John Wodarski
The University of Tennessee, USA
Title: The Integrated Behavioral Health Service Delivery System Model
Biography:
Dr. John Wodarski is a Professor in the College of Social Work and Senior Research Scientist in the Center for Behavioral Health Research at the University of Tennessee in Knoxville, Tennessee. He has served as a Principal Investigator on multiple projects funded by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration and foundations. His interests include substance abuse, HIV/AIDS and evidence-based treatments.
Abstract:
Costs and effective management of health care in general, and behavioral health care in particular, have been of primary importance and concern to federal, state, and local governments. With the passage of Health Care Reform (HCR) these concerns will only escalate. Thus, the necessity for the development of innovative, successful, and integrated cost-effective treatments and procedures is evident. The Behavioral Health Care Model presented here is proposed to address these needs. The Model centers on the composition of effective psychosocial treatment and provides a cost analysis of social work and its services. By defining the problems that need to be addressed in health care management and cost containment, and through applying findings of evidence based studies this paper provides an effective model for health care organizations. It also presents a profile of the behavioral health social worker, defining the requisite abilities for effectiveness in the role and looking at the key impact areas for a behavioral health model. This comprehensive guide will prepare new social workers entering health care organizations as well as provide a valuable reference for existing social workers, academics, and practitioners of behavioral health care.