Project Focuses on Improving Delivery of Mental-Health Services in Western New York

BUFFALO, N.Y. -- The School of Social Work at the University at Buffalo has been selected by the New York State Office of Mental Health (OMH) to work with mental-health professionals to provide better care to residents -- particularly children -- of the 19 counties that make up the OMH Western Region.

The school will work with OMH and its providing agencies to conduct assessments and provide training and consultation services that could change the way mental-health services are provided in the region.

The project will focus on teaching mental-health providers evidence-based practices -- strategies of successful treatments that have accumulated over the years that research has shown to be effective, said Ronald Krul, assistant dean for continuing education in the UB School of Social Work who will oversee the program.

"Evidence-based practice is an approach to decision-making in which the clinician uses the best evidence available, in consultation with the individual and their families, to decide upon a treatment that suits the child best," Krul said.

"'Best evidence available' means clinically relevant practices based on validated research, as opposed to generally accepted practices that may have been in use, but lack scientific backing. In the past there has been significant research conducted on adult evidence-based practices. This project will focus on evidence-based practices for children."

The program will take advantage of four satellite sites, in Buffalo, Rochester, Corning and Jamestown, where the School of Social Work already conducts programs off campus.

"They were the perfect solution," said Tom Wallace, Western Field Office Director for the New York State Office of Mental Health. "The School of Social Work has the expertise and the resources to assist us in the implementation of evidence-based practices. Additionally, they are strategically located in our region with satellite campuses in Rochester, Corning and Jamestown."

"Technology will play an important role in the program," said Susan Green, clinical assistant professor of social work and academic consultant to the project.

"We will utilize teleconferencing, distance learning, computer consultation and CDs, as well as workshops, case conferencing and telephone consultation to assist practitioners. Providers will be able to utilize their Web connection to access a repository of evidence-based practice information that will be available on a specially established Web site."

"Utilizing our existing satellite campuses and our distance-learning capabilities, we will be able to provide services to all 19 counties in the Western Region," Krul said. "We will be servicing a large audience and maximizing the state's financial resources. Our capabilities will reduce the need for agency service providers to travel extensively to receive training and consultation. In many cases they will be able to receive these services right at their desk using today's technologies."

The project will be managed through the school's Office of Continuing Education, located in the Center for Community Service at Parker Hall on UB's South (Main Street) Campus.

"This project represents another example of the commitment OMH has to advancing evidence-based practices wherever and whenever appropriate," stated Kimberly Hoagwood, Ph.D., Director of Research on Child and Adolescent Services, Office of Mental Health.

For more information, contact the School of Social Work Office of Continuing Education at 716-829-3939 or by email at sw-ce@buffalo.edu.