Strengthening Leadership

Last week, November 17–19, 36 of our middle management team members gathered in Yakima for the Middle Management Academy, a three-and-a-half-day training offered through the National Council for Mental Wellbeing. The event brought together leaders from across the organization for team building, leadership development, and meaningful connections.

This training was a direct response to what our staff shared in this year’s cultural surveys. Employees expressed a desire for more in-person connections, hands-on learning, and opportunities to grow alongside colleagues across the organization. Senior leadership took this feedback to heart and made a deliberate investment in the Middle Management Academy to honor those requests. The academy also fulfills a key component of our strategic plan—specifically, our Workforce pillar—which commits to building and sustaining a world-class workforce. Strengthening the capabilities and confidence of our middle management team directly supports that commitment.

In addition to the core leadership content provided by the National Council curriculum, Comprehensive Healthcare intentionally tailored the academy to include two strategic areas critical to our future success. First, we added dedicated education on CCBHC, the nucleus of our strategic plan. After conducting site visits earlier this year, it became clear that our staff needed a deeper understanding of what CCBHC is, why we are actively pursuing this model, and what it will mean for our organization. Importantly, adopting this model not only strengthens our approach to care but also positions us for a more sustainable funding structure over time. Giving our middle managers a stronger foundation in CCBHC helps ensure they can champion this transition with clarity and confidence.

The second strategic component centered on business and financial acumen. As our organization and funding model continue to grow and evolve, we identified a need to upskill our leaders with enhanced financial literacy. This training helped managers better understand how our business operates, how to thoughtfully prioritize needs versus wants, and how individual decisions create ripple effects across programs and services. Building this knowledge base will support more informed decision-making and strengthen operational stability across the agency.

Over the course of the week, participants also explored organizational values; self-care and wellness; effective supervision; productive meetings and decision-making; staff engagement; and strategies for approaching crucial conversations. Many attendees shared that the training provided practical tools, meaningful insight, and a renewed sense of purpose in their roles.

Here’s what a few participants had to say:

Sandy McLoud, Supervisor, Health Homes Program
“I really liked Johanna’s energy and the dialogue guidance and options for critical conversations, as we all end up having to have those, and they can be very uncomfortable for everyone.”

Rich Simpson, Supervisor, Walla Walla Outpatient II
“I appreciated the generosity of having program managers and supervisors being provided four days to learn how to do what we do even better. Being able to meet and interact with staff that I would likely not have been able to speak and interact with in other situations was awesome. I feel I have a much better understanding of the diversity of roles within our organization at a program level. I feel I was provided with some great information and skill sets to share with my teams that will improve interaction and communication.”

Sue Van Tuinen, Director of Residential Services
“This was a great training with insight into personalities on our teams, tools that are practical to use, and a camaraderie builder. I’m very appreciative of having the opportunity to attend! Thank you, SLT!”

Jessica Reed, Supervisor, Pasco Outpatient
“I would like to say thank you for this training, I learned so much for moving forward to continue to improve my team’s culture and how to respond to difficult situations.  The best thing that I feel I got out of the training was how to approach difficult conversations.  I enjoyed how the trainer was able to pivot to what we needed and not just stick to the basic answers. I left the training feeling I have more tools in my toolbox instead of having cookie-cutter answers to unrealistic conversations.”

Tim Kennard, Network Services Manager
“I really valued the Middle Management Academy. It was great meeting new team members and building connections across programs. I gained actionable techniques in delegation, coaching, situational leadership, and managing change, which I look forward to applying! I am proud and honored to be a part of an organization committed to leadership growth!”

Kim Clemmons, Team Leader CTC/Detox
“I took so much away from the academy, but the little nugget that I think will benefit everyone is…. Strengths aren’t necessarily the things you do well. Strengths are the things that bring you joy and fulfillment. Ask yourself what about your professional role brings you these, and do more of that!”

Melissa Wilson, Safety Officer/Property Management Program Manager
“It was great to see everyone in one room and not on a computer screen.  We truly have some great leaders who care about their staff and clients.  It was nice to hear that, as a supervisor, we are not alone in the issues we deal with regarding staff.”

Carrie Barr, Compliance Director
“Middle Management Leadership Training provided practical, energizing tools I could use immediately.  This session was good to strengthen my confidence in who I am as a leader and how I present to others.”

Jose Lopez, Senior Vice President, Evaluation & Treatment and Residential Services
“I appreciated the conversation and community around sharing the challenges experienced when having difficult conversations. Being able to hear others and share my knowledge and experience has been invaluable.”

Rosa Tovar, Youth and Family TREE Program Director

“For me, one of the highlights of the training was engaging in meaningful conversations about everyday scenarios that we, as managers, try to get through at the end of each day. This training really highlighted for me the different hats we get to wear—the different ways we can show up for our staff and colleagues in a way that is dynamic and intentional.”

Becca Eskeli, Program Manager, Benton County Jail Mental Health Services
“MMA training was a great way to connect Comprehensive’s middle leaders. I met and was able to really get to know people that I hadn’t had the opportunity to connect with before. I learned so much from the material that I have already been able to implement with more ideas to add in time.”

Initiatives like this are essential to our organization. By investing in leadership at every level, we strengthen the structures that support everything we do. We look forward to offering more opportunities like this in the future as we continue to invest in our employees and enhance our organizational culture.