MESSAGE FROM THE CEOSpring is finally here! Despite the snow and ice of the past winter, our staff and clients continued to partner to ensure that needed services were received. Thank you to everyone for your perseverance. Springtime brings many updates and I want to share a few highlights:

An exciting new best practice is being adopted at GCB. The Sanctuary Model is a trauma-informed approach for enhancing an organization’s culture. The goal is to more effectively provide an environment to address healing from traumatic experiences. It is a practice recognized by the mental health arm of the federal government (SAMHSA). A high number

of our clients have endured trauma in their lives, and due to the nature of our work, staff can also become involved in stressful situations. In order to address trauma, staff will learn new trauma treatment interventions and enhance organizational culture so that trauma can be recognized and recovery can be better supported. A group from GCB recently participated with five other regional organizations in the intensive, train-the-trainer program for Sanctuary, and will begin sharing with staff groups very shortly. We are looking forward to seeing this model further enrich our already great work culture.

You may be aware of the delay in rolling out phase two of Ohio Health Home implementation. Part of that delay came from the state’s announcement of updated requirements and reimbursement rates. GCB’s analysis agreed with The Ohio Council of Behavioral Health & Family Services Providers’ public response that the rates would not adequately support service to most of our existing eligible clients. The good news is that GCB will continue its leadership with integrated mental and physical healthcare service approaches to our clients using current reimbursement models, grants and support from our wonderful donors. We are committed to working with our state constituencies to identify future integrated care models that will continue to expand our best practice approaches for clients.

Finally, I am pleased to share with you that GCB’s Annual Campaign is moving along with great success. Through the generosity and warm hearts of our many donors, we are achieving one of our most successful campaigns. This will certainly enable our organization to accomplish more for our clients. On behalf of GCB, “THANK YOU!”

GREATER C INCINNATI BEHAVIORAL HEALTH SERV ICES • SPR ING 2014

MINDFUL MATTERS

2014 BOARD OF DIRECTORS Anthony Carter Chairman Federal Reserve Bank

Nick Hahn Immediate Past Chairman Retired, The Kroger Co.

Adrienne Russ Secretary Russ Consulting Training & Development, LLC

Richard Boydston, Esq. Bingham Greenbaum Doll LLP

Lt. Christine Briede Liason, Cincinnati Police Dept.

Jill Cross Community Volunteer

Bill Culp Gallagher SKS

Connie Cunningham Community Volunteer

Angela Dodd PNC Bank

Steve Harlamert Harlow-HRK Sales & Marketing

Grant Hesser PDSC Corp.

Sarah Jahnke Western Southern Life

Kenneth Myles The Myles Group

Kenneth L. Parker, Esq. U.S. Attorney’s Office

Jamie Ramsey Calfee, Halter & Griswold LLP

Susan Scherer The Kroger Co.

James Thomas, MD Cincinnati Center for Psychoanalysis

Gloria Walker GW Consulting and Education

Lois Wenstrup Community Volunteer

SCHOTT FOUNDATION GRANTGreater Cincinnati Behavioral Health Services is pleased to announce receipt of a $250,000 grant from the Marge & Charles J. Schott Foundation. The grant was given in honor of Carolyn Unnewehr Paddock. Funds will be used in support of the community mental health provider’s Information Technology Upgrade Project, and specifically for a supplemental power generator.

“We are sincerely grateful to the Marge & Charles J. Schott Foundation for this generous grant,” says GCB Chief Executive Officer Jeff O’Neil. “GCB has recently completed conversion to full electronic health records, as required by federal provision. With the installation of a power generator, we can ensure that our crucial electronic data and confidential client information remain operational at all times. This grant makes it possible for us to better serve our clients.”

Care Managers at GCB work very hard to provide their clients with tools they need for recovery, and have a great track record of recognizing unique opportunities toward that goal. Brooke Lipscomb of the CJ-ACT team knows that recovery is a big job and sometimes clients struggle to get the essentials for their families.

That is why every week or two they head to the Hope Foundation at Greater Cincinnati Land-Co-Op, where Brooke’s mother Lisa is the director. Lisa gives Brooke the heads-up to come and pick up extra items they have left, and Brooke alerts her co-workers Curtis, Jackie and Shushana from IDDT team. Together they load the car, bag up the food and distribute to the families they serve. Generally about 17 families are provided with pantry staples, and depending on the time of year, maybe a ham or turkey. Leftover non-perishables are stored on shelves, but aren’t usually around long; everyone knows a client or family who can use a hand occasionally.

During the Christmas season, Brooke will make up baskets; she even has her children help. “What we do fits the [GCB] model of ‘meet people where they are’”, says Brooke, “and also helps us engage with our clients and earn their trust. Once we have that we can teach them how to use these resources to help themselves next time.”

“Beat the Blues” was the theme of the evening, but the 200 guests were

everything but blue at the 8th Annual GCB Champions of Hope event

at the Newport Syndicate on Friday, April 11. Over $56,000 was raised

in support of Greater Cincinnati Behavioral Health Services, the region’s

most comprehensive provider of services for people with severe mental illness.

The amount exceeded last year’s event proceeds by over 20 percent.

GCB is grateful to the sponsors, guests, staff and volunteers who made this

event a huge success.

top row, left to right: Basette Smith II, Joy Wilson,Catherine and Ryan Engle; Maria & Tom Schuh; Tim West, Dr. Chole and Timothy Mullen; Polly & Bill Culp; David & Betsy Mann, Mary Hub, Rusty Sheehan and Diane Bitter

bottom row, left to right: Bob and DellAnn Sathe, Jill and Rich Cross; Gregg Pieples, Dorothy & Jeff O’Neil; Steve & Dayan Harlemert; Tony Carter, Vicki Brown and George Foster ; Stephanie Henderson & Kieran Hurley

GCB CARE MANAGERS GATHER, DISTRIBUTE NECESSITIES TO CLIENTS

OUR VISION

To continually develop leading edge

practices and treatments to assist

clients with their recovery.

To be a leader and share our expertise

through cost-effective, outcome-driven

mental health and human services.

To expand the scope and geographic

reach of our services through mutually

beneficial relationships.

OUR MISSION

To assist persons with

mental illness and related

barriers to lead productive

and fulfilling lives.

LEARN MORE

Visit www.gcbhs.com to

learn more about GCB.

WELCOME DR. CHOLE MULLEN AND APN DENA KRONILOU GCB is pleased to welcome Dr. Chole Mullen and Dena Krondilou to its staff. Dr. Mullen is a new member of the Psychiatry team and Dena is an Advanced Practice Nurse.

Dr. Chole Mullen had a calling ever since she was a young girl. “I always knew I wanted to serve people,” she says. Her mother worked for a doctor, so Dr. Mullen saw firsthand what it meant to make a difference.

When she started toward her goal, Dr. Mullen thought she would pursue social work, but changed to medicine when she realized how

few women and minorities there were in the field. She attended medical school at the University of Cincinnati, where she also did her residency. “Most of my peers were white men,” she recalls of the early days. “When I started, only 12% were women and only 10% were minority.” Though she was in the minority, Dr. Mullen was no pushover. “One surgeon tried to bully me when I was seeing one of his relatives as a patient; he got very belligerent. I finally said, ‘I’ve had it. If you decide you want me as a doctor you let me know, but I won’t be treated this way.’ He called the next day and apologized!”

It was during her residency at UC that she met a medical student named Tracey Skale, who of course became GCB’s Chief Medical Officer. Dr. Mullen was even Matron of Honor at Dr. Skale’s wedding. They have been friends ever since.

Dr. Mullen was initially interested in family medicine, but soon after recognized the great need for psychiatrists. Since that time, her career has taken her from working at UC Psychiatry’s inpatient facility, to a small mental hospital, to an outpatient agency that served mostly children and families. “At one point, I had over 450 children and parents as patients.”

We also welcome Advanced Practice Nurse Dena Krondilou. Dena always had a goal of working in the mental health field, even if the path was occasionally roundabout. She applied to Christ Hospital’s nursing school, but changed her mind and headed to Ohio University to explore Forensic Chemistry. While at home, she wrote a postcard to the hospital saying she was withdrawing her

application, but it was never received. “I think my dad pulled it out of the mail,” Dena says with a tone that indicates she wouldn’t be surprised. She was accepted at Christ, and the rest is a very busy history.

After graduation in 2005, she worked for a year on the night shift at Christ Hospital’s Oncology/Hematology Department. The hours didn’t agree with her, so she moved to Surgery, where she stayed for 7 years. Throughout that time, she continued her schooling to become a Psychiatric Nurse. “My grandmother, who I never knew, committed suicide on Mother’s Day, and I thought ‘I want to try to do a better job [for those with a mental illness]; I know I’d want to be treated well if it was me.” After finishing her APN certification, a brief stay at a small local mental health agency and the VA, a call from Psych Pros brought her here. “I feel fortunate; spoiled, almost!” she says of her new position with GCB.

We are very pleased to have both very talented people join the GCB family.

“You make a living by what you get. You make a life by what you give.” – Winston Churchill

Visit www.gcbhs.com and select the “donate now” button to find all the ways to financially support GCB.

Contact Rusty Sheehan at rsheehan@gcbhs.com or 513-354-7005 to learn more about donating to GCB.

DONATE

1501 Madison Road Cincinnati,OH 45206

OUR VALUESWe treat all clients with dignity and respect.

We value the uniqueness of every individual.

We instill dignity, responsibility and self-respect in all clients.

We understand and meet the needs of clients and their families.

We take pride in what we do.

We believe that our staff and their families are the source of our success.

We support and help our community and neighbors.

We respect and embrace the diverse cultural backgrounds, values and perspectives of our staff, clients and people with whom we come in contact.

We value collaborative relationships in delivering quality services.

We provide comprehensive, innovative and flexible services.

We provide outcome-oriented and cost-effective services.

We strive for quality and excellence in everything we do.

GCB LOCATIONSGCB has two clinic locations in Cincinnati. The primary clinic site and administrative headquarters are located in East Walnut Hills:

1501 Madison Rd. Cincinnati, OH 45206 513-354-5200

The other clinic location is in Roselawn:

7162 Reading Rd. Cincinnati, OH 45237 513-354-7200

Other housing and GCB residential facilities are located throughout Greater Cincinnati. For more infor-mation about these services, please call 513-354-7216.

GCB offers Transitional-Aged Youth (TIP) Services in Clermont County at 1074 Wasserman Way; Batavia OH 45103; 513-354-1300

AccreditationsNational Accreditation through CARF; Licensed and Certified by Ohio Dept. of Mental Health and Addiction Services; Funded by Hamilton County Mental Health and Recovery Services Board; Ohio Rehabilitation Services Commission; Hamilton County Department of Job and Family Services; Better Business Bureau; City of Cincinnati; United Way of Greater Cincinnati; Ohio Department of Rehabilitation & Correction; and Hamilton County Board of Developmental Disabilities

For more information, please visit our website at www.gcbhs.com

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