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Behavioral Health Connection (The BHC) |
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MISSION
The mission of Contra Costa Behavioral Health, in partnership with consumers, families, staff, and community-based agencies, is to provide welcoming, integrated services for mental health, substance abuse, homelessness and other needs that promotes wellness, recovery, and resiliency while respecting the complexity and diversity of the people we serve. | |
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VISION
Contra Costa Behavioral Health envisions a system of care that supports independence, hope, and healthy lives by making accessible behavioral health services that are responsive, integrated, compassionate, and respectful. | |
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HEALING CUISINE
Check out a few new
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Health Services
via their social media outlets:
Click Links Below
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Contra Costa
Behavioral Health Services
ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICE
1340 Arnold Drive,
Suite 200
Martinez, CA 94553
P: (925) 957 - 5150
F: (925) 957 - 5156
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Behavioral Health Connection Newsletter
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 DIRECTOR'S REPORT
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SPRING EDITION 2013 |
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You Have to be the change that you wish to see in the world.
-Mahatma Gandhi
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Cynthia Belon, LCSW Director of Behavioral Health Services
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Greetings!
As the Director of the County's new Behavioral Health Division, I am charged with overseeing the transformation of three distinctly separate domains - Alcohol and Other Drugs, Mental Health, and the Homeless Program - into an integrated system of care that is welcoming, recovery and resiliency-oriented and able to meet the complex needs of individuals and their families.
This transformation has been met with both excitement and fear, and staff have expressed many concerns throughout the process. However, we are not alone. Integrating services to serve clients complex needs is a nationally recognized best practice. Over the years, there have been many examples in our own community of successful integrated programs in Mental Health, Alcohol and Other Drug Services, and Homeless Program, which have demonstrated the value of this integrated approach. One such example is the Behavioral Health Forensics Unit- highlighted in an article below. The decision to merge the three domains was a decision to take our many project-specific successes to a system level, universally applying universally the lessons we have learned about the long-term effectiveness of integrated, person/family-centered, strength-based, culturally-informed and trauma-informed service delivery.
To this end, transformation efforts have begun taking place on multiple levels simultaneously. We are creating a structure and process within which we can address system level policy, program standards and design, clinical practices, and workforce training and competency. Click on the link below to read on the next steps in the integration process.
These are exciting times for Behavioral Health Services in Contra Costa County. This is a very complex and challenging transformation. You should be proud of yourselves. You are working hard to make progress and I believe we are a "step-up" system with passion, commitment, and heart. Give yourselves credit for staying together at the table, even during the most difficult times, in order to identify how to work together collaboratively and respectfully in ways that honor our vision and mission, and celebrate diverse opinions, ideas, and innate strength and capacity.
I want to thank everyone for a job well done during this first phase of work. I look forward to working collaboratively with all of you this year to make continued progress toward transforming our system.
Please continue to provide feedback through the staff suggestion box:
Sincerely,
Behavioral Health Director
Contra Costa County Behavioral Health
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STEVEN GROLNIC-McCLURG JOINS CONTRA COSTA AS THE NEW MENTAL HEALTH DIRECTOR
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Steven Shares His Thoughts, Introducing Himself to Staff
 | Steven Grolnic-McClurg, LCSW
New Contra Costa Mental Health Director |
I am introducing myself a lot these days. As the new Mental Health Director, my top priority is to visit the wide variety of programs we operate. As I do so, it is wonderful to meet people and learn about our strengths and needs as a system of care. If I have not met you individually yet, I hope to do so soon. In the meantime, let me take this opportunity to introduce myself.
I am a clinician, who has worked with adults, children, and families in outpatient community mental health. Over the years, I have directed a satellite mental health clinic within primary care, a case management program for uninsured adults, a transitional residential program for young adults aging out of the foster care system, an AIDS hospice, and a recovery based comprehensive adult mental health outpatient program.
I am also a family member whose life has been deeply impacted by mental health concerns of those I love. This experience has been humbling, and I have the deepest respect for those caring for a loved one struggling with mental health illness. I personally have dealt with depression on and off throughout my life and had a short period of homelessness as a teenager. I mention these facts because I think stigma around behavioral health issues too often silences us about sharing our lived experiences.
Often, when I am meeting people, they ask me what my priorities are for the mental health system. Right now, my priority is to learn from others about our system. Therefore, please let me know what you think of our system - either in person or by email.
Contact Information for the Mental Health Director:
Steven.Grolnic-McClurg@hsd.cccounty.us
Please continue to provide feedback through the staff suggestion box: |
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CONTRA COSTA FORENSIC SERVICES
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An Evolving Integration Model
Contra Costa Behavioral Health Services has started to build collaborations with justice partners, such as Contra Costa Probation Department, to respond to the needs of individuals involved in the justice system. Men and women reentering the community are connecting to services at County-run shelters, Contra Costa County Alcohol and Other Drug programs and Contra Costa Adult Mental Health clinics. Contra Costa Forensic Services is a newly formed team of individuals that offers short-term forensic case management to coordinate services and bolster an individual's success to reestablishing him/herself into the community. The reintegration movement of the California Assembly Bill 109 (AB 109) community has built an awareness of the needs for BH services of individuals in the justice system. Lessons learned from AB 109 strategies and interventions can be rolled out to other general supervision probationers.
Forensic Services are provided through a multidisciplinary team composed of a variety of service professionals who facilitate access to a wide range of County mental health, substance abuse treatment, housing, and benefits services. The team ensures coordinated care for individuals who voluntarily agree to be assessed for co-occurring disorders and would like to engage in psychiatric case management.
The Forensic Services team includes mental health clinical specialists, a psychiatrist, psychiatric nurse, substance abuse counselor, and benefits specialist. This team works to link individuals to an array of services including but not limited to outpatient mental health services, medication management, substance abuse screening and assessment, residential and outpatient substance abuse treatment, interim housing, and crisis evaluation. Additionally, members of the team may assist in the completion and submission of applications for Social Security (SSI), Medi-Cal, and/or General Assistance.
Forensic Services hosts office hours at three regional probation offices to promote client engagement and inter-agency collaboration. Typically referrals to the Forensic team are made through Probation. An individual plan is created between the client, Deputy Probation Officer, and Forensic Services to address the clients identified behavioral health needs. The Forensic Services team will identify interventions to address psychiatric, substance abuse and criminogenic factors and establish care that promotes successful completion of the client's probation.
To read more about Contra Costa County Behavioral Health Forensic Services click here.
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TRAINING CALENDARS
CLICK ON LINKS BELOW:
County Staff
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BEHAVIORAL HEALTH SERVICES STAFF SURVEY
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A Response to the Results
Thanks to everyone who completed the Behavioral Health Services Staff Survey. Nearly 100 staff responded to the survey with excellent input on how services can be improved. Topping the list of areas for improvement was the need for a new Electronic Medical Record system so we can better facilitate coordinated care and improve our operational inefficiencies. The second most common theme was the under-staffing of clinical, clerical, and administrative staff - while we have been expanding considerably for quite some time now, staffing has not kept pace. Staff also commented on the waiting room décor and lack of space at some of the clinic sites and a desire for more flexible schedules.
The feedback from staff will be used for ongoing quality improvement efforts. Some are already in the works. We're back in contract negotiations for a new Behavioral Health system and slated to begin the project in FY 13-14 (really!). There is a work group assigned to improve clinic sites so that waiting areas are more welcoming to consumers. Increasing staffing is an ongoing issue that needs to be addressed, especially in light of expected continued expansion of eligible consumers through the Affordable Care Act.
Please continue to provide feedback through the Staff Suggestion link: https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/Staff_Comment_Box Click here for a copy of the full report.
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Napoleon Dargan Helps People See the Connection Between Creativity and Wellness
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Napoleon Dargan, M.A. and Razia Iqbal, Psy.D.
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In his third year of doctoral studies in clinical psychology at the Wright Institute and as a former health coach trainee, Napoleon Dargan bridges his academic and personal experience by using artistic expression to promote greater awareness of the benefits of art therapy. On February 21, 2013, the Jewish Family and Children's Services of the East Bay, located in Walnut Creek, hosted Dargan to train local mental health professionals on art therapy. Venet Thompson from First Hope and CCRMC, participated in the training and said she "enjoyed listening to the narrative and believes that art reinforces how one can heal the self and others through creativity and the use of art as therapy."
Dargan also facilitates "Art N' the Lobby," a program at the West County Health Center in San Pablo. While waiting to be seen by a health professional, clients are able to view artwork, identify common health concerns, and learn how to address the concerns using different artistic modalities.
While the methods he presents can be applied to any number of health challenges, Dargan focuses extensively on stress and the different ways people respond to it. He emphasizes that both providers and individuals receiving services require the same knowledge concerning effective stress management. "If you're front line staff," Dargan says, "it's like someone is sinking in quicksand, and you're the branch they're clinging to." The unrelenting aspect of certain life circumstances offers little opportunity for many people to disengage, even momentarily, from personal stress. Respecting the value of one's own narrative and using art modalities to convey that narrative can be a great help in developing healthy responses to stress. Dargan anticipates expansion of "Art N' the Lobby" to the Martinez Health Center in the coming months.
In a prior presentation entitled "To See, Hear, & Follow with Action," Dargan incorporates Elisha Goldstein's "183 Pleasurable Activities to Choose From." To view this resource click here.
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OPENING DOORS: A NEW LOOK AT MENTAL HEALTH IN CULTURAL COMMUNITIES SERIES
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Hosted by the Jewish Family and Children's Services of the East Bay (JFCS)
 JFCS of the East Bay will be hosting the following three trainings as part of their Opening Doors: A New Look at Mental Health in Cultural Communities series. Jewish Family and Children's Services of the East Bay is partially funded by Contra Costa Mental Health Services Act Prevention & Early Intervention (MHSA - PEI).
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Topic
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Date
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Time
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Learning About Newer Populations in the Community: Afghans, Iranians, and Iraqis
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Thursday, March 21
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9:30 a,m -12:00 p.m.
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Early Identification and Intervention to Prevent Psychosis
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Thursday,
April 18
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9:30 a.m -12:00 p.m.
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Access to Resources for Cultural Populations:
A panel of community agencies and providers
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Thursday,
May 16
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9:30a.m - 12:00 p.m.
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THE "ACCESS LINES" OF BEHAVIORAL HEALTH
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Alcohol and Other Drug Information Referral Line
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Gary Smith, Senior Counselor,
Contra Costa Alcohol and Other Drug Services
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Contra Costa County's Alcohol and Other Drugs Services (AODS) Information and Referral Line is a phone service provides information regarding alcohol and other drug matters and is available to individuals, family members, and legal and medical professionals. Gary Smith has worked at the Information and Referral Line for a few years and for Contra Costa Health Services for over 25 years. Smith directs callers to needed support and services throughout the County, receiving at least 18 calls a day.
Gary helps clarify many alcohol and other drug related misconceptions. For example, callers often believe an addict must "hit rock bottom" before he/she is willing to accept help. Gary informs callers that though addiction remains a "family illness," alcohol and other drug addicts can begin the healing process and obtain skills development, even if they have not entered treatment.
Over the years, Gary has received calls from former AODS clients in recovery, who have managed to achieve professional goals, are successfully employed, and now seek to help others. Smith also receives calls from children of former clients who are also alcohol or drug addicts. Individuals requesting AODS presentations for students at local colleges or professionals in hospitals also inquire at the Referral Line. We encourage Behavioral Health staff, providers, and community partners to refer clients and the public to contact:
AOD's Information and Referral Access Line 800-846-1652
For more information contact: Gary.Smith@hsd.cccounty.us
Access Line, Contra Costa Behavioral Health's Gateway to Mental Health Services
 | | Staff (front, left to right): Emily Tesolin, Minou Djavaherian, Dody Reustle, Shelley Okey, Monica Reynoso (Back, left to right): Paolo Gargantiel, Katy White, Colleen Daugherty, Karen Bell, Marcela Avila-Mendoza, Denise Lichty, Mary Nash |
What if a mother is interested in having her son evaluated for a mental health (MH) illness, or an individual is struggling with anxiety, depression or other mental health issue? These are the kind of calls the Mental Health Access Line services every day. The Mental Health Access Line is the main point of entry to Contra Costa Mental Health Plan (CCMHP) for MediCal beneficiaries, residents with MediCal/Medicare, and for those with low income who are uninsured or underinsured.
The Access Line provides screening and triage by licensed clinicians who evaluate treatment needs and ensure expedient and appropriate access to CCMHP services for children and adult consumers. The Access Line:
- Operates 24/ 7
- Receives 260 calls / day
- Receives 200 primary care requests / month
- Receives 110 requests / month from CFS Social Workers
- Has highly experienced, multi-disciplinary, multi-cultural and multi-lingual clinician staff
- Assists callers in any language through interpretive services
- Refers clients and authorizes treatment for over 350 network providers
Given the volume of calls to the MH Access Line, we urge you and your clients to call is possible during regular business hours: 8-5PM, Monday - Friday, except on County Holidays. Between the hours of 5PM - 8AM, all calls are answered by staff at the County's Psychiatric Emergency Services (PES).
Mental Health Access Line 888-678-7277
For more information contact: Shelley.Okey@hsd.cccounty.us
Shelter Access Lines
The Contra Costa Homeless Program has two access lines dedicated to supporting adults and youth. The adult shelter access line is a toll-free number (operating M-F, 8am to 4pm), dedicated to assisting adult homeless persons in need of interim housing with shelters in both Richmond and Concord.
The Homeless Youth Shelter hotline (available 34 hours a day, 7 days a week) offers youth aged 14-21 years access to the shelter and transitional and permanent supportive housing offered by Homeless Program's Youth Continuum of Services (CCYCS). Additionally, CCYCS operates a drop-in center for youth with access to meals, showers, laundry and mail service, school enrollment/GED preparation, life skills workshops, peer support groups, employment assistance, and other supportive services.
Adult Shelter Access Line 800-799-6599
Youth Shelter Access Line 800-610-9400
For housing and other resources, general information and referral to other programs contact the Contra Costa Crisis Center Referral Line (dial 211).
For more information contact: homelessprogram@hsd.cccounty.us
Please continue to provide feedback through the staff suggestion box:
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LGBTQQI2-S UPDATES
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The California Reducing Disparities Project
As part of the California Reducing Disparities Project (CRDP), the LGBTQ Strategic Planning Workgroup (SPW) has released the LGBTQ CRDP Report entitled, First Do No Harm: Reducing Disparities for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer and Questioning Populations in California.
To read this report click here.
CRDP developed other significant reports to help Counties implement strategies for serving the following populations:
- African American,
- Asian Pacific Islander,
- Latino, and
- Native American
You can view or download these reports by visiting the California Department of Public Health Office of Health Equity's website or just by clicking here.
New SAGE Site
SAGE is proud to announce the launch of the new SAGEUSA.org! SAGE's site has long been the leading online destination for older adults, aging providers, policy makers and others interested in LGBT aging issues. Now, SAGEUSA.org offers even more to our users. Among the many new and improved features on the site, you'll find:
Read more about the new site here, and give us your feedback. Happy surfing!
Please continue to provide feedback through the staff suggestion box:
For additional LGBTQI2-S information and resources visit: www.EastBayPride.com, www.cchealth.org/topics/lgbtq/newsletter
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PHOTOVOICE IN CONTRA COSTA BEHAVIORAL HEALTH
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MENTAL HEALTH PHOTOVOICE
PhotoVoice is a program that empowers people to overcome stigma through art, discussion and advocacy. PhotoVoice promotes awareness of and connection with the experiences of people facing mental illness and their families as they confront lack of acceptance by their own community and demonstrate courage and strength in regaining their place in the community.
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Laurie Schnider Uses A Compelling Image
to Tell Her Story
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The program was recently offered by the Office for Consumer Empowerment (OCE) as a ten week class with a focus on mental health stigma. During the classes, people of all ages and backgrounds got together and engaged in discussions about the stigma surrounding mental health and co-occurring conditions such as homelessness and alcohol and other drug abuse. Participants then went out into the community and took photographs that represented the stigma people with mental health challenges face and wrote narratives, to accompany them. These completed photographs and narratives like the one above, are now being displayed around the community in an effort to raise awareness and combat stigma.
SPIRIT graduates and volunteers from partnering community based organizations also collaborated on the project (Program funded through MHSA). There will be a private PhotoVoice viewing for all participants, followed by a public debut at the upcoming Social Inclusion Stigma Conference in spring 2013. PhotoVoice is funded by the California Mental Health Services Act.
To read Laurie Schnider's Photovoice Narrative in PDF click here .
For more information on mental health PhotoVoice or to display these narratives at your venue contact: Jennifer Tuipulotu (925) 957-5161 orJennifer.Tuipulotu@hsd.cccounty.us
DISCOVERING THE REALITY OF OUR COMMUNITY (DROC)
 | DROC Project
See PDF Link For More |
Discovering the Reality of Our Community (DROC) is a Bay Area Community Resources Youth Development program funded through a contract with AODS. DROC is a youth-led and youth-driven alcohol and other drugs prevention program, which follows a Public Health framework to address the factors and conditions in the environment that contribute to drug and alcohol use. The strategies and activities are not intended to change the individual, but rather, impact the environmental conditions contributing to alcohol and other drug use. To promote change, youth focus on community organizing, social change, policy and media advocacy activities. Like other AOD prevention programs, DROC projects operate within Substance Abuse and Mental Health Administration's Strategic Prevention Framework (SPF) for program implementation, thus engaging young people in capacity building and community assessments meant to further identify local conditions for underage drinking and youth access to alcohol. The Youth Development philosophy combines the strengths of researchers and residents as community experts. Because young people are considered to be the experts in their own lives, it is important to determine effective ways to engage them in substance abuse assessment and prevention initiatives. The community-based participatory action research methodology of photovoice is one way to engage youth in community assessments. "Our Voice, Our Community" was a project that used the photovoice methodology to engage John F. Kennedy high school youth in reflecting about their community strengths and concerns with regards to adolescent substance abuse. They took photographs to answer the question "What contributes to adolescents' decisions to use or not to use alcohol and other drugs?" This upcoming year, DROC programs will have groups at De Anza, John F. Kennedy, El Cerrito, and Samuel L. Gompers.
To view the DROC photovoice project, click here.
For more information contact: Fatima.MatalSol@hsd.cccounty.us
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PEOPLE WHO MAKE A DIFFERENCE AWARDS 2013
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Accepting Nominations
AODS' Advisory Board is now accepting nominations for the annual People Who Make a Difference Awards. AODS' Advisory Board wishes to acknowledge those individuals and organizations who have contributed significantly towards combating alcohol and other drugs in Contra Costa communities. Award recipients will be acknowledged by the Contra Costa Board of Supervisors on Tuesday, May 14, 2013, which will be followed by a reception.
You are encouraged to submit nominations for the following categories: 1) volunteer individual 2) volunteer group 3) non-volunteer individual 4) non-volunteer group and 5) youth leadership individual and 6) youth leadership group.
Deadline for accepting completed nomination forms is
Friday, April 5, 2013.
For an electronic copy of the nomination form, click here or copy and paste the link below into your internet browser:
http://cchealth.org/groups/alcohol_and_drugs/pdf/pwmd-nomination-form-2013.pdf
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A STIGMA CONFERENCE NEAR YOU
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Two Upcoming Stigma Conferences: Save the Date
 | | Front Panel of Peer Provider Stigma Brochure |
The Mental Health Association of San Francisco is organizing the "Tools for Change Conference: Freeing Our Communities from the Stigma of Mental Illness," taking place March 21-22, 2013 at the Westin San Francisco Airport in Millbrae. For more information, log on to: http://www.mentalhealthsf.org/stigma-conference
CCBHS Committee for Social Inclusion presents "Opening Minds to Open Doors: Promoting Social Inclusion to Reduce Stigma." This conference, scheduled for May 2013, will focus on strategies for overcoming stigma around mental health issues and co-occurring challenges such as addiction and homelessness. This conference will be funded by the California Mental Health Services Act.
Office of Consumer Empowerment developed several stigma related brochures to help educate mental health professionals, consumers and their families. Behavioral Health providers are encouraged to print copies of these brochures to make available to consumers and their family members. Direct links to each brochure are below:
Stigma Brochure - MH Providers
Stigma Brochure - Peer Provider
Stigma Brochure - Families
Stigma Brochure - Families (Spanish)
Stigma Brochure - Consumers
Stigma Brochure - Consumers (Spanish)
Stigma Brochure - Children
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On January 30, 2013 more than 120 community volunteers participated tallying Contra Costa's "unsheltered" homeless population living on the streets, or in tents, cars, encampments, and/or parks. Additionally school districts, homeless service providers, and health care providers helped to enumerate "sheltered" homeless individuals and families living in emergency shelters, jail, and hospitals with a particular focus on identifying homeless veterans and transition age youth. In order to document the extent of the honelessness, all communities receiving federal homelessness assistance funds are required to perform a homeless count.
 | | Lavonna Martin, Acting Director of Contra Costa's Homeless Program and Teresa, a "counted" woman living in an encampment |
According to Lavonna Martin, Acting Director of Homeless Programs, "documenting the extent of homelessness every two years through the point-in-time count is one critical way to help bring funding for homeless assistance into the community and allows the continuum of care to measure progress towards accomplishing the goals of Contra Costa's Ten Year Plan to End Homelessness." Results of the 2013 Homeless Count are expected to be announced by the end of March.
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BEHAVIORAL HEALTH REDUCING HEALTH DISPARITIES (RHD) COMMITTEE SEEKS INTERESTED VOLUNTEERS
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Join the Behavioral Health Reducing Health Disparities movement!!
If one or more of these statements is true about you, the RHD committee would like to invite you to join us by volunteering to serve on the committee*:
- Are you passionate about your work with the unserved, underserved and inappropriately served members of our community?
- Do you want to be part of the mental health community to address these disparities?
- Do you want to increase your indirect services productivity working on improving health outcomes for our community?
- Do you want to share your expertise in addressing these disparities?
If so attend an upcoming meeting!
Group Meetings: 3rd Tuesday of every month
Time: 9:00 a.m. - 10:30 a.m.
Location: 1340 Arnold Dr., Rm. 112,
Martinez, CA 94553 (Location subject to change)
* BH Staff, please get your supervisor's approval before joining the group. We have slots for BH staff, CBO Staff, Consumer and Family Members.
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PHILIP DORN RESPITE CENTER
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Supporting our Homeless Veterans
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Philip Dorn Respite Center
2047 Arnold Industrial Way, Suite D Concord,CA
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The Philip Dorn Respite Center (PDRC) opened in June 2010 with the purpose of providing medically fragile homeless individuals a place to recuperate from hospitalizations, surgeries, injuries, and psychiatric trauma. Over the last two and a half years, the PDRC has served over 430 homeless residents, 20 percent of which were homeless veterans.
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Respite Center Lounge Area
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Through a partnership with Contra Costa Health Care for the Homeless and the VA, PDRC has been able to provide veteran residents who were discharged from VA hospitals with a full range of services, most of which included medical stabilization, psychiatric recovery, substance abuse counseling, in addition to housing services and counseling, benefits advocacy, identification, birth certificate and legal assistance, and family reunification. Many veterans who thrive in the PDRC are later able to apply for the HUD VASH
program, a housing voucher program for veterans. Arturo Castillo, Director of the Adult Homeless Continuum of Services comments, "We hope to continue these services and increase our capacity to serve homeless veterans, by improving their health and eliminating the biggest barriers to ending their homelessness." For veterans who have families, further support is available through our Services and Support for Veterans and Families (SSVF) program.
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READ THE NEW PEER PERSPECTIVES NEWSLETTER
 Contra Costa Behavioral Health's Office for Consumer Empowerment (OCE) is proud to present the first issue of Peer Perspectives, a new quarterly newsletter focusing on wellness and recovery. Our newsletter is written by peers, people who have lived behavioral health experience including those overcoming mental illness, co-occurring
disorders and homelessness.
The next Peer Perspectives PDF link will be available in the Summer edition of the BHC and will be produced on the same cycle as the BHC. |
THE BHC BECOMES A SEASONAL EDITION NEWSLETTER
Haven't seen the BHC in a while? That is because we changed our schedule. The BHC newsletter will launch seasonal editions beginning
with the current Spring Edition 2013. Look for the BHC to hit your email inbox on the following dates this year:
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THE BHC SCHEDULE
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June 10, 2013 (Summer Ed)
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September 9, 2013 (Fall Ed)
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December 9, 2013 (Winter Ed)
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SHARE NEWS ON THE BHC
There is Help Available!
Do you have any interest in sharing news or information about a new program or topic/issue to highlight in the BHC but cannot seem to gather your thoughts on paper to submit for review? Well fear no more! Help is on the way. Staff will help you craft and, or edit your message.
General guidelines for article/news submissions:
- Title and subtitle
- 250 words or less
- Contact person or email address
- Photos and or images (if appropriate) are encouraged
Featured articles in the BHC are at the discretion of the CCBH Communications Team.
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Healing Cuisine
LITTLE QUINOA PATTIES
"For my patties, I added some blanched broccoli, some corn, and extra cheese. Enjoying them with salsa and avocados are nice too." -Felix Box
Ingredients
2 1/2 cups / 12 oz / 340 g cooked quinoa, at room temperature
4 eggs, beaten
1/2 teaspoon fine-grain sea salt
1/3 cup / .5 oz / 15 g finely chopped fresh chives
1 yellow or white onion, finely chopped
1/3 cup / .5 oz / 15 g freshly grated Parmesan or Gruyère cheese
3 cloves garlic, finely chopped
1 cup / 3.5 oz / 100 g whole grain bread crumbs, plus more if needed
Water, if needed
1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil or clarified butter
METHOD:
Combine the quinoa, eggs, and salt in a medium bowl. Stir in the chives, onion, cheese, and garlic. Add the bread crumbs, stir, and let sit for a few minutes so the crumbs can absorb some of the moisture. At this point, you should have a mixture you can easily form in to twelve 1-inch / 2.5 cm thick patties. I err on the very moist side because it makes for a not-overly-dry patty, but you can add more bread crumbs to firm up the mixture, if need be. Conversely, a bit more beaten egg or water can be used to moisten the mixture. Heat the oil in a large, heavy skillet over medium-pow heat, add 6 patties, if they'll fit with some room between each, cover, and cook for 7 to 10 minutes, until the bottoms are deeply browned. Carefully flip the patties with a spatula and cook the second sides for 7 minutes, or until golden. Remove from the skillet and cool on a wire rack while you cook the remaining patties. Alternatively, the quinoa mixture keeps nicely in the refrigerator for a few days; you can cook the patties to order, if you prefer. Makes 12 little patties.
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Healing Cuisine
PAO DO QUEIJO (BRAZILIAN CHEESE BREAD)
 "They're chewy, like mochi and are super easy and therefore perfect for party appetizers. Leftover batter can be saved in the refrigerator for up to a week." - Felix Box Ingredients: 1 egg (at room temperature)
1/3 cup olive oil
2/3 cup milk
1-1/2 cups tapioca flour (suggestion: Bob's Red Mill from Whole Foods)
1/2 cup grated cheese, packed (recommendation: queso fresco works really well, as does sharp cheddar)
1 teaspoon of salt
METHOD: Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.
Blend all ingredients together, pulsing until smooth
Pour into greased mini muffin tins
Bake for 15-20 minutes, until all puffy and just lightly browned. Eat while hot! | |
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Behavioral Health Connection Newsletter
Courtesy of the CCBH Communications Team
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