Integrating Behavioral and Physical Health Care
Integrating Behavioral and Physical Health Care
ACT is a 4-year program of The Colorado Health Foundation (TCHF) that is designed to test strategies to integrate care for patients in real-world primary care and behavioral health settings. The fundamental goal of ACT is to change practices by addressing whole-person versus silo-like care. TCHF identified the Department of Family Medicine at the University of Colorado, Denver, as the Program Office for ACT. The Program Office selected a steering committee composed of Colorado and national leaders in primary care and behavioral health that helped conceptualize ACT and now provide guidance and direction for ongoing activities. TCHF also funded an evaluation of ACT.
ACT invited applicants to implement evidenced-based strategies to integrate care in their respective settings. ACT innovators received $50,000 annually for a 3-year period (totalling $150,000). Funds were intended to offset costs of participating in the ACT evaluation and other grant-related responsibilities but were purposefully limited to avoid financing substantial aspects of the innovation. This was done to increase the likelihood that changes would be sustained beyond grant funding.
Primary care practices and behavioral health organizations in Colorado submitted applications for ACT in April 2011. Proposals were excluded if the setting was so unique that findings were unlikely to be replicable, if the proposed innovations did not use evidenced-based strategies, or if it focused on a single disease or condition. The ACT Steering Committee conducted an initial review of applications in May 2011. The evaluation team and Program Office conducted an evaluability assessment between June and August 2011 to gather additional information about semifinalists. In July 2011, the Steering Committee purposefully selected 11 applicants to create a diverse portfolio of evidence-based integration strategies, henceforth referred to as "ACT innovators" or "innovators." Funding started September 1, 2011. The Program Office developed learning community activities for ACT innovators, including bi-annual meetings, webinars, and personalized technical assistance.
The ACT Program
ACT is a 4-year program of The Colorado Health Foundation (TCHF) that is designed to test strategies to integrate care for patients in real-world primary care and behavioral health settings. The fundamental goal of ACT is to change practices by addressing whole-person versus silo-like care. TCHF identified the Department of Family Medicine at the University of Colorado, Denver, as the Program Office for ACT. The Program Office selected a steering committee composed of Colorado and national leaders in primary care and behavioral health that helped conceptualize ACT and now provide guidance and direction for ongoing activities. TCHF also funded an evaluation of ACT.
ACT invited applicants to implement evidenced-based strategies to integrate care in their respective settings. ACT innovators received $50,000 annually for a 3-year period (totalling $150,000). Funds were intended to offset costs of participating in the ACT evaluation and other grant-related responsibilities but were purposefully limited to avoid financing substantial aspects of the innovation. This was done to increase the likelihood that changes would be sustained beyond grant funding.
Primary care practices and behavioral health organizations in Colorado submitted applications for ACT in April 2011. Proposals were excluded if the setting was so unique that findings were unlikely to be replicable, if the proposed innovations did not use evidenced-based strategies, or if it focused on a single disease or condition. The ACT Steering Committee conducted an initial review of applications in May 2011. The evaluation team and Program Office conducted an evaluability assessment between June and August 2011 to gather additional information about semifinalists. In July 2011, the Steering Committee purposefully selected 11 applicants to create a diverse portfolio of evidence-based integration strategies, henceforth referred to as "ACT innovators" or "innovators." Funding started September 1, 2011. The Program Office developed learning community activities for ACT innovators, including bi-annual meetings, webinars, and personalized technical assistance.
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