Signal is proud to announce that The Council is the provider of the month for May!

The Council is the oldest non-profit in Colorado providing substance abuse prevention and treatment services!  They have been helping people struggling with alcoholism, drug abuse and addiction since 1960! They provide mental health treatment along with substance abuse treatment. Their integrated approach increases opportunities for recovery.

They offer a broad range of programs including:

• DUI Education and Therapy
• RISE Program
• Mile High Meth Project
• Individual, group and family counseling
• Sobriety monitoring
• Gender specific groups
• Intensive outpatient
• Weekly outpatient treatment.

Something that is really unique about The Council is that they offer a different twist on treatment by providing their clients with the option of partaking in yoga, acupuncture and quilting!

Learn more about The Council, including Comitis Family Services by visiting their Provider Showcase Page at: http://www.signalbhn.org/Provider-Showcase.aspx

CONGRATS - We are so proud to have The Council in our network!

Next month, Arapahoe/Douglas Mental Health Network will hold its 11th Annual Mental Health Benefit Luncheon featuring a keynote by Tonier “Neen” Cain. Tonier is a Team Leader for the National Center of Trauma Informed Care. She is also a nationally renowned public speaker with a powerful story of her own illustrating the devastating effects of untreated trauma. Across the span of two decades in her lifetime, Tonier Cain experienced physical, sexual, and emotional abuse and neglect; homelessness; and was the victim of many crimes. As a result, she became addicted to drugs and involved in crime herself, ultimately sustaining 83 arrests and 66 convictions.

Tonier’s story sets itself apart from so many other statistics, however, when she was finally routed to a program that identified her invisible trauma as the foundation of all of her very visible behaviors. It was at this point that her transformation from victim to spokesperson for Trauma Informed Care began.

In Tonier Cain’s 2010 award winning documentary, Healing Neen, some eye-opening statistics are quoted: At the Maryland Correctional Institution for Women, for example, 80% of the population reported that they had experienced some form of trauma in their lifetime. Ninety percent of people obtaining services from the public mental health system had experienced trauma, while 85% of girls in the juvenile justice system had experienced early physical or sexual abuse. An even higher percentage of homeless women had experienced childhood trauma, with many more experiencing additional trauma while living on the streets.  Finally, the likelihood of drug abuse multiplies exponentially (up to thousands of percentage points) when a person has experienced trauma in their early life (The Adverse Child Experiences (ACE) Study, 2011; SAMHSA, 2010; Healing Neen, 2010).

While these statistics apply largely to women in the state of Maryland, research has shown that the effects are similar or worse across the nation, and do not change significantly based on gender, class, or race (ACE Study, 2011). The Trauma Informed Care movement seeks to proactively address trauma cycles at their root as opposed to reacting to some of the after effects above, and spending billions of dollars on prison systems, substance abuse programs, academic/behavioral programming for “troubled kids,”  and trauma- reactive mental health intervention services. The Trauma Informed Care initiative supports and educates all of our major institutions in implementing programming that does not re-traumatize its populations. In essence, Trauma Informed Care programs avoid methods such as coercion, level systems, punitive/authoritarian interactions between staff and those in the program, restraint and isolation in favor of collaborative, relationship-based approaches that help empower trauma survivors while acknowledging the all-encompassing effects that trauma has had on their lives.

In Tonier Cain’s case, our nation’s trauma un-informed institutions experienced at least 82 opportunities to make a positive difference in her life. We failed every time. Fortunately, on about the 83rd attempt we got it right. A Trauma Informed Care program in Maryland called Tamar’s Children finally connected with Tonier’s resilience, inner-strength and unflagging determination, and by getting to the trauma at the root of all of her behaviors, made a difference. In her own words, “Treating my trauma totally broke that intergenerational curse [referring to the proven cycle of parents who have been abused abusing their own children due to not learning any differently]” (Healing Neen, 2010). And, break that abusive cycle she did. Today, Tonier Cain is a phenomenal mother to her daughter, whom, I might add, will carry the curse of abuse no further into the future.

*The above article will be published in the ColoradoHEALTH section of www.ourcoloradonews.com

By Alyce Duckworth, LCSW
Therapist, Turning Points, Arapahoe/Douglas Mental Health Network

Signal has been a sponsor of the ADMHN Mental Health Benefit Luncheon for a very long time, and personally, in the five years I have been at Signal, I have never missed a luncheon.  Let me tell you why this particular fundraiser means so much to me.  I had a cousin who was addicted to drugs and alcohol and was diagnosed with schizophrenia later in his life.  I said that I "had" a cousin, because he died 4 years ago from his addiction.  Our family has always been very close, but growing up my cousin always seemed to separate himself from all of our activities.  He oftentimes seemed paranoid and delusional, rambling about how "they" were out to get him.  The family knew that there was something going on with him from an early age, but had no way of identifying the issues and simply didn't know what to do.  After a period of time, he became completely socially withdrawn and started living on the streets.  There were then several attempts to get him in to treatment, but he would never stay long enough to reap the benefits.  There is now a lot of guilt from our family, wishing we could have gotten him help sooner...that maybe now he would be living a successful life in recovery.

When I attend the ADMHN Mental Health Benefit luncheon, I enjoy hearing recovery success stories from people who were in similar situations as my cousin, but have turned their life around.  It is so inspiring to hear about all the great work done by professionals in our field and how much they help our community.  This year, I'm really excited to hear the keynote speaker Tonier "Neen" Cain.  She survived a childhood of abuse and neglect and eventually lived on the streets and had many run-ins with the law.  She is now thriving and helping others to see the possibilities of recovery.  Click on this link to view the trailer for "Healing Neen" on YouTube...it's a documentary of her life.  http://youtu.be/QQfWE9TD_bA

If you aren't going to the Mental Health Benefit luncheon - you should!  Click here to get the event details and register.  http://www.admhn.org/Events/UpcomingEvents/11thMentalHealthLuncheon.aspx

We are proud to announce that Arapahoe/Douglas Mental Health Network is our Provider-of-the-Month for April!

Arapahoe/Douglas Mental Health Network (ADMHN) provides professional, culturally inclusive mental health and substance abuse services in the south metro Denver area. They offer programs for adults, seniors, families, couples and children. These services include counseling, psychiatry, crisis services, case management, substance abuse treatment, victim services, an adult acute treatment unit, supported and residential housing, services to the criminal justice system, vocational and social rehabilitation, a therapeutic day treatment school and school-based services.

Each week in April, ADMHN will feature a recovery success story.  Be sure to check their Showcase page often as information is added.

Here is ADMHN's Showcase Page:  http://www.signalbhn.org/Provider-Showcase.aspx

Substance use disorders and mental illness are very real issues in our world.  But how do you know if you or a loved one has one or both of these issues?  Thanks to our friends at Denver Health Behavioral Health Services (Signal's Provider-of-the-Month) they have given us some possible warning signs of mental illness and/or substance abuse:

• Impaired short-term memory

• Fatigue, immune deficiency

• Depression or paranoia

• Aggression and irritability

• Change in health or grooming

• Drop in school performance or attendance

• Decreased interest in school, family, hobbies, friends

• Not bringing friends home

• Risky sexual behaviors

• Legal problems or items missing from home

If you would like additional information, I encourage you to call the Denver Health BHS team at 303-602-HELP or visit their website at:   http://denverhealth.org/Services/BHS.aspx

THIS JUST IN:

Denver Health Behavioral Health Services (BHS) is Signal's Provider of the Month for March.  BHS assesses, evaluates and treats patients with psychiatric and substance abuse disorders. BHS consists of the adult, adolescent hospital-based inpatient services, community detoxification, outpatient programs, psychiatric emergency services and mobile crisis services. 

BHS includes:

• 10-room psychiatric emergency service
• 16-bed adolescent inpatient
• 41-bed adult inpatient service

The outpatient services provide substance treatment to more than 800 people annually. Denver C.A.R.E.S., a 100-bed detoxification center located off campus, receives 23,000 admits per year.

To learn more about all the services offered at Denver Health BHS, check out their Provider Showcase page located at: http://www.signalbhn.org/Provider-Showcase.aspx

Stay tuned throughout March to get the latest news, stories and facts on Denver Health BHS!  Congratulations to our March Provider of the Month!

Many women feel ashamed that they can't stop smoking, drinking, smoking pot or doing other drugs when they are pregnant and already know it is dangerous to their baby.  North Range Behavioral Health (NRBH) has a program called Special Connections; it is an outpatient program for pregnant women.  They don't pass any judgements, give any lectures or scare tactics - they are simply there to help women reduce the behaviors that may be harmful to their developing babies.  Some of the services provided in the program are:

• Individual counseling
• Family meetings
• Health education
• Parenting skill development
• Help with Medicaid application

If you or someone you know is pregnant and struggling with smoking or substance use issues, please contact NRBH today to receive the tools needed to create a healthy lifestyle for Mommy and Baby.

North Range Behavioral Health

970-350-4651

Investing in Child Wellness

Fostering Families Magazine

The Early Years

The future prosperity of our society depends on its ability to foster the health and well being of all children. Young children with strong mental health are prepared and equipped to develop important skills and capacities that begin in early childhood.

Mental health is the foundation for how children socialize, learn and meet their potential. The basic structure of the human brain is constructed through a process that begins before birth and continues into adulthood. Just as a solid foundation is critical when building a house, it is also fundamental for a child. Early experiences literally shape how the brain gets built.

One way to think about mental health for children is that it is like the levelness of a piece of furniture, such as a table. The levelness can depend on a table, the floor it’s on, or both. Just as levelness allows a table to function properly, the mental health of a child enables him/her to function in many different areas. 

Young children’s mental health is different from adult mental health and the determinants are multiple. Children develop in different environments; some balanced and others unbalanced. Balanced environments include supportive relationships, and access to things like good nutrition and health care. Those young children developing in unbalanced environments, such as extreme poverty, abuse, and chronic or severe maternal depression, may experience the effects of toxic stress.

When children’s brain structure develops in an environment of toxic stress, it’s like a table on an uneven floor- resulting in lifelong difficulties in learning, memory, self-regulation, and social and emotional functioning. Tables cannot make themselves level; they need attention from experts who understand levelness as well as stability and can work on both.

Our job, as a society, is to work toward the levelness necessary by creating and sustaining environments that foster brain development, reducing exposure to toxic stress and creating buffers of support to make stress more tolerable. Many states have instituted effective policies and programs that provide young children with the attention they need from experts who understand levelness. When we collectively ensure the healthy development of the next generation, they will pay back through productivity and responsible citizenship.

Previously published in Fostering Families Magazine, by Noelle Hause, EdD, LPC.  Noelle is the Program Director for Project Launch, a prevention program that provides education, screening, and workforce development regarding infant and young child mental health.

SEE MORE INFO on Project Launch offered at NRBH's Littler Prevention Campus.

Imagine that you and your family are enjoying a pleasant day at your company’s annual picnic.  Everyone is having fun.  The adults are playing volleyball and softball.  The children are enjoying the playground equipment.  There is plenty to eat.  Suddenly, a child sprains an ankle, breaks an arm, or chokes on a bone.  Fortunately, someone has had first aid training.  The injured child receives basic medical aid, meeting their needs until professional medical care is available.

Now, imagine a friend is experiencing a different kind of distress.  She has been acting differently.  She is isolating herself from others.  She is tearful and seems unusually angry.  She isn’t eating much, but sometimes smells of alcohol.  She has made odd statements.  These behavior changes worry you – but you don’t know how or if you should help.   You need Mental Health First Aid training.

Mental Health First Aid training prepares the average person to understand and help address mental health issues.  Mental Health First Aid was developed in Australia in 2001.  Health care providers there recognized that their country’s enormous rural spaces often made it difficult to obtain professional medical care.  For people who were discouraged by depression and other behavioral  challenges, seeking help and traveling to obtain it during a crisis was often overwhelming.  Mental Health First Aid was developed to bring timely mental health care to people, regardless where they lived.  It proved so valuable that it has since spread to many countries, including the United States.

Mental Health First Aid training includes twelve hours of instruction.  Attendees learn how to recognize distress and provide assistance to a person who is experiencing depression, suicidal thoughts, anxiety, substance abuse, and other difficulties.  The training also clarifies when it would be better to contact police or other emergency personnel, rather than providing first aid alone – and how to recognize this circumstance.  

It is important to know that Mental Health First Aid does not replace care by mental health professionals, but, it does provide basic assistance until professional help can be obtained. 

Mental Health First Aid training is available to anyone, but it has proven especially useful to teachers, police officers, fire department personnel, paramedics, and others who respond to crises as a part of their work.

North Range Behavioral Health provides Mental Health First Aid training, free of charge, to individuals, agencies, organizations, and businesses within Weld County.  Training is offered throughout the year. 

Please contact Dr. Maureen Huff at 970 347-2120 for more information or to enroll in the training.

This article was written by Pamela Collins Vaughn, MA. LPC - Program Director, NRBH.  It was previously published in the Greeley Tribune.

You have probably heard of behavioral health professionals such as psychologists, therapists, professional counselors, clinical social workers, and others.   But, have you ever heard of a behavioral health peer specialist? 

Peer Specialists are people who have been in treatment for mental health issues, gotten better, and want to give back to the community.  They are carefully selected and trained to help others in the recovery process at a behavioral health treatment center or clinic.  In 2008, North Range Behavioral Health saw the benefit of Peer Specialists and added them to the staff of its adult recovery programs. Peer specialists are considered to be staff, provided with training, and are certified to provide services.  

Recent research shows that peer specialists provide significant help in achieving positive outcomes for consumers.  Peer specialists reduce the overall cost of care because they are paid less than their licensed colleagues.  Additionally, in the course of providing care, peer specialists are provided with important opportunities to use their experiences to help others and to develop skills which, in turn, strengthen their own recovery processes. 

Peer specialists have experienced mental health challenges, including history, diagnosis, substance use, and other symptoms that are similar to those of people who are in treatment programs.  Because of this, peer specialists have a unique point of view and possess the type of understanding that only comes from being a peer.  Peer specialists do not provide therapy, but they have been trained to listen empathetically and to respond in ways that support the treatment goals of their peers.

The peer specialist’s role in the professional community is to help therapists and case managers by  monitoring consumers’ progress, stability, and changes in behavior.  They are especially alert to negative or self-destructive behaviors and immediately report these to the professional therapists.  At North Range Behavioral Health, peer specialists are supervised by and responsible to the director of the adult recovery program. 

Peer specialists’ involvement in providing recovery services is a natural and proper development in the better treatment of persons who have a mental illness.

Davis Popkins has been a consumer at NRBH since 2003 and working as a peer specialist since 2008.  Davis has also served on North Range Behavioral Health’s Board of Directors since June 2007.

This article was written by Davis Popkins, Peer Specialist & Board Member, NRBH.  It was previously published in the Greeley Tribune.