Graduate Psychology Education Program Graduate Psychology Education Program Behavioral Health Psychology Training on the U.S.- Mexico Border

Purpose of the GPEP Offer an integrated approach to health care through collaborative training that will truly socialize trainees to the biopsychosocial model of health Teach mental health trainees to provide culturally competent care in primary care settings with medically underserved populations Teach medical residents how to become more familiar with behavioral health issues and the mental health professionals to which they will ultimately refer patients Benefit the community by improving health services via integrated care

Grant Objectives 1.To increase the number of counseling psychologists (by 600%), social workers (by 300%), and family medicine physicians (by 29%) trained to provide integrated health care to underserved populations in medically underserved areas, particularly along the US-Mexico border. 2.To train students in culturally appropriate practices. 3.To enhance trainees’ self-efficacy regarding their assessment, intervention and consultation skills in multidisciplinary primary care settings. 4.To provide training in bilingual counseling to Counseling Psychology and Master of Social Work trainees. 5.To assess patients on patient variables related to utilization of health services.

Trainees NMSU Ph.D. Counseling Psychology N=6 yr.1, N=7 yr.2 NMSU MSW Students N=4 yr.1, N=4 yr.2 MMC Family Medicine Residents N=16 yr.1, N=4 yr.2

Methodology MPH 563 – Interdisciplinary Seminar in US- Mexico Border Health Issues - Fall Semester. Course is co-taught by a counseling psychologist, physician, social worker, and health educator.

Activities 6 case studies addressing integrative care, and examined by these students using Problem-Based Learning Visits were made to 2 interdisciplinary, integrative, border community health centers. Guest speakers have included: Betty Duran, MPH - an American Indian healer, spoke on American Indian Health Hugo Vilchis, MD, MPH - the director of the Border Epidemiology Center, spoke on the Mexican Healthcare System Tommy Thompson, PhD - a psychologist working at a primary care setting spoke on Neuropsychology. Stacy Ackerlind, Ph.D. - a CEP alumnus who did her post doc in a Family Medicine Clinic at the Univ of Utah.

CEP 670 Behavioral Health Practicum - Spring Semester Course is co-taught by two counseling psychologists (one bilingual) and a social worker faculty. Trainees receive interdisciplinary supervision. Bilingual students receive bilingual supervision

CEP 670 Trainees are placed in community-based, interdisciplinary, primary care settings where they provide services to medically underserved and vulnerable populations.

Training Sites Family Medicine Center of Southern New Mexico Family Practice Residency at MMC Las Cruces High School Student Health Centers Munson Senior Center - City of Las Cruces center La Clinica de Familia - Community Health Center Camino de Vida - comprehensive care to persons with HIV/AIDS Tresco Outreach and Training Services - serves NM infants & toddlers who are at risk for a DD NMSU Student Health Center – serving DABCC students

Direct Service Activities The 8 mental health trainees had a total of 531 client hours in these settings. Only 18% of these clients have insurance. 41% self-pay/are uninsured, 14% Medicare, and 27% Medicaid. 65% of clients are Hispanic, 6% American Indian, and 4% are Biracial.

Training Activities Two hours of group supervision and 1 hour of individual supervision. Each CP and MSW trainee presents four patient cases that included an examination of relevant biopsychosocial contributors to health status, with special attention paid to cultural factors. 3 mental health trainees participated in bilingual supervision on their bilingual behavioral healthcare in 2005, and 8 are currently.

Speakers Joseph Casciani, PhD, president of VeriCare, a national provider of behavioral health services spoke on the characteristics and principles of integrated care. Luis Vargas, PhD, Director of Training for the psychology internship at UNM Health Sciences Center, provided case consultation on culturally competent care. Luis Vazquez, PhD, CEP Department Head, gave a weekend workshop, “Using an interpreter/ translator: Making the right decisions both ethically and legally”.

Health Careers Opportunities Program Three CP students provided 86 hours of personal and career counseling to 34 HCOP students during their summer program. 94% of these HCOP students are ethnic minorities and 91% are disadvantaged. The CP students addressed cultural and social factors in career decision making when discussing the results of career interests and academic achievement issues. The CP students also provided 6 psychoeducational workshops to the HCOP students on: career development, conflict management, relationships/intimacy, stress management, risk/harm reduction, and health behaviors/increasing resiliency. The CP students made a point of emphasizing the interrelatedness of physical and mental health.