The WICHE Mental Health Program has focused on supporting public mental health system improvement and the training needs of the mental health workforce in the West as a major part of its agenda for a half-century. The role of higher education in the development of effective mental health professionals has been a natural fit for the mental health program within the WICHE family of programs. The values for the western states to develop, recruit and retain a workforce educated to serve the mental health needs of western states citizens with culturally effective approaches has been the primary mission of the program since its inception. Because of the Interstate Compact, contracting with WICHE is on an inter-governmental basis, and WICHE performs all technical assistance and other activities for member states at cost.

The WICHE mental health program is a recognized leader in rural and frontier mental health, cultural competence, and telemedicine/web-based health. We collaborate with mental health administrators, educators, and practitioners to improve services, training, and research in public mental health and work with member states on various initiatives based on their needs (e.g., program evaluation, workforce development, training, technical assistance, etc). WICHE’s role as a liaison between different systems demonstrates the ability to work with diverse people, organizations, and communities.

The WICHE mental health program has played a significant national role beyond the WICHE West. From its work in establishing Cultural Competence Core Competencies to Rural Mental Health Policy Research, the WICHE mental health program projects a presence across the nation. In 2002, the WICHE mental health program was selected to assist the President’s New Freedom Commission on Mental Health by providing its Chief Consultant on Rural Issues to provide technical assistance to the Rural Issues Subcommittee. The program authored the Rural Issues Subcommittee Report to the President and the nation; and is playing a continuing role through its participation in the development of a National Action Plan for Rural Mental Health in collaboration with the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Administration (SAMHSA) and the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA).

Workforce development focused upon behavioral health has historically been a focus of the mental health program. Recently the program engaged in this effort not only in the region, but nationally as well. For the past three years, our staff have been an active part of the Annapolis Coalition for the Behavioral Health Workforce. Recently the program authored the rural component of the National Strategic Plan for Behavioral Health Workforce Development prepared by the Coalition under contract to SAMHSA.

Approach

The WICHE mental health program uses both internal program staff and consultants to provide focused technical assistance to support states and local communities. Consultants are engaged who have a demonstrated history and competence in effectively planning, administering, delivering, and evaluating community based systems.

Contracts can be negotiated sole-source, rapidly, and avoid the expense of time and limited dollars on competitive procurement. Obviously, WICHE builds internal competence through its work on each state or federal project, and this resource is then available to all member states.