Category: Hamilton Center, Inc. News

Hamilton Center, Inc. (HCI) CEO, Melvin L Burks, celebrated 40 years with the organization on June 9th, 2019. On Monday June 10th, 2019 Hamilton Center leadership, staff, and a few community partners gathered with members of the Burks family to celebrate the occasion with food, fun, and stories of the past. The event was held at the Child & Adolescent Services building located at 500 8th Ave. in Terre Haute, IN.

Melvin L Burks has been a part of the Terre Haute community and HCI Family since 1979. He began his career as a front desk receptionist and has since served every department. His first promotion to Security Supervisor, in 1980, was the beginning of many years of servant leadership to the organization and the community. Over the course of the next 32 years he was promoted 9 times to various leadership positions. From facilities management to building and grounds management to director of human resources. In 2004 he was promoted to Executive Director of Administrative Services where he showcased his ability to lead, market, develop strategic plans and business, as well as create a vision for HCI’s commitment to serving communities across west central Indiana.

In 2012 Melvin Burks was appointed to CEO of HCI. In his tenure the community mental health center has added several new programs and services across it’s now 10 county service area. The Military Veterans Program serves veterans of war with counseling while connecting them with addiction services, family counseling, and case management. The New Citizens Program helps those with felonies regain their lives through re-entry and re-integration into the community by offering employment and decreasing the risk of recidivism. Most recently, WIN Recovery, the first opioid treatment program of its kind in Vigo County, opened in 2018 offering medication assisted treatment, in the form of methadone, coupled with behavioral health services. In 2019 the program will expand to serve Knox and Hendricks Counties. All of these programs, and several more, are products of Melvin L Burks’ leadership and commitment to the singular principle of “Consumers 1st”; one that every HCI employee would acknowledge as Mr. Burks’ most fundamental conviction.

Hamilton Center, Inc. staff, leadership, and the board of directors thanks Mr. Burks for 40 years of servant leadership to the organization and the community.

Hamilton Center welcomes Director of Corporate Achievement, Ebony Kay, BS, to the corporate office located at 620 8th Avenue in Terre Haute, IN.

Ms. Kay graduated from Indiana State University in 2005 with a Bachelor of Science in Public Relations and a minor in Journalism. She has significant experience in management, staff development, and customer service. Ms. Kay has also volunteered with organizations such as the Salvation Army, and Big Brother Big Sister where she supported under-served children and families.

Hamilton Center, Inc. is a regional behavioral health system in Central and West Central Indiana with corporate offices located in Terre Haute, IN. Services are provided to children, youth and adults, with specialized programs for expectant mothers, infants, and people who may be struggling with stress, life changes, or relationship issues as well as more serious problems such as depression, anxiety disorders, and serious mental illnesses.

For information on Hamilton Center Services call (800) 742-0787.

EHS Adds New Infant Safe Play Area

The Early Head Start (EHS) program at Hamilton Center, Inc. (HCI) was awarded a $5,000 grant by the Terre Haute Day Nursery Fund of the Wabash Valley Community Foundation. Grant funds were used to upgrade the EHS play area located at 500 8th Ave. in Terre Haute, IN. Upgrades included the addition of an infant friendly surface separated from the mulched area as well as an umbrella structure that will provide sun protection during outdoor activities. This project arose from an increase in infants enrolled in the EHS program with the goal of creating an environment that supports the infant’s social, emotional, and sensory development.

“The families participating in our program are not charged a fee for EHS services,” said Mandy Posey, Program Manager of Early Head Start at Hamilton Center. “Only through local partnerships such as this are we able to provide the highest quality of early childhood services to the children and their families,” she added.

EHS began in October of 1995 and is now in its 23rd year of operation serving up to 80 children through its program year, ages 0 to 2 years of age. It works closely with its sister program, Healthy Families of Hamilton Center, to serve another 100 children and their parents through parenting classes and child development services. EHS is a licensed childcare facility and offers group experiences for children and their families creating social environments that promote growth and development. Services to parents and families focus on educational support to help them better meet their child’s developmental and health needs.

Hamilton Center, Inc. is a regional behavioral health system in Central and West Central Indiana with corporate offices located in Terre Haute, Ind. Services are provided to children, youth, and adults, with specialized programs for expectant mothers, infants, and people who may be struggling with stress, life changes, or relationship issues, as well as more serious problems such as depression, anxiety disorders, and serious mental illnesses.

On Monday, May 13, several local families gathered at Hamilton Center, Inc. for an evening of fun activities focused on diversity and inclusion thanks to funds from the United Way of the Wabash Valley’s “Success by Six” program.

“The Family Book” event, which was hosted for families enrolled in Hamilton Center’s Early Head Start (EHS) program, offered artistic and sensory activities, educational information on language development and literacy, as well as a reading of “The Family Book.” The book, written by Todd Parr, depicts a variety of families of different traditions, backgrounds, and ethnicities while encouraging tolerance and acceptance. Funds for this event were provided by the “Success by Six” grant, awarded to EHS by the United Way of the Wabash Valley in late 2018.

“These events allow EHS to directly engage with consumers, creating strong positive relationships that help us to provide the highest quality of care,” said Mandy Posey, Program Director of Early Head Start. “Support from organizations like the United Way of the Wabash Valley gives these kiddos and their families a sense of community and belonging.”

Early Head Start is a grant-funded program at Hamilton Center that serves approximately 80 children, ages 0-2, each year. The program offers service plans that help children, across all demographics, develop socially, mechanically, and cognitively. EHS also offers services to parents seeking to develop parenting skills and knowledge.

Hamilton Center, Inc. is a regional behavioral health system in Central and West Central Indiana with corporate offices located in Terre Haute, Ind. Services are provided to children, youth, and adults, with specialized programs for expectant mothers, infants, and people who may be struggling with stress, life changes, or relationship issues, as well as more serious problems such as depression, anxiety disorders, and serious mental illnesses.

Hamilton Center, Inc. (HCI) held it’s 28^th Annual Sheriff Shootout on May 10^th at Rea Park in Terre Haute, IN. There were nearly 50 teams in attendance from the local and surrounding counties, seven of which were County Sheriffs’ teams, who competed for the coveted Sheriff Shootout Trophy. The top seven finishers of the community tournament were: International Union of Operating Engineers, Cobblestone Crossings, Team Ernie Goble, Team Andy Jones, JR Davis, Indiana Farm Bureau Insurance, and Old National Bank respectively. Collectively, the event raised over $35,000 that will go towards Hamilton Center’s Mentorship Program, a new addition that serves at-risk youth of the community.

Since the eye-opening release of the Indiana Youth Institute’s, State of the Child, Vigo County has learned much about the struggles that our youth and their families face relative to financial security, access to health care, as well as community support. Vigo County ranks 4^th in the state for childhood poverty, 6^th in the state for childhood food insecurity, and in 2018 had a high school graduation rate of 86%, well below the 2015 rate of 92%. Some of the young lives that are reflected in these statistics are at high risk of future incarceration, financial insecurity, and even poor health down the road.

The Mentorship Program at Hamilton Center, Inc., which already serves students at three Vigo County schools, is designed to engage, educate, and support young minds through tutoring, mentorship, and after school activities. “These funds will allow this program to grow, create opportunities for events, and increase engagement and positive relationships with at-risk youth of our community” said Tatu Brown, Program Director of the Mentorship Program at Hamilton Center. “Rallying community support is the best and most effective way we can impact these young lives that need it the most” he added.

Hamilton Center, Inc. is a regional behavioral health system in Central and West Central Indiana with corporate offices located in Terre Haute, IN. Services are provided to children, youth and adults, with specialized programs for expectant mothers, infants, and people who may be struggling with stress, life changes, or relationship issues as well as more serious problems such as depression, anxiety disorders, and serious mental illnesses.

For information on Hamilton Center Services call (800) 742-0787.

Over the past 15 years researchers have continuously observed alarming trends in children’s mental health. We now have data showing that 1 in 5 children have mental health problems. With sharp increases in reported cases of attention deficit hyper activity disorder (ADHD) and teen depression, along with a suicide rate in children 10 to 14 years old that has increased by 100%, it is time we really start addressing the mental health issues that our young people face.

While there are many factors contributing to these sharp increases, researchers have looked to the role that technology can play in negatively affecting our mental health. Studies indicate that on average children are spending seven hours a day in front of a screen. Young minds with access to unmonitored electronic devices get endless stimulation when what they actually need is social interaction – the kind that forms positive coping and resiliency skills. Now, not only are children struggling to overcome these distractions themselves, but many may have digitally distracted parents. Parents that are emotionally unavailable and unable to teach them how to deal with their feelings.

Children, as well as adults, are also experiencing a lack of sleep due to over stimulation, and their own natural physiology. All parents know that “bedtime” can be a challenging ritual to instill and now we know why. Research has shown that blue light that most screens emit awakens the brain and interrupts our circadian rhythms (sleep wake cycle). This leads to sleep deprivation and can also mimic the symptoms of attention deficit hyper activity disorder: irritability, aggressiveness, and distraction.

Further research has shown the brain has the ability to rewire itself relative to the environment that surrounds it. While it is tempting, and certainly convenient, for parents to allow constant access to technology for entertainment purposes, this practice is absolutely affecting our children’s growth and development in a way that could have detrimental long term effects. This rewiring can contribute to the challenges down the road of everyday life and maybe even success in the future.

Luckily, there is a way to improve children’s mental health, and it is very low tech. Allow them to be bored. Boredom brings to life creativity. Do not use technology as a cure for boredom whether it’s in a restaurant, a long car ride, or at the grocery store. Instead, train their brain to operate under boredom. As the weather is getting better, encourage children to spend at least one hour a day outside. Have a sleep routine by setting a “bedtime” and insisting children turn off all technology at least 1-2 hours before that bedtime.  This will take some will power and planning ahead to deal with the grumbling, but the results will be well worth it. Most importantly, instill positive life skills in children that will prove valuable as they grow. Empower them to engage with adults and address mental health issues early. Children should never be afraid to start a conversation about a specific issue they might be experiencing.

Sadness is a normal human reaction to traumatic life events that can occur in the regular course of life. When sadness hangs around longer than just a few weeks and begins to cause problems in our social or work life, it can likely be considered depression. Depression is recognized as a disorder that can present itself after the experience of a traumatic event. It is caused by a chemical imbalance in our brain that prevents us from feeling happiness and joy, which is what makes it a clinical disorder and typically one that needs clinical attention. With prevalence rates of mental illness and substance use disorders increasing, researchers have data that strongly connect it to a loss of productivity in the work force. According to a 2017 Willis Towers Watson Survey, on average 57% of employers plan to increase their focus on supporting mental and behavioral health through 2020.

On average 30% to 50% of all adults will experience a mental illness at some time in their life. Anxiety and depression are among the most common forms of mental illness in the United States. Studies show that when an employee struggles with mental illness, they are more likely to struggle with physical health problems, absenteeism, staff cohesion, and underperformance. It is estimated that on average, $1 trillion are lost each year in productivity due to mental health related problems which can be attributed to sick days, issues with concentration, and hostile work environments.

Many of us have experienced a few symptoms of depression throughout our lives due to situational circumstances. For example when a loved one passes away, it is normal to feel sad, struggle with sleep and appetite, and have problems focusing at work. This example would not necessarily meet criteria for clinical depression. The Diagnostic Statistical Manual 5 (DSM 5) identifies clinical depression as at least 5 symptoms of depression that cause problems in social, occupational, or other areas of functioning. Symptoms of depression are identified as depressed mood, lack of interest in activities or hobbies, significant weight loss or weight gain, problems with sleep, restlessness or being slowed down, having little energy, feelings of worthlessness or excessive guilt, inability to concentrate, and/or thoughts of death or suicide. If you can identify with some of these symptoms, but they do not cause issues in social or work life you may not meet criteria for clinical depression. Getting treatment is most important when depressive symptoms start to interfere with an individual’s ability to complete household chores, complete tasks at work, or if symptoms are causing problems in relationships, such as frequent arguments with a significant other or peers.

The important thing to remember is that depression is a treatable disease. Seeking out a psychologist, therapist or school counselor is one way of reaching out for assistance, while connecting with organizations that support those with mental health problems is another. Some employers offer Employee Assistance Programs (EAPs) which most commonly provide time limited therapeutic services to employees. This can be an excellent place to start when looking for services, but if your organization does not offer an EAP, you should look elsewhere for private or public health organizations that accept your insurance plan. If you live in rural Indiana, you likely struggle with limited resources. Telemed and telepsych services are becoming more popular in rural communities to help expand mental health resources. This technology is still up and coming but does allow health professionals to assess consumers from a video monitor, almost entirely removing the obstacle of geographical access in these rural communities. The bottom line is that resources are increasing and early identification of clinical depression is making recovery possible for many more people. As with any disorder increasing quality of life is the number one goal. In the case of depression, treatments will not only dramatically improve one’s experiences of happiness and joy but also increase productivity and job satisfaction even further enhancing quality of life.

We live in a stressful world. Advancements in technology and communications allow us to work from home, multitask, and ultimately burnout faster. With all these pressures on productivity, how do we know the difference between healthy stress, the kind that keeps us accountable, and the toxic stress, that burns us out, leaving us feeling fatigued? Research shows childhood experiences play a major role in how we develop our abilities to manage stress. A child that has experienced at least four toxically stressful events is 15 times more likely to attempt suicide, 3 times more likely to suffer from depression, and 4 times more likely to become an alcoholic or intravenous drug user.

Stress comes to us in three levels: positive stress, tolerable stress, and toxic stress. Positive stress is healthy. It is the internal alarm clock that gets us to get up and get tasks done. Tolerable stress is activated during significant life events, such as the loss of a loved one, a catastrophic event, or a frightening injury. If a person has supports in place to help them recover from these events, the physical and emotional effects are temporary. Toxic Stress occurs when there is a strong, frequent, or prolonged exposure to extreme stressors like emotional abuse, neglect, financial hardship, or a lack of support. This kind of stress can disrupt the development of the brain and other organ systems, increasing the risk of stress related diseases like heart disease, diabetes, substance use, and depression.

Well, what do we do about it? Identifying toxic stress at a young age is the best way to prevent stress related diseases, (don’t get the rest of this sentence and don’t end sentence in “to”) as good and bad habits grow in relation to what we are exposed to. Since behaviors are reinforced as we develop, the cells in our brain either survive or fail to thrive based on life experiences and our genetics. A brain that has learned to manage stressors is typically more capable of identifying a situation, interpreting and processing it, evaluating options, and ultimately acting. Someone that does not have healthy conflict resolution skills will likely react to a situation in one of three ways: fight, flight, or freeze, meaning they either react aggressively, withdrawal from the threat, or stall in fear or panic. These reactions occur as the brain’s alarm system is triggered. While these are natural physiological responses, they can be overcome by learning effective coping skills. Imagine it as a stoplight, where red is stop, yellow is think of options, and green is acting on the best option. Someone who has not learned how to manage stressors will only have their stoplight work on red and green, and we’ve all been in those situations where a moment of thought or reflection like would have changed the outcome of an event.

Fortunately, we can all learn to manage toxic stress. By building resiliency and learning effective coping skills children, and adults, that display toxic stress symptoms can lead productive healthy lives. We, though especially children, can learn new ways of thinking, relating, and responding, which helps to have our internal “stoplights” develop and strengthen. Building positive relationships with other healthy mindful people can show us new and productive ways to view the world, and ourselves. By engaging with young minds, we can help them build trust with others, develop connections that are necessary for a child’s healthy self-esteem, and help decrease isolation and feelings of rejection. Most importantly we can learn, and teach others, to have a positive outlook on life, be advocates for others and mental wellness, and utilize healthy coping skills and problem solving techniques in our daily lives.

Hamilton Center, Inc., a founding partner for West Central Indiana Healthy Start (WCIHS), will provide vital behavioral health and referral networks for the new initiative. Healthy Start is a federal initiative representing 100 organizations serving communities with infant mortality rates at least 1.5 times the U.S. national average, and with high rates of other negative maternal and infant outcomes. The WCIHS consortium will receive up to $1 million each year over five years and target Fountain, Parke, and Vigo counties.

“Healthy Start programs provide information, resources, and support to pregnant and parenting women and their families to ensure a healthy pregnancy and to help nurture their newborns,” said HRSA Administrator George Sigounas, MS, Ph.D.

This project will strive to address factors, such as high rates of poverty, limited access to care, and other socioeconomic factors, to ensure women have healthy pregnancies and raise healthy children.  The project is funded by a HRSA grant to Union Hospital’s Richard G. Lugar Center for Rural Health.

Hamilton Center will provide crucial behavioral health resources for WCIHS families. In addition to treatment, the organization will be a referral partner through their Healthy Families program.  WCIHS and Healthy Families will ensure area families have comprehensive wraparound resources.

“As a community, it is critical that we provide strong and ongoing support to pregnant woman, infants and new families,” said Melvin L. Burks, CEO of Hamilton Center, Inc.  A healthy start in life is vital to the physical and emotional health of children as they grow and development into adolescents and adults,” he said.

WCIHS is a consortium facilitated by the Richard G. Lugar Center for Rural Health and composed of Hamilton Center, Family Health and Help Center, St. Vincent South Clinic, Valley Professionals Community Health Center (VPCHC), Union Hospital, Union Medical Group, Chances and Services for Youth (CASY), and Wabash Valley Crisis Pregnancy Center (CPC).

The Hamilton Center, Inc. is a regional behavioral health system in Central and West Central Indiana with corporate offices located in Terre Haute, IN. It provides services and treatment to children, youth and adults, with specialized programs for expectant mothers, infants, and people with drug and alcohol problems. Funding will strengthen the health workforce to provide such services, build a more effective and efficient service-delivery system, and promote and improve health equity across participating organizations.

Learn more about WCIHS at LugarCenter.org/wcihs.