What's New

By Developmental Services Community Support Manager Jeff Nunemaker

The UCS Developmental Services Division has been collaborating with community businesses and organizations to provide a variety of positive experiences for the adults we serve.  Here are some of the collaborations we’re currently involved in:

Anytime Fitness – A weekly exercise group has been adapted for individuals who may have difficulty exercising.  The exercise is focused on fun and hopefully will promote healthy living.

Bennington Health and Rehab – We volunteer to help facilitate a weekly volleyball game for residents.

Bennington Lanes – Morning and afternoon weekly bowling sessions occur through the winter.  This is a real favorite!

Bennington Tennis Center – Individuals participate in weekly adapted tennis lessons (another favorite activity), which are funded through the Mount Laurel Foundation.

BROC – Our participants volunteer to stock shelves.

Crescent Manor Nursing Home – Our program participants and residents of the nursing home volunteer together to stuff and sew teddy bears to be given to children by Rescue Squad, hospital, police, and fire personnel.

Second Chance Animal Shelter – Many of our participants volunteer to give the shelter animals some love.

Riley Rink –Individuals participate through the winter in ice skating with the use of adaptive equipment so that everyone can enjoy it.

Vermont Arts Exchange – A year-round therapeutic art class is offered and art shows are held to promote artistic expression.

We believe that not only do the adults we serve benefit from these collaborations, but the community does as well.  If anyone is interested in collaborating with us, we would be happy to speak with you about it.  Please contact Jeff Nunemaker at 442-5491 x 290 if you have any ideas!

Each year adult mentors across the country are honored during the month of January for their commitment to youth in America.

Nothing beats hangin' with a friend!

Big Brothers Big Sisters, a UCS program, has established youth mentoring programs throughout Bennington County and currently supports over 40 mentoring matches in local schools as well as in the community.

In January, our organization recognized these individuals (Bigs) for the many hours of personal time they spend with their littles arranging safe, supportive and fun experiences for them throughout the year.

Our Big Brothers and Big Sisters who serve as lunch time and/or community mentors were recently recognized in the Bennington Banner and the Manchester Journal along with the businesses that encourage them to participate once a week in our lunch-time mentoring programs. Bigs were also invited to celebrate National Mentoring Month at the West Mountain Inn where event highlights included a tasty lasagna dinner and safety training.

How do you spend your time? Do you build relationships?

Many people ask how these adults, many of whom are working 40+ hours a week, have the time or energy to be a Big Brother or Big Sister to a child in their community.  My answer to that question is always laced with stories, wonderful stories I hear from Big Brothers and Big Sisters who truly feel what they are doing is important.

How much time does it take to witness a 10-year-old child’s reaction after taking a bite of the first cupcake she has ever baked?  Well, you do have to pick her up at her home, take her to yours and then bake a batch of boxed cupcakes. Or, how much time does it take to hike around Equinox Pond on a cool, sunny, fall day and listen to your little brother describe what it feels like to take his first-ever hike in the woods?

One mentor could not get over the fact that his little, who is 8 years old, had never seen an escalator before! The mentor said riding the escalator was instant, free entertainment for both of them at the mall that day.

The stories are endless and the time, well… sometimes a match date is one hour and sometimes its three hours depending on what you both decide to do that day.   

Mentoring is the number one ingredient for a successful future.

 I would like write that all the children in Bennington County who could really benefit from an adult mentor have been matched with one, but that

would not be true. Big Brothers Big Sisters has a list of girls and boys of all ages, who are hoping to be matched with a caring adult sometime soon.

Some of these kids could meet a mentor once a week for lunch and recess at their school and plan what to do together. Others could meet with a mentor after school, in the evening, or on a weekend.  Their mentor would simply pick them up and spend time doing what they planned to do that day.

If you think you might be interested in knowing more about becoming a Big Brother or Big Sister in one of our programs, please email us in Bennington at dlockwood@ucsvt.org, and in Manchester at scottrell@ucsvt.org.   

There are some great boys and girls who sure could use you!

by Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services Director David M. O’Brien

We are well on our way into the holiday season.  Holiday parties are happening and people are making their plans as to where they are going to see the New Year in.  Although this time of year is a joyous one for most of us, it is a time that some find very challenging.  People who struggle with their weight find it hard to keep those extra pounds from mounting up. 

Others who have histories of substance abuse and addiction are exposed to so many more social situations in which alcohol and other drugs are commonplace.  And not necessarily connected to the holiday seasons, other addictions can be seen in so many families – compulsive gambling, work addition, sex or relationship addiction, shopping and spending addiction, and the growing problems with people being addicted to the Internet.

But keeping in the joyful spirit of the holidays, I want to talk about “positive addictions.”  I first came upon this concept when I read the book Positive Addictions by William Glasser (Harper and Row).  Glasser took the concept of “addiction” (the process of becoming dependent on something) and turned it around. 

We all know the effects of “negative” addictions.  Some of us may be struggling with our own demons, whether alcohol, food, drugs or gambling.  Glasser turned the concept 180 degrees by defining positive addictions as the process of becoming dependent on a behavior or an activity which fosters strength and makes our lives more satisfying.

The most common forms of positive addictions are exercise, meditation/prayer, music and forms of artful expression such as painting, quilting or other crafts.  Running, meditation and yoga are the ones that are most robust and about which most research has centered around. 

Glasser cites the results of this research in his book.  Among the results of positive addiction that people experience are: feeling more energy, needing less sleep, good weight control or loss of weight, increased mental strength, more confidence, more creativity, better health, being more tolerant and less angry, and the list goes on. 

In guiding us, Glasser suggests 6 points one should employ in choosing a positive addition.  First, it should be something non-competitive that you can devote approximately an hour a day to.  Second, it should be something that you can do easily and it doesn’t take a great deal of mental effort to do it well.  Third, you should be able to do it alone or rarely with others, but it does not depend on others to do it. 

Fourth, you need to believe that it has some value for you, whether physical, mental or spiritual.  Fifth, you need to believe that if you persist at it you will improve, but this is completely subjective.  You need to be the only one who measures that improvement.  And lastly, the activity must have the quality that you can do it without criticizing yourself.  If you cannot accept yourself during this time the activity will not be addicting.

The benefits of positive addictions are numerous, but it takes time to build up the “addiction.”  For example, Glasser suggests that for running most people take about a year before they cross over from doing it out of duty and dedication to doing it because they want to.  However, the dedication is well worth it for the end game. 

What are you doing for yourself related to positive addictions?

By Director of Finance Jill Doyle

Every now and then something happens in life that takes you completely by surprise. It’s great when the surprise is good news – a new baby, a new job, you win the lottery. But, surprises are not always good. For instance, Hurricane Irene affected every single one of us in different ways. 

Even more recently, I was surprised by the death of my 31-year old niece. I spent a lot of time with my family following her death, and our support and love for each other got us through. But some of the things I learned almost shocked me. Her husband never handled any of the bills so he had no idea how much money they had, how to write a check or pay a bill online, or how to balance a checkbook.

They only had enough life insurance to pay for the funeral so he didn’t know how he would make the next car payment or the next house payment. They were a young couple so financial planning was not one of their top priorities. They thought they had time for that. Actually, I can really relate to these feelings but I took this time to look at my own family financial picture.

Take a look at your situation and answer these questions:

•  Do you have a health care proxy?
•  Do you have a will?Are your kids protected?
•  Do you know how much money you have in savings and checking?
•  Do you know what bills you have and when they are due?
•  Do you have life insurance?
•  Are you an organ donor?
•  Do you have contact numbers for immediate family members?
•  Do you know where important documents are located such as your marriage license?
•  What would happen to your family if something happened to you?

The internet has many resources that can help answer all of these questions.

Tragedies are not easy to deal with; but believe it or not, you can be prepared.

Take one step at a time with your loved ones involved. You might feel funny talking about all this but it is also amazing what you will find out along the way. Life is too short to worry about everything but the people who are closest to you will be forever grateful that you took the time now to think about them in the future!

By Leslie Addison, Human Resources Director

Do you need a new way to relax that’s simple, fun and affordable? If you do, then embark on writing a letter to someone special! Not only is it a way to enjoy a quiet break from your busy day, but it passes on that very same thing to the person at the other end. 

Try to remember a moment, anytime in your past, when you discovered an envelope in your mailbox hand-addressed to you. I don’t mean a bill, or a sales flyer, or the latest Sear’s catalogue; I mean a handwritten letter.  Do you recall that warm feeling of excitement? The anticipation of getting it opened and the smile on your face as you read the words?  I do, and I always considered those moments as unexpected little gifts.  Why, you ask, would I write a letter if I can just type up a quick e-mail and move on to the next item on my list of things to do? Well, let’s consider that very question.

Technology has brought us fascinating ways to communicate efficiently and with immediate results.  We can post messages on Twitter and Facebook, send e-mails, instant messages and texts. We use Blogs such as this. Quickly and easily we can send an identical message to dozens of people in the flash of a keystroke! Using Skype, we actually don’t even have to write anything at all. So why’s all that so bad?  In and of itself it isn’t, but it’s what we’re giving up that’s concerning.  We’re forgetting the art of the handwritten letter and the joy it brings to both parties. 

Letter writing goes beyond just putting words on paper. It’s the process of creating and the satisfaction of the finished product that makes it special. Think of what our Declaration of Independence would look like if it was simply typed in Times New Roman font size 12, and “John Hancock” was just a size 48 bold. The character of the document would be missing; the essence of emotion from each pen stroke would be lost.  Creating a letter is also a hobby to be enjoyed.  The finished product is different each time, never quite knowing how it’ll come out until the end.  There’s a bit of personality in each one.  Penmanship is unique, as is the selection of stationary or pen. Ink on paper is permanent and by accepting that, there’s a bit more stream of consciousness and less worry about the wording. There are no backspace or delete buttons, so often what is written sounds like how you’d speak. How many times have you said, “It was so nice to hear your voice.”?  I believe the same impact holds true when reading a letter written just for you. 

As a culture we are losing our skills in cursive.  Simultaneously, we’ve developed very high expectations for immediate access to, and rapid response from, the people with whom we communicate.  Together, it puts the practice of letter writing in danger of extinction. This age-old form of personal communication can’t go by the wayside to quick e-mails, ‘Reply-all’s, standardized fonts and happy face symbols. Help prevent this from happening!  Get some paper, choose your favorite pen, find a special place to sit, relax for a moment, and compose a letter to someone special. My guess is that by the time you’ve sealed the envelope, adhered a postage stamp and dropped it in a mailbox, you’ll feel more relaxed and a bit happier.  You can also be assured that in a few days, someone will enjoy your sentiments as well!

By Victor Martini, Community Rehabilitation and Emergency Services Director

The great debate about what works in behavioral healthcare has been gaining speed. On the one hand some practitioners advocate for the use of methods that have been shown to work repeatedly, so called Evidence Based Practice, or EBP.

Evidence Based Practice is determined through the collection of client data over time. With enough data from different clients, it’s possible to assess different mental healthcare therapies to see which ones work best. Once a model has been identified as an EBP it is broken down into several parts so that it can be followed faithfully.

Other practitioners line up behind an approach that focuses on the relationship between a client and his/her counselor and relies on feedback from the client about how things are going. This method seeks to define how to maintain positive alignment between client and counselor to facilitate a good outcome. “I can only help you if you are able to influence the type and manner of help that I provide to you. Your information to me about how it is going is more important than the type of practice that I provide.”

Among the EBP camp are those who emphatically uphold their particular therapeutic model, such as Dialectical Behavior Therapy, Illness Management and Recovery, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Integrated Dual Disorders Treatment, or Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing  just to name a few. These therapeutic models are followed faithfully to assure positive predictable results.

On the other hand, advocates of immediate feedback seek immediate positive results. They argue that EBP methods alone are simply a mechanized “cookbook,” but superior results depend on good, reliable and rapid feedback, which creates good alignment between the client and counselor. The client needs to convey to the counselor how well he/she is functioning and how the counselor is doing at making a connection with the client and helping him/her progress.

So, where does this great debate stand today?

As a member of the Clinical Practices Advisory Panel (CPAP), I have worked for several years with the Department of Mental Health in partnership with the Vermont Council of Developmental and Mental Health Services to review Evidence Based Practices in adult mental health and to make recommendations to the mental healthcare system.

After extensive research, the panel made recommendations common to all Evidence Based Practices. Here is a link to the recommendations:

First and foremost the panel found that good outcomes are linked to the manner in which practices are delivered. In other words, Evidence Based Practices are excellent therapeutic tools. But to be fully effective, they depend on good alignment between the client and counselor. Here’s an example of this relationship between the two approaches:

A highly recognized expert in Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) was discussing a particularly difficult client who was not progressing in treatment despite the best work of skilled and dedicated people. The client had successfully completed a DBT skills training group. She had worked with a therapist who was highly skilled in DBT. The client consistently used after-hours telephone coaching.

Despite the impressive array of services, the client was steadily regressing. Colleagues provided many helpful suggestions: “Perhaps a refresher on affect regulation skills.” “Maybe the therapist should review the client’s diary cards to look for recent trends.” “Cognitive restructuring might be helpful.”

After reviewing these options, inspiration struck and the DBT expert realized what to do with exciting clarity that brought a smile to her face: “I’ll take her out for a cup of cappuccino,” she thought. “There is no limit to the exhausting number of service techniques we might offer. There is no limit to fine-tuning the treatment plan. There is, however, a limit on the quality of the relationship that we build with the client. When nothing is working, that is the time to re-establish the relationship.”

Whenever a client is not doing well in treatment I always have to look at the therapeutic relationship I have with the client. How is that alignment working? Is it producing a good outcome?

In the end EBPs are the limitless techniques that we might and should have in our clinical bag of tools. I believe that the successful use of those tools depends more upon the quality of the relationship with the client than the skills with which we follow fidelity to the practices.

It is more about the person than about the practice.

Where do we go from here? In Vermont, we are developing an Evidence Based Practice Cooperative. It will serve as a clearing house for resources and information on best practices. Additionally it is hoped that the cooperative will support the use of data collection, outcomes-monitoring and community-based research to evaluate the effectiveness of Vermont’s mental health system. In essence the cooperative will bring both EBP and alignment-focused approaches to community mental health agencies.

I am pleased and grateful to be a member of the development committee that is working hard to establish a practice cooperative. It is my hope that a successful cooperative will serve to improve not just the quality of services available but more importantly the quality of the lives of people.