National Psychology Training Consortium

Course Description and Target Audience

People with mental health conditions face a number of challenges that can impede oral health and, by extension, their overall health. The connection between the two is bidirectional: Oral health problems are often exacerbated when a person has behavioral health needs, and mental health is likely to be made worse by poor oral health. Untreated oral, mental health, and substance use challenges are costly and contribute to health disparities. More integrated oral and behavioral health services have potential to improve outcomes, such as increased access to care, improved patient outcomes, and reduced healthcare costs. Multidisciplinary approaches to patient care can also improve clinicians' experience and work-life satisfaction. This presentation will highlight specific examples of the bidirectional relationship between oral and behavioral health and describe different models for integrating care.

Mental health professionals with interest in integrated behavioral health services and/or collaboration with other healthcare providers such as physicians or dentists. All data regarding relationship between oral and behavioral health conditions comes from peer-reviewed scientific publications indexed in online databases such as PubMed. Information about integration models was sourced from materials developed by the Center of Excellence for Integrated Health Solutions, which is funded by Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) and operated by the National Council for Mental Wellbeing. Integrated care models for oral and behavioral health are relatively new and innovative, thus frameworks for developing and evaluating such programs continue to evolve. There are no potential risks associated with this training and/or materials presented. 

Presentation will highlight disparities in access to care in oral, mental health, and substance use treatment across races and other diverse identities. Additionally, presentation will identify the Racial Equity Impact Assessment tool (developed by Race Forward) as a way to help providers examine how different racial and ethnic groups may be affected by a proposed action or program prior to implementation.

Learning Objectives

• Participants will be able to describe bi-directional relationship between oral health (OH) and behavioral health (BH).
• Participants will be able to identify appropriate health psychology interventions to utilize in integrated OH/BH. 
• Participants will be able to describe different care models/frameworks for integrated OH/BH.

Presenter Information

Joanie Huebner, PhD, received her doctorate in clinical health psychology from UMKC in 2022 and completed a post-doctoral fellowship in integrated health psychology with the UMKC Department of Community and Family Medicine. She currently works at University Health Lakewood Medical Center as a licensed clinical health psychologist. She serves as a behavioral health consultant in an outpatient family medicine clinic as well as a team psychologist for UMKC Athletics. Dr. Huebner is a published author on a book chapter and over 20 peer-reviewed journal articles. Her research interests include neuropsychology, with particular regard to neurological populations such as multiple sclerosis (MS) and sport-related concussion. Her training has spanned numerous settings including a community health clinic, VA medical centers, a bariatric surgery clinic, pre-surgical assessments, and academic medical centers providing assessment and therapeutic services. She enjoys discussing the intersection of mental health and oral health with her husband, who is a practicing dentist in the KC metro area.

Video Homestudy Format

CE’s for this homestudy training will be earned through completing the following tasks:

• Watch the presentation video and review all provided documents in their entirety.
• Pass the post-test questionnaire with at least 80% correct.

A program evaluation form will be provided to all who registered following the training. Please be sure to complete this form since your feedback helps direct future CE programming from our organization.

Registration Cost

This cost includes video links, materials, and tests required to obtain CE’s. Your CE certificate will be made available to you upon successful completion of the training (80% or higher on exam).

National Psychology Training Consortium (NPTC) is approved by the American Psychological Association to sponsor continuing education for psychologists. NPTC maintains responsibility for this program and its content.