# Presentation: 364688

## CMHC: Consulting with Education Staff and TEAP Specialist

- David P. Kraft, MD, MPH
- Regional Mental Health Consultant
- Boston Region Health and Wellness Conference
- September 28, 2006

## Introduction

- Purpose: Identify reasons for CMHC to consult with Education/ Vocation staff and with TEAP Specialist about students
- Content:
- Types of consultation
- Describe items important for Education/Vocation staff
- Describe items important for TEAP Specialist
- Give examples of helpful consultations

## Topics of Discussion

- Which students would benefit from consultative efforts between staff
- Which staff would gain most from special consultation efforts
- What techniques are most useful for staff consultation
- How would results be measured
- What are some examples

## Types of Consultation(Gerald Caplan, 1970: The Theory & Practice of Mental Health Consultation.  New York, Basic Books—[Caplan helped develop the Job Corps Mental Health Program in 1969])

- (1) Student-centered case consultation (How do I help John/Joan succeed?)
- (2) Staff-centered case consultation
- 	(How can I help our education staff learn to help students like John/Joan?)
- (3) Program-centered administrative consultation (How can I design a program for the center to deal with many ‘Johns & Joans’?)
- (4) Staff-centered administrative consultation (How do I help center staff expand their skills to develop programs to deal with different kinds of ‘Johns & Joans’?)

## 1.	Which students would 	benefit from consultative 	efforts between staff?

- Students/applicants with disabilities who require accommodations
- Students/applicants with alcohol/drug abuse problems before enrollment or who develop problems during enrollment
- Students who develop emotional and/or psychiatric problems during Job Corps
- All students on center when a crisis occurs that can prevent many from completing their training

## 2.	Which staff would gain 	most from special 	consultation efforts? 

- Health and Wellness staff who serve as primary care providers
- Counseling and advising staff, including TEAP Specialists
- Educational and Vocational teachers dealing with all students
- All staff and students who influence the atmosphere and operations of the center

## 3.	What general techniques 	are useful for staff 	consultation?

- Specific methods for students with special needs
- Group approaches to teach students cooperative methods to solve problems
- Educational opportunities for students to help other students
- Practicum opportunities for staff to develop special skills

## 4.	Specific ideas for use 	with Education Staff

- Work with students with disabilities
- Use Group Process methods with all students
- Identify and refer students with emotional/behavioral problems
- Identify and refer students with substance abuse problems
- Use psychology interns to teach practical skills

## 5.	Specific ideas for the 	TEAP Specialist

- Work with students with disabilities
- Identify students with co-occurring disorders (mental health and alcohol/drug abuse)
- Help staff teach MH Skill Sets to students (CBT, Interpersonal and Supportive Therapies)
- Develop program interventions to identify and treat alcohol/other drug abusing students before/during enrollment
- Use interns to enlarge recreational opportunities for all students with MH and AODA problems

## 6.	How would results be 	measured ?

- Success of specific students
- Ability of center to accept students with disabilities for training
- Development of innovative methods to teach general students with improved techniques
- Provide staff training for other centers and staff

## What are some examples?

- Dealing with non-verbal Learning Disabilities (joint discussions)
- Dealing with early abstinence from alcohol or marijuana
- Supporting student with paranoid tendencies to get along with peers
- Encouraging medication compliance (cooperative support)
- Other examples (from audience)

## What This Means

- Accommodating students with special needs requires multidisciplinary and imaginative approaches
- Sensitivity to needs of all students  improves program for those with special needs
- Combining MH and educational approaches often help students succeed where only failure had existed

## Next Steps 

- Document approaches which may or may not help
- Compare results with other CMHCs and HWMs
- Share results with RHCs and other regions
- Identify problem areas that still need to be addressed