CEOs and Executive Directors in behavioral health organizations always have essential decisions. They are managing employee productivity while retaining and supporting employees. They achieve budget projections, strategic goals, and continuous quality improvement plans. But COVID threw all operations into a perfect storm, challenging leaders throughout the country.
One question remains as we navigate the continuing uncertainty of whether WFH (working from home) remains the standard or whether agencies return to their previous operations. This question pertains to how each agency perceives its survival in the next three to five years:
Are you a sinker, a swimmer, or a flyer?
A 2020 study taken on by Open Minds showed that, within three years, organizations show different patterns. 9% are flyers. That means they take the disadvantages and challenges of the industry and learn to thrive. They look for new business opportunities or modify their agency to meet the new challenges. They don’t stand by idly and wait for new contracts; they seek out potential payers, new services, or ways to maximize their cash flow.
17% of the organizations in the study are sinkers. They are drowning in negative cash flow, reduction in the census, and increased employee turnover, and they don’t know how they will hang on. These symptoms often occur because the organization is short-sighted; they stick to one program or business philosophy while things change around them. We see it here in California with the old-time group homes, many of whom closed rather than become STRTPs. They didn’t want to change and, as a result, were gone or will be gone. And the concept of merging is possible for some agencies. But when an agency merges out of necessity, it’s like going to the bank when you need a loan. You’re in a desperate and non-advantageous position.
And the rest, 74%, are swimmers. They are still making it, but that could be treading water or swimming. Most behavioral health agencies take this stance because they are afraid to move forward. When employees, board members, or leaders are stuck in the same place, they can make changes, but these are too small to make a significant difference in the company’s bottom line.
One company Praxes worked with had this debacle. The president of their board of directors approached us to do a needs assessment. They were a residential facility becoming an STRTP, but they couldn’t see future opportunities ahead. The president wanted to identify other business prospects. He was a successful head of a business, and as he saw, businesses need to profit and grow to stay alive. Yet he kept butting heads with the staff leaders who wanted the status quo. We would describe them as swimmers; they would survive but always be the “one-trick-pony,” relying on one county’s referrals for youths and not wishing to expand. After our needs assessment, we recommended that they look at utilizing their existing beds for managed care residential services. We also suggested they expand into behavioral health outpatient and foster care services since they had a great relationship with their county. These ideas would have improved their success in the future. The board liked the idea, but the agency leadership wasn’t on board. So, in the end, they are still swimming instead of flying.
As your agency moves forward, ask whether sinking, swimming, or flying is more of what you want to do in the next few years. It takes courage to fly, but it can improve your long-term success.
Got questions? We've got answers.
PRAXES is a nationwide behavioral health software, consulting, and training company. No one in the behavioral health industry has a better reputation, and if you give us the chance, we’ll show you why! At PRAXES, our services improve the efficiency and structure of behavioral health agencies serving children and families nationwide. PRAXES brings over 45 years of administrative and clinical expertise. With more than 100 client companies nationwide, we offer the expertise to advance the quality of behavioral health services. We accomplish these goals through our new clinical decision software, our training of best practices, and helping companies meet regulatory standards. At PRAXES, we believe in being creative and fostering new ways to serve children and their families. Our vision is to empower the families our agencies serve with skills that not only improve their functioning, but help them to thrive in their everyday lives. When you give us the chance, you’ll be connected directly to our friendly staff, so you can expect immediate attention to your inquiry. So, don’t wait, call now!
Dan Thorne has unique perspectives on the field of mental health. As a clinician, he has had over 40 years of experience working with clients in the Southern California area. After obtaining his Bachelor’s degree from the University of California at Irvine, he worked with children in the Orange County Juvenile Hall. Here he honed his earliest techniques on at-risk children. After that, he obtained his Master’s degree in Counseling from California State University, Fullerton.
In the 1990’s, Dan turned his attention to the clinical and administrative side of behavioral health organizations. For three years, he was the Assistant Administrator of Starting Point, a chemical dependency facility in Costa Mesa, CA. In 2001, he took an opportunity to be the Director of Harbor View Community Services Center in Long Beach. When he arrived, the Center had only 80 clients and 13 staff. When he left, there were over 400 clients and 75 staff. Dan created several programs through their contract with the Los Angeles County Departments of Mental Health and Child and Family Services. Under his guidance, Harbor View became one of the leading providers of children’s services in Los Angeles County.
While improving the results of the client’s parents at the Center, Dan reflected on his experiences as a parent. His children themselves had special needs such as mental and intellectual challenges, and Dan knew the toll it takes on the parent. In order to help the child, the parent has to be healthy. From this concept, he created his parenting program. After years of refining it, teaching it to his staff at the Center, and then taking the results and comments from these efforts, he became the developer of the current PRAXES program. It is a culmination of Dan’s personal trials and tribulations as a parent along with empirical results and research of over 40 parenting programs.
Our vision at PRAXES is to advance the strength of parents and caregivers of children with special needs (mental health, intellectual, or physical) through education, support, and empowerment. Thus, they can live healthy and functional lives while caring for the child.
Apogee is a clinical decision software designed to help behavioral health practitioners with their treatment and patient engagement. It provides evidence-based and research-based components. Not only do they consist of elements from such practices as Cognitive Behavior Therapy, Seeking Safety, Dialectical Behavior Therapy, Motivational Interviewing, Functional Behavior Analysis, but also the Intensive Models for Parents, Youth, and Children.
PRAXES has over 30 years of accreditation experience. We know what it takes to get your organization accredited. Whether it’s Joint Commission, CARF, or COA, our team can provide an evaluation of your current status and review the standards which need improvements. We will assist you with the policies, documentation, and training required to be accredited.
All Rights Reserved | Praxes