ValueOptions Sponsors National Council for Behavioral Health's Addressing Health Disparities Leadership Program

NORFOLK, Va., Sept. 23, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- ValueOptions^®, Inc., a health improvement company specializing in mental and emotional wellbeing and recovery, today announced its sponsorship of the National Council for Behavioral Health's Addressing Health Disparities Leadership Program. 

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The program is a 10-month forum composed of 15 mid-level managers from community mental health and addiction treatment settings chosen for their leadership potential in the field of behavioral health. Through both in-person and virtual learning opportunities, participants explore the needs of an array of underserved populations, cultural differences as they relate to treatment, and the skills needed to more effectively manage employees.

As part of its support for the program, ValueOptions will host a forum Tuesday, Sept. 24, about the behavioral healthcare system. Clarence Jordan, Vice President, ValueOptions Wellness & Recovery, and Dr. Stephen Scroggs, Vice President, ValueOptions Federal Government Affairs and Development, will present and then moderate a discussion about some of the challenges faced by individuals using the system, specifically minorities eligible for Medicaid and veterans and their families. Attention will focus on the impact of stigma surrounding mental illness and solutions and services available to these populations, including the resources of the company's Stamp Out Stigma initiative that can be found at www.stampoutstigma.com.

"We're especially excited to have ValueOptions' support for the Addressing Health Disparities Leadership Program," said Linda Rosenberg, President and CEO, National Council for Behavioral Health. "As an innovator in managing behavioral health services, they have a real-world understanding about the challenges faced by our program's participants. With racial and ethnic minority groups expected to account for 90 percent of the increase in national population by 2050, a larger number of minority individuals than ever before will experience a mental health issue. It's crucial that we speak to their needs as these numbers grow."

The National Council established the Addressing Health Disparities Leadership Program in 2010 to provide a concrete strategy for participants to leverage their growing leadership potential to benefit colleagues, organizations, and communities throughout their careers. As is true of many healthcare providers, National Council members struggle to recruit and retain a diverse workforce that has the appropriate training to adapt clinical practices to clients' backgrounds and healthcare needs. For more information on the Addressing Health Disparities Leadership Program, visit www.thenationalcouncil.org.  

About National Council for Behavioral Health   
The National Council for Behavioral Health (National Council) is the unifying voice of America's community mental health and addictions treatment organizations. Together with our 2,000 member organizations, we serve our nation's most vulnerable citizens — the more than 8 million adults and children living with mental illnesses and addiction disorders. We are committed to ensuring all Americans have access to comprehensive, high-quality care that affords every opportunity for recovery and full participation in community life. The National Council pioneered Mental Health First Aid in the U.S. and has trained nearly 100,000 individuals to connect youth and adults in need to mental health and addictions care in their communities.

About ValueOptions^®
ValueOptions is a health improvement company that serves more than 32 million individuals. On behalf of employers, health plans and government agencies, we manage innovative programs and solutions that directly address the challenges our health care system faces today. A national leader in the fields of mental and emotional wellbeing, recovery and resilience, employee assistance, and wellness, ValueOptions helps people make the difficult life changes needed to be healthier and more productive. With offices nationwide and a network of more than 130,000 provider locations, ValueOptions helps people take important steps in the right direction. We help them live their lives to the fullest potential. Visit www.valueoptions.com for more information.

SOURCE ValueOptions