To Our Good Mental Health
October 2022/Issue XXXVII
Federal Grant Awarded -- To Us!

Amazing news! We've been notified of our award of a 4-year, $4 million federal grant from a DHHS agency, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), as a planning, development and implementation grant to become a Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinic (CCBHC). This grant will help us offer comprehensive mental health and substance use services to our community by funding new positions and allow us to develop a more sustainable funding model. The grant will not fund our existing vacant positions, so we will continue to rely on private support to make ends meet and keep our services flowing to our community members in need.  
Mobile Crisis on the Front Lines

West Central mobile crisis response clinician Zack Brock, MS, was mentioned prominently in this Valley News article by Jim Kenyon outlining the need for crisis response in the community. Zack is our superhero, having once been a NH police officer, now a mobile crisis response clinician pursuing a PhD to one day become a child therapist. Many thanks to Zack for sharing this powerful story with Jim, and all of us.

Help us spread the word about the New Hampshire Rapid Response Access Point (NHRRAP) with our new NH crisis helpline magnets. Want a magnet (pictured on the right)? Let us know! This life-saving resource provides 24/7 access to mental health and/or substance use crisis support via telephone or text at 833-710-6477 or chat at NH988.com. When necessary, a Mobile Crisis Response Team (MCRT) will be dispatched to meet you right where you are in NH – in your home, school, or another location in the community.
World Mental Health Day

This year's theme for World Mental Health Day on October 10th is to make mental health and mental well-being for all a global priority. We recognize the importance of prioritizing mental health given the challenges we've faced these past few years. Stress and anxiety continue to rise in people of all ages, so let's take this opportunity to have a conversation about mental well-being. You can start by talking about your own mental health, or simply ask someone how they are feeling. It can start with just a few words!
No Time For The Moon

A new children's book co-authored by our very own medical director, Diane Roston, MD, explores the childhood neurological disease of Acute Flaccid Myelitis (AFD). Published by the CDC, this book is available for free at the CDC publications website (link below). Diane's work highlights the depth and breadth of interests many of our clinicians espouse. Thank you, Diane, for this thoughtful exploration of AFD as a way help children and their parents. And many congratulations on publishing your 2nd children's book!

Download the pdf or order your free print copy of the book at cdc.gov/AFM today!
Here at West Central

Youth CAN Coalition

Join us as we celebrate Red Ribbon Week, the nation's largest and longest-running drug use prevention campaign! Show your support for youth prevention in Claremont and Newport by planting red tulip bulbs at your home, business, or in the community. Get your free bulbs by contacting Scott Blewitt, Youth CAN Prevention Coordinator, at sblewitt@wcbh.org. Watch Scott's video to learn more!

Don't forget to stop by our table at upcoming events in Claremont and Newport. Youth CAN will be at the 6th annual Expo at the Newport Middle High School on October 20th from 6:00-8pm. All are welcome to attend!

We are excited to be a member of the Youth CAN Coalition, a Drug Free Communities program, to strengthen and expand community partnerships to prevent and reduce substance misuse among youth in Claremont and Newport.

Click Here to visit and Like the "Youthcan603" Facebook page.
Celebrating our Staff
Congratulations to the recipients of our most recent Quarterly Employee/Team Recognition Awards (April - June). These employees have been recognized by their peers and supervisors for their exceptional contributions to our mission and work. We are delighted to honor these well-deserving Team members ..

Congratulations!
Join our Team!

Do you have an interest in helping others? There's no more gratifying work than in community behavioral health. We have exciting positions for people from all walks of life, interests, and skills with flexible schedule options for many positions. West Central provides a generous benefits package including our own, brand new Student Loan Assistance Program (SLAP) - eligible employees can receive up to $10,000 over 3 years in loan assistance! West Central is also an approved STAR LRP facility for federal student loan repayment assistance up to $250,000. These two programs are separate from one another. Our staff can apply to either or both!

We extend our most heartfelt appreciation to The Jack and Dorothy Byrne Foundation and to Dana & Martha Robes for providing the initial funding for our newly inaugurated Student Loan Assistance Program. We welcome additional gifts from private donors to help extend the life of the SLAP program so our valued staff can benefit from the generosity of others.

Visit our Careers page to find available positions and find your next professional step to make a world of difference. To learn more, watch this 3-minute video of our staff talking about how they transform lives -- with more than 6,000 views and counting! 

Follow and Like West Central on Social Media
In the Community
Out and About In
Lyme & Canaan

Our table at the Lyme Health & Wellness Fair on Saturday, 9/24, was a wonderful way to reach out to the community and share information about mobile crisis response and distribute Parent Handbooks. Pete and Ruth Bleyler volunteered, as did Lane Celone, to keep the table going as Dave Celone wandered around the Lyme Town Common handing out our new NH crisis helpline magnets. Our many thanks to all volunteers from Community Care of Lyme who were happy to assist and be photographed!

We also had a table at the Canaan Elementary School Fair on September 29th where we met many enthusiastic parents and children. Thank you for stopping by to pick up Parent Handbooks, NH crisis helpline magnets, pens, and also for signing our town appropriation petition again this year! 
Photo: Dave Celone

Youth Mental Health First Aid

Youth Mental Health First Aid is designed to teach parents, family members, caregivers, teachers, school staff, peers, neighbors, health and human services workers, and other caring citizens how to help an adolescent (age 12-18) who is experiencing a mental health or addiction challenge, or is in crisis. West Central is fortunate to have certified instructors who offer trainings to the community via Zoom online. If you would like more details or are interested in hosting a training in your organization, please contact Dave Celone.

AmazonSmile will donate 0.5% of your eligible purchases to West Central when you shop at smile.amazon.com and select us as a recipient!
Do you like what we're doing in our community? If you can make a gift, please do. We're a tax-exempt, 501(c)(3) non-profit serving clients in the Upper Valley and Sullivan County with offices in Lebanon, Claremont, and Newport, NH. Each year, on average, we expend $600,000 in unreimbursed care for vulnerable people who can't afford our services. No gift is too small, and we accept monthly recurring contributions on our online giving page. For more information, please visit our Giving page or contact Dave Celone.

Gifts of all sizes make a difference to help us save lives.
Share This Newsletter...You Just Might Save a Life
This newsletter is sent monthly to West Central staff, Board & Committee members, and our many friends, advocates, volunteers, and donors -- nearly 3,000 in all! Please share it with your friends and family so people remember our name and the work we do as this region's community mental health, substance use disorder, and 24/7 mobile crisis response center.

When people in need know who we are, they'll contact us early, before a crisis happens.

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