CAHS Connections -- August 2015

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CAHS CONNECTIONS
News For and About CAHS Employees

August 2015

CAHS CONNECTIONS Story Ideas / Photos
We welcome your story ideas and photos for upcoming newsletters! Items of interest include program news, events or achievements, presentations, births, 25+-year anniversaries, contests, etc. Please email ideas and photos with appropriate identifying information to CAHSConnections@la.gov.

In case you missed it ...
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2015 CAHS Annual Staff Meeting
The Annual Meeting is mandatory – please plan to attend.
Friday, Sept. 11, 8 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
Pennington Biomedical Research Center
6400 Perkins Road, Baton Rouge

Lagniappe!
The Annual Meeting will include employee recognition,
CAHS trivia, and a little something extra for everyone!

Morning Session

Marie T. O’Neil, LCSW, will present an overview and training on "Mindfulness - The Mind-Body Connection.” She will also demonstrate skills that can be used to increase relaxation and reverse negative effects of stress. Mind-body medicine is a comprehensive approach to wellness that considers physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual aspects of individuals.

Lunch / Afternoon Session

Immediately after a catered lunch, Thomas J. Karam, Ph.D., College of Business and the Flores MBA program at LSU (left), will speak about personal branding. Then, Phillip J. Brantley, Ph.D., of the Pennington Biomedical Research Center/LSU, (right) will present information about the Pennington Center's key research initiatives, clinical trials, population health programs, and other activities.

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What's New At CAHS

FY 2014-15 REPORT:
9,393 Clients Served,
60,000 Services Provided,
$2.99 Million Collected!

I am happy to announce that we have met 91% of this year’s financial goal.

Across our District, CAHS has provided over 60,000 Mental Health and Substance Abuse services to 9,393 clients this year. Your hard work and dedication have been key to our success.

Thank you for the outstanding work that you do for our clients and agency. Click here to learn more and to see the CAHS Monthly Collections Report, prepared by the Director of Business Operations, Karla Muzik.

Jan Kasofsky, Ph.D.
CAHS Executive Director

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This summer was a great time for 334 children who participated in the eight-week CAHS School Based Summer Enrichment Program on 16 school campuses in seven parishes. The School Based program provided 964 total services to the children. You can see the summary of services here.

SB Social Worker Emily Major reports that things rocked and rolled along, and that one of the summer's favorite activities was the "magic carpet ride," which taught children how to work together, share, use manners and demonstrate patience as they built skills for cooperative behavior.

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What's Happening At CAHS

CAHS OFFERS PREVENTION AND TREATMENT PROGRAMS FOR ADOLESCENTS AND THEIR FAMILIES

Problem gambling is a serious, fast-growing issue among adolescents. For example, it is estimated that 25% of teens, ages 13 to 17, have gambled in a video game, and 40% intend to gamble with money.

The warning signs of problem gambling are:

Missing school or classes
Withdrawing from friends / family
Experiencing anxiety, depression or mood swings
Unexplained need for money
Missing money or possessions
Excessive watching of TV sports and obsession with sports scores

To help combat the issue of adolescent gambling in our region, CAHS is offering the following help for teens and their families:

CAHS Prevention: "Kids Don't Gamble -- Wanna Bet"

The CAHS Prevention Division funds an adolescent gambling prevention program called, “Kids Don’t Gamble-Wanna Bet,” in Ascension Parish middle schools. The program targets sixth graders and was offered to more than 1,500 students last year. The curriculum is integrated into existing units of health, math and life skills and is designed to discourage underage gambling through improved critical thinking and problem solving. The program's kit includes an educator's guide, resource booklet, and DVD. For more information, contact Charlene Gillard, Program Monitor Supervisor, CAHS Prevention Division, 925-3827.

CAHS Treatment: Real Help for Adolescents

Matricia "Matt" Green, CAHS Director of Gambling Services, is starting Adolescent Treatment Services for Gambling this month (see flyer here). The evidence-based program will include screening, assessment, case management, person-centered treatment plans, individual/group sessions, and family groups. Each client will receive a psychiatric evaluation upon admission and ongoing treatment to address co-occurring mental health problems. The program will include family therapy sessions for children and their parents. See additional information below.

More Info About Problem Gambling Treatment
These programs are offered at our 4615 Government St. location, Building 2.
For more information, contact Matt Green or Kyllie Jenkins at 225-362-5360.

Intensive Outpatient Services: Mondays, Wednesdays and Thursdays, 5-8 p.m.

Outpatient Services: Mondays and Thursdays, 9-10:30 a.m.

Continuing Care: Tuesdays. 5:15-6:30 p.m.

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Join the "Stepping Up" Initiative
CAHS is in the process of implementing the strategies promoted by the national "Stepping Up" initiative to raise awareness about practices and strategies that work to keep persons with mental illness out of jails. Join here.

Youth PTSD Workshop, Oct. 9
Bryan Gros, Ph.D., will conduct a Youth PTSD Treatment workshop Oct. 9 for Children’s Clinical Services staff. Youth PTSD Treatment (YPT) is an effective protocol for treatment of children and adolescents.

THP Work Continues at CAHS
CAHS’ Total Health Program (THP) transitions at the end of August. However, most services -- including peer support, nutrition education, fitness activities, tobacco cessation and care coordination with primary care providers -- will continue to be offered in CAHS’ facilities and programs by our permanent staff of doctors, nurses, clinicians, peer support, and administrative staff with help from our partners.

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Cultural Perspectives: Trauma and Response

It is important that crisis responders understand their own cultural identities as they reach out to serve others.

Cultures are a means for sharing wisdom and skills necessary for the survival of individuals, communities, and humanity itself. Our cultures shape how we identify and interpret the threat of traumatic events and how we manifest our distress in response to those events.

Crisis responders are encouraged to identify important sources of cultural identity in their lives, to initially access the cultural backgrounds of individual victims or groups they serve, and to find significant commonalities in order to establish a basis of communication. Click here to learn more about cultural identity, protocol for crisis work across cultures, and hints for helping with trauma in cross-cultural situations.

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Who's Who at CAHS

Who joined CAHS recently? Click here to see!

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We Would Like to Hear From You!
CAHS Connections is your newsletter, about and for the employees and activities of Capital Area Human Services. The employees listed here serve on the newsletter's Editorial Board and would like to hear from you. Just click on their names to send an email with your story ideas: Karen Bray, Rafael Maza, Lynetta Butler, Richard Brown, Jr., Michael Brown, Carol Everhart, Linda Melancon, Betty Mims, Shenitha Smith, and Gabrielle Brown.

Our Mission

To facilitate person-centered recovery by empowering people of all ages with behavioral health needs and developmental disability challenges to strengthen relationships, establish independence, and enhance their ability to improve their physical health and emotional wellbeing.

Our Vision

Our network provides local access to best practices that respond to the unique needs of individuals living in the District's communities.

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