CENTER UPDATE

Monthly Newsletter for The Counseling Center of Wayne and Holmes Counties

Edition: February 2010

CRISIS SERVICES

In the first six months of the current fiscal year, the Counseling Center screened 372 different persons for possible admission to a psychiatric hospital…equivalent to 14 persons every week. More important than the actual number of referrals, however, is the increasingly serious nature of the calls to the Center’s crisis response team and the complicated problems which the callers present. While the Counseling Center has licensed mental health professionals available 24-hours a day to offer crisis assistance and supports, recent cuts to mental health funding have made it increasingly difficult for crisis staff members to link persons in need to ongoing care and support after the immediate crisis has been addressed. Crisis staff are available by calling any of the Center’s office locations, 24-hours a day.

STAFF APPOINTED TO COMMUNITY BOARD

Diane DeRue, Vice-President/Chief of Rehabilitation and Recovery Services, was recently reappointed by the county Commissioners to serve on the Wayne County Community Corrections Board.  She will serve as Secretary.  The Community Corrections Board, which is mandated by the Ohio Revised Code, acts as an oversight and advisory body in regard to issues related to law enforcement and corrections.  DeRue is also designed by the Counseling Center as the forensic monitor, assigned to assure appropriate mental health services to mentally ill adults released from prison.

NEW STAFF

The Counseling Center welcomes Paskal  Rainsberger as a new Family Support Aide, working in Holmes County.  Rainsberger, who was previously employed in law enforcement, will be working with youth who are at-risk of out-of-home placement and families with multiple service needs.  His position is funded by a grant from the Holmes County Family and Children First Council.  He replaces Keenan Vinion who resigned in December.

REPRESENTATIVE PAYEE PROGRAM

Persons with severe mental illness sometimes have difficulty managing their own funds, making it difficult to live successfully in the community.  The Counseling Center was recently approved by the Social Security administration to act as the representative payee for a small number of local citizens who need help in this area and who do not have family or friends who can assist.  As the representative payee, the Center collects the social security payment on behalf of the client, works with the client on budgeting and fund management, and issues checks for the client to use to pay his/her bills or to use as personal spending money.   With a payee, clients can be assured that necessary bills are paid in a timely manner, that funds are available for personal use, and that their funds are kept in a safe place, protected from persons who might take advantage.