1. (1) Consistent with University of Washington behavioral health support specialist clinical training program guidelines, behavioral health support specialist competencies and clinical skills include, but are not limited to:

   1. (a) Health equity, including:

      1. (i) Recognizing the impact of health disparities on patient engagement; and
      2. (ii) Practicing use of inclusive communication that supports health care equity;

   2. (b) The helping relationship, including:

      1. (i) Developing a supportive and effective working alliance with patients and their support networks;
      2. (ii) Engaging patients to enhance participation in care;
      3. (iii) Facilitating group psychoeducation; and
      4. (iv) Utilizing a trauma-informed care framework in all aspects of helping relationships;

   3. (c) Cultural responsiveness, including:

      1. (i) Developing knowledge of patient's identity(ies);
      2. (ii) Providing services responsive to patient's identity(ies);
      3. (iii) Practicing cultural humility in relationships; and
      4. (iv) Striving to address own biases in work with patients;

   4. (d) Team-based care and collaboration, including:

      1. (i) Integrating professional identity and scope of practice within a health care team;
      2. (ii) Practicing interprofessional communication; and
      3. (iii) Contributing to teams and teamwork;

   5. (e) Screening and assessment, including:

      1. (i) Utilizing appropriate standardized screening tools to identify common behavioral health conditions;
      2. (ii) Conducting a suicide risk assessment and providing appropriate intervention under supervision;
      3. (iii) Conducting a patient-centered biopsychosocial assessment; and
      4. (iv) Using measurement-based care to support stepped care approaches and adjusting the type and intensity of services to the needs of the patient;

   6. (f) Care planning and care coordination, including:

      1. (i) Contributing to the development of a whole health care plan and stay well plan with the patient, the patient's support network, and health care team members;
      2. (ii) Maintaining a registry to systematically track patient treatment response to interventions;
      3. (iii) Ensuring the flow and exchange of information among patients, patients' support networks, and linked providers;
      4. (iv) Facilitating external referrals to social and community-based services (housing assistance, food banks, vocational rehabilitation, substance use disorder treatment, etc.);
      5. (v) Demonstrating accurate documentation of services provided and summaries of contact with linked providers in the patient record; and
      6. (vi) Recognizing the interaction between behavioral health conditions, chronic health conditions, and their associated symptoms;

   7. (g) Intervention, including:

      1. (i) Integrating motivational interviewing strategies into practice;
      2. (ii) Providing psychoeducation to patients and their support network about behavioral health conditions and treatment options consistent with recommendations from the health care team;
      3. (iii) Employing distress tolerance strategies including problem-solving and relaxation techniques to reduce the impact of acute stress on patient mental and behavioral health;
      4. (iv) Applying brief, evidence-based treatment for common mental health presentations including depression, based on behavioral activation principles;
      5. (v) Applying brief, evidence-based treatment for common mental health presentations including anxiety, based on cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) principles;
      6. (vi) Using harm reduction strategies for substance use concerns including the delivery of screening, brief intervention and referral to treatment (SBIRT); and
      7. (vii) Demonstrating a clear understanding of the evidence base for brief treatment that focuses on symptom reduction; and
   8. (h) Law and ethics, including:
   9. (i) Identifying and applying federal and state laws to practice;
   10. (ii) Integrating foundations of interprofessional ethics into practice;
   11. (iii) Utilizing supervision and consultation to guide practice; and
   12. (iv) Engaging in ongoing reflective practice.
2. (2) The behavioral health support specialist competencies and clinical skills described in subsection (1) of this section shall not be construed to permit a BHSS to practice beyond the scope of their practice as defined in RCW 18.227.010(4) and WAC 246-821-400.

[Statutory Authority: RCW 18.227.020, chapter 18.227 RCW, and 2023 c 270. WSR 24-21-083, s 246-821-110, filed 10/16/24, effective 1/1/25.]