How to Survive and Thrive During Integration Implementation

 Workshop or Breakout

Description

Creating a system of care where “every door is the right door” and that truly functions as “one team, and one plan for one person” also creates new stresses and strains.  Integration of mental health and substance treatment is easier said than done.  Even if everyone agrees with integration, the changes necessary personally, professionally and programmatically greatly increase the demands on counselors, clinicians, clinical managers, supervisors and administrators.  Many feel unprepared for the personal and systems’ pressures they face.

This workshop is designed to help participants survive effectively the difficulties that arise in communication, conflict resolution and personal coping with integration and systems’ change.Concepts and strategies will be offered to improve the functioning of the whole team, whether clinical, supervisory, fiscal, or administrative.Participants will have the opportunity to discuss obstacles and strategies to balance personal needs with those of the organization, the treatment and administrative team and the clients and community.Attention will be paid to a methodology to convert frustrations directed at personal other team members’ failures into systems solutions that can empower, encourage hope and improve personal and team functioning.

Objectives

Participants will:

  • Identify how change affects us; why conflicts arise; and what underlies the tensions.

  • Review communication, conflict resolution and coping strategies that promote team cohesiveness and improve self-care functioning.  

  • Describe principles and strategies that enhance both understanding and empathy for the other's position.

  • Apply methods for developing systems solutions to frustrations that can erode trust and productivity both personally as a manager and for the whole team.

Workshop Agenda

A.  The Stresses and Strains of Integration

  • Changing the program mission and vision from addiction treatment only to CODs

  • Stresses for personnel, programs and team functioning

  • Issues in the clash between the addiction and mental health systems

B.  Impact on Communication, Conflict Resolution and Coping

  • Productive and counter-productive communication

  • Overcoming differences in the addiction and mental health systems

  • Boundaries and ethical issues

C.  Caring for Yourself and Others

  • Self-care – what it is and why it is important

  • Balancing personal needs with those of the team

D.  Finding Systems Solutions to Key Frustrations

  • Types of frustrations

  • Converting self and outer-directed frustrations into systems solutions

E.  Translating the Self- or Other-Directed Frustrating Condition

  • Defining the real problem

  • Identifying the generic systems’ solution

F. Surviving Integration as a Conscious Choice and Process

  • Development of personal aim and mission

  • Communication and Conflict Resolution