The Be Well Bulletin is intended to share with you, our friends,
some of the important things Provident is seeing, doing, and learning.
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A note from Kevin Drollinger,
Executive Director
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It's been an incredible few months with the long-awaited launch of 988, and I am so proud of what Provident has accomplished as a team. I also recognize how difficult the world feels right now. I find myself swinging back and forth between elated by the work we're doing and overwhelmed by the enormity of the realities we face as mental healthcare providers.
I've turned to the below parable when I need a reminder of the difference we make. Just one answered call, just one hour of therapy, just one check-in with a psychiatric client, just one day of Afterschool, just one woman at Mary Ryder Home... those singular moments are life-changing and life-saving for the people we serve. They're also how I measure success.
Thank you to our entire team – board, staff, and supporters – for everything you do!
Thank you for caring enough to care.
Kevin
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It all started when...
A young girl was walking on a beach upon which thousands of starfish had been washed up during a terrible storm. When she came to each starfish, she would pick it up and throw it back into the ocean. People watched her with amusement.
She had been doing this for some time when a man approached her and said, "Why are you doing this? Look at this beach! You can't save all these starfish. You can't begin to make a difference!"
The girl seemed crushed, suddenly deflated. But after a few moments, she bent down, picked up a mother starfish, and hurled it as far as she could into the ocean. Then she looked up and replied,
"Well, I made a difference for that one!"
The man looked at the girl inquisitively and thought about what she had done and said. Inspired, he joined her in throwing starfish back into the sea. Soon others joined, and the starfish were saved.
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Provident's Crisis Services Team successfully launched the new 988 on July 16, answering calls for Missouri as a local call center, and as the sole state backup center. Provident is also serving as one of only 14 backup centers for the national line.
"Provident has been a trusted voice on the other end of crisis calls for over 60 years. We have a best-in-class program, with the experience and knowledge to help people through their most difficult moments," said Director of Clinical Services Lindsay Jeffries.
The team had a 95% answer rate in July and a 99% answer rate for the first week in August.
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Provident Named
Top Workplace
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We can officially call ourselves an award-winning team... for the 5th year in a row!
Provident was named one of the region's Top Workplaces for 2022 by the St. Louis Post-Dispatch.
"We are especially gratified because this award is given based on feedback from employees," said Julie Ann Breneman, Director of Human Resources. "It shows the impact of the work we're doing to make Provident a respected place that lets our staff know how much we value them and provides them with job satisfaction."
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Sending off Summer
in Afterschool
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Provident's Afterschool program had another successful summer serving children in St. Louis! We welcomed over 150 children and families at Woodland, Fairview, Lexington, and St. Francis Cabrini schools, offering academic enrichment as well as activities like yoga, art, dance, and end-of-summer celebrations.
"Our summer program provided enrichment activities led by our amazing staff and field trips that focused on creativity and fun," said Provident Executive Director Kevin Drollinger. "The program fulfilled a community need for our school site partners and the families we serve."
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Mental Health
First Aid Training
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Clinical Site Supervisor Elizabeth Reinberg recently led a mental health first aid training for students, Mary Ryder Home leadership team, PCS team members, and members of the counseling department.
The filled-to-capacity class was funded by a SAMHSA grant in partnership with the Missouri Institute of Mental Health and the Mental Health Missouri First Aid team.
The course is a skills-based training that teaches attendees how to identify, understand and respond to signs and symptoms of a mental health or substance use challenge.
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Getting the Word Out
for 988
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Crisis Line Associate Director Shelby Zurick Beasley did an interview on KMOX as part of Provident's efforts to share life-saving information with the public.
"We had adequate staffing to meet the needs of the callers. We had additional people and we had people on call if it got busier. We were prepared to meet the call volume," said Beasley during an interview.
Provident was also covered in a segment on KSDK.
Thank you to Board Member Tom Ackerman for his part in sharing information on KMOX.
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Engagement, Creativity for Mary Ryder Home Ladies |
Samaria Crawford, in her role as Residential Support Coordinator at Mary Ryder Home, noticed that what residents seemed to need most were activities that engaged them in thinking, creativity, and conversation with each other.
"We had been isolated so much with Covid," Samaria said. "They needed an intimate get-together where they could gather and communicate."
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Each day, you’ll be surrounded by dedicated, committed people focused on a common goal of making a difference by helping others lead healthier, richer lives.
We take our jobs seriously, treat each other with respect and integrity, and learn and grow in our careers. These are just some of the reasons why Provident has been named a Top Workplace by the St. Louis Post Dispatch for four consecutive years!
Current openings include therapists, crisis intervention specialists, youth support workers, nurse assistant, dietary aide, and office administrator.
Click here to view a full listing of available job opportunities with Provident Inc./Mary Ryder Home.
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Become part of one of the region’s
most-respected behavioral healthcare teams
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Our Mission
Building brighter futures through exceptional behavioral health services, especially for those with the greatest need.
Our Vision
Mentally healthy communities through
quality behavioral health services accessible to all.
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Provident Behavioral Health | 314.533.8500 | info@providentstl.org | ProvidentSTL.org |
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