Lessons Learned in the Effective Distance Delivery of a Statewide Mental Health Continuing Education Series
Abstract: Providing distance continuing education and workforce development opportunities across the State of Wisconsin for behavioral healthcare workers has become increasingly more important due to funding cuts, rural access to training, and reduced travel budgets. Having been continuously offered since 1997, the presentation will detail the Wisconsin Public Psychiatry Network Continuing Education Series, and discuss best practices and contextual issues related to providing effective statewide mental health continuing education at a distance. The participants are from 320 agencies throughout the state and the average number of registrants per session is 600. The discussion will include benefits and challenges of coordinating a successful statewide continuing education teleconference series as well as best practices in marketing, website development, scheduling and organizing.