Mental Health Task Force Meeting

Meeting Notes

(corrections are welcome – send to diane@keysregion.org)

November 3, 2006, Noon to 1:30pm

CSI, Landmark Hill

Present:

Name	Phone #	Organization (if not obvious from the email) /E-mail
Karen Dufour	439-8391	karen.dufour@csimaine.com
Sharon Sweeney	351-1700	www.sharonsweeney.org
Elizabeth Marcotte	451-9151	lizmarcottelcsw@comcast.net
Herb Hoffman	646-5431
Kathleen Hebden	294-4793	Sweetser
Ted Heselton	324-1137	jennifer.ouellette@yorkcountyshelters.org
Marla Levy-Evans	603-205-4809	seacoasthope911@yahoo.com
Deb Erickson-Irons	351-2199	derickson-irons@yorkhospital.com
Henry Altenberg, MD	451-2200	Sweetser (Kittery)
Lorraine Soukup	603-436-0600	Portsmouth Hospital (Behavioral Health) Lorraine.Soukup@HCAhealthcare.com Or Lsoukup4@aol.com
Henry Guertin-Ouellette	363-4444	York PD henlaugo@maine.rr.com
Maury Elsasser	603-953-0017	maury.elsasser@csacmethadone.com
Betsy Kelly	438-9997	Community Health Connection Betsychc@comcast.net
Eugene A. Glick, MD	361-1366	(mostly retired psychiatrist) sglick@maine.rr.com
Diane Brandon	438-9100	CWC/KEYS Coalition diane@keysregion.org

Go-round of introductions

1. News (notes by Deb Erickson-Irons)

a. Lorraine Soukup: Georrge Nowak, MD is formulating his own IOP (intensive outpatient program) with the same format and staff they had at the hospital. It will have space at Seacoast Mental Health as of Dec. 1, but is a private practice. Bruce Altman will be trying to get and intensive behavioral health program started, and Seacoast Mental Health is developing an IBHP.

b. Betsy: Community Health Connection (CHC) is sponsoring several help sessions for Medicare D; handout distributed.

c. Deb: York Hospital is hosting two focus groups with MeHAF (Maine Health Access Foundation) to gather information about people’s experiences with the integration of physical health with behavioral health and addiction care. The first is for parents with young children on 11/8 at the Family Resource Center. The next is on 11/14 for those who smoke. Participants will be paid $15 each and there will be a supper.

2. Panel on Private Practice (notes by Diane Brandon)

a. Liz Marcotte, MSW – private practice in Eliot, expressive therapies with children and youth – worked for Sweetser for 5 yrs. Uses arts, colors, feelings, visuals; where they feel feelings in their bodies; journaling; sand tray (one wet, one dry). Under the umbrella of Possibilities Counseling. In private practice for past three years.

b. Sharon Sweeney: private practice in York; works primarily with adults, individuals and couples. Works to give couples tools they can use immediately to help them feel safe. Uses EMDR to help with trauma; cognitive behavioral therapy. Mind/body Institute – stress reduction, mindfulness meditation (Benson); OCD – level of disturbance scale, exposure therapy. Works with Frannie Peabody Center helping clients with disclosure and safety issues; homosexual couples with HIV. Communication, boundaries, assertiveness skills. Substance abuse experience, dual diagnosis work, also refers to Cottage Program and Ports IOP. Takes a lot of insurances, including Mainecare and Medicare. Referral from psychiatrists. Under possibilities Counseling. Website

c. Marla Levy-Evans: started in private practice with Mass Mental Health and Cambridge Hospital; now Seacoast Hope, a new adventure for her 60s. Have come full circle with life and trauma: arsonist 2001 set YCSA building on fire; 9/11 in NYC, 10 blocks from the Trade Center when the first plane hit, watched the whole thing, and helped afterwards at St. Vincent’s Hospital. On the train back, she heard people trying to connect with each other, traveling in droves to connect with people they loved. Connectedness. Seacoast Hope: Encouragement Conquers. Was working at Hospice, but left it 3 weeks ago to do this work full time. See brochure.

3. Next meeting to be held Friday, 11/3/06, 12:00-1:30 at Landmark Hill.

From June meeting notes:

MHTF Meeting Topics for Upcoming Meetings

(At CSI Landmark Hill Sept. – Dec.)

1. December 1: Suicide Prevention and Follow-up, organized by Diane Cyr & Diane Brandon (might include Gatekeeper Training info, Ken Norton, Ann Bliss, Elaine Frank, Val V. who presented to York Schools)
2. January 5, 2007: At-risk teens drop-in support, shelter, etc., organized by Toni Bennett (might include Priscilla Guy and the Kittery Youth Connection, and support for parents of teens) Toni’s new email address is: toni.bennett@northstarfarm.org

Not yet scheduled:

• DHHS Case Review & Flex Funds, organized by Brenda Smith – overview of cases in past year, or an actual case review if a family from this area is interested and willing
• Expressive Arts & Spiritual Approaches, organized by Marla Levy Evans (might include CSI’s Center for Life Enrichment)
• Legal issues with mental illness and substance abuse (a year later, building on the session in May 2005)
• Housing for the Mentally Ill – annual report/update
• Disaster Preparedness & MI & Substance Abuse
• Domestic Violence – might include Caring Unlimited and Violence No More presentations

Other ideas are welcome, and can be added to the “wish list”

• Early Childhood & Mental Illness – services for children and parents