review). AHP partnered with TriWest Group (prime contractor) to conduct a review of the Involuntary Treatment Act (ITA) in Washington State. The ITA review is driven in significant part, by the following policy objectives: 1) to create a recovery-focused, resiliency-based system of care in the community; and 2) to ensure that utilization of inpatient services is necessary and appropriate. The purpose of this contract was to review specific provisions in state involuntary treatment statutes; compare specific provisions with other states' approaches; and identify strengths, challenges, and options for reform. AHP was also responsible for the preparation of the preliminary and final reports and accompanying PowerPoint presentations.

In 2007, AHP planned and provided in depth training to states regarding mental health transformation in partnership with the National Governors Association, the National Association of State Mental Health Program Directors, and JBS International. The project, Transforming State Mental Health Systems, focused on developing state-level strategies to improve opportunities for recovery for people with mental illness.

Workforce Development and Employment Programs

AHP is leading SAMHSA's Behavioral Health Workforce Development Initiative, a multi-year effort to overcome a severe workforce crisis. For this effort, AHP is creating a needs and resources inventory, developing a self-assessment tool, cataloguing and developing professional competencies, examining accreditation and credentialing standards and processes, among other activities.