Wraparound Care for Mental Health in African American Population

Mental Health Care Coordination Plan

Introduction

African Americans have long been underserved by the mental health care system in the United States. In recent years, there has been a growing recognition of the need for improved care coordination for this population, with a focus on addressing psychosocial needs. One model of care coordination that has shown promise is the wraparound model. This model takes a holistic approach to care, focusing on the individual’s strengths and needs. It also emphasizes the importance of family and community support in the recovery process. The wraparound model has been successfully used with other populations and there is reason to believe it could be equally effective with African Americans. With its focus on strengths-based care and community support, the wraparound model has the potential to make a real difference in the lives of African Americans living with mental illness (Winters & Metz, 2009). Improving access to mental health care is the focus of this care coordination plan, particularly for the African American community. It also addresses the Healthy People 2030 challenge to “reduce the proportion of people who had opioid use disorder in the past year” (Healthy People 2030, 2021). As lack of mental health support can lead people to abuse substances like opioids, these two problems go together for the African American community. The third health care issue addressed in this plan is the issue of chronic health conditions that can impact mental health and making sure African Americans receive culturally competent health care services that will give them support for chronic health conditions (Moadel et al., 2007).

Patient-Centered Health Interventions and Timelines

Mental health is a growing concern in the African American community. According to the National Alliance on Mental Illness, one in five adults in the United States will experience mental illness in a given year, and African Americans are 20% more likely to experience serious mental health problems than the general population. While there is no silver bullet for addressing this complex issue, there are three patient-centered health interventions that have been shown to be effective in improving mental health outcomes in African American communities.

The first intervention is culturally competent care. This type of care takes into account the unique cultural and social needs of African Americans and seeks to provide care that is respectful and responsive to those needs. A recent study found that African Americans who receive culturally competent care are more likely to adhere to treatment plans and experience fewer hospitalizations (Moadel et al., 2007). The second intervention is peer support. This involves connecting patients with others who have similar experiences and can provide emotional support and practical advice. For example, one program that has been shown to be effective is called “Friends for Life,” which pairs African American cancer patients with trained peer mentors. This can help reduce the opioid abuse problem. The third intervention is community-based care. This type of care takes place outside of traditional medical settings and seeks to address the social determinants of health that impact mental health. One promising approach is called “wraparound services,” which provide comprehensive support to families dealing with mental illness (Walker & Sanders, 2011). It can be used to ensure that access to mental health care is sufficient for the community.

While these interventions each have their own timeline for implementation, they all share one common goal: to improve mental health outcomes in African American communities. By working together, nurses and leaders can ensure that these interventions are successful in making a lasting difference. There is no timeline that should be used to constrain any of these interventions, but outcomes should be measured using surveys, interviews, and focus groups to determine a baseline satisfaction level and post-intervention satisfaction levels of stakeholders to ensure effectiveness.

Community Resources

There are a number of initiatives that have been launched to improve mental health outcomes in the African American community. These include the National Black Mental Health Alliance, the Black Emotional and Mental Health Collective, and the #MentalHealthMatters campaign. Other available community resources for a safe and effective continuum of care for this population include primarily faith-based services (Avent & Cashwell, 2015). Indeed, there are a number of available community resources for a safe and effective continuum of care for African Americans regarding mental health. But these resources tend mainly to include local support groups, faith-based organizations, and online communities (Avent & Cashwell, 2015). Local support groups can provide a safe space for African Americans to share their experiences and find support from others who understand what they are going through. Faith-based organizations can also be a source of support, offering both practical and spiritual guidance. Finally, online communities can provide an anonymous forum for discussion and support for the population. With the help of these resources, African Americans can receive the care and support they need to maintain their mental health.

Ethics

The ethical principle of beneficence states that counselors have a duty to promote the welfare of their clients (ACA, 2014). This principle is particularly relevant when working with clients who have mental health concerns, as they may be especially vulnerable and in need of support. When developing a care coordination plan for a client with mental health concerns, counselors should keep the principle of beneficence in mind and strive to promote the client\\\\\\\'s well-being. This may involve connecting the client with resources such as support groups or therapy, providing education about mental health and wellness, and offering reassurance and encouragement. By working to promote the client\\\\\\\'s welfare, counselors can help create a plan that meets the client\\\\\\\'s needs and contributes to their overall well-being.

Additionally, one of the most important ethical considerations is informed consent, which means that patients must be fully informed about the risks and benefits of any proposed intervention before they give their consent to participate. Informed consent must be obtained from all patients who will be participating in an intervention, regardless of whether they will be receiving direct care or not. Additionally, it is important to consider the practical effects and the possibility of harm when designing patient-centered health interventions. Even interventions with the best of intentions can lead to unintended consequences that may harm patients. As such, it is essential to carefully consider the risks and benefits of any proposed intervention before moving forward with implementation. By taking these ethical considerations into account, designers of patient-centered health interventions can help to ensure that the rights and well-being of patients are protected.

As a mental health care professional, I am also constantly grappling with ethical questions regarding the best course of action for my patients. In particular, working with the black community has raised a number of unique challenges. On the one hand, I want to do everything in my power to help this underserved population get the care they need. However, I also worry about the potential for doing more harm than good. For example, is it ethically responsible to prescribe medications that may have harmful side effects? Should I be providing therapy that is culturally specific? How can I address the historical trauma and psychosocial needs of this community in a way that is not harmful? These are just some of the questions that generate uncertainty about the decisions I have made regarding mental health care interventions for the black community. Ultimately, there are no easy answers, and I continue to struggle with how best to proceed.

In order to ensure that patients receive the best possible care, it is essential that providers coordinate their efforts. This can be done in a number of ways, including through the use of electronic health records and sharing information about patients\\\\\\\' care plans. Additionally, it is important to have a clear understanding of the specific health policy provisions that relate to the coordination and continuum of care. These provisions can vary from one country to another, and from one state to the next, so it is important to be familiar with the relevant policies in one’s own locale.

Additionally, a care coordinator’s top priority is always the safety and well-being of their patient. In order to establish a care plan that will best serve the patient, the coordinator will first assess the individual\\\\\\\'s needs and then create a plan that meets those needs. The care plan will be based on evidence-based practice, meaning it is informed by research and experiences of other healthcare professionals. Once the care plan is created, the coordinator will discuss it with the patient and their family members. They will take into account the preferences of the patient and their family, making changes to the plan as necessary. The goal is to create a care plan that is tailored to the individual and that will help them to achieve their healthcare goals.