|
|
|
Virtual Center of Excellence
The Virtual Center of Excellence (VCE) was created by the Detroit-Wayne County CMH Agency (D-WCCMHA) in 2006 to promote System Transformation through workforce development. VCE is a network for the ongoing development and dissemination of information regarding best-practices for mental health and substance abuse service delivery.
The VCE is housed and coordinated by The Guidance Center of Southgate, and assists in developing and supporting the "Coalition of Partners". This coalition advances the mission and work of the VCE.
The following three elements, together, enable the development of a marketplace of best practices by forming a system which incorporates new knowledge, improves performance and creates a mechanism for the institutionalization and maintenance of best practices throughout Detroit and Wayne County:
Coalition-Building
- Identify organizations and solicit their participation
- Identify specific members to serve in the Coalition
- Ensure communication between partners (i.e. host VCE meetings)
- Obtain direction and advisement in meeting VCE goals
- Conduct regular VCE Coalition meetings
- Coordinate active interaction and exchange of information between research/evaluation, the Planning Council and various VCE training components
- Coordinate the research, development and dissemination of core competencies and training thresholds by monitoring implementation and providing continuous feedback
Education and Training
- Provide education for professionals, para-professionals, consumers, Board members and the community
- Oversee the development and implementation of Human Service, Social Work Mental Health, Gerontology, Direct Care Worker, Addiction Studies and Supervision curricula
- Oversee system-wide trainings and conferences, ensuring that appropriate CEUs are available
- Conduct a minimum of two annual conferences
- Develop distance learning, including web-based training
- Research, develop and disseminate core competencies and training thresholds
Science-Based Practice
- Identify, implement and evaluate mental health-relevant and evidence-based practices, sharing information at the University/College and community levels
- Support/Coordinate implementation of best-practice models
- Assess fidelity with best-practice models
- Facilitate implementation of new science-based practices
- Evaluate outcomes and performance indicators in partnership with practitioners
- Disseminate results at a state/national level, including the funding community (i.e. state and federal foundations
- Work toward informing curriculum development at the University/College level to aid in the preparation of a qualified workforce
- Establish website with best-practice materials
- Link the VCE website to other informational web-based centers
- Research, develop and disseminate core competencies and training thresholds
- Monitor fidelity in support of a continuous learning environment
- Confirm quality improvement through ongoing monitoring, evaluation and feedback
|
