ADULT AND CHILD HEALTH EARNS THE JOINT COMMISSION’S GOLD SEAL OF APPROVAL
Adult and Child Health (A&C) today announced it has earned The Joint Commission’s Gold Seal of Approval for Behavioral Health Care Accreditation by demonstrating continuous compliance with performance standards, as well as an initial Ambulatory Health Care Accreditation by achieving primary care health standards. The Gold Seal of Approval is a standard of excellent care meant to show an organization’s commitment to safety and effectiveness. A&C underwent a rigorous Joint Commission onsite survey as part of the accreditation process in the month of April. During the review, A&C demonstrated compliance with over 1,500 behavioral health and ambulatory health care standards related to patient care, treatment, services, leadership, screening procedures for early identification of risk of harm, human resource processes, and environment of care. Onsite observations, interviews with staff and clients, and a review of records were also conducted and evaluated. “This is an outstanding accomplishment as we continue to move towards a whole health care approach to empower and equip clients to take charge of their health and well-being,” commented Dr. Jessica Bissey, Adult and Child Vice President of Clinical Excellence. The Joint Commission’s Behavioral Health Care Accreditation Program currently accredits more than 2,250 organizations for a three-year period. Accredited organizations provide treatment and services across the care continuum for individuals who have mental health, addiction, eating disorder, intellectual/developmental disability, and/or child-welfare related needs. Their Ambulatory Health Care Accreditation Program encourages high-quality patient care in all types of primary care facilities. This program serves 2,100 providers, with more than 8,500 sites of care, serving over 83 million patients annually. “We opened our first of two primary care clinics in late 2016,” stated Dr. Christine Negendank, A&C Health’s Chief Medical Officer. “Our being recognized as providing the highest level of quality care in the industry less than two years after opening our clinics highlights our commitment to excellence in patient care.” Receiving this distinguished designation signifies an ongoing commitment to safe and high-quality care, treatment, and services for the central Indiana community. A&C is a large provider of whole health services to over 14,000 distinct people per year in Central Indiana. While the agency has been accredited by The Joint Commission for their Behavioral Health services for many years, being recognized by the Joint Commission for Ambulatory Care marks a new level of excellence for A&C.
Adult & Child Addiction Services Expand to Support Indiana’s Criminal Justice System
Adult & Child Health, a central Indiana behavioral health, primary care and social services provider, has expanded community-based addiction services in collaboration with local criminal justice systems. In Marion and Bartholomew counties, Adult & Child increased capacity to better serve court-involved persons and families that the Indiana opioid crisis has impacted. Adult & Child joined with the Marion County Superior Court Probation Department Opiate Supervision Project Team in 2017 to help formerly jailed opiate users get clean and restart their lives. As a treatment provider, Adult & Child’s role involves working with probation and courts to “wrap” opiate users with services and breaking the addiction cycle. “Most of the folks we’re seeing don’t belong in prison,” said Tara Elsner, Adult & Child’s Director of Outpatient and Addiction Services. “They’re ill and need help. We help them get the support they need to succeed in the community.” Drug Free Marion County recently recognized Elsner with its Community Service Award. In Bartholomew County, Adult & Child works within the newly implemented Family Problem-Solving Court, which aims to reunify families torn apart by drug abuse. Magistrate Heather Mollo began this initiative after witnessing her termination of parental rights caseload triple due to the opioid crisis and its effects. This specialized accountability court, only the fifth of its kind in Indiana, requires parents who are convicted of drug crimes to access addiction services treatment and achieve sobriety. The court maintains oversight and requires a strong commitment from parents in weekly meetings with Judge Mollo, representatives from the Department of Child Services, Court Appointed Special Advocates, and Adult & Child. “[Adult & Child was] was our first choice when we were thinking of what was needed for services,” Mollo said. “What we’re satisfied with from A&C is the holistic approach. Things are not so siloed. It’s the wraparound approach that gets our parents to the point of sobriety.” As a comprehensive, integrated health and social services provider, Adult & Child Health offers a wide range of services to people who are dealing with drug abuse and dependence. In addition to mental health and addiction services, Adult & Child also offers clinic and community-based primary care, medication-assisted therapy, job coaching, supportive housing, and child welfare services.
Helping Foster Kids Take on School: Therapeutic Foster Care’s Educational Advocate
The Problem: Statistics for foster children graduating high school are shockingly low. About 50% of foster kids never receive their high school diploma. Only 3% graduate from a 4-year college. A&C’s response: To employ an Educational Advocate on the Therapeutic Foster Care team, addressing all educational concerns of our foster kids. Sharon Dunlevy spends her days staying on top of students’ grades, attendance, educational concerns, and any behavioral issues they may be facing in school. She goes to meetings with teachers and principals, she helps implement and advocate for Individualized Education Plans & 504s, she teaches foster parents how to support the education of kids in their home. She tutors and facilitates tutoring. Goals: “One of our biggest goals is to have our students be successful in school and graduate. We’re looking to see what types of support we can offer them after they graduate. At the age of 24, statistics say that 50% of former foster care students will be unemployed. So, that’s our big focus: career and college prep, really making sure that if they age out, if they leave, whatever the circumstances are, that they can be successful after school,” said Sharon. She is also a resource for foster parents with concerns on how to support their children’s education. On what kids need most: “The need for the tutors is huge. Having a tutoring grant right now and having that outside help has been tremendous and makes a huge difference for the kids.” Sharon’s Strategy: “I really try and get to know kids personally. … I want them to succeed, but I want them to come to that themselves. I really try to work with them on why we want them to get good grades. I ask what they want to do after school. I try to always make it a partnership between us.”
Mayor Joe Hogsett Shows His Support for #FosteringLove
There are a staggering number of children in our community in need of foster care — but you can help. Follow @adultandchild or visit https://t.co/7B2xj6vWNS to learn how. #FosteringLove pic.twitter.com/CEAOVhTxWt — Mayor Joe Hogsett (@IndyMayorJoe) May 16, 2018
