the Bert Nash Community
VOL. 7, ISSUE 4
N E W S L E T T E R
200 MAINE STREET
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LAWRENCE, KS 66044
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(785) 843-9192
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December 2014
www.bertnash.org
Shaw Park is ‘a place of joy’ Since 1950, the Bert Nash Community Mental Health Center has advanced the mental health of the Douglas County community through comprehensive behavioral services responsive to evolving need and changing environments.
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hen Jen“What do I miss the most? nifer Shaw Everything,” Jennifer Shaw visited the said about her mom. “I could new Sandra J. Shaw talk to her about anything. Community Health She and Doug were truly the Park for the first time, best listeners. I just miss the she noticed something joy of spending time with about the people walkthem.” ing on the nature trail. Doug Witt held many roles They had smiles on during his time at the Center: their faces. clinical psychologist, director of Children’s Services, Out“It was such a joy to patient Services Director and see that,” Jennifer said. Clinical Director. He died in Which is exactly what December 2013. her mom would have The Bert Nash Center dowanted. nated the property for the Lawrence’s newest park to the city. The park is city park, which inlocated at 138 Alabama, on cludes the Outside for a land northeast of the Center. Better Inside Trail, was Bert Nash purchased the named in honor of Jenproperty using money from a nifer’s mom, Sandra, fund established to honor the longtime CEO at Jennifer Shaw, right, with her sister Laura (Witt) Bogart and Aaron Witt, Sandra’s longtime leadership the Bert Nash Commu- celebrated not only the dedication of a new park but the lives of their to the Center. nity Mental Health parents Sandra Shaw and Doug Witt. “I want to say how proud Center. we are to make a gift of this Sandra and Doug had different styles property to the people in our commu“I’m not sure Mum would have and personalities. She was a comnity,” Bert Nash CEO David Johnson wanted a park named after her, but she manding presence; he was a calming said during the dedication. “Already I would want what the park is about — a one. She was the take-charge type; he see children and adolescents over here place of learning and solitude and joy,” was more of a facilitator. But together, with clinicians from Bert Nash. The Jennifer said. Sandra J. Shaw Community Health they made quite a team. Jennifer, who lives in Anchorage, Park is now part of our treatment mi“My Mom was a force to be reckoned Alaska, returned to Lawrence, along lieu.” with, while Doug was a master at with her husband, Tim Peltier, for the The morning of the park dedication bringing light and wisdom and calm to park dedication Oct. 18. Other family was a picture-perfect Kansas fall day. situations, while remaining almost inmembers also attended, including visible,” Jennifer Shaw said. “Both of Aaron Witt (Rochester, N.Y.) and “We couldn’t have asked for a better them were incredibly wise and gentle Laura Bogart (Lawrence), the children day,” Jennifer Shaw said. “I underof Doug Witt, who was married to Sanpeople.” stand we have Pat (Patricia Roach dra Shaw. Doug worked side-by-side Smith, Bert Nash chief operating offiStarting in 1971, when she became with Sandra at Bert Nash for nearly 30 cer) to thank for that; she was in director of Children’s Services, Sandra years. charge of the weather.” Shaw played a significant leadership Community leaders and former colThe occasion of the park dedication role at Bert Nash. The Center grew leagues of Sandra Shaw and Doug brought family members together from from nine to 179 employees during her Witt’s attended the park dedication. different parts of the country to celetenure. Sandra served as executive dibrate the lives of Sandra and Doug and rector and later CEO from 1979 until the impact of their work on the Bert her retirement in 2001. She died in PLEASE TURN TO PAGE 4 Nash Center as well as the community. November 2010.
MHFA makes critical difference
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THE BERT NASH COMMUNITY
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2015 Classes
killing himself, something we were ental Health First Aid trainencouraged to do in Mental Health ing works. Even more, it First Aid training,” Stephens said. can be a lifesaver. “He answered that he was.” Literally. Stephens asked the man if he had Just ask Doug Stephens, who a plan. The man said he had a gun serves on the Bert Nash Governing in his car, had written a suicide letBoard of Directors. Bert Nash was ter and was planning to drive out to one of seven test sites across the his favorite spot at Lone Star Lake country chosen to start Mental and kill himself. Health First Aid training in 2008. More than 1,100 Douglas County “I tried to encourage him that he residents have been trained, includwasn’t alone, that he could get help ing Stephens. for what he was going through,” Stephens said. “I offered to go with Just as CPR training helps a him right then to see someone. He layperson with no medical training said he appreciated it and asked to learn life-saving skills, Mental go to the restroom.” Health First Aid helps a person with no clinical background know how to When the man didn’t return, intervene when someone is experiStephens asked his staff if he had encing a mental health crisis, such left. He had. Stephens tried calling as contemplating suicide. the man’s cell phone, but there was no answer. Stephens immediately In 2012, that’s what Stephens had dialed 911. A Douglas County Sherto do. iff’s officer found the man at Lone Bert Nash board member Doug Stephens has put his “I had a phone call from a man Star Lake — alive — and took him to who said he knew me and had gone Mental Health First Aid training to work. a medical facility for evaluation and to school with my younger sisters,” help. lies,” Stephens said. “Most just wanted to Stephens said. “He said he had always retalk to another man who would listen. I membered me in a nice way, that he The Mental Health First Aid training used the Mental Health First Aid training heard I was easy to talk to and that I Stephens received gave him the knowlto help identify and encourage men who might be able to help him with a real esedge and confidence to act — and ask the might benefit from more intensive help.” tate problem.” tough questions — when someone he knew was going through a mental health When Stephens met with the man in Stephens, whose family had owned a crisis. 2012, the man had lost his job, had relongtime real estate company in ceived an eviction notice and would be Lawrence, had counseled other men dur“Mental Health First Aid doesn’t qualing and after the mortgage and financial homeless within the month. He was also ity me to do anything more than to step crisis when the real estate market bubble suffering from a terminal illness, had no out of my comfort zone and ask the burst. insurance, no money, was divorced and tough questions we don’t always feel had lost a child in a freak accident. In comfortable in asking to people who are “Many men were coming to me during fact, the day Stephens met with the man hurting, and to encourage them to get that time who were losing their busiwas the anniversary of his daughter’s the help that we know is there,” Stephens nesses and were on the verge of declaring death. said. “I encourage everyone to get this bankruptcy. Some had not yet had the training.” courage to even tell their wives and fami“I asked him if he was thinking about
January 2015 (Tuesdays) 6, 13, 20, 27 (4-6 pm) MHFA for adults February 2015 (Mondays) 2, 9, 16, 23 (4-6 pm) MHFA for adults who work with youth May 2015 (Tuesdays) 5, 12, 19, 26 (4-6 pm) MHFA for adults June 8, 2015 8am-5pm; MHFA for adults who work with youth September 2015 (Tuedays) 8, 15, 22, 29 (4-6 pm) MHFA for adults October 2015 (Mondays) 5, 12, 19, 26 (4-6 pm) MHFA for adults Classes cost $30 per person; which covers 8-hour instruction, a manual, and snacks.All classes are held at the Bert Nash Center, 200 Maine Street, Lawrence, KS. To sign up for a MHFA class, please email talktobert@bertnash.org, or for more information, visit bertnash.org.
THE BERT NASH COMMUNITY
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Friends, supporters Celebrate Bert Nash
From, left, Janet Riley-Luther, Judy Wright and LaRrisa Chambers.
Lauren Parsons sang "BecauseYou Loved Me" at the Nov. 12 Celebrate Bert Nash.The theme of the event was "CourageousVoices."
Jackie Lira andTJ Reyes with their son Deacon.
Sidney Sutton,Tod Sutton and Judy Brynds.
Wes Smith, Charles Branson and Kathy Branson.
Thank you for all your support in 2014. Please consider Bert Nash in your end-of-year giving. Every donation makes a difference!
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From left,Alice Ann Johnston, Kelly Welch and Don Johnston.
$2,500 Silver Society $1,000 Circle of Leaders PIONEER CLUB RECOGNITION
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$500 Circle of Light $250 Circle of Light $100 Circle of Light Other______________
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Please make check payable to: The Bert Nash Center. Your gift is 100% tax deductible. Thank you!
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Mail to 200 Maine St., Suite A, Lawrence, KS 66044 For questions, contact Cindy Hart at 785-830-1701 or to make a secure online deposit go to www.bertnash.org
Hank Booth,Amy Booth and Chloe O'Dell.
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THE BERT NASH COMMUNITY
Governing Board of Directors Barbara Ballard Frank DeSalvo Reed Dillon Jane Fevurly Steve Glass (Chair) Don Grosdidier Sue Hack David Johnson Cindy Maude Ken McGovern Bob Morse Elizabeth Sheils Doug Stephens
Endowment Trustees
Beverly Billings Brad Burnside Steve Glass Carol Hatton Kelvin Heck Alice Ann Johnston David Johnson Cindy Maude Michael McGrew Rachel Monger Linda Robinson (Chair) Gary Sollars Beth Stella Mike Treanor Kelly Welch Judy Wright
Investment Committee
Chris Anderson Carolyn Shelton Chuck Warner Kelly Welch (Chair) Jide Wintoki
BERT NASH CENTER 200 Maine Street Lawrence, KS 66044 (785) 843-9192 bertnash.org
Members of the Sandra Shaw and Doug Witt families gathered for the dedication of the new city park, located northeast of the Bert Nash Center.
Sandra J. Shaw Park dedication
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1
Besides Bert Nash CEO Johnson, Lawrence Mayor Mike Amyx also spoke, as did John McGrew, founder of Outside for a Better Inside — an advocacy group that promotes outdoor activities as a way to improve mental and physical health for youth. Jennifer Shaw and Laura Bogart spoke on behalf of the families. “What a special day this is for Lawrence and Sandi’s initiative she started so many years ago,” said McGrew, who grew up in the area of the park. “Sandra Shaw’s life of service to our community inspired this dream of a community health park. The Bert Nash gift of this land made the park idea possible. And the Sunflower Foundation put their stamp of approval on the construction of our Outside for a Better Inside Trail by awarding us a grant.” For members of the Shaw and Witt families, the park dedication — and the celebration of Sandra and Doug’s lives and work — was particularly emotional. “I was really touched by all of the comments and personal stories people had,”
Jennifer Shaw said. “That’s what makes the memories of Mum and Doug become living memories for me. The opportunity to be able to celebrate with the whole community is something I will remember for a really long time.” “It was a fantastic opportunity to celebrate Dad and Sandi,” Aaron Witt said. “As their kids growing up, it wasn’t always as obvious how special they were to other people, so this was really gratifying.” “The dedication was a wonderful opportunity to recognize Dad and Sandi,” Laura Bogart said. “It was a good reminder of their commitment to community and people.” Because of their parents, the children of Sandra Shaw and Doug Witt have always had a connection with the Bert Nash Center. Now there is a city park named for Sandra Shaw. While it is her name that appears on the sign for the new park, Sandra Shaw and Doug Witt were partners in every sense, and they will always be remembered for the work they did together. “The power of the two was greater than any one of them,” Jennifer Shaw said. “They were a team.”