Improving Mental Healthcare through
Collaboration
Problem:
1. The psychosocial and mental health needs of patients in communities
cared for by CCHF members are great.
2. Many CCHF members perceive that their resources to respond
to these needs are inadequate.
One Step in the Right Direction: Collaborate with faith-based
colleges & universities offering graduate training in mental
health-related fields.
Using student trainees to help provide mental health services
is based upon the well-established, successful model used in medicine.
Trainees bring a high level of energy and state-of-the-art expertise
to a setting. Their involvement can enhance existing systems of
care or make new programs possible that would not be economically
feasible otherwise. The use of students may also provide access
to valuable resources in the trainee’s educational institution,
such as costly psychological assessment materials, high quality
supervisory personnel, library holdings and computer technology.
Top 6 Advantages of Collaboration*:
1. Strengthened professional/ community relationships 88%
2. Personal/professional stimulation & support 80%
3. Enhanced mission 73%
4. Increased scope of services 69%
5. Increased quality of services 57%
6. Cost effectiveness 52%
*Based upon a survey of CCHF members: Canning, Jenkins &
Bines, 2003.
Collaboration Resources:
Looking for a Christian college or university that could be a
source of mental health trainees to serve in your setting?
Click here to access a national map of CCHF affiliated ministries
and faith-based colleges & universities with graduate programs
in mental health related fields.
(Mapping funded by a generous fellowship from Community Campus
Partnerships for Health, www.ccph.info to Sally Schwer Canning,
Ph.D.,Wheaton College.
