DMH Connections

A publication of the Massachusetts Department of Mental Health

June 2011
 

2011 Photo Collage

In This Issue

DMH Social Worker Nominated for Mount Wachussett Community College Women's History Celebration
NAMI Walk 2011 Draws 1,600 Walkers
Conferences and Events
DMH Historic Retrospective on Display at Alternatives' Heritage Gallery
Another Roaring Success for the DMH Express Yourself Kids!
Two DMH programs selected for Harvard Kennedy School's Top 25 Innovations Award
Hope Center RLC Opens at the Lindemann
Springfield Mental Health Court Presiding Judge Set to Retire
DMH's Susan Davis Among Unsung Heroines of Massachusetts 2011
New Content on the DMH Website
Photo of the Month

DMH Office of Communications and Community Engagement

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Deadlines for upcoming issues: 

    
July 15 for the August newsletter

Please send all materials to 

 Michelle Cormier Tallman

Click here for Submission Guidelines

Commonwealth Conversations

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Health and Human Services Blog 

 This new social media platform will provide news, updates and serve as a forum for open dialogue about issues related to all 16 EOHHS agencies.

 Click here to read blog posts by Secretary Bigby, Commissioner Leadholm and others

  

Department of Public Health Blog 

Click here to view the DPH blog which features expert tips on nutrition and physical activity as well as a roundup of health and wellness events 
  

DMH Social Worker Nominated for Mount Wachussett Community College Women's History Celebration

 

 

photo of Carly Sebastian, LICSWCarly E. Sebastian, LICSW, pictured here, Director of Program Management in the Northeast-Suburban Area Office in Westborough, is also a dedicated and passionate teacher of the social sciences.

 

In her role at DMH she often speaks and meets with people in the community to help them understand what is available for support for themselves and their loved ones and how to access services. She is often one of the first DMH staff that a person requesting services will speak to when they call.

 

Carly is a four-year adjunct faculty member at Mount Wachusett Community College (MWCC) and was recently nominated by the students as a part of the Mount Wachussett Community College Women's History celebration for her positive influence as a role model in supporting students in achieving their goals of education and planning for their futures.

 

Carly first began attending MWCC at 16 when dual enrollment was not yet an option. She obtained her bachelor's degree in human services at Fitchburg State University and a masters degree in social work from Salem State University. She also received her post-graduate licensure as an LICSW (licensed independent clinical social worker) and also hopes to pursue a doctoral degree.

 

Carly would like to be remembered at MWCC as a "deeply passionate person who believes in the worth and capabilities of every person."  She hopes to continue teaching, as well as working towards helping others both in the classroom and in the community at large.

 

NAMI Walk 2011 Draws 1,600 Walkers

  

A beautiful sunny day and a compassion for supporting mental health awareness drew more than 1,600 people on 136 teams to this year's NAMI Walk last month at Artesani Park in Brighton. "As you enjoy this day, as you walk for every person in the Commonwealth who has mental illness, for family members, friends, for loved ones...just know that we always walk together," Commissioner Leadholm told the crowd as they prepared to walk the route.

 

Commissioner Leadholm joined NAMI-Mass Executive Director Laurie Martinelli and former First Lady of Massachusetts Kitty Dukakis as Senator John Keenan (D-Quincy) cut the ribbon at the starting line. It was a great day for all who gathered with NAMI-Mass and the mental health community that they support. We look forward to another great walk next year!

 

Photo of Commissionr Leadholm with local lawmakers at the NAMI Walk

Commissioner Leadholm, Sen. John Keenan and his son, and Boston Mayor Thomas Menino joined more than 1,600 walkers at the NAMI Walk 2011 last month.

 

Click here to see more photos from this year's NAMI Walk

Parent/Professional Advocacy League (PAL) celebrates 20 years with new website

  

Image of various choldrenPAL recently launched a new website-same web address, new and improved features:  www.ppal.net. Some include:  

 

  • Easy navigation through pages        
  • Connections to our staff, programs, resources and media
  • Latest news on national initiatives and information for families 
  • Interactive state map with resources
  • Downloadable publications and reports

Visitors can bookmark the new PAL website to find information on anything and everything to do with children's mental health. 

Countdown to the 2011 USPRA Conference in Boston! 

 USPRA logo with US flag background and conference date 

The national United States Psychiatric Rehabilitation Association (USPRA) 36th annual conference will be returning to Boston!


This year's theme, "It Began With a Vision: A New World of Possibilities," honors the spirit of Boston, which is recognized as the place where the vision of psychiatric rehabilitation came to life. 
 

June 13 to 16

Sheraton Boston Hotel

39 Dalton Street

Boston, MA 02199

(617) 236-2000

   

 For more information

 visit www.uspra.org  and click on the American flag logo on the right side or contact

Mary C. Gregorio at [email protected] 

or at 617-788-1002.

 

 

Conferences and Events 

June 8, 2011

 11th annual Youth at Risk conference
8 a.m. to 3:15 p.m.
Endicott College, Beverly;

Keynote speakerDr. Edward Hallowell, Director of The Hallowell Center in Sudbury and author of 18 books including "Crazy Busy," "Driven to Distraction" and "Superparenting for ADD."

Twenty-two workshops offered in two breakout sessions. Topics include: Trauma Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Asperger's Syndrome-A View from Within, Self-Injury in Youth-Understanding and Intervening and more.

Registration fee $85 includes continental breakfast and lunch. See complete schedule and register,
www.eccf.org/youthatrisk 

 

 

June 8, 2011   

THE AGING WITH DIGNITY CONFERENCE: Preventing and Responding to Substance Use Problems Among Older People 

A conference for health and human service professional College of the Holy Cross, Worcester.

 For additional information or for accommodations, please contact AdCare Educational Institute, Inc. at 508-752-7313,

TTY: 508-754-0039,

Fax: 508-752-8111, or

e-mail: [email protected].

 

June 10
PPAL 20th Anniversary Celebration and Conference

8 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Best Western, Marlborough

Educate - Celebrate - Advocate

Keynote Speakers Sandra Spencer and Judith Warner. For tickets contact 508-767-9725 or [email protected] or Click here for a registration flyer. 

 

 June 10

Effective Interventions for Explosive and Aggressive Behaviors in Youth
Robert Kinscherff, Ph.D., J.D.

 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

The DoubleTree Hotel, 5400 Computer Drive, Westborough; Lunch is on your own;  Youth  who present with explosive  and aggressive behaviors  present many difficult challenges. In this training, these target behaviors will be discussed from a developmental perspective.  This workshop will use a case vignette. The cost is $109 and CEUs are offered. Click here to register.

 

June 18

MGH Department of Psychiatry's program Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM) for Psychiatric Disorders

10 a.m. to 3:15 p.m, with check-in from 9:15 to 10 a.m.

Massachusetts General Hospital

The Starr Center Auditorium 

Charles River Plaza, 185 Cambridge Street, 2nd floor

Boston, MA

Complementary coffee, tea and lunch will be served.

This free educational program is designed exclusively for individuals diagnosed with a psychiatric disorder, as well as their families and friends. Free and open to the public.  Seating is limited and pre-registration is required. To register or learn more about the program, visit

www.moodandanxiety.org

or call 617-724-8318.

 

 June 22
NAMI GB CAN Summer Fun Night on Revere Beach!

2 to sunset. Meet at Kelly's Roast Beef. Enjoy a lobster roll, fried clams or a hot dog by the beach with activities to follow. Kelly's is easily accessible by taking the MBTA blue line to Wonderland Station and connecting to the 116 (Wonderland-Maverick) bus. As a community sponsor, Kelly's will be donating a portion of the June 22 meal proceeds from 4 to 9 p.m. to NAMI GB CAN. contact Beth at [email protected] or 978-973-8294 for more information and proceed coupons to present when you order. Click here for an event flyer.
 

 

MA Department of Public Health Suicide Prevention Program

2011 Trainings  

 The Massachusetts Department of Public Health, Suicide Prevention Program Workshop Calendar is now available. We will be adding more workshops throughout the year. When registering for a workshop, please note that each event has tabs titled with information regarding the workshop. Space is limited for each workshop and fills up quickly, so register before the deadline. Click here to view the current Suicide Prevention Training Calendar.

    

Please send your event information to

Michelle Cormier Tallman

by the submission date for publication in DMH Connections 

 

Articles of Interest

DMH Cares - Think before you print logo
We will be posting DMH Connections on DMH's internet and staff intranet sites
DMH Historic Retrospective on Display

at Alternatives' Heritage Gallery
Exhibit part of Mental Health Month observances


DMH and provider partner Alternatives Inc. last month hosted the opening reception for "Remembering the Past, Forging a New Future: A Historic Retrospective of Worcester State Hospital." The exhibit will be on display at Alternatives Heritage Gallery in Whitinsville through July 29.

 

Photo of Dennis Rice, Commissioner Leadholm and Ted Kirousis

Central-West Area Director Theodore Kirousis, Commissioner Leadholm, and Alternatives Executive Director Dennis Rice attend the Opening Reception of the exhibit.

 

"This is a remarkable exhibit and I encourage everyone who can to view the fascinating documents and artifacts curated for this show," said Commissioner Leadholm. "We thank Dennis Rice and Alternatives for collaborating with us to remind the public of the important historical context of Worcester State Hospital. Treatment of mental illness has evolved on many levels and, with the new DMH hospital nearing completion, we will see a new future for treatment and recovery."   

 

 

Construction of the new Department of Mental Health (DMH) hospital in Worcester is on schedule to open next year. While the new facility has great significance for the future of mental health treatment in the Commonwealth, the grounds and building of the previous Worcester State Hospital (WSH) are rich with history of the Department and reflect how psychiatric care in Massachusetts has evolved over the centuries. Many people may not know that Worcester State Hospital, built in 1833, was the country's first public psychiatric hospital and served as the model many states soon followed.   

 

Photo from the opening reception of the Historic exhibit

Visitors gather at the opening reception to view the DMH historic retrospective on display.

When plans for the new hospital were finalized several years ago, a group of hospital and DMH staff, consumers, hospital board members and other stakeholders who are passionate about history and the historic nature of Massachusetts hospitals got together and began the work of collecting, archiving and cataloguing the innumerable historic artifacts of WSH and the Department's other campuses. The group, now the DMH Historic Committee, is also developing plans for many of these artifacts and the story they tell to be on display in the new hospital when it opens next year.  

 

Dennis Rice, executive director of Alternatives, proposed the idea to mount an historic exhibit of Worcester State Hospital at Alternatives' Aldrich Heritage Gallery in Whitinsville. Our group of dedicated DMH history sleuths has uncovered some fascinating artifacts, photos and documents in their travels through our buildings, many of which are now catalogued and safely stored and some of which are part of the retrospective. Alternatives Heritage Gallery, located at 50 Douglas Road in Whitinsville, is open weekdays from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

 

 

 

this hand-painted scrapbook dating back to 1933.

Among the many books, photos and documents was this hand-painted scrapbook containing memories of the hospital's occupational therapy department, dating back to 1933.

 

 

 

 

original watercolor shows "hospital on a hill"

 

One of the many pieces of art on displayl is this original watercolor of Worcester State Hospital painted by a patient sometime between 1870 and 1890 that speaks to why WSH was often called "the hospital on the hill."    

 

 

 

Express Yourself - Here & Now logoAnother Roaring Success for the DMH Express Yourself Kids!   

Express Yourself kids wave flags high for the big finale!

 

What do you get when you blend more than 150 talented youth, extraordinary artists, and 2,500 enthusiastic families, friends and supporters in attendance at the Wang Theatre on May 19th?  You get EXPRESS YOURSELF: HERE & NOW!  This year's 16th annual culminating event typified why Express Yourself is "The jewel of the DMH crown," according to one grateful parent who watched her teenage daughter bloom on stage. 

 

"After more than 15 years and 2,500 children participating in this incredible experience it never gets old, it's always inspirational and it continually affirms what we already know: our kids are fantastic," said Commissioner Leadholm as she welcomed the crowd to the Wang for the performance.

 

Solstice youth opened the performance with a meditative piece inspired by their visit to the Peabody Essex Museum's Forbidden City exhibit which focuses on the Chinese palace built for peace and meditation. With new Express Yourself collaborators such as The House of the Seven Gables and performing artists including the Ricardo Monzon Latin Ensemble, "HERE & NOW" was high-energy and pure fun. 


Express Yourself kids dance with two foot hand painted arrowsThe performance included the exceptional hip hop talents of DMH youth performing with James Runner and the ITM Step Team as well as an amazing singing flash mob led by the Boston Children's Chorus which had the entire house on its feet. Cohannet Academy led the audience in a full participation dance called Throw Your Hands Up while the smallest Express Yourself kids danced with two-foot arrows they created especially for their performance piece, pictured here.

 

Each year, Express Yourself Co-directors Paula Conrad and Stan Strickland wonder "what will we do next year?" That question and challenge is one they meet and surpass every year. Thank you to the 150 DMH stars from IRTPs, residential programs and community services who make us all proud that "HERE & NOW" is where we are glad to be!

 

Click here to see more photos from the Express Yourself performance.

Two DMH programs selected for Harvard Kennedy School's Top 25 Innovations Award

 

Two DMH programs were among the Top 25 selected by the Ash Center for Democratic Governance and Innovation at Harvard University's John F. Kennedy School of Government as part of the school's "Innovations in American Government" program. The Top 25 represent the nation's leaders in creative problem-solving at the local, state and federal levels and were chosen from a pool of more than 500 government applicants. The Ash Center will select five finalists and one winner of the Innovations in American Government Award this fall.

 

The Massachusetts Child Psychiatry Access Project (MCPAP) and the DMH Restraint/Seclusion Prevention Initiative were the DMH winners.  MCPAP is a system of regional children's mental health consultation teams designed to help primary care providers meet the needs of children with behavioral problems. The program is funded by DMH and managed by the Massachusetts Behavioral Health Partnership. The DMH Restraint/Seclusion Prevention Initiative, launched in 2001, is a quality improvement effort to transform care settings and promote recovery through the prevention and reduction of restraint and seclusion in programs and facilities.

 

"We are delighted that two extraordinary DMH programs were recognized by Harvard's Kennedy School," said Commissioner Leadholm. "Both programs demonstrate tremendous leadership, creativity and innovation in serving adults, youth and families who experience serious mental illnesses. I am very proud of the Department staff who lead these efforts and our partners and collaborators who extend this extraordinary work into our communities."

 

Since its inception, more than 400 government innovations across all jurisdiction levels have been recognized in Harvard's Kennedy School competition and have collectively received more than $20 million in grants to support dissemination efforts. Such models of good governance also inform research and academic study around key policy areas both at the Harvard Kennedy School and academic institutions worldwide. Past Innovations winners have served as the basis of case studies taught in more than 450 Harvard courses and over 2,250 courses worldwide. For more information on the Top 25 Innovations in Government click here.

Hope Center RLC Opens at the Lindemann  

 

DMH's Lindemann Mental Health Center recently became home to the new Hope Center Recovery Learning Center, the fourth location opened by the Metro Boston Recovery Learning Community.  The Hope Center is open to all people who identify as being in recovery from mental health and addictions (peers). The center is completely staffed by peers.

 

A well-attended ribbon cutting and open house kicked off the opening of Hope Center in April. An afternoon filled with visual art on display and performances was held in the Lindemann Center's Boston Room and included tours of the Hope Center. Performing for visitors were Tunefoolery, Wally's Bands and the Center Club Coffee House. Local artists and vendors exhibited and sold their paintings, handmade jewelry, scarves and photographs while Empire Beauty Salon provided makeovers. The festival was a wonderful opportunity for all to showcase their talents to the Metro Boston community and DMH staff.

 

The Hope Center is located in Room P-9, Plaza Level, of the Erich Lindemann Community Mental Health Center at 25 Staniford St. in Boston. Initially, Hope Center will be open Tuesdays from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., Wednesdays from 1 to 5 p.m. and Thursdays from 2 to 6 p.m.  Peers from the NAMI Greater Boston Consumer Advocacy Network (NAMI GBCAN), North Suffolk, Vinfen, Bay Cove and the community will all help staff the center.  
 

For more information, visit the Hope RLC website at www.hoperlc.org, call 617-626-8687 or email [email protected].  Information is listed on the Metro Boston Recovery Learning Community website. Executive Director Howard Trachtman can be reached at 617 626 8694.

 

As with other RLCs, Hope Center's activities and programs are directed by the people who come to the center. Initial groups planned are general support groups, a Spanish language support group, gym access and exercise, newcomers orientation, an employment group, Wellness Recovery Action Plan, financial literacy, pathways to recovery, stress management, one-on-one computer instruction, homeless/at risk of homelessness support and housing search, interaction with therapy dogs and more. Call or email the contact information in this article for actual times of groups and activities.

 

The Metro Boston Recovery Learning Community also operates three other recovery learning centers:

  • Boston Resource Center, 85 East Newton Street, Solomon Carter Fuller Building, Ground Floor. Contact Director Paul Styczko at 617-305-9991 or [email protected].
     
  • PERC, Peer Education Resource Center, 129 Portland Street, 3rd floor, Boston. Contact Sarah Selkovits at 617-788-1034 [email protected]  or [email protected].
     
  • Cambridge/Somerville Recovery Learning Center, 153 South Street, 2nd floor, Somerville. Contact Janel Tan at 617-863-5388 or [email protected].

The Metro Boston RLC also operates a warmline, a peer-staffed compassionate listening and information and referral line toll-free 877-733-7563 six nights a week Tuesday through Sunday from 4 to 8 p.m. Spanish speaking operators are available on Sundays and Tuesdays.

 

Visit the DMH Connections Photo Gallery to view photos from The Mind's Expression Festival and the new Hope Center ribbon cutting ceremony. Stay tuned to DMH Connections for more information about the Hope Center RLC.

 

Photos of paintings by Lynda Cutrell

Lynda Cutrell, vice president of the Board of Directors of the National Alliance on Mental Illness, generously donated one of her paintings and exhibited some of her artwork that was recently on display at the Museum of Fine Arts. Pictured: "Grapevine II," oil on canvas and "The Day of the Break," photograph.

 

Springfield Mental Health Court 

Presiding Judge Set to Retire


The Honorable Judge Nancy Dusek-Gomez, the presiding justice over Springfield District Court's Mental Health Court session, is retiring after more than 25 years on the bench. She was instrumental through her advocacy and efforts to establish the first mental health court session in a district court in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Judge Dusek-Gomez believed that some individuals with mental health problems needed treatment and help, not jail. This mental health court session is a post-adjudication model, where individuals elect to receive treatment and community probation instead of jail time.

 

"In her support for this model that promotes treatment rather than jail time, Judge Dusek-Gomez was visionary in her contributions, passion and abilities on behalf of individuals with mental illness who are involved in the court," said Debra Pinals, M.D., DMH Assistant Commissioner for Forensic Services.

 

A celebration was held last month at Springfield's Hall of Justice to honor Judge Dusek-Gomes. The Honorable Chief Justice Lynda Connolly spoke about her being a "trailblazer" and expressed her strong support for the mental health court session there, and how she sees a need for more specialty courts. Hampden County Sheriff Michael Ashe and Dr. Pinals, were also on hand to honor Judge Dusek-Gomez.

 

The Mental Health Court session is now named the Recovery With Justice program, and has been funded through a Blue Cross/Blue Shield Foundation grant awarded in 2008 to Behavioral Health Network, Inc. This grant has helped to hire an individual at court to help link individuals to treatment and benefits and be a liaison for services that the person needs. DMH has played an active role in the establishment of this mental health court session, including participating on the Advisory Council. The Hampden County Sheriff's Department, Center for Public Counseling Services, bar advocates, the District Attorney's office and Probation Department all have been significantly involved in supporting the development and work of the Recovery With Justice/Mental Health Court session in Springfield. The mental health court session began there in September 2009. In less than a year and a half, there have been over 30 participants and 16 graduates of the program.

DMH's Susan Davis Among Unsung Heroines of Massachusetts 2011


After learning about the Unsung Heroines of Massachusetts Award, Taunton State Hospital Chief Operating Officer Roberta Guez immediately thought of one of the Taunton staff, Nurse Executive Susan Davis. "With pleasure and enthusiasm, I wrote the nomination," said Roberta. "Susan Davis is the perfect candidate to be considered because of her dedication to working with underserved client populations in her professional life and her passion and dedication to helping animals in her personal life."

 

Susan is among the 100 women chosen by the Massachusetts Commission on the Status of Women to be on its list of 100 unsung heroines of 2011. The program recognizes women who often go unnoticed, but use their time, talent and enthusiasm to enrich the lives of others.  Susan and her fellow unsung heroines were honored at a ceremony last month at the State House.

 

"In her short 18 months at Taunton State Hospital, Susan has made a significant impact on the quality of patient care," Roberta said. "Susan proposed and actively advocated for a new nursing leadership model that emphasized improved communication and collaboration among the clinical staff.  By mentoring and supporting the new nurse leaders, Susan was able to enhance the skill set and critical thinking potential of all nursing staff."

 

Susan's work in the community was also highlighted in her nomination. Because of her work with Boston HealthCare for the Homeless and a home health agency that specializes in the care of psychiatric clients living in the community, she brings an invaluable perspective as patients move from hospital to community.

 

In her personal life, her passion for and work with animals makes her a unique "heroine."  More than just a passive involvement with shelters and agencies that protect animals, Susan devotes much of her free time to rescuing animals and locating safe homes and shelter for them, working with Promising Hope in Middleboro, Blue Dog Shelter in Brockton, Winslow Farm Sanctuary in Norton, and the East Coast Italian Greyhound Rescue. Last November found her organizing a "mission" to save a group of domesticated ducks at risk for perishing in the oncoming winter.  Susan located a shelter to take them in, an organization that would capture them, another group that provided trucks for transport and even a few hearty volunteers who distracted the bull who stood guard in the field adjacent to the pond where the ducks lived.  The ducks are now safely ensconced and thriving. 

 

"What more can anyone say about this very special and endearing woman," Roberta wrote in her nomination of Susan. "Her selfless acts benefit the patients, the hospital community and an extensive range of animals in the Southeast area."

 

Photo of Roberta Guez, Susan Davis and Shaunna O'Connel

Taunton State Hospital COO Roberta Guez, Susan Davis and State Representative Shaunna O'Connell (R-Taunton) on the Grand Staircase at the Statehouse following the award ceremony.

New content on the DMH Website:
Log on and check it out! 

 

DMH Connections works to keep you up to date on changes and additions to our online presence so that you can stay connected and supported in your work. We strive to stay on top of website and intranet updates. If you have any site or contact changes at your facility or in your division, or if you spot any inaccuracies, please send them to Anna Chinappi.
 
Below are a list and links of the most recent changes and updates: 
  
On the DMH Internet 
    
In the top left column under What We Do>Accessing Mental Health Services>
- Providers and Applicants can now locate thier city or town in the list that appears on the application and send their application to the respective DMH Office. The Spanish versions will be updated soon.

 
On the DMH Staff Intranet:
  
In the left middle column under Contact Information: DMH Divisions and Departments continue to be updated to reflect the DMH Redesign progress.
  
In the bottom right column under DMH Forms>Service Applications: The Adult Application for DMH Mental Helath Services and Child/Adolescent Application for Mental Health Services have been updated also.
Photo of the Month 

 

 Entrance of the New Hospital
 Making progress: This month we feature a photo of the main administration entrance to the new DMH hospital under construction in Worcester. The the front door and area around it are temporary construction materials and are not the actual entrance doors. The new hospital is scheduled to open in 2012.

 

Visit the DMH Photo Gallery,available through Shutterfly to see more photo of the new hospital construction progress.

Visitors can access photos from DMH Events anytime at www.dmhconnectionsphotogallery.shutterfly.com 

 

New to the DMH Photo Gallery:

4-5-11 Grand Opening - Hope RLC at the Lindemann 

5-6-2011 "The Mind's Expression Festival" at the Lindemann

5-19-11 Express Yourself "Here & Now" 2011

5-21-11 NAMI Walk 2011

"Our Shop" at the Fuller Mental Health Center 
 

If you have photos from a DMH event that you would like featured as photo of the month or on the site, please send them to