IDEA

The United States has been dealing with a silent, and often overlooked epidemic that affects nearly every citizen: mental health and substance abuse. Approximately 20% of Americans suffer from a mental disorder which directly affects their lives on a daily basis. The mental health epidemic, when combined with analysis of the concurrent substance abuse epidemic, sheds light on the enormity of these two related issues and the costly policy implications. In spite of their best intentions, many agencies remain deeply rooted in past practices and financing models that do not fully incorporate our current knowledge and scientific evidence regarding mental health and substance abuse. Fortunately, a growing array of practitioners, researchers and scientists have created and implemented programs that are more effective and cost less than our current system. This situation provides a ripe opportunity to transfer this knowledge and experience into laws, programs and appropriations that will better address this issue. The Park City Center for Public Policy proposes to convene a dialogue between practitioners, leading experts and policy makers in order to help governments effectuate this transfer.

The Park City Center for Public Policy has already begun this effort, most recently convening a wide array of national experts at its inaugural annual Policy Institute which focused on best practices for addressing mental health and substance abuse. As a result of the institute, a team of interested parties was formed with the intent of creating a Mental Health and Substance Abuse Toolkit for state and local leaders. The team proposes to conduct a series of workshops designed to help experts identify best practices and model case studies from the abundant high quality information available. Key features and principles will be identified that should be incorporated in Mental Health and Substance Abuse policies, programs and strategies at the state and local levels. This information may also be used to reform federal policies and funding priorities, as well. The key products of the project will be a written toolkit and an implementation strategy. The toolkit will translate state of the art knowledge and experience from the mental health and substance abuse field into real-world options for policy makers, program administrators and advocates at all levels of government. This product will then serve as the basis for technical assistance and other creative implementation strategies.

Charles Curie, President, the Curie Group and former administrator of the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration

Gail Hutchings, President and Chief Executive Officer, Behavioral Health Policy Collaborative

Jim Souby, President and Chief Executive Officer, Park City Center for Public Policy

Katie Smith, Director of Communications, Park City Center for Public Policy