Challenge
The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) leads an initiative to strengthen behavioral health care systems for Service Members, Veterans, and Their Families (SMVF).
The target audience for SAMHSA’s support for behavioral health systems includes senior-level representatives from governors offices; tribal leaders; state, territory, and tribal agencies responsible for mental health and substance abuse, Veterans Affairs, National Guard, Medicaid and/or Social Security, housing, labor/employment, and criminal justice; and stakeholders, including, but not limited to, Veterans service organizations, military/Veteran family support organizations, and providers, consumers, and families who are working with states, territories, and tribes to improve behavioral health systems for Service Members, Veterans, and their families.
Solution
Atlas Research teamed with Policy Research Associates to support SAMHSA’s SMVA initiative by providing technical assistance, technical writing, and expert facilitation support.
Result
Atlas supported this initiative by providing support for Policy Academy meetings by facilitating state team sessions and presenting on specific topic areas (e.g., successful interagency action planning); support to states, territories, and tribes through onsite, telephone, and webinar technical assistance (e.g., on designing and conducting effective outreach with minority Veterans); and technical writing expertise in the development of briefing papers, fact sheets, and toolkits.