C&A Welcomes Julia Hebenstreit to The Kim Foundation

C&A Industries and The Kim Foundation are proud to welcome Julia Hebenstreit as the new Kim Foundation Administrative Director. In this role, Julia will use her many years of experience in development to build a Kim Foundation donor database, create a fundraising action plan, and strengthen relationships with other mental health organizations.

Prior, Julia was the Vice President of Advancement at Notre Dame Sisters, a convent in Omaha whose Sisters' ministries targeted education and social service where she focused on major gifts and planned giving. She also spent four years with the Omaha Symphony in fundraising.

Always-on-the-go, Julia enjoys watching her daughter, 10-year-old Alivia, play soccer and dance, while also coaching her volleyball team. In their free time away from sports and dance, the pair enjoys spending time with friends and family and their puppy, Lucy.

“I’m excited to delve in and get started,” Julia said. “Being here is an exciting transition for me after coming from a small organization of only 10. I enjoy the energy of all the people here and am excited to meet everyone Diana has already built relationships with so successfully.”

Julia has a B.S. in Journalism (PR/Advertising) from the University of Nebraska at Omaha and a J.D. from Creighton University. She has served as Vice President of the Nebraska Chapter of Grant Professionals Association since 2008, is part of the Women's Fund Circle, is a member of the Omaha Chamber’s Young Professionals group, is a member of St. Cecilia's Women's Guild, and is a Goal Buddy for Partnership for Our Kids.

Uta Halee Closing Leaves a Void

The imminent closing of Uta Halee Girls Village in Omaha is causing further concerns among professionals who already were worried about the availability of residential treatment for troubled adolescents in Nebraska. Uta Halee has been a reliable, high-quality residential treatment facility for adolescent girls with psychiatric or substance-abuse problems, Douglas County Attorney Don Kleine said. "Without them there, there's going to be a void," Kleine said.

Click here to read the full story.

Coalition for Children’s Mental Health Survey

Please let us know your experience in finding services such as support during pregnancy and infancy; health and wellness care, substance abuse and mental health treatment for parents; treatment of abuse or violence; help with basic material needs, quality child care, engagement in the school system, and support for parents when a child has a mental health disorder. Your comments will help us identify our gaps and strengths. It should only take about ten minutes to complete, and it’s easy.

The survey is anonymous, but if you include your email address on the first page, we will enter you in a drawing for two $50.00 gift cards

WE HOPE YOU WILL FORWARD OR POST THIS LINK to others you may know who have important opinions to express on this topic We also have a print copy of this survey if anyone prefers to respond in that way. Just contact us by phone or email (below). And on December 2, 2011, at 3 PM, there will be a Community Focus Group at Heartland Family Service, 2101 South 42nd Street; if you prefer to comment directly.

PLEASE RESPOND BY NOVEMBER 30
CLICK HERE to start the survey

This survey is conducted by CCMH on behalf of the State of Nebraska Work Group “TOGETHER FOR KIDS AND FAMILIES”.

New Report from CDC Released

In September, The CDC released the Public Health Action Plan to Integrate Mental Health Promotion and Mental Illness Prevention with Chronic Disease, 2011-2015. This document highlights the importance of mental health promotion and mental illness prevention in a public health context. The document can be accessed at the CDC mental health web page at http://www.cdc.gov/mentalhealth/.

These developments are very important to the field of mental health, and they reflect the very first efforts to integrate positive mental health into public health interventions.

Twelfth International Conference on Shaken Baby Syndrome/Abusive Head Trauma

Thursday, September 12 – Saturday, October 1, 2012

Save the Date - September 29, 30, & October 1, 2012
The National Center on Shaken Baby Syndrome will host its Twelfth International Conference on Shaken Baby Syndrome/Abusive Head Trauma on the North East Coast in beautiful Cambridge/Boston. The conference is being held on September 29, 30 & October 1, 2012 at the Hyatt Regency Cambridge.

The conference program will focus on four areas of expertise; legal challenges in AHT cases, evidence-based and creative prevention programs and initiatives, the latest medical information and research, and support for families and rehabilitation for victims of SBS/AHT.

Call for Abstracts - Posters & Presentations
This one of a kind international conference provides an excellent opportunity to present and/or attend. The NCSBS is now accepting abstracts for 15-minute to one-hour presentations and poster presentations. The scientific program committee will make final selections for all presentations. In compliance of Continuing Medical Education, we ask that no commercial interest organizations/presenters submit. Abstracts for presentations can be submitted by going to Abstract Submission and following the detailed instructions and guidelines provided on the website. The deadline for abstracts is November 4, 2011. If you have questions regarding the conference, please contact Danielle Vazquez, Conference Coordinator, at 801-447-9360 ext. 111 or dvazquez@dontshake.org

The Brain Injury Association of Nebraska

The Brain Injury Association of Nebraska is soliciting proposals from the professional community for presentations at its annual conference. The conference will be held, March 29-30, 2012, in Kearney and is attended by over 260 attendees comprised of occupational therapists, physical therapists, speech therapists, social workers, nurses, physicians, psychologists, case managers, as well as survivors and family members.

Length of Presentations is 50 minutes, followed by 10 minutes for questions. We request professional presentations and not product or program endorsement and marketing presentations. If your proposal is accepted by the committee, you will be contacted by October 1, 2011. Submissions are due by August 31, 2011. Contact The Brain Injury Association of Nebraska at http://www.biane.org/index.php for more information and to learn how to submit your proposal.

Missouri River Flood Support

An increasing number of communities along the Missouri River have been adversely affected by the recent flooding. The following organizations and help lines are available for free emotional support.

North & South Dakota
OptumHealth : 866.342.6892 (available 24/7)

Council Bluffs, Iowa
Volunteer Center, First Christian Church: 712.325.4736 – helpcbflood@firstchristiancb.org

Iowa & Nebraska
Magellan of Nebraska: 800.424.0333
www.magellanofnebraska.com – click on IN THE NEWS then Missouri River Flooding

Network of Care:
www.dhhs.ne.gov/networkofcare

24 HR Emergency Management Line:
http://www.nema.ne.gov/administration/contact.html

Nebraska Family Helpline:
http://www.nebraskafamilyhelpline.ne.gov/

National Children’s Mental Health Awareness Day

National Children’s Mental Health Awareness Day, Tuesday, May 3, 2011, is a day to join SAMHSA, communities, organizations, agencies, and individuals nationwide in raising awareness that positive mental health is essential to a child’s healthy development from birth.

In 2009, researchers found that more than 60 percent of youth age 17 and younger were exposed to crime, violence, and abuse either directly or indirectly, including witnessing a violent act, assault with a weapon, sexual victimization, child maltreatment, and/or dating violence. Nearly 10 percent were injured during the exposure to violence, 10 percent were exposed to maltreatment by a caretaker, and 6 percent were victims of sexual assault.

This year, the national Children’s Mental Health Awareness Day theme will focus on building resilience in young children dealing with trauma. Click here to learn more.

Recovery Act Two Year Anniversary

From improving services for children and families to investing in community health centers and health information technology, the Recovery Act has made a significant impact in the lives of individuals and communities affected by the economic crises over the last 2 years. Read more about where your money is going in Nebraska.

Stephen Center, Inc. Awarded Three-year CARF Accreditation

CARF International announced that Stephen Center, Inc. has been accredited for a period of three years for all three of its HERO Programs: Residential Treatment, Intensive Outpatient and Outpatient treatment. This is the first accreditation that the International accrediting body has awarded to Stephen Center, Inc. Click here to read the full press release.

Mental Illness Awareness Week Proclamation

Mental Illness Awareness Week was officially October 3-9, 2010. BryanLGH Medical Center in Lincoln was the host to the Lincoln Mental Illness Awareness Week Committee's annual Legislative Breakfast on October 7. The National theme to the week was "Changing Attitudes Changing Lives". The Legislative breakfast theme was "Collaboration in Community Based Mental Health Care" which included a presentation by Dean Settle, Executive Director of the Community Mental Health Center of Lancaster County.

A highlight of the breakfast was the reading and presentation of the Mental Illness Awareness Week Proclamation. This year the proclamation was presented by Judy Halstead, Appointed Health Director of the Lincoln/Lancaster County Health Department acting on behalf of Mayor Chris Beutler. Dave Miers, PhD from BryanLGH Medical Center and chair of the Lincoln Mental Illness Awareness Week Committee was there to receive the proclamation from Ms. Halstead. Click here for a copy of the proclamation.