Human Services funding doesn’t get as much play as some of the others. The constituents often don’t come together in an organized way to share their thoughts and concerns on these cuts. Without an organized, proactive voice, the issue can get lost in the noise. I would argue that those of us who care about these issues no longer have the luxury of just sitting back and letting the process happen.

Cincinnati City Council is making final decisions for the upcoming budget year that begins on July 1 through June 30, 2014. The last budget hearing is tonight, May 22. This is one way to share your thoughts on how these proposed cuts will impact people who need a helping hand. These include people who have been laid off from their jobs, veterans, seniors, victims of crime, and people in crisis.

We know that the administration recommends cutting $590,000 from the current Human Services allocation; an estimated 40% reduction across 55 funded programs. Talbert House receives funding for four programs that provide assistance to people in crisis, victims of crime, and the homeless. The city funding also supports a program to build stronger families, knows as the Fatherhood Project. Programs like the Fatherhood Project change the cycle of absent fathers and strengthen families and our community as a whole. Some may say this is not critical funding for the well-being of our community, but as someone with a loving, involved dad, I believe supporting strong parent/child relationships is the foundation for a stronger community.

A 40% cut would mean a $35,600 hit to these Talbert House programs. In the case of victim’s services, City funding matches federal and state money. Therefore cutting funding to the Victim’s Services Center will further reduce revenue coming in to the City. No one is saying the answers are easy or that these are simple decisions, but now is the time to let your leaders know your thoughts on these issues. If you support human services funding in this community, consider attending the public hearing tonight or make a phone call or send an e-mail to Council. They are elected to represent you. They want to hear from you.

Won’t you please speak up for these important services?

“I continue to believe that if children are given the necessary tools to succeed, they will succeed beyond their wildest dreams!” – David Vitter, U.S. Senator

Today is National Children’s Mental Health Awareness Day. This is a special day for our community to support healthy children. There is nothing more rewarding than seeing a child grow and develop into a happy, healthy, productive adult.

According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), young adults with mental health challenges thrive with practical resources and programs that help them obtain education, healthy social interactions, housing, and employment to continue their path to recovery.

Working with children in the mental health field is incredibly gratifying. Because of their ambition, hope, and dreams, children are often able to learn and make changes in their lives when given the tools and direction to be able to do so. Their recovery and successes keep us going, inspire us to give more, and motivate us to make a difference.

How can I participate?

One simple way you can show your support for National Children’s Mental Health Awareness Day is by wearing green or a green ribbon on Thurs. May 9, 2013.

SAMHSA calls for each of us to be a “hero of hope” and make a pledge today to take action to help a child or youth in your family, neighborhood, or community. If you only have a minute, offer a word of encouragement or praise to a child, youth, or young adult. If you have an hour or two, coach a youth sports team; volunteer to be a mentor; help a young adult fill out paperwork to obtain a job or housing; or assist a young adult in filling out an application for school. Resolve to be a continuing positive influence in the life of a child, and touch base regularly just so they know they have your support.

To learn more about National Children’s Mental Health Awareness Day and to pass the message on please visit:  http://www.samhsa.gov/children/national.asp

Written by Beth W.   Beth is the Associate Director of School Based Services, providing services to youth and families with behavioral issues, and has been at Talbert House since 2001. In her spare time, she enjoys rockin’ out to music and spending time with family and friends.

Talk the Talk

National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) is the nation’s largest grassroots organization dedicated to building better lives for the millions of Americans affected by mental illness. NAMI offers help and hope by providing support, education, and advocacy to the nearly 60 million Americans who experience a mental health condition each year.

Talbert House stands behind an agency like NAMI because it completes the big picture. Recovery is not solely about receiving treatment for mental illness, but also gaining and maintaining support to enhance recovery and growth of our suffering family, friends, neighbors, and coworkers.

Walk the Walk

Join us in our support of NAMI Hamilton County at the NAMIWalks event on Saturday, May 11 at 10:00am, held at Sawyer Point. All participants are encouraged to collect donations from family members, friends, co-workers, and business associates in support of their participation in the walk. NAMI programs and services are available to provide assistance and hope to many in need. These programs include education, support, research, and advocacy related to depression, anxiety disorders, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, obsessive-compulsive disorder, and post-traumatic stress disorder.

Neil Tilow, President/CEO of Talbert House will serve as the honorary chair of the 2013 NAMI Walk in Hamilton County.

“Our advocacy efforts go beyond this walk. As a leader in the community, it is our responsibility to educate, advocate, and support key initiatives that support our clients, their families, and our work. I hope you will join me at Sawyer Point to show your support for quality mental health services in our community.” – Neil Tilow

National Volunteer Week is April 21-27, 2013.

Talbert House is fortunate to have many dedicated volunteers serve the organization in  different ways throughout the year. In honor of National Volunteer Week, we wish to recognize and thank all of the volunteers who unselfishly give of their time and talent to Talbert House.

National Volunteer Week is about taking action and encouraging individuals and their respective communities to be a focal point of social change-discovering and actively demonstrating their collective power to foster positive transformation.

Too numerous to give an exhaustive list, here are some volunteers who help us achieve our mission:

• Talbert House Board of Trustees, Foundation Board, Talbert Services Board, Advisory Board, and our new Associate Board
• Step Up to the Plate, Fatherhood Celebration, Fatherhood Luncheon, Bang Bang in Paradise, and Golf Outing events committees
• Advocates for Talbert House through social media
• Friends, neighbors, and colleagues soliciting gifts for the annual campaign
• Friend Raising event hosts
• Donations2Dollars donors and collection drive hosts
• Professionals providing services free of charge to Talbert House clients
• Leaders of special fundraising projects
• Corporations and individuals helping with opportunities posted on Volunteer Match

Simply put, Talbert House depends on the human capital that is provided by our volunteers throughout the community. There is no dollar amount that can be put on their collective contributions. We can never show our appreciation enough.

Aesop once said, “No act of kindness, no matter how small, is ever wasted.” Talbert House volunteers generate thousands of acts of kindness every year and continue to have a profound impact on the organization. Thank you again for all that you do and may you continue to inspire others to follow in your footsteps.

For information about how you can be a volunteer at Talbert House, please contact us at 513-751-7747.

Written by Rob F.   Rob is the Individual Giving Coordinator and began at Talbert House in August 2012. Rob and his wife Rachel reside in Wyoming and are the proud parents of Noah and Aaron. In his spare time, Rob collects law enforcement shoulder patches and volunteers for a number of community organizations. A proud Chicago native, he enjoys Cincinnati and all that it has to offer.

Medicaid is key to protecting the health of low-income Ohioans but not everyone is eligible. By expanding it

to cover more of the uninsured, more people will receive the care they need through federal taxes we already pay.

There is a lot of information on Medicaidexpansion. WCPO recently posted an article that provides some of the basics on Medicaid Expansion.  Check it out as a good starting point:  What Medicaid expansion could mean in Ohio, Kentucky and Indiana

The issue is complicated but I believe there must be some common ground.  I would venture that most would agree with the following two principles:

• Preventative and routine medical care is less expensive and results in better health outcomes for children and adults. People with health coverage are more likely to seek out care routinely and don’t receive their health care through more expensive emergency room visits. Medicaid Expansion would make this a possibility for more people.

• Economic growth and job creation creates opportunities for work, supports family stability and self reliance. Increased expenses for employers impact the bottom line and eventually the ability to hire and retain staff. Whether or not to expand Medicaid impacts businesses as well as individuals. According to this article employers will also face economic consequences if Medicaid is not a possibility for their employees.

What does Medicaid Expansion mean to Talbert House?

Talbert House deals with many people who fall below the poverty line. They may work or have challenges that prevent them from working, but most are in need of behavioral and/or primary health care. Medicaid expansion will build a continuum of care for mental health and addiction services. It is estimated that with Medicaid Expansion, more than $105 million in state and local levy funds previously paid for treatment services for uninsured Ohioans will be re-directed to prevention and recovery supports, such as housing and employment activities.

Medicaid expansion will allow Talbert House to provide services such as counseling, psychiatry, and case management to childless adults, transitional age youth, homeless adults, and ex-offenders, thereby increasing their overall health and stability in the community. It will allow levy funds – that are now used for these services – to be used for other purposes including housing, vocational, and transportation.

Ultimately what it means is that those we serve will have a better quality of life, will be able to address the health care needs they have through a doctor’s office rather than through emergency care.

It isn’t easy but most would agree, the quality of life for Americans is greatly increased through preventative, routine care. Healthy citizens make for reliable employees, focused students, and stable neighbors.

What can families do to become stronger as a unit? Can family resilience prevent child abuse? The Strengthening Families initiative invites schools, child care centers, and family child care providers located on the west side of Cincinnati to participate in a three year program that starts at the ground level: the family.

The goal of this initiative is to ensure the wellness of children through the introduction and implementation of protective factors for families. The Strengthening Families initiative is one strategy to preventing child abuse and is what attracted me to my position at Talbert House.

How do you prevent child abuse?

We start with family. When the family is stronger and more resilient, statistics show that the abuse in households decreases.

The program links families to services, resources, and support through a strong network of connections. It promotes parent resilience, knowledge of parenting and child development, and offers concrete support in times of need. These strategies are the basic necessities families need to survive and become stronger in today’s challenging world.

How I help make a difference

My little piece of this program allows me to go into schools and child care centers to help facilitate these strategies. I encourage, mentor, and coach teachers to use these approaches in their classrooms and with parents. Have we witnessed a change? Yes! We have seen an evidence-based drop in child abuse in these targeted areas, because dedicated staff members believe and promote these strategies to strengthen the families.

As a former elementary school teacher, I still have the opportunity to interact with children happily enjoying their day. As a teacher, I also receive great satisfaction assisting the teachers who promote the program on a daily basis. As the result, future families will have the proper tools and support to foster healthy and resilient family relationships as the initiative expands.

Interested in participating?

If you are a school, child care center, or family child care provider located on the west side of Cincinnati, we welcome you to find out more about the Strengthening Families initiative. Call 221-HELP (513-221-4357) for more information, Mon-Fri 8:00a-5:00p.

Hamilton County Job & Family Services, along with many other Ohio counties, is celebrating Child Abuse Prevention Month by promoting wear blue to work day on Wednesday, April 10. Join us by wearing blue to help raise awareness about child abuse and encourage people to report suspected abuse.

 Join us in spreading awareness of Child Abuse Prevention Month by sharing this information!

Written by Barb F.    Barb F. is a Prevention Education Provider and has been with Talbert since January 2013.  She is married and has two children, her son is 13 and daughter is 10.  Her hobbies include reading, working out, cooking, and spending time with her family.

Growing up, my parents were very clear with their expectations for me when it came to underage drinking. They made sure I always knew that I didn’t need alcohol to have a good time, and that there would be consequences of disobeying them by drinking.

Binge drinking is a large problem on many college campuses. The National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism reports that nearly 2,000 college students age 18-24 die yearly from alcohol related incidents. Living on a college campus with over two thousand underage students, I have seen the dangers underage drinking can bring. Every year, there are stories of teens and young adults who have fallen from windows, had car accidents, and died from over-drinking.

There’s more to do than drinking.

On my campus, student groups host fun events during the weekend for underage students and those who choose not to drink. Movie nights, magic and comedy shows, trips to Kings Island and Newport on the Levee, and dance parties are just some examples. If you don’t have a group at school focused on non-drinking events, you can plan your own activities with your friends. You may even consider starting your own group at your school – this is a great way to have fun and meet likeminded students.

Avoid the pressure.

When heading to a party where I know I’ll be pressured to drink, I always find that being the designated driver is the best way to avoid pressure. I am able to make sure friends that are drinking are safe, and no one argues when I say I don’t want to drink because I am responsible for a car full of people. Sipping on soda or bringing my own drink also help me avoid alcohol – I already have something to hold and no one asks what is in my cup.

Know the risks.

Physical changes, life transitions, peer pressure, and stress from home or school make teens and young adults especially at risk of underage drinking. While alcohol might sound like an easy way to deal with a tough situation, it actually increases depression and the risk of being a victim of an alcohol-related crime or a driving accident. Alcohol can lead to engaging in risky behaviors, and participating in unsafe sexual activity.

Find alternative ways to relieve stress.

Drinking as a coping mechanism can not solve problems, but rather lead to problems with school, relationships, and overall well-being. Getting more physical activity, whether from yoga, dancing, or taking a walk around campus, is an effective and healthier way to deal with stress. When I started college, I began exercising as a way to meet more people and decrease the anxiety of being at a new school in a new city. I quickly discovered that I loved running- my roommates and I have even participated in races throughout Cincinnati together. We are able to spend time together, all while keeping our minds and bodies healthy.

Resources

Talbert House offers several services for anyone struggling with alcohol abuse, regardless of age. If you are struggling with alcohol abuse or suspect your teen has been drinking, call 281-HELP (513-281-4357) to speak with a representative and learn more information on available services.

Written by Caroline M.   Caroline is an intern in the Community Relations Department of Talbert House. She is a senior at Xavier University studying Marketing, International Business, and Spanish. She is a Minnesota native, and in her free time she loves to read, go swimming, and be with her big Italian family. Caroline is excited to be part of the Talbert House team, and looks forward to helping out with the communities in Cincinnati.

I celebrate with food.  I get comfort from food.  I get to explore new flavors and check out new restaurants.  While it isn’t a conscious thing, somehow family time is often spent over a meal – especially when I can get my dad to make his pancakes.  I plan social engagements over dinner and arrange business meetings around lunch.  Food is an extension of my social life.   I have struggled all my life with my weight but not to the extent it has compromised my health or my daily life.  And for the record, I do try to exercise!

What’s the big deal?

Others aren’t so lucky.  The first person I remember meeting with an eating disorder lived in my freshman dorm.  She was funny, smart, cute, and had a great wardrobe.  Her parents were pretty well off.  I was a tad jealous of her life when I met her.  But that changed when I saw her struggles.  None of us knew how to help her but we all knew something was terribly wrong.  She didn’t return after Christmas break.  We never knew what happened.  I always wondered what I should have done to help her; how I could have made a difference for her.

And years later I know more people who struggle with eating disorders and I still feel unprepared to help them.  My heart breaks for them and their families.  It’s not about the food.  I understand now that eating disorders aren’t just about eating less and exercising more.  They are not a choice.  They involve complex medical and psychiatric issues.

But still, how do I help?

The good news is that Gateways now provides eating disorder services.  I have somewhere to refer families when they are in the Cincinnati area.  But I am trying to educate myself too.  What do I say?  Or maybe more importantly, what don’t I say?  Here are some tips I have learned:

• Listen in a way that is open, patient, and non judgmental
• Ask how you can help
• Be honest. Show your care, concern, and understanding
• Don’t make it all about the food.  Plan activities that don’t involve food
• Get informed. Understand the facts versus the myths
• Encourage professional help in a gentle way

If you know someone with an eating disorder, you know how frustrating and helpless it feels to watch them struggle. Scare tactics and threats don’t work. Just telling someone to eat doesn’t fix the problem. This is a serious medical and psychiatric issue and help is available.

What are some enjoyable activities you could suggest that don’t involve food?

Isn’t it terrific when great ideas bring a community together? 16 year-old Lucas Gould, basketball legend Oscar Robertson, and members of our community are working together to build a recreation center which will make a major impact on the health and wellbeing of Parkway Center’s residents. This is Lucas’s story:

My name is Lucas Gould. I’m 16 years old and 6’8”, and I play basketball for Indian Hill High School.  That might seem a natural conclusion, but playing basketball is a lot more than being tall.  For me basketball is learning how to take what I bring to the court and “team up” with the other guys, my teammates, to play the best that we can.  It isn’t always easy to get things together, keep what the Coach tells us, deal with each other, and an opposing team.

I am learning a lot about myself under pressure and about everyone else on and off the court.  My parents, teachers, coaches, family, friends, and community are there to help me.  I am fortunate, far more than many, and sometimes I need to pay attention to that!

I also have heroes, people whom I admire, whose lives have shown me all kinds of possibilities – about how to be the best I can be.  One of my heroes is a family friend and hero to many – basketball legend and great humanitarian Oscar Robertson. He has done so much during his basketball career and since!

Recently, I learned about Parkway Center’s need for a recreation center for their homeless men and Veterans.  I asked Oscar Robertson to “team up” with me and the men at Talbert House’s Parkway Center.  He said Yes!!  Our plan – Hoops for the Homeless! – is to build a half regulation 3×3 court with an extra rim, providing a sports/recreation facility for the men served there.

The Oscar Robertson Hoops for the Homeless! Community Service Project is an excellent fit with Lucas’ interests, his friends, teammates, and his family’s generosity and enthusiasm for Parkway Center and its purpose in helping the men of Parkway Center in their recovery.  What makes Lucas’ project so great is that is appeals to people with various interests: those who care about health and fitness, those who care about our military Veterans, and those who want to honor their hero and mentor. It truly is inspiring how one 16 year old young man has been able to bring all these interests together to create a better outcome for so many.

Written by Tracy W.   Tracy is the Development Director and has been with Talbert House since 2009. Tracy is a wife and proud mother of two boys, Will and Gabriel. In her spare time she enjoys the sunshine, freshly squeezed lemonade, shopping, and spending time with her gregarious and curious guys.

You’ve heard the expression being in the right place at the right time. Recently, I had an experience that made that expression a reality for me.

On Friday, February 15, I had our first blood drive for Bleed for a Cause at Hoxworth‘s Tri-County location. As I arrived that morning, a transport van pulled up beside me and a middle-aged woman stepped out. The first thing I noticed was her clothing and hair were a little disheveled. When she started speaking, I noticed her front top teeth were missing. She had the appearance of someone who was going through hard times.

We both went in the blood center at the same time. We exchanged hellos, and she proceeded to register to give blood while I went about setting up the Talbert House table. When she was done preregistering, she sat next to me and began to strike up a conversation.

“Carol” introduced herself and shared that she was there to try to give blood for a friend that was in the hospital. As she was talking to me, she put several of the snacks offered at the blood center in her pockets and purse. Carol told me about her life. She said she was trying to be healthier. She had stopped smoking, and she was in recovery. She had been through some really hard times personally and had turned to drugs to cope. She was so proud that she had pulled herself together and was trying to stay clean and sober. Carol admitted it was a challenge and every day was a struggle- she was taking one day at a time.

I immediately thought of our mission and wanted to share it with her. Carrol had never heard of Talbert House, so I explained what our agency is all about. Luckily, I had brought some brochures for my display, so I gave her one, pointing out 221-HELP (513-221-4357) number in case she had any questions, or felt like she was falling off course and needed help getting back on track. After taking a few minutes to read the brochure, she looked at me, and with tears in her eyes, she expressed her sincere gratitude. Carol admitted that many times she didn’t know who she could turn to and felt very alone. She felt that in a divine way, our paths were meant to cross that day. Carol gave me a hug as she left the blood center. She said she was going home and calling 221-HELP to get connected to available options.

Although slow for blood donations, my serendipitous encounter with Carol made the day worthwhile. I left feeling very blessed that I am a part of such an incredible organization that impacts peoples lives like this every day! My experience was the epitome of our mission –

Building a Stronger Community…One Life at a time.

Written by Beth P.    Beth is the Events Coordinator and has been with Talbert House since May of 2012. Her greatest accomplishment has been raising her two amazing sons, Rob and Jason, who has special needs. When not working, she enjoys traveling, spending time with family and friends, and anything that has to do with the UK Wildcats!