Hello! Just want to take a moment to share with you all some highlights, updates and challenges from the programs I oversee. Things have been very busy in our Community Support Programs and in our IPS Supported Employment Program, due to staff turnover. I’d like to take this opportunity to thank the staff of these programs for all of their extra work and pitching in during this time. Our Viroqua CSP office, La Crosse CSP office and IPS program are fully staffed again and we are working to fill two positions in our Black River Falls and Sparta CSP offices. The good news is that these programs continue to provide quality services, our services are in demand from our purchasers, and budget-wise, things are going well for the programs. We are looking into ways we can improve staff retention. I hope that when things settle down, I can travel to our Minnesota locations to meet FCC staff there and learn more about Minnesota services.
On the fun side of things, FCC has received funds from NAMI and the state to expand our tobacco cessation efforts, which are integrated in our mental health programs. We are expanding our integrated tobacco cessation efforts to our Viroqua CSP and Black River Falls/Sparta CSP locations. As we’ve learned, persons with significant mental health issues want to quit smoking/tobacco use at about the same rate as the general population of tobacco users, and with support, can quit. In the past we’ve referred clients to other providers, as we believed it would be more helpful for them to see specialists. However, we’ve learned that the same skills we use to provide treatment for mental health issue and addictions other than tobacco can be employed successfully to treat tobacco addiction. An example of this is in using Motivational Interviewing techniques to help clients make behavioral change. Also exciting, research finds that tobacco cessation assists with mental health recovery as well as improves success with recovery from other addictions. If you want to learn more about providing tobacco cessation services, please don’t hesitate to contact me. There are many free resources for training online.
We’re currently conducting a GoFundMe fundraising campaign for the Other Door Drop In Center at our Viroqua location. This drop in center is a valuable resource for persons in that area, as a place for social connection and mental health/AODA recovery in a drug and alcohol free setting. Many self help groups take place each week at the center, in addition to recreation and social opportunities. The center is well used but is experiencing budget problems. If you want more information on the campaign or this great center, please don’t hesitate to contact me.