Name
G13 - Building Trust and Integration: Lessons from Implementing the Collaborative Care Model (CoCM)
Date & Time
Friday, October 17, 2025, 10:00 AM - 11:00 AM
Location Name
306C
Description

This presentation explores the implementation of the Collaborative Care Model (CoCM) as a strategy to expand behavioral health access, particularly in rural treatment deserts. It highlights key steps in selecting clinics, assessing readiness, and training healthcare teams to foster continuity of care. The discussion will emphasize the role of psychiatric consultants, data-driven outcomes, and lessons learned from early implementation efforts. A panel of experts will share insights on overcoming challenges, building trust within communities, and navigating policy and reimbursement structures. Attendees will gain practical strategies for enhancing collaboration and improving patient outcomes in integrated behavioral health settings.

Speakers
Kim Shuler LCSW, CEO, Arkansas Behavioral Health Integration Network, Eureka Springs, Arkansas
Patty Gibson MD, Medical Director for Behavioral Health, AR Blue Cross Blue Shield, Little Rock, AR
Jason Onugha MD, MPH, Founder | Psychiatrist, Individual - Jason Onugha, Chicago, IL
Kiara Yancey LCSW, Behavioral Health Care Manager, East AR Family Health Center, Inc., West Memphis, AR
Djuana Smith-McNeely LCSW, Behavioral Health Director, Individual - Djuana Smith-McNeely, West Memphis, AR
Lavonia Jackson-Dunn RN, Clinical Informatics Nurse Specialist, East Arkansas Family Health Center, Inc., West Memphis, AR
Kim Shuler Patty Gibson Jason Onugha Kiara Yancey Djuana Smith-McNeely Lavonia Jackson-Dunn
Co-Authors
Caitlyn Johnson, LCSW
Project Manager
ABHIN
Content Level
Intermediate
Tags
Collaborative Care Model of Integrated Care, Medical
Session Type
Concurrent
SIG or Committee
Collaborative Care Model (CoCM), Medicine
Objective 1
Assess Clinic Readiness: Understand the key criteria for selecting and preparing clinics for CoCM implementation.
Objective 2
Enhance Training and Education: Explore a structured training approach to equip healthcare teams with the skills necessary for sustainable CoCM adoption.
Objective 3
Foster Collaboration: Identify strategies for strengthening partnerships between medical providers, behavioral health professionals, and state agencies.
Content Reference 1

Bauer, A. M., Thielke, S. M., Katon, W., Unützer, J., & Areán, P. (2019). Aligning health information technologies with effective collaborative care models. Journal of General Internal Medicine, 34(1), 46-49. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11606-018-4730-7

Content Reference 2

Richardson, L. P., Ludman, E. J., McCauley, E., Lindenbaum, J., Larison, C., Zhou, C., & Katon, W. (2016). Collaborative care for adolescents with depression in primary care: A randomized clinical trial. JAMA, 317(8), 825-835. https://doi.org/10.1001/jama.2017.0943

Content Reference 3

Woltmann, E. M., Grogan-Kaylor, A., Perron, B., Georges, H., Kilbourne, A. M., & Bauer, M. S. (2012). Comparative effectiveness of collaborative chronic care models for mental health conditions across primary, specialty, and behavioral health care settings: Systematic review and meta-analysis. American Journal of Psychiatry, 169(8), 790-804. https://doi.org/10.1176/appi.ajp.2012.11111616