Cohort 2
Sessions
Region 2: NJ, NY, PR, VI
Region 4: AL, FL, GA, KY, MS, NC, SC, TN
Session 1
Understanding and Implementing Behavioral Health in Nursing Facilities
May 9, 2024 | 3 p.m. ET
SME: Nina Sanderson, LSW, SMQT
Nina is a senior improvement advisor at Comagine Health. Before joining Comagine Health, she spent ten years as a state and federal surveyor and thirteen years as the social services director at a 106-bed facility.
In this session, participants will learn about CMS requirements related to behavioral health and implementing a comprehensive program in long-term care nursing facilities.
Topics include:
• CMS requirements related to behavioral health
• Includes: F645, F699, F740, F741, F742, F743, and F745
• Medically related social services
• Psychosocial outcome severity guide
Session 2
Mental Health Basics
June 13, 2024 | 3 p.m. ET
SME: Stephanie Smith, MSW, LCSW
Stephanie is a licensed clinical social worker and is the Center of Excellence regional behavior specialist for Region 8. She has extensive experience in various settings, including residential behavioral health, child welfare, the non-profit sector and medical social work.
In this session, participants will enhance their understanding of serious mental illness and develop their skills to provide better care for residents with mental illness.
Topics include:
• Definitions and impact of mental illness
• Disorder classes and common symptoms
• Caring for residents with mental illness
• Summary of disorder types and national resources
Session 3
Screening for Mental Health & Substance Use in Nursing Facilities
July 18, 2024 | 3 p.m. ET
SME: Krystle Malo
Krystle has over 20 years of experience in the mental health field. She specializes in dialectical behavior therapy and program management and has worked with individuals facing sex offenses, juvenile offenses and high-risk individuals with mental illness. She has also provided services to people with developmental delays and chemical dependency and provided training on various behavioral health topics for long-term care providers.
In this session, participants will learn to use several tools to further their facility’s behavioral health programs.
Participants can expect to learn about:
• Recommended screening tools for the nursing facility setting
• Mental health screening tools
• Substance use disorder screening tools
• Incorporating screening results into resident-specific care
Session 4
Engaging with Residents: Effective Communication Skills
August 15, 2024 | 3 p.m. ET
SME: Jeannette Horton, LMHC, GMHS
Jeannette is a behavioral health quality improvement consultant with the Washington State Department of Social and Health Services. She provides detailed, resident-specific consultations to nursing facilities, adult family homes, and assisted living facilities that deal with challenging behaviors. She is an experienced chemical dependency professional and subject matter expert on the CMS State Operations Manual for nursing homes.
This session will focus on engaging residents by developing effective communication skills.
Participants will learn about:
• The importance of active listeningfacility setting
• Basic attending skills
• Verbal and nonverbal communication
• Adapting communication style
Session 5
Incorporating BH & SUD into Individualized Assessment & Person-Centered Care
September 12, 2024 | 3 p.m. ET
SME: Caroline Stephens, PhD, RN, GNP-BC, FGSA, FAAN
Caroline is an associate professor at the University of Utah College of Nursing and the Helen Lowe Bamberger Colby Presidential Endowed Chair in gerontological nursing. She has over 20 years of clinical experience caring for vulnerable older adults with complex mental and physical multi-morbidity.
This session will explore ways to incorporate the needs of residents with behavioral health and substance use disorders into a patient-centered care approach.
Participants will learn about:
• Understanding the life course perspectives of the resident with behavioral health and substance use disorder needs
• Reframing the Paradigm: Behavioral Symptoms vs. “Resident As A Problem”
• Developing and implementing a person-centered integrated care plan as a team
• Placement and care transition considerations
Session 6
De-Escalating Aggressive Behavior & Crisis in Residents
October 10, 2024 | 3 p.m. ET
SME: Jeannette Horton, LMHC, GMHS
Jeannette is a behavioral health quality improvement consultant with the Washington State Department of Social and Health Services. She provides detailed, resident-specific consultations to nursing homes, adult family homes, and assisted living facilities that deal with challenging behaviors. She is an experienced chemical dependency professional and subject matter expert on the CMS State Operations Manual for nursing homes.
In this final session of the series, participants will learn about strategies for de-escalating behavior and how to incorporate them into their work.
Participants will learn about:
• Understanding the root causes of behavior
• Mirroring
• Combining active listening and boundary-setting skills
• Environmental considerations
