2011 Webinar Series

Women's Integrated Systems for Health

The Women's Integrated Systems for Health (WISH) project is funded by a HRSA training grant from the Maternal and Child Health Bureau. It is a partnership among the NC Institute for Public Health, the Southeast Public Health Training Center, the UNC Gillings School of Global Public Health Department of Maternal and Child Health, and the UNC Center for Maternal and Infant Health. The project focuses on promoting integrative community approaches to optimizing mental and physical health among adolescents and women of reproductive age.

Funders and Sponsors

Funded by:
Health Resources and Services Administration, Maternal and Child Health Bureau, MCH Distance Learning Grant
Southeast Public Health Training Center

Sponsored by:
UNC Gillings School of Global Public Health
UNC School of Medicine

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Objectives

• Increase knowledge of the key chronic disease, substance abuse and mental health issues that impact women of reproductive age
• Increase understanding of the systems issues and priorities involved in providing a continuum of care from prevention through disease management
• Describe partnership opportunities in addressing chronic disease, mental health and substance abuse issues
• Describe effective strategies to bridge the categorical structures of mental health, public health and primary care
• Describe leadership opportunities for addressing these issues from a variety of approaches, including; policy, systems, and primary prevention

Audience

Public health leaders, program managers, agency directors, health care providers, behavioral health specialists, clinic managers, substance abuse specialists, and community leaders

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Webinar Framework

Each webinar will include:

• Definition of the problem, including the impact on a variety of racial/ethnic groups
• Description of strategies that can be deployed to address the problem
• Description of the challenges to full implementation of best practice approaches
• Discussion about key partners and allies around this issue, including differing perspectives, approaches and roles
• Call to action and leadership opportunities

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The Series

Webinar #1:
Integration of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services for Women of Reproductive Age in Clinical and Hospital Settings

March 16, 2011
Speaker: Samantha Meltzer-Brody, MD, MPH, Director, UNC Perinatal Psychiatry Program

This session focuses on screening and treating women of reproductive age, particularly those who are planning a pregnancy, are pregnant or are new mothers, for mental health and substance abuse issues. The UNC Healthcare System has developed a number of innovative practices including a perinatal mood disorders clinic, outposting a psychiatric nurse practitioner to the prenatal clinic, and supporting an in-patient psychiatric unit for pregnant women. UNC also has two out-patient programs (Beacon and Horizons) that provide services to women with substance abuse, domestic violence and mental health concerns. The integration of contraceptive health issues and breastfeeding are discussed. 

Webinar #2:
Creating Wellness: The Bright Futures For Women's Health Initiative

April 6, 2011
Speakers: Sabrina Matoff-Stepp, PhD, and Anna Kindermann, Office of Women's Health, HRSA

This session highlights strategies to build a positive framework for women's health and integrated systems of health. The session highlights HRSA's Bright Futures for Women's Health and Wellness Initiative, a program also focusing on creating partnerships with women and providers to enhance health.

Webinar #3:
Integrating Behavioral Health Services for Women of Reproductive Age into Community-Based Health Systems

May 4, 2011
Speaker: Beth Glueck, MA, LPCS, NCC, Pediatric Program Manager, NC Center of Excellence for Integrated Care, a program of the NC Foundation for Advanced Health Programs

This session focuses on the new North Carolina Center of Excellence for Integrated Care. The goal of this project is to integrate patients' physical and behavioral health care together, whether the care is delivered in an office, clinic, hospital, or mental health agency. The session shares how the Center partners across many different care providers and systems to support the implementation of comprehensive, evidence and best practice care that address issues around access, coordination and "reattaching" the head to the body. 

Webinar #4:
The Impact of Substance Abuse and Mental Health on the Prevention, Development and Management of Chronic Disease

June 1, 2011
Speaker: Ruth Petersen, MD, MPH, NC Division of Public Health

This session describes emerging research about the inter-relationships among substance abuse, mental health and chronic disease. Presenters share strategies and challenges for addressing these issues from a state and national perspective. 

Webinar #5:
The Impact of Violence on Substance Abuse and the Mental and Physical Health of Adolescents and Young Women

June 29, 2011
Speakers: Connie Renz, UNC Horizons Program and Kathy Hodges, Family Violence and Rape Crisis Services

This session models the impact of domestic violence and sexual violence on the health of adolescents and women of childbearing age. Speakers discuss the many inter-related issues and problems that evolve from these experiences. The session highlights best practice approaches for identifying women with these experiences and integrating care. 

Webinar #6:
The Impact of State Budget Deficits and Health Care Reform on Access to Substance Abuse, Chronic Disease and Mental Health Services

July 20, 2011
Speakers (Panel): Brent Ewig, Association of Maternal and Child Health Professionals (Invited); John Rittelmeyer, Disability Rights NC (Invited); Adam Searing, NC Health Access Coalition (Invited), and Flo Stein, MPH, Chief, Community Policy Management, DMHDDSAS (Invited).

The session features a variety of perspectives on the impact of shrinking state budgets and the potential of health care reform on access to care for individuals with chronic disease, mental health and substance abuse issues. Speakers represent a national, state and consumer advocacy perspective.

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Continuing Education Credit

Each webinar will provide one instructional hour of credit.

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