Local Advisory Council meeting

The Local Advisory Council for Mental Health and Addictive Services met on Wednesday, September 21 at the Westside Café for their monthly meeting. Several members were in attendance including Janice Reichelt of Phillips County Home Health, Jenny Wilkinson-Marshall of Personal Assisted Living, Joe Haney of the Ministerial Association, Phillips County Justice of the Peace Gayle Stahl and Paula Enkerud of Phillips County Hi-Line Retirement Center.

Reichelt stated that her department at PC Home Health is working on developing a stabilization program where a person goes to visit someone who is having a mental episode.

They are also developing maintenance stabilization programs for a person that is mentally ill, where a peer will continue to visit the person even after their episode happens and help then remain stable and also help them identify trigger signs, so that there will be less hospitalization and use of the emergency room.

Reichelt also mentioned that Wilkinson-Marshall is working half-time for the Personal Assisted Living Services and half-time at the Home Health Program and is using some of her military experience as a community prevention specialist to help the LAC orchestrate programs.

Judge Stahl announced that the 24-7 program has started. The program is used for those who are charged with an alcohol induced partner-family member assault, driving under the influence or any other alcohol or drug related charge. She was unable to speak on its effectiveness due to the fact the program just started.

Enkerud, who was elected the acting secretary of the LAC, spoke on behalf of Youth Dynamics, stating the group could use another staff member.

“The problem right now is they don’t have a therapist,” Enkerud said. “If they had a therapist, they could do so much more.”

According to Enkerud, having a therapist in Youth Dynamics would also allow the company to hire a second case manager, who would in turn be able to help with more youth related cases, who would then be able to bring in a Family Specialist Trainer.

“They work with the whole family,” Enkerud said.

Haney announced that Greg Peterson was the new President of the Ministerial Association.

Judge Stahl noted that with the change of the Ministerial Association President, she would need a new reference for marital counseling. Haney then voiced that he could help.

The LAC mentioned that the Montana State University Extension will be hosting and event called Powerful Tools for Caregivers Class Leadership Training on October 12-13 in Great falls.

According to the press release, the training allows participants to facilitate the six-week evidence-based course to assist informal (unpaid) caregivers who care for individuals with chronic disease and caregivers of children with special needs, to practice better self-care.

Please contact [email protected] for registration information.

If you are suffering from mental health issues and need support, the Montana Warm Line is another resource that can be reached at 1-877-688-3377. The email address for the program is [email protected].

A follow up lunch meeting will be held on Wednesday, October 19.