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
98 episodes
94. When Systems Collide: Behavioral Health & Juvenile Justice with Nina Richtman
In this powerful episode, we sit down with Nina Richtman, Director of Policy and Advocacy at the Treatment Advocacy Center, to explore what happens when behavioral health needs go unmet and youth fall through the cracks—landing in the justice s...
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40:58
93. Live from Atlanta: Parole, Mental Health, and the Push for Prevention
Reporting live from the Association of Parole Authorities International conference in Atlanta—right after finally getting that dryer delivered—we're digging into the surprising overlap between mental health and the parole system. From a panel d...
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37:20
92. Living with Mental Illness: Real Life, Real Policy, Real Peer Support
Today’s episode takes a raw and relatable look at what it means to live with mental illness—and why peer support is more than just a feel-good idea. We’re joined by Josh, a certified peer support specialist, NAMI program leader, and unapologeti...
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Episode 92
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37:12
91. Culture of Resilience: From the National Association of Rural Mental Health Conference in Anchorage
In this special on-the-ground episode, we’re coming to you live from Anchorage, Alaska at the National Association of Rural Mental Health Conference—moose sightings, state fair stories, and all. From the icy beauty of Chickaloon overlooking the...
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29:08
90. Back to the Basics: Leading Through the Storm
Welcome back—and hold onto your pitchforks—because even the whiny farmer is feeling the pressure. With family farm bankruptcies up 55% over last year and no signs of slowing down, it’s a reminder that these are challenging times for leaders acr...
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31:13
89. What If We Just... Didn’t? Defunding Mental Health in America
Imagine a world where we didn’t fund mental health services—where Medicaid comes with work requirements, SAMHSA loses a billion dollars, and vital programs like CCBHCs vanish. In today’s episode, we kick things off with our whiny farmer intro (...
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28:19
88. Montana Medicine: Behavioral Health, Bottlenecks & Big Sky Policy
In this episode, we dive into the complicated and often chaotic state of healthcare delivery in Montana—with a whiny farmer intro and a serious question: why don’t we have corn ice cream in the Midwest? From emergency departments overwhelmed du...
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30:15
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