Feeding the Community - MSU vs. U of M 'Food Fight'

Sentinel-Standard: November 10, 2011

IONIA - What started out as a staff food drive to see what team, Michigan State University or University of Michigan, could raise the most food items for Zion Community Food Pantry, ended up totaling more that 1,000 food items and $2000 collected.

The U of M team captain, Child Psychiatrist, Dr. Ron VanValkenburg, snuck in at the last minute for a win over the MSU team captain, Ionia County Community Mental Health CEO Bob Lathers.

"It was a social activity with everyone in the organization, and it is good to experience with staff that really got into it," said VanValkenburg. "It's really good to make a contribution to those in need."

Lathers, the captain of the losing team, had to wear U of M apparel for the day, and the U of M flag was flown on the flag pole outside of the ICCMH building.

This was the first time the ICCMH held the MSU, U of M "FOOD FIGHT," and the real victor was the Zion Community Food Pantry located at 430 W. Washington Street.

The food fight raised 1184 non-perishable food items, and $2047 in cash donations

"It's the Zion Community Food Pantry and the Zion Comunity Soup Kitchen - it's not the church, it's the people," said Zion Methodist Church Pastor Cliff Allen. "It's amazing what this community is doing for their community. Miracles do happen."

The cash donation was given to Zion Community Fod Pantry Thursday, and the food items were donated last month.

Allen explained that the donation from the ICCMH will help the community food pantry pay for the Feeding America Truck, which delivers food and produce at the Ionia County Fair Grounds once a month, up until October of next year.

"As of this week, I was a little nervous because we didn't get any grants," said Allen. "All of a sudden, we have enough to go to October. As of yesterday we had it up until July."

"This (donation) bringing (our supplies) into October, is totally amazing for me. We have to have these trucks."
Allen added he has seen senior citizens coming in, having to make the decision of buying food of paying for prescription medicines. He also said he has noticed the number of people living in single family households has increased to five or six people living in a household.

The Zion Community Food Pantry is open from 2 to 4:30 p.m. each Wednesday. The Zion Community Food Kitchen serves those in need at 5:30 p.m. every Thursday. The Feeding America Mobile Food Truck visits Ionia on the second Tuesday of each month.

To learn more, contact Zion Community Food Pantry at 616-527-1910, or visit www.zionionia.org/food-services.html. For more information on Ionia County Community Mental health, call 888-527-1790 or visit www.ioniacmhs.org

 

Virtual Trauma Center

Sentinel-Standard: November 10, 2011

IONIA - Local agencies are partnering to form a different view of helping people in the community - a virtual trauma center.

The Ionia County Community of Mental Health (CMH), Ionia County Probate Court and the Ionia County Department of Human Services (DHS) is forming a trauma center which looks at helping children in the system in a different way.

"Almost every child that enters the court system has been exposed to some type of trauma," said Ionia County Probate Judge Robert Sykes. "(We are looking) at how to do a better job at identifying the form and level of trauma and identifying the resources available to treat that trauma. This is a great example of the collaboration happening in Ionia County."

Each location, CMH, probate court and the DHS, will be a physical location for the trauma center, but ICCMH Director Robert Lathers explained that the real trauma center is going to be in the thinking of all involved.

At any (of the) facilities, it is going to be a collaboration of services," said Lathers. "This is a system we are developing. We are making a community to do that . We have buildings, but it's going to be throughout the whole county."

Lathers, Sykes and DHS Director Michelle Siego, are going to train employees and give them the proper background on trauma to assist with identifing the form and level of the trauma.

Those trained will include not only employees, but Seigo said that foster parents will be trained, too.

With the probate court, Sykes explained that he hopes to integrate the trauma center approach into the juveinile department, and that the parole officers will receive teh training and background as well.

"Keeping the child in the home with the parents or guardians (is what we try to do because) when removed from home or change of place, the system is adding another system of trauma," said Sykes. "We are emphasizing how to get better results."
In the future, the departments will like to see this approach being applied to most cases, and expanding into the private and public sectors.

Lathers explained that there are many forms and levels of trauma, and they can affect individuals in different ways.

It could be that someone was victimized mentally or physically, in a car accident, has a disability or any number of reasons.

"(A trauma center) changes the way we (as a community) look at people," said Lathers. "This way of thinking is 'Tell me your story. You are a person with a story. You are a person.' We need to hear what they are saying."

The trauma center system will not take away from treating individuals, but allows for the individual to tell their story, and have someone listening who can either help the, or find the resources to help.

"We are going to set up in the community a virtual trauma center with CMH, DHS and start with the probate court," said Lathers. "We have to start somewhere. We have agreed to join efforts, and CMH is taking the lead."

 

 

New treatment foster program launched in Ionia County

Sentinel-Standard: November 26, 2011

IONIA COUNTY - The Ionia County Community Mental Health is collaborating with the juvenile court to bring a new program to the county, that will help juvenile deliquents receive the treatment they need without going to a residential treatment facility.

The Ionia County Community Mental Health and the Ionia County juvenile Court are bringing a treatment foster care program to Ionia County, and received a three-year grant for $250,000 to get it started.

"I'm excited about this," said Ionia County Juvenile Court Judge Robert Sykes. "This is a program that Bob (Lathers, CEO of ICCMH) have been discussing for years. It is another example of how well we are collaborating in this county."

The difference of the treatment foster care program is that the foster parents will be trained to handle the child's behavioral problem, and work closely with a group of individuals ranging from the probation officer, therapist, court, and community mental health staff.

The theory of the treatment foster care is that it will help the children in a family setting and in the community.

"Some kids in juvenile facilities are in and out, then come back to a home setting," said ICCMH CEO Bob Lathers. "There is still work that needs to be done."

While in the treatment foster care program, the juvenile will be closely monitored by the court system , but still be in a family setting to help with the transition of re-entering the birth family setting.

"It's important to work with the birth family, so they are involved in the treatment of the child," said Lathers.

The program is also looking to help save money in the county's child fund, which pays for residential treatment facility stays for the juvenile after it is court ordered.

"The benefits are we will have the ability to more closely monitor the progress (of the child), and there is also a financial savings to the citizens of Ionia County because of the per diem rate for the intensive treatment foster care program will be significantly less than the per diem rate for residential treatment," said Sykes.

Katie Magnuson, who is organizing the treatment foster care program, explained that she is looking for local parents to become foster parents. She is hoping to have at least 10 certified in the county.

"There is always a need for foster parents," said Magnuson. "We are not looking for people to do this for a long time. If they help one kid one time, that is successful. That is all the commitment we are asking from them."

The benefit for having the foster parents locally is because the child will still be able to go to the same school, be in the same community, and face the same callenges when they return to their birth family.

"The only change (to the child) is the home environment," said Magnuson. "They receive treatment and then a transitional change when they go back home.

"A lot of (foster homes) are out of county, but that is not realistic of their home environment and inflluences."

The treatment foster parent, after receiving certification, will be involved in the selection process of their foster child, as well as know the child's background, behaviors, and circumstances.

For more information, contact Magnuson at Ionia County Community Mental Health by calling 616-527-1790.

 

Veterans Day 2011: A place at the table

Sentinel-Standard: 11/11/11 By, Robert S. Lathers

Our family leaves the front porch light on at night with hopes that we might be surprised with the return home of our son Dan, who is a three-time deployed U.S. Marine. In a few weeks an empty plate will be set at the Thanksgiving table where he usually sits. The loneliness caused by his absence is not a stranger to us any more, but is a quiet, constant companion.

It has been 10 years since 9/11, and almost 50 years since America became involved in Vietnam. Over this span of time, thousands of our nations's finest young people answered the call of duty and took up arms in the name of freedom.

Some did not return; they gave all.

However, most came home and reunited with their fathers and grandfathers any of whom also served in the military. Most have blended back into the communities where they came from.

They took local jobs, became police officers, cooks, bar tenders, snow plow drivers, or returned to their family farms. Some went on to college and have become teachers, counselors, plumbers, mechanics, computer engineers, or a host of other necessary occupations that make up the American landscape.

Some, unfortunately and unwillingly, have joined the ranks of the unemployed. We are called to honor all of these Veterans today.

Today, is a day to ask ourselves what do all those ribbons on the backs of cars that state, "Support our Troops," or, "I Support our Troops," really mean?

Since only about 1 percent of all American households have a family member who is an active duty member of the U.S. Military, the challenge for the other 99 percent is to rise up and embrace veterans, active duty military personnel and their families in some small way.

Following are just four strategies, among many, that you can choose to do today - Veteran's Day 2011:

1. Write, email, Facebook, Twitter, or call local Congressmen Justin Amash, Congressmen Tim Walberg and U.S. Senators Carl Levin and Debbie Stabenow and ask them to increase pay for U.S. military personnel and to fully support veteran's benefits. Ask them to reject on principle any proposal that targets reductions in current or future health care benefits for veterans. There are currently 5.5 million U.S. Veterans living with a disability. Access to necessary medical and social services can often be challenging or difficult. We must advocate for fair treatment for our veterans.

2. Consider participating in an airline care package. Did you know that members of the U.S. miltary do not fly free on commercial airlines? The exception to this is if their entire unit is being deployed or returned to their base. Once there, they are left to their own resources to complete the trip home. Organize a fundraiser to buy an airline ticket for a local veteran or active duty military member to fly home to visit with their family when they return from deployment.

3. Check in regularly with their family to offer support and friendship. Families will welcome your interest and concern. Husbands, wives, sons, and daughters, who are veterans or are currently deployed, do not generally tell their families the bad things that have happened or are happening. They don't want their families to worry about them. They want their families to be safe and carry on with their lives. Former State Sen. Alan Cropsey has two sons who joined the Marines shortly after mine did. Each and every time I see him since then, whether in his office, on a downtown Lansing street corner, or speak to him on the phone he always begins with, "How is your son doing?" It is so important and supportive to ask family members of veterans and military personnel, "How is your loved one doing?"

4. Finally, ask yourself, "What would Tom Izzo do?" My son is currently stationed at Camp Pendleton, Tonight, as a member of the U.S. military, he will be among a few spectators on board the USS Carl Vinson watching the MSU vs. North Carolina basketball game. Earlier this fall I was able to fly him home for a week to visit. While here, we were able to get two tickets to the MSU-Notre Dame football game in South Bend. Upon entering the stadium we headed straight to the restroom. When i came out of the restroom, I found myself standing next to a man and his son who were looking at the game program. It was Spartan Basketball Coach Tom Izzo. I immediately turned to see if my son, the No. 1 Spartan fan at Camp Pendleton, was behind me. He wasn't. He was still in the restoom. I then asked Coasch Izzo, if he would "Wait a minute and meet my son, who had recently completed his third tour of duty in teh Mideast and was home on a short visit?"

What did To Izzo Do? He said, "Absolutely!"

Then we waited for what seemed like several minutes until my son finally exited the restroom. When my son approached hiim, Tom Izzo embraced him and said, "Thank you for your service."

I fumbled for my camera while Coach Izzo patiently waited. When the picture was finished Coach Izzo said to my son, "Thank you, again."

It meant the world to my son...and his dad. What did Tom Izzo actually do? Something each and everyone of us should do today... Thank a veteran, active duty military personnel and their family for their service. It never gets old and is among the most important things each of us can do today. It is why Tom Izzo is in San Diego tonight.

 

'Virtual Trauma Center'

Sentinel-Standard 11/10/11

IONIA-Local agencies are partnering to form a different view of helping people in the community - a virtual trauma center.

The Ionia County Community Mental Health (CMH), Ionia County Probate Court and the Ionia County Department of Human Services (DHS) is forming a trauma center which looks at helping children in the system in a different way.

"Almost every child that enters the court system has been exposed to some type of trauma," said Ionia County Probate Judge Robert Sykes. "(We are looking) at how to do a better job at identifying the form and level of trauma and identifying the resources availabel to treat that trauma. This is a great example of the collaboration happening in Ionia County."

Each location, CMH, probate court, and the DHS, will be a physical location for the trauma center, but ICCMH Director Robert Lathers explained that the real trauma center is going to be in the thinking of all involved.

"At any (of the) facilities, it is going to be a collaboration of services," said Lathers. "This is a system we are developing. We are making a community to do that. We have buildings, but it's going to be througout the whole county."

Lathers, Sykes, and DHS Director Michelle Siego, are going to train employees and give them the proper background on trauma to assist with identifying the form and level of the trauma.

Those trained will include not only employees, but Seigo said that foster parents will be trained, too.

With the probate court, Sykes explained that he hopes to integrate the trauma center approach into the juvenile department, and that the parole officers will receive the training and background as well.

"Keeping the child in the home with parents or guardians (is what we try to do because) when removed from home or change of place, the system is adding another system of trauma," said Sykes. "we are emphasizing how to get better results."

In the future, the departments will like to see this approach being applied to most cases, and expanding into the private and public sectors.

Lathers explained that there are many forms and levels of trauma, and they can affect individuals in different ways.

It could be that someone was victimized mentally or physically, in a car accident, has a disability or any number of reasons.

"(A trauma center) changes the way we (as a community) look at people," said Lathers. "This way of thinking is, 'Tell me your story. You are a person with a story. You are a person.' We need to hear what they are saying."

The trauma center system will not take away from treating individuals, but allows for the invidivual to tell their story, and have someone listening who can either help them, or find the resources to help.

"We are going to set up in the community a virtual trauma center with CMH, DHS and start with the probate court," said Lathers. "We have to start somewhere. We have agreed to join efforts, and CMH is taking the lead."

 

County CMH Authority's efforts saving $2M a year

Lansing State Journal: July 18, 2011

Agency's practices could serve as model to others, director says

In time of dwindling tax revenues, Michigan school districts, counties, and cities face increasing pressure to save every nickel and dime they can.

Robert Sheehan, executive director of the Community Mental Health Authority of Clinton, Eaton, and Ingham Counties, believes his agency's success at saving millions of dollars annually by finding new efficiencies could serve as a model to other cash-starved entities.

Done in partnership with four other mental health authorities, those innovations include transitioning paper medical records to computerized documents, replacing outdated copiers and printers and switching to energy-efficient light bulbs.

The Community Mental Health Authority's newly released report concluded that since 2002 the effort has saved the authority more than $2 million annually from its $100 million operating budget. The authority examined its cost-saving strategies in partnership with mental health authorities in Benzie, Gratiot, Ionia, Manistee, and Newaygo counties.

In addition, the effort has helped the mental health authorities avoid $4.6 million in expenditures since 2002, according to the report.

"What we did is what local districts can do, what townships can do," Sheehan said. "This can also be applied to teh private sector."

Impact on services

Because of stagnant county, state, and federal funding, the tri-county authority has seen a reduction in services for mental health clients over the past decade. But the impact on services would have been more profound without the cost savings, Sheehan said.

The authority now serves nearly 10,000 clients annually, offering help to those with mental illness, developmental disabilities, substance abuse disorders and children with serious emotional distrubances.

"We were kind of surpresed by the report. I was shocked by what we had done," said Sheehan, explaining the authority wanted to track the savings over several years. "It would be worse if we hadn't made those changes."

Measures included merging some information technology functions. This allowed most authorities to trim their information technology staffs.

Robert Lathers, CEO of the Ionia Community Mental Health Authority, said the agency's overall staff has been reduced from 112 employees in 2001 to 92 employees last year. Despite that reduction, the agency served twice as many clients last year - 3,000 - as in 2001.

"In a department like this, you might normally find an IT department with 10 (technicians)," Lathers said. "We have two. We're leaner, more fiscally responsible."

Finding efficiencies

Chuck Dougherty, director of information for the Clinton, Eaton, and Ingham mental health authority, said merging IT efforts has allowed the authorities to streamline clinical record keeping, the determination of Medicaid status and the reporting of some information to the state.

"Our job in it is to free up other people to do their job more efficiently," Dougherty said.

In recent years, school districts, townships, and cities have faced increasing functions with nearby entities to shave costs. This year, Gov. Rick Snyder will begin offering financial bonuses to school districts and cities that adopt certain cost-saving measures, such as consolidating services.

Sheehan said he planned to share his report with other regional and local governmental entities for possible guidance in developing strategies.

"We are not 'the' model, but we are a way to do it," Lathers said.

 

National Primary Care Week: Mental Health Fact Sheet

• Without treatment, the consequences of mental illness for the individual and for society are staggering: unnecessary disability, unemployment, substance abuse, homelessness, inappropriate incarceration, and suicide. In the US, the economic cost of untreated mental illness is more than 100 billion dollars each year.1
• The primary care setting provides the initial, and often only, opportunity for access to mental health services, with more than 40% of patients with mental health problems initially seeking care in primary care settings.2
• The World Health Organization has reported that four out of the ten leading causes of disability in developed countries are mental disorders.1
• Mental illness is the leading cause of disability in the US for ages 15-44.  By 2020, Major Depressive Illness is expected to be the leading cause of disability in the world for women and children.2
• An estimated 26.2%of Americans ages 18 and older — 57.7 million Americans — suffer from a diagnosable mental disorder in a given year.  More than 14 million US children and adolescents or 1 in 5, have a diagnosable mental health disorder.3,4
• Adults with serious mental illnesses, such as schizophrenia, bipolar or Major Depression, represent 6% of the US population and die an average of 25 years younger than counterparts, largely due to treatable medical conditions.5
• Suicide is the 11th leading cause of death in the US and the 3rd leading cause of death amongst those 10-24 years old.  On average, 45% of suicide victims had contact with primary care providers within 1 month of suicide, and 75% of suicide victims had contact with primary care providers within the preceding year.6, 7
• Preliminary data shows that Screening, Brief Intervention and Referral to Treatment (SBIRT) in the primary care or emergency setting can reduce high-risk drug and alcohol use by up to 74%.8
• People with mental illness are five times more likely to have a co-occurring medical condition than the general population.9
• Research has confirmed that the provision of frontline mental health services in prima­ry care settings, when appropriate, has posi­tive impacts, including the improvement of patient, practitioner, and provider satisfac­tion; overall health care cost efficiency, including primary and specialty costs for physical health care; improved clinical and functional patient outcomes; and enhanced adherence to treatment of mental health disorders.10

____________________________________________________________________________
1.  National Alliance for Mental Illness. www.nami.org. Retrieved September 16, 2008.
2. Chapa, T. (2004, September). Mental health services in primary care settings for racial and ethnic   minority populations. Draft issue brief. Rockville, MD: Office of Minority Health
3. Kessler RC, Chiu WT, Demler O, Walters EE. Prevalence, severity, and comorbidity of twelve-month DSM-IV disorders in the National Comorbidity Survey Replication (NCS-R). Archives of General Psychiatry, 2005 Jun;62(6):617-27.
4. US Department of Health and Human Services (USDHHS). Mental Health: A Report of the Surgeon General. Washington, DC: US Government Printing Office; 2000. Available online at http://www.surgeongeneral.gov/library/mentalhealth/home.html
5. Colton C.W. and Manderscheid, R.W., Congruencies in increased mortality rates, years of potential life lost, and causes of death among public mental health clients in eight states. Preventing Chronic Disease, April 2006; Manderscheid, R.W., Saving lives and restoring hope. Behavioral Healthcare, Sept 2006.
6. Suicide in the US: Statistics and Prevention, National Institute of Mental Health. Retrieved on March 6, 2007 from http://www.nimh.nih.gov/publicat/harmsway.cfm.
7. Contact With Mental Health and Primary Care Providers Before Suicide: A Review of the Evidence, Jason B. Luoma, M.A., Catherine E. Martin, M.A., and Jane L. Pearson, Ph.D. Am J Psychiatry 159:909-916, June 2002
8. http://www.samhsa.gov/SAMHSA_News/VolumeXIV_1/index2.htm. Retrieved 9/18/2008
9. Mental Health: A Report of the Surgeon General, 1999
10.  Danna Mauch, Cori Kautz, and Shelagh Smith. Reimbursement of Mental Health Services in Primary Care Settings, February 2008. U.S Department of Health and Human Services. www.samhsa.gov