July 2014
Issue:23
Stones
In This Issue
11th Annual Summer Ball
Getting to know Commissioner Deutsch
Art & Soul Summer Camp
Above and Beyond
Healthy Minds Newsletter
Committed to restoring hope and changing lives...
11th Annual Summer Ball

by: Jessica Boles

 

 

Save the Date for the 11th Annual Summer Ball: A Summer Night in Venice, presented by Fred Lang Foundation to benefit Charlotte Behavioral Health Care. This event is an annual signature fundraiser that benefits children, adolescents, and families of Charlotte County who are in urgent need of crisis counseling, mental health counseling and/or substance abuse addiction treatment at CBHC.

 

This year's Summer Ball will be held July 26th at 6:00 pm at the Charlotte Harbor Event & Conference Center in Punta Gorda. Tickets are $100 each and the event is black tie formal.  Employees
 can purchase tickets for $50.  Last year's Summer Ball raised $30,000, which went directly to provide urgent health care services for our community. CBHC currently provides services to over 10,000 individuals in Charlotte County, 3,000 of which are children, who cannot afford mental health and/or substance abuse counseling.
An afternoon with Commissioner Deutsch

by: Jessica Boles

 

  

Commissioner Deutsch was originally born in New York City but Rhode Island is where he paved his way to a successful albeit, busy life. Graduating from Wagner College with a degree in Economics and Business Administration, Deutsch then went on to get a Masters from Springfield College in Community Leadership and Development then second Masters in Counseling and Guidance from University of Rhode Island.

 

 

Commissioner Deutsch's political experience started when he was just a boy when his mother would drop him off at the Republican Headquarters where many years later he would become a campaign manager and assist in getting the first women elected to Congress. Commissioner Deutsch's background was mostly Economic Development, but he started using his political expertise more in 1980 as he was elected as the Rhode Island State Representative. He then went on to be elected on the

 Rhode Island State Senate and served as the Senate Deputy Minority Leader.

 

During this time in Rhode Island, the Commissioner stated that he had quite a few amazing and unique experiences including meeting Ronald Reagan at his first public appearance after being shot (Deutsch was the Deputy Leader at the time) chatting with George Bush and meeting half a dozen Presidents in his lifetime.

 

After retiring as the owner of a real estate and housing management company, Deutsch visited Florida 12 years ago and instantly knew this is where he belonged. Commissioner Deutsch joined a couple local boards including the YMCA and the Homeless Coalition and started his involvement with the county. He was actively involved in his church and this is where, after talking with his pastor, decided that running for the Board of County Commissioners was his mission. He was no longer "retired". During his campaign he made no promises but to work hard. When asked about his "agenda" for the county, he said he wants to make this a better place for the future...for his kids and grandkids.

 

Thank you for all your hard work Commissioner, Charlotte County appreciates it!

 

Art & Soul Summer Camp

by: Jessica Boles

 


 The sounds of kids laughing and music pumping through the speakers fill the hallways of Charlotte Behavioral Health Care and the feeling of summer has officially begun. Last week, the Fred Lang Foundation graciously funded a week long art and dance camp for kids seen here at the agency ages 7-13 years old.

 

The Art & Soul Summer Camp provided a variety of dance and art activities for each of the camp participants. Kathleen Candales, owner of Higher Ground Performing Arts did an amazing job as the kids dance instructor. She got the campers started and ready for the day. During their dance time, the kids danced and even learned a routine to take home and show their families. A couple of the kids were hesitant at first, and then once they learned the dance moves, they couldn't stop.

 

The second half of the day consisted of art, taught by art teacher, Tammy Beauchamp, from East Elementary. She had the kids making not just one project, but up to three! The kids then got to wrap their artwork up in a gift bag for Father's Day if they wished.

 

Throughout the week members of the Fred Lang Foundation Board stopped by during break time to hand out drinks and snacks to the kids. 

 

Thank you to everyone that helped with the Art & Soul Summer Camp this year, we are already looking forward to next year!

Above & Beyond
by: Jessica Boles

We have had a busy couple months with some superstar employees! The agency awarded five Above & Beyond awards to some of our staff this month. Congratulations to all!
 

                  

Shelly Terruso                                                                

We would like to recommend Shelly Terruso for the Above and Beyond award.  The three of us are nearing or just surpassing our first year with CBHC.  Since day one it was evident to us that she was exemplary in all that she does. She is quick to respond, efficient and perhaps what we have noted the most, is that she does everything with a positive attitude, a smile and respect for anyone who she is dealing with.  Shelly is a role model on how to treat staff and how to have a welcoming attitude to all who arrive here: patients, staff and outside visitors.

We are aware that Shelly has many people who request things of her that take time, thought, and energy.  As CBHC employees, we have never felt that we were infringing on her time or that we were a bother or inconvenience.  Shelly works hard to make staff in Crisis Services feel a part of the whole.  She really appears to understand that it is a "we" agency, a sum of all of its parts.  She does an excellent job in all communications and is truly motivational in her messaging.  Shelly truly is an asset to CBHC.    

 

-Dawn Clark, Emily O'Brien & Rebecca Hansen

 

  

                                                    Debra LaClair

  I would like to nominate Debra LaClair for an above and beyond award for her excellent service to both Charlotte Behavioral Health Care and the patients she works with.  In preparing information for a presentation to the Board of Directors, as well as the management team, I noted that we have experienced a 200% increase in Substance Abuse services to children in our community over the past 18 months.

 

This is in large part due to the efforts of Debra.  In the time that I have been her supervisor, she has been the stabilizing force within the children's substance abuse team.   She has covered when there were staff turnovers and trained new staff to help them in any way she can.

 

Debra maintains a good working relationship with the local schools and the department of Juvenile Justice to keep a steady stream of referrals for the agency.   She has looked for new ways to meet the needs of her clients to include developing a group for aggressive girls when she noticed that several of her female clients had similar issues.  She has brought several ideas and suggestions to me on ways to "think outside the box" and increase services.  When I was asked about the availability to start working the SOS programs with middle schools she didn't hesitate to say we can handle it!

  

Deb will be the first to say that she doesn't like change but I have found that no matter what I've asked of her, if I give her a few minutes to think it through, she has always found a way to make things work.

 

For all of these reasons I truly believe that Debra has gone above and beyond and deserves to be recognized for all that she has done to maintain the integrity and quality of services to Charlotte Behavioral Health Care, the community and to the children and families she works with.

 

Many thanks and appreciation!

Jean Giebler, Child Services Program Manager

 
 
Jim Cox 

 

 

The Mental Health Court Program has gone through many changes since 2011, when it changed management.  Part of these changes included a partnership with case management & inclusion of a case manager for all consumers in the program.  The changes have included staff modification for this position a few times as well.  It is a fine line for the case manager in the Mental Health Court program.  The Case manager is responsible for being on everyone's side in every argument.  Try sitting in a room where the treatment team wants one thing, the court team wants another & the consumer wants something totally different & it's the case manager's job to try to make everyone happy with the outcome.  As a case manager, Jim Cox is a mediator, an advocate, a banker, mobile crisis, an answering service, a person calendar, a personal assistant, sometimes a taxi service & the person responsible for making sure that everyone else knows everything that is going on as soon as it happens & then solving any problems that may arise.  While these roles are confusing enough just to read in a list, & I'm sure I forgot a few, it can be even more confusing to try to manage.  But Jim manages all of these with grace, even when he has stumbled along the way.  He takes on additional responsibilities & brings solutions to the table to improve the quality of services to the consumers in the Mental Health Court Program & to maintain ongoing positive relationships with other providers involved with the program.  I would like to nominate Jim Cox for the Above & Beyond Award for his dedication to the quality of his work to CBHC & most importantly, to the consumers that he serves.

 

Our sincerest thanks to Jim!

Gina Wynn, Director, Adult Case Managment & Residential Services

Amy Hood, TFC Supervisor/Lead CM


                Mariah Phillips

 

It is my pleasure to nominate Mariah Phillips for the Above and Beyond Award.  She truly belongs to our CBHC family as she has already been successful in 3 different departments!  Mariah came to work in OP as the Assistant Screener because she was identified by Jennifer Reed, who was then our OP screener, as someone who was a hardworking, reliable employee in our Maintenance Dept. and we needed a part-time screener who was reliable and hardworking.

 

The bonus was that she was also very techno savvy.  Because of her quick-learn of AZ and her attention to detail, she soon moved to full time work in OP, half as the Assistant OP screener and half in Medical Records.  Mariah is a fast learner, which was really helpful since Jen had to quickly move into QM so Mariah took on additional responsibilities, eagerly and willingly.  For example, she took over all of the scheduling and billing for Healthy Start Psychosocial Counseling, the management of the Children's Network parenting referrals and the coordination of the FIS referrals in addition to her other duties.  When Tia resigned during her maternity leave, Mariah applied for the full time OP Screener and she has been off and running ever since.

 

She figured out why we have so many CSU Aftercare no-shows by actually reviewing the paperwork sent by Riverside.  She is creative and has great ideas for improving our welcoming and access for clients.  She is eager to learn and a joy to supervise.  When we needed extra assistance completing all of the prior authorizations in the switch to the MMAs on June 1, Mariah agreed to work extra hours to help complete these efficiently and effectively.  Overall, Mariah is a valued employee who is loved by all of the departments where she has worked -- Maintenance, Medical Records and OP, and she is such an asset now as our OP screener.

 

Our appreciation and many thanks to Mariah!

 

Sincerely,

Molly Grossman

 

 

 Deb Daniels


We would like to nominate Debbie Daniels, LPN for the Above and Beyond Award.  Debbie has been a tremendous asset as one of our two nurses in OP Medication Services with her professionalism and positive attitude.  She willingly goes the extra mile to help our clients as well as our providers.  She brings her good nature and "can do" attitude into every situation, whether with our client's and their medication issues or with the providers.  No new task is daunting to her, as she has helped teach new providers the Anasazi system of medication entering and ordering, and faced and helped facilitate the many changes here in OP Medication Services without negativity, but with creativity.  She not only has a great base of knowledge as an LPN but also has good common sense, is good humored and good natured.  She is always ready with an encouraging word and her strong faith is evident in her daily living.  She cares a great deal about the welfare of our clients; she is welcoming, respectful, works with integrity and is a team-player.  In these ways, she is the embodiment of Charlotte Behavioral's mission statement, "To provide high quality, compassionate, cost effective health care services to the individuals and

families we serve." 

 

Our sincerest appreciation,

 

Dr. Katina Matthews-Ferrari


Drug Court Adopt-A-Road cleans up our roads

  

In celebration of "National Drug Court Month," the Charlotte County Drug Court took community involvement to a whole new level by Adopting a Road through Keep Charlotte Beautiful. The group cleaned up the adopted road, Easy Street from Olean Blvd to Gibralter Drive and will do so 4 times a year starting in May.

 

"National Drug Court Month" is coordinated on a national level by the National Association of Drug Court Professionals (NADCP).  According to the NADCP, the country's 2,700 drug courts refer more people to treatment than any other system, and have put 136,000 seriously addicted people into treatment instead of jail.

Happy Birthday
                   
Last NameFirst NameBirth MonthBirth DayDepartment
PrivatCeliaJuly1Admin
CoxJimJuly4Adult CM
PawlowskiKristaJuly5Child CM
SalterSharonJuly5OP
WynnGinaJuly5TFC
Marino ParkMichelleJuly8CSU
HowellStephanieJuly10TFC
GrennellJeanetteJuly13OP Med
ShineLaShellJuly14OP Child
FraleyWilliamJuly15Admin
HernandezNelsonJuly18CSU
Schmidt JrHenryJuly21SA
MatthesWandaJuly22Med Rec
DouglasRichardJuly23CSU
MaloneMichaelJuly23CSU
MarshallMichelleJuly23CLN
GreenJenniferJuly25OP Child
HartmanDonnaJuly29Front Desk
ThomasStefanieJuly30Adult CM
SimpsonDanaJuly31Child CM
ThompsonCarmenAugust1Med Rec
SimpsonKathleenAugust3Admin
BarnhartDustyAugust6CSU
MorrisJuliaAugust6CSU
AmbroiseJeanAugust10Dietary
GarrodBrittanyAugust12CSU
FlahertyCynthiaAugust13Dietary
ShiroskyLaurenAugust16OP Med
AddisonJenelleAugust17CSU
CohenRachaelAugust22CN Grant
GrossmanMollyAugust25OP Adult
QuinnAdamAugust28Adult CM
TuckerTeresaAugust29CSU
DanielsDeborahAugust31OP Med
   
Staff Celebrating Years of Service
          
Start DateDeptLast NameFirst Name
7/1/1980AdminGlynnRalph
7/6/1992AdminSimpsonKathleen
7/13/1993OP MedKossickRose
7/19/1993OP MedMatthews-FerrariKatina
7/10/2006OP MedWilliamsVictoria
7/16/2008CSUGonzalez-CanalJose
7/1/2009HSCannonDorothy
7/12/2010Op ChildLaClairDebra
7/23/2012AdminGarrisonAndrea
7/8/2013CSUBaumhardtBrittany
7/8/2013RecoveryKochRachel
7/15/2013RecoveryO'BrienEmily
8/28/2000SAThompsonErle
8/22/2005OP MedWhartonCheryl
8/7/2006AdminD'AgostinoVictoria
8/11/2008SAWhittonRichard
8/1/2009CSUHarrisChristopher
8/10/2009OP AdultFontaineSally
8/10/2009RecoveryDelfaJacqueline
8/10/2009CSUWhiteRyan
8/9/2010CSUEvansTerry
8/12/2013Adult CMCoxJim
8/12/2013Adult CMHarmanMichelle
8/13/2013CSUSpinellaMadelene
8/13/2013CSUAddisonJenelle
8/9/2013CSUDamayo StinsonMizyl
 
Welcome New Hires to CBHC   
         
Hire DateDept Last NameFirst NameJob Title
4/7/2014CSUMatosNelsonRN
4/14/2014CSUPrinceTroyBHT
4/14/2014CSUWoodCharityBHT
4/14/2014CSUBrutusSheilaBHT
4/14/2014OP ChildFistickHeidiTherapist
4/21/2014RecoveryChumleyTammyUM Specialist
5/5/2014RecoveryGlennChristineLPN
5/8/2014CSUMorrisJuliaScreener
6/9/2014OP MedHughesRebecca Intern
 
clear logo  

2014  Board of Directors

 

Ed Wotitzky, Wotitzky, Wotitzky, Ross & McKinley

President

 

W. Cort Frohlich, Esq, Frohlich, Gordon & Beason

Vice President

 

Tina Narr

Secretary

 

Larry Stewart

 

Jeff Brown, Ashley, Brown & Company

 

Major Mark Caro, CCSO

 

Melinda Diedrick, Merrill Lynch

 

Michael Grant, Ambitrans

 

Margaret C. Lang

 

Dr. David Winsor, Access Chiropractic Center

 

Donna Worthley

 

April Prestipino, Charlotte County Public Schools

  
Margaret C. Lang
President Emeritus
 
Donna Worthley
President
 
Keith Callaghan, LMHS Foundation
Vice President
 
Robert Dickinson
Treasurer
 
Liz Green, Harbor Style
Secretary
 
Paul Lioon, Independent Trust Services of SWFL
 
Sushila Cherian
 
Ed Wotitzky, Esq., Wotitzky Wotitzky, Ross & McKinley
 
Miranda Fields 
 
Kevin Shirley, Attorney
 
Cathi Dryburgh
 

Charlotte Behavioral Health Care underwent its' fourth accreditation review by the nationally recognized and highly respected CARF (Commission for Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities).  CARF accreditation indicates CBHC's commitment to continually improving treatment services, encouraging feedback, and serving the community.  CBHC's programs and services received the highest possible level of accreditation.

 

 

 



 

 

     

Employee News, Kudos, & Congratulations

 

 

 Kudos!

 

Congratulations to Gina Wynn for the recognition she received from the Healthy Start Coalition.  She received a Certificate of Appreciation today  for her certification as a trainer in the new "Partners for a Healthy Baby" initiative.  Gina worked very hard and is one of the few certified trainers in Florida for this research based initiative.  Great work, Gina!

 

Vickie D'Agostino

 

Congrats! 

  

I am pleased to announce that Julie Greaves passed the test to obtain her SPHR Certification. The designation of Senior Professional in Human Resources is the senior most human resources certification for those who have demonstrated a strategic mastery of the HR body of knowledge. This is a difficult certification to obtain and takes lot's of hard work. Julie is a great asset to CBHC and I am proud to have her as part of our team. I expend my congratulations to Julie for achieving this goal. 

 

-Jay Glynn

 

Announcement!

 

We are pleased to announce that Melissa Worthen will be assuming the role of Children's Services Program Manager.  Melissa has already successfully managed the Children's Case Management and BNet programs, and will retain these programs.  We are excited to expand her role as we merge the Children's Manager and CTCM Supervisor positions!  Please join me in congratulating her.  

 

-Vickie D'Agostino

 

Thanks!

 

It has been almost four months since we began planning at the Management retreat for the fiscal impact of the MMA transition.  I was talking to Celia over the powdered coffee creamer today about the changes we have made and the noticeable impact she is seeing on our expenses.  I wanted to thank all of you who took ownership of managing our expenses to offset this revenue reduction.  Because we are already prepared (to the extent  possible),  we can now focus on making the transition more seamless for our clients. 

 

I am very proud of the resilience and creativity of our management team.  And look forward to successfully making it through another big system transition. 
 
-Vickie D'Agostino
 

 

I am happy to let everyone know that Jean Giebler will be taking the Director of OP and Community Services at the end of July.  In the meantime, she has graciously agreed to assist in Crisis Services.

Congratulations Jean!  

 

-Vickie D'Agostino

 

 

 


 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


 
 
 
 
New drug called Snapchat hospitalising users

Australian police have issued a warning about a new drug called Snapchat, branded with the Snapchat logo and based on bath salts.

 
Click here for more information


  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

   

   

  

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FAST FACTS 

 

 

 

Many people suffer from more than one mental disorder at a given time. Nearly half (45 percent) of those with any mental disorder meet criteria for 2 or more disorders, with severity strongly related to comorbidity.

 

The median age of onset for mood disorders is 30 years old.

 

Four times as many men as women die by suicide9; however, women attempt suicide two to three times as often as men.

 

 

 
 
 

Jessica Boles
Director of Marketing
Charlotte Behavioral Health Care