Behavioral Health Initiatives for Individuals with I/DD
A key Division goal is to improve the quality and access to behavioral health care. AHCCCS, DDD, and the DDD Health Plans (Mercy Care & UnitedHealthcare Community Plan) are working together to make behavioral health services better for people with developmental disabilities in Arizona.
Click a section below to learn more about each project.
Dual Diagnosis Training for Behavioral Health Providers
The Division and its DDD Health Plans are offering more training available to behavioral health providers.
The training teaches best practices for working with people who:
- Have a behavioral health diagnosis, and
- Have an intellectual or developmental disability
Behavioral health providers with more training will be able to support DDD members better. This will improve quality of life and outcomes for members.
Positive Behavior Support Training
Positive Behavior Support (PBS) teaches:
- Skills, tools, and resources to help manage problem behaviors
- Ways to improve a person’s environment.
PBS is person-centered. It can improve relationships between members and their caregivers.
The Division is offering Positive Behavior Support (PBS) training to:
- Families and caregivers of DDD members
- DDD Qualified Vendors
- Specialty Contractors.
This means all direct support professionals in the DDD system can access the training.
Behavioral Supported Group Homes
The Division released the specifications for a new service type in August 2023 called, Enhanced Behavioral Group Homes. The Division wrote the specifications to align with laws that created Behavioral-Supported Group Homes.
AHCCCS Systems Analysis
AHCCCS contracted with the University of New Hampshire to review specialty services in Arizona.
They will look at how well Arizona can serve members with complex needs, such as:
- Polydipsia (drinking too much water)
- Substance use disorder
- Sexually maladaptive behavior
- Other complex conditions
Arizona has limited specialty services, so some members must go out of state for these treatments. Being out-of-state means being away from natural supports, daily routines, and familiar settings. This can impact complex behaviors and diagnoses.
AHCCCS is reviewing member needs, provider specialties and their capacity, and gaps between the two. The goal is to better support local treatment. A core group of stakeholders began this work in August 2023. Feedback from all community stakeholders will also be included.
The University of New Hampshire and the National Center for Start Services will provide support and training. Training will include certifications and may include CME or CEU credits. Training topics cover:
- Mental Health Aspects of I/DD Professional Development Series
- Mobile Crisis Responder Professional Development Series
- Training for 988 National Suicide Lifeline Counselors
- Care Coordinators and Case Manager Professional Development Series
- Direct Support Professionals Professional Development Series
- Medical Providers/Prescribers Training Professional Development Series
- Mental Health Aspects of IDD Professional Learning Community (PLC)
- Medical Director’s Practice Group
- START National Online Training Series on Mental Health and IDD
- START National Training Institute (SNTI)
DDD Health Plans Network Development of Behavioral Health Residential Facilities (BHRFs) for people w/IDD
Mercy Care and UHCCP are both actively expanding the number of behavioral health residential facilities that can serve individuals with developmental disabilities. This includes:
- Potential new facilities designed specifically for people with I/DD
- Helping existing facilities become able to serve people with I/DD
Training for DDD Support Coordinators and DDD Health Plans on Behavioral Health Care Coordination
All DDD Support Coordinators completed a day-long training between September 2022 and November 2022.
The training covered:
- How to recognize when a member may need behavioral health services
- How to refer a member to behavioral health services
- What happens after a referral is made
- How to coordinate ongoing behavioral health care
- How to document and keep behavioral health records
Care Coordinators from the DDD Health Plans and DDD Support Coordinators continue to build knowledge and capacity so they can provide high-quality care coordination for DDD members.
Arizona Participation in the NASDDDS Capacity Building Institute
The Division, along with six other state developmental disability programs, took part in a 9-month Capacity Building Institute (CBI). The training was offered by the National Association of State Directors of Developmental Disabilities Services (NASDDDS).
The program taught ways to better serve people who have dual diagnoses:
- An intellectual or developmental disability (I/DD), and
- Behavioral health needs
National experts shared best practices and strategies.
Arizona State Resources
Pursuant to Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and other nondiscrimination laws and authorities, ADES does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, age, or disability. Persons that require a reasonable modification based on language or disability should submit a request as early as possible to ensure the State has an opportunity to address the modification. The process for requesting a reasonable modification can be found at Equal Opportunity and Reasonable Modification