Aspire FY23 Annual Report

July 1, 2022 to June 30, 2023

VALUES & PRINCIPLES

• Commitment to individual and organizational efforts to: build respect, dignity, fairness, empathy, and compassion.

• Commitment to equitable treatment at all organization levels and throughout all programs.

• Committed to recovery-focused, traumainformed and person-centered care.

• Commitment to care, welfare, safety, security, and satisfaction of the individuals we serve and the employees who serve.

• We believe each person is unique and services should be based on needs and preferences.

• Commitment to engagement in community partnerships and whole health.

A message

TO OUR COMMUNITY, STAKEHOLDERS, PARTNERS AND ONE ASPIRE.

Aspire considers it an honor and privilege to make a difference for the people we serve. We do this by connecting them to the care, support, and resources they need during the most challenging moments in their lives. I am pleased to report that in FY2023, Aspire delivered on our commitments, with solid financial performance and growth across all our programs. We continued our work towards addressing the behavioral health needs of the individuals we serve and in our communities. Our service continuum is ever-expanding and FY2023 saw the implementation of additional Co-response services, Intensive Customized Care Coordination, Parent and Youth Peer Support Services, Integrated Care, and the implementation of additional supports to assist with transition to Permanent Supportive Housing.

In FY2024, we expect our momentum to continue. We pride ourselves on saying “YES” and consistently seeking ways to better serve our communities. This year we will be working towards certifying as a Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinic (CCBHC). We have been moving our organization towards key benchmarks for this federal model since 2015. New crisis response options, clinical service expansion & evidence-based care, along with financial benchmarks, will have the capabilities to improve access, quality, affordability, and experience for all we serve.

Everything we are able to accomplish as an organization wouldn’t be possible without our teams being committed to assuring our individuals receive person-centered and high-quality care. Our employees have been intentional about finding better ways to serve our individuals’ needs and Aspire has been intentional about responding to our employees’ needs. 95% of our new incentives implemented or internal procedural changes in the last 3 years have been initiated by our staff. This strengthens our culture and helps our employment satisfaction grow. This past year saw our first Employee Wellness event and our first Celebrate Aspire awards dinner. I am so grateful and proud to

lead this organization with our amazing employees.

As we continue to strive towards serving all who need us, we recognize we cannot do it all alone. We appreciate our stakeholders’ support, your specialized services and willingness to partner with us on new ventures. We are proud to be a part of a strong network of organizations serving those most vulnerable individuals in Southwest Georgia.

DANA P. GLASS, LCSW Executive Director

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

As a public, non-profit organization, Albany Area Community Service Board dba Aspire

BHDD Services is governed by a Board of Directors. Board members are appointed by the respective county commission, and each county has one representative. Counties are eligible for additional members if their population is 100,000. One additional member from Dougherty, Early, and Terrell counties is also appointed to the Board to address the variation in financial contributions of those counties. The board members govern the provision of serviced within the boundaries of the community service board. Each board member is appointed to serve a 3-year term.

MEMBERS OF OUR FY2023 BOARD OF DIRECTORS INCLUDE:

EVERA MOYE (Baker)

Chairperson

RICHARD WARE, JR. (Dougherty)

Vice Chairperson

MIKE SABOT (Lee)

Secretary/Treasurer

SHERIFF WILLIAM PRICE (Early)

Board Member

DAN MILLER (Worth)

Board Member

JUDGE JOE C. BISHOP (Terrell)

GACSB Board Representative

DARLENE COX (Miller)

Miller County

MICHAEL FOWLER (Dougherty)

Dougherty County Elected Official

DR. EUGENE SHERMAN (Dougherty)

Board Member

LEONARD MINTER (Dougherty)

Board Member

JEANETTE HENDERSON (Dougherty)

Board Member

DIANNE WIMES (Terrell)

Board Member

PAM CONNER (Calhoun)

Board Member

JOYCE ALEXANDER (Early)

Early County

EXECUTIVE LEADERSHIP TEAM

Aspire BHDD (Albany Area Community Service Board) provides mental health, addictive disease, and developmental disability services to citizens of Dougherty, Baker, Calhoun, Early, Lee, Miller, Terrell, and Worth Counties.

DANA P. GLASS, LCSW

Chief Executive Director

LISA OOSTERVEEN, LPC

Deputy Director

LEE PAVLIK

Chief Financial Officer

MARLISA B. NIXON, CARES, CPS-AD

Director of Employee Experience & Change Management

DANIEL FLEUREN, BS, CPS-AD, CARES, FPM

Chief Operations Officer

OUR EXECUTIVE LEADERSHIP TEAM INCLUDES: IN MEMORIUM

CAROLINE CHANDLER

Chief Clinical Officer - Intellectual/ Developmental Disabilities

SANDRA MYERS

Chief Personnel Officer

EDWARD WILLIAMS

Corporate Compliance Officer

We were deeply saddened that our very loyal board member of Aspire, Mr. Leonard Minter passed away on April 26, 2023. His celebration of life was held on Saturday, May 6, 2023, at 3:00 P.M. at Mt. Zion Baptist Church, 901 S. Westover Blvd in Albany. Mr. Minter was a very kind and caring man. His last official act as a board member was a donation to the Sneaker Ball so that some of our youth could attend the ball! He cared deeply about this community and our employees. He always wanted to make sure we were doing our part to take care of our staff! He will be greatly missed!

Smile Mile

AS WIDE AS A

Darrell greets people with a bright smile, giving daps and, “What’s up folk, folk?” He finds joy in each day and is friendly to everyone he comes across. Darrell grew up in Miller County where he played on the high school varsity basketball team. He now lives in Blakely with his mother and other family members and is employed by Blakely Car Care.

Darrell began learning vocational skills at the Calhoun-Early-Miller Campus of Aspire

Behavioral Health and Developmental Disability Services. Through the mobile janitorial and lawn crew, Darrell developed a strong work ethic that would help him become a dedicated employee. When asked about his job, “I like to work!!”

According to Rebel Helms, Aspire CEM Director, Darrell has been employed by Kenny at Blakely Car Care for almost two years. Kenny describes

Darrell as, “friendly, all smiles, very dependable and does not let anything upset him.” Darrell’s life dream is to one day have his own carwash. Until then, he says he is “happy”!

Darrell enjoys yoga, basketball, playing cards and “just chilling” when he’s not at work. Brenda, Darrell’s mother said that he is at his best when he’s working and staying busy. “I think he needs a job on the weekends too!” “I can’t say enough positive things about Aspire and what it has done for Darrell.”

We hope that Darrell will continue to live his live without limits!

Darrell is one of the happiest people that I’ve ever met. He brings a smile to everyone he meets.

AGENCY OVERVIEW

& PROGRAMMING

RESIDENTIAL SERVICES

Aspire Behavioral Health & Developmental Disability Services provides residential services to individuals with severe and persistent mental health and/or addictive disease challenges who need supportive services in order to live as independently as possible. The goal of Aspire’s residential services is to teach the skills you need to take care of your home and your daily living needs such as health, nutrition, managing your medications, handling your finances, and becoming an active in your community. Aspire offers different levels of support, based on your needs.

THE CRISIS RESPITE APARTMENT (CRA) services provides an individual with a supported housing environment considered essential when assisting a person who has recently transitioned from or when preventing episodes of homelessness, incarceration, or admissions to a psychiatric inpatient facility, Behavioral Health Crisis Center (BHCC), Crisis Stabilization Unit (CSU), or 23hour observation area. Programming consists of services and supports to restore housing stability and further develop skills for independent living. The focus of interventions provided include:

(1) Identification of Service Needs,

(2) Referral and Linkage to necessary community services and resources including transportation assistance when needed, (3) Independent Living Skills Reinforcement and Coaching, and

(4) Transition Planning/Coordination. This residential service will reflect individual choice and should be fully integrated in the community to promote the methods to achieve residential and community based social supports. The outcome expectations for individuals receiving this service include decreased hospitalizations, decreased incarcerations, decreased episodes of homelessness, increased housing stability, increased participation in employment activities, and increased community engagement.

THE TRANSITIONAL SUPERVISED APARTMENTS (FORENSICS)

are a community-based treatment program for 12 males and females in a homelike setting that operates on a Recovery model that seeks to return participants to a quality of life in the community. This program provides long term transitional support housing to assist participants who are transitioning from forensic units including both inpatient and community supervised programs. The program provides a psychosocial approach to include skills training communication, socialization, work-readiness, leisure education, self-help and daily living as determined by each individual ‘s needs. Individuals will work toward their overall rehabilitation goals and work toward the fulfillment of their recovery.

COMMUNITY RESIDENTIAL REHABILITATION (CRR)

provides around the clock assistance to individuals within a residential setting that assists them to successfully maintain housing stability in the community, continue with their recovery, and increase self-sufficiency.

MOVE or Moderate

Customized Care Coordination (MC3) is a specialized treatment model designed for youth and young adults with moderate emotional/behavioral health needs who would benefit from a unique service approach that utilizes community support individuals and certified peer specialists to assist youth with developing hope statements, ensuring service delivery, and promoting youth and family goals towards the future. The MOVE program is centered on facilitating youth and family connection and promoting hope for the future. The goal of the MOVE program is to help youth and their families learn how to develop hope and resiliency and to promote the belief that change is possible. The Aspire team is committed to walking alongside youth and their families throughout the healing process as they remember and encourage the beauty of growth and connection.

Promoting, Advocating, and Connecting - Peer led program designed to connect parents and youth with lived experience to families who may need a little extra support and encouragement on their recovery journey.

2023 PAC HIGHLIGHTS

• PAC has a total of 8 Certified Peer Specialist – 6 parents and 2 youth.

• This year our PAC team served as panelist for the Continuing Education Conference, Mental Health Awareness Month, and the National Conference for NTTAC

• The team worked with the Albany Housing Authority to get 6 families stably housed.

• Trained over 100 community members in QPR!

• Partnered with Kate’s Club Organization for Grief Support for Southwest Georgia.

Improving access to mental health services and the overall health of individuals served

• Primary Care Services available at Dougherty County Outpatient

• Physician, Nurse and Care Coordinator

• Enhances access to services

• Improves quality of care

• Lowers overall health care costs

Intensive Customized Care Coordination Program (IC3) is a program of Aspire Youth and Young Adult services and is operated by Aspire Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities. It is designed to provide High-Fidelity Wraparound (HFW) services to youth and their families’ ages 5-20 who are struggling functionally. HFW is an ecologically based process building on the collective actions of a team to mobilize resources and talents from a variety of sources to support families in their communities. In the wraparound process, a team of people are brought together around all the components of a family’s life incorporating their history, culture, relationships, and other relevant information to address their challenges and formulate possible solutions.

2023 IMPACT HIGHLIGHTS

• Megan Friend, our Connections Coordinator was certified in PEARLS, and is now a CPS-P

• Connections Coordinators Taffie Pope, Wendy Hayes, and Ashley Shiver are also CPS-Ps

• We had one youth successfully graduate from IC3 services who transferred from another CME

MERANDA BICE, M.Ed, LPC IC3 Program Director

CHANGE CENTER

The Change Center is an addiction recovery support center, and a resource hub for the entire community that honors all recovery pathways. We believe everyone can get and stay well.

EMPOWER CHOICE. PROMOTE CHANGE. HEAL COMMUNITIES.

FIRST CONTACTS COMMUNITY COLLABORATIONS

HIGHLIGHTS

• The Change Center hosted a listening session for the future of behavioral health and recovery May 2, 2023. Jeff Breedlove, Georgia Council for Recovery and Kim Jones from NAMI were in attendance. Representative Bill Yearta also attended and spoke. This is part of preparation for the upcoming bus tour that will kick off during recovery month in September. The Change Center will host Recovery in the Streets and be a major stop on the bus tour during recovery month.

• Had the most productive year fostering a relationship with Phoebe Behavioral Health Department

FY 2023

• Implementing a new tracking service model for greater detail and more accurate data

• We are proud to announce Judge Victoria Darrisaw as the newest member of our Advisory Council

• Alesha Burgman, CARES, CPS-AD/MH, FPM promoted to Change Center Director

• Michael Coley, CARES promoted to Outreach Coordinator

• Kathleen Bishop promoted to Program Coordinator

509 5,527 681 RECOVERY MEETINGS COMMUNITY COLLABORATIONS FIRST CONTACTS

25,820 TOTAL SERVICES

Madison’s Story

I WOULD LIKE TO SHARE WITH YOU ALL A THING I HAD WRITTEN IN 2020.

She burned so bright for others, not seeing how much they had hurt her. When she started seeing the hurt, she began isolating herself to preserve her energy. Negativity wouldn’t leave, wouldn’t go away. She became more and more dull as she began to lose sight of herself. She had let pain build a home inside her heart and called it broken. She’d almost let her flame die out. Eventually though, she’d had enough, and so had the others she had been around. She was tired of the hurt and pain keeping her down, but also wasn’t sure how to bring herself back up. She had seen how broken she was, the size of the cracks, the darkness that was strewn throughout her soul. She wanted to heal from it. This isolation she had fallen into to preserve her energy, wasn’t self-love and healing as she’d thought. It was a form of self-harm. Soon, she stopped isolating; amongst the negativity, she’d found a spark of positivity. It filled her with hope and rekindled her dying flame. That positivity wanted to help her, so it wouldn’t let her leave them alone. They wanted to be there for her, and she saw that. She let it in, let it embrace her warmly and it let her know she’d be okay. Now? She’s burning again, not for others, but for herself. Her burning for herself allows her the energy to burn for the sake of others, not for others. That positivity never left her alone. It’s still there!

This positivity had been introduced to me in 2012 when I first came into Aspire’s services. There are a lot of blank and blurred time periods throughout my life, but there are still many memories that I have of Aspire, enough to tell

you guys that they contributed greatly to who I am today. Mr. Marlon and Ms. Angie, the few therapists I’ve had over the years, the doctors, all now who are coworkers... They have contributed so many of my life lessons and coping skills and the things I use daily to not just survive, but live. And of course, I’m still going through some rough patches and there’s a lot I haven’t yet healed from, but I know that my Aspire family has me for as long as they can. And even now, though I work here as a Certified Peer SpecialistYouth (CPS-Y), I know they still got my back and support me. They gave me the voice I needed when I was younger, taught me how to advocate for myself, and gave me the ability to wield my voice to help others find theirs. I wouldn’t trade any of it for the world.

INDIVIDUALS SERVED

BY PROGRAM TOTAL 8848

INDIVIDUALS BY RACE

BY GENDER

PAYERS MIX

SERVICES BY COUNTY OF RESIDENCE

A Light in the Darkness

JACOB KNOWLES & KATHLEEN BISHOPS STORY

JACOB

My name is Jacob Knowles, and I have been clean for over a year and 8 months. I met Kathleen when I was 16. We started dating soon after we met, and we had so much fun together. Unfortunately, we also started doing drugs soon after we started dating. We had a lot of fun at first. I was homeless and jobless, so we hustled for money every day for our addiction. She would sleep in her car with me even though she had a home to go to every night. That’s just one of the many reasons that convinced me that she was the love of my life. We always hung around my mom and her friends, and they were all in their addiction. All I ever knew was drugs growing up. We eventually decided to try some and instantly fell in love. Everything seemed great until it wasn’t. I didn’t realize how bad it was getting. I still have some regrets about the kind of person I was becoming. I lost myself in addiction and I was taking my girlfriend down the same path with me. I stopped caring about everything. Kathleen was still my light in all of this, though I didn’t realize it. One day at work, I felt compelled to open up to a stranger about everything going on with us. He told me about the Aspire R.I.S.E./MAT (Medication Assisted Treatment) program. We made an appointment and connected with Paul, the CARES at the program. We had to get some help because our lives had become completely unmanageable. We were going down this dark path of insanity, and didn’t know how to stop. Once we stepped foot into that building, our lives would begin to change. We had to unlearn

codependency, to do the work individually for on our own recovery. Though that was difficult, it was do-able. We started the process of medication assisted treatment to help us get through the withdrawals. That was the best decision we could have made. We have both gone back to school and have fantastic jobs today. She is the love of my life, and I am forever grateful for her support in all of this. We were able to lean on each other in the darkest of times, and be present in the greatest times. Recovery turned our relationship

We were able to lean on each other in the darkest of times, and be present in the greatest times.

into its healthiest form! I am grateful that we didn’t give up on each other. Life today is worth living, and I get to live this amazing life with the woman of my dreams with our sweet family of pets. I used to want to die but not today. Today, I get to be excited to live. Recovery is possible for anyone, and I am thankful to be one of the lucky ones who did not give up.

KATHLEEN

My name is Kathleen Bishop, and I am a person in long-term recovery. What that means to me is that it has been a year and 8 months since I’ve used any mood- or mind-altering substances. I grew up in a stable household with loving parents who gave me a wonderful life. I ended up meeting my now fiancée when I was 16. Our relationship started out great, and we shared many of the same interests. We got introduced to drugs very shortly after we started dating. There’s a saying that goes ‘If you keep hanging around the barbershop, eventually, you will get a haircut.” Because we were always around people who used drugs, we inevitably decided to be a part of that crowd. We picked up our first pill. One turned into one more, and one more turned into an 8-year addiction. It started out all fun and games until the drugs ran out. Then came the fighting, yelling, stealing, manipulating, and lying. We became toxic. We fought with each other until we hated each other. It became so bad that one of us should have left, but for some

reason, we stayed together. I remember crying myself to sleep almost every night and praying to not wake up. I longer recognized myself or the man I fell in love with. I was depressed, anxious, self-harming, and had absolutely no self-love. I couldn’t believe how quickly drugs took over my life and my relationship. One day, Jacob met a man at his job who could see the pain in his eyes. Jacob says he felt like something led him to be open with this man. And he did. This man told Jacob about Paul Nixon at Aspire and the R.I.S.E./ MAT (Medication Assisted Treatment) program. Jacob came straight home to me to tell me what he had learned! Picking up the phone and calling Paul was one of the hardest things I think I have ever done. It took some real courage because, at the time, I wasn’t even sure I was ready to give up the lifestyle. However, I decided it was best to at least try. We both went to the MAT program

Recovery turned our relationship into its healthiest form! I am grateful that we didn’t give up on each other.

Picking up the phone and calling Paul was one of the hardest things I think I have ever done.

and spoke to Paul. It was the first time I had ever opened up to anyone about what we were going through. We decided to try the medication. We were hopeful, but we still saved a pill just in case it didn’t work out. To our surprise, everything went so well that we eventually flushed that last pill down the drain, along with our addiction. We decided that day we would never look back, and we would give recovery everything we had. It took some real work and dedication, but that day, we decided to save our lives. We knew that though we entered recovery together, our journey would not look the same. We could no longer look for happiness in each other, but we had to find it within ourselves. Then, we could share it. Slowly, our lives began to fall into place. In taking care of ourselves, we found ourselves taking care of each other better. We supported each other, no matter how hard it got. If one of us could only give 30% that day, the other pulled the other 70%. We started loving each other the right way, and our lives started to become everything we never thought they could. We pushed each other to do better. When I went back to school, Jacob got his

GED. When Jacob got a promotion, I went for the promotion I never thought I would get and got it. Our lives were changing in such positive, amazing, and indescribable ways. We got all our things out of the pawn shop, our car repaired and even bought our dream pet. We held each other accountable to stay on the right track. We made a clear decision that we would never pick up again. Today, we travel, laugh, and love one another in an authentic way. I can truly say recovery helped me see that I had my soul mate all along. We just had to work on ourselves first. I get to do recovery with my best friend today. Our recovery always comes first, because without recovery, this life wouldn’t be possible.

KATHLEEN BISHOP

The Change Center Program Coordinator

I can truly say recovery helped me see that I had my soul mate all along.

SUMMARY OF ACCOMPLISHMENTS

Veterans Day

Our first Veterans Day breakfast was celebrated on Friday November 11, 2022. We want to express our deepest gratitude to all of our military service members. Your sacrifices and commitment to our nation is truly commendable.

ASPIRE VETERANS

MARLISA NIXON

Army National Guard, 1990-1993

PAUL NIXON

United States Air Force, 1983-1986

SHIRLEY ROBERTS

United States Air Force, 4 years

ROBINA DURHAM

United States Army, 1992-1999

DANIEL FLEUREN

United States Army, 1992-1996

BRANDY VANN POWELL

United States Marines, 1996-2000

MICHAEL COLEY

United States Navy, 1980-1984 & 1985-1988

KATREAST FAVORS

United State Navy, 3.5 years

BETTIE GREGGS Army Reserves, 1979-1985

PAT HALL

United States Army Reserve, 8 years

DR. CATHERINE DIVINGIAN

United States Navy, 3 years & United States Army Reserves, 2 years

SUSAN SMITH

United States Navy, 1988-1996

Celebrate

We held out first Celebrate Aspire Awards Banquet and it was a smashing success! We would like to express our gratitude to all the attendees for joining us at the event. It was truly a pleasure to see everyone dressed impeccably and looking fantastic. Moreover, the event unfolded seamlessly, exceeding our expectations. Thank you for making it an unforgettable occasion.

I am truly honored and grateful every day to lead this organization and work side by side with each of you to serve our communities!

Dana Glass on her surprise in receiving the Courageous Leadership Award

OneAspire Awards

SPOTLIGHT AWARD

Youth & Young Adults Program

ANCHOR AWARD

(Administration)

Marlisa Nixon

FOUNDATION AWARD

(Residential)

Brittany Craft

ELEVATE AWARD

(YYA)

Marlon Jones

RESTORE AWARD

(Adult OP)

Ta’Lesha Brown

HOPE AWARD

(AD Services)

Paul Nixon, Jr.

BOOST AWARD

(BHCC)

Maegan Cannon

CONNECTIONS AWARD

(I.DD Residential)

Tiajuana Swan

CONNECTIONS AWARD

(I.DD Day)

Linder Reddick

DISTINGUISHED PARTNER OF THE YEAR

(Albany Police Department)

Chief Michael Persley

Mark “TailorMade” Taylor DJ’d our event excellently! We appreciate his authentic partnership and passion for what we do as an organization!

20+ Years of Dedicated Service

We were honored to give “Service Awards to our staff with 20+ years with our agency! They have dedicated so many years to helping others and we are grateful for their dedicated service! Our Leadership’s vision is for Aspire to be a great place to work for everyone.

NOT PICTURED:

Kamala Thorpe-Wilburn (DoCo Outpatient) 27 Years

Elesea Sutton (DoCo Outpatient) 37 Years

Felecia Redding (I/DD) 28 Years

Matilda Arnold (PSR/Peer) 20 Years

Melinda Barbree (Revenue Cycle Mgmt) 27 Years Sonya Taylor (Revenue Cycle Mgmt) 22 Years

Helen Jones (Personnel) 27 Years

Kareema Williams (DoCo Outpatient) 32 Years

SPECIAL OLYMPICS MEDAL

Our Special Olympics medal winners visited our Board Meeting during the March meeting. March was I/DD awareness month, and this was a special way to honor and celebrate our athletes.

SHINING

Winners

IDD PRO-BOWL WINNERS

IDD had their tri-center pro-bowl in November.

SHINING STARS BOWLERS

Farron Weaver – Gold Medal in his division

Johnny White – Gold Medal in his division

Nick Lee – Bronze Medal in his division

Jason Fincher – Silver Medal in his division

Coaches: Linder Reddick and Brian Wilkerson

Mental Health Day

Joseph Lee, Kenneth Wade, Brian Stubbs, Tawanda Blackwell and Fonda Davis with Coaches Freddie Ann Hall and Victoria M. Jones. They won GOLD in their Division.

STARS BASKETBALL TEAM

I/DD CHRISTMAS

Our I/DD teams celebrated the holidays with great enthusiasm! It is truly moving to witness the strong bond between our staff and the individuals we serve. Our centers have successfully embedded themselves within their communities, resulting in an outpouring of support in the form of donated gifts, food, and even a DJ to ensure a memorable celebration. We are grateful for everyone’s generosity and commitment to making these festivities joyous occasions for all involved.

I/DD ASO REVIEW SCORES

Our I/DD team achieved an exceptional score of 99%, which is truly remarkable. This group has consistently demonstrated its commitment to person-centered care, despite facing staffing shortages and the unique challenges presented by an aging population. We applaud this team for adhering to policy and procedures to effectively showcase our outstanding performance on paper, which aligns with the exceptional care we provide in real life.

T&L CONNECTIONS BREAKFAST

In March, T&L hosted a community connections breakfast to show appreciation to families, work activity contracts, employers, and other stakeholders. The event was successful in gaining connections. Everyone attending learned more about our services and the people we support. The people we support that attended shared their employment journeys with the attendees and practiced self-advocacy skills. They also learned more about networking and how it can increase community connections.

NIGHT TOShine

IDD participated in Night to Shine. Byne Church in Albany hosted the event and truly made our individuals feel like Kings and Queens. You can see that they looked absolutely amazing, and a great time was had by all! We had 30 individuals that attended and danced the night away.

Congratulations

UNSUNG HERO KENNIS PRICE!

Every year The Freedom Council of Southwest Georgia honors local citizens who give of their time, money, ideas, and efforts without expecting anything in return. We are so proud that one of our own, Kennis Price, is a 2023 Unsung Hero Award recipient. Kennis works at CEM in Blakely and is definitely one of our heroes! He is kind, compassionate, and gives to others freely!

THE BELL SEAL FOR WORKPLACE MENTAL HEALTH

It is imperative that we prioritize our mental health, especially in the line of work that we are engaged in. We are pleased to announce that our agency has been awarded the prestigious “GOLD LEVEL,” certification for Mental Health America’s (MHA) Bell Seal for Workplace Mental Health. At Aspire, we have dedicated ourselves to enhancing the accessibility of services for our employees and improving our ability to identify and address any challenges they may face. The recognition from MHA validates our dedication to creating a mentally healthy workplace and motivates us to continue our efforts in this regard.

PATAULA TREATMENT COURT

On June 9, 2023, the Pataula Adult Felony Drug Court held a graduation ceremony at the Early County Courthouse to recognize fifteen individuals who have found a better life through their participation in the program. This event showcased the positive impact of treatment court and highlighted the strong partnership between the Pataula Circuit Superior Court and Aspire Behavioral Health & Developmental Disability Services. We were honored to have Tiffany Bradley, CARES, CPS MH/AD, a previous graduate and current employee of Aspire BHDD Services, as our guest speaker. Her continued success serves as an inspiration to both current

participants and graduates alike. It is a testament to the continued hard work and dedication of Pat Hall, MSW, Dee Plummer, Linda James, and everyone involved in the Pataula Drug Court program.

Not long ago, combining treatment and justice seemed unlikely. However, thanks to the ongoing success of this program, the Pataula Drug Court continues to thrive and provide individuals with the opportunity for recovery and success. Thank you for being a part of One Aspire - together we can make a difference!

TOUCHSTONE GRADUATIONS

ARAD 2023

The recent Addiction Recovery Awareness Day was a resounding success. Aspire demonstrated its strong presence with participants from Touchstone and Change Center, along with key members of our Executive Leadership Team. This event serves as just one of the many occasions where Aspire actively contributes to the transformational landscape.

CERTIFICATE OF APPRECIATION

Trysh Godwin (Fleuren) was honored with a Certificate of Appreciation during the DRC Family Fun Night. Serving as our Certified Peer Specialist on the Co-response team (R.E.A.C.H.), Trysh has demonstrated remarkable dedication and excellence in her role, positively impacting the lives of individuals we serve through this program. Her commitment and contribution are truly commendable.

Kevi Jones

Leah Avery

Miles Dennard

Amanda Pickle Graduation from Touchstone

Tiffany and Jean graduated from Touchstone and many members of our team were able to celebrate with them.

MEN OF Quality

We would like to extend our appreciation to Marlon Jones, Patrick Smith, DevIn Williams, and Mario Mitchell for organizing the “Men of Quality” event. This impactful gathering provided an opportunity for male participants from our youth and young adult programs to engage in meaningful fellowship, enhance their leadership skills, and receive invaluable mentorship. The organizers cleverly incorporated both enjoyment and educational elements throughout the day’s activities. It is evident that each of these individuals exemplify Men of Quality through their dedication to servant leadership and their unwavering commitment to supporting the growth of our younger generation.

Clubhouse visited the Albany Museum of Art

I STAY AT ASPIRE BECAUSE... it’s rewarding to work with the individuals we serve.

MENTAL HEALTH DAY AT THE CAPITOL

Tuesday, January 31, 2023, was Mental Health Day at the Capitol. Aspire was well-represented by our very own Angie Williams, CPS-P, and Madison Albritton, CPS-Y. We were so proud of them and truly impressed by their presentations to such a big crowd in person and virtually!

Madison encouraged others by sharing that she would tell her younger self to “take care of us <yourself> first because you can’t pour from an empty cup”. She went on to talk about mental health and its maintenance being a “constant”. She says she “takes it day by day and continues to be in recovery even when things don’t go as planned”. What a perfect message of hope to share with others!

Angie shared a hopeful message about operating from a place of “wellness”. She discussed with the crowd that children and their families need “an atmosphere and people who can adapt to change”. She challenged the group to be the change that someone needs to see. Angie certainly qualifies as a ‘change agent’ and said that she she plans to be part of change until she just can’t do it anymore!

CHILDRENS MENTAL HEALTH DAY

Our organization prides itself on its remarkable team, dedicated to supporting and empowering our youth and young adults as they strive for brighter futures. We are grateful to have had Marlon and Trayvious represent us at the Capitol on Children’s Mental Health Day. Trayvious, a committed and trusted emerging adult within our program, exemplifies the importance of advocacy in securing ongoing funding for essential services. Together, we remain committed to ensuring that these vital resources continue to be available.

ASPIRE CLUBHOUSE YOUTHANNUAL CHRISTMAS PROGRAM

Our Youth and Young Adults recently hosted their annual Christmas event, which was a resounding success. The highlight of the evening was the special appearance by Santa and Mrs. Claus, adding an extra touch of magic to the festivities. It was a truly memorable night, capturing the true essence of Christmas.

Empower Her

GIRLS SUMMIT!

The G.E.M.S – Girls Empowered Motivated & Strong, Girl Summit was held on Saturday, April 1, 2023. The central theme of this event was “Ignite Your Potential.” Attendees had the opportunity to enjoy lunch while listening to Mrs. Cheryl Calhoun, a certified John Maxwell Coach, Trainer, and educator, who served as the featured guest speaker.

Alesha Burgman, Change Center Director (Mrs. Claus)

ASPIRE

Angie, Venus, Tracey & Vicki

APD CPL. Salyer & CPL. Ellis

AAPHC Sheneka Riggins & Felecia Terrell

GIRL SCOUTS Tammy Williams CARESOURCE Sharon Daniels, Cheryl Calhoun

2023 GEORGIA SYSTEM OF CARE INDIVIDUAL MERIT AWARD

Congratulations to Marlon Jones , Clubhouse Manager, who received the 2023 Georgia System of Care Individual Merit Award during the annual Behavioral Health Symposium! He has been an outstanding staff member of Aspire Behavioral Health and Developmental Disability Services for 10 years. Marlon is well known and beloved by youth, their families and Aspire staff for being keenly in tune with the needs of others and going above and beyond to meet that need. He has a heart to mentor young people and is known in the community for his dedicated work. He is esteemed for his commitment to showing up at school celebrations, graduations, birthdays, and family gatherings for the kids he serves. Marlon is also a keeper of pain and suffering, walking beside youth and their parents when they have experienced tragedy in their lives. We are thankful for his loyalty, compassion and kindness.

SYSTEM OF CARE VIRTUAL SUMMIT

Angie Williams, CPS-P, Peer Coordinator from Youth and Young Adults, presented at the System of Care Virtual Summit on May 10th. She always “wows” the crowd. We are proud to have had her represent Aspire in this event!

ASPIRE TO Shine

Our “Aspire to Shine” Sneaker Ball event in support of the “National Children’s Mental Health Awareness” campaign was April 29, 2023 at Albany State University – West Campus.

DBHDD REGION 4 PROVIDER OF THE YEAR

Our Youth and Young Adults program was awarded Regional Outstanding Behavioral Health Provider at the DBHDD Behavioral Healthy Symposium. Congratulations to this team and all the amazing work they do!

Clubhouse Back to School Bash 2K22

I STAY AT ASPIRE BECAUSE... the agency helps people in the community who look like me.

in furthering your education! We are so proud of all of you!

NEW REVENUE CYCLE MANAGEMENT DEPARTMENT

We are excited to announce the creation of the Revenue Cycle Management team. This department was created through combining Billing and URUM. Robina Durham is the teams new Billing Manager.

Wellness Festival

Aspire had its first annual Employee Wellness Festival for all Aspire employees and their immediate families. There was something for everyone to enjoy at this event including music, food trucks, educational booths, inflatables, live-streamed football games and free health screenings from the Phoebe Mobile Wellness Clinic. There were also multiple raffle prize drawing and a grand prize of a Samsung 70” Smart TV! We are extremely grateful to all those who attended this event. We couldn’t have asked for a better gathering.

MLK CHAMBER DINNER

We would like to extend our gratitude to the members of our DEI team who represented Aspire at the MLK Chamber Dinner. Your presence did not go unnoticed. Thank you for representing our organization in such a meaningful way.

MENTAL HEALTH AMERICA PANELIST

BLACK HISTORY MONTH

This past year has been filled with numerous noteworthy milestones for Aspire BHDD Services. Among these accomplishments, we introduced a fresh tradition of showcasing our commitment to our community through door decorations, which were incredibly well-received. Additionally, our festivities in honor of Black History Month included engaging trivia sessions, insightful DEI Speaks Sessions, exciting prizes, and vibrant dress-up days. Witnessing the entire agency embrace their creativity was truly exhilarating, and we eagerly anticipate incorporating these activities into our annual calendar for years to come.

Marlisa Nixon, Director of Employee Experience and Change Management, flawlessly represented Aspire as a panelist for Mental Health America. The focus of this insightful discussion was on the topic of “Black Joy.” Marlisa incredible ability to spread joy wherever she goes makes her an invaluable asset to our organization. We take immense pride in her representation of Aspire on this prestigious national platform.

DEI FACILITATORS

• The number of trained DEI Facilitators doubled to 12 in the last year.

• Diversity Trainings 2x per month in New Employee Orientation

• Approximatley 12% of agency staff cycled through cohorts

• Two (2) DEI Facilitators on Individuals Rights Committee

• Aspire Diversity Statement

• 3 cohorts completed

• DEI has Facilitators at every level of employment agency-wide

Workaversary IT’S TIME!

We celebrated employees with 1 year or more of employment. This is an opportunity to honor the commitment to our individuals and the employee’s work.

Milestones

Mental Health Month

Members of the Aspire team met with our county governments to provide important updates on the services provided by the agency. During these meetings, we had the opportunity to do Mental Health Month Proclamations. We are grateful for the dedication and hard work of our team members who made this possible. Special thanks to Ta’Lesha Brown, Hollis Smith, Brittany Craft, Joel Vandenbergh, Haley Rykard, and our Executive Team Members: Dana Glass, Caroline Chandler, Marlisa Nixon, Daniel Fleuren, and Lisa Oosterveen. These meetings took place during the month of May, which is Mental Health Month.

ASPIRE LEADERSHIP AND STAFF ATTENDED EACH COUNTY’S BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS MEETINGS TO HAVE PROCLAMATIONS SIGN FOR MENTAL HEALTH MONTH.

I STAY AT ASPIRE BECAUSE... serving others keeps me humble

BHCC ASO REVIEW SCORES

The BHCC Team has achieved an impressive score of 91%. This is a significant accomplishment considering the complex needs of the individuals we serve and the fast-paced nature of our environment. We extend our gratitude to this team for their exceptional adherence to service guidelines while actively supporting our individuals in their journey towards recovery.

R.I.S.E. MAT (MEDICATION ASSISTED TREATMENT) PROGRAM

• 119 individuals served in FY 2023

• 2 graduates

• 14 individuals achieved 1 year in recovery

• Expanded services to include Alcohol Use Disorders

• Participated in 3rd Annual Recovery in the Streets

• All individuals were presented with a RISE t-shirt for Christmas and were given the opportunity to make ornaments for the RISE Christmas Tree

PSR/PEER (GOOD LIFE PEER CENTER)

• All individuals graduated the University of Georgia Food and Nutrition Education Program 2 year certificate

• 2 individuals graduated The Respect Institute

• Team member, Miranda Fields, received her Bachelors in Psychology from Albany University

• Team member, Garner Eckler, received certification as an Anger Management Specialist

• Matilda Arnold retired after 20 years of service

• 4 individual graduated from the PSR/Peer Program

• 55 individuals served in FY 2023

ACT (ASSERTIVE COMMUNITY TREATMENT) TEAM

• 101 indviduals served in FY 2023

• Fidelity Review Score: 4.18 out of 5 (August 2023)

• Nashiya Hick received her Bachelors in Social Science Summa Cum Laude from Allen University - May 2023

MANAGEMENT PROMOTIONS

• DANIEL FLEUREN promoted to Chief Operating Officer

• BRITTANY CRAFT promoted to Youth and Young Adults Program Coordinator

• ALESHA BURGMAN promoted to Change Center Director

• STACEY GREER promoted to Touchstone Clinical Coordinator

• ANGIE WILLIAMS promoted to PAC Peer Support Coordinator

• ALYSSA MYERS, LPC promoted to MAT/RISE Program Coordinator

• MALCOLM BYNUM promoted to CCBHC Project Director

• ROBIN DURHAM promoted to Billing Manager

ASPIRE

1120 W. Broad Ave | P.O. Box 1988 Albany, Georgia 31702

601 West 11th Avenue

Albany, Georgia 31701

CRISIS & ACCESS LINE

SUICIDE PREVENTION LIFELINE

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