Professional Training

The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) should develop culturally competent guidelines for mental health and substance use service providers[1], particularly those serving predominantly underserved communities—particularly Black/African American; Hispanic/Latino; Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander; American Indian and Alaska Native; lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, and intersex(LGBTQI+) communities[2][3]—through inclusive and responsive community engagement.

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) should provide technical assistance to provider practices for integrating behavioral health and primary care services. Congress should fund the Primary Care Extension Program (PCEP) at $110 million over ten years, and establish grant funding for technical assistance for the implementation and ongoing delivery of integrated care.[1]

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) should require organizations receiving federal funds, including states and local units of government, to adopt HHS’s Office of Mental Health’s (OMH) Culturally and Linguistically Appropriate Services (CLAS) standards in health and health care settings.[1]

The Department of Health and Human Services should develop a model training program to be disseminated to all levels of medical education (including all prescribers) on screening for mental health and substance use disorders (MH/SUD) to identify at-risk patients.[1]

Congress should pass legislation like the Strengthen Kids’ Mental Health Now Act to increase community-based provider rates and expand the capacity and availability of pediatric mental health services.

Evidence-based screening, assessment, and treatment, including psychosocial and pharmacological treatments, should be adopted in jails and prisons. Correctional officers should be trained on de-escalation and safety measures in situations involving an inmate in a mental health crisis. To improve the care within jails and prisons, the Department of Justice (DOJ) should issue guidance and model policies and practices for state and local governments, as well as implement such policies and practices within federal facilities.[1]