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Over the past several years, Southwest Behavioral Health Services has been involved in an extensive expansion of our training activities. The Training Institute and its various activities have been organized to meet the needs of a variety of stakeholders in the public behavioral health system. Our efforts have also attempted to match the recommendations of the Arizona Department of Health Services, Division of Behavioral Health Services’- Higher Education Partnership. To this end, we have formed a multitude of partnerships and agreements, both within and outside of the Southwest Behavioral Health family.
The Training Institute, as initially structured, was a partnership between Southwest Behavioral Health, Marc Behavioral Health, and The Southwest Network. This partnership allowed for the sharing of resources and the expansion of various professional activities and teaching opportunities. With changes in the operation of the Maricopa Regional Behavioral Health Authority (RBHA) in September of 2007 The Training has enlarged to include all participating members of M-CAP, the Maricopa Association of Consumers, Advocates and Providers. Our Institute is active in a variety of settings as summarized below:
Employee Orientation
By partnering with the Human Resources department of SBH, as well as Marc Behavioral Health, we have been able to offer topics of clinical concern to our new employees, and annual required updates to our existing staff. Shared resources have allowed us to increase the available class schedules and decrease costs to both internal SBH departments. Additionally, the Training Institute has offered over 600 hours of continuing education, training activities for our existing staff to meet requirements established by the Arizona Board of Behavioral Health Examiners, as well as the Arizona Department of Health Services - Office of Behavioral Health Licensure.
Student Volunteers
Southwest Behavioral Health has always provided local universities and colleges with internship, field placement, practicum, and residency training opportunities in the behavioral health field. Over the past year, we have supervised over 35 masters level students from six universities, as well as ten doctoral level students from five university settings.
At the present time, we have 10 masters level interns, five doctoral level interns, and three full-time psychology residents. Our clinical department staff has obtained adjunct faculty clinical and supervisory positions with Arizona State University, Ottawa University, and Argosy University.
This past year the Training Institute achieved national accreditation as a recognized leader in the preparation of doctoral level interns.
Community Professionals
In an effort to coordinate training both in the Arizona behavioral health practice models, as well as current trends in the behavioral health field, the Training Institute has established a monthly early-bird professional training activity. Over 500 community behavioral health professionals are invited each month to share coffee and discussion, and earn continuing education credits in a variety of behavioral health areas. This program is co-sponsored with Argosy University, who also contributes faculty members on a regular basis.
The Training Institute has also established a cooperative affiliation with Ottawa University for the provision of professional growth seminars, available to both students and Southwest Behavioral Health employees. In addition we offer a monthly Grand Rounds program where the Medical Director of SBH and the Medical Director of the Southwest Network join with me each to review issues of clinical interest. This forum is open to the community. Several times a year Jerry Lemler, M.D. (a classically trained psychiatrist) and I take the stage for a 3 hour debate on a topic of theoretical or clinical interest in behavioral health and behavioral medicine. Look for the “Great Debate” notices. All of these programs offer CEU’s for staff and community professionals.
Over the past several years, the Training Institute has co-sponsored and accredited the continuing education content of a variety of conferences, including the annual United States Psychiatric Rehabilitation Association national conference held in Phoenix, the annual Arizona Coalition for the Homeless State Wide conference and the annual Visions of Change conference.
We are pleased to announce that the Training Institute has also been selected to sponsor and provide continuing education units for the International Heart and Soul 4 conference, to be held in Phoenix in 2008.
Employee Education
The Training Institute, again working in cooperation with the Human Resources department, has established a working relationship with Arizona State University and Glendale Community College to provide employees with the opportunity to complete their undergraduate educational degree requirements.
Public Behavioral Health Agencies
In response to new requirements established by the Board of Behavioral Health Examiners regarding continuing education and training for clinical supervisors, we have formed an alliance between the Arizona Council of Human Service Providers, the Division of Behavioral Health Services, and the Training Institute to create and publish a 20-hour DVD training series for clinical supervisors. Continuing education credits for completion of these training modules will be managed through the Training Institute.
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