In an effort to shape the legislative agenda related to children in southeastern Ohio, IPAC President Dr. Jane Hamel-Lambert and Board Member Sherry Shamblin coordinated an advocacy event with the Ohio Children’s Caucus, a recently formed bipartisan committee aimed at helping the state’s 2.7 million children.

“We wanted to make Ohio’s Children’s Caucus aware of the needs of kids, particularly preschoolers, in our region,” Dr. Hamel-Lambert said. “We want to help influence their legislative agenda with the hopes that these interests get protected.”

Two of the caucus’ founding members, Sen. Peggy Lehner (R-Kettering) and Rep. Ted Celeste (D-Grandview Heights), were invited to share in a discussion with IPAC, Tri County Mental Health Center, and with professionals of Trimble Local and Federal Hocking schools. Invitations were extended to Athens County’s Rep. Debbie Phillips (D) and Sen. Troy Balderson (R); along with Gayle Channing-Tenenbaum, Director of Policy and Government Affairs of the Public Children Services Association of Ohio; and Margaret Hulbert, from United Way of Greater Cincinnati.

“We articulated the importance of a quality preschool experience for young children in our region, particularly those growing up in poverty,” said Shamblin, also the Director of Early Childhood Programs with Tri-County Mental Health and Counseling, Inc.

Jamie Linscott, who is the ECMH Consultant at both Trimble and Coolville Elementary schools, highlighted her successful work with several children and families through the ECMH program. Mary Mitchell, Principal at Coolville Elementary, discussed the importance of partnerships between schools and community agencies to meet the many complex needs of families.

“This community's ability to work among all of the systems to design programs to support children and their families is quite remarkable,” said Channing-Tenenbaum.

The event included a school tour and a meeting with a group of exceptional 8th graders, several of whom graduated from Trimble’s preschool program.

“I feel so strongly about the continuation of [the ECMHC] program in our preschool, as well as the availability of universal preschool for all students,” said Debbie Koons, Principal of Trimble Elementary School, who was also in attendance. “The meeting we had gave us an opportunity to share our concerns with people who are able to carry our concerns to the statehouse.”

IPAC, a rural health network of 19 community agencies in Athens, Hocking, Meigs and Vinton counties and several Ohio University departments and clinics, will continue its advocacy efforts for the benefit of young children and their families.

The advocacy event was made possible through the Building Capacity - Raising Resiliency grant, a three-year $375,000 Rural Health Outreach grant from the Office of Rural Health Policy. The grant was awarded to Ohio University’s Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine, under the direction of Dr. Hamel-Lambert, in 2009.

Over 80 individuals who either work or live with children with disabilities took advantage of a free workshop hosted in Athens on March 27. The purpose of the event, a collaboration of nine organizations, was to identify best practices in special education and share strategies for improving communication between school officials and parents. 

Organizers say the event was a unique opportunity for both parents and professionals to increase their understanding of children with disabilities and their right to a meaningful education.

“It was great for parents and professionals to hear information from someone other than ourselves,” said Sue Meeks, an IPAC Board Member and one of the event’s coordinators. Meeks, RN, also regularly assists area families as manager of the Family Navigator Program.

The day opened with a Parent Advisory Council (PAC) Luncheon, hosted by the State Support Team-Region 16. SSTs provide a combination of facilitation, technical assistance, and direct support to districts and schools, as well as to partners throughout their region. The PAC is designed to provide a much needed connection among parents, their children, and the Ohio Department of Education.

"I feel that the intended goals of the PAC meeting/luncheon were met," said Linda King, Early Learning and School Readiness Coordinator with the SST-16. "This success has once again illustrated the value of partnering with other local parent organizations."

Following the luncheon was a two-part workshop covering the issues surrounding special education. The first session focused on parents’ experiences, the second targeted professionals. The speakers included Aimee E. Gilman, a lawyer with an expertise in special education, and Debbi Buck, a special education consultant for the SST.

“These events are important because parents need to have the opportunity to hear about what options they have for their disabled children,” Gilman said. “I also think professionals benefit by hearing what issues parents face, and how they can work cooperatively with parents to best serve these kids. I hope more of these events can allow parents and professionals to learn about the requirements of the law, and best practices in education.”

Families and caregivers are often under-informed and/or misinformed about their rights, said Maria Lamb, a mother of a child with Down Syndrome and also the Treasurer for Appalachian Network for Developmental Disabilities (ANDD).

“By learning as much as you can, such as by going to training events like this one, you can get accurate, up-to-date information and can be a more effective advocate,” Lamb added.

In addition to the learning opportunities, Lamb appreciated networking with other parents.

Sponsors for the event included IPAC, the Ohio Coalition for the Education of Children with Disabilities (OCECD), SST-16, Ohio University Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine, Project LAUNCH, Corporation of Ohio Appalachian Development, the Autism Society of Southeast Ohio, ANDD, and the Dairy Barn Arts Center.

The fact that the event was a collaborative effort of so many parent and professional organizations made it especially unique, said Valorie Dombroskas, co-coordinator and Parent Advocate/Trainer with the OCECD-Southeast Office.

“As I watched each person working away, playing their part in carrying off this event, it said something to me about how much we love our kids,” Dombroskas said. “In southeastern Ohio, where resources are limited, we can do so much more together than we can alone.”

Ohio first lady Karen Kasich visited recently with IPAC president Dr. Jane Hamel-Lambert, along with board members Dawn Graham, Sue Meeks and Doug Debrick at Trimble Elementary School. During the meeting, they discussed the partnership between IPAC and Nationwide Children’s Partners for Kids (PFK) to replicate the Community Pathways Model.

The Community Pathways Model, developed by the Community Health Access Project (CHAP) in Richland County, has improved health and preventative care for high-risk mothers and children in difficult-to-serve areas. The model, developed by Drs. Mark and Sarah Redding, achieved a 30 percent reduction in the risk for low-weight birth. In Ohio, low-weight births account for more than 50 percent of all Medicaid birth expenditures.

In February, the Kasich administration announced it will invest $350,000 to replicate the Community Pathways Model in Southeast Ohio through a partnership between IPAC and PFK. This funding, along with opportunity to work closely with Drs. Mark and Sarah Redding, will help IPAC to advance its vision of ensuring healthy development of all children in the region.

Mrs. Kasich, who has expressed an interest in Governor Kasich’s initiative to improve maternal health, child health and to reduce low-weight births, wanted to learn more about IPAC and to explore ways her office may be of assistance.

As the project develops, IPAC and Mrs. Kasich’s office will continue to discuss opportunities for collaboration.

IPAC is a rural health network committed to improving the health of young children by fostering collaboration among professionals, families and community agencies. Founded in 2002, the network comprises 19 community agencies in Athens, Hocking, Meigs and Vinton Counties, including several Ohio University departments and clinics.

Instructors Dr. Tom Davis and Sherry Shamblin, PCC-S, will offer a summer survey course on the principles of early childhood mental health through Ohio University's Counseling Department.

This course is designed to provide students an overview of basic principles and practices associated with Early Childhood Mental Health, including: identification of typical developmental milestones in children 0-5, assessment tools and practices for preschool children, and practical strategies for working with young children and their caregivers. Observations, videos, case studies, guided practice, and web-based learning will be utilized to help students gain a basic understanding of these issues, which will enable continued growth and development.

Registration is through Ohio University.  

Dates: June 25-29

Time: 1:00-4:00

If you have questions, please contact Sherry Shamblin, PCC-S.

Mollica has had excellent experiences working as a Grant Administrator for Interthyr Corporation and as the Executive Director for United Way of Athens County. We hope the community will join us in welcoming her to IPAC.

During her time with Interthyr Corporation, Mollica managed a $2.6 million biomedical research grant and assisted with several federal grant proposals as well as all aspects of post-award administration. We believe her prior experience working with alongside CEO’s, physicians, accountants, research scientists and university administrators has prepared her well for her role with IPAC.

As the former Executive Director of The United Way of Athens County, she helped raise and administer monies for social service agencies that address an underprivileged population. She has seen first-hand many of the hardships that IPAC strives to overcome.

In addition to her work experience and B.A. in Psychology from Ohio State University, Mollica is raising a child with physical disabilities and understands at a personal level the challenges involved with coordinating health care in rural southeastern Ohio.

The Interdisciplinary Assessment Team (IAT) is excited to announce a new addition, Dr. Heidi Llewellyn.

Llewellyn, Ph.D., LPC, is an Early Childhood Mental Health Specialist with Tri-County Mental Health and Counseling Services in Athens.

She will bring her experience in assessments, diagnosis and treatment to the six-member team. In addition to her efforts with IAT, Llewellyn’s work includes individual, group and family therapies and Mental Health Consultation with several Pre-K teachers in Washington and Athens Counties.

Llewellyn earned her Ph.D. in Counselor Education from Ohio University.

“A great part of the IAT is the ability to work closely with other professionals and families to help children get the best services and care possible,” she said.

The IAT is a group of professionals who specialize in young child health and wellness. They work together to provide comprehensive diagnostic assessments for children from birth to age 8, who have multiple developmental concerns.

The goal is to provide accurate diagnosis and treatment for children and families. IAT, which is designed to provide local access to high-quality care, is made up of professionals from multiple agencies who meet each month to evaluate children and families. The IAT meets families on the fourth Tuesday of every month at the Ohio University Hearing, Speech and Language Clinic in Grover Center.

*Please note, this event is currently full. However, you may sign up for the wait list.*

Bruce Perry, M.D., Ph.D., Senior Fellow of the ChildTrauma Academy, will explain the effects of maltreatment on brain development, linking the impact of child abuse, neglect and other trauma to potential long-term outcomes. He will discuss the core of why violence occurs, how lack of empathy relates to violence, and societal changes that impact empathy. Dr. Perry will provide an overview of the Neurosequential Model of Therapeutics, which applies brain development research to therapeutics. No cost to attend, but reservations are required by 4/16/12. Lunch will be served. 

For questions related to the presentation, contact Julie C. Buzard, Assistant Executive Director, Franklin County Family and Children First Council – 614-275-2551 – jcbuzard@fccs.co.franklin.oh.us.

For questions related to registration, contact Cheryl Morrison, Admin Assistant, Franklin County Framily and Children First Council - 614-275-2511.

Download the flyer.

IPAC President Jane Hamel-Lambert, Ph.D., is interviewed on WOUB's Newswatch 

President Hamel-Lambert is optimistic that a new OHT-funded collaboration between IPAC and Nationwide Children’s Hospital’s Partners for Kids (PFK) will improve health outcomes for high-risk pregnant women who live in our area.

Governor John Kasich's Office of Health Transformation will invest $350,000 to replicate the Community Pathways Model in Southeast Ohio through a partnership with these two organizations.

“We’re hoping that by regionalizing care, we can create better coordination and outcomes will improve,” Hamel-Lambert said. “It’s a resource that we know is needed.”

The Community Pathways Model has dramatically reduced low-weight births in targeted populations in Richland County and has also been implemented successfully in Toledo and Cincinnati.

"IPAC is delighted to be selected as a partner in Governor Kasich’s initiative, which puts kids first and recognizes that investing in healthy children and healthy families is the best investment we can make," said Hamel-Lambert, who is also an associate professor of family medicine at the Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine at Ohio University. "Our rural community showcases connectivity between agencies, educators and health professionals, and a local pride that motivates our commitment to making this project successful. These tools are a welcome boost to a unique community."

In newly reported data to the Ohio Department of Health, the Community Health Access Project (CHAP) in Richland County achieved a 30 percent reduction in the risk for low-weight births using the Community Pathway Model. Nationally, every low-weight or preterm birth costs states between $28,000 and $40,000 in medical care and other related costs. In Ohio, low-weight births represent only about 10 percent of all Medicaid births but account for more than 50 percent of all Medicaid birth expenditures.

The Community Pathways Model was developed by CHAP to improve health and preventative care for high-risk mothers and children in difficult-to-serve areas. It coordinates care for individuals within targeted medical "pathways," such as medication assessment, smoking cessation and pregnancy and postpartum care. The model utilizes a pay-for-performance methodology that provides financial incentives to providers that are tied to improving outcomes, and it eliminates duplication among health and human service agencies.

"In the Community Pathways Model, each pathway is designed to address a single health or social issue and confirm that the issue has been resolved," said Sarah Redding, M.D., M.P.H., executive director of CHAP. "In the pregnancy pathway, for example, community health coordinators confirm that women at highest risk for a poor birth outcome are found and connected to evidence-based care, such as prenatal visits, and they follow the mother’s progress to confirm that the outcome is a normal-birth-weight infant."

"We are pleased to bring this innovative model of care coordination to a population in need," said Sean Gleeson, M.D., medical director for PFK and vice president of community health and wellness at Nationwide Children’s Hospital. "As an accountable care organization in southeastern Ohio, Partners for Kids can extend the physician’s impact on patients’ lives by coordinating a community-based team approach to care that delivers the best outcomes for children."

Many of the details of this project are still being solidified. However, the current timeline suggests that it could be running in a limited capacity by early May and fully operational by July 2012.

Read Progress Report: Healthy Mothers and Babies for more information on Kasich administration initiatives to improve care coordination for high-risk mothers and babies.

The Executive Director's activities include preparing and implementing business strategies; supervising contractual employees; representing IPAC in state, local and national discussions; utilization of technology and interfacing with databases; signing legal documents and monitoring performance against contracts; preparing and proposing annual budgets, bookkeeping, payroll, and informing the IPAC board concerning the operation and financial condition of the Corporation. This is a part-time position paid partially through grant funding. 

QUALIFICATIONS: Masters degree in business or a related field, minimum five years experience in fiscal management, contract negotiation, and business management and development. Preferred experience in health care related setting. 

Please submit resumes to the IPAC Board, P.O. Box 826, Athens, Ohio 45701 or to ipacohio [at] gmail.com by March 19, 2012.

“At this point in my practice, there is not one family that I am working with that I am not either using PCIT or CARE skills with as part of treatment,” she added.

Last year, 10 social workers and two psychologists went through an intense week-long training workshop of this evidence-based treatment for young children with emotional and behavioral disorders.

Annette Sauselen, Professional Clinical Counselor and Art Therapist with Hocking County Behavioral Health Services in Logan (a division of Health Recovery Services), is one of three Logan-based HRS staff members to receive training. She says the treatment method fits perfectly with many of her clients.

“Often, families are seeking services to get help with parenting strategies, ways to manage their child's behaviors more effectively, and to strengthen the family system,” she said.

The training, conducted by two specialists from the Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, consisted of lectures, role-play and live coaching. They’ve also provided weekly consultation calls for one year.

“When I started working in this field, I quickly noticed a theme: Parents or guardians would bring their child in for therapy, but they always came in with the hope that the therapist could wave some magic wand to cure their child,” Shafer said. “I knew I did not have a magic wand, but I wanted so much to be able to help my clients and their families. After the first day of the PCIT training, I knew it was exactly the set of skills I had been missing to help.”

In PCIT, parents are taught specific skills to establish a nurturing and secure relationship with their child, while increasing their child’s pro-social behavior and decreasing negative behavior. And according the Shafer, it’s working.

“I have witnessed mothers brought to tears as they report to me that for the first time in months, they enjoyed playing with their child,” she said. “I have watched tough fathers learn to play and praise their children. I have reports from teachers that behaviors and grades of the child are improving.”

Both Sauselen and Shafer hope other providers can take advantage of this unique opportunity. Shafer is currently training TCMHC-Logan Child Case Managers the CARE skills; CARE is a modified version of PCIT. Shafer is also slated to train the STARS Unit teachers and aids of two schools in the Logan-Hocking district.

“I believe PCIT has the opportunity to strengthen entire communities,” Shafer said. “That is why I hope it continues to spread and be utilized in this area.

The training was made possible by Project LAUNCH funds and through the efforts of Health Recovery Services and Tri-County Mental Health and Counseling Services.

Join us on March 27 at The Dairy Barn Arts Center in Athens, Ohio, for this important training seminar.

Details

When: Tuesday, March 27, 2012
Where: The Dairy Barn Arts Center, Second Floor Meeting Room
RSVP: This event is free, but seats are limited. You must register by March 26.
Special Notes: The location is wheelchair accessible. Click here for directions. Refreshments and snacks will be provided for registered attendees. Please specify any dietary restrictions on your registration form. Child care will be provided by the Autism Society of Southeast Ohio, the Appalachian Network for Developmental Disabilities and OU-HCOM AmeriCorps by reservation only.

Agenda

Parent Advisory Council Luncheon 11:30 a.m. - 12:45 p.m.
Everyone is invited to the State Support Team Region 16 PAC luncheon. The goal is to provide feedback to the SST on the needs of families of children with disabilities in the region, and to foster collaboration that is child and family focused.

Parent Session 1 p.m. - 3 p.m.
Parents and caregivers will have the opportunity to speak with experts in special education law and public education. Bring your questions, as this is designed to be interactive. Or, send them in advance via your registration form. Certificates of attendance will be available.

Professional Session 4:30 p.m. - 6 p.m.
Professionals will have the chance to increase their level of expertise. During this session, you will:

• Discuss how to avoid the pitfalls involved with evaluation of students
• Describe the legal requirements regarding managing challenging behavior of students with disabilities
• Explain how to successfully navigate the IEP process including effective communication with parents

Continuing Education credits have been requested for the evening session. Upon approval, they will be awarded to nurses, counselors and social workers. Certificates of attendance will be provided for teachers and early childhood education providers.

Speakers

Aimee E. Gilman, LPA, has been practicing law for the past 28 years. She began her career focusing primarily on commercial litigation, both in Ohio and Florida. In 1998, Aimee began practicing special education law, supporting children with special needs and their families. She co-founded Special Education Services (SES) in 2001, a non-profit agency whose mission was to help families understand their children’s special education needs and legal rights, as well as to educate parents and provide technical assistance. After eight years with SES, Aimee went back into private practice, continuing to focus on special education law. As the parent of a child with autism, Aimee knows first-hand the challenges that parents face and is dedicated to helping them navigate the system in order to best serve their child’s needs. She’s also the author of the “Lighter Side of Special Education” articles, which have appeared online for many years.

Debbi Buck is a school psychologist who has worked in southeastern Ohio in seven different districts over a twenty-year period. In some of those districts she was also the Local District Coordinator. Currently, Debbi is the lead special education consultant atState Support Team – Region 16, where she works with parents and districts when conflicts arise, represents the agency at the Parent Mentor conferences, and works closely with the Parent Advisory Committee at Region 16. Debbi has always cared first for children, and she has a special heart for students with disabilities. She has gained a greater understanding of the families’ perspectives since being blessed with a granddaughter with special needs who thinks the doctors and nurses at Nationwide Children’s Hospital are extended family.

Have questions? Call Valorie at (800) 694-6480 or email ipacohio [at] gmail.com.

We would like to extend a "Thank you!" to our sponsors, who made this event possible:

OCECD, IPAC, OU-HCOM, SST-16, COAD, Autism Society of Southeast Ohio, ANDD, The Dairy Barn and Project LAUNCH

For a more personal look on Kantake's experience, watch the photo documentary below. This project is posted here with permission from the producer, Chris Sinclair.

A Mother's Journey from Chris Sinclair on Vimeo.

Dr. Ruth Aspy, co-author of the Ziggurat Model books, will be our first presenter. She will cover the following: 

• FAPE
• Employment, further education, employment and independent living
• Evaluation
• ASD defined
• Adverse effects/educational needs
• General education teacher needs
• Medical diagnosis - What is it? Does it exist? Is it required?
• Test scores

Details:

Where: Athens High School Auditorium

Additional information, including the registration form, can be found here.

We hope to see you there.

For over a decade, Holly has been a leader in advocacy on behalf of young foster children in her area, including serving as president of the Ohio Association for Infant Mental Health, Southwest Chapter. She has received recognition from the Ohio House of Representatives for her efforts.  In her work as a Program Manager for ProKids CASA, she combined effective social work, dedicated volunteers, and child development experts to create the Building Blocks Program. This Program provides specialized advocacy for foster children age birth to three and received a Promising Practice Award from the Ohio Attorney General’s Office in 2004. Holly has presented at numerous state and national conferences on topics related to court advocacy for infants and toddlers and has been recognized by the Ohio House of Representatives for her work with young children.
Holly’s passion for foster children and her belief in the importance of community response led her to author Invisible Kids: Marcus Fiesel’s Legacy in 2009. Michael Piraino, Executive Director of National CASA, judges around the country and other prominent leaders such as Frances Strickland, Ohio’s former First Lady, have endorsed this powerfully moving book.

The Southeastern Ohio ECMH Learning Group sponsored through Tri-County Mental Health is open to anyone interested in learning more about early childhood mental health. Future meetings will occur from 8:30-10:00 on the 3rd Tuesdays in March and May. For additional questions or to become an ongoing participant of the learning group, contact Sherry Shamblin at sshamblin@tcmhcs.org.

practical teaching tips for helping children develop self-control and

friendships.  If you'd like to contribute your own ECMH news and strategies to future newsletters,

you can e-mail them to sshamblin@tcmhcs.org.

http://www.ipacohio.org/Websites/ipac/images/vol%201%20ed%201%20ecmh%20newsletter.pdf

Ellen Soroka, left, and Sue Meeks read over material in the new Child Behavior and Development Resource Room located in Parks Hall.

The new Child Behavior and Development Resource Room, part of the Family Navigator Program, provides information, support and resources on Autism Spectrum Disorder, ADHD, behavior concerns and general child development. It’s designed to be a place where parents and caregivers can bond, vent, share and learn.

“This is an important resource for our community because parents and caregivers will be able to speak directly with a Registered Nurse and other parents,” said Sue Meeks, manager of the Family Navigator Program and developer of the Resource Room. “On top of that, they’ll have access to information from the Internet and other written material - all in one place.”

Through her work with the Family Navigator Program, Meeks realized the need for such a community resource. Parents frequently came to her with questions about a child’s idiosyncrasies. Many times, parents gained more confidence once they had a better understanding of child development.

“Parents are really receptive to this information,” Meeks said. “But they can’t always access it easily. I’m a firm believer in the quote, ‘When you know better you do better.’”

The Resource Room will continue the Family Navigator mission through its focus on education. The Family Navigator Program helps families with questions and concerns about a child’s health to negotiate our community’s resources. It’s supported by Integrating Professionals for Appalachian Children, better known as IPAC, and the Community Health Programs of the Ohio University Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine.

The room will also provide families free access to Rethink Autism, an award-winning web-based curriculum that teaches the basic principles of Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA). ABA is a well-researched behavior intervention program that is effective at improving the skills and managing behavior of children - both with and without disabilities. The Rethink Autism program, normally valued at $800 for an individual, was the 2011 Winner of the Best Instructional Solution for Special Needs Students from the Software & Information Industry Association.

Additional support will be provided by Natalie Williams, a doctoral student from Ohio University’s Counselor Education and Supervision program, who will be available to help parents learn the basic principles of ABA, to model the skills demonstrated in the Rethink Autism videos and to answer questions.

The creation of the resource room, located in the childhood immunization clinic area, room 012 of Parks Hall on the Athens campus of Ohio University, was made possible by the Ohio University Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine, Community Health Programs and the Autism Society of Southeastern. Equipment for the room - a computer with high-speed Internet and printer for accessing up-to-date articles and a flat-screen TV for viewing educational videos - was provided by Project LAUNCH. Project LAUNCH, which stands for Linking Actions for Unmet Needs in Children's Health, is a grant program administered nationwide by the federal Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.

For drop-ins, the Resource Room will be open on Friday afternoons from 1 p.m. - 5 p.m. For individual questions or to discuss an assessment for your child, an appointment with a Family Navigator is recommended. If you would like to join the guided ABA classes, please contact the Family Navigator Staff, either Sue Meeks or Ellen Soroka, BSN, RN.

Sue Meeks, RN,C
(740) 593-9534
meeks@ohio.edu

Ellen Soroka, BSN, RN
(740) 593-9780
sorokae@ohio.edu

Sherry Shamblin, Director of Early Childhood Programs for Tri-County Mental Health and Counseling Services, also former IPAC Chair and current board member, has been selected for Robert Wood Johnson’s Evaluation Fellows Program for Retooling Professionals.

The goal of the fellowship, which targets mid-career, non-profit professionals who are undeserved in the evaluation field, is to increase the capacity of an organization to conduct program evaluation and to become better consumers of information for decision-making. Ms. Shamblin will use this opportunity to refine the evaluation of Tri-County’s early childhood mental health (ECMH) model, assess the program’s effectiveness, expand evaluation efforts to other programs within Tri-County, and disseminate lessons learned to advance the field of ECMH consultation.

“We are thrilled that Sherry was selected for the RWJ fellowship program,” said Dr. George Weigly, CEO of Tri-County Mental Health and Counseling. “This is a great opportunity for her, but we are also looking forward to improving the evaluation of our programs by applying what she brings back to us,” he added.

Ms. Shamblin, who has been contributing to the field as a direct service provider for 15 years, is also a second-year doctoral student in Ohio University’s Counselor Education Program. She made the decision to obtain a Ph.D. in order to increase her ability to perform research design and program evaluation - essential skills for securing an evidence base for ECMH consultation. She is also interested in community-based participatory research on behalf of ECMH programming, training and public policy.

Through her leadership, Ms. Shamblin has overseen the expansion of Tri-County’s ECMH services from a single provider to a team of five specialists. For the last two years, the team has focused on developing an ECMH Consultation Program to serve local school districts. The result is an innovative ECMH model that blends consultation and professional development for teachers and direct mental health services for children. The project has been funded by a HRSA Outreach grant awarded to Ohio University’s Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine (OU-HCOM), under the directorship of Dr. Jane Hamel-Lambert. Additional support came from an evaluation team, which included Dr. Victor Heh, also from OU-HCOM, and Dr. Holly Raffle, from the Voinovich School of Leadership and Public Affairs. The program has been expanded to serve additional schools through funds from Project LAUNCH, a SAMHSA grant awarded to the Ohio Department of Health. The model has also been customized for Head Start and Early Head Start with local support from Hocking-Athens-Perry Community Action Head Start and the 317 ADAMHS Board of Athens, Hocking and Vinton Counties.

For more information, please contact Sherry Shamblin at sshamblin@tcmhcs.org or (740) 541-1256

On September 20th, the Southeastern Ohio Early Childhood Mental Health Peer Learning Group kicked off their program year by hosting a practical and informative video-conference with Dr. Charles Zeanah, the editor of the Infant Mental Health Handbook and Executive Director of Tulane University’s Institute of Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health.

Dr. Zeanah opened his remarks by commenting that young children are “best understood, assessed, and treated in the context of their primary care relationships.” Focusing on assessment protocols, he used multiple video-clips to display an array of behavioral and emotional responses between young children and their caregivers. His casual demeanor and extensive knowledge made the complex issues associated with child-parent relationships readily accessible.

Dr. Zeanah’s presentation highlighted two practical assessment strategies that participants could immediately use in their work with families: the Crowell Observation Method and the Working Model of the Child Interview (WMCI).

The twenty participants responded with enthusiasm and multiple requests to have a follow-up session with Dr. Zeanah in the future.

If you were unable to participate in this videoconference, you can obtain a copy of the WMCI from Zero to Three.

The Southeastern Ohio ECMH Peer Learning Group sponsored through Tri-County Mental Health is open to anyone interested in learning more about early childhood mental health. Future meetings will occur from 8:30-10:00 on the 3rd Tuesdays in November, January, March and May. For additional questions or to become an ongoing participant of the learning group, contact Sherry Shamblin at sshamblin@tcmhcs.org.

Two specialists from the Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, Robin Gurwitch, PhD, and Erica Pearl, PsyD, conducted this intense week-long training that consisted of lectures, role-play and live coaching. They will also be providing weekly consultation calls for one year.

“We’re very thankful to have had this opportunity,” said Sherry Shamblin, Early Childhood Director for Tri-County Mental Health. “I can already see how this method can fit into the Incredible Years curriculum that we use in area schools.”

In PCIT, parents are taught specific skills to establish a nurturing and secure relationship with their child, while increasing their child’s pro-social behavior and decreasing negative behavior.

The training, which spanned August 28 - September 2 at the Innovation Center in Athens, was made possible by Project LAUNCH funds and through the efforts of Health Recovery Services and Tri-County Mental Health and Counseling Services.

In December, Drs. Gurwitch and Pearl will host a follow-up session for the initial practitioners. They have also arranged for an additional training component for non-licensed individuals who work with children. Each clinician will be offered 40 CEUs (continuing education units) for attending the training.

“It’s through programming like this that we’re investing in the expertise of our area and improving the services available to our community’s children,” said Dawn Graham, the Young Child Wellness Council Coordinator for Project LAUNCH and Assistant Professor in the Department of Family Medicine at Ohio University.

For more information about the training program, contact:

Dawn Graham
Project LAUNCH
Young Child Wellness Council Coordinator
grahamd@ohio.edu
740-593-2212

Cost: $125 (includes continuing education credit)

Overview:
The development of a young child is profoundly influenced by experience. Experiences – good and bad - shape the organization of the brain. The ultimate effect is to impact emotional, social, cognitive and physiological functioning. Insights into this process come from understanding brain development. Both trauma and neglect, the absence of essential developmental experiences required to express a fundamental potential of a child, are pervasive problems in our culture. Various forms of neglect are possible and include splinter neglect, total global neglect and emotional or relational neglect. Chaos, threat and abnormal patterns of emotional, social, cognitive and physical interactions with young children lead to an array of brain-related problems. This presentation will review clinical work and research that can help us better understand developmental trauma, neglect and the relational problems that arise from neglect and threat. An overview will be provided that suggests new directions for clinical practice, program development and policy.

Speaker Biography:
Bruce D. Perry, M.D., Ph.D. is the Senior Fellow of The ChildTrauma Academy, a not-for-profit organization based in Houston (www.ChildTrauma.org) and adjunct Professor in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at Northwestern University School of Medicine in Chicago. Dr. Perry is the author, with Maia Szalavitz, of The Boy Who Was Raised As A Dog, a bestselling book based on his work with maltreated children and Born For Love: Why Empathy is Essential and Endangered, published in April of 2010. Over the last thirty years, Dr. Perry has been an active teacher, clinician and researcher in children’s mental health and the neurosciences holding a variety of academic positions.

Go to http://www.ipacohio.org/training-registration for details and registration. 

Download the program brochure here: perry_brochure final.pdf 

Recipients of Hometown Hero honors in the remaining categories were:  Jane Linscott - Education Hero (sponsored by Brett and Cindy Hayes), Rhonda Bentley - Humanitarian Hero (sponsored by Hocking Valley Bank), Wesley Schoonover - Youth Hero (sponsored by Wendy's/Donato's),  York Township Volunteer Fire Department - Public Safety Hero (sponsored by Snider, Fuller and Associates), Kevin Dotson - Community Hero (sponsored by Wal-Mart), and Maj. James Ninnis - Military Hero (sponsored by Dick Mottl).

Congratulations to all of the Hometown Heroes!

To see the nomination letter provided by Lynn Harter, Ph.D., Steven and Barbara Schoonover Professor of Health Communication, School of Communication Studies, Ohio University, click on the link below.  Thank you, Dr. Harter!

ipacletterredcross.pdf

Dawn Graham, Ph.D., was hired in July, 2010, as the Local Young Child Wellness Coordinator for Project LAUNCH.  

She received her Doctor of Philosophy in Counseling Psychology from Purdue University after earning a Master of Arts in Applied Behavioral Science: Counseling from Valparaiso University (Indiana) and a Bachelor of Science in Clinical Psychology with Honors from the University of Evansville (Indiana).  She brings a wide range of experience including testing, counseling, and grant writing to the IPAC "family". 

Dawn and her husband, Adam, have made Athens their home, but maintain family ties in their native Indiana.  Dawn comes from a musically talented family and she and Adam are both accomplished musicians.

Dawn can be contacted at grahamd@ohio.edu for assistance with all things pertaining to the Local Young Child Wellness Council for Project LAUNCH.

Wecome aboard, Dawn!

While work still needs to be done to facilitate reimbursement for services provided by videoconference, this technology has been an essential tool for providing significant levels of psychiatry service (telepsychiatry for children and adults) in southeast Ohio since 2005. We feel confident that it will greatly enhance the services provided by the IAT as well.

IPAC held its Annual Board of Directors Meeting on June 2, 2010, at the Athens Country Club in order to elect new officers and plan for next year. Sherry Shamblin continues as Chairperson, Cindy Birt continues as Vice Chair, Brandi Nance fills the Secretary position as Sue Meeks steps down, and Dave Hunter continues as Treasurer. One Board of Directors seat remains open in the Allied Health constituency group.

The Board Chair asked the members to come to the meeting having chosen the most important IPAC role during the coming year from the following list:

    • Assessment, Evaluation & Research
    • Advocacy
    • Professional Development
    • Strengthen Organizational Capacity of IPAC
    • Design Service Delivery Programs to Build an Integrated System of Care

Board members fell into two groups: a large group interested in an Integrated System of Care (subsequently broken into two smaller groups) and a smaller group interested in Professional Development. The small groups were tasked with developing activities within these two roles.

The Board is interested in the possibility of expanding IPAC’s capacity by hiring personnel. A Human Resources consultant, Nancy Crist, spoke to the Board about issues surrounding personnel. IPAC does not have employees, currently.

Three next steps were identified:

1. Need to discuss IPAC structure:
    • Free-standing Community 501(c)(3), housed in the university, or a hybrid of the two?
    • Moving to a membership organization or retain current structure

2. Priorities for the next year are:
    • Professional Development
    • Designing integrated service delivery system
Both can move forward, though not with the same emphasis.

3. Human Resource options:
    • Write job description, steps in hiring process, classification options, fair pay
    • Finalize hiring process, classification option that is appropriate
    • Then finalize pending prioritization

Project LAUNCH Breakfast

Celebrating our Success 
&
Getting to Work

November 16, 2009 
8:30- 10:30 am

Ohio University Inn 
Galbreath Room, Lower Level

RSVP required by November 11, 2009 to hamel-lj@ohio.edu

SAMHSA Project LAUNCH
ODH – IPAC partnership funded!

This grant will provide jobs, build workforce capacity to deliver evidence-based care, strengthen our Family Navigator Program, further efforts to integrate mental health and primary care, increase the use of screening tools in primary care to identify children and families health and wellness concerns, expand early childhood mental health consultant services, pilot telemedicine in our Interdisciplinary Assessment Clinic, and deliver arts and recreation programming to area youth -- overall, investing in promoting healthy young child development. In addition, it establishes a local child wellness council (which expands IPAC) that will work cooperatively with a parallel structure at the state level, the state child wellness council, to facilitate the development of policies that are responsive to community need.

The goal of Project LAUNCH for Appalachia OH is to create a shared vision for young child wellness that builds a solid foundation for sustaining effective, integrated services and systems that support and promote the wellness of young children and families. A goal that echoes IPAC’s vision of ensuring healthy development for all children.

Thank you to everyone who has supported the development of IPAC, and specifically to those who worked on the development of the LAUNCH proposal… We are funded! Congratulations!

__________________________________________________________

IPAC Meetings and Agendas 



Sustainable Partnerships

Presented at The 9th All-Ohio Institute on Community Psychiatry Conference: Working Together: New Paradigms for Integrated Mental Health Services by

Jane Hamel-Lambert, MBA, PhD

Karen Montgomery-Reagan, DO,

Sherry Shamblin, PCC-S

Dawn Murray, DO

Overview of Presentation

Photo Illustration by Larry Hamel-Lambert

The author, Dr. Lynn Harter of Ohio University's School of Communication Studies, describes how one couple, at a loss for how to treat their troubled daughter, found hope through the Family Navigator Program. 

The article also explains the benefits of integrating mental health care assessments and services into settings where young children already are, like in primary care offices, preschools and childcare centers. 

Read Partnerships address early childhood mental health issues in Appalachian children, found on page 18, to better understand how IPAC's network is making a difference in the lives of so many of the region's children and families.