Purpose
The Behavioral Health Task Force will seek to identify key issues in behavioral health practice, research, and policy that impact the Medicaid Infrastructure Grants (MIG) and/or Medicaid Buy-In (MBI) programs.  The task force aims to synthesize key resources, disseminate evidence based promising practices, and establish a professional network that will further facilitate MIG activities regarding the employment of persons with mental health diagnoses.  In addition, the task force intends to collaborate with the newly formed Medicaid and Mental Health Technical Advisory Group (TAG) of the National Association of State Medicaid Directors (NASMD) and the National Association of State Mental Health Program Directors (NASMHPD). 

Goals
The task force will support the development of employment activities for persons with behavioral health needs by:

• Establishing a common/shared knowledge base among task force participants
• Information sharing and knowledge dissemination
• Resources, toolkits, and available research
• Developing a web-based resource on behavioral health and employment that will synthesize and disseminate current information regarding behavioral health and employment for MIG/MBI states
• Providing a monthly forum for discussing current issues in the employment of persons with behavioral health needs with key leaders and experts in the field
• Incorporating the experience and perspectives of multiple stakeholders with experience in employment and mental health, including individuals with mental health needs, researchers, policy planners, and state and federal government representatives.

Monthly Task Force Conference Calls

Schedule for Monthly Calls

Supporting Documents for Monthly Conference Calls

2006

• October 2006
• October Call Summary Notes

• November 2006
• November Call Summary Notes

• December 2006
• December Call Summary Notes

2007

• January 2007
• Final draft of purpose and goals statement

• February 2007
• Guest Speaker: Dr. Judith Cook, University of Chicago at Illinois
• Seeking Supported Employment:  What You Need to Know
• What Works in Vocational Rehabilitation for People with Psychiatric Disabilities?
• Results of a Multisite Randomized Trial of Supported Employment Intervention for Individuals with Severe Mental Illness

• March 2007
• Guest Speaker: Deborah Becker, Dartmouth Psychiatric Research Center
• Deborah Becker, What Predicts SE Program Outcomes
• CWD Behavioral Health, Deborah Becker, Presentation

• April 2007
  • Behavioral Health Task Force, SSA
• May 2007
• Guest Speaker: Dr. Theresa Titus-Howard, Mid-America Health Coalition
• CID Presentation _ Center for Workers Disability May 2007

• June 2007

• July 2007
• Guest Speaker: Dr. Hannah Rudstam, Cornell University, Employment and Disability Institute, Northeast ADA & IT Center
• CWD web updated behavioral health task force July 6

• August 2007
• Guest Speaker: Medicaid and Mental Health Financing I: Joe Marrone, Institute for Community Inclusion, University of Massachusetts, presentation, and Steven Reeder, Maryland Mental Hygiene Administration, presentation

• September 2007
• Guest Speaker: Medicaid and Mental Health Financing II: Ann Kohler, New Jersey Department of Human Services

• October 2007
• Guest Speaker: Medicaid and Mental Health Financing III: Peggy Clark, Elderly and Disabled Group, Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services

• November 2007

• December 2007