The West Bergen Beat - West Bergen Mental Healthcare

Feb2015
We strive to improve the quality of life for individuals and families…one life at a time.
The West Bergen Beat
The Mission of West Bergen Mental Healthcare is to promote psychological health and personal growth. Through comprehensive treatment and supportive services, we respond to the needs of our clients and the communities we serve.
West Bergen Receives
Federal EHR Incentive
In December 2014, West
Bergen attested to the
Medicare/Medicaid Electronic
Health Record Incentive
Program through the
American Recovery
Reinvestment Act
of 2009, which
provides federal
dollars to eligible
professionals as
they adopt,
implement,
upgrade or
demonstrate meaningful use
of certified Electronic Health
Record (EHR) technology. To
receive these payments,
provides must successfully
attest to the Centers for
Medicare and Medicaid
Services (CMS) and meet
certain meaningful use
criteria.
Adopting meaningful use
measures shall provide:
· Improve quality, safety,
efficiency, and reduce health
disparities
· Engage patients and family
· Improve care coordination,
and population and public
health
· Maintain privacy and security of
patient health information
West Bergen has officially
attested through the Medicaid
program for three medical
prescribers. The
next step of the
process will be to
meet certain
meaningful use
objectives,
including the
implementation of
a patient electronic health record
portal, along with a number of
other clinical quality measures
that require the collection of
particular data.
West Bergen Staff Member
Participates in Panel Discussion
on Parental Awareness
At a recent panel discussion, parents heard
from school counselors, police officers,
county prosecutors and mental health
officials about how to help children
suffering from issues ranging from anxiety,
depression, drug and alcohol abuse,
bullying and eating disorders.
Danielle Heller, clinical director for West
Bergen’s Center for Children and Youth,
said she receives from five to six referrals
each week from schools of students
showing risk factors of mental illness. She’s
been seeing more and more exhibiting
signs of anxiety and depression, she said.
But, there is good news: 80 percent of
people with depression show great signs of
improvement after receiving services.
Warning signs of clinical depression, which
afflicts an estimated 2 million American
teens, include distress, disproportionate
response to situations, irritability and a
sense of hopelessness, all of which extend
beyond a two-week period.
Heller also said society must keep
discussing suicide and provide teens who
attempt to kill themselves with the services
they need. She said research shows female
teens are more likely to attempt suicide,
while male teens are four times more likely
to actually kill themselves.
“Parents sometimes say, how do I know
the difference between the typical sadness,
blues, moodiness that all teens go through?
When does that reach the level of clinical,
of seeking services and help?” Heller said.
“Just because your child is going through
ups and downs of adolescence, doesn’t
mean he or she is depressed, but it also
doesn’t mean therapy couldn’t help.”
*excerpts from Northjersey.com : News
Page 2
The West Bergen Beat
Group News
Many West Bergen programs
conduct group therapy as a
method of treatment.
Group therapy is a powerful venue for growth
and change. Not only do
clients receive tremendous understanding,
support, and encouragement from others facing
similar issues, but they also gain
different perspectives, ideas, and
viewpoints on those issues.
The following are some of the
groups we hold on a regular
basis:
Teen Girls
Empowerment Group:
We are now accepting referrals for
the Teen Girls Empowerment
group. In group we address numerous issues
including: Depression,
Body Image, Relationships, Parent-Child Relationships, Anger, Anxiety,
Responsibility, Self-esteem, Emotional
Wellness and Stress Management.
The group will be held at West Bergen’s Center for Children and Youth in
Ramsey, NJ on Wednesdays from
5:00 pm – 6:00 pm. If you have
The Parent Forum
This monthly support group is
scheduled to run on Thursday
evenings from 7:30-8:30 p.m. We
will be running two sections of
this workshop, one for parents of
children 12 and under and one
for parents of children 13 and
over. The support group will have
a two-part focus. The first aspect
of group will explore the challenges of parenting individuals
with Asperger’s and related disorders.
Social Anxiety
Teen Group
“Stand Up Speak
Out”, is for high
school students
who present with
symptoms of social
anxiety such as
school refusal, fear of social
situations and limited peer relationships. This group will
teach adolescents how to minimize their anxiety and avoidance of social situations by
any questions, would like to discuss a
possible referral or have any other
inquiries, please contact Helena
Fotopoulos at 201-934-1160 ext.
7204.
ADHD
groups for boys
and girls ages 7—
18 run throughout
the week depending on ages. Please
contact Alan Koenig,
at 201-934-1160 for
more information.
Adult Programs
The second aspect of each group
will allow participants to share and
process their own experiences within their families. To register please
call Kelly Weaver at 201-857-0080.
The Young Adult Partial Care
Track offers people ages 18-35
years old, groups that are designed
to support a younger person experiencing the beginning of a mental
learning to cope with the anxiety
they experience and to practice
these skills in the safe and
measured environment of the
group. Group meets on Tuesdays 7:00 pm – 8:00 pm. If you
have any questions or would like
to discuss a possible referral you
may have, please contact Eve
Thaler, LPC at 201-444-3550
ext. 7135. To schedule a group
please contact our Access Department at 201-934-1160.
Group therapy is a powerful
venue for growth and change.
Social Skills Groups
for
children ages 4-18 presenting
with ADHD/ADD, ODD, and other
Disruptive Behaviors. The Social
Skills Groups teaches positive relationship skills and helps build confidence
to manage conflicts within a
safe and supportive circle of
peers. Module Topics include:
Conversation skills, strategies to
cope with bullying and teasing,
cooperative play and teamwork,
building and strengthening peer
relationships, managing time
and organizing tasks. For additional information contact Alan
Koenig, LPC, 201-934-1160 ext. 7243.
health challenge, or who may be
in need of support during a life
adjustment. The Young Adult
Partial Care Track Groups are
offered at our 120 Chestnut
Street, Ridgewood location. For
further information call Donna
Marinaro, Program Director at
201-444-3550. ext: 7116.
Page 3
The West Bergen Beat
CARF To Survey West Bergen
West Bergen will undergo its fifth
triennial CARF (Commission on
accreditation as assurance that
providers strive to offer the
highest quality services.
24 and 25. Surveys were taken
in 2003, 2006, 2009, and 2012.
West Bergen has received a three
year accreditation each time due
to its substantial conformance to
the standards and is the highest
accreditation a behavior health
agency can achieve.
To be accredited by CARF, an
organization must satisfy each of
the CARF Accreditation
Conditions, and demonstrate
through a site survey that it
meets the standards established
by CARF. While an organization
may not be in full conformance to
every applicable standard, the
accreditation decision is on the
balance of its strengths with
those areas in which it needs
improvement.
the Accreditation of Rehabilitation
Facilities) survey on February 23,
CARF accreditation signals a
service provider's commitment to
continually improving services,
encouraging feedback, and
serving the community.
Consumers, their families, and
the public look for CARF
West Bergen staff have been
busily preparing for this year’s
survey and are confident that it
will be as successful as it was in
previous years.
Distinguished
Service Award Brunch
Honoring
Deirdre And Joseph Ward
March 15, 2015
Visit
annualbrunch.com
For more information
Page 4
The West Bergen Beat
Sibling Support Group Expands With 2 New Groups!
6-8 Year Old and 13-15 Year Old Groups
For siblings and cousins of children with Asperger’s
Disorder, HFA, PDD, NOS and Nonverbal Learning
Disabilities. This workshop will cover a range of
topics, such as
tolerance, coping
strategies, focusing on
your sibling’s or
cousin’s strengths,
disclosure, fairness,
creating quality time,
and finding common
ground. For additional
information, please contact Dawn Rhode at 201-4443565 X7347 . Visit our website www.westbergen.org for info on our other services!
6-8 Year Old
Group
13-15 Year Old
Group
1/12/15
1/26/15
2/9/15
2/23/15
3/9/15
3/23/15
4/13/15
4/27/15
5/11/15
No meeting in May
6/8/15
6/22/15
Horizon Foundation Awards $25,000 Grant for
Children's Depression
West Bergen Mental Healthcare is pleased to announce that it has received a grant of $25,000 from The
Horizon Foundation for New Jersey. The grant was awarded to support the organization’s Children's Depression Intervention Program that provides assessment and treatment services for young people suffering from depression.
“The Horizon Foundation for New Jersey recognizes the quality services that West Bergen is providing to
young people suffering from depression. With the treatment provided by this valuable program, many
young people will be better able to cope with the social and health related challenges of depression.
Children's Depression Intervention is among the specialized programs offered by the West Bergen Center
for Children and Youth located in Ramsey, Ridgewood and Oakland. Children's Services has been recognized as a Center of Excellence by the Center for the Advancement of Children's Mental Health of Colum-
bia University. Depression Intervention offers screenings as well as a variety of treatment methods, supervised by child and adolescent psychiatrists. For information on specialized treatment programs please
West Bergen Mental Healthcare
120 Chestnut Street
Ridgewood, NJ 07450
201-444-3550/Fax 201-652-1613
West Bergen Center for Children and Youth
One Cherry Lane Ramsey, NJ 07446
201-934-1160/Fax 201-934-0019
West Bergen Counseling Group
3 Post Road
Oakland, NJ 07436
201-651-1900/Fax 201-651-9608
West Bergen Counseling Group
615 Franklin Turnpike
Ridgewood, NJ 07450
201-857-0080/Fax 201–857-0073
WWW.WESTBERGEN.ORG