Vol8 | September | View Archive

The Kim Foundation, in collaboration with individuals, organizations, and healthcare providers throughout Nebraska, is pleased to bring you a monthly e-newsletter addressing mental health care.

We will provide you with access to valuable resources, connections to individuals and agencies working toward behavioral health reform, insight into successful programs offered in Nebraska, and updates on the latest news and events.

If you have comments, questions, or information you would like to share through the electronic newsletter, please email us at info@thekimfoundation.org.

For more information on mental health issues in Nebraska please visit www.thekimfoundation.org.

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Courtnages and The Kim Foundation Honored as Community Partners

DHHS Establishes Statewide Quality Improvement Team

KidSquad at Work

Lutheran Family Services Announces At Ease Program

Safe Haven Revisited

Alternatives Conference Reminder

Not Alone Radio Program October Schedule

Larry and Kathy Courtnage and The Kim Foundation were recently recognized by Lutheran Family Services of Nebraska as the organization's Community Partners of the Year. Honored for their commitment to individuals and families touched by mental illness, Lutheran Family Services recognized the advocacy, support, and education provided through The Kim Foundation to people and organizations in need.

The Kim Foundation was grateful to receive such prestigious recognition. The award was presented at the LFS annual "Faith in Action" dinner on Tuesday, September 15th, at Oak Hills Country Club in Omaha.

A select group of initiatives supported and sponsored by The Kim Foundation over the past several years were featured in a slideshow presentation. When viewing the slideshow click "run" in the first popup box to download the presentation. Then click "run" again to verify the publisher. To exit the presentation, click the escape button.

The Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services Division of Behavioral Health has established a Statewide Quality Improvement Team (SQIT) as part of implementing a Continuous Quality Improvement Plan. Through the establishment of this team, members are responsible for selecting performance measures, making revisions for the annual Continuous Quality Improvement Plan, reviewing data, and recommending quality initiatives and studies.

Members of the Statewide Quality Improvement Team include consumers and family members, regional consumer specialists, regional staff, providers, DHHS staff in consulting roles from the Division of Behavioral Health, Medicaid, Children and Family Services and staff from the Administrative Service Organization (ASO) vendor, currently Magellan. Voting membership includes 50 percent regional representatives and providers and 50 percent consumers and family members.

Current participants include: Leslie Byers, Lisa Christensen, Suzy Davis, Jonah Deppe, Kathy Dinges, Bev Ferguson, Tammy Fiala, David Furst, Rita Hamm, Lisa Hansen, Jean Hartwell, Pat Kreifels, Steve Kroll, Christine McCollister, Judie Moorehouse, Laura Richards, Nancy Rippen, Kathy Seacrest, Carl Spence, Amy Stachura, Jolene Stalker, Lorie Thomas, Ken Timmerman, Ann Tvrdik, Margaret VanDyke, Teresa Ward, Stacey Werth-Sweeney, and Linda Wittmuss. Representatives from the Division of Behavioral Health include Sue Adams, Mary Andregg, Carol Coussons de Reyes, Sarah Cox, Sheri Dawson, Renee Faber, Jim Harvey, Nancy Heller, Vicki Maca, Christine Newell, Dr. Blaine Shaffer, Ann Vogel, and Rachel West.

The first SQIT meeting was held August 7, 2009 via videoconference with sites in Scottsbluff, North Platte, Kearney, Norfolk, Lincoln, and Omaha.

For additional information on the Statewide Quality Improvement Team please contact Sheri Dawson at sheri.dawson@nebraska.gov or via telephone at (402) 471-7856.

Omaha based KidSquad is expanding its reach to children, families, and child care centers throughout the Omaha community. Focused on early intervention, KidSquad strives to address mental and behavioral health challenges of young children before they become firmly established and are much more difficult and costly to treat.

Established to provide assistance in addressing challenging behaviors exhibited in child care settings, the work of KidSquad assists the child, family, and child care center in increasing positive behaviors and reducing the growing expulsion rate of young children from their child care providers. Services are offered by KidSquad in the child care setting and then transferable to a child’s home environment.

The KidSquad approach draws upon the expertise of a team of consultants and therapists from agencies located throughout the Omaha community. Representatives from Behave’n Day Center, Child Saving Institute, the Center for Holistic Development, the Early Childhood Training Center, Heartland Family Services, Lutheran Family Services, Munroe-Meyer Institute, and Region 6 Behavioral Healthcare are participants in the KidSquad team.

Based upon research of best-practice models, KidSquad utilizes a multifaceted approach. Beginning with observing interactions in the childcare setting, KidSquad team members collaborate with families and teachers to make recommendations to minimize triggers for challenging behavior and enhance opportunities for positive interaction. In addition, KidSquad conducts child and family assessments, provides training to family members, caregivers, and childcare staff on how to most effectively address challenging behaviors while promoting positive interactions, and coordinates therapy services when necessary for the individual children and their families.

Through the program mental health consultation services are provided by Child Saving Institute, the center for Holistic Development, Heartland Family Services and Lutheran Family Services and are available to all child care services that accept state subsidies. KidSquad focuses on areas of Omaha serving low income children and families. In addition, numerous educational training opportunities will also be available through KidSquad. Trainings will focus on social-emotional development.

For additional information on KidSquad or to request services for your child care center or family, please contact Traci Penrod-McCormick at tpenrod@childsaving.org.

Lutheran Family Services of Nebraska (LFS) announces the development of a new program that offers behavioral health services to active military, veterans, and their loved ones. At Ease is a trauma treatment and therapeutic support program that serves individuals affected by untreated trauma reactions and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The program places special emphasis on helping military personnel and their loved ones cope with the effects of deployment and the uncertainty of war. Services through the program are offered to all active military, veterans, and/or their loved ones regardless of their ability to pay.

The At Ease program provides confidential, individualized counseling and treatment through a combination of individual and group approaches. Services may include families/couples and peer-to-peer support groups as well as educational opportunities for veterans and their loved ones which address topics such as PTSD, war zone stress reactions, trauma-related guilt, anger management, and coping strategies for managing everyday life situations. The program supports and encourages additional partnerships with community providers and when appropriate, staff members coordinate services with other community agencies and refer clients to area resources.

The At Ease program is coordinated out of the Lutheran Family Services’ Bellevue office, but veterans and their loved ones may also be served at LFS locations in Blair, Fremont, Plattsmouth, Papillion, and four Omaha-area locations. Additionally, TeleHealth sessions can be used to accommodate veterans and/or their loved ones living in greater Nebraska.

For additional information on the program, to request multiple brochure copies, or to make a referral, please call the At Ease program at the LFS Bellevue location at (402) 292-9105 or email AtEase@lfsneb.org.

The Family Advocacy Movement in partnership with Advocates for Justice invites interested individuals to join them for a free public forum Saturday, October 3, 2009. The event titled “Mental Health, Child Protection & Civil Rights: A Call for Reform” will be held from 1:30 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. at the University of Nebraska at Omaha Milo Bail Student Center Ballroom in Omaha, Nebraska.

Presenters and participants of the event include:

• Family Advocacy Movement - Nebraska Families
• Philip Nordness, PhD, UNO Department of Special Education and Communication Disorders
• Karl Dennis, international consultant and author of “Everything is Normal Until Proven Otherwise”
• Nebraska State Senators Brenda Council, Annette Dubas, Amanda McGill, and Tom White
• Diane Redleaf, attorney and Executive Director of the Family Defense Center in Chicago, Illinois
• Richard Wexler, Executive Director of the National Coalition for Child Protection Reform and author of “Wounded Innocents”
• Sarah Helvey, JD, attorney and Director of the Child Welfare System Accountability program with Nebraska Appleseed
• Tammi Williams, President of NAMI-Lincoln
• More to be announced

Admission to the public forum is free of charge and participants are invited to join in an evening session from 6:30 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. featuring Karl Dennis. Tickets for the evening session can be purchased for $25 at the door as space allows.

For additional information on this event please visit www.familyadvocacymovement.com or call (402) 640-7480.

The 23rd Annual Alternatives Conference, the only national mental health conference organized by and for people diagnosed with mental illnesses, is coming to Omaha! Alternatives will be held October 28 through November 1 at the Hilton Omaha in Omaha, Nebraska. Each conference offers in-depth technical assistance on peer-delivered services and self-help/recovery methods.

For additional information on the Alternatives Conference, please visit www.alternatives2009.org. To inquire about scholarship opportunities available, please contact the Mental Health Association of Nebraska at (888) 902-2822 or NAMI-Nebraska at (877) 463-6264.

Remember to join The Kim Foundation and KCRO channel 660 AM for Not Alone, a live talk radio program focused on behavioral health and recovery.

Airing every Tuesday from 4 p.m. to 5 p.m., Not Alone hosts guests from throughout Nebraska addressing a variety of topics. The schedule for August includes:

• October 6 – Alegent Health
  Representatives from Alegent Health will discuss a number of behavioral healthcare programs currently offered through their facilities for children, youth, and adults.
• October 13 – Eating Disorders
• October 20 - Region V Systems
  Representatives with Region V Systems discuss their role in administering services, supports, and programs through the behavioral health system of care.

Listeners outside of the broadcast area can access the radio program through KCRO’s website at www.kcro.com.

For more information on Not Alone or the Mental Health Minutes, please visit www.thekimfoundation.org.