January/
February
2002

Wyoming Conference Focuses on Evidence Based Practices

The Wyoming Division of Behavioral Health sponsored a January 24-25, 2002 conference that focused state, regional, and national public health officials, consumers, and family members on the emerging emphasis of Evidence Based Practice. The conference was kicked off by Governor Jim Geringer and the recently confirmed SAMHSA Administrator, Charles Curie. Governor Geringer discussed his personal and political evolution relating to behavioral health, which has brought him to the strong conviction that mental health is a public health issue. He noted that problems ranging from young people dying in alcohol related accidents, to persons with mental illnesses not being able to achieve their full personal potential, rob our states of human resources and make the case that behavioral health care isn't optional … it's the cornerstone of health.

Mr. Curie was clear in his support for moving SAMHSA toward increased engagement with the states to ensure persons with behavioral health needs have access to responsive, agile, and results-oriented systems of care. As a person with Indiana farm roots, and experience in rural clinical practice, rural community mental health administration and leadership, Mr. Curie knowledgeably articulated the need for rural and frontier environments to be considered in the development of Evidence Based Practices (EBP).

Conference presentations focused not only on the emergence of Evidence Based Practices, but on additional topics, including Co-Occurring Mental Health and Substance Abuse Disorders, Moving EBPs to the Community Level, Integrating Behavioral Health and Primary Care, and EBP Performance Measurement and Quality Improvement. Dr. Bert Pepper, M.D. shared one set of data from a survey of Iowa households, which led to considerable discussion. The Iowa study revealed a dramatic correlation between poly-substance abuse and a history of child abuse. This survey revealed that 90% of youth abusing three or more substances reported a history of child abuse. Such data clearly indicates the need for careful assessment of child abuse history with consumers with poly-substance abuse issues.

The conference discussions, both formal and informal, pointed to the need to better understand the readiness of public mental health systems in the West to succeed in the adoption of Evidence Based Practice. Clearly, the professional and fiscal resources to support EBP in rural and frontier areas will be different than in metropolitan areas, and the diversity of people in the West will also require focused attention. The WICHE Mental Health Program continues to explore methods to best assist the West in meeting these challenges.