DMH Connections

A publication of the Massachusetts Department of Mental Health

July/August 2014   

 

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  Serving Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Populations and 

Achieving Healthcare Equity for All


In May 2008, the U.S. House of Representatives declared July Bebe Moore Campbell National Minority Mental Health Awareness Month to honor Bebe Moore Campbell, an accomplished author, advocate, co-founder of NAMI Urban Los Angeles and national spokesperson, who passed away Nov. 2006. She wrote the award-winning book, "Sometimes My Mommy Gets Angry," written especially for children, about a young girl who learns how to cope with her mother's bipolar illness and her novel, "72-Hour Hold," focused on an adult daughter and a family's experience with the onset of mental illness. Her writings helped educate us all that the struggle often is not just with the illness and raise awareness for the needs of diverse populations in our the healthcare system. She advocated the critical need for healthcare systems and services to be culturally and linguistically competent to achieve healthcare equity for all. 

 

The Department of Mental Health Office of Multicultural Affairs (OMCA) addresses the issues involved in serving culturally and linguistically diverse populations. OMCA has the focal responsibility of ensuring that the cultural and ethnic diversity of clients and staff is respected in the design and delivery of services with the ultimate goal of achieving healthcare equity for all. This is accomplished by the Department's Mental Health Service Planning Logic Model for Racially, Ethnically and Linguistically Diverse Populations and Cultural and Linguistic Competence Action Plan.* The Action Plan helps implement the Department's mission of culturally and linguistically competent care. Major building blocks of systemic competence include community partnerships, leadership development, service and standards development, education and training, information dissemination and data and research. For more information on the Logic Model and Action Plan, contact Ed Wang, Psy.D., Director of the DMH Office of Multicultural Affairs, [email protected], 617-626-8137.

 

* Isaacs MR, Jackson VH, Hicks R, Wang EK. Cultural and linguistic competence and eliminating disparities. In: Stroul BA, Blau GM, eds. System of care handbook: transforming mental health services for children, youth and families. Baltimore: Paul H. Brookes Publishing Co., Inc., 2008: 301-328.

 

In This Issue

DMH Employment Corner
Community Forum In Honor of National Minority Mental Health Awareness Month.
Conferences and Events
New ReachHire Website Assists Young Adults with Work, School, and Financial Independence
Express Yourself 20 Years and Counting!
DMH YouTube Spotlight
News from Tunefoolery
July Wellness Tips
Photo of the Month

DMH Office of Communications and Community Engagement

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Spread the word: We're sharing great information, resources, links, happenings and content with you in real time. Follow DMH on Twitter @MassDMH or just click the button at the bottom of this block.

  

If you have news items of interest to the mental health community to Tweet, send it to Anna Chinappi or Michelle Cormier Tallman. Remember, Tweets are 140 characters. (Not words!)

  

DMH joins the Executive Office of Health and Human Services (EOHHS) and several of its agencies on Twitter -- please follow them too. Here's a list:
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Health and Human Services Blog 

 This social media platform provides 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 Polanowicz, Commissioner Fowler 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 
  

Contribute to the next DMH Connections

 

September Feature:  National Recovery Month
 
Submission Deadline:
Friday August 15


Please send all materials to 

 Michelle Cormier Tallman

 

Click here for Submission Guidelines

ReachHire offers young adults and anyone seeking a wealth of tools, advice, and resources designed to help you reach your dreams - for building a career, getting an education, and supporting yourself financially.  
With a positive attitude and the right support, you can make it a fun and fulfilling experience.
 
Get Started Today at:
DMH Employment Corner
 
By Michael Stepansky 
DMH Director of Employment 

DATA-SHARING AGREEMENT AIMS TO IMPROVE EMPLOYMENT OUTCOMES

 

DMH Commissioner Marcia Fowler and MRC Commissioner Charles Carr recently formalized a cross agency collaboration to improve employment outcomes for individuals served by both agencies with a Memorandum of Understanding between the Departments.  

 

It affirms employment as "essential to the independence, dignity and recovery of persons with series mental illness," and creates a structure for improved communication and coordination between the agencies at local, regional and statewide levels. A workgroup comprised of DMH, MRC and provider staff will map out implementation strategies. 

 

The DMH-MRC collaboration was one of the outcomes of an April 2012 joint forum for agency leadership. Among several recommendations stemming from the event, this collaborations was widely seen as an essential step to strengthening communication and collaboration between DMH and MRC. 

 

At the same time, MRC and DMH also designed an initial data-sharing agreement which will help the agencies identify what services shared clients receive; who the service providers are; what local offices oversee those services; and what the outcome of MRC services has been. Based on these results, MRC and DMH are planning a second data-agreement to create a regular flow of information.    

 

We's like to acknowledge all of the committee members who contributed to both the Memorandum of Understanding and Data-Sharing Agreement: 

 

Ted Mello (MRC) - MOU Committee Co-Chair 

Marcel Dube (MRC)

Susan Sciaraffa (DMH)

Pat Chabot (MRC)

Pam Druzbicki (DMH)

Dennis McCrory, MD 

Alexis Henry (UMASS Medical School)

James Fratolillo (MRC)

Brian Osborne (DMH)

Kate Angellini (MRC)

Karen Kieffer (DMH)

Bill Noone (MRC)

Beth Lucas (DMH)

Marti Sabin (DMH)

 

Thank you all for helping to strengthen our collaborations on behalf of the individuals we serve.

 

Community Forum In Honor of National Minority Mental Health Awareness Month   

Sponsored by NAMI Dorchester-Mattapan-Roxbury

 

Thursday, July 17
6 to 7:45 p.m.

Grove Hall Library, 41 Geneva Avenue, Dorchester  

  

 Read More 

 Register Today!

 

Riverside Trauma Center Presents
"Uncomplicating Grief: Pathways to Hope and Healing,"   
Friday September 12, 2014
8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m
.

The Verve, Crowne Plaza Natick
1360 Worcester St
Natick, MA 01760 

 

Co-sponsored by the Massachusetts Department of 
Public Health's Suicide Prevention Program

Early Bird Registration Deadline 8/8/14


 Conference Description: 
Grief is a normal part of life, but when loss is sudden or traumatic, many people need the help of behavioral health providers to cope with their intense pain and sadness. This year's conference will focus on typical and complicated grief following sudden loss and trauma. We will apply first-person accounts, theory, and research so that attendees can better understand and support people on their journey through grief. The day will include a discussion of how cultural background influences the experience of grief and healing.

 

Click here for more information and to register

 

Conferences and Events

 

Upcoming Events at The Bridge of Central Mass.

  

Click here for the complete 2014 training calendar.

Training Institute events are held at the DoubleTree Hotel which is wheelchair accessible for people with mobility limitations. If accommodations such as ASL interpreters or visual aids are needed, please contact Stephen Murphy at:

[email protected] 

or 508-755-0333 three weeks in advance of the training date.

__________________

Now Available
 

 

The Massachusetts Department of Public Health Suicide Prevention Training Calendar

Please click on the link below to register.

Suicide Prevention Events Calendar

When registering for a workshop, please note that each event has tabs titled with information regarding the workshop, available CEs and cost.   

Space is very limited for each workshop and fills up quickly, please register early.

 

 

Upcoming Workshops at the Center for Professional Innovation 

(formerly Community Program Innovations) 

 CPI offers continuing education for mental health and healthcare professionals and educators, holding day-long workshops throughout Massachusetts on clinical and management topics. Trainings are held in Billerica, Foxborough and Springfield. To view the complete schedule and to register visit  

 http://bridgewellcpi.org   

All facilities are wheelchair accessible. If accommodations such as ASL interpreters or visual aids are needed, email:[email protected] 

 or call 339-883-2118.

   

 Click here for the Transformation Center website and all the latest information and events happening throughout the mental health community.   

 

Please send your event information to

  Michelle Cormier Tallman

by the 15th of each month for publication in DMH Connections

 

New ReachHire Website Assists Young Adults with Work, School, and Financial Independence

ReachHire Website-www.reachhirema.org After a year-long collaboration among DMH, MORE Media and the University of Massachusetts Medical School, the new interactive website ReachHire has successfully launched. ReachHIREma.org is designed to advise, inspire and help prepare young adults with lived experience of mental illness to work competitively, advance their education and plan their financial futures. 

 

Research shows that one of the best predictors of employment for adults is whether a person worked as a teenager or while in their twenties. Engaging young adults as early as possible in a conversation around work and school and helping them feel inspired, confident and supported is important to lasting success. 

 

Originally conceived by DMH Deputy Commissioner for Mental Health Services Clifford Robinson and supported by DMH with funds from the federal Mental Health Block Grant, ReachHire includes essential information for young adults on topics such as how to apply for jobs when you have little-to-no work experience; how to get financial assistance for school; what work incentives are; and how to decide to disclose one's disability. It also contains dozens of resources including how to access the resources of the Massachusetts Rehabilitation Commission, legal aid, scholarships and benefits counseling. 

 

According to Amanda Costa, a young adult and research technician at UMass Medical School's Transitions Research and Training Center, young adults were involved throughout ReachHire's development. Members of the DMH Statewide Young Adult Council and Youth Development Committee "helped identify the name and tagline of the website and are featured in videos and photos showcasing their direct experiences with seeking employment and educational opportunities.  They identified crucial content and resources and many participated in the beta testing for the website before it went live, providing structured feedback on content and design. Overall, the creation of the ReachHire website was very youth friendly and included young adults in a meaningful and authentic way."

 

While ReachHire targets young adults specifically, many of the resources and suggestions are applicable to anyone searching for work or thinking about school. Sections dedicated to disclosure; setting financial goals, tax tips and how to prepare for interviews are as relevant to adult job-seekers as their counterparts in their teens and young adulthood. 

 

For more information, contact [email protected],

 

 Check out the ReachHire Site today at www.ReachHIREma.org.  

 

Express Yourself : 20 Years and Counting!

 

By: Michelle Cormier Tallman

DMH Communications Coordinator  

 

 

As the DMH Communication's Coordinator and a Department employee for the past nine years, I have been attending Express Yourself (EXYO) nearly every year. I have been writing reviews of the show in DMH Connections for the last five years, and this year is no exception. As always, the many talented youth, staff and guest performers brought down the house! The 20th anniversary celebration brought together many returning performers including Blue Man Group, Stomp, James Runner and In The Makin' (ITM) and the Boston Children's Chorus and a special message from Keith Lockhart. Josiah Spaulding, President and CEO of the Citi Performing Arts Center,  reflected on how the show has grown from the lobby of the Wang Theater, to smaller theaters and back to main stage of the Wang Theater. Commissioner Fowler pictured above with Joe Spaulding and performers was rockin' with some of the performers in the "Viva" chair.

 

If all that excitement wasn't enough, this year's EXYO was extra special for me personally as my close friend's son who is currently at the Solstice program was in his first performance. He had participated in the program last year, but chose not to perform. This year he was determined to perform and it was clear that he was enjoying every minute. It was simply amazing to see the glow in his eyes and the smile on his face after the show. He was overjoyed to introduce his family to people he met and he said, "that was AWESOME, I'm definitely doing it again next year!" The energy of being in the audience has always warmed my heart. This year, knowing one of the performers personally and the many ups and downs that he and his family have experienced gave EXYO new meaning for me. The pride and confidence exuding from him during and after the show was truly magical to see.

 

This year was also my first year attending the show as a new mom with my one-year-old son. I was prepared for his short attention span, but he was mesmerized by the lively performers, bright colorful sets and lights, clapping and smiling throughout the show. Hopefully attending EXYO will become one of our family traditions. As a friend, parent and DMH staff, it is invigorating to see this show evolve each year. Here's to 20 years of EXYO --and many more to come! 

 

YouTube logo icon

 

DMH YouTube  Spotlight

Minority Mental Health Awareness 

 

For July is National Minority Mental Health Awareness Month we take a look at a PBS story on Minority Mental Health. In this video Melinda Vasquez, Chief Officer of Cultural and Community Affairs for Cenpatico of Arizona, and Kurt Sheppard, CEO for Valle del Sol, talk about the need to increase mental health awareness in minority communities. This report is from Arizona, but the information shared can be applied to any community.
Minority Mental Health Awareness
Minority Mental Health Awareness

 

News from Tunefoolery

Tunefoolery Community Celebrates 20 years!

 

Twenty years of joy, laughter, music and togetherness culminated in a wonderful 20th anniversary celebration for Tunefoolery on a recent June evening. Musicians and board members gathered together at the Democracy Center in Harvard Square to enjoy a party celebrating the Tunefoolery community. Tunefoolery's Artistic Coach Kelly Holt and waitstaff made up of friends of Tunefoolery turned the center into a colorful musical haven, with balloons and record cases lining the walls and records as place holders that guests could take home. The delicious meal and the 20th anniversary birthday cake were donated by Star Market, Bertucci's, Trader Joe's, and Harvest Co-op.

After enjoying the meal, the group watched a slideshow photo retrospective. Then, everyone received a certificate along with a testimony to their unique and special character and contribution to Tunefoolery. A few musicians surprised Executive Director Jens Rybo and Co-Founder Theresa Thompson with a medieval style coronation, complete with Renaissance accompaniment and bejeweled crowns. After a powerful sing-a-long of "Lean on Me," the tables were cleared for a dance party. Our Performance Coordinator Amy had made a playlist that kept people dancing nonstop for the rest of the night, with Motown, disco, pop and more. The 20th anniversary party is now another fond memory added to the collection, as it was certainly an unforgettable night.

On September 19, the celebration continues with a public concert at the YMCA theater in Central Square, Cambridge - Save the Date!!

UPCOMING EVENTS


July 30

Boston Resource Center and TuneFoolery's Yearly BBQ

11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Boston Resource Center
85 East Newton Street
Boston, MA 02118

Featuring: The Essex Street Band, Amy & Rory


August 7
Tunefoolery Coffee House with Open Mic Featuring Duo Cantabile
3 to 5 p.m. 
Tunefoolery's Space 85 East Newton Street, 
3rd floor, Boston. Free Open Mic to start off

snacks and beverages provided

  

July Wellness Tips

   

 

EMOTIONAL EATING 

Some people respond to impending deadlines, financial problems, relationship meltdowns and other difficulties by eating less. But if you respond to added stress by eating more, you could end up with added pounds. Fortunately, you can take steps to avoid stress-related weight gain. To begin, consider which of the following behaviors you're prone to, then take steps to counteract your usual behavior. 

 

Behavior: You don't have time to prepare healthy meals. If having a lot to do means less time to shop for fresh fruits and vegetables and other healthy ingredients, you may be more likely to grab fast food or order high-calorie, high-fat takeout meals.

Instead: Make simple meals with few ingredients to cut cooking time and shopping lists. Invest in a cookbook with easy-to-prepare recipes or look online for recipes that can be prepared in 20 minutes or less. 


Behavior: You crave foods high in refined carbs (white bread, cookies, cakes), sugar, fat or salt. Many people have a hunger for sweets, salty snacks and other processed foods when they're stressed.

Instead: Reach for healthy, filling high-fiber snacks with a bit of the tastes you crave. For example: oatmeal with raisins and a bit of brown sugar for sweet cravings; whole-wheat toast with peanut butter for fat cravings; and air-popped popcorn with a sprinkle of salt for salty cravings. 


Behavior: You don't have time to exercise. As the demands on your schedule increase, time to exercise may be hard to find. Yet research has shown regular exercise plays a significant role in weight maintenance. Many people can't lose weight or maintain a healthy weight without it.

Instead: Accept the fact that physical activity is essential for weight loss and weight maintenance. Also, since it leads to the release of endorphins -- compounds that have natural stress-fighting properties -- remind yourself that you can't afford to miss working out when you're stressed. Then, look for ways to increase your physical activity by taking the stairs or parking at the far end of the parking lot, for example. 


Behavior: You're not doing anything to manage your stress. You may not be able to control the stressors in your life, but you can control how you respond to them.

Instead: Be proactive by learning and practicing relaxation techniques, such as deep breathing, yoga or visualization. Address your stress by working on solving your problems, calling a friend for advice, talking with your boss about your workload or challenges, or seeking help from a mental health professional who specializes in stress solutions. 

   

Click here for a printable version, take the July Mindful Eating challenge and try a delicious recipe for Peanutty Sesame Noodles

 


Click here for a printable flyer

For questions, please email Lisa at [email protected]

Photo of the Month

Congratulations to the 2014 Jonathan Schiff Awards Recipients

 This month we feature a photo from the 2014 Jonathan Schiff Awards.

Picutred: Metro Southeast Area-wide Award Recipient Andre Victorian

 left; Vinnette McKay, middle-left; Solomon Carter Fuller-Bay Cove Site Recipient William Wilson, middle-right & Melissa Marien, right, from Transitions of Boston

 

Metro Boston & Southeast Areas hosted the 12th annual Jonathan Schiff Awards in May. The Schiff awards are named in honor of Jonathan Schiff, who passed in 2002. Jonathan, a graduate of Bowdoin College and Columbia University, obtained competitive employment in 1988 as part of his recovery from serious mental illness after being hospitalized in 1981. He worked as a telephone operator and mail sorter as a member of the DMH Solomon Carter Fuller Mental Health Center administrative and core services before additional work and independent living. The annual event is sponsored by the Schiff Family, Boston University's Department of Psychiatry, the Friends of Metro Boston and Bay Cove Human Services, and celebrates DMH consumers who have greatly advanced their own recovery and independence through achievements in competitive employment.  

  

Congratulations to all who were nominated for a Schiff Award and to each Site's Award recipient!  

 

Of the 30 individuals nominated for a Schiff Award in 2014, the following individuals received a certificate of recognition and a cash stipend from Bay Cove Human Services' Jonathan Schiff Memorial Fund.  

  • Metro Southeast Area-wide Award Recipient/Andre Victorian
  • Erich Lindemann Site Award Recipient/Scott McConnell 
  • Plymouth Site Award Recipient/Susan Almeida 
  • Solomon Carter Fuller-Bay Cove Site Recipient/ William Wilson
  • New Bedford Site Award Recipient/Michelle Fay 
  • Fall River Site Award Recipient/Gail Boutin 
  • Cape & Islands Site Award Recipient/ Jacob Wallace
  • Mass Mental Site Award Recipient/Christopher Clarke 
  • Brockton Multi-Services Site Award Recipient/Janet Ransom 
  • Taunton/Attleboro Site Award Recipient/Audrey Audette

Click here to view more photos from this event.


Access photos of all DMH events at the DMH Photo Gallery on Shutterfly and now on Flickr!

 

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

Michelle Cormier Tallman

 

  DMH Connections

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