2006 News Stories

February

Hamilton Center Inc. and ISU’s Department of Social Work Present 2006 Mental Health Conference - February 1, 2006

Hamilton Center Inc. and Indiana State University’s Department of Social Work are hosting a mental health conference on Friday, March 3, from 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. The conference will be held in the Hulman Memorial Student Union on the campus of Indiana State University.

Frederic G. Reamer, Ph.D., will be presenting on “Ethical Challenges: How to Respond to Difficult Cases.” Dr. Reamer is Professor in the graduate program of the School of Social Work, Rhode Island College, where he has been on the faculty since 1983. Dr. Reamer has been involved in national research projects on professional ethics sponsored by The Hastings Center, The Carnegie Corporation, and the Haas Foundation. He is also the author of many books and articles. Dr. Reamer has lectured extensively nationally and internationally on the subjects of professional ethics and professional malpractice and liability. He chaired the national task force that wrote the Code of Ethics adopted by the National Association of Social Workers in 1996. Dr. Reamer has received numerous awards for outstanding contributions at the local, national and international levels.

This workshop can be used for continuing education credit for licensed practitioners. The event is open to the public, and the cost is $75. Students presenting ID’s will be admitted for $10, and admission for Hamilton Center employees and ISU Students is free. Registration is required. For more information, and to register by phone contact LaKina Curry at ISU’s Department of Social Work at 812-237-3611.

Top of Page

Hamilton Center, Inc. Opens New Spectrum Services Facility - February 17, 2006

Hamilton Center, Inc. (HCI) will open a 14,000 square foot facility located at 1616 Wabash Ave, Terre Haute, IN. The office was formerly located at 500 Eighth Ave. in Terre Haute.

Remodeling and construction costs for the building were shared between Hamilton Center and the Terre Haute Department of Redevelopment. With six activity rooms, a large community room complete with kitchen and a computer lab, the building will allow the program to expand services, allow clients to access the internet and learn valuable computer skills for future employment. The general contractor was Hannig Construction, Inc.

“We are so excited to provide greater access to our community, improve services and the capacity to increase employment opportunities for people with various needs and disabilities. The facility will allow us to increase the number of clients served, and the types of services we can offer.” said Dr. Cynthia Sartor, Executive Director of Client Support Services for Hamilton Center.

“Vigo County has been very supportive of Hamilton Center through the past 35 years. Our investment in this project reinforces our commitment to the community by allowing us to continue to offer an expansion of services,” said Galen Goode, CEO.

The rehabilitation program serves approximately 150 clients a year. Services include vocational rehabilitation and employment opportunities; home and community-based waivers and day services to persons with disabilities. Inquiries can be addressed at 812-231-8355.

Top of Page

March

Hamilton Center, Inc. Honors Katherine Hamilton and Celebrates 35th Anniversary

Beginning March, 2006, Hamilton Center, Inc. will celebrate its 35th anniversary as a behavioral health provider in West Central Indiana in conjunction with Women in History Month.

Hamilton Center’s namesake, Katherine Hamilton, was a citizen of Vigo County, and a pioneer in the Vigo County and State Mental Health Association. She devoted her life to people with mental illnesses. “We are celebrating Katherine Hamilton’s achievements in conjunction with Women in History Month,” said Galen Goode, CEO of Hamilton Center, Inc. “She is an historical woman in our community and a champion for so many people suffering with mental illness. We feel it’s appropriate to reflect on that during this 35th anniversary.”

In a letter written by Katherine Hamilton on February 13, 1961, Ms. Hamilton said:

“On my twenty-fifth birthday, I was called upon to sign my twenty-seven year old sister over to the custodial care of those appointed by the State of Massachusetts (where she was living at that time) to care for its mentally ill. Burnt deeply into my heart is that frightening experience when that heavy door, which shut my sister in, also shut me out. I was terrified. What would those people do to her? Would they be kind to her? How and why had this happened to her, whom I had teased and badgered all my life, whom I had also deeply loved? Would they, could they, those people, help this person to whom I could no longer come close because we no longer spoke the same language, no longer lived in the same world? I was soon to learn that they could not. They could neither help her, nor did they have the least idea why she had become ill. They came to me for answers to their countless questions. What had she been like as a child? When and how had her behavior changed? Did I have any clues as to why this happened? In the end the summation was simple: 'Diagnosis, schizophrenia. Recommendations, none. Prognosis, steady downhill course.'

"Do you wonder that I have had for the thirty-three intervening years an avid interest in the development of the mental health field, for this prognosis was borne out by time? In 1944 my sister died of tuberculosis in Evansville, Indiana, State Hospital, emaciated and animal-like, incommunicative, a human vegetable. At this juncture I would like to make one point clear. I have been on boards of organizations since my teens. I have worked on drives since before that, selling cookies, lemonade, etc. as a kid. In all the work I have ever done, I have never had to work so hard to get constructive results as in the field of mental health. The apathy and lack of understanding in respect to mental illness is abysmal. This must change. Mental illness is an illness like other illnesses. It has physical, sociological and to a certain minimal extent, but no more so, probably, then tuberculosis, hereditary causes. People must learn to know and accept it. Roosevelt's polio spurred on the march of Dimes, Eisenhower's heart attack gave the Heart Association a terrific boost. Let's not wait until one of our presidents has a manic depressive attack before we all get on the bandwagon and give mental illness the attention its importance warrants."

Katherine Hamilton was instrumental in establishing the community psychiatric clinic in her own community but realized that it was only helping a small percentage of the population. She disliked the practice of the mentally ill being isolated and being separated from children and families and being sent off to remote hospitals. She knew many could be treated in the home community if outpatient services were available. She helped the Association organize community clinics throughout Indiana.

Katherine Hamilton did not do this alone. Hamilton Center, Inc. is also a story about citizens, volunteers and professionals in a six county area in Indiana, who worked tirelessly over a period of years to establish an organization, which would help to improve the quality of mental health care available in west central Indiana. This huge initiate began in the 1950s and culminated in 1971 with the first Hamilton Center office established in Terre Haute, Indiana.

Today Hamilton Center, Inc. has grown into a regional behavioral health system serving Central and West Central Indiana, employing 675 employees in a ten county region. The Center offers a broad continuum of behavioral health care and human development services to people during their entire life cycle - birth through older adulthood. Services include: Inpatient Services, Outpatient Services, Addiction Services, Child & Adolescent Services, Client Support Services (services for people with serious and persistent mental illnesses), Residential Services, Partial Hospitalization Services, and a wide variety of Rehabilitation Services for people with all types of disabilities.

Top of Page

April

Hamilton Center Inc. teams up with Putnam County Prosecutor’s Office to fight Meth - April 5, 2006

Dr. Bill Nunn, Judge Headley, Tim Bookwalter and other members of the legal system of Putnam County met last month regarding the mental health needs for Putnam County residents and the interactions between those needs and the legal system. A great deal of attention focused upon the issue of substance abuse, particularly the current epidemic of methamphetamine use, and how mental health providers and the legal system can work together to address this problem. Based on those discussions Putnam County Hamilton Center Staff Melanie Gibbs, Social Worker, Norm Warren, Case Manager and Dr. Bill Nunn, Program Manager, have developed a treatment model for review and consideration.

Hamilton Center firmly believes that the more support provided early in the recovery process, increases the chances of clients being successful in their recovery attempt. The program will function as an intervention for individuals who require more than one group session per week. Many of these individuals will be dealing with methamphetamine abuse and that most of them will be adjudicated. However, someone with another dependency or seeking treatment voluntarily would be treated as well. Dr. Nunn recommended Intensive Outpatient Group Therapy for a minimum of nine hours of weekly therapy with the possibility of additional contacts as needed.

Some of the goals of this intensive outpatient program are for the participants to become familiar with the medical aspects of stimulant abuse, cravings specific to stimulant abusers and ways to manage them. In addition they would work toward an improvement of their emotional and behavioral management skills. Other goals would be to begin a structured schedule of events, to learn more effective tools in dealing with stress and relapse as well as learn ways to improve communication skills and relationships.

The team is also looking at other possible interventions such as substance abuse treatment for individuals who are incarcerated and pre-release contacts to assist individuals in planning for and coordinating treatment after release in order to help reduce recidivism and treatment failure.

Top of Page

May

Wraparound Vigo County hosts Children’s Mental Health Summit Day - May 4th, 2006

May is Mental Health Month and to celebrate On May 4th, 2006 4:00pm to 5:00pm, at the Vigo County School Corporation, Wraparound Vigo County is joining more than 60 other systems of care to participate in the second annual national Children’s Mental Health Summit Day.

Wraparound is the process of identifying family strengths and supports in the community and developing creative solutions. In Vigo County we do this by developing child and family teams that encourage collaboration with agencies, churches, schools, neighborhoods, families, and individuals in order to keep our local children at home, in school, and out of the court system.

Wraparound Vigo County will host the System of Care Awareness Event, in conjunction with Hamilton Center, Inc. and the Vigo County School Corporation. The event activities will include a welcome by Superintendent, Daniel Tanoos, and a recognition ceremony for Wraparound’s collaborating agencies for their support and effort on behalf of the families served by Wraparound Vigo County.

Top of Page

July

Hamilton Center, Inc.’s Licensed Residential Addictions Treatment Facility Celebrates Successful First Year - July 14, 2006

July 14th marked the one year anniversary for Hamilton Center, Inc.’s (HCI) residential treatment facility serving those with addiction related problems. Typically one year anniversaries may not be celebrated as significantly as perhaps a golden anniversary, but in this case there is a lot to celebrate. The facility provides recovery services for males 18 and older, providing 24-hour immersion for successful addiction recovery in a safe, secure, home-like environment. As a licensed residential treatment facility in Indiana, the facility provides intensive mental health and addictions treatment under one roof.

The criteria for admission into the program is to be an adult male, 18 years and older who suffers from addiction and has failed to comply with other treatment programs. The program is a 28-day residential program that provides family group sessions and linkage to: housing, employment, medical, HIV and STD prevention, health, fitness and nutritional education. Upon discharge, the clients are linked with continued treatment services through Hamilton Center’s Outpatient Addictions Program. Case Management is also provided for six months after discharge, and longer if applicable.

Over the past twelve months 164 persons were referred to the program, with eighty-four percent of them graduating. Sixty percent of the referrals have come from within the Hamilton Center continuum of care and the other forty percent from the court system. Thirty-eight percent of the participants had one to two legal charges at the time of admission, and another thirty-four percent had three to four charges. Hamilton Center works diligently to find housing for these clients upon discharge, and approximately sixty-three percent have been referred to Freebirds Solution Center, a sober-free living environment in Terre Haute. “One of our greatest reasons for celebration is that eighty-four percent of those who have graduated from the program have not been re-arrested in the first six months following discharge,” said Dr. Cynthia Sartor, Executive Director of Client Support Services for Hamilton Center.

Hamilton Center, Inc’s regional system offers hope for those struggling with addiction and substance abuse problems by providing services in a variety of locations in central and west central Indiana. More specifically, Hamilton Center, Inc. provides addiction services for those who are facility-based, community-based and home-based; as well as for those who are incarcerated. In addition, treatment options include individual and group therapy, intensive outpatient, partial hospitalization, group living and inpatient detoxification. “We strive to offer a full- range of services to an individual or entire family,” said Dr. Robe Fazekas, Executive Director of Clinical Services at Hamilton Center, Inc. “Often times it is not only necessary to treat the addicted person, but also those close to him or her. Our mission is to make sure that we have resources and programs available to do that.”

Top of Page

Hamilton Center Inc. receives grants to help fight Meth - July 14, 2006

Hamilton Center’s Putnam County office has received two grants from the local Putnam County P.I.E. (prevention, intervention, education) Coalition Against Substance Abuse according to Dr. Bill Nunn, Program Manager for Hamilton Center, Inc. The local P.I.E. organization acts as a community coordinating group for substance abuse efforts. P.I.E. awarded Hamilton Center $600 to help fund drug screens for the METH intensive-outpatient program (IOP) which is directed by Melanie Gibbs, a Hamilton Center therapist.

P.I.E. also awarded Hamilton Center $468 to fund the Family Planning/Interventions program for the Meth IOP program. “Addiction and recovery affect the entire family. Individuals can be strongly supported in recovery when family members understand the disease of addiction and helpful ways to interact with the recovering family member,” said Gibbs. “Family night will bring family members together to learn about the process of addiction and recovery, and to determine in what ways they will support the recovery process,” added Gibbs. Both grants from P.I.E became available as of July 1.

In addition to the P.I.E. grants, Hamilton Center’s Putnam County Office will also benefit through a state funded grant in coordination with Putnam County Community Corrections. This grant will also fund the treatment of the Meth IOP, however, it is designated to serve up to seventeen people serving a home detention sentences. “These grants represent a lot of hard work by Melanie Gibbs, P.I.E. and Putnam County Community Corrections. It shows the kind of community teamwork that we all want to achieve, and has the potential to help Hamilton Center provide important services to a population in need,” said Dr. Nunn.

Top of Page

Hamilton Awards Nominations Needed - 7/25/2007

The Board of Directors of Hamilton Center Inc. is now accepting Hamilton Award nominations from the community. All nominees and winners will be recognized at the Annual Hamilton Awards Dinner, Tuesday, September, 18, 2007.

All nominations must be submitted on a nomination form by August, 22, 2007 to: Hamilton Center Inc., Office of the CEO, P.O. Box 4323, Terre Haute, IN 47804. To obtain a nomination form, call (812) 231-8317.

Hamilton Awards are presented to businesses, organizations, and individuals that have significantly contributed to the cause of mental health and/or care of persons with mental illnesses, developmental disabilities or substance abuse problems. In addition, an award is given each year to a Hamilton Center staff person who has demonstrated a personal commitment to the cause of behavioral health and advanced the mission of Hamilton Center through service above and beyond the normal duties of his/her position.

Top of Page

August

First Steps Program Revitalized - August 28, 2006

Eighteen months ago, Dawn Carlson thought First Steps, Indiana’s program serving infants and toddlers with disabilities and developmental delays, might be ending. Today, she’s delighted that the program is still here and going strong. After twenty years serving Indiana’s youngest citizens, the program faced little support from the highest state offices. “All that changed because of three key factors that the “powers-that-be” failed to recognize. First, we will always have young children who are born with disabilities or who, for a variety of reasons have some level of delay in their development. Second, we have many committed service providers who were willing to stay in the program, serving children, despite worries that they wouldn’t have jobs in the near future. Third, and most important, we have so many families who were being served who became strong advocates for their own children and every child being served and they weren’t afraid to make their voices heard. This is a program that has nothing to do with partisan politics. It has everything to do with making sure that our youngest and most developmentally vulnerable children have the best possible start in life. It just makes sense – personally and financially for the state of Indiana.”

Carlson, who helps coordinate First Steps services throughout eleven counties in west Central Indiana, has seen the difference the program makes in the lives of children. “It’s amazing to see what developmental support can do for a child who needs those services. It’s equally amazing to see the difference that support can make in the lives of every member of that family.” As the parent of a young man with disabilities, Carlson often wonders what her son’s life might be like today if he had had the benefit of a program like First Steps when he was under three years of age.

Providing a range of services, tailored to meet the developmental needs of eligible children, has been the goal of First Steps since the initial pilot programs began throughout the state in 1986. Over the years, the program has grown and modified to become one of the leading “birth to three” programs in the nation, working to coordinate the wide array of existing services that can serve children and families and investing in creating new services that fill in the identified gaps.

“We’ve worked hard in Indiana to learn from experience and research and not reinvent the wheel,” Carlson noted. “I really believe we’ve managed to build and continue to support a program that is both family-centered and fiscally responsible.” Indiana leads the nation in tapping into financial resources that already exist and putting both federal and state dollars into supplying the services that aren’t available elsewhere.

Changes in the program over the last 18 months have been designed to reduce costs with as little disruption as possible to eligible children and families. One of those changes has been a “tightening” of the eligibility criteria, more closely aligned to what other states require. “While Indiana’s eligibility standard has been raised in an effort to streamline the program for the neediest children, we still have one of the broadest definitions of eligibility in the country. I think that will pay off for all Hoosiers in the long run as we are able to meet the developmental needs of children earlier, lessening the need to provide more costly services as children get older and enter special education or adult services. It’s hard to bring it down to dollars and cents, but if we don’t keep an eye on the bottom line, we won’t have a program at all to provide the developmental boost that many children need.” Past research has shown that for every dollar spent in providing services early, between five and seven dollars are saved later.

Carlson noted that some obstacles still remain in building a strong delivery system for Indiana’s infants and toddlers. “Many communities haven’t gotten the word that First Steps is still here and growing strong. Some programs aren’t making referrals like they did in the past. We’re working to help them understand that First Steps is still identifying and serving children. We’re also working hard to recruit additional providers, but there are never enough and we worry that some children won’t get the therapeutic services they need. We have so many terrific therapists who often take on work in First Steps in addition to their other jobs in therapy clinics and school districts. We also have many providers and therapists who have made working in First Steps their primary professional role. We’re always looking for new providers and would welcome the chance to bring additional Developmental Therapists, Occupational Therapists, Physical Therapists and Speech – Language Pathologists into the system.” Carlson also noted that they are seeking Psychologists, Nurses and Social Workers to help round out the provider pool.

“We’re still here and excited about the direction First Steps is moving,” Carlson noted. “We have a lot of people to thank, especially all the parents who cared enough about all of Indiana’s children to make saving the program a personal priority. How can we lose when those folks are a part of our team?”

First Steps is available in every Indiana County. For more information about the First Steps program in west central Indiana, to make a referral or to find out more about becoming a provider, contact First Steps of West Central Indiana by calling, toll free,1-877-860-0413 or emailing firststepswestcentral@yahoo.com .

Top of Page

September

Hamilton Award Nominations Needed - September 7, 2006

Hamilton Center Inc.'s Board of Directors is now accepting Hamilton Award nominations from the community. All nominees and winners will be recognized at Hamilton Center, Inc.'s Annual Meeting and Hamilton Awards Dinner October 24, 2006.

All nominations must be submitted on a nomination form by September 20, 2006 to: Hamilton Center, Inc., Office of the CEO, P.O. Box 4323, Terre Haute, IN 47804. To obtain a nomination form, call (812) 231-8317.

Top of Page

Hamilton Center, Inc. Awarded Accreditation from Joint Commission - September 11, 2006

Hamilton Center, Inc. has achieved accreditation for all behavioral health services in central and west central Indiana from the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations. The accreditation is effective for three years.

Founded in 1951, the Joint Commission is dedicated to continuously improving the safety and quality of the nation's health care through voluntary accreditation. Hamilton Center received word on September 1, 2006 that the organization had achieved accreditation with full standard compliance that became effective on March 28, 2006.

"Hamilton Center’s accreditation achievement is a demonstration of the organization's leadership and staff commitment to excellence," says Mary Cesare-Murphy, Ph.D., executive director, Behavioral Health Care Accreditation Program, Joint Commission. "Behavioral health accreditation by the Joint Commission requires organization-wide dedication to providing safe, client-focused care, treatment and services."

Galen Goode, CEO, Hamilton Center, said that accreditation shows that "we make a significant investment in quality on a day-to-day basis. We seek accreditation for our organization because we want to be the best and we view obtaining Joint Commission accreditation as another step toward excellence."

Goode notes that accreditation is attainable only through cooperation and communication among staff members. "Everyone at Hamilton Center plays a vital role in working to meet the standards and providing consumers with the highest level of care."

Top of Page

ISU Departments of Social Work and Psychology and Hamilton Center, Inc. Present Fall 2006 Mental Health Conference on Marital Violence - September 14, 2006

Hamilton Center, Inc. in conjunction with Indiana State University’s Department of Social Work is hosting an Evidence Based Practice conference October 24, 2006 with registration from 7:30 a.m. - 8:00 a.m.; conference 8:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. The conference will be held in the Hulman Memorial Student Union on the campus of Indiana State University.

This presentation will provide an overview of the available data, providing a summary and integration of the findings and how they can inform your practice decisions. The presenter Dr. Amy Holtzworth-Munroe will review data on the basic facts of husband violence--How prevalent is husband violence among different groups? Should you be equally concerned about male and female violence? Do battered women stay with their husbands? What are the psychological consequences of husband violence for women and children? What do we know about martially violent men; what are the risk factors (e.g., biological, socio-demographic, psychological, interpersonal) for husband violence? What subtypes of violent husbands exist?

The presenter will then discuss intervention issues and how the available data can inform your treatment decisions-- How can you best assess for husband violence? How effective is arrest? How effective is therapy? Is it ever appropriate to offer conjoint couples treatment to violent couples and, if so, what should that treatment include? How does our understanding of subtypes influence your intervention decisions? What future treatment directions are being proposed and studied?

Attendance for the entire session and a completed evaluation form are necessary to receive continuing education credit. (6 CE Credit Hours, Category I, is approved for the following): L.S.W., L.C.S.W., L.M.F.T., L.M.H.C. Psychologists, "IAAP” Endorsed Hours (Pending), Nurses (The Continuing Nursing Education Program of Indiana State University is nationally accredited provider of continuing nursing education by the American Nurses Credentialing Center's Commission on Accreditation.) For further conference information contact: Peggy Weber via e-mail skweber@isugw.indstate.edu

Top of Page

35th Annual Meeting & Hamilton Awards Dinner October 24, 2006 - September 27, 2006

Hamilton Center Inc.'s Board of Directors announces their 35th Anniversary as a Community Mental Health Center, and will celebrate at their Annual Meeting and Hamilton Awards Dinner on Tuesday, Oct. 24, at Indiana State University’s Hulman Center, 200 North Eighth Street, Terre Haute, IN. Cocktails begin at 6:15 p.m. with dinner at 7:00 p.m. Reservations can be made by calling Kay Skinner at (812) 231-8317. The cost is $20 per person.

Governor appointee Edward Mitchell Roob, Jr. (Mitch) Secretary of Indiana’s Family and Social Services Administration (FSSA) will be this year’s keynote speaker. FSSA is the health and social service branch of state government, including Medicaid, Food Stamps; programs for senior citizens; and services for people with mental illness, addictions and disabilities.

Hamilton Awards will be presented to businesses, organizations, and individuals that have significantly contributed to the cause of mental health and/or care of persons with mental illnesses, developmental disabilities or substance abuse problems. An award also will be given to a Hamilton Center staff member who has demonstrated a personal commitment to the cause of behavioral health and advanced the mission of Hamilton Center through service above and beyond the normal duties of his/her position.

Top of Page

Spectrum Services Serves Persons on Medicaid Waiver Program - September 27, 2006

During September, approximately 30 individuals in the Wabash Valley received letters from the Family and Social Services Administration as they formally announced the release of 650 new Medicaid Waiver slots state-wide.

Spectrum Services, a Division of Hamilton Center, Inc., currently serves persons with Medicaid Waivers in several ways.

Day Services: Training and support are provided individually and in small groups to help people become more independent at the Spectrum site. Topics included in training are social skills, recreation, self-help, choice making, self-advocacy, communication, grooming, budgeting, transportation, cooking, safety, first aid, etc.

Habilitation Services: These services are like day services, but take place in the clients' homes.

Follow Along Services: Support services are provided to clients who are employed. Employment Specialists may help a person master a particular job skill and/or help the person with a job task at the job site.

According to information received from the Division of Disability and Rehabilitative Services, it has been several years since such a large group of applicants have been offered Waivers. Administrative changes made by the State of Indiana such as the transition to annual plans, daily rates and maximization of Federal revenues by transferring eligible individuals off of state line item funding onto Medicaid fund programs were critical tools in securing funding for this effort. It was also noted that the release of these slots was a first step in addressing the needs of individuals waiting for services. More applicants are expected to be contacted before the end of the current Fiscal Year.

If you have received a letter from the State or know someone who has received a letter, please contact Spectrum at 231-8355 or drop by the facility located at 1616 Wabash Avenue, Terre Haute, IN. Staff are available to share the benefits and services available through Spectrum.

Top of Page

Notice of Privacy Practices