Implementation of the Depression and Anxiety Guidelines: Award for A Mental Health Coordinator

Currently, the social worker in our program provides 16 hours per week of mental health and case management support to our 100 patients. The professional currently in this position, Lori Yoder, LCSW, has 8 years of experience in Cystic Fibrosis and over 25 years of experience in mental health direct services. We are seeking to increase the salaried time for this position as not all patients in our program are receiving the same level of mental health screening and support. This is due to time limitations with this position. Social Work/Mental Health services are more reactionary and being provided to the most needy and/or most available patients. We believe an increase in social work/mental health services will have a direct positive impact on our patient population in the following ways: all patients will be adequately screened, referred, followed, and re-screened (if necessary.) As research shows, this will most likely improve adherence and health outcomes. We also would like to build mental health prevention and teaching into our clinic setting.