I Am Very Excited

My name is Ashley Shaw, and I am the new PAVE coordinator for Mental Health America of Licking County. I am very excited to be working in this agency and to have to have the position as coordinator.

Speaking of PAVE, it is up and running for the 2008-2009 school year and I am learning a lot. We (Jan and I) have already been in two schools and we have another one this week. I am still new at the curriculum, so I am doing a lot of learning myself. PAVE orientation was a couple weeks ago, and I think it went very well. There were a handful of new teens from area high schools whom I am excited to get to know. In addition to working with teens, we were excited to work with kids at Kid’s 1st Fest in Heath selling pop and lollipops during the treacherous wind storm that came through Ohio.

I am also excited to announce that we have a guest speaker coming in on 9/29, Teresa Flores, to speak about her personal experience being trafficked as a teen. I cannot wait to hear her speak, I think that she has a wonderful story to share, and that anyone willing to listen will benefit from it. Speaking of Teresa Flores, I recently finished the book she wrote about her experiences being trafficked as a human sex slave for two years, and I could not believe what I read. To think that trafficking is such a problem in the United States upsets me. Trafficking is a topic that is never talked about as being a problem in the United States, although it is a major one. I think it is a topic that more people need to be aware of, instead of thinking it is nonexistent. Because it seems to me that once a people become aware of a problem more can be done about it, instead of people simply not knowing.

Anyways, back to work related things. I have a lot of good volunteers coming from the area colleges (OSU-N and Denison) to train to become Respect Educators. I am really excited about the enthusiasm and determination that they are going to bring to the program. This year is going to be a great year for PAVE, and will keep you all updated!

Ashley Shaw

PAVE Coordinator

We Had a Mental Breakdown!

It was a beautiful day for a parade. The sun was out and there was a nice breeze. It was warm, but it wasn't August warm.

Volunteers from MHA, along with representatives from about 90 other organizations, had gathered in the field behind the newly-remodeled Wilson school for the Jaycees Community Parade for the United Way.

Through the generosity of the Kiwanis Club of Granville, MHA had an actual float to decorate. I don't speak fluent parade so I will probably use the wrong terminology, but this thing had gold fringe and red, white & blue tufted siding on the walls that lined the wagon that is used for hayrides in the off-season. At the back of the float was a wall that was ideally suited for the MHA banner.

MHA Board member, Dave Douglas had already had a full day by the time he arrived to pull the float for the parade. He began the morning in Granville by helping to assemble the float. He then delivered the float to the Wilson school staging area and then went home for a wash and brush-up and to give his vehicle a quick spruce-up. Like so many others, Mr. Douglas had been without power for most of the previous week.

To pull the float, Mr. Douglas brought his wife Pat's Jeep. It was not one of those station wagon style SUVs, but more like its famous military forebearer with a removeable soft top and sides. For being 9 years old, the Jeep was in immaculate shape and drew the attention of fellow enthusiast, Jude Hoover, who was also participating in the parade with his Jeep.

Throughout the morning, the field filled up with the vehicles and floats for the parade. What had been virtually empty at 10:00 am was quite crowded by noon and appeared to be overflowing by the time they stepped off at 2:00 pm.

As the field filled up, so too did the MHA float. In addition to staff members and youth participants in our YES and PAVE programs, Ms. Judi Watts, a member of the Board of Trustees, showed up to ride in the parade.

Responsible for keeping the parade organized were the marshals. They spent most of the morning zipping across the Wilson field in ATVs and talking into their chirping squirrel phones. Each new parade participant was assigned to a lettered column and, when the time came, that would dictate their place in the parade.

MHA was assigned to column D. We were to follow Newark City Council member Shirley Stare and be followed by Newark City Council member Rick Henderson.

At the appointed hour, the marshals gave the signal and, led by a color guard of police and military, the parade stepped off for its trip down Church St. to the Courthouse Square.

Mr. Douglas elected to take advantage of the Jeep's 4-wheel drive in order to pull the float into the street. It went smoothly into gear and when he reached the street, he went to shift out of 4-wheel drive and that's when it happened.

Mr. Douglas was able to shift out of 4-wheel, but because a pin dropped out of some place in the transmission linkage, he was unable to shift into anything else. So the float was in the street, but it couldn't go anywhere. With the rest of the parade passing us by, we literally had a mental breakdown.

Meanwhile, down on the Square, the first elements of the parade had reached Third St. and made the turn south toward the Square. There were cheerleaders and flag corps, politicians and candidates, local businesses and local United Way agencies. And then there was Ms. Stare, and then there was Mr. Henderson, and then there was the rest of the parade. And then there was a little panic.

A photographer had been assigned to capture the MHA float as it passed in front of Newark's courthouse. She knew when to expect the float and when she didn't see it, was certain that she must have missed it. How could they have passed her by without her noticing?

Fortunately, Mr. Douglas was able to reach his wife by phone and she brought their pick-up truck in to pull the float. The changeover was made and the MHA float, led by Paddy Kutz under her golf-size blue and white MHA umbrella, was the last unit in the parade.

We are very lucky to have been able to participate in the parade and more fortunate that we have the help of dedicated staff and volunteers to make these opportunities happen. Now that we know what to expect, we look forward to next year when we will finish closer to the front of the line.

Graham Campbell

Associate Director

Mental Health America of Licking County

We Are Family

Hi my name is Amanda Chalfant!

After being a student intern at the YES house, I realized that I wanted to continously work with teenagers, and help to be a positive role model and someone that they could relate to and come to for support. The YES Clubhouse is an ideal place to be, because I love that it recognizes that there is a need for teenagers to have a place where they can make positive decisions and start in the right path of living their lives to the fullest. What I also love is the location of the place and the population that is being served. Downtown Newark is central to many teenagers who are in direct need to have somewhere to go. I have lived in Newark all of my life and like to see the community work together to make this place a better place to live in. I see and talk with many of our teenagers at night and on weekends and I love that they not only feel comfortable with keeping contact with us, but also show an interest in being a part of our family. I personally think that it is important to relate with our teens, and I love playing and goofing off with them, but I also have their best interests in mind. My own personal vision for the YES Club is that it will continue on for many years, and it will grow, and hopefully other locations can branch off from YES.

I also wanted to touch on the new house- It is beautiful and we are so thankful and excited to know that there are many people in this community that respect and recognize how important our teenagers are! This community and all the great people that have put a helping hand in our home are also a part of our family. With the new home, 50-60 teenagers are walking in the doors and I personally know that this is why I walk in the door everyday. I love my job and love the teenagers, they are truly kids that deserve the best and my life has been enriched knowing that I have them a part of their life. So please come down and see us, and know that it takes a community to raise a family and our community is doing a great job in raising the YES FAMILY!!

Respectfully submitted,
Amanda Chalfant

Stormy Weather

What an amazing weekend we had here in Licking County. All the excitement in Heath last Friday, Hurricane Ike hitting down in Texas but it’s effects being felt all the way up here just a few hours later, Sunday’s Kid’s First Fest at Geller Park. Next weekend we have the Jaycee’s Parade. So much is going on for the children and youth in our community….but there is also so much violence to consider.

Whether it is intentional violence, acts of violence to hurt others, or the violence of Mother Nature, children are often anxious & unsure of how to deal with these situations. Parents need to be especially aware of the stress that their children may feel during difficult times. Don’t play off their fears, but take them seriously and talk openly about their feelings. All the events shown on television, about the war, the weather, or just nightly news and lame programming can truly affect the way we look at our world.

There are times when this anxiety is normal, even appropriate. Stress is not always a bad thing, but it can have lasting affects if not handled properly. Emotional and physiological reactions vary depending on a child’s age. The same holds true for adults. Most children can bounce back quickly with support in their homes, schools & communities. There are however, warning signs that should not be taken lightly and might indicate that professional intervention is necessary.

For children: be honest, provide reassurance about what they are witnessing and feeling. Help them make sense of what they see or hear. Do not criticize your child’s feelings, but encourage open discussions so your child can feel safe talking about them. Do not overexpose children to violent images.

Most importantly, never hesitate to seek professional help when needed. MHA provides many helpful services in Licking County: support groups, educational programming, advocacy and more. We want our children to be strong, safe and free, but we also want them to be empowered and aware of some of the negative aspects of every day life. Raising healthy, helpful children is such a chore but also such a blessing. Weare proud to be able to help – please check in with us if you have any questions about feeling too stressed, too overwhelmed or scared about the goings-on in our world. We are here to help you in bringing wellness home…

--Jan GreeRiver

Dir. of Prevention & Programs

Sloggin through Bloggin

Good mental health is always on the top of my mind and I want every Licking Countian to be there with me. After all, there is NO health without mental health. Wouldn’t it be wonderful if we all worked hard every day on our own wellness?

Mental Health must be integrated into physical health because, of course, the most important organ in the body is the brain. Your brain regulates everything including your thoughts and emotions. Brain health improves when you exercise, when you eat right and when you sleep right, but it also improves when you develop a positive attitude, build self esteem, when you get along with others and when you cope with stress appropriately.

That’s a big order, but it is all possible. Balancing life is up to you. Take charge of your surroundings. If you are falling short and can’t cope, reach out for help. It is United Way campaign time and the theme is “Live United.” Part of our financial support comes from the Licking County United Way and the funds raised are to help all citizens (men, women and children) to live full and productive lives.

Part of our financial support comes from the Community Mental Health & Recovery Board whose goal is to provide services to help people with mental health conditions, alcohol and other drug struggles. The services are available to help you; you pay for them (via donations or taxes), so use them. Call me if you need referrals for services at 740-522-1341 or call 211.

For 55 years we have been here to promote good mental health, provide education and prevention, and to advocate on behalf of those who need someone to stand up for them. Help us to do this by volunteering, sending a financial donation, attending our annual dinner meeting at Cherry Valley Lodge on November 13th at 6 pm ($20.00 per person).

Mental Health America of Licking County is Bringing Wellness Home by spreading the word that there is No health without mental health. Let me hear from you by calling or emailing to: paddykutz@alink.com.

Paddy Kutz
Executive Director

Volunteering for Good Mental Health

Fatina Evans is not your typical AmeriCorps volunteer. A strikingly beautiful mother of five and a new grandmother, Fatina could easily pass for any other college freshman. But Fatina will never be just any other freshman.

“Fatina is a very capable young woman with lots of experience and knowledge. She can change the world!” says friend and mentor Judith Allee.

Allee, Mental Health America’s Parent Support Coordinator, recommended Fatina for AmeriCorps, when Fatina was a student in Allee’s May 2007, “Getting Ahead in a Just Gettin’ By World” class. Fatina started with AmeriCorps, September 22, 2007.

AmeriCorps membership is open to U.S. citizens or lawful permanent residents age 17 and older. Members serve full or part-time over a 10- to 12-month period. Upon successful completion of their service, members receive an AmeriCorps Education Award of up to $4,725 to pay for college, or graduate school, or to pay back qualified student loans. During their service, members receive health coverage, training, and student loan deferment. About half the members also receive a modest annual living allowance.

AmeriCorps is not for everyone. Fatina says that she would only recommend AmeriCorps to someone who had a dedication to volunteerism and to furthering their education, or for someone who needs to gain practical work experience.

As of September, Fatina will be able to pay off her student loans completely, and be prepared to continue her bachelor’s degree in IT studies at Capital University where she will reregister as a freshman next year.

But there is where her similarity to a typical student ends.

As an Americorp member, Fatina is a volunteer for Mental Health America. Evans has spent the past year co-facilitating “Getting Ahead in a Just Gettin’ By World” classes with Allee and coaching financial literacy classes. She has taught at the Sheryl L. Kraner, Esquire Behavioral Health Complex and at the Licking County Corrections Center. In her next AmeriCorps’ assignment, she will work closer to her child’s school, which is important to her. There, at Opportunity Links, she will continue to teach weekly budgeting classes and tax preparation, as well as the “Getting Ahead” class.

“I couldn’t begin to serve the community without the aid of the volunteers,” said Allee. “Fatina was a huge help, being a graduate of the classes, she understood them. The fact was, that she was transformed by the class.”

Evans sits with her children now and discusses finances and explains financial consequences to them, where she did not in the past. “My kids have noticed a difference, now they are more willing to work for money. If they want a $2 Dora the Explorer pencil and they squirt $2 worth of toothpaste into the sink, they’ve learned to save the toothpaste and the $2 to buy the pencil.”

“There is nothing about the participants that has surprised me,” says Evans, “What has surprised me, was how I was able to manage my home and my bills on my stipend. It was difficult.”

“The experience is a big sacrifice,” says Allee, “but it really pays off in all she has learned.”

Her job, Evans admits, was challenging. “There were times that were difficult, when people were not giving you full disclosure and you would wonder why.”

There are many reasons why people living in poverty do not fully disclose their financial situation, even to those who are trying to help them, says Evans. “Often they are in ‘Crisis’ or ‘Survival mode.’ For example, maybe they keep missing appointments with their case worker, or they are late on their bills and their electricity is going to be cut off, and their kids need new clothes for school, and on and on. They appear to be ignoring the problems, but actually they are focusing on one aspect that they feel will make or break them. Maybe they are taking their money to pay the cable bill, for example.”

Volunteerism and service is an important part of Fatina’s life. She is admired by friends for helping neighbors and people from her church. Now that she has received training through her volunteering, such as use of the Ohio Benefit Bank, she has more to offer them.

The lasting impression that Fatina takes from this experience is her education in mental health issues. “I didn’t believe in a lot of different [mental health] disabilities before this. Being able to work with the people has made all the difference- they do need more understanding and tolerance.”

She was most impressed by the atmosphere at the Mental Health America Office. “You never hear criticism of the clients. You couldn’t ask for a more understanding and supportive environment.” The experience has so affected her that she has even considered changing her major from IT to social work.

Her final advice is a plea to anyone who is hesitant to seek help. “If someone just found out they have a mental illness, make that call [to MHA], they won’t find anyone else more understanding.”

--Kristen Frame