T H E R E S O U R C E F O R B E H A V I O R A L H E A LT H A N D W E L L N E S S
/ DECEMBER 2023
Five Fast Facts For Zero Suicide Initiative Aiming For A ClientFocused System Of Care
Corner Talk
Feature Story
Recovery Oriented Systems Of Care No Wrong Doors
The Reservoir
What Mental Health Is To Me
The Depth
High Fidelity Wraparound Case Management Beyond The Couch
The Word
Children’s Care Coordination
The Providers
Creating Social Supports With Families
The Real
COVER CREDIT: BY GENESIS P.
The Well Of PBC / December Issue 2023
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Content
DECEMBER ISSUE 2023
STORY 06 FEATURE Looking Up: Aiming for a Client-Focused System of Care
RESERVOIR 10 THE No Wrong Doors.
06 12
THE DRAW
22
What Mental Health Is To Me.
TALK 20 CORNER Five Fast Facts for Zero Suicide Initiative.
DEPTH 22 THE Recovery Oriented Systems of Care (ROSC).
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14 Children’s Care
THE PROVIDERS Coordination.
16 High Fidelity Wraparound
BEYOND THE COUCH Case Management: Empowering Youth and Families for Better Behavioral Health Outcomes.
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FOUNTAIN 24 THE The More We Grow, The More We Know.
WORD 26 THE Mobilizing To Make A Difference.
SOURCE 28 THE Get Your Questions Answered Here.
30 SPOTLIGHT DATA Behavioral Health
Services for Children and Families.
REAL 18 THE Creating Social Supports With Families.
NEWS 19 BEWELLPBC Happy Holidays to all from BeWellPBC.
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Letter from the Editor I have been involved with various Palm Beach County non-profits for over a decade now and in that time, I have learned so much. I’ve learned intricate details about the housing crisis - both on a national and local scale, I’ve learned about how creating pathways to access and opportunities are fundamental to a child’s success and how the de-stigmatization of mental health and creating visible support is crucial to ensuring our mental health needs are being met in a healthy way. One thing I learned very recently was just how much work the Southeast Florida Behavioral Health Network (SEFBHN) does behind the scenes of numerous non-profit organizations both here and in Martin, Indian River, Okeechobee and St. Lucie counties. SEFBHN is the golden thread - intrinsically woven through the tapestry of mental health service providers to safeguard the emotional well-being and drug-free living of children and families throughout South Florida. In this issue, we focused on their work with the mobile response teams and how they coordinate with so many different providers from the school district to hospitals to police to reduce the number of unnecessary hospitalizations and contacts with law enforcement. Bringing people together in service of the same vision is at the crux of care coordination, both at a systems level and a provider level. SEFBHN’s care coordinators connect with and help people in times of transition so that they don’t stay or end up in restrictive levels of care. Doing so facilitates both agency and hope.
Partnering with SEFBHN reminds me of two concepts which echo frequently and loudly in my own life. The first being that it really does take a village. When it comes to raising my family or building my business, I know that I am stronger because of the people who I support and support me. We all rely on one another to make it through.
Here’s to the hope of a new year. To strength and vulnerability. And here is to courage - the courage to speak your truth, the courage to be who you want to be and the courage to know that in this life, there is always another chance and that you can always start over.
The second is that there are countless folks working tirelessly in the background to ensure stronger outcomes for our community. SEFBHN is one of these providers and it is my honor to shine a spotlight on them in the last issue of The Well of PBC for 2023. As we close the window to this year and let the light of a new year in, let us honor everyone who dedicates themselves to making South Florida a kinder, more supportive place to raise our families. We appreciate everyone who has worked so hard this year to bring The Well of PBC to life our sponsors, The Well of PBC team, our contributors who are so passionate about sharing their wisdom and especially our audience. We are so grateful for the opportunity to advocate for mental health accessibility in Palm Beach County and we couldn’t do that without the courage and vitality of your voices. It remains, as ever, an honor to elevate those voices and ensure that all are heard. We are also very excited to share that we are the winners of the Best of Florida annual roundup in the publications category— an honor we couldn’t have achieved without your support.
Julie Khanna, Editor-in-Chief thewell@bewellpbc.org
Thank you for being a part of the mission:
“
To be the primary resource for behavioral health and wellness for Palm Beach County, a safe exchange space for community, and an outlet for our neighbors and stakeholders to transform the behavioral health landscape.
”
To share feedback, obtain advertising information, or contribute, please reach us at thewell@bewellpbc.org
MADE POSSIBLE BY OUR INVESTED PARTNER
The Well Of PBC / December Issue 2023
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The Mission The largest behavioral health publication in Palm Beach County, The Well of PBC is a non-profit magazine which aims to be a community-directed resource for Palm Beach County residents. Advocating for mental health accessibility is central to our mission and we believe in “walking the walk” when it comes to ensuring every Palm Beach County resident has the opportunity to have their voices heard. We are proud to use our platform to highlight both national and global concerns while remaining focused on local mental health and wellness issues that matter the most to our audience. Contributors to The Well of PBC do not need a degree or a background in publishing to have their voice elevated and their concerns addressed - they merely need to reach out and let us know they have something to say. Through crowdsourcing and fully engaging Palm Beach County residents to participate as contributors, The Well of PBC hopes to empower residents to serve as stakeholders who are fully immersed in the transformation of the behavioral health landscape of Palm Beach County. We are looking for people to contribute to our art, ask the experts, students, self-care, cultural, spiritual, and provider columns. Email us for our contributor guidelines, editorial calendar, or if you’d like to share a career opportunity or community event. E: thewell@bewellpbc.org | Follow along at @thewellofpbc
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The Well Of PBC / December Issue 2023
Our Team
Creative Team
Lauren Zuchman
Katrina Blackmon
Lauren is the Executive Director for the countywide initiative, BeWellPBC, advancing behavioral health and wellness for all residents in Palm Beach County. The Well of PBC is a passion project for Lauren to increase behavioral health awareness, engage diverse perspectives across the county, and promote solutions to address our county’s most complex challenges.
Katrina, founder & CEO of Unity3 Palm Beach, brings her executive advertising background combined with her love of faith, family, and this vibrant multicultural community to The Well of PBC and BeWellPBC.
Publisher
Marketing Manager
Alita Faber
BeWellPBC Staff
Jill Sorensen
Surej Kalathil AKA Sunman
Julie, CEO of Khanna Connections, enjoys using her creativity to help health and wellness industries communicate with their audiences.
Surej, founder of Photography & Design by Sunman, is the creative visionary that brings life into each page, concept, visual and digital design of The Well of PBC publication.
Editor-in-Chief
BeWellPBC Staff
Daniel Oria
Director of Children’s System of Care SEFBHN
Director of Systems Integration SEFBHN
Tracee Diaz
Pamela Westberg
Quality Assurance Manager SEFBHN
Julie Khanna
Weston Probst
Chief Strategy Officer SEFBHN
Creative Director
The information in this issue of The Well of PBC is for information purposes only. The Well of PBC assumes no liability or responsibility for any inaccurate, delayed or incomplete information, nor for any actions taken in reliance thereon. The information contained about each individual, company, product or organization has been provided by such individual, company, product or organization without verification by us.
Melanie Otero
Jaime Joshi Elder
Melanie, president of Otero Communications, provides consulting services for some of Palm Beach County’s leading nonprofit organizations. With a special interest in behavioral health, she serves as a contributing writer to The Well of PBC.
Jaime, founder of Rosewood Media, is a West Palm Beach resident, creative and contributing writer to The Well of PBC. With a decade of experience in non-profit communications and a lifetime of experience as a writer, Jaime’s work focuses on behavioral health, diversity, equity and inclusion, travel, music, food and parenthood through a pop culture lens.
Contributor
Contributor
The opinion expressed in each article is the opinion of its author and does not necessarily reflect the opinion of The Well of PBC. Therefore, The Well of PBC carries no responsibility for the opinion expressed therein. Any form of reproduction of any content in this magazine without the written permission of the publisher is strictly prohibited. © 2023 The Well of PBC All rights reserved. The Well Of PBC / December Issue 2023
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FEATURE STORY
Looking Up
Aiming for a Client-Focused System of Care
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We are focused the client as they through the syst with less bureau more community
By: Melanie Otero
L
iving with a substance use or mental health disorder comes with a range of emotions. Frustration. Desperation. Isolation. There are moments when one wonders, “Is there anyone who can help me?” For thousands of Palm Beach County residents, Southeast Florida Behavioral Health Network (SEFBHN) is answering the call. Formed in 2012, SEFBHN is a managing entity of the Florida Department of Children and Families (DCF). They provide funding and oversight of over 60 private and non-profit behavioral health service agencies in Indian River, Martin, Okeechobee, Palm Beach, and St. Lucie Counties. Ann Berner, CEO and president since SEFBHN’s founding, has made it her mission to shift from a top-down view of the behavioral health system to a client-centric view that looks up to patients as their guiding star. “Most people think of a system of care as focusing only on the agencies or the dollars and the requirements,” Berner said. “We are focused on following the client as they maneuver through the system of care, with less bureaucracy and more community input so we can be responsive and nimble in meeting evolving needs.” While the list of SEFBHN’s day-to-day management responsibilities is long, including quality assurance, budget oversight, and incident reporting, Berner and her 35-member team see themselves as 6
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Ann Berner, CEO & president, SEFBHN
far more than funders and administrators. They are both coach and quarterback, strengthening the entire field of providers, moving toward the same goals, and looking for every opportunity to advance a client’s behavioral health in a team approach. It helps that most of SEFBHN’s board members are providers serving in children’s healthcare agencies, substance use treatment facilities, and the justice system. SEFBHN’s board chairman, Sean Boyle, CEO of the Children's Services Council of St. Lucie County, has a front-row seat to see how the full spectrum of behavioral health services benefit from SEFBHN. “They make sure that providers within
the system of care are all linked together,” Boyle said. “That's above and beyond for your basic funder. It’s the secret sauce. SEFBHN could just say, ‘Here's the contract, we hope you do well.’ The fact that they're knee-deep with all the providers and the care coordination for the clients is really what makes them stand out and excel.”
Early Insights During Berner’s first months on the job, she saw where SEFFBHN could make an immediate impact: helping families in the child welfare system struggling with substance use in the home. She knew there were breakdowns in communications among child welfare, treatment providers, and families.
FEATURE STORY
on following y maneuver tem of care, ucracy and y input….
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About SEFBHN
Southeast Florida Behavioral Health Network is a managing entity contracted with the Department of Children and Families.
Mission: To develop, support and
manage an integrated network of behavioral health services to promote the emotional well-being and drug-free living of children and adults in Indian River, Martin, Okeechobee, Palm Beach, and St. Lucie Counties.
Number of providers: 60+ Staff: 35 Operating budget: $120 million
($0.028—less than three cents of every dollar—is spent on SEFBHN’s administration costs) Website: www.sefbhn.org Assessments took weeks instead of days. Parents didn’t have transportation to attend meetings. And families sometimes didn’t understand or have the information they needed to make progress. Berner worked with the providers to hold themselves accountable by making promises to families: We're going to get you a timely assessment for your family. We're going to communicate with you about what the recommendations are. And we're going to start building trust. SEFBHN collaborated with providers to establish a hotline, create solutions for transportation and other barriers to care, and reduce wait times. It was a deliberate, measured approach to trust-building among providers, child welfare, and families, and served as a learning experience for how all network providers can successfully communicate, improve systems, and enforce quality standards. “We’ve eliminated the wait list for child welfare families needing substance use treatment and they’re achieving better outcomes,” Berner said. “And we’re helping the providers think more proactively about how we can do things differently. The Well Of PBC / December Issue 2023
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FEATURE STORY
They know SEFBHN is their partner for not just the funding, but the solution.”
A Wide and Narrow Lens While SEFBHN’s birds-eye view can detect opportunities for system-wide improvements, Berner and her team also home in on individuals who need extra support. It may be someone who has repeated acute care events. Or a child who is not doing well in school and is arrested. Or someone who is homeless. Whatever the case, Berner brings providers together in new ways to help everyone. “Our job is to identify those individuals and help them find additional solutions other than just what one provider can offer,” Berner said. “We're helping several agencies at once identify how they can be of support to one another and the client. And as they learn and see success with each case, we’re cultivating strategies to develop the entire network.” Another innovative strategy is overcoming the network’s shortage of behavioral health professionals—a nationwide problem—by pairing teams of therapists with groups of individuals who share common substance use or mental illness challenges. Eight or more professionals collectively work with 60 families at a time, alleviating the problem of therapist turnover and a family having to start all over with someone new. “You have other team members who have been actively supporting you, so you don't
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feel like you just had the rug ripped out from under you,” Berner said. “And therapists now have a village to help them as they’re helping their clients.” The village continues to grow for both providers and clients through SEFBHN’s efforts to expand and professionalize a peer support network. Peer specialists are individuals with lived experience of substance use or mental health challenges who have been through situations like those they support. They are an empathetic ear and a voice to help individuals seek the right services at the right time, balancing different components of care. “When a peer is listening to the individual about what's important to them and what they need, it changes the entire dynamic,” Berner said.
Focusing on the Most Acute One significant area where SEFBHN and providers are changing the dynamic for clients is the Baker Act. The Baker Act focuses on crisis services for individuals with mental illness, much like an emergency department is for individuals experiencing a medical emergency. An individual may be taken to a receiving facility for involuntary examination if, without treatment, they pose a threat to themselves or others. SEFBHN’s comprehensive data collection system sends up an alert when an
Sean Boyle, CEO, Children’s Services Council, St. Lucie County
individual has had three Baker Acts in six months. Berner’s team pulls providers together, looks at the individual’s discharge plans, medication history, and what activities were involved to help stabilize the patient. The focus is on breaking the cycle of hospitalization through a recoveryoriented system of care, whether it’s recovery from substance use or a mental illness. It’s an evidence-based model that includes the individual in their treatment planning by understanding their priorities and helping them set their own goals with peer and community support. “It’s knowing how to hold their hand, build on their successes, and find hope,” Berner said. “They don’t have to continually repeat the cycle.”
FEATURE STORY
Until recently, Palm Beach County had a limited number of Baker Act receiving facilities. That changed when the NeuroBehavioral Hospitals of the Palm Beaches (NBH), one of SEFBHN’s newest providers, opened its doors in 2022 in West Palm Beach. A second NBH inpatient facility in Boynton Beach quickly followed accepting voluntary admissions for people needing acute care, and a third Palm Beach County location is in the planning stages. SEFBHN funds two NBH positions to accelerate their success, a care coordinator who focuses on high utilizers of the mental health system to help them break the cycle of hospitalization, and a data entry clerk in alignment with Berner’s high value on reporting and metrics for continuous improvement, an area where NBH is excelling with a readmission rate of just 4% compared to Florida’s average behavioral health hospital readmission rate of 13.9%.
“It’s knowing how to
hold their hand, build on their successes, and find hope.
”
NBH’s success made SEFBHN receptive to funding a new and much-needed service: a crisis assessment center where individuals can be assessed around the clock by a licensed psychiatric provider. It’s a way to help people in crisis get the proper level of care determination rather than relying on the Baker Act when it may not be necessary. The center will be the first of its kind in Palm Beach County when it opens in 2024 on NBH’s north campus in West Palm Beach. “We were determined to do this and SEFBHN’s support made it a much quicker reality for us,” said Katie Liogier-Weyback, CEO, NeuroBehavioral Hospital of the Palm Beaches. “It's going to make a big difference in the lives of thousands of people.” SEFBHN chairman Boyle sees how the stars are aligning to cultivate clientfocused care for South Florida. “We’re connecting all those pieces to make sure that everybody's stronger together.”
Learn more about NeuroBehavioral Hospitals of the Palm Beaches: www.nbhospitals.com
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THE RESERVOIR
No Wrong Doors
BY: LIA BIGELOW, MA, CAP, LPC, LMHC EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR THE RECOVERY RESEARCH NETWORK
W
hen I first moved to Florida and was introduced to the substance use disorder treatment space, I kept hearing the term, “The Florida Model.” I quickly learned that this was more of a business model than a treatment model and there were several immediate turn-offs:
• • • •
A disregard for evidence-based practices Decisions driven by profits over people Minimal accountability A continuum of care that was upside down
In summary, it was reckless and relied heavily on frequent and continuous substance use. Finding employment within the behavioral health industry that aligned with my personal and professional values was very difficult until I came to The Recovery Research Network Foundation. It was a vision of hope in an otherwise bleak and scandalous industry. Just as the name suggests, the entire program is based on research and science and we use these tools to update and inform our practice continuously. The Recovery Research Network Foundation (TRRNF) was founded by 10
The Well Of PBC / December Issue 2023
Dr. Richard Gustin in 2016. He had an understanding of the neurochemistry and neurocircuitry involved in the disease of addiction and a vision for how to approach the opioid epidemic and provide those living with addiction with a more effective treatment solution to keep the disease under arrest so that people could experience remission and restoration of their quality of life. We joined the SEFBHN provider network shortly thereafter and the journey began! Our mission is to save the lives of those dealing with substance use disorder by helping individuals find remission from their chronic disease. Our long-term outpatient program designed to support patients into early sobriety and walk with them through all of the twists and turns of life while they work to achieve the ultimate goal – long term sobriety.
We offer an array of both substance use disorder and mental health services, truly making us a “no wrong door” establishment.
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The Research Recovery Network aims to redefine the standard of care of substance use disorder treatment through developing research, technology and clinical programs… (resulting) in the development of a long-term outpatient program designed to support patients into early sobriety and walk with them through all of the twists and turns of life while they work to achieve the ultimate goal – long term sobriety.
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THE RESERVOIR
All participants have a history of severe mental health challenges and have been adjudicated Not Guilty by Reason of Insanity (NGI) or Incompetent to Proceed (ITP) to trial for a felony offense. FMT’s primary goal is to assist program participants with competency restoration and self-sufficiency.
TRRNF aims to redefine the standard of care of substance use disorder treatment through developing research, technology and clinical programs that enhance our understanding of substance use disorder and the treatment of the disease. This resulted in the development of a long-term outpatient program designed to support patients into early sobriety and walk with them through all of the twists and turns of life while they work to achieve the ultimate goal – long term sobriety. Patients in our program stay an average of three years, but some have been with us as long as five years. Currently operating four programs at three locations throughout Palm Beach County in Atlantis, FL, the West Detention Center in Belle Glade and Riviera Beach, we offer an array of both substance use disorder and mental health services, truly making us a “no wrong door” establishment. Treatment is tailored to the individual and nothing is templated.
Medication Assisted Peer Support (MAPS) Program The MAPS program is a collaborative endeavor between SEFBHN, TRRNF, Rebel Recovery, Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office and Wellpath to provide substance use disorder treatment within the Palm Beach County Jail. A 12-week treatment program for substance use disorder, the MAPS program is voluntary and requires inmates to have an opioid or stimulant use disorder. All participants receive both individual and group therapy using a variety of evidence-based curriculums using cognitive behavioral and TRRNF aims to redefine the standard of care of substance use disorder treatment through developing research, technology and clinical programs.
Our mission is to save the lives of those dealing with substance use disorder by helping individuals find remission from their chronic disease.
motivational enhancement therapies in addition to medication assisted treatment options (naltrexone, Vivitrol, Suboxone or Sublocade) and peer support services. The services offered in MAPS are designed to provide inmates with a safe, supportive, recovery-oriented environment designed to encourage self-reflection, self-growth and learning a new way to live. Upon completion of the 12-week intensive program, participants have the option to continue clinical services while residing in general population up until their release from jail. Upon release, they are linked to appropriate treatment services within the community to continue their care, regardless of their ability to pay.
Forensic Multidisciplinary Team (FMT) The Forensic Multidisciplinary Team (FMT) provides a 24-7 comprehensive approach to divert individuals from commitment to Forensic State Mental Health Treatment Facilities (SMHTFs) and other residential forensic programs by providing community-based services and supports.
The FMT model is comprised of a selfcontained support team responsible for directly providing or coordinating the majority of treatment, rehabilitation, and support services including crisis intervention on-call coverage, intensive case management, medical services, supportive housing and more.
Recovery Town Outpatient Program TRRNF has two outpatient treatment centers located in Central and North Palm Beach County. Our community locations are designed to be long-term outpatient treatment programs for substance use disorder. In addition to clinical, medical, and psychiatric services, patients also have the option of accessing peer support as an augment to their recovery journey. It offers a more progressive, patient centered approach to care built on the patient’s self-determination, voice and choice. We also offer primary mental health outpatient counseling as well reinforcing the implementation of Recovery Oriented Systems of Care (ROSC) principles and the notion of No Wrong Door. Built on the premise that there are multiple pathways to recovery, patients are exposed to a variety of resources and tools that they can incorporate and utilize to build recovery capital and with case management services available to patients, we have truly built a community within a community.
The Reservoir is the cultural space for contributors to highlight customs, celebrations, holidays, rituals, recipes, and more. To contribute, send your article ideas to thewell@ bewellpbc.org with “The Reservoir” in the subject line.
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THE DRAW
What Mental Health Is To Me BY: JILL SORENSEN / WWW.SEFBHN.ORG
“Paranoia”
Uriele A. Aged 16 “They’re all looking at you. These words are spread on the shirt to represent the thoughts she feels and hears within herself. The blue hand represents patience. Sometimes people with mental health issues need patience, people don’t understand why people with mental health feel certain ways. So, patience is represented. The red hand represents trials and annoyance. People who don’t have mental health probably wouldn’t understand certain thoughts with those with mental health. Causing them to maybe be annoyed.”
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THE DRAW
We asked providers and stakeholders working with our youth to call out to those between the ages of 5-21 to share any creative artwork representing “What Mental Health is to Me.
Jill Sorensen Director of Children’s System of Care Southeast Florida Behavioral Health Network
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H
eld on the afternoon of May 6, 2023, this virtual event was a celebration of Mental Health Awareness Month. It came about from our Governance Board for the System of Care grant and Project C.R.A.V.E. Care in Martin and St. Lucie Counties. In April, we asked providers and stakeholders working with our youth to call out to those between the ages of 5-21 to share any creative artwork (video, drawing, poem, etc.) with a mental health theme or photo representing “What Mental Health is to Me.” By: Marley H. Aged 16
A panel of community judges voted on the art entries and the photography entries. Donated gift cards were awarded to the top five art entries and top six photo entries. Our emcees for the event were Family Coordinator Linda Tuininga and two youth attendees. We had speakers from St. Lucie County’s Parks and Recreation department who provide a lot of mental health awareness activities, END It - a faithbased nonprofit providing prevention efforts for at-risk youth and The Motivational Edge, a music producer/lead teaching artist.
By: Haidyn
Many of the youth submissions and in attendance were from IGNITE Youth Alliance, a youth gang prevention model, The Lindsay School of Arts, including End It and several of our providers.
Our collaboration with partners such as The Inner Truth Project, NAMI, Children’s Services Council Martin County and St. Lucie County, Department of Health, Roundtable of St. Lucie County, Collectively, City of Port St. Lucie, both School districts and child welfare and juvenile justice made this event a success and we are so proud of all of our artists.
The Draw is a space for creatives to share their art, poetry, spoken word, etc. and/or how their art helps themselves and others. To contribute, send your article ideas to thewell@bewellpbc.org with “The Draw” in the subject line.
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THE PROVIDERS
Children’s Care Coordination BY: LAUREN ODELL CHILDREN’S CARE COORDINATION MANAGER SOUTHEAST FLORIDA BEHAVIORAL HEALTH NETWORK WWW.SEFBHN.ORG
G
etting the right care at the right time with the right intensity that’s why Southeast Florida Behavioral Health Network (SEFBHN) thinks Care Coordination is so successful. SEFBHN strongly believes that the behavioral health needs of youth and families are best met with community-based solutions and collaboration across providers and system stakeholders. Simply put, Care Coordination is a no-cost, time-limited service that assists individuals
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with behavioral health conditions who are not effectively engaged with case management or other behavioral health services. It also supports a successful transition to an appropriate level of care. Children’s Care Coordination strategically works to bring families, system partners and providers together to achieve solutions based on individual family needs. The installation of hope and expectation of recovery are the crux of this philosophy as is the belief in a recovery-oriented system of care.
Wraparound practice furthers this philosophy with the practical application of ten principles: • • • • • • • • • •
Family voice and choice Team support Identification of natural supports Collaboration Community-based solutions Cultural humility and linguistic competence Individualized strategies, supports and services Strengths-based knowledge, skills and assets Persistence Being outcome-based
THE PROVIDERS
SEFBHN's Children’s Care Coordination team works to bring families, system partners, and providers together to achieve solutions based on individual family needs.
“
Without Care Coordination, I can’t even imagine what life would be like for our son. I truly believe that the support we received saved his life.
To support youth, families and network service providers, SEFBHN continually builds and nurtures relationships with system partners by being a valued communicative partner and identifying opportunities to help create change. SEFBHN supports providers while providers help individuals. Whether it’s outreach to system partners (i.e., health plans, child welfare, juvenile justice, community partners, and school staff), while supporting behavioral health providers or brainstorming potential individualized treatment solutions, SEFBHN is committed to being one of the solutions to the complex health care puzzle. At the center of Care Coordination is closing the gaps to bridges that need to be built or fortified, and linking families to effective services and support. There are two types of Care Coordination that SEFBHN provides - a system-level Care Coordination and direct-level Care Coordination provided by contracted providers. The major distinction is direct care coordinators work with youth and parents to crisis plan and address patterns
”
contributing to immediate behavioral concerns whereas System level Care Coordination assists with removing barriers to care by bringing all the providers and/or agencies working with a youth and family together to remove overarching system barriers which prevent stabilization. Both believe in shared decision making, recovery planning, family wellness and community integration. Collectively, these activities lead to a more coordinated system of care. Provider agencies add layers of support our families need to remain stable in the community. They serve children and young adults ages 5-22 who are not yet effectively connected with the services and supports needed to transition successfully from higher levels of care to effective community-based care and/or to help further prevent additional out of home psychiatric placements. These care coordinators assist with crisis planning, linking individuals to care and providing a warm handoff to another person to make sure connection is made.
SEFBHN’s no-cost Mobile Response Teams offer care coordination opportunities which are achieved during routine system and child/family-specific meetings. They provide help whenever and wherever crisis intervention or mental health or substance use support is needed, discreetly responding any time of the day or night. Calling 2-1-1 to request help is a great first step to getting started! “Care Coordination has been a life raft in a storm for our family. Our care coordinator learned and supported our needs more than any other provider. Her knowledge of and ability to connect us with community agencies removed barriers and alleviated burdens from us as parents that had seemed insurmountable in the past. Without Care Coordination, I can’t even imagine what life would be like for our son. I truly believe that the support we received saved his life,” said the mother of a 17-year-old referred for services. To make a referral for Children’s Care Coordination, anyone can complete this secure referral form for Children's Care Coordination or call 561-203-2485. https://www.cognitoforms.com/SoutheastFloridaBehavioralHealthNetwork/ReferralForChildrensCareCoordination The Providers is a space for providers, practitioners, thought leaders, and systems change leaders to share. To contribute, send your article ideas to thewell@bewellpbc. org with “For The Providers” in the subject line. The Well Of PBC / December Issue 2023
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BEYOND THE COUCH
High Fidelity Wraparound Case Management Empowering Youth and Families for Better Behavioral Health Outcomes
W look like?
BY: CHAYA PERLINE WRAPAROUND CASE MANAGEMENT SUPERVISOR HENDERSON BEHAVIORAL HEALTH WWW.HENDERSONBH.ORG
hat do you need to have a better life? If everything was going well in your life, what would that
Unlike traditional, one-size-fits-all approaches to service delivery, High Fidelity Wraparound (HFW) is a holistic and person-centered approach in which the client makes the decisions in how they can best be supported. The HFW model is an evidence-based practice that has been used across the US for almost 50 years. At its core, the model is designed to empower youth with complex behavioral needs and their families to build a strong and sustainable support system as well as to take control of their personal journey to growth, wellness, and recovery. Wraparound services extend beyond clinical settings and into the natural environments of individuals and families, ensuring that support is integrated into their daily lives and communities.
With the client’s permission, we share the assessment with future providers. To produce a thorough assessment, the Wraparound Case Manager obtains and reviews all relevant collateral information like medical records and creates a clear timeline of previous interventions and whether they were helpful to the client. Following that, a multidisciplinary team is assembled based on the client’s choosing. We link our clients to a wide range of services including individual therapy, psychiatry, family therapy, behavioral therapy, parenting classes, tutoring as well as a variety of social and extracurricular activities. The Wraparound Case Manager facilitates ongoing communication and coordinates regular meetings between
The High Fidelity Wraparound approach recognizes the inherent strengths and capabilities of the individual as well as the strengths of the family as a unit. Our Wraparound Case Managers begin by building rapport and working with the client to shift their frame of mind away from what they may have been taught was “wrong” with them, and in doing so, they can gain a sense of self-worth and control of their future. Then, we collaborate with the client and family in the development of a formal, comprehensive assessment designed to discover their strengths, needs and culture. 16
Wraparound Case Manager Maite
The Well Of PBC / December Issue 2023
Certified Wraparound Coach and Therapist Travar
the client, their providers and their natural supports to ensure that everyone is on the same page regarding the client’s care. The team works together to develop a comprehensive care plan which integrates all aspects of the client’s life addressing not only their immediate challenges but also their long-term goals and aspirations. The Wraparound Case Manager regularly reviews the care plan with the client and team to ensure it remains relevant to the client’s evolving needs and wants. Through this process, HFW has been shown to greatly improve social, emotional and educational outcomes. We also believe that better outcomes are achieved by meeting our clients in person
BEYOND THE COUCH
Wraparound Case Managers Emily and Ghina
“
The model is designed to empower youth with complex behavioral needs and their families to build a strong and sustainable support system as well as to take control of their personal journey to growth, wellness, and recovery.
”
as opposed to telehealth which we do utilize, but typically as a last resort. In doing so, we are able to foster ongoing, open communication in the home which creates the space for youth to have important conversations with their families. Through these meetings, the family gains experience in having these types of sit-downs with each other which they can then accomplish on their own. Through the planning process, HFW also reduces the need for crisis interventions such as emergency room visits or psychiatric hospitalizations. Our Wraparound facilitators receive ongoing training in developing effective Safety and Crisis Prevention Plans. This involves working with the client and family to identify problem behaviors, warning signs and triggers, coping skills and step by step instructions with multiple strategies for de-escalation.
them and their team to prepare them for a purposeful transition out of Wraparound services. The Wraparound Case Manager develops a Transition Plan with the client and family, designed to highlight the client and family’s growth, accomplishments and skills developed throughout the Wraparound process. The plan also identifies who the family can turn to and how they can continue to implement Wraparound practices in their everyday lives going forward.
Once the client successfully accomplishes their desired goals, we collaborate with
As the Wraparound motto goes - “Do for, do with, cheer on.”
Wraparound Case Management team -Henderson Behavioral Health
Beyond The Couch highlights non-traditional mental health outlets and resources in Palm Beach County. To contribute, send your article ideas to thewell@bewellpbc.org with "Beyond the Couch" in the subject line.
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THE REAL
Creating Social Supports with Families with Dr. Julie Radlauer-Doerfler
The strongest ties that bind us are social supports and Creating Social Supports with Families is a joyous celebration of the strength that comes from community and connection. In this video, we explore the importance of building a strong and trusted network within the family, ways to cultivate and foster these social supports, and how those relationships have a profound impact on physical, social, and mental well-being.
https://linktr.ee/collectivelyus
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BEWELLPBC NEWS
Wishing everyone a joyful holiday season! BeWellPBC would like to extend warm and heartfelt wishes to all of Palm Beach County. This time of year, we are (again) reminded to rejoice in the joy of community and the spirit of togetherness. Let's celebrate the unique stories and traditions that make Palm Beach County a special place to call home. We also recognize the holidays can be a challenging time. We stand with the community, offering comfort and understanding to those who may find this season difficult. As we bid farewell to 2023, we hope you will take some time to reflect and plan as we welcome in a new year with hope and optimism. May it bring prosperity, good health and continued unity to our diverse and wonderful community.
to all from BeWellPBC!
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CORNER TALK
Five Fast Facts for Zero Suicide Initiative BY: LINDSAY SLATTERY-CERNY/ PROGRAM COORDINATOR/ ZERO SUICIDE INITIATIVE WWW.HANLEYFOUNDATION.ORG
No matter which corner of Palm Beach County you and your loved ones live in, there is help and there is hope with the Zero Suicide Initiative
1
WHAT IS THE ZERO SUICIDE INITIATIVE? People who die by suicide are touching the health care system: 83% of those who die by suicide have seen a behavioral health care provider in the year before their death (Ahmedani et al., 2014). The Centers for Disease Control (2018) report that suicide rates across the country have almost doubled in some states within the past 30 years. To address these issues, the Zero Suicide Initiative was created through a partnership with the Joint Commission, the Action Alliance and the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). The Zero Suicide Initiative framework is a system-wide, organizational commitment to safer suicide care in health and behavioral health care systems and is based on the realization that suicidal individuals often fall through the cracks in a sometimes-fragmented health care 20
The Well Of PBC / December Issue 2023
system. A systematic approach to quality improvement in these settings is both available and necessary. Through funding from the Department of Children and Families and Southeast Florida Behavioral Health Network, The Zero Suicide Initiative at Hanley Foundation has helped to bring local network providers and community members free-of-charge training, resources and information about the Zero Suicide Initiative and suicide prevention. Additionally through site visits and consultations, Southeast Florida Behavioral Health Network and Hanley Foundation have partnered with several major providers in the southeast region to ensure that evidence-based suicide care is being adopted, monitored, and improved.
2
WHAT DOES THE ZERO SUICIDE INITIATIVE DO FOR BEHAVIORAL HEALTH AGENCIES IN PALM BEACH COUNTY AND THE TREASURE COAST?
The Zero Suicide Initiative consists of helping agencies adopt standardized, evidence-based suicide screening and risk assessment tools into behavioral health care agencies. When agencies and organizations use tools that have been shown by research to support individuals at risk for suicide, people are able to receive the services that they need to thrive in our communities.
3
WHAT KIND OF FREE TRAINING IS AVAILABLE FOR THE COMMUNITY THROUGH THE ZERO SUICIDE INITIATIVE? The Zero Suicide Initiative provides free training to educate all members of the community about suicide prevention efforts utilizing the QPR Gatekeeper Training and QPRT Roleplay Workshop Training for direct care staff in agencies.
CORNER TALK
“
It is critically important to design for zero even when it may not be possible. It is about purposefully aiming for a higher level of performance. Thomas Priselac, CEO, Cedars Sinai Medical Center
”
4
HOW MANY PEOPLE HAVE BEEN TRAINED IN QPR, QPRT OR GENERAL SUICIDE PREVENTION EFFORTS THROUGH SEFBHN AND HANLEY FOUNDATION?
Since 2022, in Palm Beach County and through the Treasure Coast:
• • •
Over 1600 people have been trained as QPR Gatekeepers; 400 clinicians have been trained in advanced QPRT suicide risk management; Over 1000 community members have been reached through resource fairs, public meetings and other types of education and outreach.
5
HOW CAN I FIND ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ON THE ZERO SUICIDE INITIATIVE, AS WELL AS LOCAL OPPORTUNITIES TO PARTICIPATE? SAMHSA’s toolkit for Zero Suicide information and implementation, free for anyone to access at any time, is available at: https://zerosuicide.edc.org/toolkit. More information on local efforts regarding Zero Suicide are also available on the website for Southeast Florida Behavioral Health Network, which has its own local Zero Suicide Initiative Toolkit, with information specific to the regional behavioral health provider network, as well as Hanley Foundation’s website. Southeast Florida Behavioral Health Network: www.sefbhn.org
“Question, Persuade & Refer” (QPR) Gatekeeper Suicide Prevention Training is an evidence-based prevention training for participants to be able to recognize the warning signs of suicidal thinking, behavior, and attempts. The recognition of suicide as an imminent concern has led to the development of evidence-based prevention programs to decrease suicide related mortality. Question, Persuade, Refer (QPR) has become the most widely distributed gatekeeper training program in the world. Question, Persuade, Refer and Treat (QPRT) Roleplay Workshops are a research-informed training designed to help primary care and behavioral health professionals screen, assess, safety plan and refer individuals for treatment during a crisis. This comprehensive training workshop provides instruction in how to use evidence-based assessments to appropriately triage at-risk individuals. Hanley Foundation hosts two community QPR Gatekeeper trainings a month and interested individuals can sign up here: https://hanleyfoundation.org/ resources/qpr/. To have your voice heard from your corner of the neighborhood, send an email to thewell@bewellpbc.org with “Corner Talk and north, central, south, east or west” in the subject line.
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THE DEPTH
Recovery Oriented System of Care (ROSC) BY: LISA MCWHORTER, MS, MCAP, ICADC CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER WWW.WAYSIDEHOUSE.COM | @WAYSIDEHOUSEFL
R
ecovery Oriented System of Care is a big title which simply means meeting the client where they are and providing necessary supports and services on an episodic basis to help clients remain clean and sober. How do we achieve this at Wayside House, Inc.? We help clients build a recovery community which consists of many resources in our community. The services offered at Wayside House are just a fraction of what a client needs. We provide up to 90 days of treatment in Residential Level II, up to 45 days of treatment in day/night or day/night with community services, 24 weeks of Intensive Outpatient Services, Individual sessions, Peer Support Services, Case Management, Housing Assistance, Psychiatric Services, Family Program, Medication Assisted Treatment, basic primary care, Career Services and have an active alumnae group who supports our clients. All of these services are supported by Southeast Florida Behavioral Health Network - one of our funding partners. How do the above services fit into the ROSC model?
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We simply treat the whole person. We believe that without the aforementioned services, we miss meeting the client's basic needs which can lead to relapse, so we identify stages of readiness and case management needs such as medical, dental, legal, DCF involvement, bills that need to be paid, obtaining an ID card, getting food stamps, finding housing and any other need a client identifies. This happens the first week and clients also get established at a primary care site with the PBC Health Care District, Foundcare or Genesis Community Health which are all local health clinics in Palm Beach County. Every client is assigned a Certified Peer Recovery Specialist (CPRS) and these staff members are crucial as they will be the lifeline for the client throughout their long term recovery. We also have a weekly group for clients who are no longer in services but wish to come back and discuss problems or needs they have. If the client chooses, the CPRS works with them on an individualized basis.
Wayside House Inc. CEO Lisa McWhorter with Amy Weinwume and Rhett Tom
“
Every client is assigned a Certified Peer Recovery Specialist (CPRS) and these staff members are crucial as they will be the lifeline for the client throughout their long term recovery.
”
THE DEPTH
Every dog has his day with the Wayside House team. Spring Boutique and Trunk Show
Put all this together and that’s what treatment looks like at Wayside House today. Sometimes the needs of clients have nothing to do with what is traditionally considered SUD. However, these needs must be addressed so the client can focus on obtaining needed skills to remain clean and sober. After all, it takes a village. ROSC helps put a framework around what we do and how we approach our clients.
The Wayside House team at a luncheon honoring Board Chair. Kathryn I. Leonard - a Wayside House graduate - for being nominated Volunteer of the Year by the Junior League
Substance Use Disorder Treatment The above model is also used for Substance Use Disorder Treatment (SUD) and it builds recovery capital, meets the client’s basic needs and helps plant the seeds for life after SUD. During the first week, we also obtain a bio-psychosocial that identifies problems to address such as mental health, medication assisted treatment or trauma and we build a plan of care with the client to start working on the problems and how to address them in treatment at Wayside House and in the community.
Over the years, we have built a toolbox of 12 modules dealing with emotional health. These modules help clients identify their emotions and obtain skills to work through the emotion and have three components:
• • •
Education group Experiential group Implementation
We also offer Equine Therapy, Psychodrama, individualized therapy, family counseling and other groups to help clients understand SUD and learn skills to stay clean and sober.
We want the client to take the lead and take responsibility for their recovery. When clients leave treatment, we want them to have skills to stay clean and sober, have a place to live, have a job, a lifeline back to Wayside House (CPRS), have recovery capital and know how to obtain resources in the community. This gives a client a great head start to keep clean and sober. The Depth is a space for faithbased leaders and individuals to share their thoughts, guidance, encouragement, what they’re witnessing, and more. To contribute, send your article ideas to thewell@ bewellpbc.org with “The Depth” in the subject line.
The Well Of PBC / December Issue 2023
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THE FOUNTAIN
The More We Grow, The More We Know BY: JAIME JOSHI ELDER
A
s dark and rich as finely ground espresso, the loamy soil in Belle Glade produces half the nation’s sugarcane as well as half of the nation’s winter vegetable crop. Driving into the city, a sign greets you - Welcome to Belle Glade: Her Soil Is Her Fortune. However, for a city where produce like corn, beans and leafy greens grow so abundantly, Belle Glade and the nearby towns of Pahokee, Canal Point and South Bay are considered food deserts - low income areas with low access to nutritious food. Low access areas have a relatively high number of households without vehicles that are more than one mile (urban) or ten miles (rural) from a supermarket. “The cities making up western Palm Beach County routinely rank as some of the highest pockets of food insecurity in Palm Beach County and many struggle with access to food, education, employment, and quality health care,” said C. Veree Jenkins, CEO, Federation of Families of Florida, Inc. - a non-profit organization which helps families navigate systems of care for mental health counseling.
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According to the 2021 Census Bureau American Community Survey, the Western communities of Palm Beach County that make up The Glades identified high rates of poverty: 35% in Belle Glade 25% in South Bay 35% in Pahokee. The overall poverty rate in Palm Beach County is 11%. The Federation of Families of Florida is working to provide fresh produce to families in the Western communities and do so much more with their community garden initiative. “Youth in the summer program were exploring positive factors that made individuals and communities stronger and more resilient,” said Veree. “They conducted a community survey and an environmental scan and decided to convert the vacant parking lot behind the Federation office into a community garden.”
“
Pulling weeds and planting seeds, digging in the muck is so relaxing and mind clearing. I even talk to the plants and their feedback is tremendous. I tell them their lives serve a purpose, stand strong and continue to grow.
”
THE FOUNTAIN
Initially named “Discovery Over Drugs,” the garden was rechristened the Woosah Garden by a stressed-out parent who told Veree that she, “put my troubles in the garden.” “She would walk out, take off her shoes and sit in the garden tending to the plants while singing and praying over the plants,” said Veree. Now, the garden is a part of a tri-city garden initiative which has become a by-product of the Glades Hunger Relief Workgroup sponsored by the United Way of Palm Beach County. Located at 101 NW 1st Ave in South Bay, the Woosah Garden is a sizable plot measuring 85 feet in length and 35 feet in width.
The Woosah Garden grows everything from kale and turnip greens to strawberries and sweet potatoes.
by both the physical and mental health benefits provided by the act of gardening and firmly believes in the principle of, “the more I grow, the more I know.”
The gardeners of the Woosah Garden in South Bay.
“We have or are growing all types of vegetables, fruits and herbs including but not limited to: kale, turnip greens, collard greens, broccoli, tomatoes, ginger, pineapple, melons, okra, strawberries, leaf of life, flowers, lemongrass, sweet potatoes, yellow squash, bell peppers, cucumbers and eggplant. In addition, we have two hydroponic systems indoors where we grow a variety of lettuces and herbs,” said Veree. Administering this lush Garden of Eden are Pastor Willie Lawrence and CoCynthia Nix. Pastor Lawrence focuses on community outreach and works in the tri-city area to develop similar garden projects as well as meets with the Federation of Families of Florida regularly to plan resources and volunteer efforts. CoCynthia Nix serves as the Garden Manager of the Woosah Garden in South Bay. A first time gardener, she is amazed
“It's really a learning experience to see seeds become plants and vegetables to eat, like a miracle being performed before my eyes, and being a part of the whole process is amazing. Pulling weeds and planting seeds, digging in the muck is so relaxing and mind clearing. I even talk to the plants and their feedback is tremendous,” she said with a chuckle. “I tell them their lives serve a purpose, stand strong and continue to grow.” A young gardener holds up freshly grown produce from the Woosah Garden.
Being Manager of the Woosah Community Garden has given CoCynthia a chance to serve her needs of the community, both from a mental health perspective as well as a food needs perspective. “Working with the youth and the senior volunteers in the garden brings unity to our community, I'm getting to know, love and understand them more,” she said. “The community garden gives us something to look forward to while providing for the future.” “Woosah gardening is about having a safe place to release stress, anxiety and depression,” Veree said. “Operating a community garden is not for the faint of heart as it takes a lot of hard work and commitment but it is well worth it when you see the joy that it brings the gardeners and the nutritious food for sharing. We are all learning and growing together.”
The Fountain is a space for youth to share their point of view on things that matter to them. To contribute, send your article ideas to thewell@bewellpbc.org with “The Fountain” in the subject line.
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THE WORD
Mobilizing To Make A Difference BY: GRIFFIN HARROW WWW.SCMHCINC.ORG
Griffin Harrow, M.S. Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist Family Systems Navigator
T
he Southern Poverty Law Center (2021) posits that, “A child under 12 in Florida could be over 10,000 times more likely to be Baker Acted than die by suicide.” This statistic highlights the overuse of the Florida Baker Act and the need to reduce psychiatric hospitalizations of youth. South County Mental Health Center’s Mobile Response Team serves children, adults, and families experiencing mental health crises and the traumatic nature of involuntary youth hospitalization informs the Mobile Response Team’s efforts to keep children in the community when possible. For these reasons, the Mobile Response Team (MRT) has partnered with the Palm Beach County School District and Palm Beach County charter schools to serve students experiencing mental health crises.
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Every week, local schools contact MRT and request Mobile Response Specialists to assess children in crisis, both on school grounds and in private residences. Upon assessment, the Response Specialist makes a recommendation regarding the next steps for tending to the crisis, develops safety plans with children and their families (when appropriate), and connects families to mental health resources. These efforts support the goal of a mentally well student population. “This program concept shifted purposefully from being a Mobile Crisis Team to a Mobile Response Team to help broaden our idea of helping people before they get to a full-blown crisis,” said Jill Sorensen, Director of Children’s System of Care for the Southeast Florida Behavioral Health Network. “The ‘crisis’ is defined by the person experiencing it and not by a paid professional, so responders can go out to help someone sooner. Anyone in need of help can call 2-1-1 to talk to
Melissa Bryan, LMHC Supervisor MRT West
www.scmhcinc.org
“
These efforts support the goal of a mentally well student population
”
THE WORD South County Mental Health Center Mobile Response Team Fast Facts:
•
The Mobile Response Team (MRT) dispatches a Mobile Response Specialist to mental health crises in the community (residences, schools, foster care programs, hospitals) who can provide an evidenced based crisis assessment and make a recommendation regarding the next steps for tending to a mental health crisis.
•
MRT works with all ages, including both children, adults, and elderly clients.
•
MRT operates 24/7 and will dispatch to any location within Palm Beach County within a 60 minute time frame.
•
MRT creates safety plans with clients, connects clients with mental health resources and conducts follow-up services post-assessment in order to avert future crises from occurring.
•
Our aim is to keep children/ adults in the community and to prevent unnecessary hospitalizations, however, the Mobile Response Specialist will recommend hospitalization only if necessary.
•
Payment is never a concern. MRT operates free of charge, funded by Southeast Florida Behavioral Health Network.
Pierre Desrosiers, M.S. Supervisor MRT South
Ortances Thomas-Hawkins, LMHC Director of Mobile Response
Rebecca Jean, LMHC Supervisor MRT North
someone and they can ask for a mobile response team through them as well.” Amongst the most vulnerable populations are those involved with child welfare services. MRT dispatches Mobile Response Specialists to foster care programs and other child welfare agencies to provide crisis assessments for children in need. This relationship between child welfare agencies and MRT, has been built with collaborative effort with the goal of bringing more mental health support to this population. MRT provides outreach events on a consistent basis to help maintain and grow relationships with child welfare providers. The topic of law-enforcement and mental health is ubiquitous. Simultaneously, community members often desire confidentiality when seeking help for their mental health struggles.
Every week, local law-enforcement agencies contact MRT amidst mental health crises in the community. The Mobile Response Specialist who arrives on scene is able to utilize their specialized training to de-escalate clients, provide crisis assessments and offer professional opinions regarding the next steps to obtaining help. Mobile Response Specialists operate under HIPAA, which protects clients’ confidentiality and privacy. Furthermore, MRT assists in preventing unnecessary contact with law-enforcement by only responding law-enforcement to calls when warranted. MRT continues its mission to serve community members facing mental health crises. By preventing unnecessary hospitalization and providing quality, confidential, and compassionate care, MRT works to bring mental wellness to children, adults, and families in our community.
The Word is a broad topic space for contributing writers (a.k.a the community) to share your stories of behavioral health or anything self-care related i.e. fitness, health, educational, parenting, hobbies, wellness, etc. To contribute, send your article ideas to thewell@bewellpbc.org with “The Well” in the subject line
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THE SOURCE
Get Your Questions Answered Here
The Source is a place for Palm Beach County residents and experts to connect and exchange information Q How can the Community Action Team help my family maintain their support system within the community?
A My work partner, Chris Harris, Project Coordinator, and I, do a significant amount of community outreach in service of the Children’s System of Care grant. Our team created an acronym to describe our role and goals in the community—Project C.R.A.V.E. Care focuses on our commitments to be Collaborative, Responsible, Accountable, and include the Voices of Everyone. This is our statement of intention of how we will serve and support the needs of the children’s system of care and the community. For context, the system of care is everything and everyone who 28
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connects with the community’s children and families. It is a collaborative of healthcare providers, community stakeholders, specialty service agencies, schools, youth and family support organizations, law enforcement, charitable groups, and the faith community, and many others who care about the health and wellness of children and families. When these connections are listening attentively, communicating with cultural awareness and humility, collaborating across areas of expertise and experience, demonstrating responsibility and trustworthiness, making accountability transparent, and most important hearing and responding to the needs of the Voices of the Community, this is a process that not only provides
support today, but can sustain and build supportive relationships, systems, and programs for the future - Linda Tuininga
Q I hear my teenager speak negatively about law enforcement. How do I help them foster a more positive and trusting relationship with law enforcement?
The best way to foster a positive and
A trusting relationship with law
enforcement is to help introduce them to officers who are making a positive impact in their community. School resources officers and local law enforcement officers who work directly in the client's community are great resources to introduce clients to the work they do to assist those in need and to keep the
THE SOURCE community safe. Sharing news articles and videos of positive experiences that others have had with law enforcement is another way to help share the positive actions being taken to help others. This helps teens reframe their way of thinking by helping them focus on all of the positive things that law enforcement officers do in their daily practices and feel more comfortable speaking with one when needed - Cherylyn Torres
Q Even though I am not a teacher, I
work closely with children. How can I make recommendations or referrals for children who aren’t mine?
A My first answer is to consider the
parents as the touchstone for most issues concerning a family’s children or young people. In your capacity as a guidance counselor, caretaker, club leader, church representative, healthcare provider, or community service agency, or any other child and family support connection or friend, you are typically responsible for communicating any recommendations or suggesting any referrals to the parents or legal guardians of the child. In circumstances where families and children are challenged by significant
stressors, it is important for those who are in a role to help and support children to be able to have a process to follow regarding issues that may affect any child’s stability, safety, or security. If you are in a role that works with children and families, it is a good practice to have several resources that you can contact confidentially and reliably to support you in your role and/or your organization. Improving mental wellness for everyone in our community is something we can all contribute to and support - Linda Tuininga
The Source asks YOUR questions to a lived and learned expert. Lived experts have experienced behavioral health challenges and/or are family members, caregivers, faith-based leaders, neighborhood champions, and influencers. Learned experts are behavioral health professionals, nonprofit agencies, local government, educational institutions, system leaders, and funders. Email thewell@ bewellpbc.org with “The Source” in the subject line to ask a question or contribute as an expert.
The information presented is for the purpose of educating people. Nothing
Linda Tuininga
Cherylyn Torres
contained in this publication should be
Linda Tuininga is a Nationally Certified Peer Specialist and holds two Florida Peer credentials, as Certified Recovery Peer Specialist for mental health, and Certified Recovery Support Specialist for substance misuse. As the Family Coordinator for Southeast Florida Behavioral Health Network, Linda works on the Children’s System of Care team for the Martin/St. Lucie SAMHSA grant.
Cherylyn Torres, M.S., LMHC, is the Community Action Treatment Team (CAT Team) Director in Palm Beach County. She has been in supervisory and clinical roles within Chrysalis Health since 2018. Her specialization includes providing therapy to children and families within the child-welfare, school, and juvenile justice systems.
for medical diagnosis or treatment.
construed nor is intended to be used It should not be used in place of the advice of your physician or other qualified healthcare provider. Should you have any health care related questions, please call or see your physician or other qualified healthcare provider promptly. You should never disregard medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read in this publication.
The Well Of PBC / December Issue 2023
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THE SPOTLIGHT
Our Philosophy We believe that all children are good; and if given appropriate opportunities, they will become productive, contributing members of society. Since 1980, DATA has developed a range of prevention, intervention and treatment services designed to address the child as an integral part of his or her family and community. Our goal is to provide these children with the skills and competency necessary to achieve these positive outcomes.
Our Mission
Carol Fiddis - MS, CAP, ICADC, CPP, ICPS Chief Operating Officer
DATA provides effective quality programs for children, adolescents and their families experiencing behavioral health problems and/or juvenile delinquency. We provide services in Palm Beach, Martin, St. Lucie, Indian River and Okeechobee counties. We are committed to providing programs that foster the skills necessary for individuals to be responsible, productive members of their communities.
Our Vision
W
hen a parent first reaches out to Drug Abuse Treatment Association, Inc., they are often filled with worry and despair. They come to DATA sometimes believing that this is their child’s last chance. So later, when a mother hugs her child for the first time in a long time, we know they are headed on a new and rewarding path.
For 40 years, DATA has served children and families struggling with behavioral health problems and/or juvenile delinquency. As leaders in the integration of substance use and mental health services, DATA provides services in Palm Beach, Martin, St. Lucie, Indian River and Okeechobee counties without regard for an individual’s ability to pay. DATA is a private, not-for-profit, 501c3 charitable corporation.
We envision a community that instills the importance of education and respect for self, life and property, which empowers children and their families to reject drugs, violence and other criminal activity. DATA recognizes that substance use affects every aspect of an individual’s life and that effective programming will foster self-reliance, social competence and abstinence from substance use.
The Spotlight is the space to recognize the amazing people and diverse work of behavioral health helpers and careers in Palm Beach County. To nominate someone, send an email to thewell@bewellpbc.org with “The Spotlight” in the subject line. 30
The Well Of PBC / December Issue 2023
Crisis Support /Everyday Needs HELP STARTS HERE
DIAL 2-1-1
Free, Confidential Also Text Your Zip Code to 898211
24/7
CHILDREN /FAMILY TEENS SENIORS CAREGIVERS VETERANS/ MILITARY FIRST RESPONDERS
Alcohol/Drug Abuse
Employment
Mental Health Concerns
Child Development
Family Caregiver Support
Problems at School
Disability/Special Needs
Food/Clothing/Shelter
Veterans/Military/Family
DV/Family Counseling
Foreclosure/Eviction
Elder Needs/Daily Calls
Health Insurance/Clinics
211 staff also respond to the national 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline
Chat online at
211PALMBEACH.ORG
Se Habla Español Nou Pale KreyòleThe Well Of PBC / December Issue 2023
31
A DVER M E D TISING I A K AND I T SP 2O 0 N2SOR 3 -SH 2 IP 4
CLICK HERE
to learn about advertising or sponsoring an edition of The Well of PBC
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The Well Of PBC / December Issue 2023
We support and generate innovative programs and solutions to address the behavioral health needs of our community. Each year, over 13,000 individuals in Palm Beach County with mental health and substance use disorders are directly assisted by SEFBHN's diverse network of community providers. They receive critical services like crisis intervention, outpatient counseling, medication assisted treatment (MAT), and much more. As a behavioral health managing entity, we work collaboratively with school systems, law enforcement, and more to effectively direct resources to support and help create programs which serve the unique needs of the communities. Here are just a few of the ways our services touch the lives of those in our community:
Behavioral Health Services for adults, children, and families treat mental health and substance use disorders.
Mobile Response Teams work with 211 helpline to provide support and hope to people experiencing crises.
Peer support specialists engage with victims of overdoses to provide recovery support and connections to treatment.
To learn more, visit us at sefbhn.org by scanning the QR code.
Southeast Florida Behavioral Health Network is a managing entity contracted with the Department of Children and Families. The Florida Department of Children Families is committed to its mission of protecting the vulnerable, promoting strong and economically self-sufficient families, and advancing personal and family recovery and resiliency. The Well Of PBC / December Issue 2023 33
WE ARE A
Palm Beach County-wide behavioral health and wellness initiative If you are a resident, community member, provider, business, organization or system leader that shares our passion to change the status quo, take action and Join the Movement! To learn more visit www.bewellpbc.org or contact us at bewell@bewellpbc.org. @bewellpbc @BeWellPBC @be_pbc @BeWellPBC
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