Hamilton Center, Inc. News Archives | Page 19 of 21

Hamilton Center Inc. Announces New Staff Positions

Hamilton Center, Inc. has announced several staff changes in the Addiction Program serving central and west central Indiana.

Leading Hamilton Center’s Addiction Services is Jennifer Hutchens, PsyD, HSPP, Acting Chief of Addiction Services. Dr. Hutchens will report to Hamilton Center’s Chief Medical Officer, Ashan Mahmood, MD. In addition, Karen Moore had been named Director, Richey Adderley, MS, Vigo County Program Manager, John Paulson, LMHC, LCAC, LPC, ACRPS, Acting Clinical Supervisor and Jessica Nevill, LMHC, Satellite Coordinator of Addiction Services. Lastly, Stacey Totten has been promoted to Transitional Living Manager and will oversee two residential units for consumers recovering from a mental illness and an addiction issue.

“Our focus is to put a structure in place that will allow delivery of the highest quality services in all of the communities we serve,” said Melvin L. Burks, CEO. “We want to be in a solid position to address the opioid crisis occurring across the nation,” he said.

“Hamilton Center is committed in providing evidence based programs to consumers suffering from mental illnesses and/or addiction issues,” said Jennifer Hutchens, PsyD, HSPP. “The structure we have put into place will elevate the services we are able to provide,” she said.

Hamilton Center was recently the recipient of a State License to open an Opioid Treatment Program which is expected to open by July 2018. The program will be operated by Hamilton Center Inc. and Sagamore Recovery Services, who have experience in operating a opioid treatment program.

Hamilton Center, Inc. is a regional behavioral health system in Central and West Central Indiana with corporate offices located in Terre Haute, IN. Services are provided to children, youth and adults, with specialized programs for expectant mothers, infants, and people who may be struggling with stress, life changes, or relationship issues as well as more serious problems such as depression, anxiety disorders, and serious mental illnesses.

Hamilton Center Inc. Certified as an Integrated Care Entity (ICE) by the State of Indiana

The Indiana Division of Mental Health and Addiction (DMHA) notified Hamilton Center Inc. that the Vigo County, 620 8^th Ave, Terre Haute site, has been found in compliance with the standards and requirements necessary to implement the Indiana’s Primary Care Behavioral Health Integration (PCBHI) Service Delivery System. The identified site has successfully completed the required processes and actions during the launch period from March 1, 2017 to October 31, 2017 to become an approved Integrated Care Entity (ICE).

The Indiana Family and Social Service Administration (FSSA) and the Indiana State Department of Health (ISDH) established a process by which Community Mental Health Centers (CMHCs), Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs), Community Health Centers (CHCs) and Rural Health Clinics (RHCs) may become a state certified integrated care entity (ICE). Hamilton Center staff worked for over six months to achieve this designation.

Indiana Primary Care Behavioral Health Integration (IPCBHI) was developed through agency partnerships, commitment to collaboration, and creating the opportunity for the promotion, development, and implementation of bi-directional integrated primary and behavioral health best practices across Indiana. Indiana’s initiative to formally state approved agencies as Integrated Care Entities (ICE) is intended to provide quality, access, and long term sustainability for integrated care across Indiana. Behavioral Health includes both mental health and substance use disorders. National research has shown that a whole person approach to integrated primary and behavioral health service delivery facilitates and supports the triple aim of health care: improving the health of our population; enhancing the individual’s experience of care (including quality, access, and reliability), and reducing the per capita cost of care. An ICE, serving its local and regional areas, will deliver best practice integrated primary and behavioral health care to meet the health needs of the individuals in the communities where they live. This model of care requires a collaboration between the ICE and its community partners.

“We recognize that addressing our consumers’ primary and behavioral health needs at one time and in one location significantly reduces the barriers of seeking treatment,” said Melvin L. Burks, CEO of Hamilton Center Inc. “Not only does this provide quality care, but it is more convenient to the client,” he said.

“People with serious mental illnesses many more years earlier than those without mental illnesses,” said Ahsan Mahmood, MD, Hamilton Center’s Chief Medical Officer. “Our goal is to positively impact those numbers by addressing both the mental illness and chronic health conditions that many of our consumers face,” he said.

Hamilton Center is a regional behavioral health system in central and west central Indiana. The organization provides the full range of behavioral health and addiction services to people through the entire lifecycle – birth through older adulthood. The organization is certified through the State of Indiana and accredited by The Joint Commission for behavioral health.

2017 Hamilton Awards Presented

Each year, Hamilton Center, honors the achievements of businesses and individuals in the community that have contributed significantly to the cause of mental health/addiction. The awards are named in honor of Katherine Hamilton, a woman devoted to helping the cause by improving care for those in need. Awards were given at Hamilton Center’s Annual Meeting and Awards Dinner, October 24, 2017 with over 450 people attending this uplifting event. 2017 Hamilton Award winners were:

Community award – Bill Watson, Community Corrections.

Mr. Watson is devoted to the cause of mental health and improving the care for persons with mental illness and addiction specifically those in the criminal justice system. He works on a daily basis to improve the quality of life for many individuals in the Terre Haute community as well as the State who are re-entering the community from incarceration. He is giving second chances to hundreds and hundreds of people with compassion and direction.

Volunteer award – Andy Stoelting and Tom Sebring.

Mr. Stoelting and Mr. Sebring have worked tirelessly to establish a new program at Hamilton Center called Infinity House. Infinity House was established to give adults with mental illnesses the opportunity to live meaningful and productive lives by integrating into employment and their community. This service model is run by its members and can only exist and thrive through its membership. Since inception, these gentleman have worked to get the program going and continue to work with the goal of infinity house being nationally accredited.

Staff Award – Tatu Brown, Acting Public Relations Specialist

Mr. Brown was described in the nomination as someone possessing strong leadership skills, inspiration, character, and passion when chairing or co-chairing numerous committees in the community. He is someone with a strong work ethic, always prompt and prepared at meetings, has positive energy and attitude and always goes the extra mile to see things through. It was stated that Mr. Brown never complains or blames and always takes personally responsibility. His passion goes well beyond Hamilton Center as he works to serve the community, our children, his family and friends. Lastly, Mr. Brown has overcome personal struggles to be a successful full time dedicated employee of Hamilton Center.

Also featured was keynote Misty Wallace. Ms. Wallace is the Regional Coordinator for Bridges to Life, a restorative justice program located in Indianapolis. Ms. Wallace’s passion is to reach out to men and women that have been hurt by crime and share her personal story of power, grace and forgiveness with the hope of changing lives and giving second chances. Joining her was Keith Blackburn who serves as chaplain of the Indianapolis Re Entry Educational Facility, a State Prison that helps Indiana inmates prepare to return to a productive life in society. He also shared his story of crime, repentance and forgiveness.

Hamilton Center, Inc. is a regional behavioral health system in Central and West Central Indiana. Services are provided to adolescents and adults, with specialized programs for expectant mothers, infants, and people with drug and alcohol problems. Counseling services are provided for people who may be struggling with stress, life changes, or relationship issues as well as more serious problems such as depression, anxiety disorders, and serious mental illnesses.

Hamilton Center Accepting Donations for Hurricane Victims

Hamilton Center will be accepting donations for the victims of Hurricanes Harvey and Irma. Collection barrels will be available at all Hamilton Center locations from Monday, September 25 through Friday, October 6.

The items needed in order of priority are as follows:

Toilet paper
Paper towels
Kleenex
New Socks and underwear
Hand sanitizer
Bleach
Diapers
Wipes
Formula
Feminine hygiene items
Leather and canvas work gloves
Batteries and flashlights

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, personal hygiene items are most important following natural disasters and severe weather. Good basic personal hygiene and handwashing are critical to help prevent the spread of illness and disease.

Estimates for the damage caused by Hurricanes Harvey and Irma are upwards of $200 billion collectively. If you would like to make a monetary donation please visit the Salvation Army or American Red Cross.

For more information please contact Lonnie Sapp at lsapp@hamiltoncenter.org or 812-231-8445.

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder and Hyper-Vigilance

By William Little, LSW, Veteran Program Coordinator/Therapist, Hamilton Center

Independence Day is a celebration of our freedom and rights to “life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness”. However, this day can create a feeling of terror for the brave veterans who have protected our freedom. Fireworks season can trigger PTSD and cause feelings of discomfort.

Trauma is destructive, and the impact of trauma can cause negative reactions to stressful situations. One of the most devastating symptoms of PTSD is living with hyper-vigilance or the feeling of always being on guard. The feeling that danger could be lurking around any corner or that everyone is a potential threat can be particularly destructive to interpersonal relationships.

So how is hyper-vigilance different among civilians compared to military or police?

A single event as a victim or a survivor compared to multiple events as a participant or a combatant can affect the level of impact on an individual and it makes a difference in their treatment approach. Both can cause significant negative problems with family, social, and work relationships but they must be treated differently.

Civilians who suffer prolonged exposure to abuse or incidents of significant trauma may suffer from hyper-vigilance as a symptom of PTSD. For the civilian, hyper-vigilance may feel like paranoia and can make a person feel very untrusting or on-edge around strangers. For someone who has been trained for combat in the military, hyper-vigilance takes on a whole new meaning. Imagine being in a social setting with several people around. The veteran with hyper-vigilance will probably not enjoy this environment because they will be assessing for danger and scouting potential exit points. It becomes impossible to interact socially or enjoy an event while all of this is happening in the veteran’s mind. One of the most uncomfortable feelings is knowing what is happening but simply being unable to shut the feelings down.

The primary difference is the levels of training and the preparedness to engage an actual or (in most cases) a perceived threat in social situations.

Many veterans struggle with not only the perceived threat of violence from an unknown source but the additional worry and possible anxiety associated with worrying about how others are perceiving their actions. It is difficult to hide many of the actions and reactions connected with hyper-vigilance, the individual may look around suspiciously, examine those around, place themselves in calculated safe-zones, and rarely smile or engage easily in social situations. Hyper-vigilance to someone trained in combat is a type of situational awareness, and it can have severe negative consequences on social interactions and self-confidence. Although hyper-vigilance can be very intrusive and uncomfortable it is also very treatable. Those thought processes can be diminished, managed, or corrected through mindfulness and corrective training.

Hamilton Center military veteran program offers individual and group counseling that can address the specific needs of individuals struggling with the negative effects of hyper-vigilance.

For more information about the MVP program contact William Little at mvp@hamiltoncenter.org or 812-231-3747.

Master in Social Work Student of the Year

Lakisha Johnson recently received an award for outstanding Master in Social Work Student of the Year from the Indiana Chapter of the National Association of Social Workers (NASW). This award honors an Indiana student member who exemplifes the profession’s values/ethics, goals, and mission. NASW chooses a student with an overall accomplishment and commitment in an area such leadership, academic achievement, and/or community involvement.

Johnson, originally from Queens, NY, moved to Terre Haute in 2005 to create a better life for her children. Johnson will graduate this month with her Master in Social Work degree along with her daughter who will graduate with a Bachelor of Criminal Justice.

Johnson says she loves working in the mental health field and recently completed an internship with Hamilton Center, Inc.

“Social work is my second profession, but my first love,” said Johnson. “I worked in the business field for a number of years in various positions, but felt empty and decided to get my degree in social work because I wanted to do something that impacts people’s lives in a profound way.”

Johnson has made social work a priority in her life and looks at the profession as second nature. She is active in volunteering at Sarah Scott Middle School and is a Girl Scout Troop Leader. She spends her time helping others on the campus of ISU as a peer mentor.

Hamilton Center, Inc. is a regional behavioral health system serving central and west central Indiana. Offices are located in ten Indiana counties with the Corporate Office in Terre Haute. Hamilton Center serves people during their entire life cycle, birth through older adulthood with programs specifically designed for young children, adolescents, adults and families.

Hamilton Center Holds Consumer Connection Luncheon

On March 7, 2017 Hamilton Center held a luncheon in the Child and Adolescent Services gymnasium, Vigo County, in honor of the consumers at Hamilton Center, Inc. The luncheon, also referred to as the Consumer Connection, was established to collaborate with consumers on continuous quality improvement of treatment service and enhance overall wellness.

“The goal I envisioned when taking on the consumer luncheon was reinforcing the connection established between both consumer and staff, ultimately allowing each consumer to feel important, vital, and inclusive in all we strive to do,” said Charles Martinez, Continuum of Care Specialist, Hamilton Center.

The event was attended by over 70 consumers and 40 Hamilton Center staff. The feedback received from both consumers and staff encompassed consumer empowerment and inclusion as it related to continuity of care and services provided.

“I am glad that I came to the event. I thought it wasn’t going to be fun, but it was. I loved the energy and the music,” said one consumer who attended the event.

The luncheon takes place quarterly to allow consumers to give feedback to the organization on how to improve services.

“Our consumers’ perceptions of treatment are critical to Hamilton Center’s ability to provide the highest quality services, said Melvin L. Burks, Hamilton Center’s CEO. “It was incredibly heartwarming to see the reception this event received.” he said.

Each consumer completed a comment card with feedback on how Hamilton Center can improve services. There was also a gratitude tree created that allowed consumers to write positive affirmations and things for which they are grateful.

Law Enforcement Training for Mental Health Crises

Hamilton Center, Inc. and local community partners are working together to create a Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) Monday, March 6 through Friday, March 10 in the Community Room in Hamilton Center at 500 8^th Avenue. The CIT program provides training and education to law enforcement officers to assist them in more effectively managing a behavioral health crisis due to mental illness and/or co-occurring substance use disorders. The training will provide the necessary information to guide officers in re-directing these individuals away from the criminal justice system.

CIT is a community based partnership that includes behavioral health and human service providers and those with a lived experience who will participate in the training. Officers who choose to attend, receive 40 hours of specialized instruction from behavioral health experts. The training is designed to help officers gain understanding about mental health disorders, substance use disorders and developmental disorders in order to develop a foundation for officers to build their skills.

Police officers are often called upon to respond to crisis situations, many times involving individuals with serious mental illness. In the past, responding officers often lack any specialized training in dealing with the mentally ill. The CIT program works to bridge this gap between police response and mental health care by forming partnerships with behavioral health, human service professionals, consumers, and their families.

“I am very excited about the opportunity to come together with our community partners to provide a holistic training on mental health for our local law enforcement. It is important for those of us in the mental health field to listen to the police officers and understand their barriers and use their perspective to bridge the gap,” said Warren English-Malone, Referral Liaison, Hamilton Center. “This is just the first step of CIT. After the training they will shadow at behavioral health units in the community and the end result is creating protocol to be followed in a crisis situation.”

CIT is much broader than simply training. It is about redesigning how behavioral health services are delivered in the community.

QUOTE FROM MELVIN L.

Hamilton Center Welcomes New Therapy Dog for Children

Hawkeye, a three- year- old white German Shepherd, has become an enhancement to therapy for the children in services at Hamilton Center. Hawkeye is a Certified Therapy Dog through Therapy Dogs International (TDI) and will be working with children who are diagnosed with autism, ADHD or have experienced trauma or other crisis situations.

Hawkeye is a rescue dog from the Sullivan County Humane Society. Cynthia Rotman, Care Manager Supervisor, realized that not only did he enjoy being with children, but that his presence has a calming influence on them. Rotman adopted Hawkeye when he was 10 months old and has been training with him ever since.

“My husband and I have been rescuing German Shepherds for years. I have had a real desire for some time to put my love of Shepherds into helping them become therapy dogs. Hawkeye has been challenging, but he has become a very special part of our family, and now, part of the mission of Hamilton Center,” explains Rotman.

The requirements for Hawkeye’s therapy certification are stringent through TDI. He had to meet certain requirements and be tested and evaluated by a certified TDI evaluator. There are over 24,000 dogs of all breeds and pedigrees registered through TDI, a non-profit organization supported through annual membership dues and donations. TDI provides programs such as assisted living, disaster stress relief dogs, and home visits to name a few.

“When Hawkeye is working, he is very tuned in to his surroundings — how he is feeling and how people are reacting to him,” said Rotman, “my job is to make him available and to teach people how to appropriately interact with him.”

According to a study conducted through Therapy Dogs International, people can experience psychological, physical, social and behavioral benefits from working with therapy dogs like Hawkeye. The study strongly supports the use of dogs to enhance the quality of life of individuals in healthcare and/or restrictive settings.

“Hamilton Center is excited to see how well-received Hawkeye is by the children receiving treatment through child and adolescent services”, said Melvin L. Burks, CEO of Hamilton Center. “We want to do anything we can to enhance treatment and assist children in feeling comfortable,” he said

Hamilton Center Introduces YMHFA Aid to Sullivan County

Hamilton Center is initiating the Youth Mental Health First Aid Program at Sullivan County Public Library, 100 S. Crowder Street, Monday January 9, 2017 from 8:30 am to 5:30 pm. Certified instructors will train members of the public involved with youth to improve mental health literacy – helping them identify, understand, and respond to signs of mental illness. Seats are available for up to 30 registrants including community youth workers, agency youth workers, bus drivers, Librarians, parents, or anyone who works with the youth population.

“Suicide is the 3^rd leading cause of death for young people in the United States. Indiana ranks #10. Our youth population is counting on us to bring light to these issues. Community members are invited to attend trainings to increase the ability to begin addressing issues/providing knowledge or resources for youth in crisis,” said Janet Rose, Program Coordinator of Youth Mental Health First Aid, Hamilton Center, Inc.

Youth Mental Health First Aid is an 8-hour training certification course which teaches participants a five-step action plan to assess a situation, select and implement interventions, and secure appropriate care for the individual. The certification program introduces participants to risk factors and warning signs of mental health problems, builds an understanding of their impact, and overviews common treatments. Evaluations in randomized controlled trials and a quantitative study have proved the CPR-like program effective in improving trainees’ knowledge of mental health disorders, reducing stigma, and increasing the amount of help provided to the youth population.

Those completing the training will be certified as Youth Mental Health First Aiders for three years. Re-certification can be obtained by attending another workshop. Completion of training may count as 8 hours towards professional growth points.

Mental health challenges such as depression, anxiety, psychosis and substance use are common in the United States; estimating prevalence is 22% annually for ages 13-18. In fact, suicide is the 3^rd leading cause of death for young people in the United States. The National Council for Behavioral Health certifies individuals throughout the nation to provide Youth Mental Health First Aid courses to prepare their communities with the knowledge and skills to help individuals who are developing a mental health problem or experiencing a mental health crisis. Identified on SAMHSA’s National Registry of Evidence-Based Programs and Practices, the training helps the public better identify, understand, and respond to signs of mental illnesses.

For more information on Youth Mental Health First Aid, visit www.mentalhealthfirstaid.org.

For more information on this training or future trainings, please contact Janet Rose at 812-231-8129 or email jrose@hamiltoncenter.org to request a workshop at your school, church, agency, foundation, or community organization.