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Celebrating 9 Years
of Publication!
Thank You for your readership!
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DMH PROUDLY CELEBRATES OUR MENTAL HEALTH CENTERS!
Health centers are consumer-driven and patient-centered organizations that serve as a comprehensive and cost effective primary health care option for America’s most underserved communities. Health centers serve anyone regardless of ability to pay or insurance status. The centers increase access to health care and provide integrated care services based on the needs of the communities they serve. Some values of Health Care Centers include:
- serve as the health care home for more than 25 million patients in nearly 10,000 communities across the country
- reduce health care costs and produce savings – on average, health centers save 24% per Medicaid patient when compared to other providers
- integrate critical medical and social services such as oral health, mental health, substance abuse, case management, and translation, under one roof
READ MASSACHUSETTS HEALTH CENTER STATISTICS (National Association of Community Health Centers, March 2017)
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CENTER FOR HUMAN DEVELOPMENT EXPAND IN WESTERN MASS
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MassDevelopment has issued a $3.1 million tax-exempt bond for the Center for Human Development Inc. (CHD), a Springfield nonprofit that offers community-based social services and behavioral-health programs. CHD currently holds two DMH Community Based Flexible Supports (CBFS) contracts and several children youth and family contracts. CHD will use bond proceeds to renovate and furnish a 38,000-square-foot building at 102 Main Street in Greenfield that will house offices, clinical space, and CHD’s primary medical, dental, outpatient behavioral and wellness services. Planned updates include new clinical, medical, administrative, and general purpose spaces; mechanical upgrades; new entrances, building façade enhancements, and engineering; and parking-lot resurfacing. CHD also plans to lease a portion of the building to the Community Health Center of Franklin County to provide individuals with access to primary and dental health services.
“CHD provides citizens with crucial behavioral and mental health services,” said MassDevelopment Executive Vice President of Finance Programs Laura Canter. “We are proud to support its efforts to allow more individuals the access they need to vital medical services and support programs.”
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NEW CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER ANNOUNCED FOR THE MBMHU AT THE SHATTUCK
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DMH welcomes Jackie LaChapelle as the new Chief Operating Officer (COO) for the Metro Boston Mental Health Units (MBMHU) at the Lemuel Shattuck Hospital. She began her new role on August 6, 2017.
Jackie has filled the role of Acting COO for nearly five months. She has been with the Shattuck since 2000, first as a senior social worker and moving into increasingly responsible roles as the director of utilization management, and most recently as the director of social work. These experiences gave her the perspective of delivering direct care to the individuals served at the Shattuck and then translating that knowledge into management and leadership roles. These skills will aid her in both effectively serving our clients and representing staff experience.
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INTER-SECRETARIAT EMPLOYMENT COLLABORATIVE
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The North Shore site of DMH has been making a concerted effort over the past two years to collaborate with
Massachusetts Rehabilitation Commission (MRC) to promote understanding of mental illness and to provide the people we serve with employment options. This collaboration has been manifested through regularly scheduled, formalized meetings with MRC; case management advocacy and coordination, and a series of job readiness workshops provided at the clubhouse. Having DMH and MRC co-located in this EOHHS center has been key in the development of this working relationship. The North Shore site, clubhouse, and MRC are currently in the process of developing a job readiness series focusing on Transitional Age Youth (TAY) to be given at the clubhouse this fall.
Stay tuned to learn more about this partnership. For more information contact Fred Hammdorff at (978) 741-7300.
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ELIOT CBFS OFFERS "ASK A NURSE" MONTHLY SESSIONS
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“Ask A Nurse” is a forum to provide individuals served with an opportunity to express their health concerns in a comfortable setting. For the past year an Eliot CBFS nurse has held a monthly “Ask a Nurse” session for individuals receiving Eliot CBFS services or who attend the clubhouses. The nurse answers questions, delivers education, and provides resources related to a variety of health topics that are important to the clients. The sessions are held at Elmsbrook Clubhouse located in Burlington, and currently serves approximately 20 individuals each month.
Beginning this month "Ask a Nurse" sessions will also rotate monthly at the various residential programs. The nurse will meet with 4-10 residents each month. During the 30-60 minute discussion period, anonymous questions from an "Ask a Nurse" question box" will be answered, and discussed further. The discussion will continue while they share a healthy meal of various ethnic themed foods together each month.
For more information contact: Eliot Metro Suburban CBFS Services at 781-643-9944.
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SOUTHEAST HOLDS FIRST ANNUAL ACE AWARDS
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On June 21st, over 115 staff, providers, award recipients, family and friends gathered to celebrate the ten
Academic, Civic engagement and Employment
(ACE) and
Excellence Award recipients at the first annual DMH Southeast ACE Awards held at the Conference Center at Massasoit Community College in Brockton.
Commissioner Mikula provided the opening remarks, and Robert Ortiz, Fellowship Health Resources Director of Peer Recovery Services-Northeast, delivered the keynote address emphasizing the importance of work, education, and civic engagement in supporting recovery and the significant accomplishments of those being honored.
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Pictured is Harrison Kerns, Plymouth ACE Award winner receiving his certificate from Buddy Baker-Smith, Southeast Area Director.
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KEEPING BABIES AND YOUNG CHILDREN IN MIND WEBINAR
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Often times, children served by or through home and community based behavioral health programs have younger siblings. Practitioners have an opportunity to promote optimal social emotional health in these young children, too. Infancy and early childhood is the time where we have the greatest opportunity to intervene early and prevent more serious behavioral health problems. This July the CBH Knowledge Center hosted a webinar titled, Ways to Keep Babies and Young Children in Mind: Principles and practices for behavioral health professionals working in home and community settings. More than 75 people from across the state participated in this online event.
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Dr. Elizabeth (Lizzie) McEnany, an early childhood mental health provider, consultant, trainer, and coach introduced participants to basic principles of infant and young child mental health practices. She offered examples for what practitioners should be listening for when it comes to attending to these young children and their needs. Participants also learned about resources and programs available to serve infants and young children in the Commonwealth.
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REMINDER TO COMPLETE THE ALL STAFF SAFETY SURVEY
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The safety of staff and the individuals DMH serves is a priority. In order to improve the conditions of safety at the Department, we must better understand the environment so we are enhancing our methods of collecting data – quantitative and qualitative.
It will take about 10-15 minutes to complete the staff survey.
Check your inbox for a message sent from Chief of Staff Crystal Collier.
Your responses to the survey will remain completely anonymous. Please respond by Sept. 8, 2017.
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FREE REGISTRATION TO VINFEN CONFERENCE
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Vinfen is offering DMH staff free registration to their Innovative Technology in Community Health Care Conference on September 8, 2017 at the Joseph B. Martin Conference Center at Harvard Medical School.
The conference will focus on new technologies and their impact on integrated behavioral and physical health. It will include speakers from IBM T.J. Watson, Mozzaz, and many more, and will of course be opened by Secretary Marylou Sudders.
Pending approval, we plan to offer free Continuing Education credits to CPRP’s, Psychologists, Social Workers, and LMHC’s. Guests receive complimentary lunch, and free admission to the anniversary reception following the conference.
Interested staff please email Alexandra Yellin at yellina@vinfen.org with your name and contact information to be added to the registration list.
Non-DMH staff please click the event link above to register.
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Our Active Calendar is the one stop location for upcoming events planned around the state.
TIP - click the search tab to search for events by by area, category or keyword
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Yes - more than one article
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THANK YOU! We're glad to hear that the majority of respondents like our new layout!
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