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Behavioral Health Initiatives for Individuals with I/DD

A key part of the Division’s Current 2 Future strategic plan is improving the quality and availability of behavioral health care. AHCCCS, DDD, and the DDD Health Plans (Mercy Care & UnitedHealthcare Community Plan) are working to strengthen the behavioral health system for Arizonans with developmental disabilities.

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 making more training available to behavioral health providers. It includes best practices for working with individuals with a behavioral health diagnosis and an intellectual or developmental disability. The Division will provide extra funding to providers whose staff complete this training. 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 and improve a member’s environment. It is person-centered. It can improve relationships between members and their caregivers. The Division is making a Positive Behavior Support (PBS) training available to DDD members’ families and caregivers. The training will also be available to DDD’s Qualified Vendors and Specialty Contractors. This will give all direct support professionals in the DDD system access to the training. Extra funding may be available to providers when their staff complete the training.

Behavioral Supported Group Homes 

The Division released the specifications for a new service type in August 2023 called, Enhanced Behavioral Group Homes. DDD is identifying Qualified Vendors to provide this service. A small number will be authorized to provide it at first. This will be adjusted as needed. The Division wrote the specifications to align with laws that created Behavioral-Supported Group Homes. Providers may receive extra funding for start-up costs and for successfully serving members. 

AHCCCS Systems Analysis

AHCCCS contracted with the University of New Hampshire to review specialty services in Arizona. They will review the ability to serve members with complex conditions such as polydipsia, substance use disorder, sexually maladaptive behavior, and others. These conditions often lead to out-of-state treatment due to the limited in-state options. Being out-of-state means being away from natural supports, daily routines, and familiar settings. This can impact complex behaviors and diagnoses. AHCCCS will evaluate 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 currently actively involved in network development efforts to expand the number of behavioral health residential facilities that are able to successfully serve individuals with developmental disabilities. This includes the potential establishment of facilities that will be specifically designed to meet the needs of individuals with I/DD. It also includes expanding the number of existing facilities able to accept individuals 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 - November 2022. This training focused on how to support DDD members with co-occurring behavioral health needs. and include: 

  1. Assessing when a member may have behavioral health needs. 
  2. How to refer a member to behavioral health services. 
  3. What happens after a behavioral health referral. 
  4. Ongoing care coordination for behavioral health services. 
  5. Documentation and maintaining records related to behavioral health. 

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 6 other state DD programs, participated in a 9-month Capacity Building Institute (CBI) offered by the National Association of State Directors of Developmental Disabilities Services (NASDDDS). The program covered topics on how to build capacity for serving individuals with dual diagnoses (I/DD and Behavioral Health). National experts presented these topics. Many of the best practices learned are being added to current projects.

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