May 2023 Issue
Volume XLIV
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A Note from our President & CEO
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May is Mental Health Awareness Month. It is important to be not just aware of the behavioral health needs in our region, but also cognizant of the immense challenge of community mental health centers, private practitioners, and hospital groups in providing services within our community. Workforce challenges have been prevalent through New Hampshire, regardless of industry, but the mental health industry has been especially hard hit. Throughout the past 12 months, the state's 10 community mental health centers have seen an unprecedented vacancy rate that topped 405 positions at its high point and currently is hovering around 392 vacancies. The NH Community Behavioral Health Association anticipates that the statewide deficit to fund the cost of hiring, training, paying wages and benefits and providing the necessary services at $28 million dollars. At this time, the state is debating the biennial budget that can support critical increases to Medicaid reimbursement for Community Mental Health Centers and other health care professionals.
Any resident that values the opportunity of having ready access to mental health care should be encouraged to voice your support to your elected officials regarding the budget’s Medicaid allocation.
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The Message of Mental Health Awareness Month
Mental Health America's (MHA's) 2023 Mental Health Month campaign is focused on how surroundings impact mental health, and is calling for individuals to look around and look within. Topics that MHA is specifically addressing include:
Safe and Stable Housing, Healthy Home Environments,
Neighborhoods and Towns, and The Outdoors and Nature.
Since 1949, Mental Health America, affiliates, and countless others have observed May as Mental Health Month by reaching out to millions of people to spread the word that mental health is something everyone should care about.
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Congratulations to our Fred Hesch Award Recipient 2023
Gillian Bemis!
Jill is a 24-year employee of West Central team, serving most recently as a Clinical Supervisor in our Child Program.
This award was created in 2020 and is presented annually to a West Central Behavioral Health employee (clinical or administrative staff) with eight or more years of tenure who best embrace Fred Hesch’s commitment to serving West Central’s mission.
From Jill's nomination statement:
"Jill goes above and beyond every day to make sure that our clients are getting quality care and her teams and our programs are well supported. Jill is valued and highly respected by her colleagues at WCBH, as well partners in the community. There have been so many WCBH staff members who have had the opportunity to learn from Jill over the years. She gives 100% to everything she does, including the training and mentoring of her supervisees. She gives that same level of dedication to every child and family with whom she works."
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West Central's Critical Time Intervention (CTI)
Program Explained
Critical Time Intervention, otherwise referred to as CTI, is a time-limited evidence-based practice that mobilizes support for society’s most vulnerable individuals during periods of transition.
Ben Albers and Debra Monk, from our CTI program, share their experiences at West Central where they meet individuals who are at at a Critical TIME in their lives.
"Often individuals who have been hospitalized due to an involuntary admission, upon discharge do not have a strong support system, and lack connections and trust within their community. The role of a CTI Coach often requires strengthening or building their connections, rebuilding trust, and walking alongside them within the community, from and wherever they are at."
The CTI Team works to get their clients connected and engaged by the end of the 9-month service after which the CTI coach steps away and the service is ended.
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Please join us at AVA to Celebrate Mental Health Awareness Month! |
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Credit: Heather Stearns, Reconnecting Upcycled Material
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Generously sponsored by:
The Jack and Dorothy Byrne Foundation
Mt. Roeschmore Foundation
Doug and Leslie Williamsonca
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On exhibit: an assemblage of breaths | May 12-June 17 at AVA Gallery and Art Center. A group exhibition inspired by Mental Health Awareness.
An Artist reception will be held on Saturday, May 20 from 5-6PM.
Following the Artist reception beginning at 6PM
Celebrate Art, Music, and Poetry with Los Lorcas from Woodstock, VT.
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Poets Partridge Boswell and Peter Money, along with guitarist Nat Williams, fuse poetry and music in a passionate and surprising mash-up. Los Lorcas blur boundaries between spoken word and song, weaving poetry with Andalusian ballads, blues, rock, folk, reggae, hip hop, Americana and jazz in pursuit of the cante jondo (deep song) Federico Garcia Lorca so ardently championed.
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Bill Metcalfe, LICSW, the former Director of Mobile Crisis Services, has transitioned into a new role supporting our CCBHC (Certified Community Mental Health Clinic) implementation as the Director of Specialized Programming. An important focus of this new position is to develop programming for veterans, members of the armed forces and their families. Bill served 6 years in the US Army, earning the rank of Sergeant and was awarded the Army Achievement Medal. He is very excited to have the opportunity to do more work with military personnel, veterans, and their families.
Craig Steckowski has joined West Central to support CCBHC efforts as the Director of Strategic Initiatives. Craig is a licensed Marriage and Family Therapist who has experience working with individuals with mental health and substance use disorders. Craig will be focusing on re-establishing and expanding co-occurring disorders treatment. He will also serve as our liaison collaborating with our existing community partners and developing new relationships in the region.
Joining our Executive Leadership team is Dana Michalovic as our new Director of Development and Community Relations. After an initial career in sales and marketing, and relocating to the Upper Valley 30 years ago, Dana chose mission driven work in the nonprofit sector. She has served in multiple leadership roles, including the implementation of an Aging and Disability Resource Center while Associate Director for Grafton County Senior Citizens Council and was the former Executive Director of Good Neighbor Health Clinics. Dana has her MBA in Leadership from Franklin Pierce University and a degree from Bates College in Psychology. She appreciates each day, and all that the Upper Valley offers, especially being outdoors and with family.
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Mental Health Month Inspirations! |
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A picture of Scott Blewitt, Prevention Coordinator from YouthCAN, with music group Recycled Percussion and Scarlett Lewis from Choose Love along with organizers of their event in April. |
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West Central's Fundraising Team at the Steppin' Up to End Violence 5k Walk in Claremont in support of Turning Points Network.
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a Bike Rodeo!
On Sunday, May 21st from 11am-1pm at Richards School parking lot, Newport, NH
Free & open to all!
Lots of free give away's, bike inspection safety, a rodeo course and more!
Sullivan county 4H, Newport Recreation Department,
Newport Police & Richards School PTO.
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A "crisis" doesn't have to rise to the level of a life-threatening event to call or text the NH Rapid Response helpline at 833-710-6477, or to chat online with a crisis clinician at NH988.com.
When needed, the NH Rapid Response call center will alert our mobile crisis response clinicians. They'll visit you in-person, 24/7 wherever you are in NH. We say, "call early, call often" to avoid a life-threatening situation. Or when you just need to hear another person's voice.
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We need your voice!
Do you have lived experience?
Are you a family member of a person experiencing behavioral health issues?
Are you a community stakeholder interested in getting involved?
We are looking to increase the involvement of individuals with lived experience, mental health/substance use issues, their family members and community stakeholders and partners to support our organization’s leadership and to ensure our services are culturally competent, accessible to all, and of the highest quality. The WCBH Advisory Group gives participants the opportunity to have a voice in order to better impact the way we meet their needs and the needs of the community.
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New Hampshire Gives is a statewide 24-hour online fundraising event that is designed to build community, connect donors to local nonprofits & generate excitement about the
nonprofit sector.
#nhgives
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Join our Team!
Would you like to help others? There's no more gratifying work than in community behavioral health. Learn more at our careers page about our available positions.
We provide a generous benefits package including our own, newly-launched 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 one or both!
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Do you like what we're doing in our community? We're a tax-exempt, 501(c)(3) charitable organization serving clients in the Upper Valley and Sullivan County, NH with clinics in Lebanon, Claremont, and Newport. Each year, on average, we offer $600,000 in unreimbursed charitable services to clients who can't otherwise afford care. No gift is too small. Visit our Giving page to learn more about gifts of stock or securities, real estate or other property, or to designate West Central as a beneficiary in your will or estate plans.
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West Central Behavioral Health’s mission is to promote the health and quality of life of individuals, families and communities by providing treatment for mental illness and substance use disorders, while helping to reduce the stigma associated with these challenging conditions. |
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