the Bert Nash Community
VOL. 8, ISSUE 1
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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March 2015
www.bertnash.org
Finding health and home 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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s a member of the Bert Nash peer support team, Deb Chapin thought she knew all about the range of services offered at the community mental health center. Turns out, she didn’t. One of the prerequisites of being a peer support team member is being a consumer of mental health services. But when Chapin found herself more or less homeless, she didn’t know where to turn. That’s when she connected with Alisha Christian, a member of the Bert Nash Health Connections team. “Alisha came to my rescue,” Chapin said. “She was able to find resources I didn’t know about.” Members of the Bert Nash Health Connections team work with clients to avoid gaps in Deb Chapin, left, with Alisha Christian of the Bert Nash Health Connections team, who connected with care — when clients Chapin when she was at a low point and in need of housing. have gaps in care they are more likely to be health, and that was really cool,” ting her own place, the first person she hospitalized or in crisis — with a focus Chapin said. told was Christian. on overall wellness. But admitting she needed help “It was very emotional for me,” “It’s really just additional support,” wasn’t easy. Chapin said. “I went and found Alisha Christian said. “Everybody could use a and said thank you. It felt good to have “I have never been homeless before,” little extra support.” somebody on my side, just having that Chapin said. “Going in and asking for Chapin certainly could. And just added support.” that kind of help was hard.” knowing somebody was interested and Chapin moved into her new apartconcerned about her welfare made her Christian put Chapin in touch with ment Feb. 1. feel better about her situation. the Bert Nash Homeless Outreach Team, which helped her find housing. “I wouldn’t have moved into this new “I felt like somebody cared about my mental health as well as my physical When Chapin found out she was getplace without Alisha,” Chapin said.
Mental health a focus at jail W PAGE 2
THE BERT NASH COMMUNITY
hen someone is an inmate at the Douglas County jail, they are locked up because they are charged with violating the law. Chances are they may also have a substance abuse problem or a mental health disorder. Or both. “It’s very common for inmates to have mental health issues,” said Cindy Naff, a therapist who is a member of the Bert Nash staff that works with inmates at the jail. “We’ve noticed it’s increasing.”
Inmates with drug or alcohol problems are also common. “It’s been a long issue with us,” said Ken McGovern, who has been Douglas County sheriff since 2004 and began his law enforcement career with the sheriff’s office in 1982. The sheriff’s office has a longstanding relationship with Bert Nash to provide mental health servSharon Zehr, leader of the Bert Nash team at the jail, and Steve Hornberger, Douglas County ices for inmates as well as for law undersheriff, who oversees the correctional officers at the jail. enforcement personnel who are going through a mental health crisess the person’s mental health. The on the corrections side, but on the operasis. questions include: Do you have a history tions and patrol side. Bert Nash theraA Bert Nash therapist started working of mental illness? Have you ever been pists have come in and done support at the jail in 2000, providing 15 hours of hospitalized for a mental illness? Are you groups after we’ve had a major incident, mental health services per week. That receiving mental health counseling? or officers who are going through a crisis has increased to two full-time Bert Nash Have you ever thought about suicide? can reach out to them. I see them as a staff dedicated to the jail, plus a student Are you thinking about suicide now? valuable asset.” typically providing 24 hours per week. Members of the on-site Bert Nash staff When someone is booked into the “I think we’re good partners,” said McGovern, who is a member of Bert Nash’s county jail, part of the intake process inPLEASE TURN TO PAGE 4 Governing Board of Directors. “Not only cludes a series of questions to try and as-
2015 Classes
MENTAL HEALTH FIRST AID
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 mfha@bertnash.org, or for more information, visit bertnash.org.
Coaching her back to life
THE BERT NASH COMMUNITY
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anya Guy had plenty of reasons to give thanks this past holiday season. “I’m energetic. I feel healthy. I’m not as depressed. My mental health is a lot better. I have a better outlook about life,” she said. Guy didn’t used to feel this way. “I was really overweight, really out of shape,” she said. “I was smoking cigarettes. I would sit in my apartment and watch TV. I was eating TV dinners. I weighed 240 pounds, depressed, in and out of the hospital. My sugars were sky high, out of control. Everything was going downhill. Then I met Sara.” Sara is Sara Volweider, who as an AmeriCorps member, served as a health coach at the Bert Nash Community Mental Health Center. Her yearlong position was funded through Douglas County United Way. As health coach, Volweider helped Bert Nash clients focus on issues such as cardiovascular and pulmonary disease, obesity and smoking. Guy’s Bert Nash case manager, Alison Cropp, referred Guy to the health coach. “We started going grocery shopping together and buying good food, like vegetables and fruits and different grains. We started cooking together,” Guy said of working with Volweider. Guy also started going on a walking group, led by the Bert Nash health coach. She quit smoking. She started eating better. “I smoked for years, ever since I was 12. Now I’m 57,” Guy said. “I’m losing weight, my diabetes is in check. I’m on less medication. I’m not in the hospital as Tanya Guy, right, with her Bert Nash case manager,Alison Cropp. "I love my case often. I’m doing really good.” manager and all of the people I work with at Bert Nash," Guy said. “Recently, at a doctor appointment, her doctor even forgot she had diabetes, said Bert Nash case manager Cropp, who because her blood work came back so has been walking with Guy for two years. good,” Cropp said of her client. “I want to do a 10K next,” Guy said. On Thanksgiving, Guy walked a 5K (3.2 “Someday maybe a marathon. Alison inI’ve got a lot of help miles) with her Bert Nash case manager. spires me so much. There’s no stopping from Bert Nash ... And I me now.” “It was fun. We walked for three miles, really love my case manand it was a piece of cake,” Guy said. “It With the lifestyle changes she has ager and all the people I was so energizing, and it made me feel so made, Guy’s physical health is not only good. I loved it. It was my first time to do work with here. I’m just better, but her mental health as well. a 5K.” doing so much better. “I’ve got a lot of help from Bert Nash,” Now Guy has her sights on longer disGuy said. “And I really love my case tances. manager and all the people I work with here. I’m just doing so much better.” “We decided a 5K was just too easy,”
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Governing Board of Directors
Barbara Ballard Reed Dillon Jane Fevurly Steve Glass, Chair Don Grosdidier Sue Hack David Johnson Cindy Maude Ken McGovern Bob Morse Elizabeth Sheils Doug Stephens Jeffrey Vitter
Endowment Trustees
Beverly Billings Brad Burnside Steve Glass Carol Hatton Kelvin Heck David Johnson Alice Ann Johnston 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
Jail team meets a need
THE BERT NASH COMMUNITY
issues among inmates. “What’s the reason for the difference? I think the sheriff, because he really believes review the inmates’ answers and respond ac- in the whole concept of helping people,” Zehr cordingly. said. “I think he’s really the driving force.” A point-in-time count completed on Members of the Bert Nash team view inMarch 6 showed that 30 percent of the inmates as people who, yes, have violated the mates in custody are prescribed mental law, but may also have mental health issues health medications and 14 percent of the in- that contributed to their legal problems. mates in custody are considered to have a se“We see somebody who has had a really vere and persistent mental illness, meaning messed up life and who needs some help and their daily functioning is significantly imguidance,” Bert Nash team member Naff paired due to mental health reasons and they said. “Even when I get frustrated, and we all have had at least one psychiatric hospitalizado, I always think there is one who is going tion. to make a change.” Those numbers are typical. Steve Hornberger, Douglas County under“It used to be, mental health was a second- sheriff, who oversees the correctional officers ary issue,” said Sheriff McGovern. “Now we at the jail, appreciates the work the Bert see it as much as an issue as physical health.” Nash therapists do for inmates. Bert Nash team leader Zehr credits the “Bert Nash is an integral part of this facilDouglas County sheriff with recognizing the ity and provides a great service,” Hornberger importance of addressing the mental health said. “We appreciate everything they do.”
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