NASMHPD has specialized divisions consisting of State Mental Health Commissioner executive team members. Members of these divisions are appointed for participation by their State Mental Health Commissioners. The primary purpose of the NASMHPD Divisions is to provide expert consultation to Commissioners on their areas of expertise. Through various mechanisms, the NASMHPD divisions facilitate peer-to-peer dialogue, cross-state information sharing and learning, and topical presentations. Each Division is overseen by a member-appointed Executive Board, as well as a NASMHPD Staff Administrator. The NASMHPD Divisions provide State Mental Health Agency executives with key opportunities to learn from and with their counterparts in similar roles in other states.
There are eight NASMHPD divisions:
Children, Youth and Families Division
The Children, Youth & Families Division of NASMHPD carries out certain purposes and concerns of NASMHPD as they specifically relate to children, youth, and families. The purposes of the division are:
- To provide an identifiable focus on children’s mental health services as a substantial portion of the mental health concerns and programs of the states;
- To develop forums for effective collaborative planning, programming, and program review in mental health services regarding programs for children and youth;
- To analyze pertinent materials and policies as they relate to children’s mental health;
- To propose a variety of new and innovative methods and models for the delivery of more effective mental health services for children and youth; and
- To participate with those bodies and individuals involved in the development of standards, regulations, evaluative procedures, and other processes that may affect the quality of mental health services for children and youth.
Finance Policy Division
The NASMHPD Finance Policy Division focuses on how funding policies and practices can support and sustain effective mental health service delivery systems. To accomplish its mission, the Division:
- Facilitates mutual learning and cooperation among state mental health authorities to advance behavioral health financing policy and practice;
- Identifies and tracks emerging behavioral health financing issues and areas of interest to help shape NASMHPD activities and priorities; and
- Provides or obtains expert advice or technical assistance for NASMHPD divisions and members.
The Finance Policy Division supports the development of sustainable models and strategies to finance effective mental health practices and systems and shares knowledge of finance issues and opportunities between the Division and NASMHPD.
Forensic Directors Division
The NASMHPD Forensic Directors support the interests and purposes of NASMHPD in the development and operation of forensic programs and facilities. Administration of mental health forensic systems requires understanding and integration of at least four distinguishable fields: behavioral Science, corrections, legislation and law, and administration. The NASMHPD Forensic Directors gather those individuals directly responsible for the administration of state forensic systems to:
- Provide a mechanism for the collection, study, discussion, resolution, and dissemination of problems, ideas, models, information, and approaches to the planning, development, and operation of state forensic systems, programs, and facilities;
- Promote and participate in the training and development of appropriate standards; and
- Improve the quality, effectiveness, and pursuit of excellence in forensic administration.
Housing Division
The NASMHPD Housing Division is comprised of state mental health authority Housing Directors from across the country who are dedicated to addressing supportive housing, homelessness, and housing funding challenges. The Housing Division offers its members the opportunity to discuss and exchange promising methods and practices, as well as use the collective to help with challenges and queries. The Division’s objectives are to:
- Contribute to NASMHPD policy, advocacy, and technical assistance;
- Assist states in better leveraging and blending funding sources to improve their ability to provide housing services and opportunities to the communities served;
- Promote state-to-state cooperation;
- Provide states with updates on federal appropriations and regulatory issues; and share promising and evidence-based practices.
Legal Division
The purpose of the NASMHPD Legal Division is to establish and maintain as an integrated group, members of the legal profession who are legal advisors to state mental health program directors, and others who provide legal liaison for state mental health program directors, to provide an opportunity for the exchange of information and ideas concerning mental health law and to improve professional responsibility and expertise with the study, discussion, resolution, collection, and dissemination of ideas, information, data, conclusions, and solutions concerning the legal problems common to the field of mental health.
Medical Directors Division
The NASMHPD Medical Directors Division membership includes Medical Directors from state mental health authorities across the country. Issues of concern to members of the Medical Directors Division include: identifying clinical best practices for people with mental illnesses; improving state psychiatric hospital administration; appropriately utilizing new psychotropic medications; and exploring the use of treatment algorithms, among many others.
The primary mission and objectives of the Division are to:
- Identify emerging clinical issues impacting state mental health authorities and the public mental health service delivery system;
- Provide advice and guidance to NASMHPD members and staff alike on best practices and policy for these issues;
- Provide forums to encourage states to share planning, programming, and research and evaluation findings to improve public mental health services; and
- Foster peer-to-peer information sharing and encourage collaborative responses to identified technical assistance needs in states.
Older Persons Division
The purposes of the NASMHPD Older Persons Division are to highlight the needs of older persons for mental health services and to promote the quality and variety of preventive, therapeutic, and supportive services for older persons by:
- Compiling and disseminating information about the status of programs for older persons with mental illness in the states;
- Informing members of current and prospective legislation and funding of services for older persons;
- Encouraging states to share planning, programming, research, and evaluation in mental health services for older persons;
- Advising NASMHPD on issues relevant to the aged and representing NASMHPD as needed or requested before all groups, organizations, committees, federal and state agencies requesting information and/or input on mental health issues of older persons;
- Promoting services consistent with the value preferences of older persons;
- Serving on key groups, committees, and other organizations that are attempting to address the mental health issues of older persons on behalf of NASMHPD;
- Promoting the development of research, education, and training, which would allow the states to enhance mental health programs for older persons; and
- Performing other functions as delegated by NASMHPD regarding mental health services for older persons.
Division of Recovery Support Services
Most state mental health authorities have established an Office of Consumer Affairs or Recovery Services in various stages of development and with various titles. In recent decades, the number of leaders with lived experience within state mental health agencies nationwide has grown, and their positions have become more integrated within executive leadership. The NASMHPD Division of Recovery Support Services exists to provide NASMHPD with expertise and guidance from those with lived experience.