The Stepping In It Podcast with Renee Schulte & Jason Haglund
The Stepping In It Podcast is a weekly discussion of the latest news and trends in behavioral health policy development and practice. Each episode features interviews with experts from across the field, including policymakers, clinicians, researchers, and advocates. The podcast provides listeners with practical tips and resources for improving the quality and access to behavioral health care.
Episodes
91 episodes
87. Corn, Collaboration & Change: Nebraska’s Mental Health Policy Push with Amanda McGill & James Bowers
Thanks for joining us—still hauling corn, but progress has been made! Just in time to plant this year's crop… and just in time to plant seeds of change in Nebraska’s mental health policy landscape. In this episode, we sit down with Amanda McGil...
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35:20
86. Still Planting, Still Hauling: Engaging Families in Crisis Care at the Hospital
Welcome back—still corn to haul and somehow still in the middle of planting… and if that doesn’t sum up hospital life during a crisis, we don’t know what does. In today’s episode, we explore the critical yet often complicated role families play...
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24:41
85. Fixing What’s Broken: Preventing Hospital Workplace Violence Through Training (Part 4 of 4)
Welcome back, and thanks for joining us—yep, it’s that time again: planting season, fixing everything for it just to break again… and that’s not just on the farm. In this episode, we’re digging into the escalating issue of workplace violence in...
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29:05
84. Hospitals as Community Conveners: Building Networks for Better Care (Part 3 of 4)
In a fragmented healthcare system, hospitals have the unique opportunity to lead as conveners—bringing together providers, community organizations, and first responders to improve patient outcomes. This episode explores how strong partnerships ...
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26:01
83. Emergency Departments: The Unintended Frontline for Pediatric Behavioral Health (Part 2 of 4)
As mental health and addiction services surpass basic healthcare concerns in rural communities, Emergency Departments have become the default access points for pediatric behavioral health care. In this episode, we explore the growing role of ED...
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27:56
82. Crisis in the ER: The Behavioral Health Bottleneck (Part 1 of 4)
Emergency Departments are overwhelmed with behavioral health patients, many of whom face long waits, inappropriate referrals, and a lack of clinical pathways for care. In this four-part series, we dive into the growing crisis of mental health c...
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22:53
Best of Series: Workplace & Systemic Mental Health Solutions Episode 3
Does it feel like your clutter is taking over and impacting your mental well-being? You may have been told to simply clean up and get organized, but the stress and overwhelm persist. The frustration and anxiety of living in a cluttered space ca...
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31:16
Best of Series: Workplace & Systemic Mental Health Solutions Episode 2
In this episode, we unpack key insights from the VitAL Alabama Conference in collaboration with the National Association of Rural Mental Health (NARMH) held in Tuscaloosa. From Johnny Manziel’s story of resilience to Dr. Ashley Norwood Strickla...
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32:27
Best of Series: Workplace & Systemic Mental Health Solutions Episode 1
Are you aware of the valuable benefits your employer provides? Discover the secret resources that could be helping you with therapy, counseling, and even financial support. But what happens when the very program meant to assist you suddenly dis...
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30:54
81. Legislative Priorities for Mental Health Counselors with Courtney Ackerson
In this episode, we sit down with Courtney Ackerson, a licensed clinical mental health counselor and the president-elect of the American Mental Health Counselors Association. Courtney shares insights into the work of the Iowa Mental Health Coun...
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39:49
80. From Farm Policy to Mental Health: How a Legislative Ag Summit Bridges the Gap
What does a Legislative Agricultural Summit have to do with rural mental health? In this episode, we share insights from the State Agriculture and Rural Leadership (SARL) summit, where the intersection of agricultural policy and rural well-bein...
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37:51
79. Rates: Beyond the Dollar Signs – What’s the Real Issue?
In this episode, we explore the complex conversation around rates in healthcare. Starting with a whiny farmer intro (because selling corn isn’t all that different from setting rates), we dive into the tangled web of contracted rates, delayed pa...
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29:28
78. Administrative Service Organizations: What They Are and What’s Changing
In this episode, we dive into the evolving role of Administrative Service Organizations (ASOs) in Iowa’s healthcare landscape. Starting with a whiny farmer intro (hauling corn struggles included!), we discuss the new statewide ASO spearheaded b...
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26:39
77. Barriers to Evidence-Based Therapy: Bridging the Gap Between Research and Real-World Practice
Join us for a deep dive into the challenges of implementing evidence-based therapy practices in real-world settings. We’ll explore proven methods like Parent-Child Interaction Therapy (PCIT), Multi-Dimensional Family Therapy (MDFT), and Functio...
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24:36
76. Mental Health Legislative Priorities for 2025: What’s on the Agenda?
As the 2025 legislative session heats up, we’re unpacking the key priorities shaping mental health policy for the year ahead. From the challenges of re-aligning Medicaid systems to the pressing need for a comprehensive kids’ mental health frame...
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33:32
75. A Conversation on Nebraska Mental Health with Annette Dubas
In this episode, we sit down with Annette Dubas, Executive Director of the Nebraska Association of Behavioral Health Organizations (NABHO), to explore the challenges and opportunities facing mental and behavioral health in Nebraska. Annette sha...
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32:55
74. Rural Policy Partners: Looking Ahead to 2025 and Tackling Hot Topics
As 2024 winds down, we’re gearing up for an exciting year ahead in rural health policy and behavioral health advocacy. Join us for an episode packed with updates, insights, and plans for 2025. We’ll reflect on our nationwide speaking engagement...
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34:30
73. Set Up to Lose: How to Bomb Strategic Planning in 2025
What’s the secret to ensuring your strategic plan crashes and burns? In this episode, we tackle the most common pitfalls organizations face when planning for the future. From ignoring essential data and tracking the wrong metrics to writing rep...
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31:03
72. On the Road in Bowling Green: What is a Community Health Care Worker?
Join us on a deep dive into the buzzworthy world of Community Health Care Workers (CHWs) as we explore their evolving role in rural healthcare! Recorded from Bowling Green, Kentucky—where the CHW model has been in motion for over 30 years—we'll...
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31:15
71. Building Bridges: Jill Barr on Behavioral Health Collaboration in Clay County
In this episode, we welcome Jill Barr, Outreach Navigator for Clay County Behavioral Health LINC, to discuss the transformative work happening in Spencer, Iowa. Jill shares the story behind the creation of the Local Initiative for Networking an...
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39:04
70. On the Road in Bowling Green, KY! Self-Care for the Holidays
This week, we're coming to you from Bowling Green, Kentucky—just a stone's throw from Santa Claus, Indiana! With the holiday season in full swing, we're tackling the chaos of packed ERs, generational family dynamics, and sky-high stress levels....
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29:55
69. Jason’s on the Road: Maryland Rural Mental Health Conference
Join us as Jason reports from the Maryland Rural Mental Health Conference, where the intersection of policy, healthcare, and rural needs takes center stage. We'll explore the conference highlights, including insights from the Medicaid director,...
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27:57
68. Drug Use in the Workplace: Prevention and Policies to Protect Your Workforce
Substance use in the workplace poses serious risks, from decreased productivity and poor decision-making to accidents and high turnover. Kicking off with our trademark whiny farmer intro, this episode breaks down the challenges employers face, ...
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27:43
67. Vicarious Trauma in the Workplace: Caring for Employees and Ourselves
In this episode, we explore the hidden impact of vicarious trauma on employees, especially those exposed to traumatic stories through their work. After our whiny farmer intro (the combine is running till midnight, and someone might fall asleep ...
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28:04
66. Workplace Training and Education: How Do I Choose?
In this episode, we dive into the world of workplace mental health awareness training and help you navigate the overwhelming acronym soup (cue our whiny farmer intro!). From Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) to QPR (Question, Persuade, Refer), and...
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30:54