C Magazine #3

There’s No Place Like Home

F a l l / W i n t e r 2 0 1 2

Do Good. Meet Neighbors. Transform Lives.

Parachute NYC Set to Transform Mental Health Care

Community Access tenant, Michele Francis, shares how a little dog named Toto has changed her life.

CThe magazine of Community Access

SEE OUR COMMUNITY Transforming people’s lives starts with caring neighbors like you.

PARTICIPATE

Race for Our Community

CELEBRATE

Howie the Harp Graduation

Facebook“Like”-a-thon

2 Washington Street, 9th FloorNew York, NY 10004

For more details about these and other upcoming events, visit www.communityaccess.org

• 5K run• 1 mile walk• Dog walk• Block party• Prizes and t-shirt giveaways www.raceforourcommunity.org

• For every new “like,” our sponsor will donate $10 to Community Access. • Build our friendship circle and raise money with the click of a button: www.facebook.com/ communityaccess

October 29th November 1st to December 31st October 13th

• Luncheon and ceremony• Keynote Speaker: Jonathan Edwards, Director, Kings County Hospital

CEO’S LETTER

Dear Fr iends,

In case you haven’t noticed, there’s a lot of discussion about health care these days; much of it couched in highly politicized rhetoric that predicts the end of civilization as we know it.

Beyond the shouting, however, real plans and programs are beginning to take shape. While it might be incredibly difficult to sort out all the jargon and concepts buried in the 906-page Affordable Care Act, much of it boils down to some simple themes. Instead of spending billions of dollars after people get sick, it makes much more sense to: 1) reduce barriers to health care, 2) offer a range of attractive options to encourage people to use care, and 3) reward providers who do a good job keeping people well, especially people who suffer from complicated conditions, such as mental illness, diabetes, and hypertension—as do many of our participants.

This issue of C magazine illustrates some simple strategies Community Access has adopted to promote the health and wellness of the people we serve. Our lead story features Pet Access, a program that encourages tenants to adopt any kind of pet they choose. Why? Because the proven health and wellness benefits of pet ownership are outstanding: pet owners exercise more, have more social contacts, and have lower blood pressure than the population at large. In short, they live healthier, happier lives.

We are also pleased to announce the pilot of a new program that we hope will change the course of treatment for people experiencing a psychiatric crisis. Called Parachute NYC, it will offer a non-hospital treatment

C Magazine Publisher: Steve Coe, Chief Executive OfficerJohn Williams, Director of Development and Communications • Jon Curtis, Communications Specialist

PET ACCESS

option for people who would otherwise be directed to a psychiatric emergency room and inpatient care. This type of “crisis respite” care has proven effective in other communities by eliminating expensive and traumatizing hospital care and replacing it with supportive counseling from trained peers and intensive collaboration with friends and family members. Again, it’s a cheaper, more effective approach that promotes recovery, hope, and a healthy future.

Finally, we are sponsoring our first “active” event on October 13th, called Race for Our Community. While we certainly expect many speedy runners in the 5K race, we are even more pleased that many of our program participants will be joining the one-mile walk—including a team of 25 tenants from Avenue D, two of whom are pictured above (left) with me, along with staff member Karen Hunter. Our goal is to encourage year-round exercise, and we believe this event will help launch many people on a path to increased activity, wellness, and a healthier lifestyle.

More focused than ever on

housing, health and wellness

hen Community Access tenant, Michele Francis, first moved into our supportive housing program five years ago, depression was something she knew all too well. Now, with the help of our program

staff, and our unique Pet Access animal adoption program, Michele is on a journey that is filled with hope.“Depression doesn’t make a lot of noise. It doesn’t move fast. And, it isn’t brightly colored,” shares Michele. “But, when it grabs hold of you, no matter how much your heart might hurt—joining in, showing up, going out is what other people do.”

Born and raised in New York City, Michele first began experiencing mental health symptoms as a teenager. Early on, she reflects, she had learned the skill of blending in, but never really felt comfortable in her own skin. “Even though I was always surrounded by people, there was this feeling of loneliness that I couldn’t shake. I had little to no confidence, and would just stay inside all the time.”

Her life before Community Access included many challenging years that she prefers to keep to herself. But, as she sits quietly in the garden of her apartment building, there’s a very special reason why her future is brighter today—a 6-pound Chihuahua mix named Toto.

“Even when I think about Toto, I smile. He let’s me know that it’s OK to love and be loved. ” –Michele

–Steve Coe, Chief Execut ive Off icer

CEO’S LETTER

Dear Fr iends,

In case you haven’t noticed, there’s a lot of discussion about health care these days; much of it couched in highly politicized rhetoric that predicts the end of civilization as we know it.

Beyond the shouting, however, real plans and programs are beginning to take shape. While it might be incredibly difficult to sort out all the jargon and concepts buried in the 906-page Affordable Care Act, much of it boils down to some simple themes. Instead of spending billions of dollars after people get sick, it makes much more sense to: 1) reduce barriers to health care, 2) offer a range of attractive options to encourage people to use care, and 3) reward providers who do a good job keeping people well, especially people who suffer from complicated conditions, such as mental illness, diabetes, and hypertension—as do many of our participants.

This issue of C magazine illustrates some simple strategies Community Access has adopted to promote the health and wellness of the people we serve. Our lead story features Pet Access, a program that encourages tenants to adopt any kind of pet they choose. Why? Because the proven health and wellness benefits of pet ownership are outstanding: pet owners exercise more, have more social contacts, and have lower blood pressure than the population at large. In short, they live healthier, happier lives.

We are also pleased to announce the pilot of a new program that we hope will change the course of treatment for people experiencing a psychiatric crisis. Called Parachute NYC, it will offer a non-hospital treatment

C Magazine Publisher: Steve Coe, Chief Executive OfficerJohn Williams, Director of Development and Communications • Jon Curtis, Communications Specialist

PET ACCESS

option for people who would otherwise be directed to a psychiatric emergency room and inpatient care. This type of “crisis respite” care has proven effective in other communities by eliminating expensive and traumatizing hospital care and replacing it with supportive counseling from trained peers and intensive collaboration with friends and family members. Again, it’s a cheaper, more effective approach that promotes recovery, hope, and a healthy future.

Finally, we are sponsoring our first “active” event on October 13th, called Race for Our Community. While we certainly expect many speedy runners in the 5K race, we are even more pleased that many of our program participants will be joining the one-mile walk—including a team of 25 tenants from Avenue D, two of whom are pictured above (left) with me, along with staff member Karen Hunter. Our goal is to encourage year-round exercise, and we believe this event will help launch many people on a path to increased activity, wellness, and a healthier lifestyle.

More focused than ever on

housing, health and wellness

hen Community Access tenant, Michele Francis, first moved into our supportive housing program five years ago, depression was something she knew all too well. Now, with the help of our program

staff, and our unique Pet Access animal adoption program, Michele is on a journey that is filled with hope.“Depression doesn’t make a lot of noise. It doesn’t move fast. And, it isn’t brightly colored,” shares Michele. “But, when it grabs hold of you, no matter how much your heart might hurt—joining in, showing up, going out is what other people do.”

Born and raised in New York City, Michele first began experiencing mental health symptoms as a teenager. Early on, she reflects, she had learned the skill of blending in, but never really felt comfortable in her own skin. “Even though I was always surrounded by people, there was this feeling of loneliness that I couldn’t shake. I had little to no confidence, and would just stay inside all the time.”

Her life before Community Access included many challenging years that she prefers to keep to herself. But, as she sits quietly in the garden of her apartment building, there’s a very special reason why her future is brighter today—a 6-pound Chihuahua mix named Toto.

“Even when I think about Toto, I smile. He let’s me know that it’s OK to love and be loved. ” –Michele

–Steve Coe, Chief Execut ive Off icer

“Toto and I will be joining the Race for Our Community dog walk as part of Team Gouverneur Court. It’s a great way to

show my appreciation for an agency that

has helped me in so many ways. ”

“It’s amazing to see the joy that Toto brings to Michele’s life. He’s a new member of our

community. ”

–Michele

–Janice GuestStaf f Member

Community Access created Pet Access in 2003, because we recognized the healing power of pets in people’s lives. We wanted to offer our tenants at our housing programs around the city a chance to welcome animals into their homes and lives. We knew from the start that when a tenant was ready to make a leap forward with adopting a pet, rewards would follow: from building self-esteem, to creating a nurturing bond, and forming lasting friendships. These are exactly the kinds of relationships that people need the most. From the warm glow in Michele’s eyes, it is evident how important Toto is in her life. “He chose me,” Michele remembers, “gazing right at me, kind of like love at first sight.”

PET ACCESS

Since that first meeting, Michele and Toto have been inseparable—always looking out for each other and the very best of friends. “He’s intuitive and knows when to come and cheer me up, and he’s very protective of me, a tough guy in a little package. Since I’ve had him, I’ve been a lot more active going out and about, and I feel like I can accomplish more. I’ve met new neighbors too when I’m out walking Toto.” Now, Michele has a home of her home, lots of love from her canine friend, and a strong support system from program staff. She is also enrolled in career counseling and job training through ACCES-VR (Adult Career and Continuing Education Services-Vocational Rehabilitation). Through this education

PET ACCESS

initiative, Michele is focusing on goal-setting and building skills for independent living. “I’m too busy to feel lonely anymore, and I don’t feel depressed. It’s a new and exciting feeling.”

Are you a pet lover? Help Community Access make an even bigger difference in our participants’ lives through our Pet Access animal adoption and therapy program. You can make a contribution online at www.communityaccess.org/donate, or by calling 212-780-1400, ext. 7772.

“Toto and I will be joining the Race for Our Community dog walk as part of Team Gouverneur Court. It’s a great way to

show my appreciation for an agency that

has helped me in so many ways. ”

“It’s amazing to see the joy that Toto brings to Michele’s life. He’s a new member of our

community. ”

–Michele

–Janice GuestStaf f Member

Community Access created Pet Access in 2003, because we recognized the healing power of pets in people’s lives. We wanted to offer our tenants at our housing programs around the city a chance to welcome animals into their homes and lives. We knew from the start that when a tenant was ready to make a leap forward with adopting a pet, rewards would follow: from building self-esteem, to creating a nurturing bond, and forming lasting friendships. These are exactly the kinds of relationships that people need the most. From the warm glow in Michele’s eyes, it is evident how important Toto is in her life. “He chose me,” Michele remembers, “gazing right at me, kind of like love at first sight.”

PET ACCESS

Since that first meeting, Michele and Toto have been inseparable—always looking out for each other and the very best of friends. “He’s intuitive and knows when to come and cheer me up, and he’s very protective of me, a tough guy in a little package. Since I’ve had him, I’ve been a lot more active going out and about, and I feel like I can accomplish more. I’ve met new neighbors too when I’m out walking Toto.” Now, Michele has a home of her home, lots of love from her canine friend, and a strong support system from program staff. She is also enrolled in career counseling and job training through ACCES-VR (Adult Career and Continuing Education Services-Vocational Rehabilitation). Through this education

PET ACCESS

initiative, Michele is focusing on goal-setting and building skills for independent living. “I’m too busy to feel lonely anymore, and I don’t feel depressed. It’s a new and exciting feeling.”

Are you a pet lover? Help Community Access make an even bigger difference in our participants’ lives through our Pet Access animal adoption and therapy program. You can make a contribution online at www.communityaccess.org/donate, or by calling 212-780-1400, ext. 7772.

–Steve Coe, CEO Community Access

oday, in much of the United States, someone experiencing a psychiatric crisis (caused by

schizophrenia and related mental health conditions) has very limited treatment options. For most, their default destination will be the emergency room at a hospital. While these facilities are expertly staffed, the care provided emphasizes short-term stabilization using medication, rather than long-term recovery and wellness. Unfortunately, the outcomes for this standard form of intervention are not great. Over 80% of the people who arrive at emergency rooms for a psychiatric crisis report that they are traumatized by the experience. This pattern of treatment eventually features more and extended hospital stays, deteriorating physical health, loss of connection to friends and family, and the eventual transformation of a person into a patient.

In New York City, however, this damaging cycle is set to change with the implementation of Parachute NYC, a cutting-edge Department of Health and Mental Hygiene project more than two years in the making. Community Access has played a leading role in designing and implementing this project. Supported by a federal health care innovation grant from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, it is projected to reduce health care expenditures by $50 million over the next three years, while also improving the care and health of participants.

A “soft-landing,” community-based alternative to emergency hospitalization, Parachute NYC will offer people experiencing a psychiatric crisis a form of treatment that relies less on medication management and more on engaging the family and the participant in developing a comprehensive recovery plan. It will do so through training all staff in the principles of the “Need-Adapted Treatment Model,” “Intentional Peer Support,” and “Peer Health Navigation.”

PARACHUTE NYC TO CREATE SOFT LANDING FOR MENTAL HEALTH CONSUMERS IN CRISIS

Thanks to Parachute NYC funding, Community Access is preparing to open New York City’s first Crisis Respite Center at 315 2nd Avenue in Winter 2012. This innovation in behavioral health care will offer a warm, friendly, safe, and supportive home-like environment, with 24-hour peer support, self-advocacy education, and self-help training.

“ Parachute NYC is a great example of how providers and government can partner to bring about large-scale, systemic change that will improve health care for thousands of people AND save millions of dollars in taxpayer money. It’s a common sense approach that treats people in need with respect and dignity.

Cal Hedigan, Deputy CEO, Steve Coe, CEO, and Alysia Pascaris, Deputy CEO, meet with Jody Silver, Director of Consumer Affairs, NYC DOHMH, at the future home of NYC’s first Crisis Respite Center.