Member Innovations
Cornerstone
Through a partnership with the United Way of Grant County, Cornerstone enhanced access to services via its Web site. The site offers user-friendly point and click access to the entire catalogue of social services within Grant County.
Edgewater
With the support of federal funding, Edgewater sponsors its “No Workshops No Jumpshots” program in the Gary Community School Corporation to address the increasing tardiness, truancy, and absenteeism found in both middle and high schools. In this program, students engage in a yearlong experience of workshops and sports related events designed to improve behavior and to create a sense of positive self-worth.
Gallahue Mental Health Services
Galahue Mental Health Services recently launched a new treatment model focusing on improved outcomes and reduced likelihood of relapse. The stabilization model officially launched at the psychiatric pavilion this year, involves teaching patients life skills in a group setting to help them better cope with their condition and use interpersonal support systems to live happier, more symptom-free lives. It is an evidence-based best practice that is used in some of the best inpatient psychiatric hospitals across the country.
Hamilton Center, Inc.
Spectrum Services, the rehabilitation division of Hamilton Center serving people with developmental disabilities, is now offering music therapy for adults and children with developmental disabilities. Previously, the nearest music therapist was located in Indianapolis. This program hopes to increase socialization and self-expression; improve self-esteem; promote awareness of self, others and the environment; strengthen attention to tasks; reinforce academic activities; build coping skills; and decrease anxiety.
Porter-Starke Services
Porter-Starke Services, a mental health provider, and HealthLinc, a community healthcare provider, have completed their participation in a year-long project aimed at coordinating care for individuals with mental illnesses. The two organizations were chosen to participate in a project conducted by the National Council for Community Behavioral Healthcare. In December, representatives from both agencies joined healthcare organizations from six other states in Washington, D.C. to present their findings.
The collaborative effort helped communities identify ways to coordniate care for the patients who suffer both physical and mental illness. Porter-Starke and HealthLinc noted that nearly one in five Americans has a mental disorder and nearly two-thirds of people with mental illnes do not get the help they need. Mentall illness can also take a toll on people's physical health, with a 2006 federal study revealing that persons with mental illnesses die 25 years younger than the general population, largely due to chronic common medical conditions. Diabetes, hypertension, and coronary artery disease are common medical conditions faced by those with serious mental illness. Often, the mentally ill are too debilitated to seek care from the multiple providers for their mental and physical illness, according to Porter-Starke and HealthLinc.
As a result of participating in the project, HealthLinc screened more than 800 individuals for depression. It also created two behavioral health consultants in conjunction with Porter-Starke Services. "Participating in the National Council's collaborative project showed us new possibilities for expanding access to comprehensive health care for mind and body," said Beth Wrobel, CEO of HealthLinc, formerly known as the Hilltop Clinic. "When organizations in the community work together, we can help people get better and live productive lives," noted Bob Franko, Vice-President of Development and Marketing. He went on to say "the next step will be to work with funding sources to show the effectiveness of collaborative care, while also establishing the necessary billing and payment systems. Its obvious that there is no health without mental health and vice versa."
