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Volume 11 Number 1
The Mental Health and Mental Retardation Authority of Harris County
Winter 2007
Aware of fraud or waste? Contact ethics hotline 1.800.826.6762 en espanol 1.800.297.8592
Online Family Fair
To most people, the word “virtual” means “almost, but not quite,” so you might think that a virtual
event couldn’t really be worth much.
In the case of the Virtual Provider Fair offered on the Web by the Mental Retardation Services
Division, you’d most likely be wrong.
Going to www.mhraharris.org on the Internet and then clicking on “MR Services” takes you to the fair.
A pop-up window allows you to click to enter the provider fair, plus there is a permanent link on the
welcoming page. There is an introduction by former longtime Channel 2 anchorman Ron Stone, and then
the visitor has the opportunity to view videos placed on the site by various Home and Community-based
Support providers.
This is the place where families can get
information on service providers that they might want
to place a loved one with. Here, families can view the
providers’ videos and make decisions. There is even a
list of suggested questions for providers available
there.
“I believe the virtual fairs are superior. They give a
much better impression of the provider, as opposed to
visiting a booth in a live setting,” says Ken Collins,
director of Mental Retardation Services at MHMRA.
“The virtual fair helps you know if that provider is a
good fit for the consumer,” he says, explaining:
“We are rolling out waiver slots OK’d by Medicaid.
There are 170 providers in the area and all we can do
is give the families a list of their names. The state had
asked us in the past to do a fair in order to get information out. We used to do fairs periodically at the
Hornberger Center. There seemed to be no good way to get the info out.
“But now, what we have at the online Virtual Provider Fair are three-minute clips, either on the site or
linked to it. We also have a clip on the site on our own HCS program. We eventually plan to offer links so
we can be the host for the state to hold fairs at our site, as well. We also may later offer training programs
there.
“We may still do live provider fairs – it’s up to the families, but I think the virtual fair is much better.”
There is also information on the site that enables service providers to learn how to set up video clips
or links on their service programs.
ARC of Houston to honor Collins for his good works
Ken Collins, deputy director of Mental
Retardation Services at MHMRA, will be
honored by The Arc of Greater Houston with its
2007 “Celebration of Life” award,” given to
exceptional individuals working in the field of
intellectual and developmental disorders who
are advocates for children and adults.
“There aren’t many who have done more for
the people we serve than Ken Collins,” said
Judy Kantorczyk, executive director of The Arc,
in commenting on Collins’ selection. The 2006
award recipient was MHMRA Board Chairman
Lynne Cleveland.
Collins will be honored on March 23 at The
Arc’s Celebration of Life Gala at the Hotel
Derek on the West Loop. This fundraising event
will feature a gourmet dinner, a limited and
exclusive live and silent auction, and dancing to
‘60s Rock ‘n’ Roll.
Information on the event is available at
713-957-1600 or at www.thearcofhouston.com.
This newsletter is published by
MHMRA of Harris County
Board of Trustees
Lynne Cleveland, Chairman
Mae F. McMillan, M.D., Vice Chairman
Paige Michael Cokinos, Secretary
Victor C. Alvarez
Bob Borochoff
Jane Cherry
Alfred H. Forsten
Dr. Tom Hamilton
Gerald W. Womack
P.O. Box 25381
Houston, Texas 77265-5381
Executive Director
Steven B. Schnee, Ph.D.
Public Affairs Director
Vernell Jessie
_______________________
Questions and Comments
may be directed to
Public Affairs Office
P.O. Box 25381
Houston, TX 77265-5381
(713) 970-7000
www.mhmraofharriscounty.org
Consumers share stories
in follow-up workshop
E d i t o r’s note: Renown international
trainer Joel Slack made a recent return visit
to MHMRA. This was a follow-up on his twoday workshops for consumers and staff as a
part of the agency’s new Respect initiative,
which incorporates respect as a core value in
the workplace.
Consumers also took part in an intensive,
five-day workshop. These are a few of their
stories they have agreed to share. Their real
names have not been used.
Alicia
Alicia she was a young college student
working for HISD and in love for the first
time. That love, along with her life, was
shattered when her first true love raped her.
Terrified, she kept it all to herself, telling
no one. Keeping that secret proved to be too
much for Alicia, who started having
hallucinations.
“I took on his crime and ended up telling
a colleague at work that I had raped someone.
They called the police, and I was placed in the
Harris County Psychiatric Center for three
weeks where they kept me medicated.
“Nothing helped. It wasn’t until I found
MHMRA that I began to get better. The
people there changed my life. They were
kind, compassionate, and I learned to be
myself. I learned that I was bipolar and I
learned how to control myself. Now, I am
coping with being bipolar, and learning to
accept myself and love myself. I am learning
that it is OK to be me. MHMRA helped me
to see that.”
Now nearly 30, Alicia is chairing an
agency committee where she volunteers her
time to help others. Working with other
consumers she now helps to find them
resources. She is their advocate, making sure
that doctors are treating them with respect.
For this service she receives a stipend. Today,
she describes herself is a happy and
productive citizen.
“I always liked making people feel good,
always liked helping people,” she said. “I find
people what they need, like free computer
classes. I help if they have trouble with
doctors. We share stories and they know that
I understand. That helps them and it helps me
too. If it weren’t for MHMRA, I probably
would be lost in the system somewhere, lying
in some mental hospital. But, instead, I am
here making a difference. One person really
can make a difference.”
Julia
They found her in her crib nearly frozen
to death.
Taken from her home for
safekeeping, she was sent to live with her
grandfather who soon began to commit acts
of sexual abuse.
At 8, she started hearing voices and seeing
things. She was now being molested by three
other members of the family.
Two uncles had molested her before her
12th birthday, the same year she attempted
suicide. After being hospitalized, she was left
with an aunt and uncle who molested her as
well. She had a prescription for thorizine, but
her family never gave it to her and her illness
worsened.
It was no surprise that she ended up in
reform school, jail and eventually prison.
Addicted to drugs, in 1991 she went into
recovery but it didn’t last. She soon started
drinking and using drugs again.
“I wanted to die,” she said. “But with the
help of Beverly at MHMRA I found myself. I
have been clean and sober now for three
years. I don’t regret my life if now I can help
others. I am lucky.
"I have learned to love myself again.”
Linda
She was only 4, but she remembers
clearly that the tornado picked up her house,
smashing it into a tree. That was only the
beginning of Linda’s stormy life.
Sexually abused shortly after that by a
family member, she wasn’t surprised when
another family member raped her when she
was only 12. Her own father began molesting
her when she was 13.
She escaped the abuse by marrying a man
just two weeks after she met him, believing
that she could turn her life around. Instead,
he turned out to be an abusive man who
cheated on her, was addicted to drugs and
alcohol and forced her into wife-swapping.
She realized that no one could save her from
this life of hell but herself.
It was then that she called MHMRA. She
would receive counseling and medication and
the support of one special counselor, Pedro
Pena.
“It was then that I realized that I was a
person, and I deserved a good life. I
understand that I have mental illness, and that
I am just doing the best that I can.
MHMRA saved my life … no, MHMRA
helped ME to save my life.
“Now I am a volunteer with MHMRA,
telling my story in order to let other people,
especially women, know that they don’t have
to go through the type of abuse that I went
through. That they can take control of their
lives and turn them around the way that I
did.”
2
EMERGENCY
SERVICES
W E LC O M E S
DR. KNOX
Dr. Daryl K. Knox has joined
M H M R A as Medical Director of
Psychiatric Emergency Services at
the NeuroPsychiatric Center. Dr.
Knox will be supervising emergency
care at the 24/7 center, which
provides services to those who are
having a psychiatric crisis.
Formerly, Dr. Knox was with the
University of Texas Medical
B r a n c h ’s correctional managed
care services at the Jester IV Unit in
Richmond. He also was Medical
Director for the Milwaukee
( Wisconsin)
Mental
Health
Services. Before that, he was on
the staff of the Texana MHMRA in
Rosenberg for eight years. “The
PES is an important and vital
component of mental health
services in Harris County, and I look
forward to working with Dr. “Av r i m ”
Fishkind and the staff in continuing
to meet the challenges and
opportunities of providing these
services to our community,” Knox
said.
Success is
brewing at
agency
coffeehouse
The agency’s coffeehouse for
people with Asperger’s Syndrome,
which has been featured on KHOU
Channel 11, has been a big
success. The program is providing
a friendly, nurturing atmosphere
where people gather for relaxation
and enjoyment and to practice
professional working skills. One
father mentioned during the
Channel 11 segment that he had
noticed a remarkable change in his
daughter, hearing her laugh for the
first time in years. Often not
diagnosed until the age of 9,
Asperger's Disorder is part of the
autism spectrum and is marked by
delays in social and communication
skills.
MHMRA’s updated
Mission Statement
It shall be the mission of the Mental Health and Mental
Retardation Authority of Harris County (MHMRA),
within the resources available, to provide or ensure the
provision of services and supports in a respectful fashion
that are high quality, efficient, and cost effective such
that persons with mental disabilities may live with
dignity as fully functioning, participating, and
contributing members of our community as possible,
regardless of their ability to pay or third party coverage.
* Persons with severe mental illness should be able to
live in homes of their own, develop relationships,
work, and remain out of hospitals and jails.
* Persons with intellectual or developmental
disabilities should be able to acquire the skills and
access community resources to develop networks of
human relationships, learn, work, and live in
environments of their choosing.
* Children and adolescents with serious emotional
disturbance should be able to live in homes with
families, develop normal relationships with their
peers, attend school, and remain out of hospitals and
juvenile justice facilities.
Hogg Foundation conference
The Hogg Foundation recently held its annual Robert Lee
Sutherland Conference at the Westin Galleria hotel. The
conference focused on cultural competence and evidence-based
practices in mental health. Attendees saw the ribbon-cutting of
the Dr. Stanley Sue Center for the Asian American Family
Services, educating those with mental health needs in the
population. From left to right, University of Houston; Sandra
Lopez, LCS, ACSW; Allen Owen, mayor of Missouri City and
AAFS board president; Dr. Stanley Sue, Distinguished Professor
of Psychology and Asian American Studies at the University of
California, and MHMRA’s Vernell Jessie, advisory committee
member for the conference.
Villlas at Bayou Park opens for consumers
Villas at Bayou Park has opened its doors as a safe, decent and
affordable permanent housing development for those who are mentally
challenged at 10955 Kipp Way. Project coordinator Sam Hom says the
facility operates on a scattered campus-style configuration on a two-acre
tract of land with good access to a number of services, including Metro.
The $2 million project is a combination of one- and two-bedroom units.
Cutting the ribbon to open Villas are, left to right: Brad Raffle, Steven
Hester, John Anderson, Dr. Tom Hamilton, Dr. Steven Schnee, Gordon
Quan, Herb Bateman, Scott Hickey, Betsy Schwartz, Alfred Forsten, and
Vi Napolitano. Not pictured is Nicole Livesay, who represented County
Judge Robert Eckels. Dr. Schnee, executive director of MHMRA, said,
“This is an exciting opportunity for our consumers, and this project goes
such a long way toward improving the quality of life for our consumers.”
Villas accommodates 19 families and singles.
Of note...
Friends of MHMRA
Alvarez joins board of trustees
Friends of MHMRA stepped up to the plate recently to attend 2007’s Mardi Gras
Evening with Friends of MHMRA, a night for fundraising and fun, at the Westside
Tennis Club. More than $83,000 was raised during the evening and pledges were
continuing to pour in.
Co-sponsors Steven B. Schnee, Ph.D., executive director of MHMRA, and Alan
Helfman, vice president of River Oaks Chrysler-Jeep returned for the charity
fundraiser’s third yearly gathering.
This year’s honorees for the Friends event were
Gordon Quan, who served on the Houston City
Council as both a member and mayor pro tem from
2000 to 2006 and Leonel J. Castillo, former assistant
to the past three mayors of Houston.
Quan has for the
past few years chaired
the Blue Ribbon
Commission to End
Chronic Homelessness,
producing the first local
needs-assessment on the
Gordon Quan
problem in a decade. The
commission has
acknowledged that a large number of homeless suffer
from mental illness and that a housing solution is
crucial for them.
Castillo served for a number of years on the MR
Planning Advisory Council where he represented the
Leonel J. Castillo
Mayor’s Office. His idea for a foundation for mental
health was first raised while working as a part of the council, serving those with
mental health disabilities. Castillo, now retired, also worked with Houston mayors on
education needs in the area and represented the mayor’s office at numerous
functions.
MHMRA has a new board member. Victor C. Alvarez is the owner and chief
executive officer of Mexalde, in Mexico City, a brokerage engaged in importing and
selling products to the Mexican government.
He has a bachelor’s degree in industrial engineering from Universidad
Iberoamericana in Mexico City and a master’s degree in marketing administration
from the Instituto de Mercadotecnia y Publicidad in Mexico City.
He serves on a number of boards, including Crime Stoppers, Spring Branch
Management District, the Houston Zoo Inc., the Mayoral Advisory Committee for
Immigrant and Refugee Affairs and the Spring Branch Medical Center Board of
Trustees.
Alvarez and his wife, Norma, live in Houston and have a son and daughter.
Alvarez replaces Tracy Stein, who has left the board after a number of years of
dedicated service to MHMRA.
MHMRA HelpLine has moved
The HelpLine is now located at 7011 SW Freeway on the 1st floor, Room 150.
The MHMRA HelpLine is the first point of contact for MHMRA consumers and
their families, as well as for anyone else who needs community information or
assistance.
HelpLine counselors assess risks, screen callers for appropriate programs,
provide immediate crisis intervention, and give community referrals to callers 24/7.
Counselors are also available to any agency staff who need assistance with
emergent calls or need assistance in locating community referrals for your
consumers. You can reach us through 713-970-7000, 713-970-7070, 713-970-4600 or
1-866-970-4770.
METROVan works with MR Services
Mental Retardation Services has joined with METROVan to provide
transportation for consumers to travel to their employment and to agency
appointments. MR Services qualifies for $35 per month for each consumer. MR
Services Division’s first check, totaling $2,135, was presented to Ken Collins, deputy
director for MR Services, in a presentation attended by other MHMRA staff
members who assisted in developing the program with METROVan.
Agency honors
outstanding
MHMRA employees
May 5 NAMIWalk looking for sponsors
NAMI will hold its second annual NAMIWalk on Saturday, May 5, 2007, at
Sam Houston Park. A healthy 3 mile (5.2K) route along Allen Parkway has been
mapped. Participants are welcome to participate individually or to form a walking
team. Early arrival at 7:30 a.m. will allow for pictures and announcements, with the
walk beginning at 8:30 a.m. After the walk, there will be refreshments.
For sponsorship information, contact Tom Hamilton, walk manager, at 713-8272800 or e-mail [email protected].
ABDULLA, A M I N A
ADAMS, BETTY
AGUIRRE, MARIA
ALEXANDER, BRIDGETTE
ANDREWS, RENEE
ARCENEAUX, LINDA
ARCENEAUX, VALERIE
YAT E S
ARISPE, SIMONA
ASHFORD, KEYSHIA
A U B R E Y, ZELMA
AWA LT, RICHARD
BANGURA, A L L I S O N
BARAHONA, DELMY
BARKER, CHARLES
BARNES, CARLIN
BARNES, BEVERLY N
BEESON, DEANNA
BENJUMEA, MELINDA
B E N N E T T, LESHA
BLACKNELL, ZOLITA
BLANCHARD, Y V E T T E
B L A N TON, CHUNICHI
BLIVEN, DIANE
“BRANDON,” T H O M A S
B R O C K - R O B E RTS, SUSAN
BROOKS, SANDRA
BROWN, GERALDINE
BROWN, DANA
B RYA N T, CYNTHIA
CALHOUN-SMITH, A L E S S I A
C A RTMAN, DEBRA
CHAPPELL, ELSIE
CHASE, MICHAEL
CHILDS, MARGO
CHU, LEE
C H U N AWALA, HAISTA
C L AY TON-SMITH,
ARNDRILL
COLLINS, EVA N T H E
COUVSON, A L Z AT TA
CUTTING, JOVELLE
D A B N E Y, DIANA
DANIELS, NECKIA
D A R A M Y, FODAY
D AVIS, MARANDA
D AVIS, STEPHANIE
D AVIS, A N D R E A
D AVIS, EUNICE
D AVIS, BARBARA
D AVIS-BONHAM,
CHANTELL
D AWSON, BARBARA
D E J A R N E T T E - H O L LY,
TRACIE
DO, BANG
DODDS, TO N Y
D O W N E Y, MICHAEL
D U M O N T, IVA
DUONG, SU
DUPLECHIN, MARLO
E A S L E Y, CARSON
E A S TON, KJESTI
EDMOND, T R I N A
ELAM, NORDIA
EMMITE, DEBRA
ETHRIDGE, MICHELLE
EUGENE-BRADFORD,
LASHANDRA
E V E R E T T, JIM
FA R L E Y, PHILIP
4
FELDMAN, LEE
FISHKIND, AV R I M
FOSTER, LILY
FREEMAN, ELIZABETH L.A.
FRIEDMAN, EDWA R D
FULLER, CHRISTO P H E R
GAID, ELSIE
GALINDO, BRENDA
GALLIEN, JACQUELINE
GERARDO, CHRISTINA
GERARDO, BERT H A
GIANNUKOS, NICHOLAS
G I A P, HENRY
GILLIAM, T R U D I E
GOINS, Y O L A N D E
GOLAKAI, EMMANUEL
GONZALES, VERONICA
GOR, GORDON
GORRELL, MONICA
GREEN, DEBORAH
G R I G S B Y, CLEOPAT R A
HAFFNER, A N N E
HALL, DEXTER
HALL, DIANA
HAMMOND, VA L A R I E
HANNON, A U G U S T I N E
H A RT, LAWA N N A
H A RV E Y, TA M I K A
HASHAM, A B D U L M A L I K
HAUCK, CAROL
H E N RY, SHANNON
HEPLER, MICHAEL
H I C K E Y, JOHN
HOBBS, ETHEL
H O WARD, CERETHA
HUDSON, OLIVIA
H U G H E S - S TONE,
BERSCHELLE
IJEH, C KRIS
JACKSON, BECKY
JACKSON, CHARLES
JACKSON, T R E M E I S H A
JACKSON, LAKETHA
JAMES, DURW O O D
JENKINS, KIMBERLY
JOE, MARIE
JOHNSON, T I N A
JOHNSON, CHRISTO P H E R
JOHNSON, MILTO N
JONES, DAW N
JOSEPH, HELEN VIALVA
KELLER, KEVIN
KELLER, RODNEY
LANGFORD, SUZANNE
LARUE, WINTRESS
L AWAL, JUMOKE
LEASEBURG, MELINDA
LEDESMA, JOHNNY
LEDFORD, LARRY
MICHAEL
LENZ, A L A N A
LILLIE, LEWIS
L I N D LY, PAT R I C I A
LIRA, CARY N
LIUZZA, MELISSA
LOPEZ, NIDIA
LOVE, FRANCES
MALSEED, LY N N
MANUEL, MICHEL
M A RTIN, JENNIFER
M A RTINEZ, RAPHAEL
MAZCURI, RIAZ
MCBEN, DEBRA
MCCLAIN, ELIZA
M C C O Y, BEVERLY
M C C O Y-MOORE, KRISTI
MCDADE, EILEEN
M C FARLAND, ROBERTA
M C G O WAN, DEIDRIC
MCLAURIN, SHARONDA
MCLENNAN, MARJORIE
MCLEOD, DEBORAH
MITCHELL, ELLA B A R N E S
M O N T G O M E RY, GLORIA
MUZQUIZ-DRUMMOND,
S Y LV I A
NAQVI, A S G A R
NELLUMS, RUTHIE
NEWMAN, REGINA
NGANG, A N N A
OBASOHAN, A N G E L A
OLSON-SALAS, DONNA
ORSAK, DARY L
O RTIZ, PAT R I C I A
O RTIZ-SORNSON,
PAT R I C I A
OSHMAN, JODEL
PAN, LILY
PARIKH, MINA
PARKER-BLAKE, STA C E Y
PATTERSON, VERNON
PATUMANOAN, A N D R E W
PENNESE, JOSEPH
PEOPLES, BERT H A
PETERSON, DIETERA
PHILLIPS, LEROY
PITRE, ELLEN
PIZARRO, CLAUDIA
P L ATERO, A N A
P R E S T I G I O VANNI,
C AT H E R I N E
P RYCE, WINSTINE
P U RVIS, PRECIOUS
QUINTERO-CONK, MARIA
R E I C H , LY D I A
RHODES, SHERMAN
RICHARD, SARAH
RIOS, Y O L A N D A
R I VAS, EVA N G E L I N A
RIVERA, CRY S TA L
RIVERA, BOBBY
R O B E RTS, ROSALIND
R O B E RTS, LORETTA
ROBINSON, CAROLE
RODERICK, ROBIN
RODRIGUEZ-PEREZ,
EMILIA
ROTH, KAT H Y
SADLER, CHARLESETTA
S A D R E - M A S H AYEKH,
MAHIN
S A F FA, GEVA O
SALA, JULIE
SAMUEL, SUSAN
S C A N T L E B U RY, A N G E L A
SCARDINO, GERARD
S C O T T, SHARON
SELLERS, MICHAEL
S E P U LV E D A - TORRESS,
WA L F R I D O
S E WALL, A RT H U R
SHEPHERD, HERBERT
S I B L E Y, PAT R I C I A
SIMMONS, VIVIAN
SIMPER, BARBARA
S I PAHI, SELMIN
S M A L L S - B R AY B O Y, MYRA
SNODGRESS, MENDE
S T.JULIEN, LARETHA
“ S TAKEM, JR.”, ROBERT
S TANFORD, T E K E R A
S Y LVAN, WILSON
TAY L O R - B A S S E T T, T I N YA
THOMAS, KESHA
THOMAS, KURT R I N A
TORRES, CONSUELO
T R A S L AVINA, CARLOS
T R AYA, NOEL
T R I S TAN, Y O L A N D A
V E A S E Y, DANIELLE
VILLARREAL, DIANA
V I LTZ, A N N A
WAGNER, SHIRLEY
WALKER, TA R R U S H A
WALLS, BARBARA
WA S H I N G TO N ,
MARGUARETTE
WATTS, CRY S TA L
W E S T, CAROLY N
W E S T, VENECIA
W H I TAKER, BOBBIE
WHITESIDE, SHEILA
WILLIAMS, TA N G E L A
WILLIAMS, T U T U
WILLIAMS, ROYCELY N
WILLIAMS, ROBERT
WILLIAMS-BROOKS,
T I F FA N I E
W I L L I A M S - W E S L E Y,
SHEENIA
WILSON, BRAQUE
W I T K O W S K Y, ROSALINDA
WITTIG, LINDA
WOOD, DIANNE
ZECH, GRETCHEN
Z E VALLOS, PAT R I C I A
STEERING COMMITTEE
Gena A l e x a n d e r
Lisa Cantu
Evanthe Collins
Monique Da Sant-Crawford
Angelica Docdocil
Lindy Gerner
Bob Jackson
Dawn Jones
Margaret Lutta
Alana Lenz
David Long
Donna Olson-Salas
Jodel Oshman
Jose Ramirez, Jr.
Anthony Scarlatella
Carolyn Ta y l o r
Edwin To r a n
Stacy Vi n c e n t
Shelley Wa l l
Sheenia Wi l l i a m s - We s l e y
David Wi t t
Jackie Wo o d s