Standard and Guidelines for

Ongoing Program Development

Standard

Ongoing program development for consumers of African descent must include a full array of available treatment modalities, particularly modalities that are culturally competent and effective with this population (e.g. family therapy, specialized group therapy, behavioral approaches, use of traditional healers, & outreach).

Implementation Guidelines

1. Efforts by managed care plans, providers, or organizations to carry out on-going program development for consumers of African descent must include them, their families, and providers from the consumer’s community.
   
   

2. Efforts by managed care plans, providers, or organizations to carry out on-going program development for consumers of African descent and their families must encourage and develop consumer run programs such as drop in centers, self help groups and crisis groups.
   
   

3. Efforts by managed care plans, providers, or organizations to carry out on-going program development for consumers of African descent and their families must include identification of gaps in the continuum of service delivery and policies.
   
   

4. Efforts by managed care plans, providers, or organizations to carry out on-going program development for consumers of African descent and their families must include the creation of a human resource development system to recruit, retain, develop, and evaluate culturally competent providers. Models for this series of HRD functions are found in such states as Pennsylvania, California, New Jersey, and Ohio.
   
   

5. Efforts by managed care plans, providers, or organizations to carry out on-going program development for consumers of African descent and their families must include leadership training and development for all stakeholder groups.
   
   

6. Efforts by managed care plans, providers, or organizations to carry out on-going program development for consumers of African descent and their families must explore ways to consolidate services in one location to improve access (e.g. churches, schools, housing units, community agencies).
   
   

7. Efforts by managed care plans, providers, or organizations to carry out on-going program development for consumers of African descent and their families must identify and find ways to extend services to at-risk, under-served, and potential consumers (e.g. unemployed, under-employed, students, homeless).
   
   
   

8. Efforts by managed care plans, providers, or organizations to carry out on-going program development for consumers of African descent and their families must include continuing education training and involvement of personal care physicians, ministers (church), and others who are often a significant point of contact for referrals to the service delivery system.
   
   

9. Efforts by managed care plans, providers, or organizations to carry out on-going program development for consumers of African descent and their families must be able to recognize when new programs are needed and determine the means of financing these programs
   

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