LOUISIANA Community Mental Health Services Block Grant ...

Office of Client Affairs
This office continues to actively work towards the development and statewide implementation of
Peer Support Specialists, Wellness Recovery Action Planning (WRAP) and other initiatives that seek
to encourage consumer/family choice and empowerment throughout the system of care as Louisiana
moves towards a recovery modality. As of 2010, the Office of Behavioral Health has implemented
Peer Support Services throughout the majority of Louisiana, using the curriculum developed by
Recovery Innovations. Currently, there are 101 trained and certified Peer Support Specialists, 52 of
whom are now employed in a variety of capacities throughout the system of care. Examples of job
duties include conducting Peer Support and WRAP groups, working with clients on an individual
basis to develop goals and serving as a bridge for clients when first entering the clinic. In addition to
the Peer Support program, the Office of Behavioral Health has also actively been integrating WRAP
within the system of care. Currently, there are 69 trained WRAP Facilitators many of whom are
conducting groups across the state. Since the inception of the WRAP is it approximated that over
1000 individuals have been introduced to the concepts of WRAP in some capacity. For 2010-2011, it
is the goal of the Office of Behavioral Health to continue to fully support and certify peers and to
ultimately train peers as trainers for both WRAP and Peer Support so that the programs can achieve
long-term sustainability.
Transition to Local Governing Entities (LGEs)
Legislation was passed during the 2006 legislative session calling for DHH to develop a plan to
facilitate the remaining geographic regions to transition to local governing health care districts or
authorities. Act 373 of the 2008 regular legislative session provided for a specific process for the
remaining regions of the state to become LGEs (Local Governing Entities). Based on this law, staff
of the then OMH Division of Policy, Standards, and Quality Assurance developed a complete
Readiness Assessment Toolkit. This toolkit contained flowcharts, copies of the applicable law and
regulatory agreements, documents that guide the development of a governing board,
policies/procedures, and a Readiness Assessment fidelity tool and user manual. The Director of the
Division along with the Bureau Chief for Workforce Development within the Division formed the
leads for a Readiness Assessment team consisting of representatives of OAD, OMH, OCDD, DHH
legal division, and DHH fiscal and policy departments. Using the toolkit, the Readiness Assessment
team completed a Phase I, II, and III assessment of a region and as of July 1, 2010, the former Region
3 consisting of the Houma/Terrebonne area of the state begins Phase IV of the LGE transition process
as South Central Louisiana Human Services Authority (SCLHSA). That makes five LGEs, with five
Regions remaining that are in various stages of preparation to become LGEs. Local governing
entities (LGEs) have the responsibility for providing services to persons with mental illness,
substance use and abuse disorders, developmental disabilities, and some functions of public health.
The newly created Office of Behavioral Health will modify the organizational structure at the
administrative level and align leadership to achieve strategic directions and support transition to
Human Service Districts.
Provision of Appropriate Medications
OBH now has a policy that allows non-physician professionals who have prescriptive authority to
prescribe within OBH facilities. The inclusion of Medical Psychologists and Advance Practice Nurse
Practitioners allows patients and consumers greater access to the care they need. Several mental
health clinics have taken advantage of this added resource to the benefit of their clientele. The
pharmacy continues to offer an unrestricted formulary of medications for mental illness, which
includes all of the newer antipsychotics, antidepressants, and mood stabilizers. The ability to offer
PART C LOUISIANA FY 2011 PAGE 91
SECTION II: ADULT & CHILD/ YOUTH
IDENTIFICATION & ANALYSIS OF SERVICE SYSTEM’S STRENGTHS, NEEDS, & PRIORITIES
RECENT SIGNIFICANT ACHIEVEMENTS