NOVEMBER 2019


CEO'S MESSAGE:
Our Employees are our Greatest Asset!
Our employees are our greatest asset. I say it often and with good reason. It is only with the commitment and contributions of our employees that we can provide outstanding care to our patients and give back to our community. I feel truly blessed to have such a great group of employees that are clearly passionate about their jobs and our patients!
Excellence in Patient Care and Service Awards!
Now in our 10 th year of presenting Excellence in Patient Care and Patient Service awards, this year’s recipients, Mary Cochrane and Ernesto Venegas, are shining examples of human compassion and service! 
Director of AdCare Outpatient Services in North Dartmouth for the last seven years, Mary Cochrane, LICSW is recognized by her peers and staff as going above and beyond for patients, particularly family members impacted by substance use. Under Mary’s leadership, the complimentary Family Informational Program and family treatment have grown significantly. The Women’s Early Recovery Group has increased in popularity and Cannabis Education and Healthy Relationships groups are now available.
Patient Service Award honoree, Ernesto Venegas, Housekeeping Manager, has shown day in and day out over the past 12 years that patient service is his highest priority! Ernesto has done this not only by meeting our high standards of service but often improving upon the services that Housekeeping provides.His responsiveness to the needs of patients and staff, and his clear enjoyment of his job are among Ernesto’s many positive qualities.
Employee Service Awards Celebrated with a Little Bit of Country to
Honor our 1st Anniversary as Part of the AAC TN Family!
To select only two employees for the Excellence in Patient Care and Patient Service Awards is challenging. Fortunately, AdCare Hospital also recognizes employees for their years of service. In 2019, we celebrated employee service with a little bit of country flair to honor our first anniversary as part of the AAC Tennessee family as well! 
Celebrating 45 years of service, Jack Bohigian, of Housekeeping, joined the hospital in 1975 -- the year the first alcohol and drug care unit opened! The next in line, D orothy MacAdams co mmemorated 35 years at the telephone switchboard, followed by Ken Nicolas, of Maintenance, and Joanne Nelson , LPN, of Nursing, with 30 years, and Patricia Martin , RN, with 25 years of service! Together, AdCare Hospital Service Award employees observed 550 years of employment experience!

Experience matters. For nearly 45 years, AdCare Hospital has provided New Englanders with life-changing alcohol and drug treatment. Our success is attributable largely to our greatest asset – AdCare employees!

Jeffrey Hillis , CEO
AdCare Hospital
UNDERSTANDING GRIEF
AFTER DEATH FROM SUBSTANCE USE
Some of the challenges of coping with a death from substance use are unique, emphasized Franklin Cook, MA, CPC, who presented, "Understanding Grief after Death from Substance Use" at AdCare Hospital on September 11, 2019.
 
Mr. Cook is a peer grief helper, trainer, advocate, and the director of Support After a Death by Overdose (SADOD), a project that hopes to strengthen the capacity and effectiveness of peer support in Massachusetts for people experiencing grief associated with overdose. He has also grieved the death of his father -- who struggled with alcohol use disorder -- to suicide.
 
"Any death brings with it essential tasks of grief that need to be worked through as part of the grieving process. There are, however, unique features of grief following a death from substance use, as well as specific challenges and solutions to interacting with those who are affected by a death from substance use." -- Franklin Cook, Director of SADOD
 
A variety of factors impact the grief experienced after a death from substance use, as well as our efforts to support the bereaved. It helps to understand the role of substance use in the death, as well as the bereaved's relationship with the deceased, trauma, and the impact of stigma on the grieving


THE HOPE, HEALING & RECOVERY GROUP AT
 ADCARE WORCESTER
"Open to anyone affected by grief, loss, or trauma, the Hope, Healing, and Recovery Group focuses on helping members heal from their grief, loss, and trauma, while living their lives in recovery," said Maegan Kelley, MSW, the clinician facilitating the new group at AdCare Worcester Outpatient.

Members are encouraged to write about any grief, loss and/or trauma-related struggles experienced during the week. During the group check-in, they have the opportunity to talk about their challenges and how the other members can best support them in their recovery.

"It's important for members to identify and address their grief, loss, and trauma responses, such as flashbacks associated with PTSD," said Ms. Kelley. The group covers the different types of grief, loss, and trauma such as expected vs. unexpected grief and bereavement vs. mourning, as well as their mental, physical, and spiritual effects, "We spend a lot of time talking about how members are dealing with specific grief/trauma triggers and discussing healthy ways to cope and heal ," said Ms. Kelley.

The Hope, Healing, and Recovery Group is held on Tuesdays from 10:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. at AdCare Worcester Outpatient. To learn more or enroll, please call 508-453-3053.
ADCARE APPRECIATES COUNSELORS
NEW AND RETURNING MEMBERS OF CLINICAL SERVICES!
On September 25, 2019, Susan Hillis, Vice President of Clincal Services, thanked her outstanding team of treatment professionals. "Together we are stronger," said Ms. Hillis. "Counselor Appreciation Day, which takes place during National Recovery Month, is a great opportunity for us to recommit to being a part of the solution!"
"We have a stronger team than ever," said Ms. Hillis, who acknowledged new and returning members , Kimberly Nolen-Mott, LICSW, Director of Care Coordination, and program managers. Ed Rosenthal, LMHC and Andrea Tirocchi, LMHC.
Kimberly Nolen-Mott, LICSW, Director of Care Coordination
Kimberly Nolen-Mott, LICSW has joined AdCare Hospital as Director of Care Coordination. “In this newly-created position, Ms. Nolen-Mott oversees Case Management and Placement Services and collaborates with program managers and staff to enhance our patients’ care experience, ” said Susan Hillis, Vice President of Clinical Services.

Most recently, Ms. Nolen-Mott was Program Director in Psychiatric Services at Clinton Hospital. She has also worked as Director of Psychiatric Services at UMass Memorial Health Systems in Marlborough, MA, and Director of Clinical Services at Advocates Outreach Services in Waltham, MA. 
Ed Rosenthal, LMHC, CADC-I and Andrea Tirocchi, LMHC
Program Managers
AdCare Hospital welcomes back Ed Rosenthal, MS, LMHC, LADC-I to the Clinical Services team as a program manager. "Ed has worked in AdCare's inpatient and outpatient programs and brings substantial managerial experience gained at area treatment providers," said Susan Hillis, Vice President of Clinical Services.
Previous positions include Program Manager and Clinical Supervisor at the Multicultural Wellness Center in Worcester, MA, as well as Director of Detox Services at Community Healthlink.
AdCare Hospital welcomes Andrea Tirocchi, LMHC, as program manager. “In addition to supervising patient treatment, Andrea will facilitate dual diagnosis and pain management groups, individual and family counseling, and crisis intervention services,” said Susan Hillis, Vice President of Clinical Services. Most recently a program manager at Open Sky in Worcester, MA, Ms. Tirocchi has also worked as a career integration manager and clinical therapist at The Providence Center in Providence, RI.
Andy Fahey, MSW, Placement Specialist

Andy Fahey, MSW recently transitioned from a position as Crisis Intervention Counselor (CIC) to Placement Specialist. Mr. Fahey, who recently earned a Masters in Social Work from Springfield College, is certified as a Peer and Integration Specialist, as well as a Veterans' Services Contact Officer.

CONGRATULATIONS
Fred Trapassi, CEO of AdCare Rhode Island,
Receives RI Rally 4 Recovery Lifetime Achievement Award

The Aquidneck Island Rally 4 Recovery in Middletown, RI honored Fred A. Trapassi, Jr. , CEO of AdCare Rhode Island , with a Lifetime Achievement Award September 28th during the National Recovery Month rally celebration.
“Fred was selected for his strong support of the Rhode Island Rallies 4 Recovery and his hard work fighting the disease of addiction and the stigma that surrounds it,” said Colleen Carpender, Aquidneck Rally 4 Recovery committee member.

The Rhode Island Rally 4 Recovery, which is now celebrated in Bristol, Middletown, Providence, and Warwick, is Rhode Island’s largest event organized to spread awareness and compassion for people in recovery.  “The Lifetime Rally 4 Recovery award is special because it’s given to me by my colleagues and peers.” said Mr. Trapassi. “Throughout my career, which extends back to the first rally in Cranston, RI, I’ve been excited to participate in the rallies and fortunate to have employers as sponsors.”

 Mr. Trapassi's career began over 30 years ago as a VISTA Volunteer, providing outreach to individuals living on the streets of Providence. Today, the CEO of AdCare Rhode Island, the state's most comprehensive provider of substance use treatment, he counts developing and implementing the first street outreach and mobile medical van initiative serving disenfranchised individuals throughout Rhode Island among his career highlights.
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