Mental Health America is now distributing free access to the “M3″, our MHA-branded, anonymous, online mental health screening tool.

Mental health screening can save lives, says Mental Health America. Mental health has consequences beyond those we’ve been hearing about in recent media reports on shootings, gun control, military suicides and other public issues. Undiagnosed mental illness affects every part of an individual’s overall health as well.

Mental Health America  provides the only online test that screens for depression, bipolar disorder, PTSD and anxiety. The innovative online mood-screening tool is offered in partnership with M3 which created this medically proven checklist for mental health well-being.

The M3 online mental health screening tool is a 27 question survey that takes approximately 3 minutes to complete.  The M3 is the only self-administered clinical tool that integrates patient self-rating of symptoms covering all of the major mood and anxiety disorders. It is the first such instrument that includes patient education and a monitor of patient improvement and side-effects covering the full course of treatment. The tool screens simultaneously for Depression, Anxiety, PTSD and Bipolar Disorder and is online at http://www.mentalhealthamerica.net/llw/depression_screen2.cfm.

Here is a link to a press release about the M3 tool that provides more background about the tool and Mental Health America.

The Northeast Region Community Support Program Continuing Education Day will be on June 7, 2013 at the Kirby House, 381 Sunset Road, Glen Summit, Mountaintop, PA from 8:30 AM – 2:30 PM.

Registration will be limited to 25 individuals. The deadline for registration is May 23, 2013. You can register by clicking on the link below and completing the form.

If you have any questions please feel free to call Lynn Houseknecht at 570-628-0155.

Registration Form

 

Continuing Education Day Agenda

8:30 AM to 9:30 AM      Registration & Breakfast

9:30 AM to 9:45 AM      Welcome & Introductions

9:45 AM to 11:00 AM     Gatekeeper Suicide Prevention Training

11:00 AM to 11:15 AM    Break

11:15 AM to 12:30 PM    CPS Standards & Ethics

12:30 PM to 1:15 PM      Lunch

1:15 PM to 2:15 PM         Tips for Working CPS’s

2:15 PM to 2:30 PM       Wrap-Up

 

 

 

 

 

People with disabilities and family members in Pennsylvania are invited to attend a focus group
meeting with the Office of Developmental Programs (ODP) to discuss how we can, with your input:

• Improve employment outcomes for people with disabilities
• Begin implementing a system that will provide competitive, integrated employment
• Make sure that future systems change reflects your needs, experiences, and vision for the future

Focus groups will be offered across Pennsylvania in May 2013. Dates, times, and locations are listed in the attached PDF file.

To register online, click this link or copy it into your browser.http://surveys.odpconsulting.net/tool/index.php?sid=77979&lang=en

For assistance with registration, call Jeffrey Wheeler (ODP Consulting System) at 1-800–446-5607, ext. 6881.

Employment Focus Group Flyer

Attached is a letter inviting people with disabilities and family members to attend a focus group meeting to discuss how ODP can improve our employment service delivery system.  Their input is vital to us, as we begin implementing a system that will provide competitive, integrated employment.

 

COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA

DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WELFARE

 

ODP Employment Focus Group Meetings for People with Disabilities and Family Members 

 

Dear Families:

The Office of Developmental Programs (ODP) is continuing efforts to improve employment outcomes for people with disabilities. To date we have gathered information from all stakeholders in a survey and held statewide focus groups in March 2013.  As promised, a second round of focus groups is now being offered specifically to hear from people with disabilities and family members.  Your input is critical to make sure that future systems change reflects your needs, experiences and vision for the future.

Please join ODP staff at an employment focus group to discuss how we can promote employment for people with disabilities in Pennsylvania.  Focus groups are available across the state in May 2013.

For dates, times, locations, and further information, please click on the link below and register to attend one of these meetings.  If you need help with registration or cannot register online, please call Jeffrey Wheeler, OCS at 800-446-5607 x 6881

Register for ODP Employment Focus Groups for People with Disabilities and Family Members

If you need further information, please contact Diane Cashman at:  717-783-5755 or via email at:  Dcashman@pa.gov.

Thanks so much in advance for your support.

Fred C. Lokuta, Deputy Secretary

 

OFFICE OF DEVELOPMENTAL PROGRAMS

P.O. BOX 2675│HARRISBURG, PENNSYLVANIA 17105│717-787-3700│FAX: 717-787-6583│WWW.DPW.STATE.PA.US

The South Central PA Health Care Quality Unit (HCQU) recently participated in the Upper Dauphin Special Needs Resource Fair held on Tuesday, April 30th, 2013 at Upper Dauphin High School. T-shirts, educational materials, and other resource materials were distributed to attendees.

This event is the largest, and possibly the only event in Upper Dauphin County, to share information about resources available to people with intellectual disabilities and autism, who live in the upper part of Dauphin County.

Attendees were enthusiastic about information they received and plan to spread the word to others about the benefit of connecting with the provider network.

We are seeking a full-time registered nurse/educator to join our Health Care Quality Unit (HCQU) in our office in Allentown serving the Poconos and Lehigh Valley.  The HCQU is designed to assure that individuals who have developmental disabilities (DD) are as physically and behaviorally healthy as they can be.

Educational/Professional Requirements:

• R.N. with an unrestricted Pennsylvania License.
• Minimum of 3 years experience.
• Behavioral health experience preferred.
• Experience with individuals who have DD preferred.

General Description:

• Monday through Friday.
• No Holidays or Weekends.
• Occasional single destination travel.
• Perform assessments of the physical and behavioral health of individuals who have DD.
• Develop and/or deliver education programs.
• Collaborate with DD service providers and other physical and behavioral health care providers.

Salary and benefits commensurate with experience.  Please reply in confidence to:

 Email:              info@theadvocacyalliance.org

FAX:               (570) 207-9194

Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer

A Day for Self-Advocates

To be held on Friday, May 3, 2013 between 9:00 A.M. – 1:00 P.M. at Pocono Inne Town, 700 Main Street, Stroudsburg, PA 18360

This day is an opportunity for self-advocates from Carbon-Monroe-Pike Counties to share with other self-advocates and those who support them with what they need to live an Everyday Life.

Workshops will include:

Self-Advocacy and Freedom:  Clint Heisler will speak about his journey through life as a self-advocate.  Clint will be accompanied by his service dog, Freedom.

Pennhurst and Self Advocacy:  Tom Delmastro will discuss what life was like living at Pennhurst State School and Hospital and how his life changed when Pennhurst closed.

Stress Management:  Being a self-advocate can be stressful.  Becki Fahs from the Advocacy Alliance’s Eastern PA Health Care Quality Unit will discuss techniques to better manage stress and guide the audience through relaxation exercises.

Who Should Attend?

Individuals who have developmental disabilities, identify themselves as self-advocates, and wish to learn about the lives of other self-advocates.  Those who support persons who have developmental disabilities are also encouraged to attend.

You must register for this conference.

Seating is limited, so please respond early.  Call Toll Free: 877-315-6855 or email  jd@theadvocacyalliance.org.

Please register ASAP.

Mental Health America Mourns Victims of Boston Marathon Explosions and Offers Resources to Help in Responding to Impact of Event

Statement of Wayne W. Lindstrom, Ph.D., president and CEO of Mental Health America:

ALEXANDRIA, Va. (April 15, 2013)—Mental Health America joins Americans in mourning the loss of those killed in today’s Boston Marathon explosions. Our thoughts and prayers are with the families of the victims and hope for the full recovery of those who were injured and everyone who is affected by this horrific event.

At this point, we do not know the motivation behind this tragic and senseless act.

We do know that events like this will impact families, the community and the nation. Many may feel at risk and may experience feelings of anxiety and fear. Parents may be groping with how to discuss these and similar events with their children.

The National Disaster Distress Helpline is a 24 hours-a-day, seven-days-a-week national service that offers phone- and text-based crisis counseling and support to people in distress related to any natural or human-caused disaster, to help them move forward on the path of recovery. You may reach the Helpline at 1-800-985-5990 or by texting “TalkWithUs” or (“Hablanos” for Spanish-speaking) to 66746. Sponsored by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), the Helpline immediately connects callers to trained and caring professionals from the closest crisis counseling center in the nationwide network of centers. The Helpline staff will provide confidential counseling, referrals and other needed support services. The Helpline complements the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, the Federal Emergency Management Agency and other disaster response capacities, and is available immediately anywhere within the United States. This service is provided under contract with SAMHSA by Mental Health America’s New York City affiliate.

Mental Health America has also developed guidelines to help Americans respond and cope with tragic events, which can be found at http://www.mentalhealthamerica.net/go/information/coping-with-disaster.

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