Behavioral Health Policy and Advisory Council Facilitated Collaboration to Build Understanding and Group Effectiveness Session 2: Thursday, March 3, 2016

Welcome and Overview Meeting Framework and Norms  Council members as participants, guests as observers  Respectful of different communication styles and varying levels of comfort with group work  Take care of yourself – stand up, walk around, take breaks as needed  Cell phones and electronics are silenced and put aside  Patience, a growth mindset, and a willingness to learn will make this process most meaningful Design4Change |

Welcome and Overview Goals for BHPAC Facilitation  Reconnect Council members to common purpose  Improve understanding among Council members about each other and constituencies represented  Establish group norms and statement of purpose to guide the Council’s work for a strong future Design4Change |

Welcome and Overview Goals for Today:  We will: Identify themes for group norms Clarify the ADVISORY role of Council Draft a BHPAC Statement of Purpose Focus on our group dynamics and commitments to a strong collaborative culture  We will not: Focus on strategic priorities of Council Create new strategic tasks or goals Design4Change |

Welcome and Overview Key Take-Aways From Last Session:  What inspired me to serve on Council? Make a difference Understand the bigger system Effectuate change using personal and professional expertise Influence and advocate smart use of dollars Improve systems so people get care they need To collaborate with the diverse membership of Council To ensure people with lived experience have a voice in funding decisions Represent rural needs Guide and shape mental health treatment To become an advocate To be a voice for children, youth and families Design4Change |

Welcome and Overview Key Take-Aways From Last Session:  What we learned… Design4Change | Treatment Recovery Prevention

Checking In Guiding Question:  What word best describes how you are feeling this morning? Design4Change |

Why work on group dynamics? Groups have a life of their own…  Expressing difference is natural and helpful;  Getting confused and frustrated is to be expected;  Building shared understanding is a struggle…but it’s worth it!  Without shared understanding, meaningful collaboration is impossible;  Finding common ground is THE precondition for insightful and innovative decision making; Design4Change |

Why work on group dynamics? The benefits of creating group norms and statements of purpose…  Stronger Individuals – more confidence, more commitment, more empathy, stronger leadership;  Stronger Groups – ability to better utilize all talents and skills of members; respectful, supportive “culture”, increased capacity for tackling difficult problems;  Stronger Outcomes – more robust and interesting ideas, better integration of diverse goals, more reliable follow through; Design4Change |

Why do groups need to define their core values? Participatory decision making and core values…  Guide groups through challenges;  Inspire commitment to find common ground;  Foster inclusiveness and honor diversity of all types;  Support mutual accountability; Design4Change |

Let’s Take a Break! Design4Change |

Participatory Decision Making - Core Values  Full Participation  Mutual Understanding  Inclusive Solutions  Shared Responsibility Design4Change |

Participatory Decision Making - Core Values Full Participation:  All members are encouraged to speak up and say what’s on their minds – share “first draft” ideas;  Develops competency within the group to recognize the diversity of opinions, backgrounds, and expertise of fellow members;  People are more willing to take risks and surface controversial ideas;  Fosters a room full of people curious and respectful of each other; Design4Change |

Participatory Decision Making - Core Values Mutual Understanding:  For a group to reach sustainable agreement, members have to understand and accept the legitimacy of one another’s needs and goals;  Empathy – thinking from another’s point of view – catalyzes new ideas that serve the greater good;  Spending time getting to know one another in different ways and on deeper levels is viewed as an important and legitimate use of time;  Leads to discoveries about common purpose and mutual goals. Design4Change |

Participatory Decision Making - Core Values Inclusive Solutions:  Wise solutions that result from the integration of all perspectives and needs present in the group;  Are typically not obvious or expedient, but emerge from genuine willingness to learn and collaborate. Design4Change |

Participatory Decision Making - Core Values Shared Responsibility:  Applies to the process of group work, not just the outcomes;  Everyone in the group is an owner of process and outcome and acknowledges this as a core value;  Agreements and outcomes need everyone’s support to be sustainable, which means members are not reluctant to raise important questions or concerns, even if this may delay action;  All other participatory values – full participation, mutual understanding, and inclusive solutions – foster shared responsibility; Design4Change |

Working Towards Group Norms Unsupportive Attitudes in Action “Stop wasting our time.” “You’re confusing people.” Where did that come from?” “Haven’t we already been around that block?” “That idea is impossible.” “That has nothing to do with what we’re talking about.” “Let’s keep it simple.” Supportive Attitudes in Action “Go ahead…I’m all ears.” “That’s interesting, I never thought of it that way.” “Can you tell me more about that or share an example?” “What’s your opinion?” “Before we change the subject, let’s make sure everyone has had a chance to speak.” Design4Change |

Working Towards Group Norms Self Reflection…  What commitments am I willing to make to ensure that my own communication style helps our group develop a more supportive atmosphere? Design4Change |

What does it mean to ADVISE? Advice: Noun. A suggestion for a beneficial course of action. Synonyms: warning, indication, recommendation, proposal Advise: Verb. To give advice. Synonyms: urge, warn, talk over, consult, discuss, recommend Antonyms: Mandate, direct, prescribe, authorize, impose, dictate Design4Change |

What is Council’s Purpose? By-Laws, Article II – Purpose: 1.Exchange information and communicate ideas about behavioral health planning; 2.Write and amend strategic plans for behavioral health services in Colorado and recommend these plans to Colorado state government; 3.Advise Colorado state government concerning proposed or adopted behavioral health service plans and their implementation; 4.Monitor, review and evaluate the provision of behavioral health services in Colorado and advise regarding quality and availability; 5.Develop and take advocacy positions on behavioral health policy; Design4Change |

What is OUR purpose? What is the real value of advice? Design4Change | RecoveryPreventionTreatment

What is Council’s Purpose? What does our work here today tell us about what is important to us as a group when we give advice to OBH? Design4Change |

What is Council’s Purpose? We have the pieces to this puzzle: 1.What inspired me to participate in Council? 2.Group norms that reflect participatory values – full participation, mutual understanding, inclusive solutions, and shared responsibility; 3.Confidence in and commitment to our advisory role with OBH. Design4Change |

Statement of Purpose for Council At the Behavioral Health Policy and Advisory Council, we believe… We are a diverse group of people with a commitment to… We will fulfill our advisory role by developing work that… Design4Change |

Next Steps What would you like to have happen at the next Council meeting so that momentum is not lost? Design4Change |