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2020 DMH Research Centers of Excellence

You are invited to the 11th Annual Massachusetts Department of Mental Health’s Research Centers of Excellence Conference

What Have We Done for You Lately?
Applied Research for Community Behavioral Health Needs

Date: April 10, 2020 | 8:45 AM - 3 PM

Continental breakfast and lunch will be provided!

Faculty Conference Room, UMass Chan Medical School
55 Lake Avenue North, Worcester, MA

Overall Goal

DMH funded two new centers of research excellence in October 2018.  This will be the first research conference for those two centers. The goal of this conference is for DMH clients, their family members, DMH staff, and providers to learn more about the work these two centers are doing, and for these centers to learn about how their research can best support DMH, its mission, and the people served by DMH. The conference will emphasize stakeholder engaged research, including the importance of engaging persons living with mental health challenges, their family members, and the providers and staff who serve them in all phases of the research process.  The conference will also provide opportunities for engagement through a variety of mechanisms including presentations, breakout sessions and activities that will involve audience member participation.

Learning Objectives

At the conclusion of this activity, participants will be able to:

  • Describe what are implementation science and technical assistance
  • Identify the main elements of coordinated specialty care
  • Describe the rationale and basic principles of Community-based Participatory Research (CBPR)
  • Explain why physical health is an important aspect of mental health care
  • Explain why stakeholder participation is key to successful implementation
  • Explain why diversity is an important consideration for mental health services research
  • Describe what is the value of four focused areas of research conducted by the Centers

Target Audience: Persons Served, Family Members, Providers, Clinical & Professional Staff, and Researchers

Directions and agenda will accompany your confirmation email which will be sent a week prior to the event.

We are in the process of applying for Psychology, RN, Social Work, LMHC, and OT CEU’s.

This program is sponsored by the Massachusetts Department of Mental Health (DMH).

The DMH Research Centers of Excellence include:

  • Implementation Science & Practice Advances Research Center (iSPARC)
  • Massachusetts General Hospital’s Center of Excellence for Psychosocial and Systemic Research
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Description of the Breakout Sessions

One of the conference activities involves participants attending one of three breakout sessions.  Please read the descriptions for each of the breakout sessions listed below, then indicate your first choice, second choice, and third choice in the section at the end of this registration form.  You will be informed of which breakout activity you will be attending on the day of the conference – the breakout session will be listed on your nametag!

Breakout #1

Staying Physically Healthy While Receiving Mental Health Care: Whose Job is It?

In this breakout activity, participants will learn why physical health is an important aspect of mental health care, and discuss the physical health needs that should be prioritized for persons with a serious mental health challenges. The roles that psychiatrists, primary care doctors, family members, and persons with mental health challenges themselves have in staying physically healthy will also be discussed.

Breakout #2

Implementing New Programs or Practices in Mental Health Services: Leveraging Implementation Science and a Participatory Approach

In this breakout activity, participants will learn about strategies for implementing new mental health service practices or programs, and why stakeholder participation is key to successful implementation. Various ways that stakeholders can be involved in the planning and implementing of new practices or programs will be discussed.

Breakout #3

Meeting the Needs of Underrepresented Populations: How to Engage Diverse Voices in Mental Health Services Research

In this breakout activity, participants will learn why diversity is an important consideration for mental health services research. Populations that are historically underrepresented in mental health services research and underserved in the mental health system, as well as the barriers to participation that these groups experience, will be discussed.  Participants will learn about innovative strategies for engaging diverse individuals throughout the research process.

2020 DMH Conference Registration

Are you affiliated with DMH? *
Are you DMH staff? *
Are you a DMH contracted provider? *
We are in the process of applying for Psychology, RN, Social Work, LMHC, and OT CEU’s. If you are interested in obtaining CEU’s please mark which one.
Accommodations required

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