Michael W. Johnson, MA, CAP
Senior Managing Director of Behavioral Health | CARF International
Tucson, AZ, UNITED STATES
A creative, solutions-oriented leader who is passionate about improving quality in behavioral healthcare through CARF accreditation.
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Biography
Experienced executive in behavioral healthcare, Michael joined CARF in 2013. He is a certified addictions professional and has more than 30 years of experience as a clinician, manager, and executive working in mental health, substance abuse, and intellectual disabilities. He was a CARF surveyor for 16 years. Michael holds a bachelor’s degree in interpersonal communications and a master’s degree in communications, both from the University of Central Florida.
Areas of Expertise (11)
ASAM Level of Care Certification
Office Based Opioid Treatment (OBOT)
Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinics
Mental Health (Severe Mental Illness) Practice and Policy
Suicide Prevention
Substance Use Disorders
Addictions Counselling
Performance Management
Behavioral Health Stigma
Addictions Treatment
CARF Accreditation
Media Appearances (6)
CARF Accreditation: It's Not An Event, It's A Process
Simpiflyance online
2023-07-14
Simplifyance™ had the privilege of speaking with Michael Johnson, Senior Managing Director of Behavioral Health for CARF International. We delved into the world of accreditation, discussing its immense value, the supportive process for organizations during surveys, and uncovering key best practices. CARF is renowned for its commitment to ensuring excellence in healthcare delivery and service outcomes. Michael shared valuable insights into the accreditation process and shed light on how CARF assists organizations in achieving survey success. Michael emphasized the importance of person-centered care, evidence-based practices, and fostering a culture of accountability and learning. These elements are crucial in driving positive outcomes and delivering compassionate, effective care to those in need.
New CARF standards address variability of care in office-based opioid treatment settings
CARF International online
2019-01-24
More than 170 advisory council participants and field review respondents provided feedback to create the first national best-practice framework. “Providers that attain this accreditation will be able to demonstrate to persons served, regulators, and payers that they offer a comprehensive array of services and supports designed to help persons served achieve recovery," says Michael Johnson, CARF’s managing director of behavioral health.
Ill Treatment podcast
Ill Treatment online
2018-12-20
Michael Johnson was interviewed for the podcast 'Ill Treatment." The mission of Ill Treatment is, "To continuously improve in informing the public, in collaboration with other prominent figures within the field, by evaluating drug and alcohol addiction treatment organizations and inspiring them to safely and effectively make an informed decision on where to obtain the highest quality of care."
Suicide prevention standards address public health crisis
CARF International online
2017-07-18
“In the United States, someone dies by suicide every 13 minutes. For veterans, that rate is roughly every 70 minutes,” says Michael Johnson, CARF’s managing director of Behavioral Health. “This is happening every hour, 24 hours per day, 365 days per year. But we don’t talk about it; it doesn’t consume our news cycle. We are responding to a crisis. We need to strengthen and mainstream a response that can get traction on a broad scale.”
CARF’s specialty standards for older adults address the coming demographic shift among persons served
CARF International online
2015-04-16
"We recognize that the treatment of older adults with behavioral healthcare needs requires special attention," says Michael Johnson, CARF's managing director for behavioral health. "As people age, they sometimes experience behavioral healthcare needs for the first time in their lives and, although this population is often underserved now, the demographic shift in our population will demand organizations meet their needs. We want to make sure that the needs of this population are addressed through specialty standards that focus on care coordination, training, and attention to their unique family circumstances. Having an Older Adults designation should help both persons served and organizations match up with each other for the benefit of both."
Baby Boomers Haven't Forgotten How to Get High
Psychology Today
2014-06-18
Michael Johnson, M.A., C.A.P., Managing Director of the Behavioral Health Division at CARF International, stated, “We at CARF International are concerned about the growing substance misuse and addiction in the older population. We will be adding standards for providers to include drug education and assessments more thoroughly when serving older adults.”
Event Appearances (5)
Understanding the ASAM Level of Care Certification Program
Executive Summit on Addictions Treatment Hilo, Hawaii
2023-05-07
Translating evidence to practice – Leveraging accreditation standards to promote best practices in suicide care
National Action Alliance for Suicide Prevention executive committee meeting Washington, DC
2019-03-21
Measurement-Based Care
Addictions Executive Industry Summitt Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida
2018-03-05
Accreditation and Certification Programs For Medical Homes & Health Homes: Where Are We Now, & Where Are We Headed in the Future?
Open Minds Gettysburg, Pennsylvania
The Future of Behavioral Healthcare, Keynote Address
Georgia Association of Community Service Boards Chateau Elan, Georgia
2015-10-05
Education (2)
University of Central Florida: M.A., Communications
1998
University of Central Florida: B.A., Interpersonal Communications
1993
Links (1)
Accomplishments (2)
Leaders Leading Leaders Award (professional)
2012-08-01
Inaugural award winner from the Marcus Buckingham Company
Certified Addictions Professional (professional)
1991-06-01
Certified Addictions Professional, State of Florida
Articles (1)
Best Practices in Care Transitions for Individuals with Suicide Risk: Inpatient Care to Outpatient Care
National Action Alliance for Suicide Prevention
2019-11-01
This report advances goals 8 and 9 of the National Strategy for Suicide Prevention and presents feasible, evidence-based practices that health systems can take to improve patient engagement and safety during the transition from inpatient to outpatient behavioral health care. Mike Johnson, as a member of the advisory group, contributed to the report, handout and video.
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