The Mental Health Transformation Project
In October 2005, Washington State was awarded a Mental Health Transformation
State Incentive Grant [
641KB]. The grant creates the Mental Health Transformation Project and calls for one year of planning and four years of implementation. What makes this grant unusual is its focus on system reform. The grant requirements specify planning and implementation, supported with community organization activities, research and evaluation, and recommendations for change in service delivery.
See a complete timeline of Mental Health Transformation Project activities and plans.
While the movement that ultimately led to Washington State's current mental health reform activities is decades old, the Mental Health Transformation Project process can be traced to the President's New Freedom Commission. In April 2002, President Bush signed Executive Order 13263 establishing the New Freedom Commission (NFC) on Mental Health to study problems and gaps in the mental health system and make concrete recommendations that federal, state, and local government, as well as public and private health care providers could implement. In July, 2003, the NFC issued its report Achieving the Promise: Transforming Mental Health Care in America.
The dictionary defines transformation as "to alter markedly the appearance or form of" or "to change the nature, function or condition of." The Mental Health Transformation Project has been pursuing a philosophy of "opportunistic management principles" to create change. The elements of this philosophy are described below.
Create Awareness – Establish Momentum and Expectation for Change.
To accomplish a sense of awareness and a momentum/expectation for change, the Transformation Project staff utilized a variety of communication strategies including speaking engagements with associations, organizations and at conferences educating people on the purpose of the grant and elements of the recovery movement. This web site and multiple listservs were also created and utilized regularly. Subcommittees and task groups with consumers, families, youth, and professionals were created, including a Consumer Interview Project. Multiple public hearings and focus groups were also held.
Identify Collaborative Priorities
Initially, the Mental Health Transformation Project staff analyzed state agency strategic plans to identify current or proposed strategies these agencies were pursuing that fit within the New Freedom Commission Goals and two additional Washington State goals [ 19KB] established by the Transformation Work Group. Once identified, contact was made with these agencies to develop partnerships. Transformation staff also met with local government and community agencies to identify common goals. Ultimately, at the direction of Governor Gregoire, a core set of priorities were selected for the Transformation Work Group to pursue.
Build/Support Coalitions
Transformation Project staff work with existing coalitions whose priorities fit within transformation goals. Examples of building coalitions include bringing together and staffing the Community Transformation Partnership, a coalition of seventeen consumer, family, youth and advocacy organizations. An example of supporting an existing coalition is working with the Washington Association of Sheriffs and Police Chiefs and the Washington State chapter of the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) to organize a statewide conference on mental illness and jails.
Seed Innovation/Opportunity
Seeding innovation and opportunity occurs in many ways including:
- Providing leadership
- Coaching and mentoring individuals and organizations
- Coordinating activities or relationships
- Financing pilots, projects, data activities, training, technical assistance
Be Change Agent/Problem Solver
Transformation Project staff are engaged in many activities with many governmental and non-governmental agencies with the goal of moving from business as usual to systems change addressing longstanding issues. Sometimes staff are change agents by offering suggestions or recommendations. Sometimes they are change agents by challenging status quo. The Transformation Office also functions as a problem solver when issues are brought up by an individual or group; Transformation staff connects those persons to others who have the authority to resolve the issue.
Use Data to Build Knowledge – Drive Change
The Transformation Office has funded development of a cross systems integrated database that can be used for developing policy papers, fact sheets, and research studies. The database has also been used to respond to legislative inquiries. A variety of studies have been funded by the Transformation Project, some of which used the integrated database. Additionally, the Transformation Project has funded the mini-grants program that provides technical assistance to consumer and family organizations wanting to initiate data analysis projects.
