TMHA Reaching Out - Fall 2013 - Transitions Mental Health

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INSPIRING HOPE, GROWTH, RECOVERY AND WELLNESS IN OUR COMMUNITIES
Transitions Mental
Health Association
INSIDE THIS ISSUE
New Hotline Number!
Celebrating our Volunteer
of the Year Page 2
TMHA Board: Innovation &
Passion Page 2
A Natural Fit Page 3
CA Campaign: Know the
Signs Page 3
Welcome New Board
Members Page 4
TMHA BOARD
MEMBERS
James (JT) Haas
President
Barbara Fischer
Vice-President
Reese Davies
Treasurer
Carol Armstrong
Secretary
Casey Appell
Dave Bernhardt
Christine Burkett
Darryl Elliott
Jerel Haley
Stephen K. Hall
Cindy Johnson
Deborah Linden
Sandra Mitchell Chris Richardson
Brad Rudd
Margaret Shepard
Lisa Thornhill
Stephanie Baisa Wilson
Fall 2013 - Volume 8, Issue 2
A World of Support
After years of homelessness, Kelly quips that she is
“car-less but home-ful.” It’s been a rough road on her
journey of recovery, but her insights into a “13-year
homeless dance” have no self-pity.
Kelly hasn’t seen her family in many years. Dates
and memories blur with “shelters in a lot of cities
and counties.” In December 2012, she was referred
to TMHA’s Homeless Outreach Team (HOT) by
CAPSLO and received case management, therapy
and support services. She moved into TMHA housing in April 2013, where she was able to stabilize
her symptoms and began to volunteer at Growing
Grounds Farm. “I like to think of TMHA as TeamAh!, which is part of this world of support I’m now
living in.”
Two months later, Kelly voluntarily left the program
and moved to Santa Barbara. Melanie, her case manager, kept in touch. When things in Santa Barbara
fell apart, Kelly returned to SLO. Melanie and the
HOT team were prepared. They helped Kelly find
housing and mental health treatment in the Adult
Transitional Program (ATP), restore her SSI, reinstate her Medi-Cal, and regain her supportive case
management and therapy. “After receiving help with
appointments, doctors, rides, medication, and the
SSI process… I now have wonderful housing, food,
clothing, and shelter. Wow!”
Kelly goes out of her way to emphasize the “community essence [in SLO] that I have not stumbled
across anywhere else... The People’s Kitchen, The
Prado Day Center, the Maxine Lewis Shelter….
There are three meals a day served in SLO, seven
days a week. I’ve seen what it takes to create a single
meal, and they don’t miss one. That blows my mind.”
Kelly and her support team
Through TMHA’s ATP Program, Kelly shares a
home with other program participants. They have
chores, and a different household member makes
dinner for twelve each evening. Everyone does some
type of volunteer work in the community. These
days Kelly works with the Senior Nutrition Program.
Ask Kelly if she envisions the 13-year homeless
dance ending, and she waves off the question. “I
need to go for the opportunities in front of me – like
volunteering, gardening, and reading – and enjoy
people’s company. Of course I miss my children and
grandchildren, yet my life is full of another sense of
family. I’m thankful for that feeling of community, of
team efforts. TMHA, Prado, CAPSLO, the churches,
Congregation Beth-David, Melanie, Joe, all the
drivers… things are finally coming together for me.”
SLO Hotline
Number!
SLO Hotline is now
800 (or 805) 783-0607.
The new phone number
will provide greater access
for those in need of mental
health support and suicide
intervention in SLO County. As
we get the word out, the
previous number, 800-5494499, will continue to connect
to SLO Hotline.
SLO Hotline is SLO County’s suicide
prevention, mental health and emotional support phone line. Confidential.
Free of charge. 24 hours of every day.
Hablamos Español.
Volunteer of the Year
Jill Bolster-White, Barb Fischer and JT Haas
We recently honored the first
Executive Director of the San
Luis Obispo Mental Health
Association, Barb Fischer,
with our Volunteer of the Year
award. Barb established social
and vocational rehabilitation
programs still in place today
at TMHA. She conceived of
Growing Grounds Farm as a
pioneering social enterprise
to employ clients, and she
encouraged PG&E to provide
the land. Since her shoes were
too big to fill, we did not let
her leave – Barb has been on
TMHA’s Board for 18 years,
shaping programs and policy.
Much of the groundwork for
TMHA’s innovation over the
years would not be here today,
if not for her.
Board Member Spotlight
Innovation and
Passion at Work
Christine Burkett reconnected with Morgan at
their 25th High School reunion in Anchorage,
AK. At the time, he resided in Avila Beach, and
she in Lawrenceville, GA. Their long-distance
romance led Christine to the Central Coast.
As she settled in, Christine joined the Altrusa
Club and met Sandy Mitchell. Sandy was leaving the board of SLO Transitions, and recommended Christine in her place. “I came on just
as the merger was happening between SLO
Transitions and the Mental Health Association… all of us fell in love with Jill BolsterWhite and Transitions.” Christine says that the
smooth merger is a model for other local nonprofits. “There are so many agencies doing very
similar things. I wish more of them would pool
their efforts and combine their fundraising.”
After 15 years, Christine remains enthusiastic about TMHA. “You know, I’m not fond of
asking friends and neighbors for donations or
to buy tickets, but when they attend one of our
TMHA fundraisers, I walk a little prouder.”
She sees the Board as a complementary mix
of personalities and talents, everyone “finding
a niche where they belong.” She notes, “We
haven’t canceled a meeting in 15 years due to a
lack of quorum. No one does this just to put it
on a resume. Everyone is working.”
As the office manager of the Wallace Group,
a local engineering firm, Christine found an
Christine Burkett
innovative way to weave her Board duties into
her 40-hour work week. “I was getting tired of
using my vacation time to attend the TMHA
Board Meeting every other month. I suggested we create a Service Day: a full day, paid
by the company, where each employee could
donate their time to a favorite local cause… I
let mine accrue, one Board meeting at a time.”
Now, there are 60 employees at the Wallace
Group with a full community workday to give
back each year.
Christine has clearly relished every minute of
her time at TMHA. “At most Board meetings we hear from several staff members and
often one consumer guest will come and
make a presentation. Such powerful stuff! As
Board Members we don’t feel special, we feel
honored.”
“Every three years I have lunch with Jill, and
at the very
end she says
‘oh yeah…will
you stay on?’”
Christine’s
eyes twinkle
as she adds,
“We’re having
lunch later this
month. I hope
she asks me.”
Christine and
Morgan Burkett
A Natural Fit
In 1978, Susan came to SLO to attend
Cuesta College. A nature lover, she held
a series of “dream jobs” for 25 years that
drew upon her biology degree within the
California State Park system and the Department of Education’s Rancho El Chorro
Outdoor School.
Know the Signs
Know the Signs is a statewide
suicide prevention campaign
with three key messages: Know
the signs. Find the words.
Reach out. But during those years, Susan was living
with undiagnosed bipolar disease. She first
experienced symptoms in college and dealt
with the challenges alone, worried about
the stigma of mental illness. “I was trying
to hold my world together all by myself,
but it takes a community to be well.”
In 2006, Susan left her job and began a
four-year period of depression and unemployment, ending up in the inpatient unit
at SLO County’s Psychiatric Health Facility
(PHF). In the fall of 2010, as she was preparing to leave the PHF, her case manager
mentioned Growing Grounds Farm.
“I came in as a very sick person.” Susan worked at the Farm for 16 months.
“[A] sign at the Farm says Hope Through
Horticulture. That captures it perfectly.
When you work with these fragile seedlings that take root, slowly grow stronger,
and eventually make their way out into the
community… It’s really a powerful symbol
for all the people involved there.”
In the past year, Susan has joined the Leadership Committee of the Peer Advisory
Advocacy Team, attended a Workforce
Education Training in Monterey, participates in the monthly Cultural Competency
Committee, and took part in a Systems
Empowerment Retreat, funded
by MHSA.
The Retreat brought together
people with mental health
issues, family members, and
mental health providers
with SLO County Behavioral
The goal is to help Californians
recognize the warning signs of
suicide, have the right words
for someone in crisis, and know
where to find professional help
and resources.
Susan is now a Job Coach for TMHA’s
Supported Employment Program
Health. Participants met at Camp Ocean
Pines, sharing stories about the mental
health system: what has worked and how
things might improve. Their efforts resulted in a training curriculum for mental
health providers. During one of the breaks,
Susan led a tide-pool walk along the Cambria shores – a naturalist once again.
In April of 2012, Susan joined TMHA’s
Supported Employment Program as a Job
Coach. “I meet so many folks who are in
need, who can benefit from TMHA, and
they don’t know about it. That’s a problem
I love to address. I was lucky with my case
manager, but it shouldn’t happen that way.
These connections should
take place automatically. Luck
should never enter into it!”
Susan is right. But TMHA
can’t help feel more than a
little lucky she’s part of our
agency.
Susan at Growing Grounds Farm
With support from CalMHSA,
TMHA brought the campaign
to the Central Coast with
billboards, English and Spanish
television ads in SLO County,
and English and Spanish radio
and television ads in Santa
Barbara County. These ads
include the new SLO Hotline
number and logo. Visit suicideispreventable.org
for more information about the
campaign.
Journey of Hope 2014:
Save The Date
Don’t miss Journey of Hope
2014, Wednesday, January 29,
at New Life Church in Pismo
Beach. A community forum
on living mentally well, the
event offers an opportunity to
interact with mental health and
community leaders, learn about
local resources and, best of all
to celebrate hope. The keynote
speaker is Keris Myrick, CEO of
Project Return Peer Support
Network, President of NAMI
National Board of Directors, and
a nationally-known advocate for
consumers and families.
Welcome to the Board
TRANSITIONS
Mental Health Association
P.O. Box 15408
San Luis Obispo, CA 93406
Jerel Haley is the current Chief of Police for Atascadero. He worked 12 years for the Santa Maria
Police Department and in Santa Cruz County prior
to that. He is married to Melissa and has two grown
daughters.
Nonprofit Organization
U.S. Postage Paid
Permit No. 246
San Luis Obispo, CA
93401
Return Service Requested
Sandy Mitchell has been a Deputy District Attorney
in San Luis Obispo County since 1989. She volunteers
as a coach for High School Mock Trials, volunteers
with the Community Foundation Scholarship Committee and the Women’s Legacy Fund, and was formerly on the Board when Transitions and the Mental
Health Association merged in 1998. Sandy is married
with two grown children and lives in Morro Bay.
How You Can Help…
Volunteer
Volunteers are always welcome in our programs
and fundraising events. One or two hours of your
time can make a significant difference. Contact
[email protected] for more information.
Donate
Donations and in-kind services are both appreciated and vital to continuing the quality programs
we provide. Funds are used not only to operate our
30 programs, but also household essentials for our
supportive housing, clothing for adults and teens,
and equipment for the farms. Visit www.t-mha.org
for more information.
Planned Giving
Please consider TMHA in your estate planning.
Help us plan for the future of our community’s
mental health. Contact [email protected]
for more information.
If you would like to donate your financial support
or time, please contact us at:
Transitions Mental Health Association
Post Office Box 15408
San Luis Obispo, CA 93406
(805) 540-6500
www.t-mha.org
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OUR DEEPEST APPRECIATION
Results are in from the 6th SLO Wine and Grill Affair at Clesi Winery
in SLO. Filipponi Ranch Cellars took “People’s Choice,” while Clesi
paired with Mama’s Meatball won “Judge’s Choice.” Thanks to all the
attendees, wineries, vendors, musicians and judges.
Sponsored by and held at Greengate Ranch, Ten Trunks of Treasure
featured a gourmet lunch by Chef José Dahan of Et Voilà Restaurant and
great prizes! Our thanks to Rabobank, event wine sponsor.
Music, specialty booths, the Santa Barbara Foundation, and the
Noontime Kiwanis BBQ team made the 6th Annual Harvest Festival
at Growing Grounds Farm in Santa Maria fun for all! Proceeds support
horticultural therapy and employment.
TMHA’s Getaway to Cabo fundraiser raised over $5000 to benefit TMHA programs in
SLO and Northern Santa Barbara Counties. And the winner is Julie Eckles!
Over 100 works were on display at the 2013 Art of Recovery show, held in Santa Maria
at Rancho Hermosa, with the painting, The Lighthouse, by Arthur Thompson Jr., as the
featured piece. Art of Recovery will return to Santa Maria in May 2015. Thanks to the
Healing Arts Council of Santa Barbara County, our event partner.
LOOKING AHEAD
Drop by the 7th Annual Growing Grounds Downtown Open House,
Friday, Nov. 22, from 2 to 5:30 p.m. and Saturday, Nov. 23, from 10
a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Also open until 6 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 1, for the
Holiday Parade. 956 Chorro Street in Downtown San Luis Obispo
(across from the Mission).
Tickets always sell out quickly for the Brewers Dinner, so act now!
The 2014 event will be January 26 at the Monday Club. Tickets are
$100 per person.
Don’t miss Journey of Hope 2014, Wednesday, January 29, at
New Life Church in Pismo Beach.
For over 30 years, Bowl-A-Thon has been a tradition in our community
supporting SLO Hotline and other mental health safety net programs.
Help “Strike Out Stigma” and get your team ready! 2014 dates: Feb 28,
March 1 & 2; March 7, 8 & 9; and March 14, 15, & 16.
Visit the Steynberg Gallery at 1531 Monterey Street, SLO for the next
Opening Minds Art Show from May 2-31, 2014. Come celebrate living mentally well!