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Upcoming
Events
March 11 @ 9:00 am - 5:00 pm
"Ribbon Tying" Partnership in Recovery Turning Point at CarePlus March 11 @ 12:00 pm - 2 :00 pm
2015 Annual Conference
Addressing the Effects of Trauma
in Mental Health and Education:
A Discussion of the Neurosequential Model
with Dr. Bruce Perry
April 20 @ 9:00 am - 5:00 pm
May 14 @ 10:00 am - 12:00 pm
June 3 @ 6:00 pm - 10:00 pm
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2015 Dubnick Scholarship
Deadline is Friday, March 13th
All CarePlus clients who are currently engaged in services and who would like to further their educational or vocational goals are eligible to apply for the scholarship.
If you have clients that you think would benefit from this year's scholarship please encourage them to apply.
Contact Alexis for more information.
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Get Creative!
"Creativity is a function of leadership. It requires navigating uncharted territory and having the courage to face adversity to bring your vision into fruition."
- Linda Naiman
Zen Doodling
How often do you find yourself drawing a little doodle in the margin of your documents during a presentation? Have you ever brought your awareness to the effects it has on your stress levels? Taking little art therapy breaks for yourself throughout the day is a great way to combat anxiety and activate creative thinking. Research Zen Doodling, Mandalas, Yantras, and other techniques to learn how they can help you feel peace.
Magic Music
Do you ever find yourself driving to work with the radio on? How often do you find yourself channel surfing, or settling for a less-than-desirable station? Do you ever consider what that may do for your mental health? Try preparing a few playlists to get your mood right for the day - maybe even tune into a meditation station on Pandora during the work day to be sure you keep your cool!
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For a Happy, Healthy Workplace.
CarePlus Wellness Program
This week is the final sessions for Cycle 8 of "Fitness Camp"! If you have been interested in trying it out, come on Tuesday March 3rd or Thursday March 5th to experience the madness!
Conducted by CarePlus' own Lorraine Gehrig-Mullins, who is also a Certified Personal Trainer. Fitness Camp includes a combination of weight training and cardio exercises done side by side with coworkers and friends!
Cycle 9 will be starting next week with the first session on March 10th. It will be offered on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 5:30-6:30 in Paramus, and runs for four weeks. It is open to all Care Plus employees.
Employees can register for one or both days via carepluswellness.com (password: carewell), or by contacting Kitty, Brigitte, or Lorraine.
The cost for employees with insurance through Care Plus is $20 for one day/$40 for both days (fixed price for whole cycle).
Even if you are not sure that you can commit to the full cycle, be sure to get on the e-mail list for extra motivation to be well.
WANTED: Wellness Champions & Coordinators
We are looking for Wellness Coordinators and Wellness Champions - for each CarePlus location - to help encourage a culture of wellness by promoting participation in wellness activities. The Wellness Coordinator will be the point person at their respective site for Wellness activity information, including organizing and publicizing wellness events and encouraging staff participation. The Wellness Champions will serve as the inspirational voice for their respective work location, demonstrating a passion for wellness and enhancing one's quality of life. If interested,
contact Kitty at 201-265-8200 x369
Teamwork:
If we remove the "I" and replace it with "We", even Illness becomes Wellness!
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Program Marketing
It is important staff to familiarize themselves with the variety of program and services offered through CarePlus so that we can make appropriate referrals for those in need. For that reason, we are working on streamlining information so that it is easily accessible. This involves appropriately updated Program Fact Sheets, comprehensive marketing folders, social media spotlights, and up to date information on the CarePlus website.
A new folder has been added to the M Drive so that staff can quickly access Program Information Sheets. These Fact Sheets can be found in the first folder in 999 General titled _FactSheets.
If you need any materials created, revised, or printed for your program or presentations you will need to utilize the electronic request form. This new system is being used to ensure timely and effective completion of projects.
You may have noticed recent Facebook posts highlighting our adolescent group services. This is the first part of our efforts to market each of our programs to the community.
If you would like to put your team, group or program in the spotlight, contact the ACE team to make arrangements. You can also send positive reviews and feedback for coworkers and clients that go above and beyond.
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News from
Human Resources
Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
Did you know that you have access to resources pertaining to everyday life right at your fingertips? Get educated on what is available to you through the care CarePlus EAP. With this Employee Assistance Program, you will have access to information and resources for family, health, money and much more.
This EAP also features free Webinars, a monthly newsletter and tips for daily living. These are just a few of the resources you will find... there is much more! Right now, you or someone you know may need assistance. When you are searching for information and/or resources they could just be a click away!
Be sure to explore the website: http://www.careeap.net/
Login: CPNJ Password: 123
Webinar of the Month
Practical Strategies to Stay Safe - March 17, 2015, at 12 p.m. and 2:00 p.m. Eastern Time
Learn strategies to keep you and your family safe in case of natural disasters, terrorist attacks, or other emergencies.
If you have any questions, please contact Susan Bell in the Human Resources Department at susanb@careplusnj.org or call 201-843-5218, extension 227.
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Changes in Parking
610 Valley Health Plaza
Due to circumstances beyond our control, effective Monday, March 9th, staff can no longer park across the street (formerly, Children's Museum and Valley Health Systems). If you park across the street, you will be ticketed AND towed as construction for Valley Health Systems is beginning.
Administration has explored options and as an initial step while other options are being explored, we will engage in a Pilot Program to hire a valet parking company for usage during the hours of 10AM through 4 PM effective Monday, March 2nd.
So what does this mean?
All staff and clients who arrive between the hours of 10 AM and 4PM, will pull up to the designated Valet attendants as noted with signage, and proceed to allow the Valet attendant to park their car. As with typical Valet services you will receive a Valet parking ticket. Once you/a client is ready to retrieve the vehicle, the process is simply to return to the Valet station, provide the Valet attendant with your ticket, and wait for your car to be retrieved. Please note that providing "tips" to the Valet attendants is not required, nor encouraged or necessary.
Additionally, as staff, please note that you will need to retrieve your vehicle prior to 4 PM, if you are working beyond that time and proceed to park your vehicle in a designated parking spot in our parking lot at 610 Valley Health Plaza, again, as the Valet service is only contracted until 4 PM. It is also important to note that when parking your vehicle in the lot prior to 10AM you are not permitted to park along the brick wall on the right and the left of the main doors as those will be designated client parking spaces. If you park in the back of the building you should be aware that your car may get blocked in by the valet system.
We are aware that as we unveil this pilot project there will be adaptations that will need to be made. We are doing the very best we can to accommodate all of our staff and clients to minimize the inconvenience of limited parking spaces. Please note that we do have ample parking in the Equinox parking lot and any carpooling that staff can coordinate would be greatly appreciated.
We appreciate your patience as this new process begins.
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Spotlight: Kinship
"The staff was amazing... helping me to get my granddaughter all the things she needed. She was screaming with excitement when she received her stuff, especially her sneakers."
The team members at Kinship Services provide resources and create miracles for family members who take legal guardianship of children in their lives. These CarePlus staff members are passionate about their work and are grateful to be making a difference in so many lives.
Sometimes the Kinship representatives are the only people that these families know to turn to, and it is incredibly fulfilling to help them out and put smiles on their faces. Like all young people these children want to be in style, but often cannot afford the best clothes, toys, or technology - Kinship provides the support to make these things possible.
One of the most rewarding experiences for the Kinship team is spending face-to-face time with the caregivers. This is when the guardians, often grandparents, share their stories of how they became the primary caregivers, as well as the sacrifices they needed to make. They also share feedback on what they get out of the program, which usually involves thankfulness and happiness in both the caregiver and the child.
"Kinship is heaven sent and it is a blessing to be able to get more than I thought from Kinship. I needed a computer for my grandson, and the staff helped me to be able to get the boys coats and shoes for the winter too!"
"I just wanted to ask you to extend our personal gratitude to the Kinship Program for all the years of assistance. This program provided financial relief, particularly during some very rough patches. It aided with summer camps when my nephew was little. As he grew, the program was useful in helping a growing boy with clothes and other pertinent items. My nephew tells me that it's like Christmas every time I get stuff from Kinship helping."
Learn more about Kinship Care Services...
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Bergen County: Stigma-Free Zone
Bergen County Stigma-Free Towns:
Bergenfield
Demarest
Fair Lawn
Franklin Lakes
Hackensack
Little Ferry
Lodi
Midland Park
Northvale
Paramus
Park Ridge
Ridgewood
River Vale
Teaneck
Tenafly
Westwood
Woodcliff Lake
Wycoff
Strides in Breaking Stigma
Watching the Stigma-Free campaign grow has been inspiring on many levels. Bergen County is lucky to have so many compassionate individuals who are willing to volunteer their time and efforts for the greater good.
Over the past few months:
- Paramus SFZ offered the first free Mental Health First Aid training in the county.
- Large Paramus SFZ signs are now posted on bus stops.
- Park Ridge SFZ offered a successful Youth Mental Health 101 community presentation.
- Park Ridge SFZ will be promoting a free Mental Health First Aid training taking place at the end of March.
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Development Committee
Annual Courage Awards Gala Planning
Last month we had our first Development Committee to get the ball rolling for this years Gala. We shared ideas, set goals, and picked our honorees. There are a lot of exciting developments that we cannot wait to share! Official announcements will be sent out as we put all the details in concrete during the TWO meetings in March.
Join us in Eisenhower on Tuesday, March 3 at 9 am for a fun and productive meeting.
Gala Committee Meeting
Tuesday, March 3, 2015 9AM
Tuesday, March 24, 2015 6PM
Thursday, April 16, 2015 9AM
Tuesday, May 5, 2015 6PM
Thursday, May 21, 2015 9AM
Golf Committee Meetings
Tuesday, June 16, 2015 9AM
Tuesday, July 7, 2015 6PM
Tuesday, July 28, 2015 9AM
Tuesday, August 18, 2015 6PM
Tuesday, September 1, 2015 9AM
Do not hesitate to be an infrequent flyer at these meetings. If you can only make a few meetings that is okay - every little bit of time counts! Your support is helpful and valued.
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"Ribbon Tying" Event Joins Area Agencies
in Fight Against Substance Abuse
When: Wednesday, March 11th from 12:00 pm through 2:00 pm
Where: CarePlus Paramus headquarters, located at 610 Valley Health Plaza, Paramus, NJ
Care Plus NJ, Inc. ("CarePlus") headquartered in Paramus, NJ and Turning Point Inc. of Paterson have partnered to create an innovative program to help adolescents and adults who are struggling with substance use challenges and, in some cases, mental health disorders.
Turning Point at CarePlus - referred to as "Partnership in Recovery" - takes over 50 years of
successful and specialized treatment experience from both organizations to offer a truly innovative program. This Partnership enables those seeking treatment to access all of the care that they need through a "single door." The recent alarming rise in opioid use in particular, especially among young people, supports the need for expanded treatment options. The integrated care, single point of entry approach assures that wherever the client enters the system of care, they have access to the services they need to achieve recovery.
The adult program incorporates a 12-Step Model of Recovery, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, and Motivational Enhancement approach to recovery. The complementary treatment philosophies and practices offer a combination of individual and group therapies and an integrated care approach that supports the individual, unique and often complex treatment needs of clients in the program.
Turning Point at CarePlus is making concerted efforts to focus their combined attention to serving adolescents with substance use disorders, many of whom have co-occurring mental health issues. The Focus on Resilience with Assistance, Resources & Determination (FORWARD) program offers assessment, substance use education, and linkage to both individual and group therapies. According to Joe Masciandaro, CEO, CarePlus , "The new adolescent programs are designed to educate and support the unique needs of young substance users, and work to return them to a healthy level of functioning at home, in school, and in the community."
Turning Point at CarePlus offers both traditional outpatient (weekly or bi-weekly session) and intensive outpatient treatment (3-4 days per week) at the 610 Valley Health Plaza facility in Paramus. Psychiatric evaluation, family therapy and other complementary interventions are also available on a sliding fee scale.
While the "Partners in Recovery" have been working together in practice since July 2013, they are officially announcing the programs to the public with a "Ribbon Tying" ceremony. The goal of the event is to introduce the program to local officials, educators, medical professionals and the public, while providing some education of the growing problems of substance use and it's affect on both the individual and their support system.
"While many organizations kick off their new programs with a ribbon cutting, we thought that was just the opposite of what we were trying to convey," stated Manuel Guantez, CEO, Turning Point. "Our goal is to show that by joining together, we can truly use our combined experience and practices to provide some of the best substance use disorder programming available."
The Ribbon Tying event will take place on Wednesday, March 11th from 12:00 pm through 2:00 pm at the CarePlus Paramus headquarters, located at 610 Valley Health Plaza.
For more information or to register for this free event, please visit www.CarePlusNJ.org/RibbonTying or call Jamisin Saracino at 201-265-8200 x5332.
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Be AWARE
Posters and flyers are available to print from our website. Be sure to download it and share it with staff and clients! |
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