Behavioral Health Ambassador Program
BEHAVIORAL HEALTH
AMBASSADOR PROGRAM GUIDE
This step-by-step guide, developed by the Center of Excellence for Behavioral Health in Nursing Facilities, will help you implement a successful Behavioral Health Ambassador Program in your facility to address the mental health and substance use education needs of your team. The prevalence of mental health and substance use disorders has increased dramatically in nursing facility populations. Having trained staff can play an essential role in the nursing facility’s efforts to improve the safety, care, and welfare of residents with behavioral health disorders and improve the confidence of staff providing these services.
This guide consists of a series of educational fact sheets, on-demand learning videos and webinar training designed to increase knowledge, awareness, and understanding of mental health and substance use disorders commonly seen in nursing facilities.
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Role of Behavioral Health Ambassadors
Behavioral health ambassadors will serve as key partners with facility leadership to enhance behavioral health education, creating a culture of continuous learning and improvement. Their role involves fostering a supportive environment where staff feel equipped to manage the behavioral health needs of residents and residents experience compassionate, high-quality care.
Communicating Opportunities
Collaborate with the facility training coordinator to convey staff training requests and resident behavioral health needs and observations.
Maintaining Resources
Establish and update the ambassador information board that will serve as a centralized hub for resources.
Supporting Training Initiatives
Assist in staff training efforts by posting upcoming training hosted by the COE-NF.
Seeking Expert Guidance
In collaboration with the facility training coordinator, consult with COE-NF Regional Behavioral Health Specialists when additional expertise is needed to address complex behavioral health concerns.
Responding to Crisis Situations
Support the management and resolution of behavioral health crises within the facility.
Engaging in Care Planning
Actively participate in care planning for residents with behavioral health disorders.
COE-NF Social Media Toolkit
This toolkit supports COE-NF partners, stakeholders, and nursing facilities in showcasing the impact of partnership and education on improving care for nursing facility residents with behavioral health and substance use issues. It also serves as a resource for participants in the Behavioral Health Ambassador program, providing a foundation to cultivate a supportive environment where staff feel empowered to address residents’ behavioral health needs, ensuring residents receive compassionate, high-quality care.
KNOW BEFORE YOU POST
Tag Center of Excellence for Behavioral Health in Nursing Facilities (@nursinghomebh):
Tag us in your social media content on LinkedIn, X and Facebook to show your support and potentially be reposted by COE-NF.
Use the Key Messages:
Use the key messages in your content, such as reminding your followers that education is important for supporting nursing facility residents with behavioral health issues.
Incorporate the Themes:
Each section of the campaign has a different theme, and you can tailor your content accordingly.
Use the Hashtags:
Use the official hashtags, including #MentalHealthMatters, #COENFBehavioralHealth, #COENFChampion, and #Together4MentalHealth.These hashtags help promote COE-NF’s key messages and make it easier for people to find and engage in the conversation.
Social Media Sample Post –
Behavioral Health Ambassadors
Social Media Sample Post –
Partners & Nursing Facilities
AMBASSADOR BADGES
The COE-NF team is dedicated to supporting those who care for nursing facility residents. Whether you are a behaviroal health ambassador, nursing facility administrator, licensed nursing staff, certified nursing assistant, social worker, care partner, or part of a Medicare/Medicaid Certified Facility, COE-NF resources are here to help foster better well-being for nursing home residents. Social media badges were developed to acknowledge behaviroal health ambassadors, partners and nursing facilities that have completed COE-NF live and on-demand trainings and earned ACCME and NAB credits. Ambassadors, partners and nursing facilities are encouraged to share their badges on social media, with sample posts provided in this toolkit.
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