Section DHS 61.77 - Consultation and education programPrevention is as important to mental illness as it is to physical illness. Certain facts and relationships between mental illness and environmental factors, individual personal contacts, and human development stages can be the basis for sound primary prevention programs. Education programs designed to increase the understanding and acceptance of the mentally ill are especially vital as increased numbers of persons receive needed treatment in their own community. Such programs can help prevent the chronicity of recurrence of mental illness. They can bring persons to seek counsel or treatment earlier and help to remove what has been an unacceptable "label" for family, friends, and co-workers. Because consultation and education programs are required elements of community mental health programs, the activities must be as well defined, organized and provided for as those for other program elements. Mental health staff and time allocations must be made and structured consultation and education programs designed and carried out.
(1) CONSULTATION REQUIRED PERSONNEL. The mental health coordinator or designee shall be responsible for the consultation program. Mental health staff shall respond to individual consultation requests. In addition staff shall actively initiate consultation relationships with community service agency staff and human service personnel such as clergy, teachers, police officers and others.(2) CONSULTATION SERVICE CONTENT. (a) No less than 20% of the total mental health program staff time, exclusive of clerical personnel and inpatient staff shall be devoted to consultation. The service shall include: 1. Case-related consultation.2. Problem-related consultation.3. Program and administrative consultation.(b) There shall be a planned consultation program using individual staff skills to provide technical work-related assistance and to advise on mental health programs and principles. The following human service agencies and individuals shall have priority for the service:4. Law enforcement agencies5. Nursing/transitional homes9. Social service agencies(3) EDUCATION REQUIRED PERSONNEL. The qualified educator maintained by the community board shall be responsible for the mental health education program. Refer to this chapter. Mental health staff members shall cooperate and assist in designing and carrying out the mental health education program, providing their specialized knowledge on a regular, established basis to a variety of specified activities of the service. In cooperation with the education specialist maintained by the board, additional education staff may be employed on a full-time or part-time basis. Education services can also be contracted for through the same procedures followed for other service elements contracts.(4) EDUCATION SERVICE CONTENT. No less than 10% of the total mental health program staff time exclusive of clerical personnel and inpatient staff shall be devoted to education. The service shall include:(b) Continuing education. (5) EDUCATION PROGRAM. There shall be a planned program of public education designed primarily to prevent mental illness and to foster understanding and acceptance of the mentally ill. A variety of adult education methods shall be used including institutes, workshops, projects, classes and community development for human services agencies, individuals and for organized law groups and also the public information techniques for the general public. There shall be a planned program of continuing education using a variety of adult education methods and available educational offerings of universities, professional associations, etc. for agency staff and related care-giving staff.Wis. Admin. Code Department of Health Services DHS 61.77
Cr. Register, March, 1977, No. 255, eff. 4-1-77; renum. from PW-MH 60.69, Register, September, 1982, No. 321, eff. 10-1-82; correction made under s. 13.93(2m) (b) 7, Stats., Register, June, 1995, No. 474.