Initiatives
Competencies & Credentialing
Contact:
Rick Calcote
Division of Behavioral Health
3601 C Street, Suite 878
Anchorage, Alaska 99524-0249
(907) 269-3617
(907) 269-3623 FAX
Email Rick
Background. Prior to 2003, the delivery of substance abuse and mental health services in Alaska was funded and coordinated by two separate divisions within the Department of Health and Social Services. While closer collaboration between the agencies providing these services had long been pursued, the effort took on a different perspective with the merger of the Division of Mental Health and Developmental Disabilities (DMHDD) and the Division of Alcoholism and Drug Abuse (ADA) into the Division of Behavioral Health (DBH) on July 1, 2003. Since that time, the implementation of this integration has gone well beyond the reorganization of the state offices, affecting the entire service delivery system. While a number of issues have been resolved, several important tasks remain. A crucial one is the development of a credentialing system that represents and supports an integrated “behavioral health” workforce for Alaskan treatment agencies.
Vision for Behavioral Health Services in Alaska. The following vision statement has been communicated in a number of different documents by the Behavioral Health Division Director.
All Alaskans with behavioral health needs will be provided services that are welcoming, accessible, integrated, continuous, and comprehensive, regardless of age, culture, language, or geography, and regardless of whether they have mental health needs, substance abuse disorders, or both. Further, the system of care shall be cost effective and administratively efficient, be designed in a manner that is sensitive to local needs, maximizes consumer, family, and provider participation, and has the capacity to continuously improve quality and track outcomes.
Project Purpose. The purpose of this project is to develop a set of core competencies and a credentialing system that will allow behavioral health care agencies in Alaska to hire and retain the most effective workforce possible. The credentialing system will reflect the vision for behavioral health services in Alaska as noted above, as well as the prevailing geographic, cultural, demographic, logistical, administrative practicalities, and best practices in behavioral health. It is expected that the resulting recommendations will rise to the level of administrative code or statute.
Project Approach. The project will proceed with the following underlying assumptions:
- To the extent possible and consistent with delivery of quality service and adherence to the vision for behavioral health services in Alaska, certification standards should build upon those already in place for providers of mental health, substance abuse, and co-occurring services.
- Credentialing system will reflect the Division’s emphasis on delivering integrated, behavioral health services.
- Credentialing system resulting from this effort will reflect the input of a broad range of stakeholders in Alaska that includes providers, consumers, families, payors, advocates, and policy makers.
- Credentialing requirements will be phased in over a lengthy period, and will include “grandfather” provisions for those previously certified.
- Credentialing requirements will be developed for several levels of service, from entry-level to professional.
- The credentialing system will validate education and experience.
- The credentialing system will be developed in alignment with other credentialing systems, and with concurrent Medicaid regulation changes.
Stakeholder Workgroup. The work will be accomplished by a workgroup consisting of a diverse set of stakeholders identified by the Division of Behavioral Health. This workgroup will be supported by a contractor that will conduct research, gather stakeholder input, develop draft documents, and facilitate communications.
Communication Plan. The communication plan describes the method by which information is shared among work group members, and to a broader group of stakeholders. Primary responsibility for maintaining communications capability will rest with the Division of Behavioral Health and the project contractor.
a. Sharing Information among Work Group Members. Information to be shared among workgroup members will include information regarding meetings, draft documents, results of research, and feedback from a broader group of stakeholders. Three basic methods will be used in concert to accomplish these requirements:
- An e-mail distribution list will be developed and used to electronically convey information to all work group members.
- The DBH web site has a special section devoted to this project, which can be used to post documents, carry on forum discussions, and provide resource links to workgroup members as well as any other interested individuals or organizations.
- One-on-One communications, via e-mail, regular mail, and telephone, will also be used to convey information to members when necessary.
b. Communicating with a Broader Group of Stakeholders. An important link to stakeholder organizations is through their representative on the Workgroup. Workgroup members will be expected to report regularly to and from the body which they represent.
In addition to the stakeholders that serve on the workgroup, there are others that have an interest in this project. These include advocacy groups, providers, consumers, and ancillary service providers. The primary means of communicating with these individuals will be through the DBH web site, where all relevant documents and records of meetings will be posted. Additionally, the contractor will conduct select site visits to gather stakeholder input. One-on-one communication will also be used as appropriate to respond to stakeholder questions or concerns.
Project Objectives. The ultimate objective of this project is to develop a behavioral health credentialing system that will be used by behavioral health practitioners in Alaska. As a part of that overall objective, there are a number of key contributing objectives that must be accomplished:
- Determination of the status or role of the proposed credentialing standards: what will be the extent of applicability? Will credentialing of practitioners be a requirement of grantees? Will credentialing be set in statute?
- Determination of the scope and depth of the proposed credentialing standards: how many issues or topics will be addressed and in what level of detail? Determination of the extent to which the developed credentialing standards will mirror or reflect the standards of existing, national credentialing bodies.
- Development of a draft set of credentialing standards upon which further stakeholder input will be based.
- Gathering and organizing stakeholder input for workgroup consideration.
- Integration of stakeholder input and research into a final set of credentialing standards.