Meaningfully Engaging and Integrating Partners Into Community Mental Health Services: A Learning Community
Date: September 10 @ 11:00 am - 1:00 pm PDT
APPLICATION DEADLINE: FRIDAY, AUGUST 14, 2026
Are you a mental health leader looking to build stronger partnerships with the people and communities your organization serves?
Are you looking for practical strategies to engage community members as true, meaningful partners in planning, implementing, evaluating, and sustaining mental health services?
CMHIS and our five bi-regional Hubs invite you to apply to join a new, free learning community starting in September 2026 focused on meaningfully engaging and integrating partners into community mental health services. This series offers a practical, collaborative opportunity to enhance your organization’s approach to community engagement and learn from others in the field, so you can better meet the needs of those you serve.
Overview
Participation in planning, implementing, and evaluating health interventions is a fundamental right for all, and that includes the people and communities that mental health organizations serve. This learning community is grounded in that principle.
Participants will engage in a six-session, biweekly experience that blends community engagement practice, implementation science, and peer learning. Together, we will explore how to build the authentic partnerships needed to provide mental health services that truly meet community needs, and how to sustain that work over time.
Across all six sessions, participants will apply the CMHIS Partner Engagement Guide, including its seven principles and seven partnering steps, as a practical framework for engaging and integrating partners into community mental health services. By the end of the learning community, you will have developed (or strengthened) a partner engagement strategic plan that can help guide meaningful collaboration throughout the planning, implementation, and evaluation of your community’s mental health services.
Learning Community Schedule
The Learning Community will meet for two hours, every other week on Thursdays at 11am PT / 1pm CT / 2pm ET. Please see the full list of session dates below.
Session 1: September 10, 2026
Session 2: September 24, 2026
Session 3: October 8, 2026
Session 4: October 22, 2026
Session 5: November 5, 2026
Session 6: November 19, 2026
NOTE: This event is open to all states and territories.
Host:
CMHIS
Open to:
East Coast|Midwest|Northeast Atlantic and Caribbean|Pacific West|Southwestern Plains
Event format: Virtual
Target audience(s):
Systems Leaders and Administrators|People Responsible for Leading Implementation Efforts
Duration (hours): 12
Experience(s):
Beginner|Intermediate
Language(s): English