[MUSIC PLAYING][SAGE video tutorials][Counseling Agency Management]

LEANNE BRAGDON: In this tutorial on counseling agencymanagement, we're going to be talking about three componentsand those are staffing, funding, and services.[Leanne Bragdon Vice President, Kit Clark Senior Services][staffing funding services][Staffing]There are three parts to staffing,and one is experience.Staff need to have the proper experience.They need to have the proper credentialing and licensing,and they also need to have a passion for the work.

LEANNE BRAGDON [continued]: In terms of experience, that can be both professional experienceworking with seniors or personal experienceworking with seniors.And in terms of licensing and credentialing,at least a master's degree and thenworking under a licensed clinician for a period of timeand then becoming independently licensed as necessarilyin order to be able to bill through a third-party insurancecompany.

LEANNE BRAGDON [continued]: By hiring licensed and credential staff,we are ensured that they have had the proper training,that they have worked under someone who is licensed,and that they've received the supervision necessary to allowthem to work individually with clientsand to run groups effectively on their own.So that's a critical component to our staffing.

LEANNE BRAGDON [continued]: The third component is passion-- having a passion for the workthat we do.We like to hire very mission-driven clinicians,people that get what we're trying to do,and that can really work with our seniorson some solution-focused, strength-based therapeuticwork.[Funding]So some of the things that we liketo think about when we think about funding for a counselingagency is, as a manager, you reallyneed to understand three key fundamental points of funding.

LEANNE BRAGDON [continued]: The first being insurances. [insurances]Many of the services are paid for by insurance.The second thing would be to understand billingfor the services. [billing] And the third component would beunderstanding how to bring in other sources of revenue,either through private pay or through grants.[alternative revenue]In terms of insurances, what are some of the thingsthat one would need to consider?

LEANNE BRAGDON [continued]: And those are to have staff and clinicians really understandthe insurance companies and what their needs areand how to ensure that the correct codes are givenfor the services, that prior authorizations are obtainedprior to the service being delivered,and to ensure that the right number of visitsare authorized, and then, if the individual needsmore authorization for more visits,that that is obtained by the staffand by the clinician prior to the personcoming in for counseling.

LEANNE BRAGDON [continued]: So what do we need to be concernedabout in terms of billing?Really, many insurance companies canbe very complicated in terms of what they require for billing.So we need to ensure that our clinical staffand our administrative staff reallyunderstand those complexities and that they ensurethat the proper diagnostic code goes on the billand that the bill goes to the insurance companywithin the timeframe that is required.

LEANNE BRAGDON [continued]: And if those things are done correctly,then the clinic will get the payment for the service.And those are really the critical componentsto ensuring that the bills go out and the bills are correctand that we receive the funding that we need tofor our services.So the third component to fundingis other sources of revenue.

LEANNE BRAGDON [continued]: With a senior clinic, it's often hard to payfor all the services through third-party payers,such as insurance companies-- both private and public.So one of the things that we try to dois seek grants and private donations thatwill help us to provide support services,such as social groups and other services,that are necessary for seniors thatare not paid for by insurances.

LEANNE BRAGDON [continued]: One example of a grant that has helped to provide servicesis one through a local bank, and we received a $20,000 grantto help us find a clinician to gointo the homes of several seniorswho are not able to leave their homes for healthand clinical reasons.

LEANNE BRAGDON [continued]: So that grant has allowed our clinicians to go into the homesand to provide the service in their homes,and that has enabled those seniorsto be able to stay in their homesand not have to be admitted to hospitals.So it's not only been really a great thing for the senior,it's also been a nice service that wewouldn't have been able to provide had we nothad that grant funding.

LEANNE BRAGDON [continued]: [Services]There are really three services that are essential for seniors.And the first is individual therapy and the second would begroup therapy and the third would be support groups.[individual therapy] [group therapy][support groups] So essentially, individuals come in lookingfor therapy, and the therapist will meet with them and developa treatment plan based on their individual needs.

LEANNE BRAGDON [continued]: When thinking about individual therapy, whatthe clinician does is meets with the senior individuallyand tries to understand that senior's unique needs.And then what they do is they develop a treatment planbased on those unique needs.The treatment plan is solution-focused, short-term,and has a few goals that are put into place to helpthat senior meet their needs.

LEANNE BRAGDON [continued]: And many of the needs that our seniors experienceare depression, isolation, separation from their families,and sometimes community and familyissues that come up that they are struggling to deal with.Another therapeutic intervention that works really wellwith seniors is a group therapy approach,and that is because so many seniors experienceisolation and depression.

LEANNE BRAGDON [continued]: One of the advantages of running group therapy sessionsis that, well after the groups have completed the workthat they're doing, the seniors havemade those necessary connections thathelp them work through depression and isolation.And they can form support groups that are essentially made upof a lot of people that may have been in their group therapy.

LEANNE BRAGDON [continued]: The third component is support groups,and these are really essential as ongoing supportsfor seniors.These are networks of people that have similar experiences,and they are really connections and friendshipsthat are built in a group that they can come to get advice,to talk about their experiences, and to workthrough their issues.

LEANNE BRAGDON [continued]: So these are essential services that weprovide-- the individual, the group, and the supportgroups for seniors.[Key points Staff Funding Services]In conclusion, I hope you can tell that, without these threecritical components, which are staffing, funding,and services, you can't have an effective clinic.

LEANNE BRAGDON [continued]: And we work really hard to ensurethat all of these components work welland work well together, and that'show we're able to provide the services thatare so essential and so effective for our seniorshere at Kit Clark Senior Services in Dorchester,Massachusetts.[MUSIC PLAYING][SAGE video SAGE Publications 2015]