Outpatient CLINIC NEWS
CLINIC UPDATES
Annual CBLs: The 2025 Annual Education courses are live. Visit JPS Learn to complete them by April 30. 2025-2026 Psychiatry Fellowship: Advanced Practice Providers can apply to this one-year accredited postgraduate program from March 1-31 Contact Julie Durand (JDurand@jpshealth org) or Emily Elkins (EElkins@jpshealth org) for details
Summer of Service: Teens who are 15 years of age as of June 1 can apply for Summer of Service opportunities These are hosted every Tuesday and Thursday during June, July, and August Teens ages 16 and 17 can serve year-round! Email volunteers@jpshealth org or call Volunteer Services ext 21590 to learn more.
Outpatient BH Clinic Employee of the Month - Melanie Cooper
We are excited to announce the new Resource Corner at the Center for Behavioral Health, a valuable addition spearheaded by our very own Jessica Reyes This initiative has already proven to be a great asset to our patients, offering essential resources beyond mental health services.
From housing and food assistance to legal support and more, the Resource Corner connects individuals with vital services to help meet their needs Whatever the challenge, Jessica likely has a resource for it! This space is designed to empower patients by providing the tools and support they need to navigate life’s obstacles
Be sure to stop by and explore this new space the next time you visit the clinic. Thank you, Jessica, for your dedication to supporting our community!
Melanie, a Peer Support Specialist with JPS Behavioral Health, has been with JPS for nearly 12 years and was among the first in her role. While the Peer Support team isn't officially part of OPBH, Melanie has become an integral presence at CBHR Clinic.
A coworker shared, "Melanie is a joy to have in the clinic She’s great with patients, friendly to staff, and always brightens the day " Her leader added, "No matter what, she stays positive and never lets anyone dull her sparkle!" Thank you, Melanie, for your dedication and uplifting spirit we appreciate all that you do!
As we prepare for the upcoming JPS and Cook Children’s clinic opening this summer, our Behavioral Health team is actively engaging with the LVTRise community to provide education and support Through outreach efforts, we are connecting with local community members to discuss mental health resources and offer educational presentations designed to promote well-being
Our monthly educational series, held on the second Wednesday of each month, covers a wide range of behavioral health topics, equipping individuals and families with valuable knowledge to support their mental health These sessions are an excellent opportunity for community members to learn, ask questions, and access helpful resources ahead of the new clinic’s launch.
For more information or to get involved, please contact Elizabeth Alaniz at ealaniz@jpshealth org We look forward to strengthening our partnership with the LVTRise community and ensuring everyone has access to the care and education they need!
We’re excited to share some great new developments at Southwest Behavioral Health (SWBH) that will enhance the services we provide to our patients
First, Jill Pollard, BHAS, has started offering Child and Adolescent Intakes as part of a new pilot program at SWBH This initiative is currently available for CAB and SW Child and Adolescent referrals only, providing specialized support for younger patients in need of behavioral health services.
Additionally, starting in April, we will begin offering outpatient group therapy at SWBH! These sessions will be led by Heather Zipper and Jill Pollard, covering a variety of topics to support patient well-being For now, we will offer two groups per week, with plans to expand in the future.
These new services reflect our commitment to growing and improving patient care Stay tuned for more details, and thank you to Jill, Heather, and the entire SWBH team for making these initiatives possible!
Clinic News continued
Measles Alert: Increased Cases in Texas
The Texas Department of State Health Services reports a rise in measles cases in the South Plains and Panhandle regions, with 90 cases and 16 hospitalizations, mostly in Gaines County Of these, 85 cases involve unvaccinated individuals or those with unknown vaccination status While no cases have been reported in Tarrant County in 2025, the risk within JPS Health Network remains high
About Measles
Measles is a highly contagious respiratory virus spread through direct contact with infectious droplets or airborne transmission when an infected person breathes, coughs, or sneezes Measles symptoms include high fever, cough, runny nose, and red, watery eyes Symptoms typically appear 11-12 days after exposure, followed by a rash 2-4 days later The rash consists of flat red spots that begin on the head and face and gradually spread downward to the neck, trunk, arms, legs, and feet
February PAR Patient Experience Winners: Stop Six PARs Do It Again!
Congratulations to the Stop Six PAR team for earning the February PAR award with an outstanding 87 5 score on the "Courtesy of Registration Personnel" survey question! Special recognition goes to Angela Brookins and Evanya Elvir for their exceptional efforts in creating a warm and welcoming environment for patients
Precautions
Isolation: Droplet-contact and airborne precautions (in addition to standard precautions)
PPE: N95 respirator, eye protection, gown, and gloves
Patient Placement: Private room with a closed door, preferably negative pressure
Infectious Risk: The measles virus can remain in the air for up to 2 hours after an infected person leaves an area
The Infection Prevention team will continue rounding to answer questions and provide education Stay informed and follow safety protocols to protect patients and staff
This achievement reflects their dedication to patient care and attention to detail, contributing to an overall Behavioral Health clinic score of 77.19% on this key metric.
Thank you, Stop Six PAR team, for your hard work in making every patient feel valued and respected Keep up the great work!
March Birthdays
Brittany Washington 03/03
Angela Hunter 03/17
Sheila Toombs 03/18
Crystal Law 03/24
Judy Eades 03/24
Kayla Aguirre 03/28
It’s that time of year again! We are thrilled to invite t
We encourage everyone to bring a favorite cultural dish to share, as we will be voting on crowd favorites It’s a fantastic opportunity to experience new flavors and learn more about the backgrounds of our colleagues and friends To make the event even more special, we invite you to wear traditional attire that represents your heritage let’s make this a true celebration of culture!
Adding to the excitement, our very own Behavioral Health band, The Euthymics, will be performing at the TSP event Their energy and talent always make for an unforgettable show, so be sure to stick around for great music and fun!
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TSN: April 17th, 5:00 – 7:00 PM
This event is a highlight of the year, bringing us together through food, music, and cultural pride We always look forward to tasting the incredible dishes shared by participants, and we can’t wait to see what everyone brings this year. Let’s make this the best World Fair yet hope to see you there!
LACRESHIA FRANKLIN A parent expressed their thanks and appreciation for Lacreshia's work with their teen during sessions. The parent said that the sessions helped their teen and that he was thankful for all the help the program gave We are so lucky to have such an amazing therapist like Lacreshia on our team!
SHELLY LOUIS Shelly did a fantastic job representing TCHATT at a community event even though she had to shift gears and attend this event solo at the last minute. She did a great job making sure this event was covered! Thank you for all your hard work!
BRENDA MURILLO Congratulations on a very successful first 60 days at JPS! You have hit the ground running and are already providing a great support to your team and our patients I see you stepping up to cover for teammates when they're on PTO and jumping in to do vouchers/ubers. Keep up the great work!
COURTNEY WILSON Courtney is always more than willing to help us when we're discharging patients to the shelter. She stops her own job to make sure that our PEC patients make it safely to the shelter and obtain everything they need
MARQUITA MARTIN Thank you for giving your time and knowledge to help train our new team members They are excelling in their role thanks to your mentorship and the continued support I am grateful to have a team who helps each other succeed every day!
BRITTANY WASHINGTON Brittany received the following comment from a patient, "Brittany is very easy to talk to. She listens than gives me advice. She cares about how I am doing and feeling that day I feel very comfortable with her I feel good after I talk to her She is very friendly and kind."
HEATHER HOGAN DA patient shared: "I want to Thank Heather for her patience and professionalism as my counselor She was very thorough and helpful with every session. I always left the office feeling better and looking forward to each visit She made me feel seen and heard"
NETARI MITCHELL A patient shared, "Ms Mitchell was very helpful, competent, and courteous." Thank you so much, Netari for all the exceptional care you provide to patients!
VANESSA OLSON A patient recognized Vanessa, stating; "I really have to say that Vanessa was awesome I felt like the team was a really caring group of ladies" Thank you, Vanessa for all that you do for your patients, you make an immensely positive and lasting impact!
