Welcome to
THE
BEHAVIORAL
HEALTH
TRAINING & EDUCATION NETWORK
History/Mission Statement
Behavioral health care has undergone major growth and development in the past years. Well over a decade ago, the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania launched an initiative to restructure the management and payment of healthcare services for those receiving Medical Assistance.
The initiative, named "Health Choices", had a provision for "carving out" behavioral health services (mental health and drug & alcohol services) and providing the state's counties with options to address these needs. Philadelphia County seized this opportunity to reorganize the city's entire behavioral health system. In that process, the Philadelphia Behavioral Health System (BHS) was created. This "system" included the already existing Office of Mental Health/Mental Retardation (OMH/MR) and the Coordinating Office for Drug and Alcohol Abuse programs (CODAAP). It also included the newly created agency, Community Behavioral Health (CBH), which oversees the managed care component of Philadelphia's behavioral health care.
It is within this context that the Behavioral Health Training and Education Network (BHTEN) was formed. In September of 1996 as CBH was getting ready to "come on-line", BHTEN was created by the Philadelphia Office of Mental Health/Mental Retardation to respond to and support the changes within the behavioral health system. This mission continues to this day.
This Philadelphia model of behavioral healthcare is unique in that the principles of the Community Support Program, which motivate community mental health providers, and the standards of the drug and alcohol treatment community are dovetailed with the standards of quality managed care as provided by CBH.
And growth and development continue. The Philadelphia Behavioral Health System is now known as the Department of Behavioral Health and Mental Retardation Services (DBH/MRS). More significantly, the entire structure is undergoing a process of "system transformation" whereby the DBH/MRS is implementing service-enhancing strategies based on several interrelated goals. These goals include, but are not necessarily limited to, a recovery oriented and trauma-focused system of care, culturally competent services and the concurrent reduction/elimination of behavioral health disparities. In addition, the Department of Behavioral Health/Mental Retardation Services is attempting to bring evidenced-based practices into the community behavioral health arena to enhance the quality of services offered to Philadelphia residents. BHTEN plays a role in the system transformation process and is revising much of its educational opportunities offered in order to adapt to these educational goals.
The Mission Statement of the Behavioral Health Training and Education Network is:
To support the Philadelphia DBH/MRS and other human service systems by planning, coordinating and providing quality learning experiences for all members of these systems including persons in recovery, family members, DBH/MRS staff members and staff from the providers of service.
Director's note: Craig Strickland, PhD
The Behavioral Health Training and Education Network (BHTEN) has completed another successful year of providing and supporting quality training and educational opportunities for the behavioral health system in Philadelphia. In fact, 2008 marks our 12th anniversary of planning and implementing educational events in the city of Philadelphia.
As noted change continues to be constant and BHTEN is proud to support System Transformation Initiatives as outlined by DBH/MRS. The educational events listed on our website support this transformation as evidenced by the emphasis on behavioral health recovery and resiliency, trauma-informed practice and our continued emphasis on cultural competence. Throughout this change process, many individuals and organizations within the Philadelphia DBH/MRS have supported us and we thank them. In addition, the Consumer Satisfaction Team has shown unwavering support and continues to be an important part of our growth and success. Indeed, without their help we would not be able to continue to fulfill our mission.
