The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), in partnership with the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), has established a Center of Excellence for Behavioral Health in Nursing Facilities (COE-NF). Comagine Health has partnered with the primary awardee for this work, Alliant Health Solutions. We will serve regions in the Western states (SAMHSA regions 6, 8, 9 and 10) and develop a learning collaborative while identifying additional needs for trainings and resources based on direct feedback from nursing facility staff.
The COE-NF started providing educational training and resources in spring 2023 to skilled nursing facility (SNF) staff who care for residents with a variety of behavioral health conditions.
Here’s what nursing facility leaders can expect from the COE-NF:
- Customized support plans based on your facility and staff needs
- Support with applying improvements to meet Quality Assessment Performance Improvement (QAPI) goals
- The ability to work with a regional behavioral specialist with expertise in mental health and substance use
- Data-informed quality improvement strategies to address the needs of the nursing facility
- Alignment with nationally recognized partners with mental health and substance use expertise and resources
A team of behavioral health specialists are available to work with you to assess your current program and next steps to building skill and capacity in your team. Resources, education and trainings focus on supporting nursing facility needs with foundational trainings for nursing home staff and leaders, such as:
- Mental Health First Aid
- An Introduction to Creating a Trauma-Informed Culture in a Long-Term Care Facility
- Question, Persuade, Refer (QPR)
- Addressing Co-occurring Disorders in Nursing Facilities
- An Overview of Schizophrenia and Psychosis
- A Facility Assessment Approach to Behavioral Health
- An Introduction to Culturally and Linguistically Appropriate Services (CLAS) Standards
Starting in September, Comagine Health and the COE-NF will host the Behavioral Health Action Network, a six-month cohort learning series designed to help facility leaders and clinicians understand and implement behavioral health best practices and processes in the long-term care setting. Sessions are one hour a month, led by subject matter experts, with opportunities to hear from other peer facilities in your region.
Interested in learning more?
- COE-NF website
- Nursing Facilities – Submit a Request for assistance
- Email: coeinfo@allianthealth.org
- COE-NF Call Center: 1-844-314-1433
- COE-NF Frequently Asked Questions
- Sign up for the COE-NF monthly newsletter
- Sign up for text alerts on upcoming trainings for nursing facilities