COSIG CONFERENCE BROCHURE.pdf - Drexel University College ...

All organizations signing this memorandum of understanding agree to work on the action steps
listed in this section over the next year in order to support the implementation of a welcoming
system for individuals with co-occurring disorders.
Stakeholders from the three regions of the department have identified the priority issues that
they believe need to be addressed first as they plan for and implement a welcoming system for
individuals with co-occurring disorders in their region. In the first year of implementation, all
participating organizations agree to the tackle the following statewide priority issues:
1. Make sure the system is welcoming (with no wrong doors) for adolescents and adults with
co-occurring disorders, through a process of examining resources and identifying service
needs within the continuum of care to improve system integration.
2. Identify and advocate for removing barriers to access to and engagement in services for
adolescents and adults with co-occurring disorders, particularly crisis, case management,
and, in those areas where they currently exist, Assertive Community Treatment (ACT) Team
services.
3. Assign staff to contribute to the development of regulations indicating how Medicaid funds
for either mental health or substance abuse services can be used flexibly to reimburse
services for individuals with co-occurring disorders.
4. Assign staff to comment on the content of, and contribute to the adoption of, proposed new
licensing regulations for the provision of welcoming, accessible, integrated services for
adolescents and adults with co-occurring disorders.
5. Develop regional training steps that will facilitate intra/inter-agency coordination to enable
substance abuse and mental health agencies to provide services that are, at minimum,
dual diagnosis capable and, in some instances, dual diagnosis enhanced.
F. State Government Action Planning
Over the next year, the department agrees to carry out the action planning steps listed in this
section in order to support the implementation of a welcoming system for individuals with cooccurring
disorders.
1. The department will review all of its initiatives, including requests for proposals, and
ensure their alignment with all sections of the memorandum of understanding.
2. To support the statewide priorities identified in Sections E-1 and E-2, the department will
move toward the collection of co-occurring disorders data for all the relevant services that it
funds by:
a) Reviewing the Enterprise Information System for its compatibility with data collection
by the Office of Substance Abuse, with the aim of developing an infrastructure to
support the collection of co-occurring disorders data; and
b) Determining what data should be collected through grants and contract reporting and
an infrastructure to support the collection of this data.
3. To support the statewide priority identified in Section E-3, the department will convene a
group representing providers, consumers, and family members to work toward the
adoption of regulations that indicate how Medicaid funds for either mental health or
substance abuse services may be used flexibly to reimburse services for individuals with
co-occurring disorders.
4. To support the statewide priorities identified in Sections E-1, E-2, and E-3, the department
will advocate for funding parity by all mental health and substance abuse funding sources.
5. To support the statewide priority identified in Section E-4, the department will engage
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