Maryland Healthy Transitions (MD‐HT) and Maryland Benefits Counseling Network (MD‐BCN) Platform For questions please contact Kris Wright: kris.wright@maryland.gov, 703‐867‐6757 The goal for this project is to share information for Transition Age Youths (TAY) (ages 16‐25) with or at risk for Serious Mental Health Conditions (SMHC), their families, and providers of Behavioral Health or related services and to provide an interface platform for service providers and benefits counselors to share resources and register with the State for certification. Overview: Design a website ‐ Create a fully accessible, responsive design, multimedia website to be launched and disseminated in early 2016. Work includes web design and development, graphics, basic calculation/assessment tools, and restricted access sections for approved providers (approvals to be managed by program staff). Audiences: 
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TAY with or at risk for SMHC and their families. Primary functions will be to educate TAY and families about behavioral health conditions and their treatment, reduce stigma around accessing Behavioral Health Supports, share information about existing services available throughout the state, and offer advocacy opportunities and calendar of events. Providers of Behavioral Health services in Maryland that currently provide TAY services and those considering expanding services to include TAY. Benefits Counselors who have a CWIC (Community Work Incentives Coordinator) certification and who are considering/seeking certification. The general public for information about behavioral health, advocacy, anti‐stigma efforts and events and resources. Design Style: Overall design preference: http://nenaticket.org/ https://mn.db101.org/ For the benefits counseling sections we like the overall look. Their calculators are more involved than those we are planning. www.redcross.org www.heart.org https://www.afsp.org/advocacy‐public‐policy Tone and use of jargon‐free youth accessible language: http://www.youthmovenational.org/ (also like the connection to social updates) http://ok2talk.org/ Calculators and assessments: http://www.ssa.gov/planners/benefitcalculators.html Accessibility: http://www.ssa.gov/accessibility/ Certifications and Renewals: http://www.nbcot.org/ Stigma Reduction: http://turningpointct.org/our‐stories/ Wrong Style: http://www.psychrehabassociation.org/cprp-certification/recertification http://bha.dhmh.maryland.gov/ ‐ effective enough for those comfortable going to government sites, but off‐putting from a youth outreach perspective Technology Requirements: 
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Accessibility: for individuals who are deaf, blind, low vision, or unable to use a mouse o Captions on videos, alternate text for graphics, accessible PDFs, ability to utilize tab key vs. a mouse, contrasting colors or ability to change, etc. o The final product must be tested for accessibility and WCAG 2.0 Level AA Compliant Mobile‐friendly/Responsive Design Optimized Search Engine Optimization (SEO) Integration with social media connections on the website Be able to link to existing Video, but not necessarily host. Open for discussion. Will need to consider accessibility, closed caption, etc. Ability to host or connect to a host for accessible, interactive webinars with closed captioning. Once launched, program staff will need to be able to update the following via an easy‐to‐use Content Management System (e.g. Wordpress): resources and links, edit content, manage access for password protected sections, and send blogs, e‐blasts and interactive calendar updates. Please include budget/recommendations for software/technical updates to CMS. Distribution and Hosting: 
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This may be hosted via MD‐EN’s existing WSI Web Specialists account; Open for discussion/recommendations Linked from behavioral health, education, resource, and advocacy sites, distributed through e‐
news to list in development Potential to purchase Google Adwords for subtopics, program staff can facilitate focus groups with youth and families to identify common keywords used by those seeking services Content: Maryland Healthy Transitions (MD‐HT) Maryland Healthy Transitions Public Section 1. Just for Youth Subsection ‐ include general information about mental health and co‐occurring substance abuse conditions, myths and facts about accessing treatment, suicide prevention, 2.
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early intervention, peer supports, and peer advocacy. Links to peer run organizations and risk assessment tools. Family Subsection – information for families of youths with or showing early warning signs of SMHC, how to access supports, resources for family supports with links to family/peer organizations, FAQs Resources Subsection – include contact information for CSAs and ASO 800# to facilitate access for services, supplemental supports by community partners, applications for resources and links to resource organizations, mechanism for community based resources to submit information to be vetted and added to Resource lists by program staff Advocacy and Anti‐stigma Subsection – to include strategies for getting involved in advocacy and links to subject and sub‐population specific advocacy organizations News Section – Blogs, e‐blasts, news and associated archives, sharable by social media, to be maintained and updated by program staff Calendar of Events – updatable by program staff, mechanism for youth groups and youth serving organization, community partners and resources to submit information about events so that events can be vetted by program staff and added to calendar TAY Providers Subsection (password protected for approved TAY providers only) 1. Information about training and technical assistance with links to UMD’s Evidence Based Practice Center with contact information 2. Supplemental training materials including handouts and links to webinars 3. Tracking sheets and outcomes measures 4. Orientation to Evidence Based and Empirically Supported Practices with resources for training and assessment 5. Resources and Community Partners – broken down by type of resource and region available Maryland Benefits Counseling Network Benefits Counseling Section ‐ Maryland CWIC (password protected for approved CWICs only) 1. BPQY (Benefits Planning Query) subsection‐ include an overview, handbook, downloadable forms for Release of Information, etc. 2. Case Studies ‐ includes about 8 studies, with data, description and information in 3‐4 formats each (some calculation sheets, text write‐ups and summaries, charts, etc.) 3. Ticket to Work and Employment subsection‐ data and description on approximately 10 items/topics 4. Social Security Administration subsection‐ mostly links to the SSA Forms page(s) so that documents accessed are always the most current 5. Work Incentives subsection – approximately 15 descriptions and tools 6. Worksheets – a collection of calculators fit as well as other assessment tools (for printable calculator samples, look at SSA retirement calculator or mortgage calculators) 7. Maryland Benefits Counseling Certificate Training subsection‐ at least 17 expandable lists or subtopics containing various tools and documents 8. Continuing Education subsection‐ At least 30 expandable lists or subtopics containing content from webinars and training subjects in addition to links to archived webinars 9. Contact Us section – CWIC specific contact info 10. Online application and renewal process for state certificate program – data collection forms to be used by administrators to start assessment of candidates for the certificate and so that renewal requirements can be vetted. Would like to include/link to a payment option e.g. PayPal and offer the option of printing application form to mail with payment. 11. State training information and registration ‐ include or link to online registration for State training with payment option, also maintaining ability to print registration form and mail with payment 12. Archived webinars – links or hosted – open for discussion 13. Updatable contact list of Maryland DORS (Division of Rehabilitation Services)‐approved CWIC vendors Benefits Counseling Public Section (no password) 1. Applications and Resources subsection – some downloadable forms, some links to resource sites, possibly a list of resource categories with descriptions that expands to show links and applications for different regions 2. Social Security Administration subsection‐ mostly links to the SSA Forms page(s) so that documents accessed are always the most current; should parallel if not replicate subsection in Maryland CWIC (above) 3. TTW and Employment subsection‐ select/targeted information from the CWIC section drawn from the CWIC section above 4. Benefits Counseling Tools: downloadable and printable calculation sheets and tracking forms 5. For Families subsection – general info, links for resources, updatable news and events 6. Calendar of Events – updatable by program staff, mechanism for community partners and resources to submit information about events so that events can be vetted by program staff and added to calendar 7. Additional information and contacts: Fact Sheets, Link to MD‐EN website and information, Contact Us info 8. Capability for program staff to blog in connection with e‐mail blasts 9. Possibly links to some You Tube videos on recovery and employment (some are from MDOD)‐
would need to consider accessibility, closed caption, etc. Tone: The piece should be accessible to the general public but include links to more clinical content where needed to appease our fact‐loving constituents (health care professionals, advocacy organizations, researchers and community partners) and links to concrete resources for TAY and families in need of immediate services. i.e., where we say to contact local Core Services Agencies or our ASO to access services we will need a rollover or link to the actual list of Core Services Agencies and ASO 800# with direct contact info. We are actively promoting accessibility and the use of Evidence Based and Empirically Supported Services for TAY who qualify for the Public Behavioral Health System (PBHS) . Project History: MD‐HT To promote enhanced services for TAY with SMHC, the Behavioral Health Administration has partnered with SAMHSA’s grant program, Now Is The Time (NITT) Healthy Transitions: Improving Life Trajectories for Youth and Young Adults with or at Risk for Serious Mental Health Conditions. Maryland Healthy Transitions Initiative (HTI) (2009‐2014): The Emerging Adults Initiative (EAI) or Healthy Transitions Initiative (HTI) was a five year systems change/ service demonstration project funded by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). Seven states were awarded funding: Georgia, Maine, Maryland, Missouri, Oklahoma, Utah and Wisconsin. HTI was a state/community partnership aimed at improving outcomes for Transition‐ Age Youth (TAY) with serious mental health conditions (SMHC) in areas such as education, employment, housing, mental health and co‐occurring disorders, and at decreasing contacts with the juvenile and criminal justice system. These local systems of care in Washington and Frederick Counties were linked and integrated at the state‐level in order to effect policy change and replication statewide. To continue with the advances made in HTI, Maryland applied for and was granted the “Now Is The Time” Healthy Transitions grant. Running 2015 through 2019, MD‐HT’s Project Goals are to promote awareness of behavioral health challenges among TAY, increase early identification of TAY with mental health needs, and to provide coordinated, evidence‐based practices (EBPs) and supports to assist TAY in a successful transition into adulthood. As a result, we hope for TAY to be involved in normative activities, including employment, continuing education, and contributing to the community. MD‐HT will build on Maryland’s past and current TAY initiatives and history of infusing research‐based approaches directly into the public mental health system, while ensuring successful implementation of the services and outreach in the two selected communities and expansion of a TAY system of care model that will continue to be sustained and replicated statewide. Services and supports will be targeted for:  Youth and young adults served as children and adolescents in the Public Behavioral Health System (PBHS)  Adolescents with significant emotional and behavioral disorders secondary to environmental and psychosocial risk factors which, with intensive time‐limited interventions, are not expected to develop into adult behavioral disorders  Young adults who experience their first psychotic episode during emerging adulthood. An additional population of focus is the general population who could benefit from increased awareness and education. Highlights of current efforts include the expansion of services available in two regions, provided by sites the previously had small, successful TAY programs largely limited to youth residential beds. Each site has added services for community based youths and will serve a total of 380 additional, unduplicated TAY during the project period. In addition to having access to Evidence Based Practices (EBP) of IPS Supported Employment and Assertive Community Treatment that were previously implemented at MD‐
HT sites, TAY will have access to newly implemented EBPs, including Family Psychoeducation, Supported Education, and First Episode Psychosis (FEP) assessment and treatment. To better reach historically underserved populations, each site has hired a FTE Outreach and Education (O&E) Specialist to work in local communities, assisting identified TAY with enrolling in services, expanding potential referral sources, and providing general education to reduce stigma associated with behavioral health diagnoses and treatment. O&E Specialists are collaborating with peers on other initiatives (e.g. FEP) and with peer and family advocacy groups including NAMI, On Our Own, The Maryland Coalition for Family for Children’s Mental Health, and Taking Flight on advocacy, anti‐stigma initiatives, and to increase peer and family supports. Maryland Benefits Counseling Network The Maryland Benefits Counseling Network (Maryland BC Network) is a newly established program (2015) developed to meet the need for high quality benefits counseling training and resources in the state of Maryland. The Maryland BC Network has been a collaboration of the Division of Rehabilitation Services, the Behavioral Health Administration, and the University of Maryland. The functions of this program are facilitated by an experienced Community Work Incentives Coordinator with extensive expertise in both federal and state benefits programs. The Maryland BC Network provides monthly training for supported employment staff, Assertive Community Treatment teams, mental health consumers, and family members. This training is an overview of Social Security benefits as well as state‐specific benefits and medical coverage. It also discusses how these benefits are impacted by work, the use of work incentives and educates participants about how returning to work is possible. Additionally, the Maryland BC Network has established the Maryland Benefits Counseling Certificate Program in conjunction with the University of Maryland. In order to take this program, an individual must be a certified Community Work Incentive Coordinator (CWIC), which is obtained through Virginia Commonwealth University or Cornell University. The individual must also complete an online application/registration for the course. This program is an intense one‐week in person course followed by an assessment and practicum. Upon successful completion of all course requirements, the individual receives their certificate of completion, which expires after one year. In order to maintain the certificate, the benefits counselor must complete all continuing education and competency‐
requirements and apply for renewal. Only benefits counselors (CWICs) who maintain a current Maryland Benefits Counseling Certificate are eligible to provide benefits counseling services for reimbursement through the Division of Rehabilitation Services. The Maryland BC Network provides benefits counseling information specifically tailored for beneficiaries and professionals. This program seeks to educate about benefits, work incentives, and how work is possible for beneficiaries. Through extensive education, the Maryland BC Network strives to change the culture of settling for a life of poverty, but rather promote work and greater independence. Suggested Timeline: RPFs go out: 11/1/15 Estimates in: 11/13/15 Vendor selected: 1/30/16 Suggested Schedule Design direction sign off: 2/28/16 Storyboarding: Feb/March 2016 Completed Copy: April 2016 Final design sign off: May 2016 Programming: April/May 2016 Testing: June 2016 Soft/ Internal Launch: June 2016 Public Launch: July 2016 Process to be used to evaluate proposals: The Program Committee, consisting of the CSA Executive Director or his/her designee and a minimum of two other Board members shall be convened to rank each of the proposals on their technical merit. All proposals receiving the minimum technical score will then be rated on their financial proposal. The Program Committee will make contract award recommendations to the Board of Directors. The technical merit for the proposal will consist of: qualifications of the applicant whose proposal best meet the selection criteria, and the results of the final technical and financial evaluation. Once a vendor has been selected ad approved by the Board, letter of award/rejection shall be mailed to the providers notifying the applicants of the status of their proposal request.