The 131st Annual Meeting (November 15-19, 2003) of APHA

Abstract #68478

Henrick Harwood, The Lewin Group, 3130 Fairview Park Drive, Suite 800, Falls Church, VA 22042, 703-269-5635, hjharwood@lewin.com

The purpose of this session is to present findings from a large coordinated effort intended to address the extent to which behavioral health practitioners in private practice encounter and treat clients with co-occurring substance abuse and mental health disorders. Results are from studies conducted by six of the nation’s largest behavioral health Associations under the Center for Substance Abuse Treatment Practitioner Services Network Initiative. Collectively, the findings from this initiative provide much-needed information that contributes to describing the characteristics of behavioral health practitioners, the extent to which they encounter clients with substance abuse and co-occurring mental health disorders, perceived ability and training to serve such patients, and the demographic characteristics and types problems of the clients served by these practitioners. The findings from this initiative complement information collected from practitioners in institutionally-based treatment settings and have important implications for the design of training and credentialing systems for providers. The paper titles are listed below in the order in which they are proposed for presentation.

Identification and treatment of co-occurring substance abuse disorders in behavioral health practice: Findings from CSAT’s Practitioner Services Network initiative (Lewin)

Surveying marriage and family therapists: Technological and methodological issues (AAMFT)

The role of professional counselors in the delivery of mental health services: Results from the ACA-PRN (ACA)

Relationship of comorbid substance use disorders to disability in routine psychiatric practice (Psychiatric)

The APA PracticeNet project: Real-time computerized assessment of provider behavior (Psychological)

Early career substance abuse counselors: A NAADAC survey on career selection, job satisfaction, and resource access and needs (NAADAC)

Practice Research Network: Social Workers and Substance Abuse Treatment (NASW)

Learning Objectives:

At the conclusion of this session, the participant (learner) in this session will be able to: (
• Identify the extent to which behavioral health practitioners encounter clients with co-occurring disorders; (
• Describe the characteristics of the behavioral health practitioners that encounter clients with co-occurring disorders; and (
• Discuss the chacteristics of clients served by behavioral health practitioners from the six largest professional associations in the country.

Keywords: Mental Health, Substance Abuse

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: Center for Substance Abuse Treatment (CSAT), American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy (AAMFT), American Counseling Association (ACA), American Psychiatric Association (APA), American Psychological Association (APA), NAADAC, The Association for
I have a significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.
Relationship: contractor to CSAT