BHcare Newsletter

July 2014

Message from Roberta J. Cook, President/CEO

Wow, I don't know how to thank you all for the outpouring of support you showed for BHcare's mission and clients during our May is Mental Health Month activities. If we combine the numbers from all of the events held throughout the month, more than 1,000 BHcare friends and supporters joined us to help raise awareness, celebrate recovery and promote mental health and wellness for all.

Your participation in events like the social club art shows, the Enlightened Lunch, Shoreline Benefit, and our Community Block Party, to name a few, give the clients the opportunity to share their stories, celebrate their successes, and set goals and have hope for the year ahead. I thank you all for your continued support and look forward to seeing you at future events.

Sincerely,

Roberta J. Cook
President/CEO

BHcare's Shoreline Benefit Featuring Cupcake War 2014 was held on May 15 at Owenego Beach & Tennis Club in Branford. 180 of you attended the sold-out event featuring fine foods, a silent auction, music, and of course, delicious cupcakes.

You helped us raise over $26,000 to support our behavioral health, domestic violence and prevention services for the more than 14,000 individuals and families who come to BHcare each year seeking hope, health and recovery.

Thank you to our major sponsors: Guilford Savings Bank, CMHC, Rose & Kiernan, and VNA Community Healthcare. Special thanks to the event committee, including Charlotte Mattei, event chair, as well as to Branford Jewelers and Betty Ann Donegan for their contributions to the event's success.

2014 Cupcake War Winners!

"Crowd Pleaser" winner, JCakes; "Tastiest Treat" winner, Take the Cake (raspberry/chocolate with white chocolate chips), "Best Presentation" winner, Marjolaine Pastry Shop (with the mini pastries on right).

The Great Give 2014

Many thanks to everyone who helped to make The Great Give 2014 a success. Thanks to your generosity, $16,233 was raised in just 36 hours! In addition to your donations, each dollar received additional matching gifts from the Valley Community Foundation ($2,168) and the Community Foundation for Greater New Haven, ($419.98) for a total of $18,820.

Read more here.

Doctor's Corner

APPROVAL RATINGS

Karl-Otto Liebmann, M.D.

Medical Director

We seek approval from others. Consciously or subconsciously, we seek total, unqualified approval.

We express approval of others, often less generously than what we expect for ourselves. We tend to be more generous with disapproval with a sharp eye for other people's failings.

Read full article here.

New Beginnings

Mike lived on the streets for over 15 years. He was not only addicted to cocaine but also struggled with mental health issues. Two years ago, Mike walked through the doors of BHcare where he received therapy, medication and supportive services.

Mike is grateful to have found help through BHcare. He recently reached a milestone of one year of sobriety for the first time in 33 years. "The staff, counselors and doctors at BHcare saved my life," Mike said. "I am now a part of society, with friends, and I have a social life. BHcare gave me a new start."

Click the picture below to listen to more of Mike's story.

Mike

Community Block Party

Nearly 400 of you gathered at BHcare's Community Block Party on May 29 in celebration of Mental Health Awareness Month.

The organization's grounds were transformed into a Country & Western Corral as attendees donned cowboy hats and danced to country music provided by DJ, Phyllis Kaplan. Men, women and children of all ages enjoyed games, crafts, limbo and hoola hoop contests, and a Touch a Truck sponsored by Webster Hose Hook and Ladder of Ansonia.

Read more here.

"Call to Action"Forum

The Greater Valley Substance Abuse Action Council in collaboration with Yale-New Haven Hospital and The Connection Inc.'s New Haven Local Prevention Council sponsored a "Call to Action," a forum focusing on opioid and heroin use and prescription drug misuse/abuse. Nearly 50 representatives from social service agencies, educators and law enforcement personnel attended the forum held on June 16 at the United Way of Greater New Haven.

Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro provided the opening address followed by speakers Lieutenant Kenneth A. Cain # 057 Connecticut State Police, Area Commander, Statewide Narcotics Task Force and Dr. Anthony Tomassoni, Yale-New Haven Hospital Emergency.

Mental Health Month Recap

Enlightened Lunch

Over 50 clients and community members attended this year's Enlightened Lunch that was held on May 22 at the Ansonia National Guard Armory. Guest speaker, State Senator Joe Crisco, talked about legislative issues affecting mental health programs and services.

Art Shows

BHcare's social clubs held their art shows as part of their May is Mental Health Month activities.

OPTIONS held their annual art show on May 2 at James Blackstone Memorial Library in Branford. More than 100 community members and supporters strolled through the show, and a few pieces of art were sold!

The Valley Social Club's art show was held on May 29 during the Block Party in Ansonia. Over 20 different artists displayed their paintings, drawings, poems and crafts.

Both shows were open to the public and the artists were on hand to answer questions regarding their work. Thank you to all who came to show their support, and everyone who volunteered to help.

Capital Report

Several bills for the 2014 Legislative Session were passed that impact BHcare and the clients we serve.

HB 5500 AN ACT CONCERNING PROVIDER AUDITS UNDER THE MEDICAID PROGRAM.

To ensure that audits of providers who receive payments under the state Medicaid program are performed fairly and accurately.

IMPACT: Clerical errors cannot be used for extrapolation. Auditors must consult with licensed health professionals who are experienced in treatment, billing and coding procedures. DSS must publish protocols and policies for the audit to make the process transparent. This increases the minimum aggregate value for extrapolation to $200,000.

SB 417 AN ACT CONCERNING THE PROVISION OF PSYCHIATRIC AND SUBSTANCE USE TREATMENT SERVICES.

To allow certain health care facilities to provide psychiatric and substance use disorder treatment services at locations that are not physically part of the licensed clinic or facility.

IMPACT: This bill allows a "multi-care institution" to offer certain health services at locations not listed on its license. It does so by eliminating the requirement that the Department of Public Health (DPH) issue a license only for the premises and persons named in the application. The bill also specifies a multi-care institution license application process and allows DPH to adopt regulations to implement its provisions. A multi-care institution that intends to offer services at a satellite unit or other location outside of its facilities or satellite units must apply to DPH for approval of the off-site location. The application must be on a form and made in the manner prescribed by the commissioner. Within 45 days of receipt, the commissioner must notify the multi-care institution of its decision to approve or deny the application.

HB 5593 AN ACT CONCERNING DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AND SEXUAL ASSAULT.

To add enhanced civil and criminal protections for victims of domestic violence and sexual assault. Also imparts penalties for safe house location disclosure.

IMPACT: As of 10/1/14 it will be a Class A Misdemeanor to knowingly disclose the location of a safe house.

Guilford Community Fund

Many thanks to the Guilford Community Fund for its ongoing support of our behavioral health services and domestic violence services on the Shoreline. This year the Guilford Community Fund generously donated $5,000 to support mental health and addiction services for Guilford residents and $5,500 to support The Umbrella Center for Domestic Violence Services programming in Guilford. To learn more about the Guilford Community Fund please visit www.guilfordcommunityfund.org/

Mark Your Calendars!

UCDVS Valley Vigil
October 1, 2014
6:30 pm

Place: TBD

A Piece of the Prevention Puzzle Conference
October 1, 2014

8:30 to 3:00 pm

Grassy Hill Lodge, Derby, CT

UCDVS Sound of Hope
October 8, 2014

1:00 pm to 2:00 pm

Long Wharf, New Haven, CT

BHcare Annual Meeting
October 29, 2014

5:30 pm to 9:00 pm

Race Brook Country Club, Orange, CT

Holiday Gala
November 22, 2014

7:00 pm to 12:00 am

Grassy Hill Country Club, Orange, CT

Bowl-2-Benefit
March 14, 2015

9:00 am, 11:30 am, 2:00 pm, 5:00 pm, & 8:00 pm

AMF Lanes, Milford, CT

To learn more and to register, please visit, www.BHcare.org.

How I'm Helping

The Italian American Club of Branford hosted a donation drive for My Sister's Place on May 17. The club collected 74 bags of clothing, shoes and household items.

Many thanks to IA club member and BHcare board member, Charlotte Mattei for organizing the drive.

If you'd like to learn more about how you can help, visit our website at www.BHcare.org or call (203) 736-2601 x1327.

In This Issue

President/CEO Msg

Shoreline Benefit

The Great Give 2014

Employment Salute

Opening Doors