Posted: 6/28/05
Mental health group taking preventative approach
Teen support workers seeing positive changes
By David Heiller
Argus News Editor
Things are improving in Houston County for teenagers in trouble.
That was one of the main points that representatives from Hiawatha Valley Mental Health Center (HVMHC) told Houston County commissioners at their June 21 meeting.
HVMHC provides a variety of mental health services to Houston, Wabasha, and Winona Counties.
Teen support worker Jay Clark said his goal is to prevent recidivism. He feels his job has become more preventative in nature in the past four years, and that they are better able to help teens before their problems get severe.
He and coworker Stephanie Beeskau help prevent out-of-home placements or assist in teensí transition from out-of-home placements to original home and community environments.
Their clients are evenly split between schools and the county, Clark said. He feels that indicates that positive changes are happening prior to the kids being picked up by the county.
HVMHC executive director Julie Hanson commended the two workers, saying they were dedicated and worked long hours. A worker schedule that Clark gave the board bore that statement out. It started at 7:30 a.m. with a telephone call to a foster parent about a run-away, and ended at 5:45 p.m. after 18 other duties were performed.
Hanson felt the work was cost-effective. ìTheyíre just there to provide help and they have a very good rapport with the kids,î Hanson said.
Commissioner Kevin Kelleher agreed. He said the preventative approach was one of the best ways to do it.
John Rislove, director of child and family services at HVMHC, said the teen support workers offer support to families as well.
Teachers and psychiatrists give input too, Beeskau added.
Kelleher asked how they are dealing with minorities who have moved into the county from different environments. ìItís got to be an incredible cultural shock,î he said.
Clark responded that teenagers who come from large inner city areas have a mindset of living in danger. ìEverything is a threat to them,î he said. He gave an example of going to a gas station and not locking the door of his car, and his inner-city client being shocked.
ìYou almost have to be a predator or youíre going to be preyed upon,î he said in describing their mindsets.
Defensiveness is a big wall with some of these clients, Beeskau said, and itís hard to solve that.
Commissioner Tom Bjerke asked how teens were enrolled with HVMHC. Clark said that when he started four years ago, they were coming from orders or referrals from court services or probation officers. But more are coming from schools now, he said. That means there is no pressure for the teens to meet with a teen support worker, but they usually do. There are also some self-referrals and referrals from families that they have served before.
Kids referred by schools have five or 10 sessions with a teen support worker, do all right, and go on their way, Clark said.
Commissioner Ann Thompson said that Houston County has a lot of good resources for teens.
Hanson agreed. ìI think Houston County does a better job than most other places,î she responded.
Higher needs too
Rislove said there is also childrenís day treatment for higher-needs kids with diagnosed mental health problems. These kids demand so much time in school that they detract from the education of others. There is group and individual counseling for them in Winona. These services are paid by the county, state special education funds, and by third party billing, Rislove said.
Hanson said HVMHC is considering setting up a similar program in Houston County. There is a waiting list for these clients, so Winona County sometimes canít take Houston County children because their primary funding comes from Winona County.
HVMHC has an agreement with the Family Services Collaborative to work with Houston County. It has an office at 121 South Marshall Street in Caledonia. The phone number is 507-725-2022Ýor 1-800-657-6777. HVMHC also has an office in La Crescent.
ÝHVMHC was formed in February 1964 and is based in Winona. Its goal is to recognize the importance and effectiveness of community based programming, action and support as the movement to bring mental health services to people in their home communities gained momentum. The Board of Directors oversees the centerís operations with a membership of twelve, which includes one county commissioner from each of the three counties and nine other community leaders representing mental health clients, human service agencies, and surrounding businesses.
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