Guidelines to effective services: ‘the Behavioral Health Standards and Competencies Initiative’ was a national consensus building project that brought together over 200 consumers, providers, clinicians, mental health and substance abuse experts, advocates and behavioral health researchers to review and develop standards and competencies for the effective delivery of behavioral health services to targeted populations. 

Professional clinical groups that participated in the development of the standards and competencies included the American Psychiatric Association, the American Psychological Association, the National Association of Social Workers/Council on Social Work Education, the American Nurses Association, the American Counseling Association, the American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy, and International Association for Psychosocial Rehabilitation Services. 

- The Initiative’s goals included the following:

* The development of a multi-professional coordinating committee, comprising representatives from managed care companies, professional mental health associations, public mental health providers, consumers and family members, and behavioral health researchers that identified and prioritized behavioral health care issues.

* The development of an ongoing dialogue between managed care companies and public sector mental health services, to identify areas of shared challenges and develop pro-active responses.

* The development of human resource manpower projections within each of the mental health professions (Manderscheid, R., Zubritsky, C. & Hadley, T. (1999). 

* The development of a model managed care training curriculum for public sector mental health administrators (Center for Mental Health Policy and Services Research, University of Pennsylvania, 2000).

* The clarification of existing and development of new standards for mental health services guidelines for mental health systems administrators and professionals and clinical competencies for mental health professionals.

The standards and competencies for mental health services that were reviewed and developed include guidelines for mental health systems and clinical competencies for mental health professionals working with targeted populations. 

The reports can be used as guidelines for infrastructure development services, training curriculum for clinicians and support staff, and workforce development activities.

(Source: med.upenn.edu)