download the full brien center winter 2016 newsletter (pdf)

10
www. briencenter.org 1-413-499-0412 ed with mental illness. Men- tal illness and addicon im- pact almost everyone in- cluding our family mem- bers, friends, neighbors, and colleagues at work. We as a community must talk more and work harder to educate people about mental illness and addicon and de- sgmaze both. NAMI’s “CEOs Against Sgma” cam- paign opens up the chan- nels for conversaon. Talk- ing openly with each other about mental illness and addicon is the best way to break down misconcepons and promote recovery and healthy communies. As Berkshire County’s primary community-based behavior- al health provider, the Brien Center works everyday to address the needs of our community, as well as our employees, to facilitate a beer understanding about how behavioral health affects everyone, and to make sure those who are affected by mental illness and/or addicon get the support they need! Warm Regards, Chris The Brien Center Newsletter Volume 1, Issue 3 Winter 2016 From the CEO 1 Strategic Plan Launch! 1 Child & Adolescent Division Update 2 ABH Awards Ceremony 3 “Seeking Safety” Overview 4 In the News 5 Newsflash, Informaon, Employment 6 CBFS Update 7 DSM 5 / UNICO Dinner 8 Transional Housing 9 Adult/Acute Update 10 FROM THE CEO: I am proud to say that I fully support a statewide campaign CEOs Against Sgmalaunched by NAMI Massachuses, the state chapter of the Naonal Alliance on Mental Illness. The mission of the campaign is to end workplace sgma and create healthier, more producve workplaces by chang- ing atudes within Massachu- ses workplaces by securing the commitment of business leaders. By signing onto the campaign, I will work with NAMI Mass to in- crease “know- how” relang to employee behavioral health. Busi- nesses, like the Brien Center, will take a part in the campaign and ulize the informaon and re- sources of NAMI Mass—including NAMI’s “In Our Own Voice” pro- gram, widely recognized as one of the most effecve an-sgma programs in America. I stand behind NAMI’s campaign to eliminate the sgma, the shame, and the secrecy associat- FULL STEAM AHEAD IN 2016— A NEW STRATEGIC PLAN! Did you know that The Brien Center has been involved in developing a new strategic plan since 2014? We have been on an incredible “journey” to map out our strategic goals for 2015-2020 as our agen- cy grows. Goal teams, based on our new stra- tegic goals, launched in late 2015 and repre- sent programs from across the Brien Cen- ter. Our goal teams are focused on the follow- ing areas : access to services, staff recruit- ment/ retenon, public visibility, quality improvement and financial plan- ning. Thanks so much to the Brien Center employees involved in this excing iniave!

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Page 1: Download the full Brien Center Winter 2016 Newsletter (pdf)

www. briencenter.org 1-413-499-0412

ed with mental illness. Men-tal illness and addiction im-pact almost everyone in-cluding our family mem-bers, friends, neighbors, and colleagues at work. We as a community must talk more and work harder to educate people about mental illness and addiction and de-stigmatize both. NAMI’s “CEOs Against Stigma” cam-paign opens up the chan-nels for conversation. Talk-ing openly with each other about mental illness and addiction is the best way to break down misconceptions and promote recovery and healthy communities. As Berkshire County’s primary community-based behavior-al health provider, the Brien Center works everyday to address the needs of our community, as well as our employees, to facilitate a better understanding about how behavioral health affects everyone, and to make sure those who are affected by mental illness and/or addiction get the support they need! Warm Regards,

Chris

The Brien Center

Newsletter

Vo

lum

e 1

, Is

sue 3

W

inte

r 2016

From the CEO 1

Strategic Plan

Launch!

1

Child & Adolescent

Division Update

2

ABH Awards Ceremony 3

“Seeking Safety”

Overview

4

In the News 5

Newsflash, Information,

Employment

6

CBFS Update 7

DSM 5 / UNICO Dinner 8

Transitional Housing 9

Adult/Acute Update 10

FROM THE CEO:

I am proud

to say that I fully support a statewide campaign “CEOs Against Stigma” launched by

NAMI Massachusetts, the state chapter of the National Alliance on Mental Illness. The mission of the campaign is to end workplace stigma and create healthier, more productive workplaces by chang-ing attitudes within Massachu-setts workplaces by securing the commitment of business leaders. By signing onto the campaign, I will work with NAMI Mass to in-crease “know- how” relating to employee behavioral health. Busi-nesses, like the Brien Center, will take a part in the campaign and utilize the information and re-sources of NAMI Mass—including NAMI’s “In Our Own Voice” pro-gram, widely recognized as one of the most effective anti-stigma programs in America. I stand behind NAMI’s campaign to eliminate the stigma, the shame, and the secrecy associat-

FULL STEAM AHEAD

IN 2016— A NEW

STRATEGIC PLAN!

Did you know that The

Brien Center has been

involved in developing

a new strategic plan

since 2014? We have

been on an incredible

“journey” to map out

our strategic goals for

2015-2020 as our agen-

cy grows. Goal teams,

based on our new stra-

tegic goals, launched in

late 2015 and repre-

sent programs from

across the Brien Cen-

ter. Our goal teams are

focused on the follow-

ing areas : access to

services, staff recruit-

ment/ retention,

public visibility,

quality improvement

and financial plan-

ning.

Thanks so much to the

Brien Center

employees involved in

this exciting initiative!

Page 2: Download the full Brien Center Winter 2016 Newsletter (pdf)

www. briencenter.org 1-413-499-0412

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The Child and Adolescent Division remains very busy with ongoing programming. In addition to

our work in our Community Service Agency, Outpatient Services, Day Treatment and Outreach

services, Child Behavioral Health services, and our residential Caring Together Services, our

Division has three new grants that are starting or in the process of starting.

Adolescent Community Reinforcement Approach (A-CRA) is a youth/adolescent substance use intervention funded

through an RFR from BSAS and some supportive funding from Berkshire United Way. A-CRA is an intensive evidence based

program that utilizes the youth’s community to reinforce positive behaviors that will replace substance use. The program

has received national recognition due to its high positive outcomes. Currently referrals are being accepted and staff are

being fully certified in A-CRA. This new exciting evidence based program is a great addition to our Patrick Miller Youth Sub-

stance Abuse prevention and treatment program. Although the program is still getting off the ground, we are already ex-

periencing positive outcomes. The sad news is that the program is clearly needed in our community. The level of sub-

stance use continues to shock many of us. In the past, marijuana and alcohol were by far the most prevalent reason for

referral in the youth population. Referrals for opioid use and addiction are increasing to numbers not seen before.

Youth violence and gang activity is significantly on the rise in our community as well. Youth violence and gang activity di-

rectly relate to increases in opioid addictions and drug dealing. The City of Pittsfield started a youth violence prevention

program through a state grant a number of years ago. Pittsfield Community Connections (PCC) focuses on youth violence

prevention. Prevention in this regard refers to youth who for various reasons represent a high risk to develop violence and

or gang involvement. The goal is to steer the youth away from gangs and acts of violence. Over the summer we were

asked to participate with PCC in applying for a grant called The Safe and Successful Youth Initiative, or SSYI. This grant re-

quires significant involvement from Behavioral Health. The City of Pittsfield who oversees PCC invited us to join in the

grant application. We were recently informed that PCC did receive the SSYI grant and shortly work will begin in starting up

this addition. SSYI differs from the past PCC efforts in that the target population is youth who have already committed

acts of violence. Referrals are made directly from criminal justice after the youth has been arrested. The goal of SSYI is to

prevent continued acts of violence and gang activity. We are very excited about this new opportunity.

A third grant was recently attained for our Community Service Agency (CSA). The CSA is the corner stone of the large CBHI

programming. CSA is based on the values of family and youth voice and choice with the emphasis being on parents di-

recting their child’s and family’s Action Plans. This innovative approach is called Wraparound, placing the parents at the

“head of the table” when it comes to planning. Wraparound usually involves many agencies and programs with the goal of

working together on the same family based goals. Family Partners (parents with lived experience) play an important role

in assisting families through this process and providing advocacy. This excellent program demonstrates great success, but

doesn’t always fit well with Transitional Age Youth (TAY). TAY in normal developmental process should be separating from

family and therefore Action Plans should be directed more by the youth versus the parent. In order to enhance our ser-

vices to TAY we recently received a grant to provide CSA based peer mentors to TAY in our CSA. Peer mentors will provide

a similar advocacy to TAY as Family Partners provide to families. The grant was award as I write this and we are hoping for

a start up after the holidays.

It has been a busy time for the Child & Adolescent Division with some significant improvements in our services and very

interesting grant opportunities enhancing our services.

Child Adolescent Division Updates:

With Jim Mucia, LICSW; Child & Adolescent Division Director

Page 3: Download the full Brien Center Winter 2016 Newsletter (pdf)

www. briencenter.org 1-413-499-0412

Colleen Sondrini-

Cooper of The Brien

Center Receives

ABH’s Moe

Armstrong Award

for Peer Leadership

The Association for Behav-

ioral Healthcare (ABH), a

statewide organization repre-

senting over 80 community-

based behavioral healthcare

provider organizations, today

announced its 2015 Recogni-

tion Awards recipients at its

Salute to Excellence event.

Each year, ABH recognizes

individuals and groups that

have made impressive contri-

butions to the field of mental

health and addiction treat-

ment. This year, Colleen Son-

drini-Cooper, the Recovery

Services Coordinator at The

Brien Center, received the

Moe Armstrong Award for

Peer Leadership for her excep-

tional contribution to the de-

velopment and strengthening

of the role of consumers in

addiction treatment services.

"On behalf of ABH, we want

to thank all of today's award

recipients for the important

work that they do," said Vic

DiGravio, President/CEO of

ABH. "The dedication of eve-

ryone in this room to individu-

als and families struggling

with substance use and mental

health disorders is truly mak-

ing a difference in our com-

munities, and we salute you

for your life-changing work."

Colleen is currently both the

Recovery Services Coordina-

tor and Human Rights Coordi-

nator for the Brien Center.

Prior to her current roles, Col-

leen has held several positions

within the Brien Center that

opened opportunities for self-

disclosure and relational sup-

ports. In her attempts to teach

sensitivity to her fellow co-

workers, she began to self-

disclose her own mental

health struggles to teach them

a deeper understanding of

people’s capabilities. Long

before the peer movement was

an accepted force in the men-

tal health field, Colleen pio-

neered it in her own works.

She has pushed boundaries

and with balance has support-

ed staff to understand that

recovery is possible. In Au-

gust of 2014, Colleen guided

five individuals to create the

first peer run home in Berk-

shire County, Freedom House.

Colleen was recognized at a

ceremony at the Westin Hotel

in Waltham. ABH members

are the primary providers of

community-based behavioral

healthcare in Massachusetts.

Member providers and their

47,000 dedicated employees

provide clinically effective

and cost-sensitive care to

81,000 individuals on any

given day in communities

throughout the state.

As an organization with three

decades of experience in not

only the advancement, but

also the preservation and pro-

motion of community-based

mental health and addiction

services, ABH is recognized

as the leading statewide asso-

ciation in this field.

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Colleen Sondrini-Cooper, the Recovery Services

Coordinator at The Brien Center, received the Moe

Armstrong Award for Peer Leadership. Colleen was

introduced by Brien Center CEO

M. Christine Macbeth and gave an amazing

presentation to a crowd of over 200!

Page 4: Download the full Brien Center Winter 2016 Newsletter (pdf)

www. briencenter.org 1-413-499-0412

Seeking Safety is an evidence-

based model of structured treat-

ment, developed by Lisa M.

Najavits, designed to help in the

process of recovery from PTSD

and Substance Abuse. The treat-

ment is action-oriented and in-

formational and draws from the

cognitive-behavioral therapy

(CBT) tradition and from the psy-

chodynamic with a strong respect

for twelve-step and other self-

help traditions. Seeking Safety is

the first treatment for PTSD and

substance abuse with published

outcome results (Najavits et al.,

1997, 1998e). Seeking Safety is

an alternative to trauma-

processing models that include

exploration of past trauma. The

most urgent clinical need in the

treatment of PTSD and substance

abuse is to establish safety. Seek-

ing Safety does not require the

client to delve into emotionally

distressing trauma narratives.

The excerpt below is from SEEK-

ING SAFETY: A Treatment Manual

for PTSD and Substance Abuse by

Lisa M. Najavits:

The treatment is based on five

central ideas: (1) safety as the

priority of this first-stage treat-

ment; (2) integrated treatment of

PTSD and substance abuse; (3) a

focus on ideals; (4) four content

areas: cognitive, behavioral, inter-

personal, and case management;

and (5) attention to therapist pro-

cesses. “Safety” is an umbrella term

that signifies various elements:

discontinuing substance use, reduc-

ing suicidality, minimizing exposure

to HIV risk, letting go of dangerous

relationships (such as domestic

abuse and drug-using “friends”),

gaining control over extreme symp-

toms (such as disassociation), and

stopping self-harming behaviors

(such as cutting). Just as violations

of safety are life-destroying, the

means of establishing safety are life

-enhancing. The treatment thus fits

what has been described as first-

stage therapy for each of the disor-

ders. The first stage, safety, is in

and of itself an enormous therapeu-

tic task for some patients.

There are 25 topics, each one inde-

pendent of the other so they can be

used in any order for any length of

time. The topics address cognitive,

behavioral, and interpersonal skills,

with a focus on engaging clients in

community resources. Examples of

Seeking Safety topics include, Hon-

esty, Creating Meaning, Setting

Boundaries in Relationships, Taking

Good Care of Yourself, Compassion,

Coping with Triggers, Healing from

Anger, and Recovery Thinking.

Seeking Safety can be conducted with a

broad range of populations - adoles-

cents and adults; males and females;

military/veterans; survivors of domes-

tic abuse; homeless people; clients

with reading or cognitive

impairments; criminal

justice and racially/ eth-

nically diverse popula-

tions; those who are

seriously and persistent-

ly mentally ill; individuals

with behavioral addic-

tions such as pathologi-

cal gambling; active

substance users; and

clients in all levels of

care (outpatient, residential, inpatient,

community care, and private practice).

Lisa M. Nejavits, PhD, is Professor of

Psychiatry, Boston University School of

Medicine; Lecturer, Harvard Medical

School; clinical psychologist, VA Boston

Healthcare System; and clinical associ-

ate, McLean Hospital.

Linda McGinley, MA, LMHC, facilitates

a Seeking Safety group treatment at

the East Street campus of the Brien

Center in Pittsfield, MA. She can be

reached there directly at 413.

398.1320.

Seeking Safety: An Overview:

With Brien Center Outpatient Clinician Linda McGinley , MA, LMHC

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Page 5: Download the full Brien Center Winter 2016 Newsletter (pdf)

www. briencenter.org 1-413-499-0412

The “Good News Business Salute” took

place at the Pittsfield Country Club on

January 28, 2016. This quarterly gath-

ering showcases "good news" in the

Berkshires to create a positive environ-

ment for business while promoting

quality jobs and celebrating the spirit

of success. The Keynote Speaker was

new Pittsfield Mayor Linda Tyer and

Chris Macbeth, CEO of the Brien Cen-

ter, was the guest Emcee. Chris, prior

to introducing the mayor, was able to

discuss the Brien Center’s important

role in Berkshire County and how it

serves 1 in 4 families in Berkshire

County and over 10,000 clients a year.

Mayor Tyer spoke of her vision for

Pittsfield with focus on growing its

economy.

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Dr. Jennifer Michaels, Medical Director of the Brien Center gave a TED TALK about “Training Your Brain to Optimize

Happiness” on November 19,2015. Jennifer Michaels is also an Assistant Professor at the University of Massachusetts Medical

School. She is a national mentor for the Physician Clinical Support System, an educational program for physicians entering the

field of addiction. Dr. Michaels frequently guests on public radio, WAMC. She is a committed community educator on topics

related to mental health, mindfulness, and addictions.

Featured at the “Good News Business Salute” is (left to right)—

Dr. Jennifer Michaels, Medical Director, M. Christine Macbeth,

CEO, Linda Gaspardi Febles, Brien Center Board member, Lois

Hobbs, Brien Center HR Director, Paul Hickling, Brien Center

Division Director, Meri-Ellen Morgans, Brien Program Director

CBFS

Brien Center Medical Director

Dr. Jennifer Michaels does a

TED TALK— “Training Your Brain to

Optimize Happiness”

Brien Center CEO was the emcee at the Berkshire

Chamber of Commerce “Good News Business Salute”

Page 6: Download the full Brien Center Winter 2016 Newsletter (pdf)

www. briencenter.org 1-413-499-0412

grams, and over 25 locations, The Brien Center offers a wide range of career opportunities, from individu-als who are just starting out on their career path to professionals seeking a new challenge. As a leader in the behavioral health field, our agency is proud to deliver 21st century services to those we serve. Our wages and benefits are very competitive and feature the fol-lowing highlights:

Generous Leave Pool (7 weeks

paid time off annually!)

Health and Dental Insurance

(immediate eligibility)

Join the Brien Team and make a difference in the lives of Berkshire County residents!

At The Brien Center, we are always looking for talented individuals who care about their future and are seek-ing a fulfilling career. Our employ-ees are committed to providing high quality, comprehensive mental health and addiction services to the residents of Berkshire County.

With four divisions, dozens of pro-

Short Term and Long Term

Disability Insurance

Flexible Spending, Vision

Insurance and much more..

You can be part of our mission

and team by exploring the career

opportunities available today!

Apply online at

www.briencenter.org

or contact us at

[email protected]

Employment

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Our newsletter provides important updates to the Brien Center team about our programs and activities, giving you a voice to express your interests, appreciation, questions, and a great way to keep connect-ed. We also know that community members benefit from knowing what services we provide and new initiatives we are launching. For suggestions, ideas, questions, recommendations for staff appreciation, or other exciting news you would like to share, please send it by email to [email protected].

For information, referrals or

appointments call:

1-413-499-0412

For our 24-hour

crisis hotline call:

1-800-252-0227

Page 7: Download the full Brien Center Winter 2016 Newsletter (pdf)

www. briencenter.org 1-413-499-0412

The Community Services Division

(CBFS) has been quite busy the

past few months! The CBFS/Adult

Day Health teams worked closely to

support people throughout the

holiday season, which can be a very

rewarding and stressful time. It has

been impressive to be part of such

a dedicated and fun team. Here are

a few highlights:

Pittsfield Adult Day Health: We want

to send out a special thanks to the

Taconic High School chorus. In

December, the entire chorus ar-

rived at the Bradford St. site to sing

holiday songs and together they

drank eggnog and shared cookies.

We were really fortunate that the

staff person, Richard Blay-Miezah

jumped into a Santa Claus suit and

handed out gifts to each person as

the scheduled Santa called and

cancelled. Richard, you saved the

day!

North Adult Day Health: We want

to send a big thanks to Dan

Horan and his wife. They have

donated presents to the partici-

pants for over eight years! The

program celebrated with a nice

visit from Santa and Mrs. Claus.

Jim and Staci Bush did a spectac-

ular job handing out gifts, posing

for pictures, and enjoying holiday

cookies with the participants.

Additionally, David Nicholas, his

“open-mic” buddies, and Lita

Williams performed holiday mu-

sic that was enjoyed by all.

Community Based Flexible Sup-

ports: We are always humbled by

the giving among staff when it

comes to the people they serve

and care about. During the holi-

days the staff were seen organiz-

ing holiday meals, anonymously

donating gifts to people they

support that have no family or

holiday plans, and spreading

holiday cheer with their co-

workers.

The Pittsfield CBFS team offered

a way for staff to anonymously

submit member names under the

“Poinsettia Tree” and another staff

person could choose a name and

return it with a gift. Through this

offering, all of the men who reside at

Freedom House received winter

clothing, hats, and gloves.

The Turning Point residential pro-

gram in Williamstown hosted a Holi-

day party in December. There were a

total of 30 community members and

Turning Point residents in attend-

ance. They had a ham and turkey

dinner with all of the fixings as well

as a delightful assortment of pies.

No one went home with an empty

belly! Santa also made an appear-

ance before the day was through.

What a great way to end a great

year!

As a way to spend time together and

celebrate the season, the managers

hosted a holiday party for all staff in

the Community Services Division.

This year, well over 60 staff attend-

ed! Additionally, this was our first

annual “Ugly Sweater” contest and

Tracey Ritcher, CBFS Office Manag-

er, won with the most votes!

A big thank you our staff! We look

forward to all that 2016 will bring!

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Pictures (to the left/

above) show CBFS

Holiday festivities

which were enjoyed

by both Brien Center

clients and staff!

CBFS Update

With Denise Galvagni, Division Director

Page 8: Download the full Brien Center Winter 2016 Newsletter (pdf)

www. briencenter.org 1-413-499-0412

DSM 5 / ICD-10 Transition Update With Andrea Horowitz, Addiction Program Supervisor

Page 8

In October of this year the mental health community experienced an event that has not oc-

curred in 40 years, the changing of the World Heath Organization’s International Classification of Diseases

Codes. The ICD codes, as they are called, were last changed in 1975 when they transitioned from ICD-8 to ICD-

9. The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual, DSM, published by the American Psychological Association (APA) has

utilized the ICD codes since it’s first printing in 1952 (DSM 1 and ICD 6).

The transition from ICD 9 to ICD 10 was met with some anxiety and confusion. It was the

Y2K of the mental health world. In addition to numerical changes and the introduction of

letters (those darn F Codes) the APA also updated diagnostic criteria and created spec-

trums for many of the standard disorders. Clinician’s were tasked with understanding the

changes in criteria, re-assessing existing clients and learning the new coding system. In

true Brien Center fashion, the staff at all sites came through and surpassed expectations

in their adaptability and effort.

To help the staff an ICD team was put together to facilitate the transition clinically as well

as with our (favorite) electronic medical record system iCentrix. The ICD team included Andrea Horowitz, Jim

Mucia, Paul Hickling, Kennin Strout, Arline Cooper, and Metta Burpee—thanks for the time and feedback

provided in these groups. Another special thanks to Ann Greenbaum–Mucia, Megan Eldridge Wroldson, Julia

Vitori, Lisa Schmiski, Carol King-Reed and Sam Utz who got together to brainstorm tools that would be help-

ful to clinicians as we made this transition. Through these meetings “cheat sheets” (short cut informational

pages) were created. Once the changes were made to iCentrix outpatient addiction clinician Janet Brennan

made an excellent cheat sheet for those iCentrix forms that were newly

created for DSM 5/ICD-10.

The change initially seemed daunting but with cooperation and hard work

it came together brilliantly. We will be totally prepared for ICD-11 and

DSM 6!

The Brien Center’s Annual UNICO Dinner

Honoring Senator Benjamin B. Downing

Thursday, May 12, 2016

5:30pm

ITAM Lodge

Please save the date!

Page 9: Download the full Brien Center Winter 2016 Newsletter (pdf)

www. briencenter.org 1-413-499-0412

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This Department of Mental Health-funded program is an integral part of The Brien

Center’s community-based system. The program provides a service to adults with behavioral health needs who require

a temporary group living arrangement and support services as they stabilize and integrate into the community. The

services include assessment, treatment planning, and intensive case management for those stepping down from inpa-

tient care, and serve as respite for emergencies or as a bridge to some permanent arrangements. The program is de-

signed to provide high levels of support during a time of crisis and helps individuals access appropriate long-term sup-

ports and services to sustain them when they return to the community.

For the past 5 months, all nine beds in the Transitional Program have been full. We have two transitional beds at

Pomeroy House and seven at Brenton house. During that time we have helped residents move into programs that pro-

vide additional services such as Wendell House and Keenan House, or helped them move into their own place. The

Transitional Program provides up to 30 days of aftercare support for discharged residents until CBFS is able to take

over services. During that time we help them move in and set up their new residence. We also can administer medica-

tion should that be necessary.

Upon admission, residents review the house rules, sign off on a Substance Abuse Policy, and discuss their goals for the

future. Most times the major goal is housing but other services offered include: Substance abuse groups, mental health

groups, medication administration and monitoring, and active ongoing goal planning coordinated by weekly Team

Meetings. While in the Transitional Program, residents work at putting their life back together after having some type

of setback. Brenton House provides residents with a dedicated phone and computer that they are encouraged to use

to find apartments and employment as well as research any topics they are interested in.

Staff and residents work hard to create a family type atmosphere at Brenton House. Residents share dinner together

and are encouraged to participate in prep and clean-up. The house is an open design and the “office area” is open to

staff and residents except during Team Meetings. This has helped promote better relationships between staff and resi-

dents allowing them the opportunity to come in any time with any questions or just to hang out. Many Brenton House

Alumni have returned to visit and share a coffee. Current residents are then able to see what happens to residents

when they work on their goals and take their recovery seriously.

Staff in the Transitional Program are dedicated to providing a safe, sup-

portive environment for residents. Most of our staff have been working at

Brenton House for more than 5 years with 5 staff logging more than 10

years. We have supported residents who are studying for their GED, attend-

ing college, or are working. The Transitional Program strives to create a

therapeutic environment that supports residents, offering them a safe place

to live and recover, and encouraging them to improve their lives.

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Pictures (top of page and above)

showing Brenton House and the large

living room area for residents)

The Brien Center Transitional Housing Program

Update By Mark Warren, Manager

Page 10: Download the full Brien Center Winter 2016 Newsletter (pdf)

www. briencenter.org 1-413-499-0412

Adult & Family Division/ Acute Care Services Division-- Updates:

With Paul Hickling, Division Director

Page 10

It was a busy and productive 2015 for the Adult & Family Division and Acute Care Services

Division and 2016 is off to a great start!

Acute Care Services is working closely with the new Pittsfield Police Patrol Unit Command-

er Captain John Mullins to develop and strengthen our Public Safety Program. Becca

Phelps, Crisis Manager and I met with Captain Mullins in January 2016 to discuss our goals

for 2016. Thanks to Richard Collins, Brien Center Crisis Clinician, for agreeing to participate in this program

and we look forward to opportunities to actively participate in training and ride-along patrols to serve individu-

als who may be in distress in the community. Timely intervention using teamwork between the crisis clinician

and the police can help to safely de-escalate individuals in need of help and to work with the individual’s natu-

ral support system to generate a plan that avoids the need for unnecessary trips to the emergency room for

crisis screenings and possible inpatient psychiatric treatment. Focusing on outpatient intervention instead of a

higher level of care helps individuals in the community to stay in their jobs or school and/or not to be separat-

ed from family and friends.

The Adult Division not only includes outpatient behavioral health care services at our outpatient sites in East

Street (Central), American Legion Drive (North), and 60 Cottage Street (South) but also Brien Center services at

Community Health Program (CHP) primary care physician offices in Great Barrington, Lee and Pittsfield. Thanks

to CHP clinicians Joanne Boelke and Lisa Schimski for your efforts to integrate behavioral health care in prima-

ry care settings to serve individuals in need. I wanted to highlight this program as it has expanded in the past

year and is not always well known to other Brien Center staff because it is an off-site program.

In partnership with Berkshire Health Systems new “Neighbor For Care Program”, the Brien Center Addiction

Program added a Structured Outpatient Addiction Program (SOAP; Addiction Day Treatment Program) to

North Adams (located at the former North Adams Regional Hospital on the old critical care unit) which started

services in September 2015. This was a much needed new service in the North Adams area and complements

our existing Day Treatment program in Pittsfield—these intensive services are critical for individuals in early

recovery stepping down from a detox level of care. Program supervisor Carol Gokhale and North County clini-

cians Mary Sugden, Thomas Sanford and Jeremy Sullivan all have provided critical group services for the new

Day Treatment program which operates M-F from 9am-12:30pm—thanks for your hard work everyone! For

questions about the new Addiction Day Treatment Program please call Carol Gokhale at 413-664-5540.

Also, we appreciate Arline Bertone for operating a step-down Enhanced Outpatient Program (EOP) at our 124

American Legion Drive outpatient site to accommodate clients graduating from the Day Treatment program.

Congratulations to Keenan House, the Brien Center’s 24-bed co-educational Recovery Home (halfway house) in

Pittsfield, Massachusetts, for recently completing the license renewal process. Thanks to the hard work of the

Keenen House staff (including Program Supervisor Deb Shaver-Bates and House Manager Dave Vincent) and

Addiction Program Director Nanciellen Poulin. Keenan House works with individuals in early recovery who

have completed detox treatment and usually a transitional level of care (i.e. CSS or TSS program). The length of

stay can be up to 6-8 months. For questions about Keenan House please call 413-499-2756.