Hamilton Center, Inc. News Archives | Page 12 of 22

Hamilton Center Adds New Therapist to Linton Services

Hamilton Center, Inc. welcomes therapist Ashley Shook, MS, to the Linton satellite office located on Lonetree Rd. in Linton, IN.
Ms. Shook graduated with a bachelor’s degree in psychology from Drury University in Springfield, MO, and later went on to Purdue University to complete a master’s in psychology. Her experiences includes adults and children in an inpatient setting. In addition, she she has experience in trauma informed care, play therapy, and other forms of treatment for children and families. Her clinical interests include children and adolescents who have a history of trauma and play therapy for young children.
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.

Hamilton Center Welcomes Chief of Information Technology

Hamilton Center, Inc. welcomes Chief of Information Technology, Hans Eilbracht, to the corporate office located at 620 8th Ave. in Terre Haute, IN.
Mr. Eilbracht graduated from Indiana Wesleyan University with a MBA in 2007. Working in information technology for many years he has amassed significant experience in HIPAA standards, network security, and strategic planning. As project manager he successfully implemented upgrades for corporate networks, overseen software transitions, and maintenance of hardware. His role with Hamilton Center will be to oversee information technology initiatives in central and west central Indiana.
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

Hamilton Center Adds New Addictions Therapist

Hamilton Center, Inc. welcomes therapist Barbara Angus, MSW, LSW, to Addiction Services in Terre Haute, IN located at 66 Wabash Court.
Ms. Angus graduated from the University of Illinois, Champaign, Urbana, in 2018 with a Master of Social Work. Since 2012 she has served individuals struggling with addiction. In addition, she has also spent time working with individuals involved in the court system, collaborating with community agencies to reduce stigma surrounding mental illness, and working with the child and youth population. Her clinical interests are in integrated behavioral health care as it relates to addiction, trauma informed care (TIC), motivational interviewing and dialectal behavioral therapy (DBT), mindfulness and how that relates to recovery and 12 step programming.
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

Dependency & Addiction

A thin but visible line.
As a society we know that medications are a necessity. Antibiotics fight infections; specialized medicines treat unique conditions; chemotherapy medication destroys malignant cancer cells; pain medications block acute and/or chronic pain. Of this list, pain medications are unique in that they carry a level of social stigma that is uncommon when compared to medications used to treat other health issues.

The fact is pain is one of the most powerful forces in human physiology. It can lead to depression, a loss of mobility, decreased cognitive function, and in some cases, thoughts of suicide. For many, this reality leads to a dependency on pain medications, which is often the only viable solution for the “pursuit of happiness”. It can however lead to health risks and even dangerous behaviors like addiction. This evolution of dependency and addiction is preventable with open and honest communication with your prescribing doctor.

Acknowledging the difference between dependence and addiction is an important component of this communication. The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5) views substance use disorder as a spectrum disorder in which there is a thin, yet visible, line between dependency and addiction; one that is easily misplaced in the absence of mindful consumption. Someone who is dependent on pain medication may actively follow dosing prescriptions, be more likely to have a moderate or low tolerance for the drug, and even seek to lower or stop dosing all together. Someone who is addicted to pain medication will exhibit compulsory behaviors, tendencies to hide consumption behaviors, a change in personality, and an especially high tolerance for the drug coupled with a desire for a higher dose. The DSM-5 also clarifies the point that to be addicted to something you must experience dependence. Dependence is, in fact, a symptom of addiction. Conversely, dependence does not equal addiction, which is a fundamental concept easily missed in our social discussions related to drug use and abuse.

This distinction is relevant because the transformation from dependency to addiction is preventable, and, most importantly, observable. We know that medications are useful, but they can also be dangerous when consumed outside of the parameters of a prescription. Whether you are the person prescribed the highly addictive medication for your now injured leg, the unfortunate product of an accident, or you are a witness to such, it is important to note that changes in behavior may be a distinct indicator of addiction and should be investigated. While it is the responsibility of the person prescribed the medication to monitor their own consumption, it is imperative that we, as a society, are aware that the evolution from dependency to addiction is not one that happens overnight, nor is it one that knocks at the door. As keepers of ourselves, our bodies, and that of our brothers and sisters we should all keep a watchful eye, with patience and vigilance, so as to prevent the unnecessary suffering of addiction.

If you believe that you, or a loved one, have transitioned from dependence to addiction there are resources available to you. WIN Recovery, formally known as Western Indiana Recovery Services, is an opioid treatment program (OTP) in West Central Indiana. The program is the first of its kind in the area and offers medication assisted treatment, in the form of methadone, to treat the disease process of opioid use disorder by offering daily medication, group and individual counseling, and case management services. For more information about services visit www.winrecovery.org. To set up an assessment, call 1-812-231-8484 or stop by the facility at 88 Wabash Court in Terre Haute, IN. Walk-ins are welcome.

Hamilton Center, Inc. also offers behavioral health services including addictions counseling and case management. For more information on services call 1-800-742-0787 or visit www.hamiltoncenter.org.

Hamilton Center CEO, Melvin L Burks, Celebrates 40 Years of Service

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 Announces New Director of Corporate Achievement

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.

Wabash Valley Community Foundation Awards EHS $5,000 Grant

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.

Local families enjoy evening of learning and fun thanks to “Success by Six” Grant

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.

28th Annual Sheriff Shootout Raises Funds for At-risk Youth

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.

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

Technology and Children’s Mental Health

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.