BHSI, in full collaboration with the University of Maine at Augusta and at the request of the Department of Health & Human Services-Office of Child & Family Services-Children's Behavioral Health Services (DHHS-OCFS-CBHS), has embarked on a comprehensive research project.
The research team is investigating what Medicaid-funded services are offered for children, who have been identified with having developmental disabilities. Developmental disabilities encompass “a diverse group of severe chronic conditions that are due to mental and/or physical impairments” (CDC.gov, 2010).
The research focus is on those services provided for children with intellectual disabilities or cognitive disorders (formerly called mental retardation), learning disorders, motor skills and communication disorders, pervasive developmental disorders, and other neurologic and general medical disorders that develop before age 18 and significantly impair adaptive functioning.
The purpose of the project is to identify the various approaches that states similar to Maine are using to assist children and families dealing with developmental disabilities.
Interestingly, less is known about these children than children who are identified with mental health diagnoses, especially children identified as having lower intellectual functioning. The Behavioral Health Sciences Institute plans to further this project to expand our research in the field of children's behavioral health. Through demonstrating the various Medicaid-funded services offered state by state, the Behavioral Health Sciences Institute plans on investigating the effective interventions for children identified with intellectual and developmental disabilities. In keeping a strong foundation in research, the Behavioral Health Sciences Institute maintains accurate, current, and relevant material in the training curriculum offered.
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The research questions for the survey have been completed and are ready to be administered to the states who received the request to participate in the survey.
The states contacted were:
Alabama, Arizona, Connecticut, Colorado, Hawaii, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, New Hampshire, North Dakota, South Dakota, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia, and Wisconsin.
Letters were sent out to each of the representatives chosen at the end of November. The letter requesting their participation noted that they were free to choose whether they would like to participate via telephone interview or if they were more comfortable with the online format they could participate online through SurveyMonkey™.
We were pleased to have received responses from 10 states out of the 20 who were contacted! Appointments and times are currently being scheduled to conduct the interviews for the data collection. Our first scheduled appointment [via phone] will be on Monday 2/7/2011 with the state of Vermont.
The target date for the completion of the surveys will be March. The data will then be compiled and analyzed for an article; we are optimistic that it will be published this spring.
COLLABORATIVE TEAMTerry Adams, PhD, UMA Lead Researcher; Karen Backman, LCPC, BHSI Division Manager; Nicholas Graham, BHSI Senior Training Specialist |
Prior Contributing Team MembersSarah Beam, LCSW, Prior BHSI Project Manager; David Kinsella, LCSW, Prior BHSI Division Manager; Erica Harmon, Prior UMA Research Intern; Rita Alfonso LaBarbera, Prior UMA Research Consultant |
Karen Backman, LCPC BHSI Division Manager
Email: kbackman@bhsi.net Phone: 207-321-6081 x3324
Nicholas Graham (Nick) BHSI Senior Training Specialist
Email: ngraham@bhsi.net Phone: 207-321-6081 x3304