Summer Institute 2008

The Center for Applied Behavioral Health Policy (CABHP) and the Pacific Southwest Addiction Technology Transfer Center (PSATTC) hosted the 9th Annual Summer Institute July 14-18, 2008 in Sedona. The annual conference drew more than 350 participants from the behavioral health community, including practitioners and supervisors from agencies and health providers across Arizona.

Titled “System Transformation in an Era of Recovery-Oriented Services,” Summer Institute 2008 focused on giving behavioral health care providers the best science-based approaches to treating mental health and substance use disorders, a key goal of CABHP.

We are working to promote person-centered, self-directed approaches to care and to bring proven, effective tools to the professionals who provide behavioral health services Arizona,” said CABHP Director Michael Shafer. “This year, Summer Institute brought together some of the best minds in the field to inform and energize the behavioral health community.” The weeklong event featured some of the top experts in behavioral health nationally, including keynote speakers David Shern, President and Executive Director of Mental Health America and Richard Rawson, Associate Director of the UCLA Integrated Substance Abuse Program (ISAP).

Dr. Shern opened the event with “The Health/Mental Health Imperative: Integration as the Only Sensible Alternative” and Dr. Rawson closed the conference with “Substance Abuse Treatment: The Next Generation.”

As part of its mission of community and systems transformation, CABHP focuses on promoting collaboration among diverse constituents and agencies throughout Arizona. Some participants praised Summer Institute for its role in that mission.

“We have worked in isolation for a long time and we really need collaboration. I had a great opportunity to do that in Sedona,” said Vicki French, Executive Director of the Women’s Transition Project, Inc. at Renaissance House in Bisbee, Arizona. “It opened my eyes to opportunities for cooperation where I previously only saw competition – the culture of Summer Institute facilitated that spirit.”

Attendees participated in 38 breakout sessions, with presentations and panel discussions on a broad array of behavioral health care topics, including: recovery- and wellness-oriented systems of care; behavioral health issues of Arizona’s aging population; the impact of technology on mental health treatment; gender and cultural competence; effective treatment of co-occurring mental health and substance use disorders; gambling addiction; offender re-entry programs to reduce recidivism; and child welfare.

Concurrent with Summer Institute, CABHP launched its first ever Motivational Interviewing Academy. The all-week training event hosted a cohort of 21 behavioral health professionals and was conducted by Clinical Associate Professor Robert Rhode. The course featured an interactive, intensive approach, which included taped practice sessions, role play and daily homework assignments. The Center plans to offer additional MI academies throughout Arizona in the future.

Plans are already underway for the 10th Annual Summer Institute to be held July 20-24, 2009 in Sedona. Visit www.cabhp.asu.edu for more information on CABHP and future events.

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