HomeMy WebLinkAboutMH Provider Meeting Minutes 12-20-19 Mental Health Provider Meeting
Friday, December 20, 2019
MH 1 12/20/19
MEETING MINUTES
Welcome & Introduction – Jim Gilbert
Everyone introduced themselves and their agency affiliation.
Provider Announcements & Updates – Jim Gilbert
≠ Pennsylvania Counseling Services (PCS)
PCS has been trying to spread the word about their new and growing Lighthouse Recovery
program which provides community supports for individuals with Substance Use Disorder
(SUD). This program’s staff currently consists of two (2) Certified Recovery Specialists and
a Care Navigator who are able to work with individuals and affected family members in
various support groups. Referrals to the program can be made by either calling or walking
into the PCS office. There is no specific registration/referral form or insurance
requirements.
Critical Time Intervention (CTI) is another PCS program which works with individuals who
have been accessing crisis, police departments, and other emergency services at a high rate.
Tuscarora Managed Care Alliance (TMCA) funds this nine (9) month intensive program if
the individual has Medical Assistance (MA). The County funds CTI if the individual does not
have MA.
≠ Mental Health Association (MHA)
MHA’s Bipolar/Depression Support Groups have been postponed until February. The
Tuesday meeting will be for peers while the Wednesday meeting will be open to the public.
A Fulton County Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Questioning, Intersex, Asexual
(LGBTQIA+) Support Group will be starting soon. It will meet at the community center
building in McConnellsburg.
Children’s Services
≠ CASSP Update – Kim Lucas, CASSP Coordinator
No update at this time. Kim was not able to attend today’s meeting. She will be reaching out
to providers early next year to schedule meetings in order to review what CASSP can offer.
Standing Agenda Items
≠ TMCA Update – Gen Harper, Quality and Compliance Director
No update at this time. Gen was not able to attend today’s meeting.
≠ PerformCare Update – Kourtney Griggs, Account Executive
No update at this time. Kourtney was not able to attend today’s meeting
≠ Community Resource Spotlight: She’s Somebody’s Daughter (SSD) – Andrea Meredith,
Executive Director and Tanya Pearrell, Director of Development
Andrea and Tanya presented an overview of SSD’s mission/initiatives and information on
human trafficking.
SSD started in 2012 as an awareness organization using the phrase “She’s Somebody’s
Daughter” in its billboard advertising campaign. This phrase is meant to be a perspective
shifter which changes how society views human trafficking and commercial sexual
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exploitation (i.e. the sex trade and pornography). Since its founding, SSD has expanded
beyond raising awareness to provide outreach and a community of support systems for
women affected by exploitation. More information is available on SSD’s website
(www.shessomebodysdaughter.org) and Facebook page (search “She’s Somebody’s
Daughter”).
The following information was highlighted during SSD’s presentation:
Human trafficking for sex and/or labor is a form of modern day slavery. Its victims
are controlled through force, fraud, and coercion.
Statistics on the prevalence of human trafficking indicate that it is common locally.
These statistics are measured by calls to the Polaris Project’s National Human
Trafficking Hotline.
Changing the narrative of exploitation occurs when someone shifts their perspective
of what a sex trafficking victim looks like and recognizes how pornography can fuel
other forms of commercial sexual exploitation like prostitution.
Early exposure to pornography and/or sexual abuse can lead to a tendency to view
people as objects and the potential to act on this impulse.
According to statistics, commercial sex workers are more likely to experience rape,
assault, Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), and mortality. Most women enter
sex trafficking after being tricked by someone. It is less common for women to be
sold to the trafficker by a family member or kidnapped.
Traffickers are able to manipulate their victims’ vulnerabilities at every level of
Maslow’s hierarchy of needs (physiological, safety, love/belonging, esteem, self-
actualization). They often meet and begin grooming their adolescent and young
adult victims online. Grooming will appear positive until an exploitative relationship
develops.
Indicators of sex trafficking vary considerably depending on the victim. Offers to
provide assistance can be met with anger/combativeness or no emotion at all. It is
most important that communicating with the victim does not put them at risk.
Assessment questions can be asked to determine whether the individual has been
forced into a situation that qualifies as sex trafficking.
The National Human Trafficking Hotline can be reached at 1-888-373-7888 or by
texting HELP to 233733. Victims can call themselves or you can call on someone’s
behalf. Reporters of human trafficking have the option to remain anonymous.
Justice at Work is an organization that is specifically focused on preventing labor
trafficking.
Although SSD is a faith-based organization, its services are available to all individuals
regardless of religious affiliation and beliefs are not forced on anyone. Likewise, there is no
citizenship requirement for eligibility. After receiving a referral, SSD’s primary purpose is to
work with other providers as a bridge to connect the individual to resources in their
community. Sex trafficking survivors can come directly to SSD’s offices in Chambersburg
and Lemoyne if they have immediate safety concerns. SSD does not have a residential
facility so local referrals are often made to Women in Need (WIN).
Therapeutic programming such as art therapy, pottery, and puppy hugging is available at
SSD’s offices. SSD can also coordinate pro bono counseling and family therapy for women
with children.
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Meeting participants observed that sex traffickers are known to target potential youth
victims at shopping malls, within online gaming communities, and in situations when they
have been kicked out of their parents’ house.
≠ Provider Spotlight: Mental Health Association – Abigail Clever, Program Manager and
Catriona Lunsford, Community Support Program Facilitator
Abigail and Catriona presented an overview of MHA’s programs and core services.
Peer Support
Certified Peer Specialists help youth [ages fourteen (14) to twenty-one (21)] and adult [over
age twenty-one (21)] individuals cope with daily struggles that they encounter on their
recovery journey. The emphasis is on meeting the individual where they are and walking
beside them in their experiences rather than telling them “what to do.”
MHA handles the entire referral process for Peer Support services. This includes receiving
the initial referral information from providers, getting the required consents for youth,
contacting the individual to ask whether they are interested in the service, and sending a
professional referral recommendation back to the provider. MHA will work with the
individual’s insurance to determine if the service is approved and assist with acquiring
County funding when necessary. While an individual does not need to have a Serious Mental
Illness (SMI) or other formal mental health diagnosis to receive the service, they must have
an SMI to be eligible for County funding. MHA can connect individuals who do not have a
current diagnosis to the appropriate resources.
Helpline
Call Specialists with lived experience staff MHA’s Helpline which can be reached at 717-264-
2916. This service is available from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. every day of the year. The call
specialists receive continued training each month on various topics such as role play and
reflective listening. Calls are never recorded but MHA’s management does monitor them
during quality assurance audits which are intended to improve the service.
The Helpline is different from Keystone’s Crisis line because individuals do not need to be in
an active crisis or life threatening situation. They may feel lonely, need a distraction from a
current stressor or just want to talk to someone about their day. Call Specialists will make
warm transfers to crisis when necessary as they talk the individual through the process.
Individuals are encouraged to call throughout the night if they initially receive a busy signal.
There are only two (2) Call Specialists on duty at a time so availability can be limited
depending on call volume.
The Helpline is a particularly useful resource for those who need support outside of their
service providers’ traditional business hours. Callers may remain anonymous and are only
asked to provide their county of residence. MHA regularly distributes magnets and flyers
with rip off tabs listing the Helpline number and hours in order to raise awareness about
this service.
Senior Reach
Senior Reach functions as a reverse warm line for individuals ages sixty (60) and older. A
Call Specialist makes weekly check-in/follow-up calls from a list of seniors in the
community who have signed up. The service connects seniors to resources by overcoming
barriers such as living alone, loneliness, and being unable to reach out for assistance. MHA
seeks referrals to Senior Reach with a flyer and consent to be contacted form that are
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distributed at residential facilities and nursing homes. The individual’s background
information and current concerns are documented during the intake process. Someone can
be active with both Senior Reach and Peer Support services while also utilizing the Helpline
as needed because none of MHA’s services are mutually exclusive.
Individual/Family Satisfaction Team (I/FST)
MHA is contracted to perform satisfaction surveys for various mental health services that
are mostly offered through TMCA and PerformCare. The I/FST combines survey results into
a report that is sent to state/local officials and medical/insurance providers. This report
identifies what is working versus not working, consumer concerns, and existing service
barriers. Consumers are also encouraged to share their concerns and experiences at
quarterly PerformCare Stakeholders Meetings which are held at MHA’s offices.
Jim noted that the recommendation section in the I/FST report’s executive summary is
extremely helpful because of its uninvolved, third party perspective that is based directly on
survey findings. MHA performs the surveys at no cost to the agency and allows their input
on the questions being asked.
MHA is piloting an I/FST survey for individuals who utilize agencies for SUD treatment
through the end of the year. Participants will receive a $10 Sheetz or Walmart gift card.
Interested individuals may contact MHA to schedule their survey.
Suicide Prevention
MHA has staff that are trained to facilitate free QPR (Question, Persuade, Refer) suicide
prevention training for youth and adults. This ninety (90) minute training occurs at least
once each month with locations rotating between MHA’s Franklin and Fulton County offices.
Schools and providers may also contact MHA to schedule an onsite QPR training for their
own staff.
MHA hosts Suicide Prevention Coalition meetings at its Franklin County office on the third
Monday of each month at 2:30 p.m. MHA also presents free community events aimed at
suicide prevention which most recently included screenings of “The S Word” documentary
at the Capitol Theatre in September.
Community Support Program (CSP)
The main idea behind CSP is for stakeholders, community members, family members, and
providers to work together in ways that will increase advocacy and reduce stigma. The
2020 CSP Meetings will be taking place on the fourth Tuesday of the month at MHA’s
Franklin County office from 1:30 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. and on the third Thursday of the month
at MHA’s Fulton County office from 10:30 a.m. to 12 p.m. Featured presenters will alternate
between educational and skills-based topics each month in order to appeal to both
providers and community members.
Programs and events associated with CSP:
The Leadership Academy is open to anyone who is interested in getting more
involved in the community and becoming a leader. A mental health diagnosis is not
required to participate. The next Leadership Academy classes are scheduled to start
in February.
The “I am the Evidence” program is a stigma busting campaign through which
individuals in recovery share their stories. The program will be presenting these
stories to audiences such as first responders at Crisis Intervention, nursing students
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at Penn State Mont Alto, and clinical psychology majors at Shippensburg University.
Providers may contact Catriona if they know any individuals who would be
interested in “I am the Evidence” or to schedule an onsite presentation.
CSP organizes annual Mental Health Awareness Month events during May. The 2020
events will include the Wellness Conference (May 1st), Art Show (May 15th through
May 17th), and the Franklin County Walk the Walk advocacy event (May 29th).
Several other outreach and advocacy projects occur throughout the year. Central
Region cooperation involves CSP’s from surrounding counties working together on a
regional anti-stigma campaign and increasing community outreach.
Additional Services
MHA has two (2) Depression/Bipolar Support Groups. One is open to anyone while the
other is specifically for individuals receiving Peer Support services. The Fulton County
LGBTQIA+ Support Group is being formed based on identified needs in the community.
MHA has staff that are certified to conduct Wellness Recovery Action Plan (WRAP) classes
and Mental Health First Aid classes for youth and adults. MHA can also help individuals
draft mental health advance directives.
As a peer-run agency, MHA encourages those with lived experience to apply for part-time
Call Specialist, Certified Peer Specialist, and Surveyor positions.
Information and dates for all upcoming events/trainings can be found on MHA’s website
(www.mhaff.org) and Facebook page (search “Franklin/Fulton County Community Support
Program”).
Beth Peake is MHA’s current CEO and main contact for advocacy. MHA is always seeking to
develop new programs and services. Providers and community members are welcome to
contact MHA with suggestions/ideas that are based on current identified needs.
≠ County Announcements/Information – Jim Gilbert
The 2020 MH Provider Meetings will be moving back to the second Friday of the month
during the months they are scheduled to occur (March, June, September, December).
Providers may contact Jim with suggestions for future Community Resource Spotlights or if
they want to feature their own agency in a Provider Spotlight. Jim will reach out to the
identified community resource to coordinate their presentation at an upcoming MH
Provider Meeting.
≠ Reports due since our last MH Provider Meeting:
MCR Report (Program funded providers only)
Quarterly report of Expenditures (July – September)
≠ Reports due prior to our next MH Provider Meeting:
Audited Reports (for FY ending June 30th)
Progress report on outcomes in Appendix A (first six months)
Internal Quality of Service Survey
Quarterly Report of Expenditures (October – December)
Appendix A for upcoming fiscal year
Budget/Rate letter for upcoming fiscal year
Staff Roster for upcoming fiscal year (if appropriate)
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Unit Assumptions for upcoming fiscal year (if appropriate)
Budget Narratives for upcoming fiscal year (if appropriate)
≠ Changes to Individuals Served Count to a quarterly basis – Becky Leidig
The state is now requiring the individuals served count to be reported on a quarterly basis.
Previously, this count only had to be included in the Annual Income and Expenditures
Report. Becky will be reaching out to specific providers for this information if it cannot be
gathered from the County’s billing software.
The individuals served count is due forty-five (45) days after the end of each quarter. For
example, the count for the quarter ending December 31st will be due on February 15th.
Because of the recent notification about quarterly reporting, the count for the quarter
ending September 30th will not be due until January 20th. Going forward, Becky will send
providers email reminders of quarterly reporting and the associated due dates.
≠ Psychiatric Admissions Reporting Overview (handout): Comparing July – September
2019 with July – September 2018 – Jim Gilbert
This handout also covers Danville State Hospital’s admissions and discharges.
The following Danville State Hospital updates were mentioned:
An individual who has been at Danville since March 2010 will be discharged to a
nursing home in Columbia County on December 23rd.
An individual who is currently at South Mountain Restoration Center will be
admitted to Danville in early January. Two (2) other individuals are currently on the
waiting list for Danville.
Bed cap is still at five (5). Following the upcoming discharge, there will be nine (9)
individuals at Danville which is the lowest number in recent years.
≠ Staff Burnout and Well-Being Report – Dr. Kim Weikel
A report was completed in June from online data collection. Based on feedback from
agencies, Dr. Weikel is now offering a paper and pencil data collection option. Also, agency
specific reports will be possible as long as there is enough staff responses to protect the
confidentiality and anonymity of the data. Agencies may contact Dr. Weikel if they are
interested in additional data collection.
A Burnout Workshop is being planned for either February or March. Attendees will be able
to earn Continuing Education Units (CEU’s). After seeking input from meeting participants
on potential workshop dates, Dr. Weikel confirmed that she will plan to schedule it on
March 26th. This will allow enough lead time to announce the workshop at upcoming CSP
Meetings and the next MH Provider Meeting. MHA staff offered to host the workshop at
their Franklin County office.
The meeting was adjourned.
Next Meeting:
Friday, March 13, 2020 starting at 10:00 a.m. in the Human Services Building
[425 Franklin Farm Lane, Chambersburg]
Remaining 2020 Meetings:
June 12th September 11th December 11th