The New York State Council for Community Behavioral Healthcare (NYS Council) has partnered with Coordinated Behavioral Care (CBC) to diversify and expand the CBC Training Institute (TI)’s self-care series for NYS’s behavioral health workforce. The agreement will allow CBC TI to leverage the expertise of provider members of NYS Council to deliver specific and nuanced workshops that promote collective wellness and inclusion, with the aim of providing supportive resources as staff return to office spaces following a protracted period of remote work.

Since January 2021, CBC TI has leveraged funding from its Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) COVID-19 Emergency Grant to develop and host self-care trainings for NYS frontline behavioral health staff impacted by COVID-19. These trainings have been intended to facilitate the establishment of a nonjudgmental community space to grieve and process the traumas of the past 18 months and learn new skills and practices to offset some of the unique stressors the pandemic has placed upon those serving New Yorkers with mental health and/or addiction challenges.

“CBC TI offerings have widely resonated across our State and risen to meet the personal well-being and professional supports the behavioral health sector has required during a protracted pandemic which has had devastating impacts on marginalized communities,” said Amanda Semidey, LCSW, Vice President Care Coordination Services at CBC. “The behavioral health workforce has historically mirrored the communities they serve, and the virtual offerings have offered flexibility, promoted cross-agency collaboration with a consistent focus on participant self-care, wellbeing and resilience.”

To view and register for CBC TI’s array of upcoming self-care training opportunities for NYS behavioral health staff, please visit its Training Calendar.