non-menu item access keys for every page -->

Go to Accessibility page
Go to home page
Skip Navigation

MHTP News Archives

May 2008

April 2008

  • 04-25: TWG Meets April 25 in Bremerton
    The Transformation Work Group (TWG) holds its quarterly meeting Friday, April 25, from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Agenda items include a review of progress to date, 2008 legislative updates, report recommendations, and a look at what's next for the Project. The meeting will take place at Kitsap Conference Center in Bremerton. View driving directions.
  • 04-18: Transformation Project Gets Good Marks from SAMHSA
    A recent review by the federal Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) hailed the progress shown so far by the Washington State Mental Health Transformation Project. "Transformation in Washington State is occurring on many fronts through new partnerships, innovative thinking, and radical change at multiple levels," the review said in part. It went on to cite the Project's empowered and independent approach, its transparency and accessibility, the focus on coalition building, development of stakeholder leadership, use of resources to seed innovation and leverage other investments, and more.
  • 04-16: Where Science Meets Mental Health
  • 04-16: Can You Digg It?
    Featured articles published to the Mental Health Transformation Project web site are now accompanied by a Digg button that appears at the top of each full article. Digg is a system for helping people discover and share content from across the Web. If you like something you read here and think others would like it too, simply click the Digg button.
  • 04-11: Peer Support 101
  • 04-10: Coming Up: Behavioral Healthcare Conference

    Registration is now underway for the 2008 Washington Behavioral Healthcare Conference in Yakima, June 11-13. Keynote speakers include acclaimed author and poet Sherman Alexie, whose unique outlook on the world embody recovery and resiliency; Lorrin Gehring, who will share her journey through a youth system and how that inspired her to become an advocate for youth rights; and Dr. John Newcomer, who will address the health disparities gap for people with serious mental illness.

    The Mental Health Transformation Project is sponsoring a pre-conference symposium on Trauma Informed Care, with facilitated breakout sessions intended to help establish initial steps to move Washington State toward providing better environments and programs for individuals who come into our systems with trauma histories. This pre-conference event is free, but seating is limited and you need to register. Email Jill SanJule for additional information.

March 2008

  • 03-27: Youth 'N Action Unveils New Website
    The Youth 'N Action website just got a facelift. The nonprofit, dedicated to providing a voice to at-risk youth ages 14-24 in Washington State, now sports a new look on the Web with fresh content, a calendar, information about projects, all the latest news, and more. Youth 'N Action, which recently won a Courage award from the Chase Youth Commission, is funded in part by the Mental Health Transformation Project.
  • 03-26: Implementing E2SSB-5763 in Washington Counties
    A new state law that provides counties with a new option for funding mental health and chemical dependency services has so far been put into use by eight of the 39 Washington State counties, according to Implementing E2SSB-5763 in Washington State Counties, a new report from the Washington Institute for Mental Health Research and Training Eastern Branch at Washington State University in Spokane (WIMHRT East). The funding strategy, which calls for an increase to the sales tax of 1/10 of one percent, has been adopted by Clallam, Clark, Island, Jefferson, King, Okanogan, Skagit and Spokane counties.
  • 03-25: Diversion Law Prompts Cross-system Planning
    A recent telephone survey, along with input from police departments, mental health agencies, and court systems, indicates minimal impact to date of SSB-5533 legislation. That's the conclusion reached by Implementation of SSB-5533 in Washington State Counties & Cities, a new report from the Washington Institute for Mental Health Research and Training Eastern Branch at Washington State University in Spokane (WIMHRT East). The legislation allows local prosecutors and law enforcement officials to divert from the criminal justice system individuals who have committed non-serious and non-felony crimes if they are know to suffer from a mental disorder.
  • 03-24: Planning Grants Awarded for School-Based Health Centers
    The Washington State Department of Health recently announced it is awarding grants to 11 communities across the state to develop local plans for school-based health centers. This effort, funded in part by the Mental Health Transformation Project, makes it more likely that teens in those areas can get the physical, oral, and mental health care that they need, even if their families have no health insurance.
  • 03-21: Register Now for Prevention Summit
    Registration for the Prevention Policy Summit is now open. The summit will continue the effort to guide Washington State toward a system that promotes mental health, intervenes early, and addresses the devastating impacts of mental illness. It will take place 8:30 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. on Tuesday, May 13, 2008, in Tukwila.
  • 03-19: What Would Prevention Look Like for Mental Health?
  • 03-14: Getting Crisis Intervention Right
  • 03-06: Stop Stigma, Support Recovery, Stay Well

February 2008

January 2008

  • 01-31: An Ounce of Prevention
  • 01-29: SAMHSA Lauds Progress of Mental Health Transformation Project
    The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), federal funding agency for the Mental Health Transformation Project (MHTP), recently reviewed MHTP Year 2 Plan Update. The result? "Washington has made great progress with multiple activities and accomplishments," Mary Blake said in a letter to MHTP Director Ken Stark. Blake is the SAMHSA Connector/Government Program Office for the programs in Washington State. For particular praise, she singled out "legislative activities, policy analyses, and coalition building work, for instance through the expansion of the Community Transformation Partnership." She also noted, "I am especially excited about the opportunities that will arise from the public health report." Read SAMHSA letter and review on the Priority Reports page.
  • 01-18: Keep Up With Legislative Happenings
    The 2008 legislative session is underway. You can keep up with a number of bills related to changes and improvements to Washington's mental health services system by visiting the Legislative Happenings section of this website.
  • 01-18: Mini-Grant Webcast January 23
    If you have submitted a letter of intent for the Mini-Grant program, you are required to watch the upcoming January 23 webcast. Learn more about the Mini-Grant Program.
  • 01-03: TWG Meets January 4
    The Transformation Work Group (TWG) holds its quarterly meeting this Friday, January 4, from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Agenda items include presentations on Medicaid Jails Study and Prison Re-entry; Involuntary Treatment and the Program for Assertive Community Treatment (PACT); a survey on Evidence Based Practice; Prevention models in mental health policy; and a consideration of TWG progress in terms of transformation, integration, and sustainability. The meeting will take place at Red Lion Hotel in Olympia. View Mapquest map.