BERKS COUNTY Healthy Transitions Grant A FOCUS ON YOUTH & YOUNG ADULTS 2014-2019 In the summer of 2014, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) announced a new grant program, “Now is the Time” Healthy Transitions: Improving Life Trajectories for Youth and Young Adults with or at Risk for Serious Mental Health Conditions” (Short Title, NITT Healthy Transitions (NITT-HT). The purpose of the grant program was to improve access to treatment and support services for youth and young adults ages 16-25 that either have or are at risk for developing a serious mental health condition.
Individuals who are age 16-25 are at high risk of developing a mental illness or substance use disorder and are at high risk for suicide. Unfortunately, these youth are among the least likely to seek help and, as a result, they may “fall through the cracks” and not receive the help they need to assume safe and productive adult roles and responsibilities. The Pennsylvania Department of Human Services recognized the need for additional supports for this population and in October 2014, the PA Healthy Transitions Partnership was selected as one of sixteen sites in the nation to participate in NITT-Healthy Transitions grant program.
This project, publication/report/etc. was developed [in part] under grant number SM61915 from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Service Administration (SAMHSA), U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). The views, policies, and opinions expressed are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect those of SAMHSA or HHS. WELCOME MESSAGE
December 2019
Dear Stakeholders,
It is with both great feelings of satisfaction and sadness that I provide this letter of introduction to the Final Report of our Healthy Transitions Grant. This report covers the period October 2014 through September 2019 and encompasses the expenditure of $1,158,340.
The grant was funded through the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMSHA) and administered by the Healthy Transitions Partnership of the Pennsylvania Department of Human Services (DHS). Berks County was fortunate to be chosen along with Bucks and Washington Counties to serve as “local laboratories”. The focus was to develop, implement, and evaluate comprehensive, engagement, infrastructure, policy and service delivery appropriate to serve youth, ages 16 – 25 years old who have been identified as having a serious mental health Edward B. Michalik, Psy.D condition or at risk of developing one and from the community Administrator, Berks County Mental at large. Health/Developmental Disabilities Program The narratives centered within this report have been utilized to Executive Director, Berks County develop innovative and creative strategies designed to develop Area Agency on Aging programs and methods to increase awareness, enhance peer and family supports, engage with outreach and connect young people to appropriate treatment. I believe you will be both uplifted and impressed with what has been accomplished in a few short years. PAGE 4 HEALTHY TRANSITIONS REPORT 2019
HEALTHY TRANSITIONS GRANT
The Berks County Mental Health/ GOALS OF THE GRANT Developmental Disabilities (MH/DD) Program, along with Bucks and Washington Counties, were invited by the PA Healthy Transitions Increase awareness about early Partnership to participate in the grant as “local indications of signs and symptoms laboratories” to implement the comprehensive 1 for serious mental health concerns awareness, engagement, infrastructure, policy and service delivery approaches.
Identify action strategies to use when a serious mental health concern is detected 2
Outreach and engagement Provide training to provider and 7 community groups to improve 3 services and supports specific to this age group Referrals to treatment 8 Enhance peer and family supports 4 9 Coordination of care Develop effective services and interventions for youth, young 5 adults and their families Evidence informed treatment 10 Screening and detection 6 Develop practice guidelines for services and supports for youth - 11 common intake, service plans, and shared data base HEALTHY TRANSITIONS REPORT 2019 PAGE 5 YEAR 1 HIGHLIGHTS 2014-2015 Building The Foundation – Developing Partnerships
The period of “emerging adulthood,” which includes late adolescence and early adulthood, (generally including ages 16 through 25), is a time of life when young people typically experience many changes and challenges. Challenges are exacerbated by the presence of a serious mental health condition. In fact, emerging adulthood is the time of life during which people are most likely to experience a serious mental health condition. Challenges related to having a mental health condition can disrupt a young person’s development during this period of life; however, the services that are available for this population were developed either for children or older adults and have not been modified to match young people needs and preferences. It is in this time of life when young people are least likely to access mental health services or remain in services if they do access them. Barriers to accessing services include the fear of stigmatization of their mental health challenge, as well as the perception that the services are not engaging, helpful, or relevant to them. The Healthy Transitions initiative was created to address these barriers.
Hired Program Manager Exeter May Days In order to give the Healthy Transitions grant the The first awareness event through the grant took time and attention it deserved, the Berks County place at Exeter May Days Community Festival on MH/DD Program utilized grant money to hire May 15 & 16, 2015. At the event, 100 youth, young Lauren Heydt as the Healthy Transitions Program adults and community members were provided Manager. information about wellness, mental health conditions and suicide prevention. Danielle Knox, Working in conjunction with Sheila Bressler, was also recruited to participate in the Healthy Berks County CASSP Coordinator, Lauren was Transitions Leadership Team as a youth partner. responsible for working with the Leadership Team, the Healthy Transitions providers, County staff and the PA Healthy Transitions Partnership to develop a yearly strategic plan and budget and then ensure that the plan was carried out.
Lauren’s energy and passion for this age group was unstoppable. Her ideas and creativity were the driving force behind what has been accomplished throught this grant. PAGE 6 HEALTHY TRANSITIONS REPORT 2019
Leadership Team Developed The Healthy Transitions Leadership Team was comprised of system partners, family partners and youth partners. The system partners included representatives from: mental health/ developmental disabilities, drug and alcohol, children and youth, juvenile probation, education, employment, behavioral health managed care and adult probation. The youth/young adult partners were between the ages of 16-25 and were currently or had received behavioral health services. The family partners had a child between the ages 16-25 who were currently or who had received behavioral health services. The purpose of the Leadership Team was to provide input and oversight regarding the development, implementation and management of the Healthy Transitions Grant. The Leadership Team was a significant part of making the Healthy Transitions project successful.
Meet the Leadership Team YOUTH PARTNERS
ALEXA MELENDEZ Youth Partner and now a Certified Peer Specialist
“Most memorable moment of the past five years with the grant: The first Strike out the Stigma event before I was a team member and getting to experience something so awesome and wonderful. I knew from that moment I needed to be a part of this team. Also, we were able to continue events and assist in opening up new clubhouses and programs that we DANIELLE KNOX needed so badly in our community.” Youth Partner “Favorite part about being involved with the Leadership CAITLIN WASSON Team and Healthy Transitions Youth Partner and now a Certified Peer Specialist grant: Being able to connect with the community and seeing their “The most memorable moment of the grant was enthusiasm for mental health going on the last retreat where I got to see my awareness.” friends from other counties one last time. We had become like family and it was such a hard thing KELSEY STAMM for it to end but I learned so much and made an impact. I am so thankful for this experience Youth Partner and being able to learn and grow into myself ARIANA BROOKS and do something that makes an impact in our community.” Youth Partner HEALTHY TRANSITIONS REPORT 2019 PAGE 7
SYSTEM PARTNERS JEFFREY GREGRO Berks County Juvenile Probation Deputy Chief
“Best part of being part of the Healthy Transitions Leadership Team- The ability to be on the forefront of an initiative that changes lives and educates people to remove the stigma of mental illness. Most memorable moment of the past five years with the grant - The large scale events have been the most memorable, as was Alexa YVONNE STROMAN becoming a peer support specialist. It brought Council on Chemical Abuse things full circle and reinforced a sense of accomplishment.” “The best part of being on the Healthy Transitions Leadership Team was the coming together of agencies, organizations, parents and youth BRENDAN L. HARKER to address issues and concerns that impact youth who have been Berks County Adult Probation Deputy Chief identified with a mental health “Having an opportunity to help young adults in disorder. Every contribution was our community with mental health problems, received, nurtured and implemented giving them a place to go, or resources to help to respond to the needs of youth and them. Helping to remove the stigma associated young adults.” with mental health problems. Reading High starting their Aevdium Club program, and hearing about the kids going to the other schools MICHELE RUANO-WEBER doing outreach. That was so cool. I think the Berks County MH/DD Program Deputy “Strike out the Stigma” and “Put the Stigma on Administrator Ice” events really helped bring awareness to our mission. Too often those of us involved in social “The best part of being part of the services are aware of options and resources, but Healthy Transitions Leadership Team the general public are unaware of programs and was the creation of an infrastructure resources that are available in the community. “ for transition age youth. The most memorable moment of the past five years with the grant was being a part of the awareness/anti stigma activities. SARA GEORGE WENDY SEIDEL The most successful part of the Berks Berks County Intermediate Unit Berks County Children and County Healthy Transitions Leadership Youth Services Team was the growth in the leadership SHERRY BROSS of the youth who were part of the team.” Community Care Behavioral Health LYNN ZALE Organization Office of Vocational Rehabilitation
SHEILA BRESSLER YVELISSE GONZALEZ Berks County CASSP Coordinator Office of Vocational Rehabilitation JODI FOSTER Community Care Behavioral Health Organization PAGE 8 HEALTHY TRANSITIONS REPORT 2019
FAMILY PARTNERS
PATTY BRENNER Family Partner / Kutztown University Counselor Educator - NAMI KU Advisor
“Best part of being part of the Leadership Team: Helping with the coordination of services for youth in Berks ages 16 - 25 with mental health issues who needed support, and the ability to work with so many who are passionate about turning the tide on mental health issues to hope-filled rather than hopeless. My favorite part was watching the Youth take charge in October of 2018 to coordinate and plan the Start of My Story Conference.”
REV. THAEDA FRANZ, PHD. Family Partner/Mother to young adults with MH diagnoses “As the mother of youth/young adults with mental health MARLA BROOKS diagnoses, I was used to being ignored by the system Family Partner designed to help my child. Being a part of the Healthy Transitions Leadership Team gave me the voice I never had before. My input was sought and I felt empowered to help make a difference for youth and families impacted by mental health issues.”
We cannot always build the future for our youth, but we can build our youth for the future. FRANKLIN D. ROOSEVELT HEALTHY TRANSITIONS REPORT 2019 PAGE 9
Supporting Wellness and Resiliency Conference September 16, 2015
This conference was held in partnership with Community Care Behavioral Health (CCBH) Organization and was the first of many opportunities to provide training to providers and community members on how to improve services and supports specific to youth and young adults. Grant money was used to fund Dr. James Joseph who was selected by the Healthy Transitions Leadership Team as the key note speaker to provide information at the conference about adolescent brain development and wellness.
Provider Partners and Data Collection Threshold Rehabilitation Services, Inc., Holcomb Behavioral Health Systems and the Greater Reading Mental Health Alliance volunteered to partner with the Berks County MH/DD Program to help carry out the Healthy Transitions grant initiatives.
The three services they identified to be a part of this grant were: • Threshold – Site Based Psychiatric Rehabilitation (Hope Springs Clubhouse) • Holcomb Behavioral Health - Mobile Psychiatric Rehabilitation • Greater Reading Mental Health Alliance – Certified Peer Support Services
All three providers applied for and received waivers for these programs to be able to provide services to 16 & 17 year olds. Typically, only individuals ages 18 and older can receive these services.
All three providers were trained in the evaluation component of the grant and data was collected on 12 different domains for any 16-25 year old who received the above mentioned services during the grant period.
Evaluations were completed with the consumers within 30 days of entering the service, every six months the consumer continued to be involved in the service, and at discharge. Providers were asked to complete the evaluations with the youth and young adults and then submitted the completed evaluations to the PA Healthy Transitions Partnership for data entry and analysis. The Berks County MH/DD Program and these three providers were able to request reports on the collected data at any time as well as view “real time” data through the dashboard that was available online. PAGE 10 HEALTHY TRANSITIONS REPORT 2019
Data was collected from 119 Berks County youth and young adults. Areas where there was improvement from the baseline evaluation to the final evaluation included these key findings: • Increase in Social Connectedness (15.91%) • Decrease in Psychological Distress (8.51%) • Improved Living Stability (6.38%) • Improved Overall health (6.25%) • Over 80% ended their final interview with a positive outcome in 9 of the 12 domains.
Youth who participated in the Statewide Youth and Young Adult Network and received services from one of the three providers improved in 9 out of 12 of the domains in comparison to their peers who did not participate in the Statewide Network who improved in 5 out of 12 domains. These Network members showed an improvement of 17% to 21% in the areas of Overall Health, Daily Functioning, Psychological Distress, and Social Connectedness.
If you always do what you’ve always done, you always get what you’ve always gotten JESSICA POTTER HEALTHY TRANSITIONS REPORT 2019 PAGE 11 YEAR 2 HIGHLIGHTS 2015-2016 Expanding Services – Engaging Youth
Hope Springs Clubhouse Opened Hope reinforces recovery. Hope Springs Clubhouse is a Psychiatric Rehabilitation Program that provides services for 16-25-year-olds with a serious mental H represents Healing, the first illness. As a provider of transitional age youth services, Hope step to recovery: Springs is helping bridge the gap between the child service O represent Opportunity, system and the adult service system. Hope Springs Clubhouse we are a resource to provide offers unique educational and vocational services in order to opportunities and support for support its members in reaching goals of attaining meaningful recovery: roles. Assistance with finishing high school, enrolling in P represents Potential, when college including financial aid applications and tutoring is people are given the support, available. The clubhouse offers support to gain jobs in the they see their innate potential; community including transitional employment. E represents Empower, when a person sees the opportunity The Clubhouse model is a unique approach to recovery in and believes in their potential, the mental health field. Clubhouses seek to build on members’ they become empowered and believe in themselves. strengths while creating a community where each member is wanted, needed, and expected. This approach provides its That is hope to me members with a positive purpose and creates an environment for young adults to achieve their goals. From the very beginning -Hope Springs Founding Member, 2015 youth and young adults were empowered, educated and given the opportunity to pick everything from the location, paint color, and furniture, and had their voices heard regarding all policies and procedures that were implemented within Hope Springs. The youth continue to provide a sustainable voice in the program and focus on maintaining a safe environment to enable the members to gain self-sustainability in accordance with their culture and beliefs.
Hope Springs Clubhouse was awarded the Innovation in Services Award at the 20th Children’s Interagency Conference in State College, PA on May 2, 2018. PAGE 12 HEALTHY TRANSITIONS REPORT 2019
Keeping Kids Safe Symposium October 8, 2015 Suicide Prevention - Speak Up Reach Out art contest and Teen Theater Ensemble
This symposium was a collaboration between the Berks County Intermediate Unit and the Berks County MH/DD Program. This symposium targeted educators and other individuals who work within school buildings and focused on suicide prevention and intervention. The Healthy Transitions grant funded the key note speaker, Jordon Burnham, a suicide attempt survivor, who is part of the Active Minds speaker’s bureau. An art contest, “Suicide Prevention – Speak Up Reach Out”, was held in conjunction with the Goggle Works and 26 works of art submitted by community members were displayed at the symposium. A local teen theater ensemble from the Yocum Institute for Arts Education performed “Between Apartment 2B and the Endzone” which educates youth and young adults, educators and the community about mental health and suicide prevention.
Strike Out The Stigma Mental Health Awareness at the Fightin Phils.
The Berks County MH/DD Program held its first ever large scale mental health awareness event at First Energy Stadium on April 22, 2016. The purpose of the Strike Out The Stigma event was to raise awareness about mental illness and suicide prevention. Attendees visited the information tables to learn about mental health conditions and suicide prevention and then enjoyed the Fightin Phils minor league baseball game. 3500 people attended this event.
Throughout the game, messages of suicide prevention and mental health awareness were broadcast over the loud speaker and on the jumbo video board. Students from The National Alliance on Mental Illness Kutztown University Chapter administered a Trivia Quiz to community members at the event which contained questions about mental health conditions and suicide.
Prior to the event, a Public Service Announcement (PSA) contest focusing on suicide prevention was held for local high school students and the winning entry was played during the baseball game. This event was the first of many held in partnership with the Berks County Suicide Prevention Task Force to help promote the ruOK? Berks campaign. HEALTHY TRANSITIONS REPORT 2019 PAGE 13
YEAR 3 HIGHLIGHTS 2016-2017 Awareness, Sustainability and Community Engagement
Promoting Positive Pathways To Adulthood Conference On Tuesday April 25, 2017 Berks County MH/DD Program in partnership with the Healthy Transitions grant hosted the Promoting Positive Pathways to Adulthood Conference.
There was a total of 217 people in attendance including 42 youth and young adults from ten different school districts and four different colleges and universities. The focus of the conference was to provide messages of hope and strategies for living healthy, meaningful and fulfilling lives. The conference featured innovative ways that individuals can bring about positive change within themselves, which in effect improves the community culture.
Workshop topics included • Mindfulness • Sexual Wellness • How to live a healthy meaningful and fulfilling life • LGBTQ • Boundaries and Ethics • Drumming circle
Mr. Mike Veny and Mr. Jeff Yalden were the keynote speakers at the conference. They both come from a unique and important perspective of two individuals living in recovery and speaking about how becoming an adult in today’s world can be challenging.
They stressed that for any youth/young adult living with a mental health condition, having the support of family, friends and agency personal is essential. The following hashtags were highlighted #bekindberks and #ruOKBERKS for people to post pictures to social media throughout the day. PAGE 14 HEALTHY TRANSITIONS REPORT 2019
Strike Out The Stigma On April 28, 2017, the Berks County Mental Health/Developmental Disabilities program in partnership with the Healthy Transitions grant, the Berks County Suicide Prevention Task Force and First Energy Stadium held its second annual Strike out the Stigma mental health awareness and suicide prevention event in conjunction with the Fightin Phils baseball team.
Community members expressed their gratitude for our continued efforts and for the opportunity to talk about such an important topic.
Event highlights: • Attended by over 6000 people • Suicide Prevention PSA contest winner announced • Educational materials about mental health conditions and suicide prevention were provided to attendees • Student “Quiz Ambassadors” from the National Alliance on Mental Illness Kutztown University Chapter collected over 200 trivia quizzes from community members
ruOK? Berks Suicide Prevention Task Force The Berks County Suicide Prevention Task Force was formed in 2015 and is comprised of community members who have come together with the common goals to eliminate the stigma of mental illness and put an end to suicide. It is the vision of the Task Force that Berks County will become a community that is compassionate and willing to embrace and support individuals who are affected by mental health concerns. The task force will accomplish these goals though education and advocacy to the community. www.ruokberks.com HEALTHY TRANSITIONS REPORT 2019 PAGE 15
Wellness Bag Initiative The Wellness Bag Initiative was a partnership between the Berks County MH/DD Program, the Berks County Suicide Prevention Task Force, the Healthy Transitions grant, and Hope Springs Clubhouse. The purpose behind the wellness bags was to provide solace and comfort to individuals experiencing a mental health crisis.
The bags were filled by members of the Hope Springs Clubhouse with sensory and comfort items that can be used by the recipient to help de-escalate mental health symptoms such as anxiety or depression by engaging the hands and the mind. The bags were distributed to those in need by local psychiatric providers, hospitals and the crisis intervention team through Service Access and Management, Inc.
The bags were just another way to let individuals with mental health conditions know that our community cares and that they are not alone.
Check Up From The Neck Up The MindWise Innovations “Check Up From The Neck Up” mental health screening kiosk is a partnership between Kutztown University and the Berks County MH/DD Program. Through the Healthy Transitions grant, the kiosk became available in September 2017 and offers a safe, anonymous way for individuals to check in on their mental health. It is available to students, faculty and community members and screens for anxiety, depression, alcohol and substance use, gambling, bipolar disorder, eating disorders, post-traumatic stress disorder, and psychosis. People choosing to can also take a wide range screening if they are not sure how they are feeling and a well-being screening to check in with their current life satisfaction. At the conclusion of the screening, individuals receive an assessment of their mental health and information about local treatment resources. The screening is available at the kiosk and on-line through a website.
During the grant period, 522 screenings were completed and the percentage of individuals who scored positive for symptoms of a disorder was 68% or higher in 9 of the 11 domains. Thirty-six percent (36%) of individuals responded that they have thought about or wanted to end their life some, most or all of the time. PAGE 16 HEALTHY TRANSITIONS REPORT 2019 YEAR 4 HIGHLIGHTS 2017-2018 Focus On Specific Populations & Groups MAYSI-2 The Massachusetts Youth Screening Instrument (MAYSI/MAYSI-2) is a brief screening instrument containing 52 questions designed to identify potential mental health needs of adolescents involved in the juvenile justice system. As part of our local evaluation efforts for the Healthy Transitions grant, the MH/DD Program partnered with the Berks County Juvenile Probation Department who began implementing the MAYSI-2 in their intake department on July 1, 2018. All data collected through the MAYSI-2 screenings for 16 and 17 year old’s who were entering the Juvenile Justice system were shared and reported as part of our indicators to SAMHSA.
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LGBTQ According to the Human Rights Campaign, youth who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, questioning (LGBTQ ) are at a higher risk for suicide and depression and are often victims of bullying and violence.
The MH/DD Program and the Berks County Intermediate Unit (BCIU) partnered together for the Keeping Kids Safe Symposium entitled Equity for All Students - Navigating Gender Identity Issues. The event was held October 3, 2017 and was attended by over 75 educators and 100 MH/DD providers. Liz Bradbury from the Bradbury Sullivan Center in Allentown PA was the keynote presenter and local LGBTQ providers gave out information on services available in Berks County.
Grant money was also used to fund Spectrum, a local support group for youth and young adults who identify as LGBTQ. LGBTQ HEALTHY TRANSITIONS REPORT 2019 PAGE 17
Reading Royals – Put The Stigma On Ice In 2017, Berks County lost sixty-nine (69) lives to suicide. On January 6, 2018 during a Reading Royals hockey game over 6,000 people attended the “Put The Stigma On Ice” event to bring awareness to mental health and suicide prevention.
This was the first year partnering with the Reading Royals for the “Put The Stigma On Ice” event. Through the Healthy Transitions grant and in partnership with the Berks County MH/DD Program and the Berks County Suicide Task Force, over fifty (50) volunteers from various organizations in Berks County came together to help educate our community and raise awareness about suicide prevention and mental health conditions.
Seventy-five (75) community members were given true/false quizzes about mental illness, and an informational table contained resources on depression, suicide prevention, and a guide for services in Berks County.
Members of the Berks County Suicide Task Force participated in an on ice activity asking members of the community questions about mental health. Displayed on the Jumbo Tron was the 2017 ruOK? Berks 60 second PSA which promotes the importance of just asking the question “Are you okay?”. This was another successful awareness event to let the community know that mental health conditions are treatable, and suicide is preventable! PAGE 18 HEALTHY TRANSITIONS REPORT 2019
Aevidum Started at Reading Senior High School The word Aevidum, which means “I’ve got your back,” was created by students after they lost a classmate to suicide. What started in one tiny school in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania has now become a nationwide movement.
Aevidum shatters the silence that surrounds depression, suicide, and other issues facing youth. Aevidum Clubs strive to create healthy communities where everyone feels accepted, appreciated, acknowledged, and cared for in schools.
Aevidum empowers students to use their unique voices and talents to make a difference as well as recognize the gifts of their peers. Aevidum clubs already existed in Berks County at the Wyomissing and Conrad Weiser School Districts. Through the Healthy Transitions grant, 8 clubs were added in the Reading School District. Reading Senior High School has the largest club with over 90 active members who are working to change the culture of the school to one of kindness and acceptance.
Strike Out The Stigma On April 20, 2018, the Berks County MH/DD Program was back at First Energy Stadium for another successful Strike Out The Stigma event! Among the 6000 people who attended was Miss Pennsylvania who is very passionate about mental health and suicide prevention. This year, community participation was incorporated in the event through a rock decorating contest that included messages of hope, wellness, mental health and the ruOK? Berks message. These painted rocks were then hidden around the Fightin’ Phils stadium and guests who found the rocks were given a prize. This was also the first year we had our very own “ruOK? Berks text bubble” mascot that promoted the message of hope and help and it was worn by Dr. Edward Michalik Administrator of Berks County MH/DD Program. As in past years, Berks County Commissioners Kevin Barnhardt and Christian Leinbach also provided support by throwing out the ceremonial first pitch. Messages of mental wellness, how to get access services and prevent suicide were provided to attendees throughout the evening. HEALTHY TRANSITIONS REPORT 2019 PAGE 19
YEAR 5 HIGHLIGHTS 2018-2019 Youth Voice In Action!!
Start Of Your Story “The Start of Your Story Conference” that took place on October 17, 2018 incorporated messages of resiliency and hope to encourage youth and young adults to live healthy, meaningful and fulfilling lives despite the challenges they face.
Fourteen Youth Ambassadors from Reading High School, Fleetwood High School and Kutztown University, planned the conference which was attended by over 240 people and over half of those in attendance were young adults between the ages of 16-25 years old. There were students in attendance from fifteen of the eighteen Berks County school districts. Four different workshops were offered throughout the morning and afternoon on the topics of acceptance, stress and time management, mental health, and peer pressure.
The keynote speaker was David Edward Garcia who is a Student Motivation Specialist and the only five language speaking motivational comedian on the planet. David empathizes with diverse students who face challenges because he was once considered an “at-risk student” himself before defying the odds and graduating with a bachelor’s degree and then earning his master’s degree.
During the conference the Youth Ambassadors incorporated mindfulness activities and wellness suggestions. PAGE 20 HEALTHY TRANSITIONS REPORT 2019
Working Together - Partnering with Families to Support Youth and Young Adults The Berks County MH/DD Program in conjunction with the Healthy Transitions grant and Community Care Behavioral Health (CCBH) Organization hosted a day-long conference on September 25, 2019 regarding how to partner with families to support youth and young adults who have mental health conditions. The conference focused on the benefits of seeing the young person and his or her parents/ family members as experts based on their personal experience in order to make the best decisions for themselves.
Research shows that individuals who have “voice and choice” and truly feel part of a team are more likely to be committed to the course of action and experience more success. The conference was presented by family members, advocates and system partners and focused on topics including: the stages of the family life cycle, the importance and benefits of family involvement and inclusion, strategies for engaging families, age of consent for mental health treatment, overview of child and adult mental health treatment and advocacy services in Berks County, how to include families in team meetings, and wellness and self-care for professionals. The conference was attended by 150 individuals.
Youth and Young Adult Network Positive Minds Matter – Mental Health Awareness Event
• Thirty-five (35) youth and young adults from Berks County were active members of the PA Statewide Youth Network that was created by Alexis Gingell, Youth Coordinator for the PA Healthy Transitions Partnership. The Statewide Network was comprised of youth and young adults who were receiving services in Berks, Bucks, or Washington Counties through the Healthy Transitions grant. Through the Statewide Network, youth and young adult members, along with their service providers participated in leadership training and activities, community service projects, and were given opportunities to speak at local, state and national events. The Statewide Network youth and young adult members from Berks County then formed their own local group under the direction of Jodi Foster, Youth and Young Adult Engagement Specialist from Community Care Behavioral Health (CCBH) Organization.
• One way the Berks County Youth and Young Adult Network members utilized their leadership skills was to organize an event to raise awareness in the community about mental health. The twelve youth and young adult Network members planned and hosted a free community fair that was attended by over 100 people. The Network members called the fair “Positive Minds Matter, Mental Health Awareness”. The event featured a variety of human services agencies that provided information about mental health treatment, live performances, free food and carnival games. The event took place at City Park in Reading PA on July 13, 2019.
• Berks County Network members also utilized their leadership skills through their participation in local task forces, advisory boards and committees. They are welcomed at the table as equal partners and have become advocates for individuals with mental health conditions. In addition, two Network members have become employed as Certified Peer Support Specialists. HEALTHY TRANSITIONS REPORT 2019 PAGE 21
• The Youth and Young Adult Engagement Specialist position at Community Care Behavioral Health (CCBH) Organization was created in partnership with the Berks County MH/DD Program and was funded by the Healthy Transitions grant for the first year. A Network member helped to interview and hire for the position. In the future, the Youth and Young Adult Engagement Specialist will begin to hold quarterly committee meetings with youth and young adults who are CCBH members to discuss how mental health providers can improve services for their age group. Information obtained from these meetings will be documented and shared with mental health treatment providers. Representatives from these local committees will also meet on a state level to collaborate and provide recommendations to CCBH and the provider network regarding how to improve the system of care statewide.
Ripple Effect showing at the Miller Center The Ripple Effect film highlights the journey of Kevin Hines, who at age 19, attempted to take his life by jumping from the Golden Gate Bridge. The movie chronicles Kevin’s personal journey and the ripple effect it has on those who have been impacted by his suicide attempt.
Through the Healthy Transitions grant, the Berks County MH/DD Program purchased the film and the public performance license and during the grant period was shown to almost 550 people.
This was another opportunity to educate the community about mental health conditions and suicide prevention. PAGE 22 HEALTHY TRANSITIONS REPORT 2019
FIVE YEAR SPENDING October 1, 2014-September 30, 2019
1 00 1 91 11 92 2 92 0 0 12 29 2 0 99 0 1 1 01 1 19 1 2
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1 1 0 00 HEALTHY TRANSITIONS REPORT 2019 PAGE 23 NEXT STEPS Moving Forward
The Berks County MH/DD Program is proud of all the work that has been accomplished over the past five years through the Healthy Transitions grant and feels this is just the beginning of improving services for youth and young adults with mental health conditions.
Ways we can continue this movement: • Invite youth and young adults to sit on advisory boards. Better yet, have an advisory board made up of all youth and young adults. • Provide support to youth and young adults to participate on committees and advisory boards. This may mean providing information to them about terminology, budgets, policies and procedures. This may also mean reminding them of meetings and helping them to arrange transportation to and from those meetings. • Stipend them for their time. If the professionals around the table are getting paid to be at the table, the youth and young adult members should be getting paid too. • Utilize youth and young adults to help interview and hire staff in your organization who will be working with youth and young adults. • Consult with youth and young adults about how to make waiting rooms, agency materials, and treatment programs more youth and young adult friendly. • Insist that youth and young adults have a say in their own personal treatment plans. • Reach out to the Youth and Young Adult Engagement Specialist at CCBH for technical assistance on how to make services more youth and young adult friendly.
What we learned from Youth and Young adults: • Youth and young adults with mental health conditions CAN AND DO RECOVER!!! • They want to be a part of changing policies and procedures to improve services. • They want to be treated with respect. • They want to be heard. • They want to have their goals and dreams taken seriously. • They appreciate supportive adults who help them work towards their goals. • They will make mistakes and bad choices, but they will get up the next morning and try to make better choices. • Youth and young adults want to be advocates for others with mental health conditions who have not yet found their own voice. • They have amazing ideas for how to improve services for their age group. • They are generous, kind, loving and forgiving. • They appreciate the support of their peers. • They are smart and knowledgeable. • They are motivated to change. PAGE 24 HEALTHY TRANSITIONS REPORT 2019 FINAL THOUGHTS From Sheila Bressler, LSW, Berks County CASSP Coordinator & Lauren Heydt, LSW, Program Manager
As we reflect over the past five years of this grant, we are overwhelmed with pride at what has been accomplished and the number of lives that have been touched. This grant has truly been a collective community effort and we could not have accomplished what we did without the support of the staff at the PA Healthy Transitions Partnership, the County of Berks, our Leadership Team, our providers and the Suicide Prevention Task Force. Together we have raised the community’s knowledge about mental health conditions and suicide prevention through awareness events, public service announcements, and presentations.
We have expanded services for youth and young adults that will help them know they are not alone, and that recovery is possible. Through those services, youth and young adults have been supported to: improve their social skills, attend and graduate from high school, attend and graduate from college, volunteer, obtain employment, learn valuable life skills, and make friends. They have been given a voice and an equal seat at the table to help enact change in policies and procedures. They have learned leadership skills and have been afforded the opportunity to use those skills at the local, state and national level. We could not be prouder of the youth and young adults we have come to know through this grant and expect they will continue to use their voices to make changes in the system for future generations.
We want to express our deepest appreciation to everyone who has provided support to us over the past five years. Our provider partners, Threshold, Holcomb and Greater Reading Mental Health Alliance, have a true passion for working with youth and young adults and have been such an asset to this grant. We know for some, this has been a long and challenging road, but we have learned a lot, and made changes that will improve services for people with mental health conditions for many years to come. We were always able to put forth the right amount of energy, creativity, and passion because of people who supported and believed in the potential of youth and young adults. To the providers and individuals who continue to support youth and young adults, we urge you to embrace their voice.
Listen to them. Respect them. Support them. Believe in them.
There is no limit to what youth and young adults with mental health conditions can accomplish when given the opportunity and the appropriate support. CONTACT US
Berks County MH/DD Program 633 Court Street, 8th Floor Reading, PA 19601 Front cover design by Jeffrey Chamberlain 610-478-3271 Member of Berks County Youth Network
[email protected] http://www.co.berks.pa.us