The Indiana Council is pleased to offer an important meeting on preparing the community mental health system for the post-COVID healthcare environment.  Specifically, the 2021 Indiana Council Winter Quarterly Meeting will focus on improving access to care through an enhanced workforce and expanded telehealth services. Hear from national and statewide leaders working on improving behavioral health throughout Indiana.  The Indiana Council is pleased to present Indiana’s own Lieutenant Governor, Suzanne Crouch, who will provide remarks on the importance of a strong and vibrant mental health and addiction treatment system in Indiana. The Governor has directed the Lieutenant Governor to focus her attention on behavioral health, so let us take this opportunity to work collaboratively with her office to enhance the behavioral health delivery system.  Additionally, the Indiana Council is excited the Governor’s Executive Director for Drug Prevention, Treatment, and Enforcement, Doug Huntsinger, will be presenting at the meeting.  Mr. Huntsinger will focus attention on the development of Indiana’s addiction treatment system, including the need for a robust addiction treatment workforce in Indiana.  We will also hear from researchers and the state on the behavioral healthcare workforce with a focus on current challenges and opportunities for the post-COVID world. We will also hear from our own CMHCs in a “best-practices” session designed to demonstrate how they navigated workforce challenges through COVID and what lessons have been learned for the future.  Over lunch, we will hear from State Senate leadership on the latest happenings at the Indiana Statehouse to ensure you remain apprised of policy considerations impacting the community mental health center system in Indiana. The afternoon session will focus on the latest happenings in Washington DC, as the President and Chief Executive Officer of the National Council for Behavioral Health, Chuck Ingoglia, provides meeting participants with an overview of pending federal legislation, National Council policies initiatives, and other considerations facing community mental health throughout the nation.  Finally, the Indiana Council will provide an important presentation on providing and directing behavioral health services with a focus on cultural awareness and consideration of race, orientation, and other marginalized groups. We are excited for the membership and guests to hear from the many great speakers we have scheduled for the upcoming Quarterly Meeting.  Take the opportunity to attend by registering today!

Please direct any conference questions to Denise Wade, dwade@indianacouncil.org or call 1-317-684-3684.