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NEWS

Spotlight on: Adult Transitional Living

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At Adult & Child Health, independence is a major goal moving many clients through our service lines. It’s the core tenet of skills work: To help struggling people handle the intricacies of adult life. A lot of clients who benefit from by-appointment skills work out in the community. A&C’s Adult Transitional Living homes exist for those who need support every day.

Kimberly Brand is the Team Leader of A&C’s Adult Transitional Living (ATL) site, at 2131 Fairfax Road, on Indianapolis’ southside. It’s a collection of rented buildings comprised of duplex homes that house clients, two to a unit.

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How Adult Transitional Living works

All mornings begin with medication, weekends and holidays included. The clients at ATL are almost exclusively adults who have serious mental illness who require medication on a day-to-day basis. Staff members make rounds every morning and night throughout the Fairfax location. They distribute medications and make sure clients take them at the right times and in the right dosage. These rounds in the morning and the evening often provide the day’s framework.

Adult Transitional Living is not a facility, per se, and the clients who live there are free to come and go as they please. Services such as intensive 1-on-1 skills sessions bolster their daily living skills. They assist in areas like cooking, cleaning, taking care of bills, insurance and budgeting.

Participants must pay $425 monthly for rent, which includes utilities. They also have to utilize Adult & Child Health services, and  show demonstrated skills needs and a willingness to engage.

Watch Adult Transitional Living resident Alice’s story here:

Who’s an ideal Transitional Living resident?

Many clients come to the program from the community-based service line. Those who are already involved in skills development, but continue to need more intensive support are perfect candidates for the program.

Sometimes, ATL functions as a stopgap between independent living and residential treatment at the state hospital. The program can function as an intervention for those who are dangerously close to hospitalization. It can also be a stepping stone for those who are leaving the state hospital who still need to build up to living on their own.

The whole point of ATL is to help clients with serious mental illness regulate their lives and gain independence. Those who are in the program are required to need a high level of support and actively work toward their goals with the staff. Brand said some people mistakenly think the program is a homelessness relief program. Therefore, she’s careful to fully screen potential clients to make sure they truly need all of the offered services.

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How the Transitional Living program is growing

As Adult & Child Health grows, ATL grows along with it. New staff positions expand services and heighten the quality of the program. They’ve added a staff nurse, which has streamlined all medication needs. Before adding that position, it was a huge headache for the staff to constantly monitor ever-changing prescriptions for all clients. Now, a an on-site nurse is manages medical needs and handles medication issues.

Also, recent hire Nathan Garlick signifies ATL’s venture into providing more on-site services. Garlick is the first staff therapist who works exclusively out of ATL with ATL residents. Many clients are already involved in A&C therapy, but having a therapist on-site all day for appointments and group sessions helps the team immensely. This means fewer issues with transportation, more availability, and a heightened focus on the residents’ needs.

Brand is excited for the program to keep growing and innovating. Looking to the future, she notes that some clients need a higher level of care and would benefit from a group-home type model. The impact the staff has on clients’ lives plays out before their eyes daily. Hopefully, the future brings more residents, more services, and more confidence for clients winning back their independence.

This is an updated version of an article that originally published Nov. 30, 2017.

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Agency News

SHAPE – A Live Arts Event | April 26

Indianapolis band, Frederic and Ronza are partnering with numerous agencies, groups and artists to bring to you, Shape on Saturday April 26th at the Athenaeum Theater, 401 E. Michigan, Indianapolis. The art show starts at 6p.m. and the live performance at 7p.m.  The arts are proven to support positive mental health. “Shape has been in the works for over a year with numerous artists and partners coming to the table with their ideas, talent and resources. This event will show how we have transformed lived experiences into art in a way that celebrates the resilience of those impacted by mental health and substance use issues,” said Kelly Fischer, senior lecturer at Ball State University.  Ball State University has formed a community partnership with Frederic and Ronza and the Consortium of Artists allowing their students to earn course credit as they participate in the process of creating this event, and there are also numerous artists and partners are involved. Through passionate music performances, spoken word, dance and a juried art show, the participating artists will render works that encourage the audience to listen, learn, gain perspective, be empathetic and gain a deeper understanding of these issues. The goal is to reduce stigma, elevate the voice of those affected, and bring hope to all who attend. The show will feature soul band Frederic and Ronza who will share original music. In addition, dancers from Dance Kaleidoscope will share a piece about grief that was choregraphed by Kristin Toner of the Indianapolis ballet.  Her work was inspired by watching a friend grieve the suicide of her brother, using dance to express emotions and inspire others. Toner said, “Art has helped me express my own feelings and thoughts about grief in order to provide a moment of emotion as the dancers connect with the audience.” Additionally, there are numerous others involved including poets and singers who will share their own passion and support for these issues.  All of the music, dance, poetry and spoken word were created or chosen based on the stories we heard during listening sessions. “The listening sessions were an opportunity to hear the stories of those impacted by these issues,” said Frederic and Ronza.  Through the numerous listening sessions, several themes emerged, including the need to reduce stigma, how everyone can help support recovery, and that mental health and substance use disorders can be likened to a storm.  “You will see the storm theme emerge throughout the show as we honor the feedback shared during the listening sessions,” said Frederic and Ronza.  Before the live performance, attendees can enjoy an art exhibit starting at 6p.m.  The art was selected by a jury panel for its excellence in artistic quality and its depiction of the Shape theme.  “We were impressed and moved by the artwork submitted and are sure attendees will be too,” said art juror Cierra Johnson. Artwork is also available for sale.  The event is being presented by Adult & Child Health. Matt Bane, Adult & Child Health, is working closely on the event said, “Having the privilege to be myself and share my personal story of my lived experience with having multiple mental health diagnoses and a substance use disorder has provided me the amazing connection with the SHAPE event.” The organizers, Frederic and Ronza are passionate about issues of mental health and substance use disorders. Knowing the pain and impact on so many, and even the danger of these issues, Frederic and Ronza’s concern led them to collaborate with all of these amazing partners to produce Shape.  “We want people to leave with a willingness to do something, whether that be learning more, talking more, or empathizing more, our goal is to reduce stigma by bringing these issues to light through the power of the arts,” said Frederic and Ronza.  Click here to purchase tickets online.

Agency News

Mental Health America recognizes Adult & Child Health will Gold Bell Seal

Adult & Child Health received the national Gold-level Bell Seal certification from Mental Health America, which recognizes policies, practices and benefits supporting employee mental health and wellbeing.  Every year since 2019, Mental Health America has recognized employers for implementing policies and practices to improve employees’ mental health. Companies across all sectors undergo a 54-point evaluation that includes surveys of employees.  Adult & Child Health employs more than 600 people in southern Indiana, with areas of focus on behavioral health, primary care and treatment for substance use addictions.  “The work our team members perform on a daily basis is challenging, but they continue to live our mission of providing access to quality care for all who need it on a daily basis,” said Dr. Christine Negendank, Adult & Child Health Regional President and Chief Medical Office. “This recognition from Mental Health America is a testament to our team members and the work they do in order to make Adult & Child a great place to work.”  Part of Adult & Child’s recognition comes from a three-pronged strategy to address employee mental health:  1) Adult & Child’s employee assistant program provides mental health services, including short-term counseling and provider referrals. The average time between an employee inquiry and their first session with a provider is five business days. The EAP program provides up to five free in-person or virtual therapy sessions.  2) The HOPE Taskforce is a safe place for non-managerial staff members to convene to discuss work stressors, life stressors, mental health resources and coping strategies in a space that encourages colleagues to support one another.  3) The GROW committee is for leaders to convene and develop support systems for one another.  Mental Health America is the nation’s leading national nonprofit dedicated to the promotion of mental health, well-being, and illness prevention. Its Bell Seal awards recognize an average of fewer than 300 American companies per year.

Sarah Miller, PMHNP-BC

Sarah Miller works with the addictions team, general psychiatry for adolescents and adults, and the competency restoration team. She is board-certified as a Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner. Her specialties are working in addictions and with people who experience serious mental illness.

Miller graduated from Indiana University with a psychology degree and went back to school for nursing. She received her nursing degree from Indiana Wesleyan University and worked in a nursing home and also spent time working in a group home with adolescents. She received her master’s degree from Vanderbilt University.

She enjoys hanging out with her family and her two dogs, and going to sporting events.

Joanna Chambers, MD

Dr. Joanna Chambers is a psychiatrist who began seeing Adult & Child Health patients in November 2021. She graduated from Medical College of Georgia with her Doctorate of Medicine in 1996 and completed her residency in psychiatry at Yale University School of Medicine. In addition to bringing a wealth of experience, she currently serves as an associate professor at Indiana University School of Medicine where she teaches Clinical Psychiatry. She is certified in Addiction Medicine and has a special interest in treating pregnant and postpartum women. She is President of the American Academy of Psychoanalysis and Dynamic Psychiatry Organization as well as a sitting member of many medical association boards. Recently, she has won the Residents’ Award for Teaching Excellence in 2020 from Indiana University and has received “Best Doctors Award” in 2010, 2011, and 2014. Dr. Chambers is incredibly active in the medical, academic, and research realms of medicine. She is currently accepting new patients on Wednesdays.