NYAPRS Note: NYAPRS is very pleased to feature an opening keynote presentation at our April 19-20 Annual Executive Seminar by Dr. Elinore McCance-Katz who leads federal behavioral health policy as the first HHS Secretary for Mental Health and Substance Use.
Dr. McCance-Katz recently convened the new Interdepartmental Serious Mental Illness Coordinating Committee (ISMICC) that is charged with identifying actions that 10 federal agencies that touch the lives of Americans with behavioral health conditions can take to better coordinate federal policy and practice. See a summary of the ISMICC’s December recommendations at http://www.nyaprs.org/e-news-bulletins/2017/015894.cfm. Dr. McCance-Katz is housed at the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) and will be especially responsible for SAMHSA’s priorities and actions.
In a recent interview at https://www.medpagetoday.com/publichealthpolicy/publichealth/70096, Dr. McCance-Katz’ indicated her priorities include integrating mental health, substance use and medical treatment (she has a background as an addiction psychiatrist), advancing First Episode initiatives and Zero Suicide, bringing training on opiate addiction to primary care and substance use treatment programs and expanding the availability of treatment services nationwide, most notably the new Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinic programs.
Of particular interest to NYAPRS, she is very interested in identifying strategies to increase mutual understanding and collaborations between medical and recovery model proponents and practitioners.
Our Seminar will also feature a panel presentation that will include ISMICC family representative Pete Earley and consumer and peer support representative Elena Kravitz. NYAPRS is very pleased that Elena will be coming to NYAPRS as our new Director for Policy and Public Engagement effective January 16.
Please save those dates and look for program and registration details.
