Blog Layout

Governor's Mental Health Road Map

Governor Gordon Announces Roadmap to Improve Mental Health Care in Wyoming

By Michael Pearlman

Governor Gordon Announces Roadmap to Improve Mental Health Care in Wyoming



Governor of Wyoming sent this bulletin at 01/29/2024 04:18 PM MST

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

January 29, 2024

CONTACT: Michael Pearlman, Communications Director

Michael.Pearlman@wyo.gov

 

Governor Gordon Announces Roadmap to Improve Mental Health Care in Wyoming

Priorities will build and expand on existing efforts

 

CHEYENNE, Wyo. – Governor Mark Gordon today announced the launch of an initiative to address Wyoming’s ongoing mental health crisis. The Governor’s “Mental Health Roadmap” takes steps to advancing systemic behavioral health reform in Wyoming, identifying five pillars that are critical to improving outcomes for those who are battling mental health issues. The strategy builds and expands upon existing programs and reflects the ongoing work of many people across Wyoming, as well as the Legislature. 


The five pillars are:

  • Access to Care-- Ensuring residents have access to the continuum of behavioral health services.
  • Affordability of Care-- Ensuring cost is not a barrier to accessing services in Wyoming.
  • Quality of Care-- Delivering the highest quality of service based on best practices and evidence-based research.
  • Innovation--Constantly thinking of ways to improve our system based on new research and information. 
  • Suicide Prevention and Anti-Stigma efforts


Each pillar has priorities and key strategies to achieve those priorities.


“The community engagement that we’ve had, including the recent mental health town halls, along with the work of the legislative and judicial branches have led us to identify our priorities and our most significant challenges,” Governor Gordon said. “We know how critical it is to Wyoming’s future to address the mental healthcare needs of our residents.”


Some of the priority strategies identified in the mental health roadmap incorporate work that is already underway. This includes the Mental Health Diversion Court Pilot Project in Campbell County; healthcare workforce development efforts through the Wyoming Innovation Partnership and Veterans Talking to Veterans.


Other strategies are included in the Governor’s budget proposal, including full funding for the Wyoming 988 suicide prevention hotline, along with the addition of text and chat services; redesign of community behavioral health services; funding for pediatric virtual mental health services; and funding for mobile crisis services to support first responders when they respond to behavioral health crises. 

A copy of the Mental Health Roadmap may be found here. The complete Wyoming Behavioral Health Reform Report can be found through a link on the Governor’s Mental Health website


-END-




Disclaimer


This web site is provided for educational and informational purposes only and does not constitute providing medical advice or professional services. The information provided should not be used for diagnosing or treating a health problem or disease, and those seeking personal medical advice should consult with a licensed physician. Always seek the advice of your doctor or other qualified health provider regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on the Wyoming Medical Society's website. If you think you may have a medical emergency, call 911 immediately. No physician-patient relationship is created by this web site or its use. Neither WMS nor its employees, nor any contributor to this web site, makes any representations, express or implied, with respect to the information provided herein or to its use.

WyoMed Blog

March 17, 2025
Medical Coding Challenges for Physicians (and How to Beat Them) By Robert McDermott, President & CEO, iCoreConnect Medical coding might not be something you think about daily, but it’s the backbone of every successful medical practice. When it’s working smoothly, everything runs as it should. But without it, operations can stop in their tracks. These codes help document and classify diagnoses, procedures, and treatments, making them essential for billing, insurance claims, and overall practice management. But let’s be honest–medical coding isn’t easy. What is easy? Using the right technology to simplify the process. That’s where iCoreCodeGenius from Friend of WMS, iCoreConnect, comes in. This software stays up-to-date with coding changes, saving you time and effort. And when it comes to addressing medical coding challenges, the right software makes all the difference. Learn more! — Links to https://www.icoreconnect.com/wy-enews-0325
March 7, 2025
Advocacy Updates 2025
February 21, 2025
Save the Date: 2025 WMS Annual Conference Date Announced  WMS is proud and excited to announce that the 2025 WMS Annual Conference will be held in Laramie, WY, November 14-15, 2025, at the Marian H. Rochelle Gateway Center on the University of Wyoming campus. Conference information and registrations will be released as soon as possible. For the most up-to-date conference details, visit the WMS Annual Meeting Website .
January 17, 2025
WMS: Be The Voice Of Medicine 
December 13, 2024
What's the best way to protect kids’ skin from sunburn? Sheilagh M. Maguiness, MD, FAAD, FAAP As a pediatric dermatologist, I know how important it is to protect children's delicate skin from the sun's harsh rays. As the mom of two boys, I also know how challenging it can be to slather sunscreen on squirmy kids every two hours. It helps to know that sunscreen is only one of several tools you can use together to prevent burns on all those wonderfully sunny summer days. Cover up for UV protection Sun protective clothing, for example, is another way to help protect against sunburn . Especially for younger children, it can be easier to keep them covered than to rely on getting the right amount of sunscreen on their skin—especially when they're outside for long periods of time. There are many options today for lightweight sun protection factor (SPF) or ultraviolet protection factor (UPF) hats, shirts, pants and swimsuits. Most are rated UPF 50. When you don't have access to sun protection clothes, dress your child in clothing made with a tight weave. These will protect them better than clothes with a looser weave, which won't block as many rays. If you're not sure how tight a fabric's weave is, hold it up to see how much light shines through. The less light, the better. For hats, pick one with a 3-inch brim all around to shield the face, ears and back of the neck. And once your child is about 6 months old, sunglasses can help protect their eyes from the sun. Look for youth-sized sunglasses with at least 99% UV protection. Peak sunlight hours & when to seek shade When the UV index is highest, between 11 a.m. and 4 p.m., try to find shade under a tree, an umbrella or the stroller canopy. It is especially important to keep babies younger than 6 months out of direct sunlight as much as you can. You can also check the UV index on your smartphone to help you decide how much sun protection is needed. Just open your weather app and scan for the UV index number, if it is 3 or higher you and your children need full sun protection. If your older kids complain, tell them they can break out their two piece or remove their sun shirt/rash guard early in the morning or after 4 p.m. when the index is lower. Don't forget that skin can burn even on cloudy days, since up to 80% of the sun's UV rays can get through the clouds. UV rays can also bounce back from water, sand, snow and concrete, so make sure your child is protected when it's overcast, too. What to know about sunscreen Over the past few years there has been a lot of new information and even some controversy surrounding sunscreen ingredients. There have also been large consumer recalls of sunscreens due to contamination concerns. All this has led a lot of parents to question what the safest options are. Mineral sunscreens I generally recommend that parents choose sunscreens that contain zinc oxide and titanium dioxide. These are well-known mineral ingredients that are generally recognized as safe and effective (GRASE) by the U.S. Food & Drug Administration. They are broad-spectrum, meaning they block both UVA and UVB rays and are a great choice for children and babies. Zinc oxide and titanium dioxide should be clearly listed on the label as "active ingredients." A zinc oxide-based sunscreen, 20% or higher would give great protection for those exposed areas on babies and children—adults too! Stick, lotion, cream or spray sunscreen? For babies and toddlers , the mineral stick sunscreens containing at least 20% zinc oxide are a wonderful choice. Sunscreen in stick form is easy and hassle-free for parents to swipe the stick on the face and hands (and don't forget the ears and the neck, since those areas often get missed!). This is a less messy way to apply the sunscreen and there's no liquid or lotion to run into the baby's eyes and cause irritation. For older children , a mineral-based cream or lotion, again with 15-20% zinc oxide, is a great option. There are many out on the market now that will rub in nicely, but some will still have a whitish cast. This can be an issue, particularly for anyone with skin of color. Luckily, companies are offering tinted versions for face that can offset that ghost-like appearance. I also recommend choosing a formula that is fragrance-free and hypoallergenic, to avoid possible skin irritation. As for sprays , this is where things can get complicated. Sunscreen sprays are most often made with the chemical ingredients (read more below). They also contain propellant chemicals, which are irritating and should not be inhaled by babies and children. There was a large recall of various sunscreens due to contamination issues in the summer of 2021. The majority of them were sprays. I view this as another reason to choose a zinc oxide cream when in doubt. Any type of sunscreen is better than none For exposed skin on sunny days, using any sunscreen is better than none. However, recent studies have shown that some of the common chemicals found in sunscreens (such as oxybenzone, avobenzone, homosalate and several others) can be absorbed through the skin and found in the blood and body fluids after even one application. This led the FDA to make some changes to sunscreens they accept as GRASE. The FDA's reasoning is that many of the chemical sunscreen ingredients could use more data to address the potential effects of being absorbed. However, this all must be balanced with the risk of getting a sunburn, since even one severe sunburn increases a child's risk for skin cancer later on. How much sunscreen to use Consider that it takes a full ounce (picture a full shot glass) of sunscreen to fully cover an adult's body. That's about two milligrams of sunscreen per square centimeter of skin. Small children may only need about half that amount, but it can be a challenge for them to stay still long enough for you to apply a good layer. Stick sunscreen can be easier to use on areas like the face. With your help, they may even want to "draw" it on. How often do you need to reapply sunscreen? No matter what type of sunscreen you use, reapply it every couple of hours and after swimming. You should do this even if the label says "waterproof," because there are no truly waterproof sunscreen formulas. Remember Roughly a quarter of lifetime sun exposure happens during childhood and adolescence. Kids spend a lot of time outdoors, especially in the summer, so it's important to build sun-safe habits that don't take away from the fun of outside play . If you have any questions about your child's skin, talk with your pediatrician. More information Sun Safety: Information for Parents About Sunburn and Sunscreen Skin Cancer: What Parents Need to Know Playing Outside: Why It's Important for Kids Sunburn: Treatment & Prevention Sheilagh M. Maguiness, MD, FAAD, FAAP ​Sheilagh M. Maguiness, MD, FAAD, FAAP , is a past American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) Section on Dermatology Executive Committee member and Chair of the AAP Section on Dermatology Education Sub-Committee. She is a Professor of Dermatology and Pediatrics at the University of Minnesota. Last Updated 8/9/2024 Source American Academy of Pediatrics Section on Dermatology (Copyright © 2024​) The information contained on this Web site should not be used as a substitute for the medical care and advice of your pediatrician. There may be variations in treatment that your pediatrician may recommend based on individual facts and circumstances.
November 29, 2024
AI Advancements in Healthcare: Physicians are using technology for everything from improving patient care to helping with menial tasks
November 15, 2024
Dr. Tina Stanco: Recent geriatric fellowship graduate and former Navy corpsman accepts role as Casper residency faculty member
November 1, 2024
Dr. Monica Bertagnolli: National Institutes of Health director embraces Wyoming roots, focuses on rural medicine
October 18, 2024
Too Young to be Diagnosed: Aaron Booker Firefighter Cancer Screening Act highlights prevalence of early cancer in firefighters
By Spencer Weston, MD October 4, 2024
Harnessing the power of technology
September 20, 2024
Are Your Family’s Students Up to Date on Vaccines? Wyoming Department of Health Press Release The Wyoming Department of Health (WDH) encourages parents to remember important vaccinations for their children along with lunches, notebooks and backpacks as students begin a new school year. “Children have returned to schools, where they are in close contact with each other all day. It doesn’t take much to spread illness,” said Dr. Alexia Harrist, state health officer and state epidemiologist with WDH. “We are thankful to have vaccines to help protect our kids from many life-threatening diseases such as measles and whooping cough.” Some vaccines are required for attendance at public and private schools and child care facilities in Wyoming. Kindergarteners should be up-to-date on DTaP, MMR, hepatitis B, polio and varicella vaccinations. Children who are 11 through 12 years old should receive a Tdap vaccination. Depending on individual school rules, children who have not completed their required vaccinations may be put on conditional enrollment or be excluded from school. “We encourage parents to keep their children up-to-date on required immunizations, as well as others we recommend such as for flu, HPV, meningococcal, hepatitis A and COVID-19,” Harrist said. “These are all great tools to help keep Wyoming kids healthy.” Harrist noted cost should not be a barrier to vaccinations for Wyoming’s children. “For children with health insurance, vaccination costs are covered by most policies,” she said. “In addition, more than 100 Wyoming providers offer low-cost vaccines for qualifying children who may need help paying for vaccinations through the Vaccines for Children program.” WDH suggests families look up their children’s vaccination records in Docket, a secure website and smartphone app offered by the department. Docket can be used to create an official record of vaccinations that have been reported to the Wyoming Immunization Registry and can notify users when vaccinations are due. Docket is also available for adults in Wyoming. For more information about vaccine records, visit immunizewyoming.com and look for the “Vaccine Records and Docket” tab. Residents may also visit immunizewyoming.com and click on the “Find a Provider” tab to find nearby vaccine providers and more information about programs in Wyoming offering financial help for vaccinations.
August 16, 2024
Changes Underway for Wyoming’s Behavioral Health System Wyoming Department of Health Press Release After several years of planning and coordination with partners across the state, changes to Wyoming’s behavioral health system are underway, according to the Wyoming Department of Health (WDH). “For many years, our department has paid millions of state dollars to community mental health centers to help ensure access for Wyoming residents who sought care for mental health and substance use related issues regardless of their ability to pay,” said Stefan Johansson, WDH director. “It’s one of our largest budget items and is clearly important, but there have been challenges.” A significant new law passed in 2021 by the Wyoming Legislature supported efforts to strengthen Wyoming’s behavioral health system. A chief goal is focusing state resources on those who need them most: acute psychiatric adults, criminal justice involved clients, high needs children and families and low income and indigent general access populations. Johansson said, “We really want to help ensure high-needs people facing serious mental illness do not fall through the cracks before their needs grow. As we have carefully prepared for these changes, a focus for our department and our partners has been to help answer the question of ‘What is state government’s role?’” To help direct the state dollars toward where and when they are needed most, the redesigned process is meant to help ensure people seeking services who could qualify for financial help from other sources such as Wyoming Medicaid or private insurance are supported through those sources rather than through state funding alone. “When Wyoming’s community mental health system was designed, there was less financial support available for behavioral health services through options such as private insurance. But that has since changed, which presents an opportunity to potentially share the financial load,” Johansson said. Franz Fuchs, senior policy analyst with WDH, said “One thing people will notice is all residents seeking state-paid behavioral health services must now submit an application through Wyoming Medicaid. While this does not mean you have to be eligible for Medicaid to be helped, this step will check for other potential pay sources beyond state general funds and verify income, citizenship and residency.” Without an application on file, WDH will not be able to pay for services received after July 1. “The community health centers and organizations such as Enroll Wyoming can help people complete the needed application,” Fuchs said. Because Wyoming Medicaid is also part of WDH, using existing systems to check eligibility and to manage payments to the community mental health centers is an efficient solution. Fuchs acknowledged some individuals will no longer be eligible for state-supported services from the community mental health center network. These include people with incomes over 200 percent of the Federal Poverty Level (FPL) who do not have significant behavioral health needs. For those in this group who do not already have insurance, heavily subsidized insurance is likely available through the federal marketplace . There are also changes to provider payments. “We’re moving from block grants to a mix of block grants, service payments and outcome payments,” Fuchs said. “The hope for many involved in this redesign effort is that focusing the state’s resources on high-needs clients may eventually lead to cost-savings and reduced pressure on other elements of Wyoming’s behavioral health system such as frustrating waiting lists,” Fuchs said. “If we can reduce repeated hospitalizations or divert people from institutional settings in the first place, that’s a win for both clients and for our state facilities.”  Matt Petry, Behavioral Health Division senior administrator with WDH, said, “We are making big changes and we certainly recognize that change isn’t always easy. We are truly grateful and want to thank our partners in Wyoming’s community mental health centers, law enforcement personnel, leaders in local and state correctional facilities, judicial system representatives, Department of Family Services staff and the state’s policymakers for their participation and willingness to work with us.”
July 19, 2024
The Importance of Family Routines Content brought to you by the American Academy of Pediatrics
By Byron Glathar June 24, 2024
The City and the Psychiatric Hospital
By AAP June 19, 2024
#WEAREFIRSTLINE Content brought to you by the American Academy of Pediatrics
By Elizabeth Sampson June 17, 2024
Gaining ground: Wyoming combats high suicide rates, but there's still a big climb ahead
By AHA June 12, 2024
People Matter, Words Matter Content brought to you by The American Hospital Association
By Nick Healey, JD, Claire Postman, JD June 10, 2024
Gun-free zones: What almost was and what remains after the veto of HB125
By AAP June 5, 2024
Three R's of Trauma-Informed Care Content brought to you by the American Academy of Pediatrics
By Kevin Bohnenblust, JD June 3, 2024
Mental Health Care and the Ability to Practice Safe Medicine
By Wyoming Medical Society May 29, 2024
2024 WMS Annual Conference Content brought to you by The Wyoming Medical Society
By Sheila Bush - WMS Executive Director May 27, 2024
Prioritizing mental health and well-being
By The Doctors Company May 15, 2024
What U.S. Healthcare Will Look Like In 2033 Content brought to you by The Doctors Company
By AAP, PATTeR May 1, 2024
PATTeR Child Health Advice for Trauma (CHAT) Content brought to you by AAP - PATTeR
By Wyoming Department of Health April 18, 2024
Childhood and Teen Vaccines Content brought to you by the Immunization Unit of the Wyoming Department of Health
By American Academy of Pediatrics April 4, 2024
When Things aren't perfect: caring for yourself and your children Content provided by HealthyChildren.org
By iCoreConnect March 20, 2024
Sobering Email Security Stats You Need To Know Content brought to you by Robert McDermott - President & CEO iCoreConnect
By Children's Hospital Colorado March 6, 2024
How to Support Neurodivergent Kids: A Parents Guide to Neurodiversity Content brought to you by Children's Hospital Colorado
By The Centers for Disease Control February 28, 2024
Top Things Parents Need to Know About Measles Content brought to you by the Centers for Disease Control
By The American Medical Association February 22, 2024
Physicians and nonphysicians: What are the differences? Content brought to you by the American Medical Association
By UpandAway.org & the CDC February 14, 2024
Keep your children safe - put medicine up and away and out of sight Content brought to you by upandaway.org
February 8, 2024
The ABCs of CGM: Implementing Continuous Glucose Monitoring By Tamara Oser, M.D., and Sean Oser, M.D., M.P.H., from the AAFP Blog
By American Academy of Pediatrics January 25, 2024
Measles reported in multiple states; be prepared to take infection-control steps Content provided by American Academy of Pediatrics
By HealthyChildren.org January 17, 2024
How to Protect Kids From Tobacco Product Use and Exposure Content provided by HealthyChildren.org
By CDC's Project Firstline January 11, 2024
Cleaning and disinfection are important in health care because they keep germs away from people and keep infections from spreading. Content provided by Centers for Disease Control
By Rachel Girt January 4, 2024
Support for Ukraine: Wyoming doctors find a way to help kids in a country at war
By Content from Wyoming 211 December 30, 2023
Get To Know Wyoming 211 Content provided by Wyoming 211
By Whitney Harmon December 16, 2023
Rodeo Medicine: Even the toughest cowboys need doctors
By Centers for Disease Control & Project Firstline December 1, 2023
Handwashing: A Family Activity Content provided by Centers for Disease Control
By ELIZABETH SAMPSON November 18, 2023
Important Oversight or Delay Tactics? Doctors push back against prior authorization complications
By Content Provided By HealthyChildren.org November 1, 2023
Parenting After Trauma: Understanding Your Child's Needs Content provided by Healthychildren.org
By Nick Healey October 13, 2023
A Higher Power: Physician obligations to report another physician's conduct under Wyoming law 
By American Academy of Pediatrics October 1, 2023
Safe and Sound: Helping Children Who Have Experienced Trauma and Adversity Content provided by American Academy of Pediatrics
By Kristopher Schamber - WMS President September 15, 2023
Not Just Politics: Wyoming Medical Society offers members connections and support
By The Doctors Company August 31, 2023
Five Key Concerns of Medical Professionals Post-Roe Content provided by The Doctors Company
By Kelly Etzel Douglas August 18, 2023
Gender-Affirming Care: Providers and advocates navigate the needs of a small community
By Healthychildren.org July 31, 2023
Childhood Trauma: 3 Ways to Help Kids Cope Content provided by Healthychildren.org
By Kristopher Schamber, MD - WMS President June 16, 2023
Wyoming Medical Society Mission: Advocating for doctors and their patients since 1903
By https://cancerscreeningwy.org May 31, 2023
Wyoming’s cancer rates are among the worst in the country. Early detection saves lives, and getting screened can prevent or improve outcomes for cancers when caught early.
By Nick Healey and Teddy Boyer - Crowley Fleck Law May 12, 2023
The Shield Becomes a Sword - Wyoming’s constitutional right to make healthcare decisions
More Posts
Share by: