A&C 75th Anniversary and Irvington Clinic Grand Opening
Integrated health care is a concept that recognizes how a person’s physical health and behavioral health affect their overall wellness and quality of life. Adult & Child Health celebrated integrated health at a combined celebration of history and growth at its Irvington clinic in Indianapolis April 30. The event served as both a 75th anniversary celebration for the Adult & Child Health organization, and as a grand opening for the clinic on Washington Avenue, which opened in early 2025. Adult & Child operates three clinics in Indianapolis and one clinic in Franklin. At the Irvington clinic, primary care providers, psychiatric care providers and licensed therapists see patients in the same building. “Our goal is to help people live happy and healthier lives and have them be able to succeed in whatever it means for them,” Dr. Christine Negendank, President and Chief Medical Officer at Adult & Child Health said. “Many of our patients have been stigmatized — even in the health care setting — so we are very careful to make sure everyone is welcome here, no matter their circumstance and no matter their level of illness.” Clients of all ages come to the Irvington clinic for psychiatric and primary care. “Integrated care clients,” as they are called, can come to the Irvington clinic to have multiple needs addressed in one place. It’s a combination of providing the best practices and ease of care for each client. “It’s so wonderful to see a patient who tells me, ‘I’m out of my blood pressure meds,’ or ‘I have a severe headache,’ and I can say, ‘Well, you know, we have primary care across the hall; why don’t we go get you connected?’” Negendank explained. A client can get primary care, psychiatric care, therapy and connections to housing programs in a single trip to the Irvington clinic. “They leave with so much more hope,” Negendank said. “We really try to make it easy for our patients when we can. We offer someone a safe place to come, to feel welcome, to leave feeling better and to leave feeling better about themselves.” A&C offers addictions treatment at the Irvington clinic. Addictions treatment involves one-on-one therapy, medication assisted treatment (MAT), activities of daily living support, psychoeducation, peer recovery services and case management. The average wait time for a new patient to schedule their first appointment is less than three weeks. Be Well Bell art installation The Be Well Community movement is designed to ring in a new narrative about brain health through a variety of programs, including the public display of ceremonial bells that symbolize hope and healing. The bell in Indianapolis was unveiled to the public during Adult & Child’s 75th Anniversary event April 30. Be Well Initiatives works with community partners to bring visibility to the mental wellness movement. The Be Well Bell program offers blank bells to be painted with a meaningful design by an artist(s) or as a community arts project. Brightli Director of Be Well Initiatives Bailey Pyle, LPC, explained that the art installation includes a QR code that smartphone users can scan to access information on the Be Well program and on mental health services available at Adult & Child in the Indianapolis metro area. “These aren’t just bells that we’re creating and plopping down into a community, but they are truly reflective of the community in which they exist,” Pyle said. “We know from lots of research that that’s when the bells are the most impactful and meaningful.” The Be Well Bell at the Irvington clinic is the 21st for the program and the first Be Well Bell in Indiana. Adult & Child Health’s history Photo Gallery
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.
Adult & Child Health, Mental Health America of IndianaAdvancing Peer Recovery Efforts Statewide
Integrated healthcare provider Adult & Child Health (A&C), ICAADA, and MHAI Stanley W. DeKemper Training Institute (MHAI SWD TI) have entered into an Agreement for Educational Partnership to advance the recovery support workforce within the state of Indiana by increasing training opportunities through MHAI Stanley W. DeKemper Training Institute for Indiana residents to become certified as Certified Peer Recovery Coaches (CPRCs) or Certified Recovery Coaches (CRCs) through ICAADA. This effort is one of the commitments made by A&C as a recipient of the DMHA Workforce Recruitment and Retention Innovation Grant through which A&C was awarded $750,000 in fall of 2023. “This groundbreaking partnership between Adult & Child, ICAADA and MHAI SWD Training Institute shows their passion for increasing the recovery support workforce and, most importantly, increasing accessibility to care across Indiana. By using trusted, and vetted, recovery support training and credentialing organizations, along with a respected recovery support provider such as Adult & Child, we will be able to create a workforce development structure that increases the recovery support workforce while supporting sustainability of the recovery support profession,” said MHAI Vice President of Education and Credentialing Justin Beattey. In January 2023, the annual National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH) reported 9.2 million people aged 12 years or older had misused opioids in 2021, 94 percent of which did not receive any treatment; additionally, adults aged 18 to 25 had the highest rate of mental illness yet the lowest rate of treatment. The need for addictions recovery and mental health services is tremendous and increasing the number of people who are trained and qualified to provide those services through the peer support approach is critical to closing the gap. Additionally, peer support is proven to be an affective form of recovery treatment, resulting in reduced re-hospitalizations, fewer days spent in inpatient care and increased quality of life (Evidence for Peer Support, MHA, 2019). CPRCs provide recovery support and care for individuals who are experiencing challenges with mental health and/or substance use disorders by connecting with others through a direct lived experience of similar challenges. While CRCs do not have direct lived experience, they have often been indirectly affected by addiction or mental illness through a family member or friend. Direct nor indirect experience is a requirement for individuals to become CRCs – many folks in this role simply have a passion for helping those in need. “I am beyond proud and incredibly honored to become an adjunct trainer with MHAI. As an individual living in recovery, there was a time in my life when I was in such a dark, scary and stigmatizing place within my mental health and substance abuse. It is now my passion to provide as much education, resources, and hope to anyone who may need it. This new program not only provides me with another opportunity to do just that, but it also helps to emphasize the importance of peers in behavioral health throughout the state. As a representative of my amazing employer Adult and Child Health and of MHAI, it is my mission to act as a voice for anyone who might not yet have found theirs and to do this to the best of my ability every single day – it is a great honor to be able to do so,” said Matt Bane, A&C, who will be one of two training facilitators. # # # About Adult & Child Health Adult & Child Health, a Joint Commission accredited community mental health center and Federally Qualified Healthcare Center Look Alike (FQHC) in Central Indiana, strives for caring communities where all people can live healthy, purposeful lives. Services include behavioral health, primary care, social services, and addictions treatment, all of which are designed to provide quick, affordable, and efficient access to high quality care. Adult & Child is an affiliate and member organization of Brightli, a network of health providers across the Midwest. Please visit adultandchild.org for more information. About ICAADA ICAADA, a subsidiary of Mental Health America of Indiana, provides credentialing for behavioral health professionals. ICAADA provides behavioral health professionals with credentials, membership, and advocacy that validate the professionals’ competencies to provide person-focused, evidence-based behavioral health services. About MHAI Stanley W. DeKemper Training Institute The MHAI Stanley W. DeKemper Training Institute is our partner in providing quality education for behavioral health professionals and the community. The Training Institute works tirelessly to ensure that the education provided meets the standards and competencies required for aspiring and current behavioral health professionals, to maximize the outcomes for the populations they serve.
A&C Aligns with Leadership Model of Parent Company Brightli
Integrated healthcare provider Adult & Child Health, a Brightli affiliate, has announced the promotions of Dr. Christne Negendank, MD, MBA, CCHP to Indiana Region President and Dr. Jessica Stembel, PsyD, HSPP, IMH-E to Indiana Region Chief Operating Officer. Adult & Child joined Burrell Behavioral Health, Preferred Family Healthcare, Southeast Missouri Behavioral Health, and other subsidiaries under the Brightli umbrella in March 2024, boosting the parent organization’s employee count to over 6,000 individuals across seven regions. The promotions of Dr. Negendank and Dr. Stembel align A&C with Brightli’s regional leadership model, which provides operational autonomy for each region to ensure services and operations are meeting the unique needs of the community. As President, Dr. Negendank provides strategic direction and leadership of A&C and the Indiana Region, assisting in the execution of short-term and long-term goals while engaging with community partners and leaders to help drive A&C’s continued success and growth in Central Indiana. “I am honored to have been given the opportunity to serve as President of Adult & Child Health. I look forward to continuing to work with Adult & Child’s dedicated staff who strive daily to provide compassionate and high-quality whole health care. Adult & Child Health is well-positioned to continue its 75-year legacy of excellence and innovation in health care and social services. We look forward to expanding our services and programming through strategic initiatives, community partnerships, and advocacy efforts. Our goal is to not only provide treatment to those in our local communities but also to help advocate for improved health care for all Hoosiers,” said Dr. Negendank. Dr. Negendank recently celebrated seven years of employment at A&C having joined the organization in 2017 as Associate Medical Director of Psychiatry before moving into the role of Chief Medical Officer. During her tenure, Dr. Negendank led the development and implementation of A&C’s Medication Assisted Treatment (MAT) program for substance use disorders. She has also helped A&C make tremendous strides in integrating primary and psychiatric care by strengthening working relationship among prescribers and fostering collaboration between medical and therapy staff. As Chief Operating Officer, Dr. Stembel oversees the day-to-day operations of A&C and the Indiana Region, facilitating teamwork across the organization’s leaders to ensure effective delivery of top-quality services to Central Indiana communities. “As Chief Operating Officer, I am incredibly excited about A&C’s opportunity to be a leader in the state’s transformation to the Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinic (CCBHC) model, and the evolution of mental health, substance abuse treatment and primary healthcare. Emphasizing community partnerships through CCBHC is not just a strategic interchange but a commitment to holistic care. Together, we can foster a system of care where our Hoosiers and communities can thrive,” said Dr. Stembel. Dr. Stembel joined A&C in 2015 as a clinical psychologist providing oversight to multiple service lines and treatment teams while continuing direct clinical care. Since 2018 she has served A&C as Chief Clinical Officer, overseeing continuous quality improvement, behavioral health, primary care accreditation and corporate compliance. During her tenure, Dr. Stembel led the development of the Response and Resilience in Stressful Events team to respond to critical incidents both internally and within the community and organized the agency’s response during the COVID public health emergency. She has also increased A&C’s 340B Drug Discount Program revenue to 12 million dollars, enabling the organization to stretch scarce federal resources to provide comprehensive and integrated health services to eligible patients who may not otherwise receive care. “Dr. Negendank and Dr. Stembel’s exceptional leadership, combined with their deep industry knowledge, will be instrumental in driving our organization’s ability to serve our mission and the Indianapolis community. Their contributions are invaluable, and I am confident in their ability to lead our teams toward increased access to the quality care our communities deserve,” said A&C and Brightli CEO C.J. Davis.
