Tag: Xandy

Since August 2024, Xandy Harker has been leading a Missouri Institute for Community Health (MICH) Learning Collaborative designed to guide LPHAs (Local Public Health Agencies) through the MICH standards and measures for accreditation. The purpose of the collaborative is to provide guidance and support to LPHAs navigating or interested in MICH accreditation. Participants gain valuable insights from experts and peers, expanding their knowledge and skills in accreditation standards and measures, while learning from each other, sharing best practices, and collaborating during the accreditation process.

Each month, Xandy reviews a specific section, provides real-world examples, and facilitates a crosswalk comparison between the Public Health Accreditation Board (PHAB) and MICH standards and measures to support agencies pursuing accreditation. Xandy is also building out a resource library with examples from MICH-accredited agencies and other helpful materials to assist agencies in meeting MICH standards.

Additionally, Xandy is developing key deliverables, such as checklists and user-friendly guides, to streamline the accreditation process. By compiling and organizing these materials, she ensures that agencies have the resources they need to navigate the complexities of accreditation and work efficiently toward their goals.

Special Projects Coordinator Xandy Harker is leading a grant funded by MFH to support four rural counties in Missouri. This initiative aims to divert individuals experiencing behavioral health crises away from incarceration and toward appropriate care and support. Over the two-year grant, Xandy provides hands-on assistance to grantees, focusing on data collection, facilitation, evaluation, and reducing stigma around behavioral health crises.

Xandy meets with the counties monthly to share updates on behavioral health research in Missouri and provide actionable insights. She recently supported Webster County in developing a second behavioral health survey to identify local needs and helped Polk County create resources and content for a health fair. Additionally, Xandy has assisted each county in organizing community conversations and meetings to move behavioral health initiatives forward, including those related to opioid settlement funds.

Xandy also connects counties with state-level stakeholders for advocacy efforts and the continuation of work initiative through the SIM (Sequential Intercept Model) workshops. Her efforts ensure consistent progress in improving behavioral health systems and outcomes for these rural communities.