2008 News Stories

January

Hamilton Center Inc’s, Dr. William C. Shriner, Retires 36 Years After Helping Open Their Doors - January 9, 2008

Hamilton Center Inc. announces the retirement of one of their most revered Psychiatrists, Dr. William C. Shriner.

In July of 1969, Dr. Shriner accepted the position of Medical Director of Vigo County Adult and Child Guidance Clinic in Terre Haute. In December of 1971, the Adult and Child Guidance Center merged with Katherine Hamilton Mental Health Center to form a single entity and Dr. Shriner became the first Medical Director of what is now Hamilton Center, Inc.

Dr. Shriner has been an essential part of Hamilton Center’s success and has mentored and touched many lives during his successful career. A retirement reception is planned from 4:00 pm to 6:00 pm in the Green Room of Union Hospital (basement). At that time Galen Goode, CEO, will announce that the Corporate Office Building (620 Eighth Avenue) will officially be named “The Dr. William C. Shriner Building.”

Top of Page

West Vigo High School Clubs Raise $1000 for Hamilton Center Infant & Toddler Services Preschoolers - January 16, 2008

West Vigo High School Key Club and Family Career, and Community Leaders of America (FCCLA) clubs hosted a competition to see who could raise $1000 the fastest, and raised it in a week. Tori Wilkenson, and Jessica Stevens along with Catherine Herrin, Consumer Science teacher at West Vigo High School presented the check to Hamilton Center’s Anita Lascellas, Director of Infant & Toddler Services (ITS). ITS will be using the money to purchase winter weather apparel for preschool children such as: coats, gloves, shoes, boots, socks, underwear, sweat shirts/pants.

Pictured L-R: (Tori Wilkinson , Jessica Stevens, Anita Lascellas and Catherine Herrin)

Top of Page

May

Hamilton Center Inc. Celebrates Mental Health Month - May 2008

Hamilton Center Inc. will celebrate Mental Health Month with their second annual Mental Health Month Cookout to be held on Friday, May 30th from 11:00 am- 2:00. The event will be held in the parking lot of Hamilton Center’s Spectrum Services building at 1616 Wabash Avenue. Hotdogs, chips and a drink will be available for $5, and attendees will have an opportunity to learn more about mental health treatment from Hamilton Center representatives. Proceeds will go to support the Hamilton Center Partial Hospitalization programs.

Mental Health Month is an annual observance sponsored by the National Mental Health Association (NMHA) and the National Council for Community Behavioral Healthcare (NCCBH). It is designed to increase awareness about mental health and mental illness. This year’s theme is “Get Connected” and it focuses on an essential component of maintaining and protecting mental health and wellness: social connectedness. There are many ways of creating connections that support mental health. Get connected to family and friends to feel close and supported. Get connected to your community to feel a sense of belonging and purpose and get connected to professional help to feel better when you’re stressed and having trouble coping.

According to the U.S. Surgeon General's report on mental health, more than half of all Americans with a severe mental illness fail to seek treatment. Many people do not receive treatment for mental health problems due to a lack of awareness of the problem, fear of stigma, or lack of access to appropriate services. Yet, overall quality of life is greatly improved when a person with a mental health problem gets an early diagnosis and receives appropriate treatment.

Top of Page

June

Hamilton Center, Inc. Recruiting Foster Parents for Therapeutic Foster Care Program - June 2008

Hamilton Center’s Foster Care Program is currently recruiting for new Therapeutic Foster Parents. Foster parents are needed to provide a stable and loving home for children and give care and attention to their basic needs. While teaching the child what family life can be like, they also provide stability, guidance, nurturing and discipline. Our foster parents work cooperatively with a team of professionals and participate with others with regularly scheduled on-going trainings. If you are interested in finding out more about Therapeutic Foster Parenting please contact Amy Atterson, Lead Case Manager at (812) 231-8360 or Peggy Smothers, Program Manager at (812) 231-8206.

Top of Page

July

Hamilton Center’s Infant and Toddler Services Program Receives Donation from West Vigo High School - July, 2008

West Vigo High School students recently made a donation to the Infant and Toddler Services (ITS) Program at Hamilton Center, Inc. With a grant received through C.H.A.N.C.E.S. for Indiana Youth, the West Vigo students were able to fill twenty-five cloth bags with newborn and baby supplies. These bags were presented to the Infant & Toddler Services (ITS) of Hamilton Center to be given to participant families. The bag, full of useful items, will be given to families with a newborn along with educational information from the ITS Staff.

“We are most grateful for community donations such as these,” said Anita Lascelles, Director of Hamilton Center’s ITS programs. “The fact that three different non-profit groups are working together to help others should not go unnoticed, that’s what makes this a special community.”

Top of Page

August

Spectrum Services hosts First Annual “2 Wheels 4 Tomorrow” Motorcycle Show - August 6, 2008

Hamilton Center, Inc. announces an inaugural event to be known as “2 Wheels 4 Tomorrow.” Spectrum Services, the rehabilitation division of Hamilton Center, is taking registration forms for the first annual motorcycle show to be held on Saturday, September 27 from 9:00 am to Noon at the Spectrum building located in the former Harley Davidson dealership at 1616 Wabash Avenue. The show will feature motorcycle enthusiasts from around the Wabash Valley and awards will be presented in a variety of categories.

Since 1972, Spectrum has provided various services for adults with intellectual and other disabilities in the Wabash Valley that include day services, assessments, vocational training, employment assistance and high school transition. Profits from this event will directly support the programs offered for Spectrum consumers.

Registration may be made on line at www.hamiltoncenter.org or by calling Spectrum Services at 812-231-8355. Registration forms will also be available at most motorcycle dealers in the Wabash Valley as well as at Spectrum Services at 1616 Wabash Avenue.

Top of Page

September

Spectrum Services offers Music Therapy - September, 2008

Spectrum Services, the rehabilitation division of Hamilton Center serving people with developmental disabilities, is now offering music therapy for adults and children with developmental disabilities. Previously, the closest Music Therapist was located in Indianapolis. The majority of services will be offered on site at 1616 Wabash Avenue but services at community settings can be arranged on a case by case basis. Medicaid Waiver service recipients are eligible for services at no additional cost. Other service recipients must pay for services privately.

The music therapy program will be implemented by Lylia Forsyth, who received her bachelor’s degree in music therapy from St. Mary-of-the-Woods College in 2008. Prior to this position she completed two terms of the AmeriCorps program at Spectrum Services and Hamilton Center’s Inpatient Unit. In addition, Lylia completed a music therapy internship at Good Samaritan Society-University Specialty Center in Minneapolis, MN.

“We are excited to be providing this new service for the residents of our local community. Lylia comes highly recommended and because of her AmeriCorps service at Spectrum we know her capabilities as well. We are definitely looking forward to a successful music therapy program,” said Mary Ann Clark, Spectrum Director.

Music therapy services at Spectrum Services will be provided in both individual and group settings. Individual goals will be developed for each person and will include goals such as increasing socialization; increasing self-expression; improving self-esteem; increasing awareness of self, others and the environment; increasing attention to tasks; reinforcing academic tasks; increasing coping skills; and decreasing anxiety. The program may include singing, instrumental improvisation, adaptive instrument lessons, music and movement, song and lyric analysis, songwriting, and music and relaxation.

“The popularity and documented effectiveness of music therapy is increasing and I am very pleased to be able to return to Terre Haute and Spectrum to establish the program in this area,” said Forsyth.

According to the American Music Therapy Association, music therapy is defined as the clinical and evidence-based use of music interventions to accomplish individualized goals within a therapeutic relationship by a credentialed professional who has completed an approved music therapy program. Music therapy utilizes music to improve physical, cognitive, psychosocial, and communication skills. Facilities that provide music therapy services include schools, nursing homes, private medical practices, group homes, day care treatment centers, medical and psychiatric hospitals, substance abuse programs, hospice and bereavement programs, correctional and forensic facilities, outpatient clinics, mental health clinics, rehabilitation facilities, and wellness programs. For additional information about music therapy services, see the American Music Therapy Association’s website at www.musictherapy.org.

For additional information about Spectrum Services’ Music Therapy program, call (812) 231-8355 or contact Lylia at lforsyth@hamiltoncenter.org.

Top of Page

October

“Survivor’s” Rupert Boneham to be Keynote Speaker at Hamilton Center’s Annual Dinner on October 28, 2008

Hamilton Center is pleased to announce that the Keynote Address for the 2008 Annual Dinner will be delivered by Rupert Boneham, creator of Rupert’s Kids, an Indianapolis-based program that serves youth who have received intensive services from many social service programs in the region. Through work programs such as landscaping and home renovation, members of Rupert’s Kids learn skills and values that will lead them towards stability in their lives, in housing, employment and relationships. The Annual Dinner and Awards Ceremony will take place on Tuesday, October 28, at Indiana State University’s Hulman Center.

Rupert Boneham is a survivor. In a game that cuts through any pretense, he alone outlived the intense scrutiny of 38 million television viewers in 2004. That’s the year that CBS's Survivor: All Stars announced that the American public would choose which All-Star player deserved a second million-dollar prize. Mark Burnett had never done this before, nor has he since. But, it initiated a sequence of events that Rupert calls his “miracle.” On the finale of Survivor: All Stars, Jeff Probst revealed that four out of five of the 38 million votes were for a “bear” of a man with the heart of gold, Rupert Boneham.

Prior to becoming a millionaire and an instant pop culture icon, Rupert developed his winning ways working with troubled teens in Central Indiana. In 1983, Rupert began his work in the mental health field working with kids in Abilene, TX. During this time, he realized his talent with hard-edged teens whom many other mentors and caregivers had difficulty connecting.

By 1990, Rupert had followed his passion to work with troubled teens in the central Indiana area. In 1991, he purchased his first abandoned property from the city of Indianapolis to provide vocational training to a group of teens that had been expelled from school. The refurbished house was later made available to low-income families. As Rupert’s organization evolved, it became more active in local government projects that, he hoped, would benefit the entire community.

After winning his million dollars, Rupert made good on his promise to donate a large portion to create Rupert's Kids, the culmination of 20-plus years of work with at-risk teens.

The evening will also include Hamilton Awards which 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.

The dinner is scheduled for Tuesday, October 28. A reception will begin at 5:30 p.m. with dinner at 6:00 p.m. and program at 7:00 p.m. Reservations can be made by calling Kay Skinner at (812) 231-8317. The cost is $30 per person and $240 for a table of 8.

Top of Page

Notice of Privacy Practices