Health and Behavioral Health

Winter 2013 Catholic Charities USA Section

Purpose
Welcome to our newsletter which serves to promote inclusion and sharing of knowledge, trends, and issues occurring in the realm of Health and Behavioral Health in our Catholic Charities Network. To suggest a topic of discussion or to submit a contribution to the newsletter please contact Fr. Ragan Schriver at: rschriver@catholiccharitiesusa. org

Sponsored by:

"Whatever you did for one of these least brothers or sisters of mine, you did for me."
MATTHEW 25:40

Related News
SAMHSA Releases: Behavioral Health, United States, 2012.
The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration has released the most recent iteration of the administrations biennial behavioral health report. Begun in 1980, the report disseminates the
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most recent findings in the fields of mental health and substance abuse. Statistics are gathered from 40 different data sources and compiled in the report. These statistics are captured and presented from both state and national levels. In the 2012 edition of the report, addresses contemporary issues like health care as well as three key chapters that key in on:

6 Easy Online Training Sessions to Establish a Telebehavioral Health Program

Have you been thinking about starting a telebehavioral health program, but arent sure where to begin, need to develop a strategy, or want to figure out the best way to discuss the idea with your leadership? Telehealth allows for increased access to mental health and substance use services, particularly in rural or underserved areas. The SAMHSA-HRSA Center for Integrated Health Solutions is pleased to offer you a new set of online trainings to establish telehealth services for mental health and substance use. Upon completion, you will be able to: Identify one or more telebehavioral health service models that are clinically appropriate for your organization Engage the stakeholders necessary to successfully establish telebehavioral health services Coordinate telebehavioral health activities with pertinent local, state and federal partners

Behavioral Health Disorders across the Life Span Mental Health and Substance Use Disorders: Impairment in Functioning Mental Health and Substance Use Disorders: Treatment Landscape Also new in this edition are statistics and findings surrounding, Children Vulnerable Populations Military Personnel, Veterans and Military Families Medicaid Beneficiaries Treatment Workforce For a pdf copy of the full report visit:
Full Length BEHAVIORAL HEALTH, US, 2012

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Understand the important pieces needed to start a

telebehavioral health program Divided into six sessions, the Telebehavioral Health Training and Technical Assistance Series guides safety net providers through the crucial steps involved to implement a telebehavioral health program. The sessions include: Session I: Laying the Groundwork Session II: Reimbursement and Engagement Session III: Partnerships and Financing Session IV: Technology and Logistics Session V: Implementation Session VI: Launch and Refinement Each session is led by subject matter experts and lasts approximately one hour. In addition to the primary recorded training, each session includes recorded Q&A discussions and additional resources for further exploration into each subject.

Steering Committee
Sylvia Loumeau, Chair Jerry Eaton Jamie Lackey Peg Harmon Dorothy Heffernen Nancy Galeazzi Paula Weber Mike Phelps Staff Contact: Fr. Ragan Schriver

From Within: A Contribution from the Section Chair, Sylvia Loumeau

Dear Health/Behavioral Health Members: Advent is upon us! This is the season when we are encouraged to stop, wait, and anticipate. I dont know about you, but waiting isnt one of those things that I am always good at doing, and anticipation, well, lets not even go there. But, as each day we draw nearer to Christmas, the day we were delivered a Savior, we recognize that our patience can have truly awesome rewards. So several months ago, we began the process of breathing new life into the Health/Behavioral Health Section. We had some great conversations over the phone and at the CCUSA Conference in San Francisco brainstorming how to revision our work. For some of us (yes, Ill include myself), we might be thinking when is everything going to fall into place, when will these wonderful conversations materialize into something practical and useful for me. To us I say, stop, wait, and anticipate. Over the course of the next year, we hope to see great educational opportunities, we plan to create opportunities for us to network and share with one another, and focus on how our faith can better inform our work. We look forward to you joining us as the rewards unfold.
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Winter 2013 Grinch Prevention: Tips to help yourself and your clients to stay emotionally healthy during the holidays!

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We, as Catholic Charities staff and volunteers, spend so much of our time caring for our clients that it is significantly important for us to be sure and take care of ourselves over these next couple of weeks. The Christmas and New Years holiday time period can be an opportunity for joy and gathering with friends but it can also be a time of stress and tension. Hopefully, you can use some of these little tips to prevent any Grinch-like behaviors from creeping into your holiday celebrations! Not to mention the difficulties our clients may have during this time of year, while it can be a tough time for many people, for those dealing with underlying mental health conditions such as depression, bipolar and anxiety this can set them up for relapse. Running out of medication, sleeping less and forgetting to take care of oneself can all make a person more vulnerable 1. Take care of yourself. The stress of having to travel, host, cook, shop, wrap, or any of the other aspects of pulling off the holidays can wear one down. It is important to be sure you take time to enjoy yourself, sleep enough, eat right and squeeze in a little exercise here and there so that you can keep your energy levels up. 2. Evaluate obligations. Just because it is something you have always done or a place you have always gone to doesnt mean you have to do it this year. It is okay to say no. No. can actually be a complete sentence. Consider it part of your preventative health (mental and physical) care plan. 3. Spirituality. Focus on the spiritual aspects of the holidays versus the commercial ones. What do you want the holidays to mean? 4. Family. There is a lot of pressure (just watch any hour of tv with commercials during this time) to spend time with family, gathered around a lovely table, smiling, and sharing warm memories! Not everyone has those kinds of family experiences and it is okay. Spend time with people you enjoy. Remember that friends can be the family you choose. 5. Create your own traditions that work for you! It may be going away during the holidays or spending time volunteering to help others. I know someone who volunteers to provide coverage at the hospital during the holidays. She enjoys being able to help her colleagues who are then very grateful. This gives her a sense of purpose, a way to help patients during this time and an excuse to not have to attend stressful gatherings. 6. Just another day. You have 365 opportunities in a year to make a day special and meaningful. Dont limit yourself by thinking it is only possible during these few in December. We, as a part of a faith-based network, know that Christmas is a special day to recognize how much God loves us by becoming one of us! We also rejoice in the fact that He has never stopped loving us or being one with us, so if December 25 is a tough day for you maybe you can look to another day to rejoice in Gods special love for you. Christmas is forever, not for just one day, for loving, sharing, giving, are not to put away like bells and lights and tinsel, in some box upon a shelf. The good you do for others is good you do yourself... ~Norman Wesley Brooks