DMH Connections

A publication of the 

Massachusetts Department of Mental Health

December 2014 

 

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The DMH Office of Communications and Community Engagement would like to extend to each of you our warmest wishes for a wonderful holiday season. 
We hope you enjoy this edition of DMH Connections and we look forward to your contributions in 2015! 

In This Issue

Multicultural Corner - Asian American Conference Works to Break Barriers
Employment Corner - DMH Funds Regional Employment Collaboratives
Conferences and Events
CBH Worker Certificate Program Graduates First Class of 19
DMH YouTube Spotlight
MassPRA 13th Annual Conference: Supporting the Recovery Workforce towards Lifelong Learning
Giving Thanks: Celebrating Family
Get Healthy Before the New Year: Complete the 2014 WellMASS Health Assessment
December Wellness Tips
Webster House Presents Straight from the Art
News from Tunefoolery...Meaningful Shopping and Music at Ten Thousand Villages!
Photo of the Month

DMH Office of Communications and Community Engagement

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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

January
Submission Deadline:

December 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:
Multicultural Corner
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Asian American Conference Works to Break Barriers

 

By Tina Sang, MPH, MSW
Office of Multicultural Affairs
  

Asian Americans are a diverse population comprised of people from various Asian cultural backgrounds and who have different levels of acculturation to the United States. When this diverse population is considered as a group, research shows that Asian Americans have difficulty accessing quality behavioral health services due to language barriers, stigma and lack of culturally competent providers and programs. To address the behavioral health issues and disparities faced by Asian American and Pacific Islander communities, the Massachusetts Asian American Commission (AAC) held a conference last month called "Breaking Barriers, Shattering Stigmas." The conference featured presentations on suicidality and substance abuse, problem gambling, cultural and linguistically competent behavioral health services, PTSD and personal stories from Asian Americans who experienced mental illness.

 

Ed Wang, PsyD, Director of the DMH Office of Multicultural Affairs, gave a presentation at the conference entitled "The Blueprint of Asian American Behavioral Health: National Perspectives and Implications for Massachusetts." He emphasized the importance of behavioral health to overall health and how early intervention for mental illness can improve health outcomes while also lowering health care costs. He highlighted the use of Triple Aim, the framework to optimize health system performance for Asian Americans. Integrated care is recommended for Asian Americans because the primary care setting is perceived to be less stigmatized and primary care is often utilized as a door to behavioral health care. Dr. Wang emphasized the importance of a public health approach to address mental health disparities that focuses on social determinants of health such as poverty, immigration, housing and neighborhood safety.

 

At the end of the Health Care Forum, event moderator Dr. Elisa Choi, Vice Chairperson of the AAC and Chair of the AAC Healthcare Subcommittee, reminded participants that the forum's "triple aim of awareness, advocacy and action" to provide linkages to care for potential clients and patients, to raise awareness of behavioral health issues and disparities that affect Massachusetts Asian and Pacific Island communities and to increase advocacy and support for behavioral health services for them." She stated, "this is the start of much future dialogue and partnerships regarding addressing behavioral health issues affecting our AAPI community."

Employment Corner
DMH Funds Regional
Employment Collaboratives 

By Michael Stepansky 
DMH Director of Employment 

Regional Employment Collaboratives (RECs) are up and running in Western and Central Massachusetts, with DMH provider Riverside Community Care coordinating the RECs activities.

 

RECs are cross-disability, inter-agency networks of primarily employment service providers which, among several functions, convene job developer networks (JDNs) to foster the exchange of job leads among members. JDNs work on a "pay it forward" system based on trust and mutual commitment by providing a forum for employment specialists to offer jobs they can't otherwise fill to their peers. The process costs employment specialists and participating agencies nothing, helps employers by filling vacancies, and in places where JDNs have become established, has become a critical tool for job developers by giving them access to jobs they otherwise would have no knowledge of.

 

In addition to the JDN, the other key feature of RECs is the Business Account Manager (BAM), a "macro level" job developer conducting high-level outreach, often at the corporate level, to employers for whom individual job developers traditionally find it difficult to connect. As the BAM builds relationships with new employers, any newly developed jobs are then forwarded to JDN members directly. In addition to job openings, BAMS have also been able to coordinate career fairs, workplace tours, trainings and workshops on behalf of REC members.

 

These two innovations - the BAM and the JDN - were hallmarks of several of the original five Employment Collaboratives, funded in 2009 by UMASS Medical School through its Medicaid Infrastructure grant. DMH is partnering with the Department of Developmental Services in directly supporting the RECs in Central and Western Massachusetts, and through its staff and providers is participating in RECs in the Merrimack Valley, Northeast, Greater Boston and South Shore.

Conferences and Events 

 

Upcoming Events at The Bridge of Central Mass.

  

Click here for the complete 2014-2015 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

 

  DMH Connections

 Thank you for your readership as DMH Connections proudly celebrates 6 years of continuous publication!

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We will be posting DMH Connections on DMH's archives page of the DMH Internet.  
View issues from 2008 to the Present.
Community Conversation gets Lawrence Seniors, Youth Talking About
GOOD Mental Health 

 

The DMH Community Conversations campaign is well underway. Tell us about your conversation and we'll share it in DMH Connections.

 

The DMH Northeast-Suburban Area Diversity Committee in partnership with the Lawrence Senior Center, the Lawrence Adult Learning Center and the Essex North Site Office hosted a Community Conversations event last month at the Lawrence Senior Center. 

 

Northeast Suburban (NESA) Area Director Sue Wing opened the event with welcoming remarks both for the first session of 12 Latino seniors and second session of 15 Latino youth and young adult participants. A total of four focus groups were facilitated by Committee members including several in Spanish. The Diversity Committee acknowledges Ana Rodriguez, Luis Amadeo, Jacqueline Marte and Jocelyn Marte for their assistance with the Spanish groups; and Gina Cordy and Exon Falaise for their assistance with the English speaking group. The Committee especially thanks Dr. Ken Mitchell for his support.

 

Discussions among all the groups were open and rigorous. The common themes discussed in each group were wide-ranging and included traditional views on mental well-being and how living in America had changed some of them; difficulties in accessing Spanish speaking mental health providers; and lack of knowledge of community resources. 

 

Diversity Committee members were encouraged by participants' welcome and enthusiasm for the Community Conversation event. Participants requested similar focus groups be conducted in the future and many expressed appreciation for the forum the event provided.   

 

The NESA Diversity Committee plan to review input and feedback from the conversation and develop next steps. The dialogue sparked interest and further collaborations and conversations are likely to take place in Lawrence and across the the Northeast Suburban Area.

 

DMH's Good Mental Health campaign joins the U.S. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration national conversation about mental health, launched last year. DMH developed materials for the campaign which can be found on DMH webpage dedicated to Community Conversations www.mass.gov/dmh/conversations.

  
New to the page are downloadable posters and flyers in English and Spanish. These materials are designed to be a helpful resource to promote your Community Conversations.

 

For more information or technical assistance in starting your conversation, contact the DMH Office of Communications at 617-626-8124.

 

CBH Worker Certificate Program Graduates First Class of 19  

Training will reach 240 more staff in the next two years

 

Nineteen children's behavioral health workers became the first class to graduate from the new CBH Worker Certificate Program at ceremonies at The Urban College of Boston in October. The program offers college-credit for students who are interested in or already employed as Family Partners or Therapeutic Mentors. Students earn nine college credits and a certificate as a community health worker specializing in children's behavioral health. The 120-hour internship has a $10/hour stipend for students not yet employed. Deborah Fauntleroy and Martha Kingsbury led curriculum development and the course itself. The tremendous gratitude and respect of their students was evident at the graduation celebration.

 

Pictured from left to right: Marty Kingsbury, Jackie Gelb, Deb Fauntleroy

Over the next two years, the CBH Worker Certificate Program will be delivered 12 times to a total of 240 current and potential new employees at employer worksites across Greater Boston, Greater Springfield, New Bedford, Lawrence and Chelsea. Springfield Technical Community College will be joining Urban College in delivering the courses, with other local community colleges and BA programs across the state planning to participate.

 

CBH Workers are behavioral health professionals who bring community knowledge and life experience to engage, educate, coach and teach self-advocacy skills to parents and youth. Their purpose is to increase patient-centered care and improve the quality and efficiency of care. They are a specialized group of the broader Community Health Worker workforce. CBH Workers play a critical role in reducing health disparities. They engage families who might distrust the healthcare system or have linguistic or cultural barriers to accessing care; they provide a vital communication bridge between families and clinicians, psychiatrists, primary care doctor and others; they help families to communicate their values and beliefs that may impact their adherence to treatment plans; and they help healthcare professionals convey critical health information to linguistically and racially diverse youth and families.

 

The Certificate Program is a project of the CBH Workforce Collaborative, a coalition of children's behavioral health providers and educational non-profits working to reduce mental health disparities and increase quality of care in racial, ethnic and underserved communities through workforce development. The Collaborative's work on this and other projects is facilitated by Jackie Gelb.

 

Training partners are the Black Mental Health Alliance of Massachusetts, the Center for Multicultural Mental Health, the Parent Professional Advocacy League and the Urban College of Boston.

 

Employer partners are Children's Services of Roxbury, Children's Friend and Family, Gandara Center, The Guidance Center of Riverside Community Care, Home for Little Wanderers, Justice Resource Institute, North Suffolk Mental Health and Wayside Youth and Family.

 

DMH and its Children's Behavioral Health Knowledge Center and the Commonwealth Corporation provided funding for the first class of the Certificate Program. DMH is also funding the next class, which begins on January 26, 2015. The Commonwealth Corporation recently awarded two $250,000 grants to expand this training, along with clinician training, through two regional collaboratives in racially and ethnically diverse cities across the state.

 

Congratulations Graduates! 

 

Graduates of the CBH Worker Certificate Program ar, from left to right: Tia Washington, Sumayte Magwood, Ceol Miguel Soto, Chantell Albert, Rochelle Chance, Cheryl Thompson, Roy Lynch, Iranya Rivera, Joshua Roe, Nidia Santiago, Deborah Fauntleroy (Instructor), Deryl Walker.

 

Not pictured: Felicia Walker, Teresa Claud, Syreeta Alves.

 

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DMH YouTube Spotlight

VIDEO - Oilers Ben Scrivens Raises Mental Health Awareness with Goalie Helmet
Oilers Ben Scrivens Raises Mental Health Awareness with-Goalie Helmet-video

Massachusetts Association for Mental Health Inc. Executive Director Bernie Carey was a recent guest on New England Sports News (NESN), giving a Massachusetts perspective on a great mental health awareness story from our friends to the north. Edmonton Oilers goalie Ben Scrivens is lending his name and his face mask to raise awareness and money for the Schizophrenia Society of Alberta, Canada. Producers at NESN featured a segment on Scrivens and invited Bernie Carey to discuss the importance of sports figures talking openly about mental illness. Above is the segment that aired on NESN last month.
 
To learn more about Scrivens and his mission, click on this link to this article about Scrivens' work: http://www.nhl.com/ice/news.htm?id=736905   

MassPRA 13th Annual Conference: Supporting the Recovery Workforce and Lifelong Learning

More than 650 people attended the 13th Annual Massachusetts Psychiatric Rehabilitation Association (PRA) Conference in October at a new venue in Marlboro celebrating this year's theme, "Supporting the Recovery Workforce towards Lifelong Learning." Veronica Carey, PhD, CPRP and Chair of the PRA Academy of Psychiatric Rehabilitation and Recovery, was the keynote speaker with a presentation entitled "Life-Long Learning: A Goal and a Destination."

 

Dr. Carey discussed how increasing educational opportunities for persons served and rehabilitation professionals translates into increased advocacy for all parties and for issues involving recovery. She also presented the latest research and what it says about supporting individuals receiving services:

  • Transform the children's behavioral health system to a system that is family driven and youth guided.
  • Assure that behavioral health services and supports recognize and accommodate the unique needs of older adults.
  • Strengthen Peer Initiatives by approving additional training and specialized curriculum including forensic peer specialist training.
  • Partner with Education to support the development of effective school-based supports and interventions.
  • Develop the Youth and Family Team process as the practice model for children's behavioral health to support evidence based practice.

Several DMH employees presented workshops about learning and employment. Michael Stepansky, DMH Director of Employment, co-presented the sessions "Evidence-Based Supported Employment and the Individual Placement and Support Model;" "Engaging and Supporting Young Adults in Employment: Tools and Tips for Practitioners;" and moderated the panel "Supported Employment and Supported Education." Samantha Sandland, CPS, Mental Health Coordinator at Walpole Way, spoke on "Hope, Promise and Strengths: using G.I.F.T, Gathering Inspiring Future Talent Training for Young Adults Aspiring to be Peer Mentors." Robert Walker from the DMH Office of Recovery and Empowerment, moderated the panel "Putting Lived Experience To Work: Training and Roles of Peers in the Recovery Workforce."

  

Pictured left to right: Steve LaMaster, President, MassPRA; Commissioner Fowler; Amy Lestition, Vice President for Strategic Communication and Outreach, PRA; and Veronica Carey, Chair of the Academy of Psychiatric Rehabilitation and Recovery and conference keynote
Giving Thanks: Celebrating Family,
Friends and Community

 
Bruce Bird, Vinfen; Representative Tacky Chan; Susanna Chan, South Suburban Site and David Hyunh, Atlantic House
Vinfen's Atlantic Clubhouse in Quincy celebrated last month with family, friends and community partners in appreciation for all those involved in the lives of the individuals in DMH services, recognizing their crucial role in supporting recovery for individuals living with mental illness.
 
Lucy Higgins and Laura Anderson shared their personal recovery stories at the event. Appreciation Awards were presented to  Representatives Ronald Mariano and Tackey Chan; Braintree Police Chief Russ Jenkins; Officer Matt Miller on behalf of The Quincy Police Department; Jeff Kunz of the Town of Braintree and Larry Liuzzo on behalf of Mayor Koch of Quincy.
 
Good Neighbor Awards were presented to AAA Appliance Store and The Dairy Farm Convenience Store.
 
Also recognized were Senator John Keenan, Weymouth Police Chief Richard Grimes; Quincy Fire Chief Joseph Barron; Maureen Kelly of TJX; Steve Beck of Big Brothers Big Sisters of America; Ramshackle Entertainment; and Community Friends For Human Services.

Get Healthy Before the New Year: Complete the 2014 WellMASS Health Assessment

 

This year WellMASS and the GIC are offering employees even more benefits for taking or retaking their Health Assessment:

  

Hello Happy. Simple change starts today!
Complete your WellMASS Health Questionnaire TODAY! 
It only takes 10 minutes! 

Go to https://wellmass.staywell.com on your computer or smartphone. 

 

 

WHY TAKE THE HEALTH QUESTIONNAIRE? 

  • Receive a snapshot of your current health 
  • Determine which health areas/behaviors need more attention 
  • Access resources on health topics like nutrition, stress and blood pressure 
  • Your results may qualify you for FREE health coaching 

So you completed the Health Assessment last year? Take it again for a year-to-year-comparison!   


EARN REWARDS: 

  • Your choice of a $20 gift card or a deluxe gym bag pictured right. Please Note: the $20 gift is taxed on your W2, the gym bag is not.
  • Entry into a monthly raffle for an iPad2 -- the sooner you complete the Health Assessment the more raffle entries you receive!
  • Six-month subscription to NutriSavings, a website that provides you with nutrition information about your grocery purchases and discounts for purchasing healthy foods 

FOR MORE INFORMATION:  

GIC-insured employees of the Executive and Legislative Branches and Constitutional Offices are eligible to take the Health Questionnaire. Your Health Questionnaire results are never shared with the GIC, your agency or your health plan.

 

December Wellness Tips

   

 

Stress Management

  

Our lives are fed by a constant stream of positive and negative stressors. Stress is the body's natural response to something it perceives as a threat. Sometimes stress can be useful or constructive. For example, it can give us the motivation to perform at our best to meet challenging work-related goals. Stress also naturally causes our heart rates to increase, blood pressure and blood sugar to rise, and hormone levels to change, all of which can act together to give us the energy we need to push through obstacles and accomplish tasks. However, frequent and uncontrolled stress can take a serious toll on our well-being. In those instances, the same physical mechanisms that worked to help us perform effectively might become exacerbated to the degree that they hinder our effectiveness. In fact, uncontrolled stress can limit concentration, make us more prone to accidents, and undermine our physical and mental health. While it is not always feasible to control or anticipate the stressors that arise in our lives, we can always control our reactions to these situations. By practicing stress relieving tips and coping skills during periods of distress, we can turn negative stress into positive energy as well as keep negativity at bay to protect our health.

 

Using Stress to Fuel Energy:

  • Be prepared. When you're expecting a stressful event, prepare yourself with the knowledge, skills, and tools you will need to handle it.
  • Write down the stressful situation. Break it out into parts and analyze how you will react to each part. This will help you see the whole picture as more manageable.
  • Give yourself a pep talk. Tell yourself that you can handle the situation and talk yourself through the process.
  • Visualize the solution. Walk yourself through the steps you would take to solve the problem.
  • Give the stressor a positive name. For example, if your boss corrects your performance, think of it as constructive and helpful, not as a reprimand.
  • Look at the whole problem from both sides. Try to understand the other person's point of view.
  • See the situation as an opportunity for growth and learning.
  • Learn from your stress. How do you react to your stressors? What can you do to turn stress into positive energy?

Click here for a printable version, take the December Challenge: Manage Your Stress and try a delicious recipe for Spiced Squash with Yogurt Dressing. 

 

DECEMBER WEBINAR: STRESS MANAGEMENT

Tuesday, December 9
10 to 10:30 a.m. and 1 to 1:30 p.m. 

To participate, call 866-740-1260 and log on to http://lifemasters.readytalk.com, and enter access code 7243537.

 

Webster House Exhibit Comes 
 Straight from the Art


L
ooking for creative, heartfelt gifts to give and cards to send this holiday season? Vinfen's Webster House Gallery is your one stop shop.
 
Join them for Straight from the Art, a gallery exhibit, open studio and holiday card sale featuring Webster House artists' most recent works. Straight from the Art opens Thursday, Dec. 11 from 4 to 7 p.m. at 20 Webster Place in Brookline.

The exhibit will continue through Saturday, Feb. 28. For more information and gallery hours, please call 617-739-5461, email: [email protected], or visit their website.
 
  
News from Tunefoolery

Meaningful Shopping and Music at Ten Thousand Villages!

  

 

 

Sunday, Dec. 7

12 to 7 p.m.
Music by Tunefoolery 2 to 4 p.m. and 6 to 7 p.m.
 
Ten Thousand Villages, a leader in the fair trade industry, marketing artisan-crafted home d�cor and gifts, is generously hosting a Community Shopping Event for Tunefoolery Dec. 7  at their Cambridge (Central Square) and Boston (Downtown Crossing) locations.  They will donate 10 percent of their sales between the hours of 12 to 7 p.m. to Tunefoolery. Every purchase makes a difference and customers will receive a gift from Ten Thousand Villages in appreciation.

Tunefoolery musicians will be playing from 2 to 4 p.m. in both locations. Also, supporters of Tunefoolery are invited to join the musicians for a private event (happening at both locations) later in the day from 6 to 7 p.m. with a brief presentation, more music and great fair-trade holiday shopping. Treats provided by the Women's Bean Project and hot chocolate and coffee by Equal Exchange.

Downtown Crossing location: 252 Washington St, Boston (map)
Central Square location: 694 Mass Ave, Cambridge (map)

 

Photo of the Month

Senator Linda Dorcena Forry Sponsors the 11th Annual Friends of Metro Boston Thanksgiving Dinner

 

The 11th Annual Friends of Metro Boston Thanksgiving Dinner tradition was sponsored again this year by host Sen. Linda Dorcena Forry, pictured above with her two children who joined in to serve the full holiday feast. Thanks to the support and generosity of Sen. Dorcena Forry, Billy Higgins, Boston Firefighters, the Friends of Metro Boston, Vinfen and more than 100 volunteers, a fantastic turkey dinner with all the trimmings was served to more than 500 DMH clients in the Metro Boston area.

 

Click here to view all of the photos from this event.

 
Events prior to 2014 are posted on the DMH Photo Gallery on Shutterfly and all current events are 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.