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NEWS

Fostering Kids Full-Time Isn’t An Option? Consider Becoming A Respite Parent

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Courtney Hunt didn’t begin fostering kids the way most foster parents do. She saw how things worked from the administrative side, and the good she witnessed prompted her to offer her own help.

Hunt used to be a case manager for the Indiana Department of Child Services (DCS). “It was during that experience that I saw the need for foster homes,” she said. “Being a family case manager, I was fairly familiar with all of the contractors that were out here. A close friend was in charge of all the LCPAs (Licensed Child Placing Agencies) and she listed three agencies weren’t in hot water with her, and Adult & Child Health was one.”

Courtney is a respite parent, which means she isn’t fostering kids in her home for extended periods, as most foster parents do. She watches foster children when their full-time foster parents need a date night or have another reason to take a break. Through A&C’s Therapeutic Foster Care program, foster parents are allowed one paid “respite day” each month.

“Anytime they need a break or they need a date night, or oftentimes when the child is recently removed and DCS is in search of placement, we provide that temporary home for the children until a more permanent home can be found in the foster care agency,” Courtney said.

What is a Respite Parent?

Courtney has been a respite parent with A&C for four years, and some times of the year are busier than others. She said she had three requests from foster parents on Valentine’s Day, as an example.

Watch Courtney’s interview on the topic with WISH-TV (Channel 8) below.

Why Fostering Kids is So Rewarding

Courtney said the most rewarding aspect of fostering kids is the connections she’s made, even though she doesn’t spend as much time with the kids as a full-time foster parent would. “Just seeing the young ladies that have come through my home has been rewarding,” Hunt said. “I’ve been able to maintain some good connections with them. One of them invited me to her open house when she graduated from high school.”

Courtney suggests anyone who’s thinking of fostering should consider the positive impact they could have on a child’s life.

“Know that you have special gifts and talents that you’re able to offer to these young people,” she said. “Parenting a child with trauma is different than parenting your own child. A&C is supportive, so don’t be afraid of it. Take time to determine what type of children you want in your home. Be honest with yourself about what you can do.”

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Agency News

Parental Mental Health Tips

Across the behavioral health field, we recognize the importance of offering support to caregivers, whether they sought our help on behalf of their children or for themselves. We also know there are many caregivers who don’t walk through our doors who need and deserve help.  In August, U.S. Surgeon General Vivek Murthy issued an advisory on the mental health and well-being of parents and guardians.   “(Caregivers) are navigating traditional hardships of parenting — worrying about money and safety, struggling to get enough sleep — as well as new stressors, including omnipresent screens, a youth mental health crisis and widespread fear about the future,” Dr. Murthy wrote in a New York Times opinion column at the time of the advisory’s release.  When caregivers come to us with these concerns, Brightli’s partners help the full families of the clients we serve to thrive. Whether that’s by providing childcare in recovery services inpatient facilities, connecting caregivers of youths in substance use recovery with family support specialists, offering safe and judgment-free group therapy options tailored to caregivers’ issues or through other avenues, we strive to help. Below, you’ll find tips and support opportunities from our behavioral health experts that can help anyone address some of the key issues presented in the surgeon general’s advisory.  Ways to build community and address loneliness among caregivers  Two-thirds of parents say they don’t talk about their stress for fear of burdening others, according to an American Psychological Association study cited in the advisory. At the same time, parents and guardians – and especially single parents and guardians – experience loneliness at higher rates than other U.S. adults.  Loneliness is a challenge many autism caregivers can experience as they address situations that are new to them, said Seth Allen, a leader in Autism Services at Brightli.   “It is really important for autism caregivers to get connected with supports for their own well-being and self-confidence,” Allen said. His team works to create support groups among clients and to also point clients to groups in the communities he serves.   Intentional connections can benefit any caregiver experiencing loneliness. Here are some ways caregivers can build them:   Building your child’s self-worth can help you build your own  Keylee Tesar, who helped establish a program that strengthens relationships among foster and adoptive parents and their children, said that empowering children to believe in themselves also helps caregivers nurture their own sense of self-worth.   “When we show children love, respect and encouragement, we remind ourselves of our own strength and value,” Tesar said.   The program features an element called “character praise,” in which caregivers highlight and celebrate behaviors they see in their children that they want to flourish. Some examples include:   Character praise not only enhances positive behaviors in children, but also provides immediate rewards for caregivers by activating the brain’s reward system through the release of dopamine and oxytocin. This practice boosts mood and reinforces positive behavior while fostering connection and well-being for caregivers and children. Practicing character praise with the caregivers in your life can provide similar rewards. As the surgeon general’s advisory reminds us, “Caregivers need care, too.”  Practice the six elements of self-care  Amy Hill, a leader in youth learning and development, has worked with caregivers for years to address their stress levels and improve mental well-being. She encourages caregivers to practice these six elements of self-care (with examples included):   As a whole, Hill said, they can help you practice mindfulness and become more aware of thoughts, feelings and the surrounding environment in the moment. Mindfulness has been shown to reduce stress, improve mental focus and boost compassion, among its benefits.  It takes a village to care for a child; we want to contribute to yours  Our Be Well team offers a monthly Self-Care Challenge, an activity designed to help you improve your mental health through intentional practices. November’s challenge is tailored to caregivers and offers a Bingo card filled with activities that offer caregivers time to take care of themselves so they can continue to best support our youth. They include items like:   You can access the full November Self-Care Challenge anytime you need it by clicking this link. And you can keep up with the latest Be Well efforts by bookmarking bewellcommunity.org.  It’s OK to seek professional help.  Caregivers are doing the best they can with the information, resources and experiences they have had in their lives. Giving parents a safe and judgement-free space to learn, grow and heal benefits them, their children and the community. That space is available in a therapeutic behavioral health setting. If you need help, please reach out to our professional team to learn about the many options we offer. If you need immediate help in a crisis, it is only a call or text away by dialing the 988 Suicide and Crisis Line.  

Agency News

Veteran’s Day 2024

November 11th became a nationally recognized day to honor and acknowledge the contributions of all living American Veterans in any branch of service when Public Law 380 was approved on June 1, 1954. Since then, communities throughout the United States have celebrated with parades and ceremonies to show gratitude for those who served their country. Veterans take many risks in the line of duty that take can take a toll not only on their physical health, but also their mental well-being. Exposure to high-stress situations, long periods of time away from home, Military Sexual Trauma (MST) and difficulties in adjusting to civilian life after service are just some of the factors that can contribute to poor mental health for veterans. An increasing number of veterans experience anxiety, depression, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and/or substance use disorders, which can sometimes lead to additional difficulties such as poverty or homelessness. Please click here to see statistics provided by the Housing Assistance Council. For over 12 years, Adult & Child Health (A&C) has provided necessary care and resources through the Supported Services for Veteran Families (SSVF) Program, having served over 400 Hoosier veterans and their families this year alone. The purpose of the SSVF program is to promote housing stability among low-income veteran families who reside in, or are transitioning to, permanent housing. In addition to providing housing assistance, the program provides services that include (but are not limited to) the following: case management, assistance to obtaining other VA services/benefits, financial planning, food resources, transportation, childcare, linkages to primary and mental health care, and outreach. Our SSVF teams serve Marion, Johnson, Boone, Clay, Hamilton, Hancock, Madison, Parke, Tippecanoe, Shelby, Sullivan, Vermillion, and Vigo counties. Please click here for an informational flier that includes program qualifications. In addition to serving Indiana veterans, A&C is proud to have several veterans on staff including Emily Pence and NaTasha Allen who have shared their experiences for a special Veterans Day Employee Spotlight. It is with tremendous gratitude that we honor Emily, NaTasha, and the thousands of others who have served our country. Thank you for your service. Employee Spotlight: Emily Pence I was a member of the United States Army (Hoah!) in April 1989 and ended my service in June 1990. I initially began my service in the Delayed Entry Program (DEP), then went to Fort Jackson in North Carolina (as it was named at the time) for basic training. Afterward, I went to Fort Bliss in El Paso, Texas to complete my A.I.T., which job-specific training – my Military Occupational Specialty (M.O.S.) was Patriot Missile Crew Member. I served in this role in Ansbach, Germany for my permanent duty station. While stationed in Germany, I personally experienced an event with one of my leaders, memories of which led to my developing Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). My lived experience as a veteran with a diagnosed mental health disorder has allowed me the unique capability to assist veterans who have gone through similar situations while understanding “veteran talk.” Employee Spotlight: NaTasha Allen I served in the served in the US Army for a total of three years. I entered the military as a Private and later transitioned to a Non-Commission Officer (NCO) with the rank of Sargeant. While stationed at Ft. Campbell, KY, 101st Airborne/Assault Division, I deployed to Iraq during Operation Iraqi/Enduring Freedom and completed two tours in Iraq war zones – Kuwait, Mosul, Q-West, Baghdad, and beyond. My military time taught me strength, courage, and the importance of perseverance despite obstacles. I learned to speak up for myself, to see my worth and value rather than viewing myself as “just a number”. It taught me leadership, compassion, discipline, and the true value friendship. These skills have allowed me to be empathic with Veterans from all walks of life – from Privates to Generals, everyone’s treated with respect and dignity, without judgement of age, race, ethnicity, gender, beliefs.   In my current role at A&C, I have the privilege to meet with Veterans where they are in their journey of healing and recovery to provide support and resources as they work toward adjusting to civilian life.

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.