What We Do
CMHIS supports systems and organizations to prepare for, implement, and sustain effective mental health programs and practices through the following free services. Click on the icons to learn more:
CMHIS spans all 58 states and territories and draws on the latest research and extensive implementation experience from trained specialists to translate evidence into scalable practice. CMHIS works with organizations to clarify and map their goals, navigate implementation challenges, and ensure mental health care providers can deliver high-quality care to the people who need it most.
Our Vision
Effective mental health care is foundational to good health. The best practices should be accessible to all who are seeking care and easy to deliver for those providing them.
The Challenge
People seeking mental health care often have difficulty accessing care or receiving the most effective treatments. At the same time, limited resources and workforce shortages make it difficult for mental health organizations to implement and sustain services without increasing costs or overextending their staff. Clinical training in an effective practice is not enough; successfully embedding and sustaining an effective practice requires support for organizations to work through communication, coordination, and workforce barriers.
Our Approach
Adopting an effective mental health program or practice is not just about “what” the program is but also about “how” to implement change. CMHIS focuses on the “how” and creates tools and resources to assist organizations to do their work better. We offer tangible and practical support so systems and leadership can make real changes that meet the needs of the people they serve.
CMHIS and our bi-regional Hubs develop implementation science-based resources and provide free consultation and coaching, support events and activities like learning series and learning communities/collaboratives, and self-paced online courses and recorded sessions. We offer support in the following areas — known as our core topics — that map onto the process of preparing for, implementing, and sustaining effective mental health services:
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Engaging the community and assessing their mental health needs
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Identifying factors that influence implementation
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Deciding what support is needed to implement a new practice
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Measuring patient progress over time
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Marketing programs and services
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Using data to improve service delivery
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Evaluating program outcomes
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Sustaining service delivery