91制片厂

91制片厂 has long contributed to the healthcare workforce in New Hampshire, and now a new grant is helping train professionals to work in behavioral health settings in underserved parts of the state.

The $1.9 million grant from the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) will help put master鈥檚-level social workers and occupational therapists to work in primary care settings that integrate behavioral healthcare. Part of the college鈥檚 Pathways to Behavioral Health Careers project, the grant will provide stipends to 116 social work and occupational therapy graduate students to support the costs of completing their fieldwork in behavioral health settings. Ultimately, the project will help put more professionals with this training into rural and medically underserved areas in New Hampshire, where they are most needed.

鈥淚ncreasing the number of healthcare professionals who are trained to provide integrated behavioral healthcare is a priority for the college and the university," says Mike Ferrara, dean of the听.

During the first year of the grant the focus is on developing a comprehensive training program, including intensive clinical placements for master鈥檚 students in settings that provide primary care and build in behavioral healthcare as a core component of practice.听

Will Lusenhop, clinical assistant professor in the is director of the Pathways to Behavioral Health Careers project. The timing of it, he says, aligns well with other efforts happening in the state.

"We are finally breaking down the walls that have separated physical health, mental health and substance abuse and addiction problems as unrelated to each other,鈥� he says. "These issues are inextricably linked, and the outcomes require us to take a holistic approach to care, including a focus on the social determinants of health, such as access to care, the role of poverty and environmental factors that influence our well-being."

Real-world experience

Master of social work student Emily Berman is completing her internship at Manchester Community Health Center (MCHC). Berman, who became interested in social work in high school when her father was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer, says she wants to be able to provide the kind of support to others that she received.

鈥淚 was helped by many social workers during that time, and I loved the idea of eventually听being able to provide the same type of comfort and support that they gave me听to other people who need it,鈥� she says.

Berman admits being intimidated at first by the thought of working alongside medical practitioners at MCHC, but a tour of the center during her interview put her at ease.

鈥淚t was nice to see everyone听鈥� counselors, case managers, doctors and nurses听鈥� all working together to create the best possible outcomes for their patients,鈥� she says.

And now, the hands-on experience is equipping her for a challenging and meaningful career on the front lines of healthcare.

鈥淭he integration of behavioral health into primary care is important for two main reasons: increased access and reduction of stigma,鈥� Berman says. 鈥淥ffering both services in one setting makes it so much easier for patients. It also normalizes mental and behavioral health treatment. So many people think that if you see a counselor, it means that听something is 'wrong' with you, but that's not the case. Everyone feels stress; everyone goes through hard times, and having an听unbiased person to talk to for guidance and support can be incredibly helpful.鈥�

Her internship, she says, 鈥渋s really giving me a variety of experiences and听preparing me to be able to work in any type of setting.鈥�

Occupational therapy鈥檚 role in behavioral health

The role of social workers in behavioral health settings听鈥� such as counseling and case management听鈥� is obvious, but what about occupational therapists? While they may be best known for providing therapeutic support to people with physical or cognitive challenges, occupational therapists provide a holistic approach to

鈥淥ccupational therapists often work as part of a medical team to provide services that are focused on helping people develop and maintain positive behavioral health."

assessing and supporting a person鈥檚 strengths, challenges, activities and environments.

"We help people achieve both mental and physical health through facilitating participation and engagement in occupations听鈥� the meaningful, necessary and familiar activities of everyday life,鈥� says Alexa Trolley-Hanson, clinical assistant professor in the and a core faculty member on the HRSA grant.

"Occupational therapists often work as part of a medical team to provide services that are focused on helping people develop and maintain positive behavioral health, prevent behavioral health challenges and support people in their recovery," says Trolley-Hanson.听

In the new and emerging models of integrated care, their participation is more important than ever. To that extent, Trolley-Hanson is overseeing development of a program of study that will lead to a certificate in primary care behavioral health.听

鈥�Partnering across the state

Integrated behavioral health is an evidence-based, rapidly expanding area of practice throughout the country.

"This practice innovation seeks to redesign primary care such that physical, mental and behavioral problems are addressed early, often and are a regular component of our healthcare visits," says Lusenhop. "The goal is to catch problems early, improve the quality of the patient鈥檚 experience and lower costs by reducing the progression of chronic health conditions."

In New Hampshire, , through its , has been working toward that goal for several years, along with many stakeholders throughout the state. was formed in 2015 to examine how the state can best address the complex needs around behavioral health within the context of primary care. There are more than 60 members of the collaborative, and they represent primary care practices, health systems, behavioral health providers, healthcare payers and public citizens across New Hampshire.

Through its research, the collaborative has demonstrated that integrated behavioral health and primary care benefits residents throughout the state, increasing the quality of healthcare and lowering costs. The group is an integral partner in the effort to increase the behavioral health workforce in the state.

鈥淭he Pathways to Behavioral Health Careers project will help develop a much-needed workforce for integrated behavioral health,鈥� says Jeanne Ryer, director of the NH Citizens Health Initiative. 鈥淚t鈥檚 a great opportunity to help our 91制片厂 students get on-the-ground experience in integrated New Hampshire practice settings.鈥�