Hamilton Center, Inc. News Archives | Page 14 of 21

Hamilton Center, Inc. Announces New Clinical Supervisor

Hamilton Center, Inc. welcomes clinical supervisor Tyler Oswald, MA, LMHC, to the Indianapolis and Hendricks satellite offices.

Mr. Oswald completed a Bachelor of Arts at Indiana University in 2012 and went on to Ball State University to complete a Master of Arts in 2015. Mr. Oswald has experienced the mental health field from many perspectives. He spent time as a research assistant at the IU Family and Children Mediation Lab, where he played an integral part in participant briefing, data collection, and data analysis. While at Ball State he co-lead outreach that offered education to students on stress management and mindfulness. Mr. Oswald has significant experience in group therapy leading sessions on mind body medicine, understanding self and others, and grief and loss. Mr. Oswald’s clinical experiences with mental illnesses include schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, as well as substance abuse and will focus on those struggling with trauma, psychosis, and anxiety.

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, Inc. Announces New Therapist

Hamilton Center, Inc. welcomes therapist Zachary Litherland, LSW, to the Hendricks County satellite office located at 900 Southfield Dr., Plainfield, IN 46168.

Mr. Litherland completed a Bachelor of Science in Psychology, in 2015, and a Master of Social Work, in 2017, both from the University of Southern Indiana. As a therapist he has worked with several populations. Mr. Litherland has lead group therapy sessions on depression and anxiety, served in crisis management, as well as served adults with chronic severe mental illness. Currently he is seeking licensure to become a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW).

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

Fostering Young Minds

Hamilton Center Partners with Twin Rivers CTE to Offer Internship Opportunities

Hamilton Center, Inc. is fostering young minds interested in the mental and behavioral health sciences, with internship opportunities in Greene County. Hamilton Center’s Linton and Bloomfield satellite offices are partnering with the Twin Rivers Career & Technical Education Area (CTE) Health Sciences classroom, located at White River Valley High School (WRV), to provide hands-on experiences. The Health Science class is a two-semester course that begins with class and lab work, culminating with clinical observation experiences at various healthcare facilities. The Hamilton Center affiliation has grown from the shortage of rural mental health and addiction service providers, which has been identified by the State of Indiana. The focus is to encourage individuals to pursue a career in the mental and behavioral health sciences and inspire them to one day return to serve their hometown rural communities.

Locally, Twin Rivers CTE Health Science students are selected through an application process from area schools including White River Valley, Shakamak Junior-Senior High School, and Linton-Stockton High School. The first semester (fall) Carmen Jackson, RN, BS, leads students through classroom and lab work. They learn about confidentiality practices, laws and ethics of the health field, professionalism, as well as medical terminology and approximately 40 basic clinical skills. A portion of the second semester (spring) is conducted at nearly 24 different healthcare facilities across Greene County covering fields such as dentistry, nursing, long term care, emergency care, and now, for the first time, mental health and social work. Students rotate through the different healthcare facilities every three weeks becoming a part of the team, networking with other professionals, and observing and participating in basic practices and procedures. The goal is to help these high school juniors and seniors find an appropriate career pathway in the health science industry.

“Our clinical partnerships with various healthcare facilities in Greene County are a key component in the student’s education,” said Carmen Jackson, RN, BS. “By introducing some of our students to careers in mental health and social work, Hamilton Center is sparking their interests in career options the students may not have previously considered.” “While spending time at Hamilton Center, I learned new things about the mental health field,” added Carley Sloan, a student of the program currently interning at Hamilton Center’s Bloomfield office. “This experience was definitely an eye opener, and I’m grateful for the opportunity.”

Rural communities struggle with mental health as much as their urban counterparts, 18.9% and 17.6% respectively; however, there are distinct differences. Uniquely, rural communities lack accessibility and availability of mental health service providers and are often plagued with a taboo culture surrounding mental illness within the community. The Indiana Rural Health Association has launched several initiatives to increase rural mental health service providers across the state, as well as encouraged community mental health centers to develop the workforce through engagement with the educational system.

“Hamilton Center has had internship programs for more than 25 years and is committed to bolstering the mental health workforce in its rural communities,” said Matt Hayes, Program Manager of the Hamilton Center Linton satellite office. “By offering this unique experience in the mental and behavioral health field, it increases the likelihood of these aspiring young minds to seek employment in the field, hopefully at Hamilton Center.”

Twin Rivers Career & Technical Education Area is a career cooperative of high schools in five counties in southwest Indiana (Greene, Sullivan, Daviess, Knox, and Martin), with the goal to effectively and efficiently provide career technical education and training to high school students. Students can earn up to six college credits through Ivy Tech, while learning about various healthcare or medical careers, ethics, basic healthcare skills, medical terminology, workplace practices and teamwork. Twin Rivers follows the academic standards set for Health Sciences by the Indiana Department of Education.

Hamilton Center, Inc. is a regional behavioral health system in Central and West Central Indiana. Services are provided to adolescents and adults, with specialized programs for expectant mothers, infants, and people with drug and alcohol problems. Counseling services are provided for 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.

PODCAST: Talking With A Whisper-Episode 6

Talking With A Whisper, Episode 6; Featuring Melvin L Burks.

We want to #endthestigma surrounding mental illness but we can not do that with out your help.

If you want to help support the Talking With A Whisper podcast, and help us to #endthestigma surrounding mental illness, please share this link and encourage those around you to join in and #starttheconversation!

Thank you for your support!

Hamilton Center Inc. Announces New Clinical Supervisor

Hamilton Center, Inc. welcomes Clinical Supervisor, Richard Stuffle, LCSW, LCAC, MSW to the Putnam satellite office located at 239 Hillsdale Ave in Greencastle, IN 47872.

Stuffle graduated from Indiana State University in 1987 with a Bachelor of Science in Criminology, and later went on to Indiana University to complete a Masters of Social Work in December of 2009. He has worked as a Licensed Clinical Therapist to serve children and adults with behavioral interventions that include cognitive behavioral therapy, dialectical behavioral therapy, motivational interviewing, and solution focused therapy. Stuffle has an extensive background helping the substance abuse population and the severely mentally ill. As an Employee Assistance Program Coordinator he served employees of organizations who might be struggling with performance issues, substance misuse, or family dysfunction. His clinical interests are in substance abuse, depression, anxiety, and family issues.

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

PODCAST: Talking With A Whisper-Episode 5

Talking with a Whisper, Episode 5; Featuring Melvin L Burks.

The purpose of this podcast is to inspire our listeners to #starttheconversations about mental health and community engagement.

Together we can #endthestigma surrounding mental illness.

If you have any topics you would like for us to discuss please leave them in comments below.

Hamilton Center, Inc., a Healthy Families America Site, Accredited for Quality Service by Prevent Child Abuse America

Leading National Child Abuse Prevention Organization Accredits Healthy Families America site in Terre Haute, IN to Serve Families

Terre Haute, IN– Prevent Child Abuse America (PCA America) announced today that the Healthy Families America (HFA) affiliate, Hamilton Center, Inc., has been accredited as a provider of high quality home visiting services to families who want to improve their child’s health, nutrition and developmental outcomes.

HFA is a signature program of PCA America that has been providing home visiting services for more than 20 years. Expectant and new parents have common questions about their child’s development. HFA connects with families through community partners like hospitals and pediatricians to find the answers to their questions, meeting within the familiarity and convenience of the family’s own home. HFA is an accessible, voluntary and well received service.

“The American Dream starts with a happy, healthy childhood,” said Dan Duffy, President and CEO of PCA America. “As parents, we all have questions from time to time. Our HFA professionals offer evidence-based best practices to provide answers to questions, individualized support when needed most, and linkages to community services. As we congratulate Hamilton Center we also recognize the state and community leadership that has contributed to success in Vigo, Vermillion, Sullivan, and Greene Counties.”

The accreditation process is based upon a stringent set of 12 critical elements grounded in more than 30 years of research. The process involves an in-depth examination of the site’s operation, as well as, the quality of the visits made by HFA home visitors.

“We commend Hamilton Center, Inc. for opening itself up to such an intensive review process,” said Kathleen Strader, National Director of HFA. “We believe that all families and all communities deserve access to quality home visiting services.”

The HFA main site in Terre Haute, IN, is located at 500 8^th Ave., 47804, with satellite locations in Vermillion, Greene, and Sullivan counties.

“A new baby can be both a welcome addition and a stressful time of family transition,” said Margie Grayless, Program Manager of Healthy Families at Hamilton Center, Inc. “Healthy Families of Hamilton Center, with the support of Healthy Families America and local organizations, works with passion, dignity and respect to support and strengthen the families of our communities.”

Home visitors in each community receive extensive training in a wide range of areas that can cause stress and worry to just about every new parent: caring for a new baby, ensuring the baby is receiving the nutrition needed, promoting healthy child development and coping with a myriad of other potential stresses, such as financial, housing, partner relationship, etc., that may become heightened with an addition to the family.

Healthy Families of Hamilton Center, Inc., for the contract year of 2018, reports completing 3,172 home visits for 272 families across its four county service area. The program received 84% of its referrals from WIC and 13% from hospital sources, while making 1,147 referrals to other community agencies. 100% of enrolled families received training on safe sleeping, car seat safety, and other common safety concerns of new parents. Of the 272 families enrolled 75% were single parents and 58% were first time parents indicating the continued need for the unique education and support services Healthy Families offers.

Healthy Families America is an effective and proven evidence-based home visiting program according the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services. PCA America is proud to support HFA and to be part of a national coalition of organizations dedicated to improving the home visiting field.

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

QPR Training Offered in Sullivan County

Wabash Valley Community Foundation Awards Grant to Hamilton Center, Inc.

Hamilton Center, Inc. is proud to announce it has received a grant from the Sullivan County affiliate of the Wabash Valley Community Foundation to fund the training and certification of two instructors for QPR Training (Question, Persuade, and Refer), an emergency mental health intervention system. The grant was awarded in support of the Zero Suicide Initiative at Hamilton Center in Sullivan County.

Hamilton Center’s Sullivan County Program Manager, Matt Hayes, and Consumer Representative Specialist, Shannon Jackson, will complete the instructor’s training. Once certified both instructors will work to train at least 150 Sullivan community members. Hamilton Center is currently reaching out to local organizations, referral sources, and community leaders to connect with those interested in QPR Training. The training will be offered to any community member who might be in the position to use this system of intervention to save a life. The training lasts about 2 hours and can be completed at an organization’s site.

QPR consists of three simple steps that anyone can learn to help save a life from suicide. Like CPR, the universally recognized emergency medical intervention, QPR is an emergency mental health intervention that works to identify and interrupt a crisis with the intent of leading the person to the proper care. Working off the “Chain of Survival” model, much like CPR, the QPR system recognizes that a well-executed, strong and positive response to the early warning signs of suicide can save lives. It is important to understand most people thinking about suicide are suffering from an undiagnosed and/or untreated mental illness or substance abuse disorder for which excellent treatments exist. With early recognition of the warning signs of suicide, opening a supporting dialogue with those contemplating suicide and securing consultation from a professional may prevent the need for an emergency room visit or psychiatric hospitalization.

If you are interested in QPR training contact Matt Hayes or Shannon Jackson at 812-268-6376.

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

WESTERN INDIANA RECOVERY SERVICES ACHIEVES BEHAVIORAL HEALTH CARE

Terre Haute, IN – Western Indiana Recovery Services (WIRS), an opioid treatment program of Hamilton Center, today announced it has earned The Joint Commission’s Gold Seal of Approval^® for Behavioral Health Care Accreditation by demonstrating continuous compliance with its performance standards. The Gold Seal of Approval^®is a symbol of quality that reflects an organization’s commitment to providing safe and effective care.

Western Indiana Recovery Services underwent a rigorous onsite survey on November 15^th and 16^th of 2018. During the review, compliance with behavioral health care standards related to several areas, including care, treatment, and services; environment of care; leadership; and screening procedures for the early detection of imminent harm was evaluated. Onsite observations and interviews also were conducted.

Established in 1969, The Joint Commission’s Behavioral Health Care Accreditation Program currently accredits more than 2,250 organizations for a three-year period. Accredited organizations provide treatment and services within a variety of settings across the care continuum for individuals who have mental health, addiction, eating disorder, intellectual/developmental disability, and/or child-welfare related needs.

“Joint Commission accreditation provides behavioral health care organizations with the processes needed to improve in a variety of areas related to the care of individuals and their families,” said Julia Finken, RN, BSN, MBA, CSSBB, CPHQ, executive director, Behavioral Health Care Accreditation Program, The Joint Commission. “We commend Western Indiana Recovery Services for its efforts to elevate the standard of care it provides and to instill confidence in the community it serves.

“Western Indiana Recovery Services is pleased to receive Behavioral Health Care Accreditation from The Joint Commission, the premier health care quality improvement and accrediting body in the nation,” added Michelle Baker, PhD, Executive Director of Quality and Compliance at Hamilton Center, Inc. “Staff from across the organization continue to work together to develop and implement approaches and strategies that have the potential to improve care for those in our community.”

The Joint Commission’s behavioral health care standards are developed in consultation with health care experts and providers, quality improvement measurement experts, and individuals and their families. The standards are informed by scientific literature and expert consensus to help organizations measure, assess and improve performance.

“Western Indiana Recovery Services and Hamilton Center are committed to delivering excellence in behavioral health services,” said Melvin L Burks, CEO of Hamilton Center, Inc. “In completing this rigorous survey and accomplishing these standards of care we demonstrate the highest quality care for our consumers.”

WIRS is a certified opioid treatment program of Hamilton Center, Inc., a regional behavioral health system in Central and West Central Indiana. The program offers medication assisted treatment (MAT), group and individual therapy, and case management. Indiana Medicaid and self-pay options are available with no referral necessary. Western Indiana Recovery Services provides hope, help, and recovery for those suffering from opioid use disorder.

For information on Western Indiana Recovery Services, call (833) 232-0215 or (812) 231-8484.

Founded in 1951, The Joint Commission seeks to continuously improve health care for the public, in collaboration with other stakeholders, by evaluating health care organizations and inspiring them to excel in providing safe and effective care of the highest quality and value. The Joint Commission accredits and certifies more than 21,000 health care organizations and programs in the United States. An independent, nonprofit organization, The Joint Commission is the nation’s oldest and largest standards-setting and accrediting body in health care. Learn more about The Joint Commission at www.jointcommission.org.

Knox & Hendricks Selected for OTP’s

State Awards Licenses to Hamilton Center, Inc.

On Wednesday January 23^rd, at Hamilton Center, Inc. in Terre Haute, IN, CEO Melvin L Burks was joined by Kevin Moore, Director of the Department of Mental Health and Addictions (DMHA), to announce the State of Indiana has awarded Hamilton Center two additional licenses to open opioid treatment programs (OTP) in both Hendricks and Knox Counties. These programs are the first of their kind in their areas, and will offer medical and behavioral interventions to those with opioid use disorder (OUD). Community members and local media from Hendricks, Knox, and Vigo Counties attended the event. The new clinics will be modeled after Western Indiana Recovery Services, an opioid treatment program of Hamilton Center that opened in May of 2018, located in Vigo County.

Hamilton Center applied for both licenses in August of 2018 and was notified in November of 2018 of their selection by the state. These clinics will open on or before December 31^st of 2019 offering medication assisted treatment (MAT) in the form of methadone, group and individual therapy, and case management services. Locations have not yet been identified, however referring organizations have been contacted for feedback and recommendations. Once a site has been selected, Hamilton Center will begin the rigorous process of achieving certification through various state and federal agencies including the State of Indiana, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), and The Joint Commission (TJC).

Hamilton Center partnered with Sagamore Medical Recovery Services to open Western Indiana Recovery Services in 2018, the first OTP of its kind in Vigo County. The program delivers daily medical and behavioral interventions to those with opioid use disorder. Sagamore physicians and medical staff deliver medical services which include medication assisted treatment in the form of methadone, while Hamilton Center delivers behavioral interventions, including group and individual therapy, and case management. Medication assisted treatment is associated with a decrease in the spread of HIV/AIDS and Hepatitis C, a decrease in criminality, and an increase in employability and overall functioning.

Opioids are a class of drugs that work to block pain receptors giving the user a feeling of calmness and happiness. Use of prescribed and illegal forms of opioids can lead to opioid dependency and opioid use disorder (OUD) after just a few days of regular use. Consequently opioid overdoses are a growing trend in the United States. The National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) found that more than 130 people die every day from an opioid overdose, while the National Safety Council found opioid overdose deaths to be more common than deaths involving motor vehicles. Furthermore, the cost of prescription opioid abuse alone is over $78.5 billion in the US annually, which has led to increased health care costs across the country.

Indiana has had its own unique struggle with opioids. With roughly 1,138 opioid related overdose deaths in 2017 alone, as reported by the Indiana State Department of Health (ISDOH), Indiana Business Review reports an estimated cost of economic damages related to the opioid epidemic to be $43.3 billion dollars from 2003 through 2017.

Hamilton Center, Inc. is a regional behavioral health system in Central and West Central Indiana. Services are provided to children, adolescents and adults, with specialized programs for expectant mothers, infants, and people with drug and alcohol problems. Counseling services are provided for 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.

Sagamore Medical Recovery Services, LLC, was formed in 2016 by Christian Shaw, MD, PhD, and his partners. Dr. Shaw is a leader in the field and has worked to develop the most successful, innovative and respected methadone based opioid treatment program in New Mexico.