I participated in a training a while ago, the purpose of which was to better inform HCA staff and
contract providers about the “ins and outs” of working with consumers, specifically in the
contracting process. In general, I thought the content excellent, although I always feel a bit
strange to be part of such conversations in which consumers are discussed in the third person,
all the while being hyper-aware of the fact that, for me, consumers are not a “they,” but a “we.”
Looking back, I wish I had disclosed, but the situation made me feel rather circumspect, and I
suspect I allowed another small opportunity to educate my colleagues slip past. The decision to
disclose is always a very personal one. It is always a calculated risk and an act of courage.
When I was in the midst of a severe, life-changing mental health crisis several years ago, I shared my predicament more
readily and fully with my close friends and some coworkers before I did the same with members of my own family. I felt the
bonds which tied me to those special people were more flexible --more forgiving-- than were my baggage-laden family ties. I
was often surprised by the reactions I received. Some to whom I disclosed obviously were very uncomfortable with the specter
of mental illness passing so close by, while others stepped up to the plate to reaffirm their friendship and offer their support.
Many times, the reaction was not what I had expected from that particular person.
Calculated risks. One observation offered at the training I mentioned earlier was that consumers often feel it valuable to share
something of our personal stories, especially at the beginning of a relationship or collaboration. There are myriad reasons for
this, often having to do with the stigma and lack of validation many of us have experienced both in the course of our treatments
and in society at large. We also offer our stories by way of explanation, especially in a professional, behavioral health setting,
because we know that our roles and relationships are changing significantly and we hope our experiences and insights will
contribute to a profound transformation of the environment we all now share.
On another level, as a former journalist and newspaper editor, I was engaged for 20 years in the great game of being objective
when I relayed the news. Ultimately, I failed, eventually concluding that there is no such animal as “objectivity.” I decided that
we all have our own experiences and points of view, and the best we can do is to share these openly with others so that, at
least, they can judge our information in light of our honest disclosures. It is in this spirit that I share these few thoughts with you,
as I work to develop the Office of the Consumer-Employee Advocate, dedicated to supporting fellow consumer-employees
who, like myself, find themselves working “on the inside.” Yes, it can be a little strange at times but, in my experience, it’s not a
bad place to be at all.
Richard Krzyzanowski is the Consumer Employee Advocate for HCA’s Behavioral Health Services. He can be reached at (714) 667-5607, or
at rkrzyzanowski@ochca.com. He welcomes your comments and suggestions, and is available to assist all consumer employees, their
coworkers and supervisors.
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Multicultural Community Art Fair
On March 29, 2008 consumers and family members participated in their first community art fair at the Delhi Center in Santa
Ana. Over fifty artists of all ages and cultural groups enjoyed a day of fun, music, poetry and of course, art. The artwork
included painting, sketching, photography, multi-media pieces, ceramics, glassware, and jewelry. Authors also showcased
poems, songs, and inspirational thoughts. The art and writing entries were judged and finalists will be included in the Mental
Health Services Act (MHSA) 2009 calendar. The event drew a crowd of over one hundred artists and visitors. The art fair was
sponsored by the MHSA Office, Mental Health Association, National Alliance for Mental Illness (NAMI), and the Multicultural Art
Guild. We want to thank all those who made this event such a wonderful success, especially Judy Adams, the driving force
behind this project. The finalists for the MHSA 2009 calendar are listed below:
|
Finalists of Arts Competition
(listed in alphabetical order) |
| Judy Adams |
Mark Doyle |
Jane Park |
| Lan Arms |
Robert Fuhrman |
Joni Penn |
| Brian Atkin |
Patrick Jackson |
Fred Snider |
| Tina Basgall |
Maricela Looreza |
Fred Snider |
| Theresa Boyd |
C. L. McElroy |
Tim Swift |
| Chris Dovey |
Mildred Nicholson |
Alvino Uribe |
| |
|
Finalists of
Crafts Competition
(listed in alphabetical order) |
| Judy Adams |
Larry Baldovin |
Tim Swift |
| Joanna Amaro |
Tho Be |
|
|
Lan Arms |
Beth Hodson |
|
| |
|
|
|
Finalists of
the Writing Competition
(in
alphabetical order) |
| “A rainy
day tradition” by C. L. McElroy |
| “Bipolar
Disorder” by KJ Anderson |
|
“Esperanza” by Maricela Loaeza |
| “Hope
Deferred No More” by Karen L. Manna |
| “Internal
Fire” by Kymberli Kercher-Smith |
| “Life is a
Quilt” by Vivian De Leon |
| “Prism” by
Batyah Prock |
|
“Reclamation” by Kathy Clink |
|
“Remembrances” by Khe Ngo |
| “Thank
You” by Patrick Lindsey |
| “The Black
and White of It” by Judy Adams |
Internal Fire
by Kymberli Kercher-Smith
Where did I learn my ingrained belief that if I benefit from or feel good about
something that I do or say that I am being a bad selfish person? Who says?
When I reminisce, I can create a long list of influential, book-smart people in
my life that contributed that perception of my intentions. But who they are and
why they verbalized that are not what I question. Instead, I question why I am
so wiling to allow myself to believe other people’s biased opinions over my own
first-hand experiences, feelings, and innate knowledge of my true, pure
motivations. Since I have an intense desire to alter my misguided self-image,
belief of who I should be and am, I once again ask… who says I’m a bad
selfish person? Not me! Not anymore! If anything, I am selfish in a positive,
life-giving way…I take care of myself, and in doing so fuel the fire within me
that can spread to give new energy to a flickering flame of another, or re-ignite
or give first fuel to fires lying dormant wihtin others.
By C. L. McElroy
Insight
By Sarah Moss
Some things we cannot control, and
focusing where we can control – the
attitude we choose and our actions
enriches our self.
If you do not think much of yourself, then
you will find someone who doesn’t think
much of you and agree with them.
Reclamation
By Kathy Clink
What do you do
as the mania ends,
when the images fade
and you’ve lost all your friends?
Filled with pain beyond words,
a life frozen in time.
What do you do
when you find a lost mind?
Kites, Kites
By Margarita Noguera
Kites, where are they?
I saw them this morning,
Blue, red and yellow
Dancing in the air,
Though one got loose
to a far away place…
I know the children
Are behind the moon
Watching, waiting….
Hoping home become safe again,
No fire, no violence, no fear.
Kites, higher than the clouds
Are waiting for them
It is not time for games
And the kites dance a lonesome waltz
Did you see the kites this morning?
A whispered voice answered,
“They are gone
Behind the moon”
Love Force
By Judy Bonin
Love is a force
Where did mine go?
He took not the love I intended
It came searing back
With fire and fury
Branding me, upended
Esperanza
By Maricela Loaeza
Espera Esperanza,
el amor aguarda
no te salgas del alma
que la vida se acaba…
no te vayas;
en la casa
hay lirios blancos
que avivan
la pureza de los que aman…
Tu eres el bienestar,
la esperanza
de los que ya no tienen nada.
Hope
(English Translation of
Esperanza)
Wait for hope
for love waits
don’t leave your soul
for life ends…
Don’t go away
in the house
There are white irises
that bring life to
the purity of those that love
You are the well being,
the hope of those
that no longer have anything
Faith
By Minh-Ha Pham, Psy.D., MHSA Training
Program
Call it whatever you would please;
Faith isn’t anything any science could touch or measure.
But you can feel it in the heart.
It is what keeps hope going,
people trying and trusting
to believe in the goodness of life and others.
It is often greater than any sum of its parts,
and beyond the wonder of genetic blueprints.
Faith provides the gift of resilience to weather the storm,
the courage and strength to bridge dividers
and overcome adversity.
It has a sibling named “compassion,” with the ability to seek
understanding,
to embrace the true meaning of goodness,
where people’s souls can find
a place of safety
to rest their cares on the gentle softness of inner peace…
By Jane Park
By Tim Smith
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Network of Care for Behavioral Health
By Anthony Perera, MHSA Office
Network of Care is an Internet based community resource for consumers, County staff, and
providers. It also offers important information on diagnoses, insurance, and advocacy as well
as daily news concerning behavioral health. It also features a Community Calendar to post
local community events, a Message Board to communicate with peers and a My Folder to
securely store personal health information and if desired, share them with a trusted friend or
relative. To set up a My Folder simply create a new user ID with a password. Inside My
Folder you can create and print out an Emergency Card containing your emergency contact
information. You may also request a wallet-size plastic emergency card be mailed to you at
no charge to you. If you’re a provider, you can also build your own free web page. Click on
For Providers link on the bottom of the home page to take you to the Providers section. Visit Network of Care today and learn
what it has to offer! Network of Care home page
http://orange.networkofcare.org, E-mail:
networkofcare@ochca.com.
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MHSA Office Calendar of Events
|
July |
| 1 |
11:00 am |
CAAC* Meeting |
|
7 |
1:00 pm
|
MHSA Steering Committee |
|
10 |
7:30 am |
Mental Health Board Study Meeting |
| |
9:00 am
|
Public Hearing on Capital Facilities & Technological Needs Component
Proposal |
|
15 |
11:00 am |
CAAC Meeting |
|
23 |
9:00 am |
Mental Health Board Meeting |
| |
|
August |
|
4 |
1:00 pm |
MHSA Steering Committee |
|
5 |
11:00 am
|
CAAC Meeting
|
|
14 |
7:30 am |
Mental Health Board Study Meeting |
|
19 |
11:00 am |
CAAC Meeting |
|
27 |
9:00 am |
Mental Health Board General Meeting |
| |
|
September |
|
2
|
11:00 am |
CAAC Meeting |
|
8 |
1:00 pm |
MHSA Steering Committee**
|
|
11 |
7:30 am |
Mental Health Board Study Meeting |
|
16 |
11:00 am |
CAAC Meeting |
|
24 |
9:00 am |
Mental Health Board General Meeting |
*CAAC = Consumer Action Advisory Committee
**Due to Labor Day Holiday on September 1, MHSA Steering Committee meeting will
take place on September 8
Public Hearing on Capital Facilities and Technological Needs Component Proposal
will take place on July 10, 2008 at 9:00am at Orange County Hall of
Administration, 333 W. Santa Ana Blvd., Santa Ana, CA 92701.
A draft of the proposal is available for public review at Orange County Public
Libraries and online at www.ochealthinfo.com/mhsa/
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Consumer Perspective
Before, we always stayed home. We did
not want to have contact or to talk with
anyone. Pacific Clinics recommended
that I participate in a ceramics group. I
only made ceramics but did not talk to
any one. Then some of the consumers
were invited to attend an MHSA meeting. We were afraid to
go but the MHSA Office urged us to participate. They picked
us up and took us home, translated everything into
Vietnamese and encouraged us to share ideas and listen to
ideas from other consumers. We felt respected; we believed
in ourselves and did not feel the stigma of mental illness. We
went to the Westminster Clinic and began to invite
Vietnamese consumers and families to participate in MHSA
meetings. Little by little, we began to feel happy, to believe in
ourselves and to contribute to the mental health field with our
hearts. My English has improved and now I am the Vice-
President of the Community Action Advisory Committee. I
want to say thanks to the MHSA Office and their staff.
Trước đây, tôi thường hay ở nhà. Tôi không muốn tiếp xúc
hay nói chuyện với bất cứ một ai. Pacific Clinics đã đề nghị
tôi nên tham gia vào nhóm làm đồ gốm. Tôi chỉ ngồi chăm
chú làm, mà không chuyện trò với một ai. Sau đó, một số
bệnh nhân được mời đến tham dự buổi họp do Văn Phòng
Đạo Luật Dịch Vụ Sức Khoẻ Tâm Thần tổ chức. Chúng tôi
rất sợ đi họp, nhưng Văn Phòng MHSA đã thúc đẩy chúng
tôi nên tham dự. Họ đã đưa đón chúng tôi tận nhà, dịch lại
tất cả sang tiếng Việt cho chúng tôi hiểu, khuyến khích
chúng tôi chia sẽ những ý kiến, những kinh nghiệm và lắng
nghe những ý kiến của chúng tôi. Chúng tôi cảm thấy được
tôn trọng, chúng tôi tự tin và không còn mặc cảm về bệnh
tâm thần của mình. Chúng tôi đã đến Bệnh xá Westminster
để mời những bệnh nhân và thân nhân của họ đến tham gia
những buổi họp do MHSA tổ chức. Dần dần, tôi bắt đầu cảm
thấy vui vẻ, tự tin và đã đóng góp một cách tích cực vào lãnh
vực tâm thần. Khả năng Anh văn của tôi có tiến bộ và hiện
tại tôi là Phó Chủ Tịch của Ủy Ban Cố Vấn Hành Đồng Cộng
Đồng (CAAC). Tôi muốn nói lời cảm ơn đến Ban Lảnh đạo
và toàn thể nhân viên Văn Phòng Đạo Luật Dịch Vụ Sức
Khoẻ Tâm Thần (MHSA).
CAAC members elected their new executive board members on June 17, 2008. A sincere
thank you goes out to the outgoing executive members (Robert Reid – President, George
Nguyen – Vice President and Kymberli-Kercher Smith – Secretary) for their dedicated
service during the past term. New executive board: (pictured from left) Kymberli-Kercher
Smith - President, Tho Be - Vice President and Joy Torres – Secretary.
The faces at our last community meeting expressed one
clear message – hope. Hope that there would be answers
and their lives would get better. Hope that they would find
support and they would be able to earn a living. Hope that
the darkness was ending and there really was light at the
end of the tunnel. The mission of the MHSA Office is to
ensure that individuals and families experiencing mental
illness have the hope they need to transform their lives.
Through our Community Action Advisory Committee,
stakeholder meetings, and recovery training, consumers and
family members have offered their stories, their dreams and
their hearts to change our mental health system. We have
been given a clear vision about the kinds of services that are
needed and the programs that must be created to support
recovery and encourage resiliency. We are excited about our
new Workforce Education and Training Plan, our Capital
Facilities project on Tustin Avenue, and the 2009 MHSA art calendar. We are looking forward
to developing permanent supportive housing, establishing a workforce of peers and family
members, and designing critical prevention and early intervention programs. Together we are
creating a community that embraces possibilities for healing and wellness.
Pacific Clinics and Santa Ana Community College
have collaborated with the Orange County Health
Care Agency to implement a training program for
mental health consumers and family members. The
goal is to enable these individuals to work in the public
mental health system and become service providers or
operators of consumer-run services. As of June 2008,
approximately 75 consumers and family members will
have completed the classroom portion of the program.
In September another 25 students will participate in
the program.
CAAC was established to advise
HCA Behavioral Health Services on
issues related to the delivery of the
Orange County mental health
services funded through the MHSA.
CAAC also assists HCA in ensuring
that MHSA funded services are of
high quality, accessible, culturally
competent, client-driven, costeffective
and consumer/family/recovery/resiliency focused.
