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Inside This Issue:
THE ADVOCATE
The Newsletter of the Greater Taunton Health & Human Service Coalition (GTHHSC) and the Greater Attleboro Taunton Health & Education Response (GATHER)
Volume XII, No.9 September 2002
MASS COUNSELING NETWORK PROMOTES
WELLNESS & RESOLVE
(From MASS Counseling Network Brochure)
Everyone must adjust to the “new normal” – a new outlook about our place in the world in the aftermath of the
9/11 terrorist attacks. No one who sees a disaster is untouched by it. Stress and grief are normal reactions to an
abnormal situation. We need to rebuild a sense of security for ourselves and our children.
Support is available at no charge, to anyone living or working in Massachusetts. MASS Counseling Network
services are made possible by a Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Crisis Counseling Program
grant, and are administered by the Massachusetts Department of Mental Health (DMH) in cooperation with the
Massachusetts Office for Victim Assistance, the Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency, the Center for
Mental Health Services, and local mental health provider agencies. Free-of-charge services include:
· Individual crisis counseling
· Group crisis counseling
· Educational outreach to organizations
· Multicultural and multilingual services
· Referral to a wide range of services including disaster relief and mental health/substance abuse services
· Individualized presentations to community groups, organizations, businesses, or schools
Common reactions to disaster include shock, numbness, denial, fear, grief, insecurity, flashbacks, anger and
resentment, guilt, physical symptoms, inability to resume normal routine and depression. Self-help strategies include
the following:
· Talk with someone about your feelings
· Don’t hold yourself responsible for the disastrous event
· Maintain a normal routine, but limit demanding responsibilities
· Spend time with family and friends
· Participate in memorials and rituals that help express your feelings
· Establish a family emergency plan
How might you help children?
· Provide opportunities for your children to talk about the event
· Answer questions honestly and at a level your child can understand
· Monitor your child’s television watching
· Encourage your children to express their emotions
· Try not to focus blame
· Help children identify good things: heroic actions, reunited families, volunteers
When should you seek help?
If self-help strategies are not working, or you find that you are using drugs/alcohol in order to cope, you may
wish to seek outside or professional assistance with your stress symptoms. Phone counselors are able to refer
individuals in Massachusetts to free counseling in their area, as well as arrange for education and outreach for
organizations seeking help, at 1-800-724-8443. Community Counseling of Bristol County is a local participating
community provider. Local contact person is Ryan Pickrell, 508-828-9116. ¨
Free Prescription Drug Discount Program
(From CHNA Listserv)
Nonprofit Warehouse has launched a Free Prescription Drug Discount Card. The card is available to any
organization, government agency, religious organization, or commercial support organization for distribution to any
individual that does not have a prescription drug benefit. With the card, a person will be able to purchase his/her
prescriptions at or below wholesale prices. The card is also available to any individual that needs this type of
discount prescription.
There are no income or age restrictions, documentation or registration requirements. The card can even be given
to individuals on Medicare. The card is available for free at their web site at www.nonprofitwarehouse.com.
Simply click on the Free Prescription Drug Discount Card tab on the left side of the home page and follow the easy
instructions. The simplest way is to print one and photocopy as many as you need. There are no limits on how
many you can distribute.
The card is valid in over 1400 KMart Pharmacies in the U.S., Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands. For those
individuals who do not have a conveniently located Kmart Pharmacy, there is a mail option.
For more information, call Les Wilson, 770-541-7777. ª
SYNERGY Meeting Planned
The Southeastern Massachusetts Networking Group for Public Health (SYNERGY) was formed by the Department of Public Health to strengthen the communication and dissemination of information among communities in Southeastern Massachusetts. SYNERGY is a network of Public Health entities comprised of Department of Public Health, Local Boards of Health, Community Health Networks (CHNAs), and the Regional Center for Healthy Communities.
Please mark in your calendars the date and time of our first SYNERGY conference, “Improving Public Health through Communication, Networking and Collaboration”, Friday, November 22, 2002, 9:00 a.m. – Noon, at the Jockey Club, Raynham, Massachusetts. Commissioner Howard Koh, M.D., DPH, will deliver the Keynote Address. ©
GTHHSC Monthly Meeting
Will be held
September 17, 2002, 9:00
Associates for Human Services (A.H.S.)
29 Broadway, Taunton
What are STI’s? How does Emergency contraception work? What is the Patch?
Most of us do not know enough about what services are offered in Taunton, or what the latest news is in reproductive health. Come and find out what you need to know in order to refer youth, clients, students, friends, or family members. This training is for community leaders, school personnel, educators, health and human service professionals, parents, grandparents, doctors, police officers, community members, and anyone working with youth. It will give you an introduction to Family Planning services, birth control methods, emergency contraception, and sexually transmitted diseases and infections.
Lee LeBlanc Corrigan, Health Education Coordinator for Family Planning, will lead this fun, interactive workshop. She has over 19 years experience.
There is no fee for this training, to be held 9/27/02, 8:30-12:00 at One Taunton Green, but space is limited. For information, please call 508-823-6346, x210. ♣
COALITION/COMMITTEE MINUTES
Discussion Highlights:
Workshop – Details were finalized for the September 18, 2002 “Overview of Crisis Intervention” workshop. Crisis Intervention Teams are trained with the tools to de-escalate situations involving individuals with mental health issues, encouraging sensitivity to individuals with special needs, while presenting the protective rights of both the provider and the consumer.
Emergency Room Procedures – Greater networking leads to the establishment of procedures for non-violent, psychiatric individuals without a medical history, coming directly to Norton. This may be based on Maryland’s model, with a local group working out the details.
Confidentiality Information Sharing from the Criminal Justice/Mental Health Consensus Project lists recommendations for developing protocols to ensure that criminal justice and mental health partners share mental health information without infringing on the individual’s civil liberties.
Grant – DMH has applied for a grant, and if received could assist in the development of the Crisis Intervention Team.
Co-Chairmanship – Congratulations to Mike Bonenfant and Steve Turner for their co-chairmanship of this group. Kathy Lalor will remain as coordinator.
Next Steps:
The creation of resource cards, with phone numbers and names of individuals who are committed to helping police deal with crisis involving MH/DD individuals.
Next Meeting: TBA
Contact Person: Kathy Lalor, 508-823-9416.
Discussion Highlights:
SART VII – This group continues the work begun at the most recent Substance Abuse Round Table (SART) VII, “From Incarceration to Community Re-Entry.
International Community Corrections Association annual conference and training, "What's New in the New Millennium? What We Know after a Decade of Research Conferences", will be held 11/3-11/6, 2002, at the Park Plaza Hotel, Boston. To register, call 608-785-0200, or e-mail icca@execpc.com. The Conference offers more than 25 workshops and panel discussions on the following:
• Evidence-Based Programming
• New Trends in Community Corrections
• Community Partnerships & Multi-Systemic Strategies
Department of Mental Retardation (DMR) is presently changing eligibility criteria for those coming into/out of the system. They work closely with the Department of Mental Health (DMH) at the Bridgewater facility. There may be MR people in the system that have not yet been identified. Ideally, identification of MR/MH individuals would be during intake, rather than at discharge.
Community Counseling of Bristol County (CCBC) MassHealth case manager referrals through CCBC can be made pre-release. CCBC is currently applying for a foundation grant for an outreach worker in the area of homelessness for the disabled who are on MassHealth. This relates to many inmates released, who have MH disability, DMR eligibility, SA history or physical limitations.
High Point has worked for more flexibility in a case with an individual in the bracelet program, referred by Community Partnerships, Inc. (CPI) in order to allow him/her to go for self help after 6 p.m. CPI is involved in release, behind the scenes, by trying to create a smooth bridge. A challenge is that the standards and expectations of different systems vary.
Budget Implications - The state budget will be finalized in a few days. Losses in services include DMR day and work programs, residential losses, MH service cuts within jails, AIDS services, acute treatment for SA individuals, SA ambulatory services and Medicaid cuts. Agencies will have to compete with each other for funding, and a trickle down effect could have higher maintenance clients turned away from services.
Reintegration Program (Dartmouth Facility) - This voluntary program provides weekly classes to inmates, anytime after sentencing. Inmates are aware of the program, and outreach efforts have increased by sending forms and invitation letters to those listed on Parole's discharge list. Outside providers may do presentations on educational, vocational, MH or other programs, such as the Community Drug Education Program. Discharge planning services include education, GED, federal financial aids for college, substance abuse, anger management, doctor appointments, information and connections for housing placements, child support, MassHealth, and at least three days of medicines (up to 30 days, depending on in house policy). CCBC could be involved in the apartment search piece in the Attleboro/Taunton area. A resource guide of SARTVII providers would be useful for those released to the Attleboro/Taunton area.
MR/MH Inmates - Once identified in the medical department, one-on-one services can be provided so the inmate will not feel stigmatized. DMR can provide an educational presentation piece to help identify these individuals.
Department of Corrections (DOC) has a person who meets with inmates 6, 3 and 1 month before release. Inmates are provided with resource cards. Bus schedules would also be helpful. They would like to put housing resources in the Community Resource Centers through a revolving fund for first and last month's rent, as well as clothing. Transportation access to Community Resource Centers, as well as half-way houses, is difficult due to insurance and union issues for providing transportation, as well as a reluctance for clients to leave their communities for Community Resource Center services.
Next Steps:
To continue to explore resources, services, obstacles, and linkages.
To find out what kind of data is available, to help us formulate questions applicable to re-entry in the Attleboro/Taunton area.
To follow up on legislative initiatives.
To look at confidentiality and privacy requirements as it relates to information sharing for client and public safety
To forward additional funding information
To present information on the Community Drug Education program
To get a copy of the 60 page "From Cell to Street", from the Mass Inc. website, Shaw Foundation.
Next Meeting:
9/20/02, 11:00, CCBC, 68 Church Green, Suite 5, Taunton.
Contact Person:
Jim Ross, 508-823-9416
Discussion Highlights:
Resignation - Lisa has resigned as co-chair.
Case Managers - Don Young / Case Manager resigned and will now be working at the Boston Health
Commission. Two new case managers have been hired.
The Women’s Group has been cancelled due to lack of participants.
State budget has passed, and HIV/AIDS funding has been cut slightly.
Consumer Advisory Board Recruitment - An ad will be sent out for Consumer Advisory Board recruiting
purposes.
Next Meeting:
10/9/02, 9:00, Morton Cafe Annex.
Contact Person:
Damar Aponte, 508-884-8264.
This month’s Advocate was published by Lorraine Rosa, Coordinator, with funds from GATHER and GTHHSC dues. To submit an article, announcement or other information, please call (508) 823-4822, fax 508-823-8584, or write to GTHHSC, P.O.Box 2894, Taunton, MA. 02780, by September 25th. H
Did You Know That…?
Morton Hospital & Medical Center presents the following lectures: All About Sleep Disturbances, 9/18/02, 6:30 p.m.; Interventional Pain Management, 10/3/02, 6:30 p.m.; ADD/ADHD: An Educational/Humorous Solution, 10/22/02, 6:30 p.m. For information, please call 508-828-7777.
Building Healthier Communities For All: The Journey To Equity – The 10th Annual Statewide Prevention Conference will be held on 4/30/03, at the Holiday Inn at
Boxboro, MA. Call For Workshop Proposals are due by 12/6/02. Conference planners are now soliciting
skill-building workshop proposals that address innovative community-based approaches to eliminate health
disparities. The conference attracts planners, practitioners, advocates, activists, citizens, and professionals from
various sectors, agencies and organizations interested in community and health/quality of life improvement.
Rock the Vote and Advocates for Youth petition for comprehensive sex education may be accessed at
www.advocatesforyouth.org/petition
Nelcwit Survivors Project Seeks Co-Director - Collaborative management & leadership at unique program for women survivors of childhood abuse. Commitment to ending oppression; experience with program management, culturally appropriate services, staff & volunteer supervision. Twenty-One hrs/full benefits. People of color & abuse survivors encouraged to apply. Please send letter/resume to SP Hiring Comm, 10 Park St, Greenfield MA 01301. Will review applications starting 9/16/02 until filled.
The American Cancer Society reports that one in six men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer in his lifetime. The good news is, it’s highly treatable, if you find it early. If you’re 50 or older, speak with your doctor about getting tested. For information, call 1-800-ACS-2345.
Preventing and Controlling Obesity in Massachusetts - The Massachusetts Health Council is having this
conference on 9/18/02, at the Waltham-Westin Hotel. Providers, policymakers, advocates, and others committed
to battling the epidemic of obesity will discuss the interventions that will abate the increasing prevalence of obesity
in our communities. There will also be a focus on special populations that are at risk. New and different approaches
to preventing and controlling obesity will be highlighted. The just released DPH report on Obesity in Massachusetts
will be distributed as well. CEU's have been approved for both Social Workers and Nurses. Registration in
advance is required. Please log on to www.mahealthcouncil.org or call 617- 965-3711.
Making Strides Against Breast Cancer, a five-mile walk along the Charles River Esplanade in Boston, to saves lives, will be held 10/6/02. For information, contact the American Cancer Society, 1-877-338-WALK or log on to strides_boston@cancer.org
Massachusetts Statewide 5 A Day Conference will be held 10/8/02, 7:45-3:30, at College of the Holy Cross, Worcester, MA. $20. For information, please call 617-624-5418.
Taking a Stand: Youth Organizing to End Adolescent Sexual Assault and Dating Violence will be held 12/11/02 at College of the Holly Cross, Worcester. It is sponsored by Jane Doe Inc., Massachusetts Coalition Against Sexual Assault and Domestic Violence and the Massachusetts D.P.H. For information, call 617-557-1829.
"Act in Time to Heart Attack Signs", Small Group Session Lesson Plan is now available online. To view and download your copy of the lesson plan, simply click on http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/prof/heart/mi/sm_group.htm.
September 14, Noon Fall Family Health Fair. Silver City Galleria.
September 17, 9:00 GTHHSC Monthly Meeting. A.H.S., Broadway, Taunton
September 17, 10:15 GTHHSC Child & Family Focused Committee. A.H.S., Broadway, Taunton
September 18, 3:00 GTHHSC/GATHER Substance Abuse/Addictions Committee. 63 Winthrop St.
September 18, 4:30 Environmental Strategies Subcommittee. CCBC, 63 Winthrop St.
September 19, 1:00 GATRA Consumer Advisory Committee. Taunton GATRA office.
September 20, 11:00 From Incarceration to Community Re-Entry. 68 Church Green, Suite 5
September 25, 8:00 Safe Neighborhood Initiative. Taunton High School (THS) Library Annex.
September 25, 9:30 GATHER Domestic Violence Committee. THS Library Annex.
September 26, 4:00 TPS/BCC Taunton Adult Education Partnership. 45 School St., 2nd floor.
September 27, 8:30 2002: The Birds and the Bees Update. Citizens for Citizens Conference Room.
October 1, 9:30 Taunton Emergency Task Force. City Hall, Taunton.
October 3, 2:30 GATHER Steering Committee. New Hope Office, 39 Taunton Green, Taunton.
October 9, 9:00 Greater Taunton Mayor’s AIDS Consortium. Morton Hospital Café Annex.
October 23, 9:00 GTHHSC Community Health Education & Wellness. Morton Café Annex.