Mrs. Hoy and her husband adopted two brothers out of the foster care system promising to give them a forever home. Because one boy developed severe mental health needs, and the family ran out of insurance benefits and the boy was once again became a ward of the state. The results were exactly the same issues that other parents are facing today: If you can’t afford treatment, then do you give your child away in order that he might receive treatment? If you don’t trade your child for treatment, could his illness become so violent that someone will be hurt? If you choose to trade away your child in exchange for treatment, you will be charged for neglect and your name placed as a child abuser? Or, if you choose not to trade your child away, and bring him home, you risk being charged with child endangerment for failure to protect your other kids.

Medicaid mandated care under EPSDT, this is an entitlement for children, as is public education; however, many states design their own Medicaid laws to circumvent this opportunity for early intervention and healing for children. Isn’t it time for an honest look at how the system operates?

To learn more about Mrs. Hoy’s experiences with mental health insurance benefits and her book “Second Time Foster Child” listen to the May 15 Not Alone podcast by clicking on the play button below or downloading the file and listening later. To listen to any of the past Not Alone broadcasts, visit The Kim Foundation Not Alone podcast page.

 
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May 15, 2012 – Toni Hoy, Author

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Airing every Tuesday from 4 p.m. to 5 p.m. (CST on station KCRO, channel 660 AM based out of Omaha, Neb.), Not Alone is a live talk radio program focused on behavioral health and recovery. Developed by The Kim Foundation through the support of C&A Industries, Inc., Not Alone works to reduce the stigma often associated with mental illness. The show seeks to assure individuals, families, and communities that they are not alone, mental illness affects us all, hosting a variety of guest from across the country.

Gayle continues to talk about the need for prevention and early intervention for children and adults; there is a need for help before a crisis occurs, so communities should be investing in more drop-in centers, crisis alternative residence, programs for consumers who are homeless, and Crisis Intervention Training (CIT) for Law Enforcement.

Gayle has also been an innovative leader in the use of creative arts as part of the healing and wellness experience. Gayle celebrates the fact that mental health care is changing, and that we are helping people find their strengths instead of focusing on their weakness. Gayle has been one of the leading advocates for peer support programs for more than30 years. She knows her subject well!

To learn more about mental health advocacy, listen to Gaye Bluebird on the May 8 Not Alone podcast by clicking on the play button below or downloading the file and listening later. You can listen to any past Not Alone broadcast by visiting The Kim Foundation Not Alone podcast page.

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May 8, 2012 – Gayle Bluebird, Nationally Recognized Advocate

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Airing every Tuesday from 4 p.m. to 5 p.m. (CST on station KCRO, channel 660 AM based out of Omaha, Neb.), Not Alone is a live talk radio program focused on behavioral health and recovery. Developed by The Kim Foundation through the support of C&A Industries, Inc., Not Alone works to reduce the stigma often associated with mental illness. The show seeks to assure individuals, families, and communities that they are not alone, mental illness affects us all, hosting a variety of guest from across the country.

Timothy was made a ward of the state in order to receive treatment, but this again was inconsistent and insufficient treatments. Timothy was bullied by other children because of his psychological illness, he suffered additional trauma by being separated from his family, and his depression spiraled downward. At age 12,   Timothy took his own life.

The family’s loss was overwhelming; however, with the support and encouragement of other families who had suffered similar losses, and the grassroots support for insurance parity across the state of New York, Timothy’s parents took leadership in resolving the unequal coverage for mental and physical illnesses in employer health plans. On December 22, 2006, Governor George Pataki of New York state, signed legislation enacting Timothy’s Law, requiring equal coverage between mental and physical illnesses. This is a mandatory parity benefit for treatment of adults and children with biologically based mental illnesses, or children with serious emotional disturbances.

In Nebraska on the other hand, insurance providers can give no coverage for the diagnosis and treatment of biologically based mental illness as long as they provide notice of such non-coverage in the plan.

To learn more about Timothy’s Law, listen to the May 1 Not Alone podcast by clicking on the play button below or downloading the file to listen later. To listen to any of the past Not Alone broadcasts, visit The Kim Foundation Not Alone podcast page.

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May 1, 2012 – Timothyís Law

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Airing every Tuesday from 4 p.m. to 5 p.m. (CST on station KCRO, channel 660 AM based out of Omaha, Neb.), Not Alone is a live talk radio program focused on behavioral health and recovery. Developed by The Kim Foundation through the support of C&A Industries, Inc., Not Alone works to reduce the stigma often associated with mental illness. The show seeks to assure individuals, families, and communities that they are not alone, mental illness affects us all, hosting a variety of guest from across the country.

In their own ways, each indicated that peer support groups have helped them develop personal coping skills and build resilience when working through their disorders. One great advantage of membership in support groups is that it reduces isolation and fear, and helps members find rewards in sharing successes and victories. Each person’s story is respected, understood, and shared as part of the healing process. Each of our guests agreed that being able to help others through recovery is one of the most needed components of healing.

Not Alone’s listening area is blessed with many fine support groups. Check out the support group page on The Kim Foundation Web site to find a support group that is right for you.

To learn more about the Omaha New Hope Support Group from Tim, Jessica, and Tami, click on the play button below or download the file and listen later. You can also listen to any past Not Alone broadcasts by visiting The Kim Foundation Not Alone podcast page.

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April 24, 2012 – The Voice of Consumers

Airing every Tuesday from 4 p.m. to 5 p.m. (CST on station KCRO, channel 660 AM based out of Omaha, Neb.), Not Alone is a live talk radio program focused on behavioral health and recovery. Developed by The Kim Foundation through the support of C&A Industries, Inc., Not Alone works to reduce the stigma often associated with mental illness. The show seeks to assure individuals, families, and communities that they are not alone, mental illness affects us all, hosting a variety of guest from across the country.

CIT training is a 40 hour class for law enforcement to learn how to work with people in mental health crisis. Consumers and family members are very much a part of the training; explaining to officers the turmoil they experience during times of crisis and how officers might offer calm and reassurance, rather than adding to the trauma being felt. Officers volunteer for these classes, and are pleased with the opportunity provided to become more knowledgeable, and more reassuring to people in need of assistance. 

Members of the medical profession, legal profession, therapists, police officers, family members, and most importantly consumers of care, all volunteer their time to participate in this week-long training. It is a very successful example of a community identifying a need, and supporting one another in order that a positive change in our system of care might be successfully implemented.

We noted with pride that the classes, originally designed for the police and sheriff’s department in Douglas and Sarpy counties have now included members from probation, corrections, and the Nebraska Humane Society, as well as law enforcement from Norfolk, Council Bluffs, and Sioux City, plus many other cities and towns in Iowa and Nebraska. The program is successful and continuing to expand. 

To learn more about the Omaha CIT program, listen to the April 17 Not Alone podcast by clicking on the play button below, or downloading the file and listening later. To listen to any past Not Alone broadcasts, visit The Kim Foundation Not Alone podcast page.

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April 17, 2012 – Crisis Intervention Training for Law Enforcement

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Airing every Tuesday from 4 p.m. to 5 p.m. (CST on station KCRO, channel 660 AM based out of Omaha, Neb.), Not Alone is a live talk radio program focused on behavioral health and recovery. Developed by The Kim Foundation through the support of C&A Industries, Inc., Not Alone works to reduce the stigma often associated with mental illness. The show seeks to assure individuals, families, and communities that they are not alone, mental illness affects us all, hosting a variety of guest from across the country.

To learn more about the Horizon Recovery and Counseling Center, listen to the April 10 Not Alone podcast by clicking on the play button below or downloading the file and listening later. To listen to any of the past Not Alone broadcasts, visit The Kim Foundation Not Alone podcast page.

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April 10, 2012 – Horizon Recovery & Counseling Center

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Airing every Tuesday from 4 p.m. to 5 p.m. (CST on station KCRO, channel 660 AM based out of Omaha, Neb.), Not Alone is a live talk radio program focused on behavioral health and recovery. Developed by The Kim Foundation through the support of C&A Industries, Inc., Not Alone works to reduce the stigma often associated with mental illness. The show seeks to assure individuals, families, and communities that they are not alone, mental illness affects us all, hosting a variety of guest from across the country.

The Urban League of Nebraska has become an empowering voice in the community, providing respected and trusted leadership, as well as becoming an advocate for economic improvement, parity, civil rights, and equal opportunity for all. The National Center for Children in Poverty shares an adolescent’s ability to successfully navigate the transition to adulthood which is influenced not only by behaviors and exposure to risk, but demographic characteristics such as race, ethnicity, family income, nutrition, obesity, violence, and injury prevention among others. Under the direction of Tom Warren, The Urban League is developing strategic plans that will continue their leadership in addressing the needs of Nebraska families in poverty.

To learn more about the Urban League of Nebraska, listen to the April 3 Not Alone program by clicking on the play button below or download the file and listen later. To hear any of the past Not Alone broadcasts, visit The Kim Foundation podcast page.

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April 3, 2012 – Urban League of Nebraska

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Airing every Tuesday from 4 p.m. to 5 p.m. (CST on station KCRO, channel 660 AM based out of Omaha, Neb.), Not Alone is a live talk radio program focused on behavioral health and recovery. Developed by The Kim Foundation through the support of C&A Industries, Inc., Not Alone works to reduce the stigma often associated with mental illness. The show seeks to assure individuals, families, and communities that they are not alone, mental illness affects us all, hosting a variety of guest from across the country.

Through the Lionheart Foundation, Robin developed the National Emotional Literacy Project for prisoners, where incarcerated adults change their thinking, their skillsets, their legacy by learning “who am I,   I am more than I see”, and understanding that there is “a strength inside of me! Prisoners, through emotional literacy books, learn to recognize and manage their own feelings in a mature and conscientious manner. Implementing skills learned through emotional literacy increases their options for safely dealing with stress, anger, frustration, and setbacks. Prisoners learn cognitive behavior interventions, including mindfulness, for emotional healing from the shame and grief they experience. They learn forgiveness — forgiving others, and even harder, they learn to forgive themselves and move on with their life in an emotionally responsible fashion. 

Beth Casarjian recognized that since many prisoners had not learned emotional skills, they didn’t have nurturing or bonding skills to share with their children. The Power Source program was developed to help at-risk teens put the past in the past, focus on the opportunity ahead, and interrupt the cycle of failure. Since many teens are parents, they also learn balance. Becoming a patient, nurturing parent means you have to give up personal anger and frustration.

Teens learn to change their own behavior, and to model greater persistence in the face of setbacks. The more emotional competence we have, the more stable relationships can be developed at any time of life. We can all continue to grow as a whole person as we mature emotionally.

The Lionheart Foundation has donated more than 85,000 copies of Houses of Healing:  A Prisoners Guide to Inner Power and Freedom to prisons across the US. Their message is changing lives! To learn more about The Lionheart Foundation and emotional intelligence, listen to the March 27 Not Alone podcast by clicking on the play button below, or download the file and listen later. You may also visit http://www.lionheart.org/. To listen to past Not Alone broadcasts, visit The Kim Foundation podcast page.

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March 27, 2012 – The Lionheart Foundation

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Airing every Tuesday from 4 p.m. to 5 p.m. (CST on station KCRO, channel 660 AM based out of Omaha, Neb.), Not Alone is a live talk radio program focused on behavioral health and recovery. Developed by The Kim Foundation through the support of C&A Industries, Inc., Not Alone works to reduce the stigma often associated with mental illness. The show seeks to assure individuals, families, and communities that they are not alone, mental illness affects us all, hosting a variety of guest from across the country.

Sherry Scott, speaking about the out-patient services at Catholic Charities, told us that many of their services and programs are available in the evening so that a person can continue to work and tend to family responsibilities during treatment. There is a program called Friends and Family that is impressive, and is directed toward those with a loved one with addictions, regardless of whether or not that friend or family member is receiving treatment.

Liz Shefter challenged us with the question, “How does one provide support for a loved one without enabling their addiction, and exhausting one’s self in the process?” Liz invites participants to learn their own skill set and develop their own coping tools. The mantra modeled throughout Catholic Charities is “never give up on anybody”. That was repeated to us throughout the broadcast. Treatments for substance abuse are affective and are available. Since Catholic Charities never gives up on anybody, they remind listeners that we shouldn’t give up on ourselves, either!

To learn more about Catholic Charities drug and alcohol rehabilitation programs, listen to the March 20 Not Alone broadcast by clicking on the play button below, or download the file and listen later. You may also visit the Catholic Charities web site: www.ccomaha.org. To listen to a past Not Alone broadcast, visit The Kim Foundation podcast page.

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March 20, 2012 – Catholic Charities

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Airing every Tuesday from 4 p.m. to 5 p.m. (CST on station KCRO, channel 660 AM based out of Omaha, Neb.), Not Alone is a live talk radio program focused on behavioral health and recovery. Developed by The Kim Foundation through the support of C&A Industries, Inc., Not Alone works to reduce the stigma often associated with mental illness. The show seeks to assure individuals, families, and communities that they are not alone, mental illness affects us all, hosting a variety of guest from across the country.

To hear more from these social work students, listen to the March 13 Not Alone podcast by clicking on the play button below, or download the file to listen later. To listen to any of the past Not Alone broadcasts, visit The Kim Foundation Not Alone podcast page.

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March 13, 2012 – UNO Grace Abbott School of Social Work

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Airing every Tuesday from 4 p.m. to 5 p.m. (CST on station KCRO, channel 660 AM based out of Omaha, Neb.), Not Alone is a live talk radio program focused on behavioral health and recovery. Developed by The Kim Foundation through the support of C&A Industries, Inc., Not Alone works to reduce the stigma often associated with mental illness. The show seeks to assure individuals, families, and communities that they are not alone, mental illness affects us all, hosting a variety of guest from across the country.