Integrated
Care for Co-occurring Conditions (COSII)
New Initiatives
Check this page for news about what’s new with COSII. This is where you can find out
about new policies and procedures, new standards being drafted and new events being planned.
It’s a good place to check in on the work of the COSII Committees. Check here to be sure
you haven’t missed any developments that affect you as a provider!
The Supervision Training Initiative
In late fall of 2008, the COSII Project Team, along with our training partner providers and
ADCARE, began work on a new initiative to train clinical supervisors in Co-occurring supervision.
We are developing a 30 credit module of trainings that will be applicable to the State Board
of Substance Abuse Counselor’s requirements for the CCS (Certified Clinical Supervisor).
We’ll also be providing additional trainings on supervision focused on ethics, basic
supervision topics, basic information about co-occurring disorders, and supervision from a
Motivational Interviewing perspective. We hope to provide both in person trainings as well
as web-based, on-line modules. Stay tuned, or contact the Co-occurring Collaborative serving
Maine for more information. (878-6171).
The kick off for this initiative is the May 18th Institute for Co-occurring Studies Conference
on Supervision and the Workforce. Don’t miss it!
The AC-OK
AC-OK is short for Andrew Cherry (the designer of the tool) and OK stands for his state
(Oklahoma)! It is the standard COD screening tool that the Department has chosen for all providers
to implement. Originally scheduled to be required by July 1, we have moved the start date out
to August 1. More information will be forthcoming from COSII and from APS about this tool and
trainings will be provided. An adolescent version is being developed and tested as we speak!
Core Standards Integration
For those of you who have been anxious about the differences in co-occurring language and
expectations in the mental health versus the substance abuse licensing regulations, take heart!
DLRS is making good progress on its project to integrate and make consistent the regulations
for mental health, substance abuse and children’s services licensing. COSII is part of
this project and ever watchful that integration be a core expectation of all regulation.
Outreach to Non-Pilot Sites
Since all providers are expected to achieve co-occurring capability, we want to help non-pilot
agencies learn how to do it! We have been out on the meeting circuit at Community Service Network
meetings, Children’s Behavioral Health Provider meetings, and at many individual agencies
talking about COD capability and what it means to achieve it. Very soon ( beginning in July
2009) we will schedule a series of trainings and informational meetings in all regions of the
state to educate providers on integration. Watch for an announcement!
