BACKGROUND

The summits began in September 2000, with 25 states represented in the first year. Summits resumed in 2003 for the remaining 25 states, with some changes based on lessons learned fromt the first summit participants. All summits were attended by stakeholder teams from each state, and each team was tasked with developing state-specific action plans to address the integration of primary and behavioral health care services.

Teams included:

• Mental health and substance abuse clients and their family members
• Provider and advocacy organization representatives
• Academicians
• State authorities in mental health and substance abuse
• State Medicaid directors
• State primary care authorities
• Representatives from Governors’ offices
• Legislators and other key officials

Summit participants used the summits to collaborate on the development of state action plans to foster a seamless system of care addressing topics such as how to increase their state's pool of quality trained providers for an integrated system of care and how to develop collaborative approaches to expand access and integrate quality mental health and substance abuse services with primary care.

The action outcomes of the summit sessions included the development plans for a care system in which a patient’s physical and mental health—as well as his substance abuse treatment needs—are quickly identified and treated in a seamless system of care. In their action plans, state and regional teams also established objectives for increasing the numbers of professionals and paraprofessionals—particularly in primary care settings—who can screen, assess, and treat mental health and substance abuse problems. The third area of concentration was to develop strategies for increasing the money available for providing and integrating mental health and substance abuse services in underserved areas.

As a result of the summits, each state or region was to establish a permanent team or other entity responsible for overseeing and coordinating implementation of the state action plan developed at the summit.

NEXT: Positive Outcomes – and Fresh Challenges