NAMI LA CROSSE COUNTY BEACONPO Box 595

La Crosse,Wisconsin 54602

RETURN SERVICE REQUESTEDNAMI is an organization of friends and family of persons

with severe mental illness who furnish support,education and advocacy and promote research.

INFORMATIONAL MEETING - March 17, 2009TOPIC: Can Working Consumers Qualify for Medicare and Medicaid Benefits?

JOIN USWe’ll Know What You’re Talking About!

DUES SCHEDULE $28 ............Individual/Family Membership $35 ............Supporting Membership $50 ............Sponsoring Membership $100 ..........Patron $ ................Contribution

Dues cover the period from January 1 through December 31~ TAX DEDUCTIBLE ~

Name _________________________________

Address________________________________

City, State & Zip ________________________

Phone _________________________________

Mail check to: NAMI La Crosse County,Treasurer, Marilyn Olson, 409 6th Street South, La Crosse, WI 54601

If you would like to be a member but feel you can’t affordthe fee, we will waive this amount. Call Marilyn at 785-2902

If you have any questions or concerns...call any of the Board Members:Joan Pickett (787-5001); Dottie Baumgartner (786-0933); Barbara

Hegge (784-0062); Mary Lou & Jim Ryan (784-7532); Marilyn Olson (785-2902); Adrian Novak (608-779-1554); Anna Mae & Robert Pruse (784-9644); Cindy Brownell (608-406-2125); Elaine Stanley (792-3881) Kathy VonGroven (894-3006)

Numbers to Call...LA CROSSE Congressman Ron Kind ............................... (608) 782-2558 U.S. Senator Russ Feingold .......................... (608) 782-5585

MADISON State Senator Dan Kapanke........................ 1-800-385-3385 State Representative Jennifer Shilling ....... 1-888-534-0095 State Representative Mike Huebsch........... 1-888-534-0094 NAMI-WI ........................... 1-800-236-2966 M-F 8am-4pm WISCONSIN LEGISLATIVE HOTLINE 1-800-362-9472

WASHINGTON D.C. Senator Herb Kohl.......................................... 202-224-5653 Senator Russ Feingold .................................... 202-224-5323 Congressman Ron Kind ................................. 202-225-5506

NAMI Helpline.....1-800-950-6264

Non-Profit Org.U.S. POSTAGE

PAIDPermit No. 136

La Crosse, WI 54603

6

March 2009 Mary Lou Ryan, Editor Volume 28, No. 6

NAMI LA CROSSE COUNTY BEACONNational Alliance on Mental Illness

PO Box 595, La Crosse,Wisconsin 54602

• The April 21 Family Informational meeting topic is Post Partum Depression.

• The May Family Informational meeting will be held on May 19. If you missed filling out a program survey at the last meeting, you can call program chair Julie Noll 787-0478 with your suggestions for speakers or topics you'd like to hear.

• The K.C.Tootsie Roll Sale will be held again in April. If you can help out, call 784-7532. We have 6 volunteers and need a few more. The K.C's generously divide the proceeds from the sale between the mentally ill and the developmentally disabled.

• Training for Family to Family Teachers will be held April 17-19 at the Mead Hotel and July 31-Aug 2 in Brookfield, place tba. If you are a Family to Family graduate and interested in teaching this course, call Patti Jo @775-3682 or 788-3241

• NAMI WI annual state convention at the Madison Marriott West will be held May 29-30.

• The annual Boat Trip on the La Crosse Queen and Pizza Party will be held in June again this year.

1

FAMILY INFORMATIONAL MEETING: March 17, 2009

TOPIC: Can Working Consumers Qualify for Medicare and Medicaid Benefits?

SPEAKER: Sara Boe: Community Work Incentive Co-ordinator for Riverfront

WHERE: First Congregational Church, 2503 Main St. Handicapped accessible

WHEN: Doors open at 7:15 p.m. Come for coffee and get acquainted. Program starts at 7:30 p.m.

Sara Boe is a benefits specialist at Riverfront. She earned her degree in the School of Communications, Health and Psychology at Winona State University in 1998. She has previously worked as a vocational rehabititation case counselor coordinator for adults with disabilities and served her internship at La Crosse County Clinical Services.

NAMI WI State Convention

Registration form for NAMI WI state convention in Madison is on page 5. Those who receive the IRIS have a registration form in their Jan/Feb '09 issue. Those who wish to attend the conven-tion must submit their own registration with the required tuition. Your local NAMI board has voted to sponsor 6 tuition scholar-ships, and if you wish to apply for a tuition scholarship call any board member (their names and phone numbers are on the back of this Beacon)and give your name and phone number. The board as a committee of the whole will review requests and award the six scholarhips at the May 4 board meeting. Any NAMI member who has paid their dues for 2009 can qualify for one of these six tuition scholarships. Deadline for applications to attend the convention are due in Madison by May 22.

LOOKING AHEAD...

March 2010 Mary Lou Ryan, Editor Volume 29, No. 6

1

INFORMATIONAL MEETING - March 16, 2010TOPIC: UPDATE ON THE MENTAL HEALTH RECOVERY SERVICES,

AND THE RECOVERY MODEL FOR COMPREHENSIVE COMMUNITY SERVICES

SPEAKER: Shelly Skau Supervisor of La Crosse County Human Services

NAMI BASICS! FIRST TIME OFFERINGIN THIS AREA. FREE SIX-SESSION

CLASS FOR PARENTS OF KIDSAGES 13 TO 18. SEE DETAILS P.1

YOUR CHILD NEED NOT HAVE HADA SPECIFIC DIAGNOSIS FOR YOUR

FAMILY TO QUALIFY & ENROLL

Great Rivers 211 or 1-800-884-3620Clinical Services Crisis Program 24 hour contact information: 8:30am-5:00PM weekdays - 608-785-61015:00pm-8:30 weeknights & 24 hours Saturday, Sunday, and Holidays call 608-784-4357 (784-HELP)Veterans: National Suicide toll free hot line: 1-800-273-TALK(8255)

CAPTION: Sheri� Steve Helgeson spoke to �fty �ve assembled NAMI members and friends at the February 16 family informa-tional meeting at the Congregational Church fellowship hall. He brought news of many improvements in services available to mentally ill jail inmates that have occured in the past two years. Helgeson, with the great good help of the La Crosse County Human Services Board and the entire County Board has added many badly needed professionals on a part time contract basis to meet the needs of mentally ill inmates. Please see an extensive program review of his talk on page 4 & 5 of this Beacon.

WELCOME TO THE NEW VERNON COUNTY NAMI AFFILIATE

Perhaps some of you folks on our outreach mailing list live inVernon County and will be happy to hear that you can attend NAMI meetings closer to home now in Viroqua . The meetings will be held at The Viroqua Medical O�ce Building , 407 S. Main St in basement conference room D. Meetings are on the second Monday of each month at 5:30 p.m. For more informa-tion attend a meeting, see NAMI.org or contact Kathy Rohr-Ninmer .........e mail <kninmer@fccnetwork.org> Congratulations to your a�liate founders, we wish you every success with your journey of advocacy, education and support!

FAMILY INFORMATIONAL MEETINGTuesday, March 16 at 7:15 p.m.

First Congregational Church Fellowship Hall2503 Main Street, La Crosse, WI 54601

Handicapped accessible.

SPEAKERS: Shelly SKAU, SUPERVISOR of LA CROSSE COUNTY HUMAN SERVICES PAM BENDEL, INDEPENDENT LIVING RESOURCES (ILR)

TOPIC: UPDATE ON THE MENTAL HEALTH RECOVERY SERVICES, AND THE RECOVERY MODEL FOR COMPREHENSIVE COMMUNITY SERVICES

COFFEE AT 7:15 P.M.SPEAKER AT 7:30 P.M.

Shelly Skau will give us an update on the present status ofthe Comprensive Community Services(CCS). Matt Strittmater presented a program to NAMI on CCS in October of 2006,after the completion of the Mental Health and AODA Redesign project completion. Ms Skau is now the Supervisor in the Mental Health Recovery Services sections who oversees the Target Case management, the Community Options program, and the Comprehensive Community Services Program. She has worked in the mental health services �eld for over 20 years, as a case manager, therapist, supervisor, Quality Assurance Manager, and instructor. She enjoys living in the La Crosse area, with her six year old son, Dylan, and when she is not working enjoys watching him grow. Pam Bendel is a Peer Specialist working at Independent Living Resources, and is ILR's o�cial representative to our NAMI a�liate. Pam and her daughter Amy presented their recovery stories as a team at our May 2007 Family Informational meeting.

Caring by Sharing will follow the program.

************************************************

PLEASE SAVE THOSE RECEIPTS!Save all receipts from all Festival Foods and Quillin’s stores.Deadline for returning receipts is in 3 month segments. NAMI will receive 1% of total receipts.

Jan., Feb., and March are Due on April 12. April May and June are Due on July 12. July, Aug. & Sept. Due Oct 12. Oct. Nov. & Dec. Due Jan.12. Deliver or send to Marilyn Olson, NAMI Treasurer, 409 6th St. So. La Crosse, WI 54601 Phone: 785-2902

We have 20 people saving receipts, we’re hoping that many will become involved in this fund raiser! ~ Thank you

Sue Kuruzovich, case manager for OPERATION ENDURING FREEDOM along with Jeannie Button, outreach coordinator for OPERATION IRAQUI FREEDOM spoke to us in November about the problems of returning combat veterans. They spoke of things like "Detachment" and "With-drawal", about "Emotional Degradation", "Recovery" and "Stabilization". They left us many hand outs, some of

which I'll list here, that members can check out of our library. Or call 800-342-9647 or the web site on the bottom of the page 3 list of things available to veterans and their families at Military One Source Educational Materials.

Resource Materials Available in NAMI Library (1)Talking To Children About Going To War(2) Deployment: Your Children and Separation(3)Deployment and Negative Changes in Children(4)Supporting Your Loved One During a Difficult Deployment(5) When Your Son or Daughter Is Deployed(6) Military Spouse Resource Center: Deployment Support(7)Homecoming after Deployment: Dealing With Changes and Expectations

Dottie Baumgartner prepares to lead the Christmas Carols, as Patti Jo Severson passes out to song books @ Xmas party at the Neighborhood Center.

Elaine Stanley, Librarian introduces baby Rosemary to NAMI people at Xmas party.

52

LOOKING AHEAD - DATES TO REMEMBERMARCH 15 & 29 : FAMILY SUPPORT GROUP MEETINGS Second & Fourth Mondays of each month at the South Side Neighborhood Center, 1300 South 6TH St. 7: P.M. TO 8:30 P.M. CALL 785-9644 OR 784-0062

MARCH 17: SURVIVORS OF SUICIDE SUPPORT GROUP Third Wednesday of each month at 7:00 to 9:00 p.m. at the Franciscan Spirituality Center, in the Rose Room (141) 920 Market St., La Crosse WI 54601

APRIL 20 FAMILY INFORMATIONAL MEETING. TOPIC:The Spiritual Path To Recovery: Speaker, Alice Holstein 7:30 p.m. First Congregational Church fellowship hall 2503 Main Street, La Crosse, WI 54601

April 30 and May 1: Knights of Columbus Tootsie Roll Sale. If you can volunteer for a 2 hour period, call 784-7532.

APRIL 30-MAY 1, 2010: Taking the Journey Together: The Art of Living With Serious Mental Illness WISCONSIN ANNUAL CONFERENCE, GREEN BAY, WI. See registration form in the Feb. Beacon or the Jan/Feb IRIS.

Consumer Support Group: Each Wednesday from 6:00p.m.-8:00p.m. @ RAVE 1806 State St. Call Aaron @ 785-6264

JUNE 13: NAMI BOAT TRIP & PIZZA PARTY @ 12: 45 P.M RESERVATIONS TAKEN AFTER MAY 1ST, 2010

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

NOTES FROM THE PRESIDENT

We are happy to announce that Jennifer Schwidler and Kae Crech presented the first NAMI BASICS Class Feb. 23. at Gundersen Hospital. Twelve people have enrolled in this class.

Karolla Green will be attending Facilitator Training in Madison on March 20 & 21. She will assist with the Family to Family Support Group that meets at the South Side Neighborhood Center 2nd & 4th Mondays.

Joan Pickett gave a short talk on the Family to Family Class at the West Salem Home makers meeting Feb.7.

Adran Novak has been doing an excellent job working on increas-ing membership through concentration on public relations. His efforts produced the biggest crowd that has ever attended a Tuesday night Family Informational meeting. Fifty five persons attended Sheriff Helgeson's presentation On Feb 16. He has also convened a committee to revise our by-laws, and the results will be presented to the board on April 5 and submitted to the general membership on April 21. A NAMI gold medal to Adrian Novak! (Olympic's Influence!)

Another gold medal to Patti Jo Severson and her crew, Dani Scrage, Monica Lazere, Pam Bendel, & Jean Nagel who have presented Parents and Teachers as Allies to another 40/50 teachers at the annual WWEC Conference at the La Crosse Center on Feb 19.

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

I regret to inform all that the support group started for the families of veterans at the Tomah V.A. has been cancelleddue to lack of attendance. We thank Marcy Engebretsonand Deborah Lynch for their efforts to establish thissupport group. ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++Place please save those receipts! add. Probably not room in this column Will bring a copy from an old issue.

Coping Skills with a Mental Health focus, Coping Skills Applied, Bible Study, Exercise Program, Hero’s Journey (a writing program) Health Education, Inmate Newsletter, Inmate Special Work Details, Leisure Education Class, Library and Book Exchange, Narcotics Anonymous, Personality Education, Recreation Program (lead by various UW/L Physical Ed. students in the gym twice a week where students lead inmates through various physical activities). There is a storybook program where female inmates read stories to their children on tape, and the tapes are forwarded so their children can hear their mother reading to them. There are worship services. Jail chaplain Tom Skemp also does some counseling. The newest addition to the team is a nurse practitioner who will be on site for four hours a week, in addition to a local MD, Dr. HIcks who is contracted to come in four hours a week. Now with the addition of the psychiatrist, the nurse practitioner, the medical doctor and the social worker, inmates can see one of the professional health workers in a day or two instead of having to wait a week as in the past. Helgeson commented that they also have the crisis intervention team that can be called out if someone has a crisis in the evening. He alluded to the fact that in the past there had been issues with HPL and their arbitrary formularies for dispensing medication, but that HPL has been purchased by another company called Correctional Health Care, “and we have been very satisfied with HPL over the last couple of years.” He stated that HPL is including 20% more psychotropic meds than previously. There has been a fund established so that if a inmate is on a medication that HPL can’t provide, that person can stay on their same meds until release, however, “Steve Josephson says HPL hasn’t denied any request for ‘off formulary medication’ in the past two years.” There are nurses at our facility 16 hours a day, 7 days a week. About 50% of the jail staff has been trained in Crisis Intervention. We have also offered this training to officers on the street. All of the officers have been trained in Suicide Prevention. “We have changed our screening and booking so it is much more comprehensive than it’s ever been.” These screenings help identify people who are suffering from mental illness, or who are suicidal inmates. It also can identify folks who previously took medications but have stopped, “can help them get back on track and get them started on their meds again”. Helgeson stated that in the past, when inmates were released they were sent out without any medica-tion, unless it was meds they had brought in. There is a new policy now. Inmates are released with several days worth of medications. “If they don’t have the means to purchase their medication, their medical records, with their permission, are sent to St. Clare Mission, and St. Clare is advised that they are coming.” “What is the new addition going to do?” There will be two 57 bed cell blocks, each with two classrooms attached, and an exercise area. There will be direct supervision, i.e., a jailer will be inside the block with the inmates for 16 hours each day, as opposed to the walk through that is done once an hour now. There will be sky lights, carpet, so it will be lighter and quieter. It will be larger so inmates can actually walk from one end to the other, not just go in circles as in the old pods. There will be video visitation. A Transition from Jail to Community Grant has been obtained which will work toward better outcomes after the inmate leaves the jail. There has been an audit of the La Crosse jail by the NCCHC(National Commission on Correctional Health Care). The jail was able to meet 17 of their 20 suggested changes.

Mary Lou Ryan

(continued from page 4)

NAMI BEACON FEBRUARY PROGRAM REVIEW: SHERIFF STEVE HELGESON:

How the New Jail Facility Will Impact on the Mentally Ill (M.I.) in La Crosse County: Sheriff Helgeson opened his remarks by stating, “ standing here as your sheriff ...... I don’t think it was expected... that in 2010 I’d be running the largest mental health facility in La Crosse County, that being the La Crosse County jail.” He went on to recount the history of “how this came to be”. Basically he traced it to the deinstitutionalization and closing of the mental hospitals from the 1950’s to the 1970’s, when it was expected that treatment in the community which was much less restrictive would better serve the needs of the mentally ill. “Money from the closing of the facili-ties didn’t follow into the community, and therefore many people with mental health issues were left without treatments, and fell through the cracks”. Helgeson stated that as a result of this lack of treatment or support, many M.I. people have ended up in our county jail, and in jails across the country. He stressed the importance of education of the public by groups such as NAMI in helping to stop criminalization of mental illness. He stated that the criminal justice system and jails are designed to “keep society safe”, but “due to the criminalization of mental illness jail has become a de facto mental health facility.” He stated that because they are there, they [the department] try to give them at least “some of the treatments that they would not have available on the streets.” He stated that whoever you talk to statewide, from jailers, to officers, psychiatrists, guards, corrections officers, everybody agrees that jail is not the place for the mentally ill. Constraints on the system are (1) a cap by La Crosse county on how many patients the clinical services can see (2) Mendota and Winnebago are accepting fewer patients. Even when ordered by a judge to seek treatment at a state facility due to acute mental health problems, “often the person has to spend nearly a month wait here at our county jail because the person has been put on a waiting list for these facilities.” Our local hospitals also have cut down on beds available, and are reluctant to accept a transfer from the jail to their facility. This happens not only in La Crosse but across the state. He described some of the cases coming into the jail, and stated that sometimes they have only two jailers to deal with 180 inmates. There were 175 threatened or attempted suicides in one recent 12 month period. As state and local facilities cut down on treatment availability, more and sicker people reach jail than in the past. He posed the question, “So how do we deal with these mentally ill patients when they are with us?” The present jail is designed in 8 pods, each with 17 to 30 inmates. Many MI don’t do well with noise, with crowds, and often become the object of bullying. So staff attempt to find single cells for their safety, although this is not ideal due to subsequent isolation and lack of social stimulation. There have been several plans initi-ated to achieve conditions more favorable to mentally ill inmates. (1) Take one block and designate that as a mental health block, to provide some quiet space with other MI inmates where they can feel safe from bullying. (2) a rewards block designed for inmates who can follow rules, that will have special privileges. Our Mental Health Supervisor is Psychologist Steve Josephson, (now retired from the county)who has been hired to oversee our mental health program. Steve Johnson from Human Services will be working 20 hours with dual diagnosed inmates, conducting groups. Johnson also has experience working with the crisis intervention team. Helgeson has jail staff and nursing staff make referrals to Steve Josephson so anyone having problems can get help quickly. Steve Josephson works closely with the HPL HMO medical doctor, but “in addition we now have Tom Trannel M.D., a local psychiatrist who is available for consulting, who also comes to the jail when necessary especially in cases when medications need regulating.” In addition there will be an a mental health intern working in the jail for a year, while pursuing her master’s degree. She’ll be leading programming and groups. Formerly she has been on the local crisis team. Mike Kiefer, a social worker who formerly worked in the closed ward at St. Francis for thirteen years also works at the jail.

Sheriff Helgeson listed all the programs offered at the jail, stating that keeping busy in jail is important, whether the inmate is mentally ill or not. Some of the programs provided at the La Crosse County jail are: GED classes, with an instructor from WTC,(furnished due to a grant written by WTC) also offering reading and writing programs, Adult Basic Education, Alcoholic’s Anonymous, Behavioral Rewards Program, Coping Skills for AODA,

(continued fon page 5)

Sue Kuruzovich, case manager for OPERATION ENDURING FREEDOM along with Jeannie Button, outreach coordinator for OPERATION IRAQUI FREEDOM spoke to us in November about the problems of returning combat veterans. They spoke of things like "Detachment" and "With-drawal", about "Emotional Degradation", "Recovery" and "Stabilization". They left us many hand outs, some of

which I'll list here, that members can check out of our library. Or call 800-342-9647 or the web site on the bottom of the page 3 list of things available to veterans and their families at Military One Source Educational Materials.

Resource Materials Available in NAMI Library (1)Talking To Children About Going To War(2) Deployment: Your Children and Separation(3)Deployment and Negative Changes in Children(4)Supporting Your Loved One During a Difficult Deployment(5) When Your Son or Daughter Is Deployed(6) Military Spouse Resource Center: Deployment Support(7)Homecoming after Deployment: Dealing With Changes and Expectations

Dottie Baumgartner prepares to lead the Christmas Carols, as Patti Jo Severson passes out to song books @ Xmas party at the Neighborhood Center.

Elaine Stanley, Librarian introduces baby Rosemary to NAMI people at Xmas party.

52

LOOKING AHEAD - DATES TO REMEMBERMARCH 15 & 29 : FAMILY SUPPORT GROUP MEETINGS Second & Fourth Mondays of each month at the South Side Neighborhood Center, 1300 South 6TH St. 7: P.M. TO 8:30 P.M. CALL 785-9644 OR 784-0062

MARCH 17: SURVIVORS OF SUICIDE SUPPORT GROUP Third Wednesday of each month at 7:00 to 9:00 p.m. at the Franciscan Spirituality Center, in the Rose Room (141) 920 Market St., La Crosse WI 54601

APRIL 20 FAMILY INFORMATIONAL MEETING. TOPIC:The Spiritual Path To Recovery: Speaker, Alice Holstein 7:30 p.m. First Congregational Church fellowship hall 2503 Main Street, La Crosse, WI 54601

April 30 and May 1: Knights of Columbus Tootsie Roll Sale. If you can volunteer for a 2 hour period, call 784-7532.

APRIL 30-MAY 1, 2010: Taking the Journey Together: The Art of Living With Serious Mental Illness WISCONSIN ANNUAL CONFERENCE, GREEN BAY, WI. See registration form in the Feb. Beacon or the Jan/Feb IRIS.

Consumer Support Group: Each Wednesday from 6:00p.m.-8:00p.m. @ RAVE 1806 State St. Call Aaron @ 785-6264

JUNE 13: NAMI BOAT TRIP & PIZZA PARTY @ 12: 45 P.M RESERVATIONS TAKEN AFTER MAY 1ST, 2010

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

NOTES FROM THE PRESIDENT

We are happy to announce that Jennifer Schwidler and Kae Crech presented the first NAMI BASICS Class Feb. 23. at Gundersen Hospital. Twelve people have enrolled in this class.

Karolla Green will be attending Facilitator Training in Madison on March 20 & 21. She will assist with the Family to Family Support Group that meets at the South Side Neighborhood Center 2nd & 4th Mondays.

Joan Pickett gave a short talk on the Family to Family Class at the West Salem Home makers meeting Feb.7.

Adran Novak has been doing an excellent job working on increas-ing membership through concentration on public relations. His efforts produced the biggest crowd that has ever attended a Tuesday night Family Informational meeting. Fifty five persons attended Sheriff Helgeson's presentation On Feb 16. He has also convened a committee to revise our by-laws, and the results will be presented to the board on April 5 and submitted to the general membership on April 21. A NAMI gold medal to Adrian Novak! (Olympic's Influence!)

Another gold medal to Patti Jo Severson and her crew, Dani Scrage, Monica Lazere, Pam Bendel, & Jean Nagel who have presented Parents and Teachers as Allies to another 40/50 teachers at the annual WWEC Conference at the La Crosse Center on Feb 19.

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

I regret to inform all that the support group started for the families of veterans at the Tomah V.A. has been cancelleddue to lack of attendance. We thank Marcy Engebretsonand Deborah Lynch for their efforts to establish thissupport group. ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++Place please save those receipts! add. Probably not room in this column Will bring a copy from an old issue.

Coping Skills with a Mental Health focus, Coping Skills Applied, Bible Study, Exercise Program, Hero’s Journey (a writing program) Health Education, Inmate Newsletter, Inmate Special Work Details, Leisure Education Class, Library and Book Exchange, Narcotics Anonymous, Personality Education, Recreation Program (lead by various UW/L Physical Ed. students in the gym twice a week where students lead inmates through various physical activities). There is a storybook program where female inmates read stories to their children on tape, and the tapes are forwarded so their children can hear their mother reading to them. There are worship services. Jail chaplain Tom Skemp also does some counseling. The newest addition to the team is a nurse practitioner who will be on site for four hours a week, in addition to a local MD, Dr. HIcks who is contracted to come in four hours a week. Now with the addition of the psychiatrist, the nurse practitioner, the medical doctor and the social worker, inmates can see one of the professional health workers in a day or two instead of having to wait a week as in the past. Helgeson commented that they also have the crisis intervention team that can be called out if someone has a crisis in the evening. He alluded to the fact that in the past there had been issues with HPL and their arbitrary formularies for dispensing medication, but that HPL has been purchased by another company called Correctional Health Care, “and we have been very satisfied with HPL over the last couple of years.” He stated that HPL is including 20% more psychotropic meds than previously. There has been a fund established so that if a inmate is on a medication that HPL can’t provide, that person can stay on their same meds until release, however, “Steve Josephson says HPL hasn’t denied any request for ‘off formulary medication’ in the past two years.” There are nurses at our facility 16 hours a day, 7 days a week. About 50% of the jail staff has been trained in Crisis Intervention. We have also offered this training to officers on the street. All of the officers have been trained in Suicide Prevention. “We have changed our screening and booking so it is much more comprehensive than it’s ever been.” These screenings help identify people who are suffering from mental illness, or who are suicidal inmates. It also can identify folks who previously took medications but have stopped, “can help them get back on track and get them started on their meds again”. Helgeson stated that in the past, when inmates were released they were sent out without any medica-tion, unless it was meds they had brought in. There is a new policy now. Inmates are released with several days worth of medications. “If they don’t have the means to purchase their medication, their medical records, with their permission, are sent to St. Clare Mission, and St. Clare is advised that they are coming.” “What is the new addition going to do?” There will be two 57 bed cell blocks, each with two classrooms attached, and an exercise area. There will be direct supervision, i.e., a jailer will be inside the block with the inmates for 16 hours each day, as opposed to the walk through that is done once an hour now. There will be sky lights, carpet, so it will be lighter and quieter. It will be larger so inmates can actually walk from one end to the other, not just go in circles as in the old pods. There will be video visitation. A Transition from Jail to Community Grant has been obtained which will work toward better outcomes after the inmate leaves the jail. There has been an audit of the La Crosse jail by the NCCHC(National Commission on Correctional Health Care). The jail was able to meet 17 of their 20 suggested changes.

Mary Lou Ryan

(continued from page 4)

NAMI LA CROSSE COUNTY BEACONPO Box 595

La Crosse,Wisconsin 54602

RETURN SERVICE REQUESTEDNAMI is an organization of friends and family of persons

with severe mental illness who furnish support,education and advocacy and promote research.

INFORMATIONAL MEETING - March 17, 2009TOPIC: Can Working Consumers Qualify for Medicare and Medicaid Benefits?

JOIN USWe’ll Know What You’re Talking About!

DUES SCHEDULE $28 ............Individual/Family Membership $35 ............Supporting Membership $50 ............Sponsoring Membership $100 ..........Patron $ ................Contribution

Dues cover the period from January 1 through December 31~ TAX DEDUCTIBLE ~

Name _________________________________

Address________________________________

City, State & Zip ________________________

Phone _________________________________

Mail check to: NAMI La Crosse County,Treasurer, Marilyn Olson, 409 6th Street South, La Crosse, WI 54601

If you would like to be a member but feel you can’t affordthe fee, we will waive this amount. Call Marilyn at 785-2902

If you have any questions or concerns...call any of the Board Members:Joan Pickett (787-5001); Dottie Baumgartner (786-0933); Barbara

Hegge (784-0062); Mary Lou & Jim Ryan (784-7532); Marilyn Olson (785-2902); Adrian Novak (608-779-1554); Anna Mae & Robert Pruse (784-9644); Cindy Brownell (608-406-2125); Elaine Stanley (792-3881) Kathy VonGroven (894-3006)

Numbers to Call...LA CROSSE Congressman Ron Kind ............................... (608) 782-2558 U.S. Senator Russ Feingold .......................... (608) 782-5585

MADISON State Senator Dan Kapanke........................ 1-800-385-3385 State Representative Jennifer Shilling ....... 1-888-534-0095 State Representative Mike Huebsch........... 1-888-534-0094 NAMI-WI ........................... 1-800-236-2966 M-F 8am-4pm WISCONSIN LEGISLATIVE HOTLINE 1-800-362-9472

WASHINGTON D.C. Senator Herb Kohl.......................................... 202-224-5653 Senator Russ Feingold .................................... 202-224-5323 Congressman Ron Kind ................................. 202-225-5506

NAMI Helpline.....1-800-950-6264

Non-Profit Org.U.S. POSTAGE

PAIDPermit No. 136

La Crosse, WI 54603

6

March 2009 Mary Lou Ryan, Editor Volume 28, No. 6

NAMI LA CROSSE COUNTY BEACONNational Alliance on Mental Illness

PO Box 595, La Crosse,Wisconsin 54602

• The April 21 Family Informational meeting topic is Post Partum Depression.

• The May Family Informational meeting will be held on May 19. If you missed filling out a program survey at the last meeting, you can call program chair Julie Noll 787-0478 with your suggestions for speakers or topics you'd like to hear.

• The K.C.Tootsie Roll Sale will be held again in April. If you can help out, call 784-7532. We have 6 volunteers and need a few more. The K.C's generously divide the proceeds from the sale between the mentally ill and the developmentally disabled.

• Training for Family to Family Teachers will be held April 17-19 at the Mead Hotel and July 31-Aug 2 in Brookfield, place tba. If you are a Family to Family graduate and interested in teaching this course, call Patti Jo @775-3682 or 788-3241

• NAMI WI annual state convention at the Madison Marriott West will be held May 29-30.

• The annual Boat Trip on the La Crosse Queen and Pizza Party will be held in June again this year.

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FAMILY INFORMATIONAL MEETING: March 17, 2009

TOPIC: Can Working Consumers Qualify for Medicare and Medicaid Benefits?

SPEAKER: Sara Boe: Community Work Incentive Co-ordinator for Riverfront

WHERE: First Congregational Church, 2503 Main St. Handicapped accessible

WHEN: Doors open at 7:15 p.m. Come for coffee and get acquainted. Program starts at 7:30 p.m.

Sara Boe is a benefits specialist at Riverfront. She earned her degree in the School of Communications, Health and Psychology at Winona State University in 1998. She has previously worked as a vocational rehabititation case counselor coordinator for adults with disabilities and served her internship at La Crosse County Clinical Services.

NAMI WI State Convention

Registration form for NAMI WI state convention in Madison is on page 5. Those who receive the IRIS have a registration form in their Jan/Feb '09 issue. Those who wish to attend the conven-tion must submit their own registration with the required tuition. Your local NAMI board has voted to sponsor 6 tuition scholar-ships, and if you wish to apply for a tuition scholarship call any board member (their names and phone numbers are on the back of this Beacon)and give your name and phone number. The board as a committee of the whole will review requests and award the six scholarhips at the May 4 board meeting. Any NAMI member who has paid their dues for 2009 can qualify for one of these six tuition scholarships. Deadline for applications to attend the convention are due in Madison by May 22.

LOOKING AHEAD...

March 2010 Mary Lou Ryan, Editor Volume 29, No. 6

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INFORMATIONAL MEETING - March 16, 2010TOPIC: UPDATE ON THE MENTAL HEALTH RECOVERY SERVICES,

AND THE RECOVERY MODEL FOR COMPREHENSIVE COMMUNITY SERVICES

SPEAKER: Shelly Skau Supervisor of La Crosse County Human Services

NAMI BASICS! FIRST TIME OFFERINGIN THIS AREA. FREE SIX-SESSION

CLASS FOR PARENTS OF KIDSAGES 13 TO 18. SEE DETAILS P.1

YOUR CHILD NEED NOT HAVE HADA SPECIFIC DIAGNOSIS FOR YOUR

FAMILY TO QUALIFY & ENROLL

Great Rivers 211 or 1-800-884-3620Clinical Services Crisis Program 24 hour contact information: 8:30am-5:00PM weekdays - 608-785-61015:00pm-8:30 weeknights & 24 hours Saturday, Sunday, and Holidays call 608-784-4357 (784-HELP)Veterans: National Suicide toll free hot line: 1-800-273-TALK(8255)

CAPTION: Sheri� Steve Helgeson spoke to �fty �ve assembled NAMI members and friends at the February 16 family informa-tional meeting at the Congregational Church fellowship hall. He brought news of many improvements in services available to mentally ill jail inmates that have occured in the past two years. Helgeson, with the great good help of the La Crosse County Human Services Board and the entire County Board has added many badly needed professionals on a part time contract basis to meet the needs of mentally ill inmates. Please see an extensive program review of his talk on page 4 & 5 of this Beacon.

WELCOME TO THE NEW VERNON COUNTY NAMI AFFILIATE

Perhaps some of you folks on our outreach mailing list live inVernon County and will be happy to hear that you can attend NAMI meetings closer to home now in Viroqua . The meetings will be held at The Viroqua Medical O�ce Building , 407 S. Main St in basement conference room D. Meetings are on the second Monday of each month at 5:30 p.m. For more informa-tion attend a meeting, see NAMI.org or contact Kathy Rohr-Ninmer .........e mail <kninmer@fccnetwork.org> Congratulations to your a�liate founders, we wish you every success with your journey of advocacy, education and support!

FAMILY INFORMATIONAL MEETINGTuesday, March 16 at 7:15 p.m.

First Congregational Church Fellowship Hall2503 Main Street, La Crosse, WI 54601

Handicapped accessible.

SPEAKERS: Shelly SKAU, SUPERVISOR of LA CROSSE COUNTY HUMAN SERVICES PAM BENDEL, INDEPENDENT LIVING RESOURCES (ILR)

TOPIC: UPDATE ON THE MENTAL HEALTH RECOVERY SERVICES, AND THE RECOVERY MODEL FOR COMPREHENSIVE COMMUNITY SERVICES

COFFEE AT 7:15 P.M.SPEAKER AT 7:30 P.M.

Shelly Skau will give us an update on the present status ofthe Comprensive Community Services(CCS). Matt Strittmater presented a program to NAMI on CCS in October of 2006,after the completion of the Mental Health and AODA Redesign project completion. Ms Skau is now the Supervisor in the Mental Health Recovery Services sections who oversees the Target Case management, the Community Options program, and the Comprehensive Community Services Program. She has worked in the mental health services �eld for over 20 years, as a case manager, therapist, supervisor, Quality Assurance Manager, and instructor. She enjoys living in the La Crosse area, with her six year old son, Dylan, and when she is not working enjoys watching him grow. Pam Bendel is a Peer Specialist working at Independent Living Resources, and is ILR's o�cial representative to our NAMI a�liate. Pam and her daughter Amy presented their recovery stories as a team at our May 2007 Family Informational meeting.

Caring by Sharing will follow the program.

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PLEASE SAVE THOSE RECEIPTS!Save all receipts from all Festival Foods and Quillin’s stores.Deadline for returning receipts is in 3 month segments. NAMI will receive 1% of total receipts.

Jan., Feb., and March are Due on April 12. April May and June are Due on July 12. July, Aug. & Sept. Due Oct 12. Oct. Nov. & Dec. Due Jan.12. Deliver or send to Marilyn Olson, NAMI Treasurer, 409 6th St. So. La Crosse, WI 54601 Phone: 785-2902

We have 20 people saving receipts, we’re hoping that many will become involved in this fund raiser! ~ Thank you