2009 News Stories

March

Union Hospital Joins Hamilton Center in Project SEARCH Internship Initiative - March 25, 2009

The implementation of Project SEARCH in Terre Haute has taken a major step forward with Union Hospital joining the collaborative venture as the Business Partner. Employment Solutions—the Employment component of Spectrum Services and Hamilton Center Inc. was selected to implement one of five pilot programs in the State back in 2008 and will serve as the Supported Employment Partner.

Founded at the Cincinnati Children’s Hospital in Ohio, Project SEARCH offers young adults with significant disabilities a series of internships that provide employment and education opportunities. The program has been successfully replicated across the country and is dedicated to workforce development that benefits the individual, community and workplace.

Funded through the State’s Vocational Rehabilitation Services, Project SEARCH/Indiana is a collaborative partnership replicating the nationally recognized employment program for young people with disabilities. The project was recently introduced to the Union Hospital leadership and internship sites within the hospital are currently being determined. This exciting program will be launched in August of 2009 with a dozen young adults.

The young adults involved in the program are given support through on-the-job coaching and worksite accommodations, in order to insure a successful transition to work as well as job retention and career advancement. A typical day at Union Hospital will include classroom instruction in employability and independent living skills; participation at one or more worksite rotations; lunch with peers; and feedback from the instructors.

For more information about the program and how to get involved, please contact: Debbie Wilford, Program Manager at dwilford@hamiltoncenter.org or by phone at 812-231-8355.

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April

Hamilton Center Inc. Celebrates Mental Health Month - April 29, 2009

Hamilton Center Inc. will celebrate Mental Health Month with their second annual Mental Health Fair, Friday, May 29th from 10:00 am- 3:00 pm. The event will be held in the parking lot at Booker T. Washington Community Center located 1001 South 13th Streets. Hotdogs, chips and a drink will be available for $5, and attendees will have an opportunity to learn more about mental health treatment from Hamilton Center representatives. Come enjoy great food, music live entertainment, raffles and a rummage sale! Proceeds will go to support the Hamilton Center Partial Hospitalization programs.

Mental Health Month is an annual observance sponsored by the National Mental Health Association (NMHA) and the National Council for Community Behavioral Healthcare (NCCBH). It is designed to increase awareness about mental health and mental illness. This year’s theme is Live Your Life Well. Mental Health America wants Americans to know that there are tools that can buffer the effects of stress and help them cope better with the many challenges they face.

With increasing economic troubles piled on to the stress of work and family demands, more and more Americans are suffering. In fact, 58 percent of Americans reported struggling in their lives at the end of 2008, according to the Gallup-Healthways Well-Being Index. This represents an increase of more than 22 million Americans who reported struggling earlier in the year.

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May

Pandemic Influenza Preparedness Video -May 5, 2009

In April 2006, key health officials from area emergency management agencies, The Richard G. Lugar Center for Rural Health and Hamilton Center, Inc. had a general discussion about the possibility of Pandemic Influenza and whether or not citizens of their respective counties were prepared for it.

Hamilton Center’s Executive Director of Administrative Services, Mel Burks, shared with the group his plans to create a corporate DVD to prepare Hamilton Center staff for such an event. He asked why not do one to reach a larger audience? Based on this discussion, it was decided that the best way to reach the masses and to present the most clear, concise and consistent message would be through a well-prepared DVD for everyone to use as an educational tool.

A year later the video was complete and has been shared with county agencies, schools, etc. in ten counties. Senator Richard Lugar as well as State Health Commissioner, Judy Monroe, MD, are both highlighted in the video. Although we are now dealing with the H1N1 Influenza as opposed to the H5N1 discussed in this video, the same precautions apply.

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August

Hamilton Center, Inc. awarded CARF–CCAC accreditation - August 4, 2009

CARF announced that Hamilton Center, Inc. has been awarded a three-year term of accreditation. This is the first CARF accreditation that has been awarded to Hamilton Center, Inc. for its behavioral health services division. Prior to CARF, HCI was accredited by JCAHO. We will no longer be pursuing accreditation through JCAHO, and HCI’s next behavioral health services CARF survey will be done in approximately two years when our rehabilitation division is up for renewal. This will put all HCI service lines on the same time line.

This accreditation decision represents the highest level of accreditation that can be awarded to an organization and shows the organization’s substantial conformance to the CARF standards. An organization receiving a Three-Year Accreditation has put itself through a rigorous peer review process and has demonstrated to a team of surveyors during an on-site visit that its programs and services are of the highest quality, measurable, and accountable.

Some of the strengths that the auditors listed in their report were:

HCI is one of the oldest providers of behavioral health services in the state of Indiana and enjoys broad support throughout the communities it serves.
HCI has strong links to the community.
There is evidence of strong leadership by an executive director who is active in the industry and community activities.
HCI Is a well-organized organization with clear lines of authority.
The organization has well-developed fiscal policies, procedures, and practices that guide activity in this area and help to ensure fiscal solvency.
The organization’s facilities are well maintained and provide ample space to conduct program and administrative activities.
The organization has dedicated and enthusiastic staff members, many of whom enjoy a long tenure with the organization.
The human resource department of HCI is consistently engaging in recruitment and retention activities aimed at maintaining a high level of quality services for consumers.
The organization focuses many services on its very young population in an attempt to maintain strong families, particularly the foster program and the three-to five year old day program.

HAMILTON CENTER RECEIVED EXEMPLARY CONFORMANCE TO THE FOLLOWING THREE STANDARDS:

HCI Has a comprehensive strategic planning process that is the result of input from consumers, staff, administration and governance. This is a fluid process that is continually reviewed.
The organization is commended for its comprehensive training activities in the area of prevention and control of infections and communicable diseases.
HCI is commended for its role in the development of and participation in the Learning Panel, which is a coordinated effort of the organization and key community partners to develop and deliver pertinent training programs to persons served.

The Continuing Care Accreditation Commission (CCAC) was founded in 1985 as the nation’s only accrediting body for continuing care retirement communities and similar organizations. In January 2003, CCAC merged with the Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities (CARF), a nonprofit accreditor founded in 1966 that touches close to 6 million individuals served in a wide range of human service organizations.

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Spectrum Services hosts Second Annual “2 Wheels 4 Tomorrow” Motorcycle Show - August 7, 2009

Hamilton Center, Inc. announces their second annual bike show “2 Wheels 4 Tomorrow.” Spectrum Services, the rehabilitation division of Hamilton Center, is taking registration forms for the second annual motorcycle show to be held on Saturday, September 19 from 9:00 am to Noon at the Spectrum building located in the former Harley Davidson dealership at 1616 Wabash Avenue. The show will feature motorcycle enthusiasts from around the Wabash Valley and awards will be presented in a variety of categories.

This year the show will feature the Orange County Dixie Chopper Motorcycle which is a unique custom motorcycle that has been a hit at industry shows and at dealership open houses since it was built in May 2004. The Dixie Bike is no ordinary motorcycle, but one of an elite few built by the ingenious Teutul family of Orange County Choppers fame. It features components of the worlds’ fastest lawn mower fabricated into one of the world’s coolest motorcycles.

Since 1972, Spectrum has provided various services for adults with intellectual and other disabilities in the Wabash Valley that include day services, assessments, vocational training, employment assistance and high school transition. Profits from this event will directly support the programs offered for Spectrum consumers.

Registration may be made on line at www.hamiltoncenter.org or by calling Spectrum Services at 812-231-8355. Registration forms will also be available at most motorcycle dealers in the Wabash Valley as well as at Spectrum Services at 1616 Wabash Avenue.

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September

The Arc of Indiana’s Executive Director to deliver Keynote at Hamilton Center’s Annual Dinner on October 27, 2009 - September 17, 2009

Hamilton Center is pleased to announce that the Keynote Address for the 2009 Annual Dinner will be delivered by John Dickerson, Executive Director of The Arc of Indiana. The Arc of Indiana was established in 1956 by parents of children with intellectual and other developmental disabilities who joined together to build a better and more accepting world for their children. Spectrum Services-a division of Hamilton Center-- is the only program of its kind to be operated by an Indiana based Community Mental Health Center.

John Dickerson has served as Executive Director for The Arc of Indiana since 1983. Dickerson has also worked at The Arc of the United States in the areas of Chapter Support and Membership. He is recognized throughout Indiana and the nation as a leader in the disability community, serving as an effective voice for self-advocates, parents, volunteers and professionals.

In his years with The Arc, John has had many opportunities to serve with self-advocates, parents, volunteers, and professionals. It is their contribution that he believes has helped him with whatever accomplishments he has been able to achieve for people with disabilities and their families.

The dinner is scheduled for Tuesday, October 27. A reception will begin at 5:30 p.m. with dinner at 6:00 p.m. and program at 7:00 p.m. Reservations can be made by calling Kay Skinner at (812) 231-8317. The cost is $30 per person and $240 for a table of 8.

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December

Hamilton Center, Inc. Honored For Service To Disaster Work - December 4, 2009

On Thursday, November 19th, Hamilton Center, Inc. was honored for the "Outstanding Contributions to the Mission of the Indiana Disaster Mental Health All Hazard Committee" by the Indiana Division of Mental Health.

Drew Klatte, Assistant Deputy Director Emergency Management and Response, Indiana Division of Mental Health and Addictions, presented Hamilton Center with the award for the support of the All Hazards Committee and commitment to disaster response since 2003. Hamilton Center has been the provider agency for a number of FEMA crisis counseling programs. In addition several Hamilton Center staff played significant roles in the Hurricane Katrina response including the Indiana Task Force deployment to Biloxi, MS and the Indiana Project Aftermath for Hurricane Katrina evacuees in Indiana.

Hamilton Center served as the fiscal and organizing agent for the state’s first disaster response conference in 2006. Since then Hamilton Center has had two staff members positioned as Team Leaders in District 5 (Boone, Johnson, Hamilton, Hancock, Hendricks, Marion, Morgan & Shelby) and District 7 (Vermillion, Parke, Putnam, Vigo, Clay, Owen, Sullivan, Greene Counties). Those Team Leaders have been responsible for deploying members of their districts who have been trained in psychological first-aid to respond in natural and man-made disasters. Both District Teams responded to the summer storms of 2008 with several missions relating to tornadoes and flooding.

In addition to deployment, Hamilton Center, Inc. has a staff member who has recently become a member of the Indiana Department of Homeland Security’s Indiana Mortuary Emergency Response Team which will respond in the event of a mass fatality. Several staff have participated in mass fatalities training, while one clinical staff member has facilitated several DMHA field training exercises. Hamilton Center has also been closely involved in Task Force 7 which is the inter-agency organization supporting the needs of First Responders throughout the west central Indiana region.

Drew Klatte of DMHA said that, “Hamilton Center received the award due to the organizational commitment to serve our communities in disaster preparedness and response in order to mitigate potential effects of disaster trauma.”

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West Vigo Family & Consumer Science Class Raises Money for Hamilton Center Infant & Toddler Services - December 17, 2009

West Vigo High School Family and Consumer Science Class organized a “Buy an extra lunch period” on two different days in November at the school. West Vigo Consumer Science Teacher, Catherine Herrins’ student’s sold extra 30 minute lunch periods for $1.00 each. The purpose was to raise money for a program at Hamilton Center that this class has been collaborating with for several years. Infant and Toddler Services (ITS) is a division of Hamilton Center that provides programs for families with children up to three years of age. Their focus is to provide excellent supportive, educational and therapeutic services to enhance the lives of infants, young children, and their families.

Anita Lascelles, Director of Hamilton Center’s Infant and Toddler Services, said, “this is not the first year we have received a generous donation from our friends at West Vigo. We are most thankful to Mrs. Herrin and her students for everything they do for ITS, and we look forward to seeing their work with children and families as they enter the work force in years to come.”

Mrs. Herrin presented the check to ITS in the amount of $422. ITS will be using the money to purchase warm clothing, nutritious snacks to leave in children’s homes and developmental toys.

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