Better mental wellbeing for Nursing Home residents
starts here.

The necessity to enhance the care of nursing facility residents with mental health and substance use issues is becoming increasingly apparent.

the center of excellence
for behavioral health
in nursing facilities (COE-NF)

Established by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), in partnership with the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), the COE-NF offers Certified Medicare and Medicaid Nursing Facility Staff a centralized resource hub with easy access to trainings, technical assistance and additional resources, at no cost.

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Featured

COE-NF In-Action Consultation Summaries

Our COE-NF In-Action Summaries demonstrate how we provide critical mental health and substance use supports to nursing facilities. Explore the summaries for ideas and ways you too can transform your nursing facility’s approach to providing high quality behavioral health care to residents.

COE-NF IN ACTION

De-escalation/Behavioral Expression

Mental Health Training Inspires Recognition Program

Region: 4

Evidence-based mental health training provided by the COE-NF equips nursing facility staff with the necessary tools to de-escalate incidents of aggression, thereby providing a safe and healthy environment for residents,…

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Trauma Informed Care

Enhancing Trauma-Informed Care in Skilled Nursing Facilities

Region: 9

A vice president of recreation and life enrichment consulted the COE-NF to help improve the quality of care in 40 skilled nursing facilities across three states. The facilities’ representative recognized…

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Upcoming Trainings

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Event

Question, Persuade, Refer (QPR) – Suicide Prevention

Event Date: April 29, 2025

2 - 3:30 p.m. ET

False

FULL

ACCME & NAB CREDITS ARE AVAILABLE 

QPR training offers strategies to support your work in providing suicide prevention and mental wellness to your residents. This 1.5-hour evidence-based instructor-led training is held virtually and will provide a comprehensive review of a three-step approach anyone can learn to help save a life from suicide. This session will provide a one-year certification to attendees.

Key components covered in the training:

  1. How to Question, Persuade and Refer someone who may be suicidal
  2. How to get help for yourself or learn more about preventing suicide
  3. The common causes of suicidal behavior
  4. The warning signs of suicide
  5. How to get help for someone in crisis

Registration is limited.

Speaker: Marti Vogt

Connect with the presenter on LinkedIn – Marti Vogt

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Event

Question, Persuade, Refer (QPR) – Suicide Prevention

Event Date: May 6, 2025

2 - 3:30 p.m. ET

False

False

ACCME & NAB CREDITS ARE AVAILABLE.

QPR training offers strategies to support your work in providing suicide prevention and mental wellness to your residents. This 1.5-hour evidence-based instructor-led training is held virtually and will provide a comprehensive review of a three-step approach anyone can learn to help save a life from suicide. This session will provide a one-year certification to attendees.

Key components covered in the training:

  1. How to Question, Persuade and Refer someone who may be suicidal
  2. How to get help for yourself or learn more about preventing suicide
  3. The common causes of suicidal behavior
  4. The warning signs of suicide
  5. How to get help for someone in crisis

Registration is limited.

Speaker: Holly Pounders – https://www.linkedin.com/in/holly-pounders-73632044/

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Flyer

Event

Mental Health 101, Suicide Prevention & De-escalation Strategies

Event Date: May 13, 2025

2 - 3 p.m. ET

False

False

ACCME & NAB CREDITS ARE AVAILABLE.

This session is an introductory training to help identify, understand, and respond to signs of mental health disorders. Join us as we address some of the common causes contributing to the onset or exacerbation of mental health symptoms among nursing home residents and share common warning signs and practical strategies on how staff can support improving resident mental wellness. Participants will also gain helpful strategies for suicide prevention and de-escalation techniques.

Learning Objectives:

  1. Define and discuss common mental health disorders in nursing facilities.
  2. Discuss causes contributing to the onset or exacerbation of symptoms.
  3. Provide awareness of suicide prevention and helpful strategies to assist residents.
  4. Identify helpful de-escalation strategies nursing home staff can use to support residents with mental health conditions.

Speaker: Bryan G. Stephens, MA, MBA, CPCS, LPC – https://www.linkedin.com/in/bryangstephens/

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Consultation Summaries

Enhancing Recovery Support and Substance Use Education in Skilled Nursing Facilities

April 23, 2025

Description: A nursing facility with strengths in empathic communication and a multidisciplinary care approach lacked adequate awareness and training around substance use issues. To support the facility, the Center of…

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Mental Illness

Behavioral Health Ambassador Promotional Flyer

April 21, 2025

Share this promotional flyer to inspire team members to become a Behavioral Health Ambassador.

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De-escalation/Behavioral Expression

Tips to Manage Challenging Situations

April 3, 2025

Tips to help manage fear and anxiety…

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the center of excellence for behavioral health in nursing facilities (COE-NF)

Established by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), in partnership with the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), the COE-NF offers Certified Medicare and Medicaid Nursing Facility Staff a centralized resource hub with easy access to trainings, technical assistance and additional resources, at no cost.

Learn more about us

What We Do

We help nursing facilities to improve the quality of life and care provided for residents who are experiencing a variety of behavioral health disorders, with a focus on Serious Mental Illness (SMI), Substance Use Disorder (SUD) and Co-Occurring Disorders (COD).

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Who We Help

We provide direct technical assistance, evidence-based training, and resources that are appropriate for every member of your long-term care facility — from those providing day-to-day direct care, to clinical and administrative staff.

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