Co Workers: Mental Health Call Center

I work with some very special people.  They are all so hard working, and very professional in what we do.  Bobbi insisted on pictures for her birthday and for Stephanie leaving us going to Kaiser.

Podemos Ayudar: Santa Clara County Suicide and Crisis Hot Line: Spanish

Podemos Ayudar: Santa Clara County Suicide and Crisis Hot Line: Spanish

Mental Health Callcenter: Unity Based Team Recognition

This is the certificate we received at Board of Supervisor.  Look here for the visit.  This is signed by Rene Santiago, Director of Valley Medical and Health Systems, and Toni Tullys the director of Behavioral Health Services.

Visiting Board of Supervisors Meeting for Unit Based Team Presentation

About a month ago I was at the Board of Supervisor Meeting as part of the Unit Based Team presentation.  This is a collaborative effort between the union, administration management and line staff to work on projects to improve the work environment.  I am there with my boss Joe Tansek.  Also his boss Mikelle Le and her boss Sandra Hernandez were also present.  We represent the work done at the Mental Health Callcenter.  We worked on a project to help people get connected with services.
http://sccgov.iqm2.com/Citizens/SplitView.aspx?Mode=Video&MeetingID=6055&Format=Agenda
At the above website look for Unit Based Teams on the left and you will go directly to where the presentation takes place.

As part of the meeting there was also a presentation on the Armenian genocide of 1915 and also a presentation to the Crisis Intervention Team officers.  This is a collaborative between the police organizations of Santa Clara County and mental health in which mental health trains the officers to handle mental health situations.

Santa Clara County ERT Training

I completed the Emergency Response Team Training, which was a three-Tuesday training.  The first day we learned of heart attacks, certified CPR and studied first aid.  The next Tuesday reviewed CPR, more first aid, and the triage methods.  This last Tuesday we had a lot of situations to deal with, using triage and search and rescue techniques.  We also talked about clearing a building, and how to respond in an earthquake.  When to go into a home and search and when to stay out.  At the end of the training they gave us a plaque, a hat and a vest; so I'm legit.

Mental Health Callcenter Lunch

I think the entire group was there for a bitter-sweet day.  Mikelle took us out to eat,  but she also announced she is leaving us going to VMC Connections.  Asian Buffet, with lots of sushi.  I stuck to what I new, and enjoyed the strawberries and ice cream, as well as the fish. 

Thai, Nguyet, Audrey, Vanessa, Hang, Nancy, Mitra, Mikelle, Theresa, Pauline, Me, Betsy, Diem and KimSeng.  Languages spoken, English, Vietnamese, Spanish, Mandarin, Cambodian, Farsi.  Picture taken on Diem's phone.

Behavioral Health Santa Clara County

What this means is a ton of changes coming down the pipeline for mental health and drug and alcohol services as we integrate into behavioral health
CONTENTS Approval of the Behavioral Health Integration Plan View the Plan Online Communications Leadership of the Behavioral Health Department		Approval of the Behavioral Health Integration Plan On January 28th the Board of Supervisors approved the Behavioral Health Integration Plan. This is the culminination of a year of planning and discussion by various stakeholders including staff, contract providers, labor union representatives, executive management, consultants, county agencies, and others as listed in the plan. This approval allows us to move into the implementation phase and to begin the process of engaging all of you in this important change. View the Plan Online The Integration Plan for a New Department of Behavioral Health Services is available on the website and answers some of your questions such as: What is integration? Why are we integrating? What are the core themes of integration? What functions will be integrated and how? Communications Subsequent e-newsletters will provide additional Questions and Answers, and more detail about the process and timing of integrating MHD and DADS into one Behavioral Health Department to better serve our county's residents. Leadership of the Behavioral Health Department More information about the appointment of leadership for the new Department of Behavioral Health Services will be coming in March from Rene Santiago, Deputy County Executive and Executive Director of the Health and Hospital System.

Bilingual Volunteers: Santa Clara County Suicide and Crisis

This flyer explains itself.  If you are interested in volunteering at the suicide and crisis hotline, contact Eddie Subega.  The hotline is certified nationally.  They will train you.  I have taken the training and it is very good.  It helps you make connections quickly with someone who is in crisis, assess the crisis, and get help.  We are all in this together.  This is one way to help each other get through.

Suicide and Crisis Hotline: Santa Clara County

Book Rieview: Dynamic Health: Dual Diagnosis

David Wright interviewed Dr. David Mee-Lee about dual diagnosis services.  This is treatment for people with co-occurring substance us and mental health problems.  Dr. Mee-Lee consults with Santa Clara County departments of Alcohol and Drugs as well as Mental Health.  As such I have had the opportunity to attend his trainings as well as sit in consultation of cases with him.  He is a pioneer of motivation interviewing, and he works with the call center on being able to figure out what people would like to get from mental health.  “You start at the door they open and where they let you in rather than telling them they have to work on a problem they don’t think they have.  Work on what they’re there for and from that point move to how their substance use and their mental health problems have been shooting themselves in the foot, preventing them from getting what they really want. 

This article is best when it talks about rehabilitation of mental health and substance abuse problems.  “Recover doesn’t necessarily mean they’re cured when you’re talking about a chronic illness—no more than if somebody with diabetes  or hypertension or asthma. … A person suffering from a mental illness as well as a substance problem won’t be able to be cured in the sense that they will never have a mental health problem or substance problem again.  They can recover, meaning they can live beyond just the fact that they have alcoholism or a mental illness.  They can have goals and aspirations and be empowered to have hope to change their life in terms of their relationships, in terms of productivity in the community, and reaching their dreams and aspirations. … Recover really means stabilizing their mental health and substance problem, but then living and growing to have an identity beyond just their illness.”

Dr. Mee-Lee concludes with advice for family and community.  The first is to realize that mental illness is not unusual.  There is “nothing bizarre or weird about…having substance problems or mental health issues.  The second point he makes is that there is help for mental illness.  Getting treatment sooner rather than later leads to a better result. 

Ethics and Striking

As the Union moves closer and closer to a strike.  Last I heard, negotiations did not take place last weekend as promised.  County administrators said they would be negotiating all weekend, but because the Union had voted to authorize a strike, the county negotiators all left in protest.  Makes them seem a bit juvenile, but then maybe they are with their unwillingness to negotiate a fair deal, after devastating the SEIU members the last six years with take aways, while always giving better contracts to other unions.
Anyway, I came across something else to consider.  I was finishing my CEU ethics course on line, and came across this bit about ethics and labor issues:
Mental Health practitioners are generally allowed to engage in organized action, including the formation and participation in labor unions, to improve services to clients and working conditions.  When involved in a dispute, job action or strike, workers should carefully weigh the possible impact on clients and be guided by their profession's ethical values and principals prior to taking action.
Now I have to ferret out what that means and how it applies to my situation.  Is the Callcenter a position that has to be manned at all costs.  It seems like it is.  We cannot not be there for a caller in crisis.  Also people need to access services (if they are not closed because of a strike.  Something to think about and pray about.  I;m still praying something will give to improve our prospects.  I really do not want to strike.

Santa Clara County Strike Looming

A few years ago, Arnold Schwarzeneger took on the public unions in California, and lost.  Now the conflict between my union and my bosses has me scared.  The members of the union voted for a strike next week, if things do not improve in contract negotiations.  We have been working past our contract since July 1.  Sheri and I live paycheck to paycheck.  We are not like some who have large amounts of savings put away.  A strike, even for a short period of time would be devastating.  But that threat looms over our head. 
My only hope is prayer.  Prayer has been holding us up.  I pray for overtime, and it seems to come just in time to make the next pay check.  Prayer is a remarkable thing.  So I will pray that some county manager will see the worth of what I do, and offer a fair contract.  They have offered a raise, but taking back more than they offer in medical insurance payments and additional payment towards retirement.  This when the county is doing OK.  The last time we negotiated, we too furlough, and less vacation days.  It is time that sacrifice is recognized, as well as the service we provide.  I work hard, and help thousands of people each year (about a hundred every week.)  We have had to do more with less for many months, and still we get the slap in the face.  Out county administrators in the past have always negotiated our contract first, and then give better deals to management, doctors and nurses.  It is time the focus on line staff and a fair contract.  Just my thoughts anyway.

Second Annual Paella Party

I only get a half hour lunch, but I snuck over to the paella party on Thursday this week.  It was nice.  They had water in fancy bottles.  There was vegetarian paella made with raisins (too sweet) and regular, which was very good.  The had bread and butter.  There other dish was also vegetarian, paella like but with bread dipped in a vinegar sauce and then cooked.  The VMC Foundation Band was playing.  It was a nice and quick lunch.  It was on the top of the parking garage.  The climb in itself is healthy.

Twenty Years and Counting

It is actually almost 21 years that I have been working with Santa Clara County, but I received by 20-year reward of a pen set.  Also a letter from Jeff Smith, County Executive.

Work: Christmas Party Picture

photo courtesy of Diem

This is Christmas Breakfast at the Pruneyard:  Kim Seng, Vanessa, Nancy, Theresa, Diem, Hang, Anne, Annemarie, Audrey, Mikelle,   Marilyn, Nina, Me, Mitra.  Fun time with gift exchange and good food.

My one comment about work.  The air conditioning people are to be congratulated.  Every morning we are met with temperatures which keep my coat on and my legs covered with my blanket.  I hope they do as well this summer.  In the meantime, I would like to be warm before noon.  They always check in the afternoon after the heat has started to work.

What I do at Work

When asked what I do at work, I like to say I recycle papers.  This is because when I get something done, I put it into the confidential waste bin, which quickly fills up and then I take it to the bigger confidential waste bin.  But what I actually do is more complicated.  I work at the Callcenter.  I take 10-15 calls every day and try to help people figure out who mental health services are best.  Each call is different, and can mean a report to CPS, referring to Mental health Urgent Care, referral to community resources, or referral to county mental health programs.  We also get calls for other things, sometimes for medical appointments, checking on appointment times, residential or homeless programs etc.  In addition I do a few special tasks.  I guess we have close to 50 special tasks we do between all of us.
 special projects       
ATS review: I clinically review the Assessment and treatment summary forms from the fee-for-service providers.  We review the annual or semiannual ATS submissions for the 1000+ clients who are seeing outpatient fee-for-service providers.  (100+ a month)
6-18 Spanish speaking referrals: I Process referrals for 6-18 year olds, Spanish speaking.  I receive the referrals from pediatric MDs throughout the county, VMC and other private providers and process them and connect with outpatient services.  I then respond to MD with the disposition.  (ten+ a week)
Adult Spanish speaking physical health care referrals: I Process adult physical health care referrals, Spanish speaking referrals.  I follow-through on referrals we receive from physical health care providers and facilitate connection to outpatient services.  (two or three a week)
Numbers monitor: Weekly I monitor the number of referrals.  I run report of referrals so far this month and put this information on the white board for all to see.  It shows how many referrals have been made to particular programs so we know if we are over sending referrals to a particular program.  It also lets us know if certain clinics have reached their capacity for the month.
MHRC post auth referrals: I process post auth referrals from the MHRC program.  MHRC is the connecting point to mental health services for those on juvenile probation.  They send the post authorization form which I enter into Unicare after checking insurance.  (less than ten a month)
NOA-A: Enter NOAA (notice of action) information into Unicare as an alert so this information is available to Callcenter staff as well as other providers.  (a few)

Secret Santa at Work

An email came by suggesting we do a Secret Santa.  As there are two meanings for this, pick a family and be their secret Santa, or do secret Santa gift exchange for each other, I made the suggestion we sponsor a family.  The response was to do secret Santa for a family, if we could come up with an appropriate family.  I suggested a family that is the birth family, and back together family, for children we had in foster care.  They had been living in less than optimum conditions, the room of a friend's house.

After an email from another exfoster parent of the kids, we decided the easiest thing would be a gift card from Target for the family.  Every one at work donated, and in the name of secret, I won't reveal the amount of the card, but it was way more than I had ever dreamed.  We delivered the card, along with gifts some had donated to the mother of the family a few days before Christmas.  At the same time we saw the kids.  The mother was extremely grateful and appreciative.

It felt good to do just a little bit more than usual for Christmas.

The family is moving to their own residence in January, so things are looking up for them.

Cleto Genelza: A friend and coworker has passed away

http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/mercurynews/obituary.aspx?n=cleto-genelza&pid=152151880
A friend from work passed away this week after a long struggle with cancer.  He and I use to compare notes with regards to our children.  His daughter was a hockey player, and he use to always let me know how she was doing.  I met him when she was in high school, and he would update me as she graduated and then was off to school.  Several years ago we switched buildings and I had less contact with him; but I would see him in the parking lot at times.  Then about a year he left the county.  Now I realize this was because of his illness.  So I want to let Cleto know I will miss him, and his family know that he was appreciated.