Adult & Child Health Aims to “Rebuild Lives from the Inside Out” at Hanna Commons
Integrated healthcare provider Adult & Child Health (A&C) is working to make an impact on chronic homelessness in Marion County by providing comprehensive care services to the residents at Hanna Commons, a new 55-unit Permanent Supportive Housing (PSH) facility in South Indianapolis. Chronic homelessness is experienced by members of a community who have been unhoused for a long period of time, or repeatedly, while suffering with mental illness, substance use disorders, physical disabilities, or other serious conditions. The 2023 PIT Count conducted by the Indianapolis Continuum of Care (CoC) in January reported a 130% increase in this portion of the Marion County population, and while this growth rate is alarming, a change for the better can be expected. According to the National Alliance to End Homelessness, PSH facilities contributed to an 8% decrease in chronic homelessness across America between 2007 and 2019. “Adult and Child is proud to be part of the collective effort to house Marion County’smost vulnerable residents,” said A&C Vice President of Behavioral Health Services Jennifer Disbro. “Our goal is to help people maintain their housing and rebuild their lives from the inside out.” Hanna Commons operates under the Housing First model whereby all A&C services are offered on a voluntary basis and are in no way tied to tenancy. This person-centric approach to care practices assertive engagement and creates a culture of support that allows the A&C Homeless and Housing Resource Team to meet residents where they are. Services include on-site therapy, case management, housing stability and engagement support and a 24/7 crisis support services; residents also have access to primary care services at an off-site A&C FQHC. The facility is a beacon of hope for many in the Indianapolis area. Upon qualification for residency at Hanna Commons, a tenant expressed their thoughts on this new project, “After years of fighting an uphill battle, it is like someone finally reached out a hand to help us reach that life-changing summit – the view is breathtaking. Now we canstart a new life.” A helping hand is exactly what the residents of Hanna Commons need, especially as the winter season approaches. The facility is currently accepting donations on site at 2880 E Hanna Avenue. Requested items include microwaves, toasters, crockpots, coffee makers, toilet paper, plungers, mops and household cleaners. Questions regarding donations can be directed to Brandi Ward at [email protected]. Hanna Commons began as part of Mayor Joe Hogsett’s Challenge, an effort to expand housing options for people experiencing homelessness in the city and was awarded $1,200,000 annually for 10 years and $1,000,000 in Housing Trust Funds by the DMD in March 2021. In addition to A&C, project partners include the City of Indianapolis, Corporation for Supportive Housing, Indiana Housing & Community Development Authority, South Indy Quality of Life Plan, UP Development LLC, Southeast Neighborhood Development Corporation, and Upholdings Inc.
Adult and Child Health Awarded Funding to Expand and Develop Community Mental Health Workforce
Adult and Child Health (A&C) was recently awarded $750,000 in grant funding for three years by the Division of Mental Health and Addiction (DMHA) to enhance the local behavioral health workforce, improve accessibility to peer recovery services, and expand professional growth and development opportunities for Adult and Child Health employees. Funds will support A&C’s efforts in two separate ways: training and certification for Community Health Workers (CHW) and Certified Recovery Specialists (CRS) and the development of Career Pathways for A&C staff. Both initiatives link to A&C’s greater vision of cultivating caring communities, where every child, adult, and family have opportunities to live healthy, purposeful lives. The demand for Community Health Workers (CHW) and Certified Recovery Specialists (CRS) in Indiana far exceeds the number of available staff in the workforce. CHW and CRS certification courses often have limited openings and a six month or longer waitlist, creating a significant barrier for individuals seeking certification. DMHA funding will support A&C becoming its own training site, creating an additional resource for staff and people in the community to draw upon their personal experience in mental health recovery and/or their professional work experience at A&C as they look to advance their mental health career through certification. To raise awareness and interest in CHW and CRS certification as a career option, A&C will partner with local high schools, adult education centers, and other organizations to provide information to the public. Built-in scholarship money will be made available for behavioral health technicians and recovery specialists who want to take their skills further. “At A&C, we know that our employees are our greatest asset,” said Denise Amato, Executive Vice President of Operations. “This grant funding should help us attract and connect with a new wave of compassionate, mission-driven people who are interested in pursuing a career in community mental health.” In addition to expanding the certified health workers and peer specialist workforce, the DMHA grant award will be used to fund staff engagement, recruitment, and retention initiatives in A&C’s Career Pathways program, which promotes long-term growth opportunities for employees of Adult and Child Health. DMHA grant funding will support increased staffing, mentoring, and training resources so that A&C employees have access to the tools and support needed to reach their career goals. This heightened focus on career growth and development is one of several initiatives in place to promote the well-being of Adult and Child’s workforce, including financial assistance for employee continuing education, opportunities to serve on taskforces, and access to health and wellness staff-led self-care groups that are supported within the organization. A&C is honored to be one of only a few selected organizations from over 90 organizations who submitted proposals for the Behavioral Health Workforce Recruitment and Retention Innovation Grant Program. Both components of A&C’s planned use for grant funding will strengthen A&C’s workforce capacity, ultimately leading to better mental health services for persons in the community. Adult & Child Health is an accredited nonprofit primary care, behavioral health, and social services provider with multiple locations in central Indiana. We strive for caring communities, where every child, adult and family have the opportunities they need to live healthy, happy, productive lives. Learn more at www.adultandchild.org.
School Based Staff Gear Up For Year Three Of Kendrick Foundation Grant Funded Program Supporting Morgan County Schools
Adult & Child Health (A&C) is excited to head into the third year of their partnership with Kendrick Foundation, a 501(c)(3) organization that supports education and initiatives that improve the health and well-being of Morgan County residents. This three-year commitment aims to support school-based and school-linked mental health services for Morgan County school-aged youth. During the first year of the program, A&C served nearly 200 students across Mooresville, Martinsville, and Monrovia school districts. Beyond the school setting, A&C staff worked with more than 40 families of enrolled students as a link to clinical services and family therapy sessions. “We are very grateful for our partnership with Adult and Child. We know working together we can better serve our students and meet their mental health needs,” said Windy McGowen, Mooresville County School District. Year two concluded with incredible growth for the program, which directly served nearly 800 youth and families. Also new this year for A&C were an increase in community outreach, caregiver support and training, teacher support and training, building connections across Morgan County, increased mental health awareness education, and continued service provision for more youth and families across Morgan County. “We are so excited to continue our partnership with the Kendrick Foundation and appreciate the collaboration with Mooresville, Martinsville, and Monrovia Schools. It has been a pleasure to lead our teams through this growth and program development over the last two years and now excited to see what we can offer in year three!” said Elizabeth Stirn, LCSW, Assistant Director of School-based Services. “We are proud to be a part of this mental health initiative with the Kendrick Foundation and work to improve the overall well-being of students and families in Morgan County.” Keylee Wright, Executive Director at Kendrick Foundation, Inc., said of the program, “When we invest in children’s mental health to make sure they can get the right care at the right time, we improve the lives of children, youth, and families — and our communities. As a result of this initiative, Morgan County residents have greater access to mental health practitioners and services regardless of their ability to pay.” Adult & Child Health is an accredited nonprofit primary care, behavioral health, and social services provider with multiple locations in central Indiana. We strive for caring communities, where every child, adult and family have the opportunities they need to live healthy, happy, productive lives.
Join A&C in Celebrating National Health Center Week August 7-11
Staff, clients, friends, and community members are all invited to celebrate National Health Center Week with A&C from August 7 through August 11 on-site and on social media. A&C will feature a different topic of focus each day, which will involve education, agency highlights, and several giveaways: Monday, August 7: Youth Healthcare Tuesday, August 8: Patient Appreciation Wednesday, August 9: Healthcare for Individuals Experiencing Homelessness Thursday, August 10: Staff & Stakeholder Appreciation Friday, August 11: Minority Healthcare Rounding out the celebration will be a free community health fair on Friday, August 11 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the 8404 Siear Terrace office. Several community partners will be participating in the event, including NAMI Indiana and InteCare. Free snacks will be provided by Market Square Popcorn, and food will be available for purchase from Taste Budz Food Truck. Entertainment and activities will be provided by Good Moves Yoga and ZeeBee Karaoke. There will also be a free, interactive photo booth by Bhatta Boom Photo Booth. National Health Center Week is an annual celebration to raise awareness about the mission and accomplishments of America’s health centers, including the many innovative ways that health centers are providing high-quality health care, improving health outcomes, and narrowing health disparities. For A&C, this week is also an opportunity to strengthen local partnerships, increase community understanding of the organization’s mission and services, and ultimately encourage more folks to walk through A&C’s clinic doors on the first step of their journey toward comprehensive, compassionate healthcare.
