| 2 | 2/28/2011 | Employees Advocate for Mental Health | Staff meet local legislators to describe services | Several members of the RI General Assembly joined mental health and substance abuse professionals in the NRI Community Services Board Room for a Legislative Reception on Monday, February 28th. Co-sponsored by the RI Council of Community Mental Health Organizations (RICCMHO) and the Drug and Alcohol Treatment Association of RI (DATA), this informative session brought information about the mental health and addiction treatment programs that serve 70,000 Rhode Islanders annually, to our legislators, including newly elected Senators and Representatives. | Besides NRI Community Services, other agencies serving northern Rhode Island—Fellowship Health Resources, Phoenix House, Tri-Hab, Ad Care, and Butler Hospital, were also represented. Senators Elizabeth Crowley, Roger Picard, and Marc Cote along with Representative James McLaughlin were in attendance.
Board members and employees of these agencies took the opportunity to speak to their representatives and explain the scope of the work that they do and express their concerns prior to formal introductions. |
Elizabeth Earls, President/CEO from RICCMHO and Neil Corkery, Executive Director of DATA introduced member agencies, who gave brief presentations about specific program services. These included hospital diversion, veterans’ services partnerships with law enforcement, homeless outreach services, supportive and sober housing, employment services, and other office and community based services. The legislators each spoke on their understanding of the importance of behavioral healthcare. They received informational packets that included information on economic impact, client outcomes, and efforts to contain costs. The agencies plan to follow up with elected officials unable to attend. | Several members of the RI General Assembly joined mental health and substance abuse professionals in the NRI Community Services Board Room for a Legislative Reception on Monday, February 28th. Co-sponsored by the RI Council of Community Mental Health Organizations (RICCMHO) and the Drug and Alcohol Treatment Association of RI (DATA), this informative session brought information about the mental health and addiction treatment programs that serve 70,000 Rhode Islanders annually, to our legislators, including newly elected Senators and Representatives. | Besides NRI Community Services, other agencies serving northern Rhode Island—Fellowship Health Resources, Phoenix House, Tri-Hab, Ad Care, and Butler Hospital, were also represented. Senators Elizabeth Crowley, Roger Picard, and Marc Cote along with Representative James McLaughlin were in attendance. | Board members and employees of these agencies took the opportunity to speak to their representatives and explain the scope of the work that they do and express their concerns prior to formal introductions.
Elizabeth Earls, President/CEO from RICCMHO and Neil Corkery, Executive Director of DATA introduced member agencies, who gave brief presentations about specific program services. These included hospital diversion, veterans’ services partnerships with law enforcement, homeless outreach services, supportive and sober housing, employment services, and other office and community based services. The legislators each spoke on their understanding of the importance of behavioral healthcare. They received informational packets that included information on economic impact, client outcomes, and efforts to contain costs. The agencies plan to follow up with elected officials unable to attend. |
http://nricommunityservices.org/images/legislative_reception2011/index.html |
| 3 | 6/30/2010 | 44th Annual Meeting | NRI Community Services, Inc. of Woonsocket and its affiliate agencies held their 44th Annual Meeting on June 30th at the Pines in North Smithfield with 175 guests attending. | Elaine Card, an NRICS Board member was named the 2010 Honor Roll Designee. Elaine has been Dean of Students at Woonsocket High School since 1985 and is retiring this year. She was commended by several NRICS managers for her advocacy, compassion and her seemingly limitless energy. Elaine encouraged the audience of community mental health staff and advocates to persevere and preserve their resilience. | An appreciation award was presented to Sheila Correia, an employee of Memorial Hospital of Rhode Island in Pawtucket for her efforts to coordinate the hospital’s generous holiday giving to Singleton House of Pascoag, an NRI Community Services residential home. | William M. Ryan, Esq. of Blackstone, Board Chair, chaired the election of Directors, Officers, Board and Friends of NRI Community Services. Elected as officers, effective July 1 were: Roland Boucher of N. Smithfield, Chair; Linda L. Deschenes of Cumberland, Vice Chair; Judith R. Dance of Woonsocket, Secretary; and William M. Ryan, Treasurer. Chris Stephens, President/CEO, thanked the Board and employees for their commitment to agency’s continued success. | http://nricommunityservices.org/images/annualmeeting/index.html | |||
| 4 | 6/28/2010 | NASW Award Goes to NRICS Employee | President/CEO of NRI Community Services, Inc., Chris Stephens, is pleased to announce that Pamela Messore, has received the Rhode Island Chapter of the National Association of Social Workers' 2010 Social Worker of the Year Award in Addictions. | President/CEO of NRI Community Services, Inc., Chris Stephens, is pleased to announce that Pamela Messore, has received the Rhode Island Chapter of the National Association of Social Workers’ 2010 Social Worker of the Year Award in Addictions. A Licensed Social Worker and Licensed Chemical Dependency Professional, Ms. Messore has been the Director of the Viola M. Berard School, a program of NRI Community Services, since 2005. Located in Woonsocket, this Rhode Island certified, non-public school provides an alternative form of education to students at risk in grades K through 12 through integrated academic and therapeutic approaches. | Ms. Messore also offers mental health clinical expertise to Children’s Intensive Services, lending her extensive experience in coordinating care and treatment for children with emotional and behavioral problems. She is a member of the Children’s Assessment and Stabilization Team and the Community Incident Response Team at NRI Community Services, each of which extend mental health professional services to critical events in the community. She is a Certified Chemical Dependency Supervisor and provides training for students in the addictions field, as well as a wide range of topics in the field of Social Work. Additionally, Ms. Messore has been a guest lecturer for the School of Social Work baccalaureate program at Providence College. | The 2010 Social Worker of the Year Award was presented to Pamela Messore on June 23, 2010 at the NASW-RI Annual Award Celebration at Chelo’s Banquet Facilities in Warwick, RI. | http://nricommunityservices.org/news/nophotos.html | |||
| 5 | 6/8/2010 | Police Officers Receive Crisis Responder Training Certification | Twelve Law Enforcement Officers across the State received certification as Crisis Responder Trainers on June 7, 2010 at a ceremony honoring their achievement at the Kent County Courthouse in Warwick | Twelve Law Enforcement Officers across the State received certification as Crisis Responder Trainers on June 7, 2010 at a ceremony honoring their achievement at the Kent County Courthouse in Warwick. These officers completed a three day program created by the Department of Mental Health Retardation and Hospitals (MHRH) with assistance from Richard Crino, RN, CTR, QMHP, Vice President of Acute & Community Incident Services at NRI Community Services. | Over the past 10 years, Mr. Crino, along with Lt. Robin Winslow, Coventry Police Department’s Planning and Career Development Officer, have developed a training initiative with police and fire departments in Rhode Island, Massachusetts and Maine that offer first responders the skills to recognize and respond safely to the mentally ill and those with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. This was the model for the MHRH program in effect today. Speaking at the event, Lt. Winslow stated, “The partnership with mental health professionals is essential to furthering the ability of officers to respond to situations where mental illness is leading factor in a crisis. Crino presented success stories after stating, When police intervention is successful in these situations, you don’t hear about them. | Mr. Crino, an employee of NRI Community Services for 24 years, has extensive experience in both adult inpatient and outpatient psychiatric practice, and presently oversees NRICS’ Behavioral Health Acute Stabilization Unit located at the SSTAR campus in N. Kingstown, RI. | Officers from Police Departments in Bristol, Cumberland, Lincoln, Little Compton, Pawtucket, Providence, Scituate, Warwick, and the University of Rhode Island received certification that will enable them to train other officers to recognize the signs and symptoms of mental illness, and act responsibly and without prejudice with a mentally ill individual who is in crisis. Sgt. Richard Champagne of Cumberland and Lt. William Sexton of Lincoln were among those certified. Guest speakers included Colonel Joseph P. Moran, III, President of the RI Police Chiefs Association, and Craig S. Stenning, Director of the RI Department of Mental Health, Retardation and Hospitals. | http://nricommunityservices.org/images/crt_training/index.htm | ||
| 6 | 5/26/2010 | VP Receives Professional Award | Mary Dwyer, PCNS, Receives the Carol Botelho Mental Health Professional of The Year Award | NRI Community Services, Inc. is pleased to announce that Mary Dwyer, PCNS, Vice President of Community Support & Nursing Services, received the Carol Botelho Mental Health Professional of The Year Award from the National Alliance on Mental Illness of Rhode Island. The award was presented by Chaz Gross, CAGS, Executive Director, at the NAMI-RI 27th Annual Meeting on Wednesday, May 26, 2010. This award exemplifies Ms. Dwyer’s commitment to improving the lives of those with long-term mental illness that need a more intensive level of care. | Ms. Dwyer, who is Board certified in Adult Psychiatric and Mental Health Nursing, oversees the Community Support Program that outreaches to the towns of Woonsocket, North Smithfield, Lincoln, Cumberland and Burrillville and gives people with mental health problems the support they need to live independently and as fully integrated into the community as possible. | Ms Dwyer has been with NRI Community Services for 26 years, guiding and implementing effective case management services and nursing practices and procedures, as well as effectively directing services at supervised residential sites. In 2007 she was appointed by the American Nurses Association Board of Directors to their Reference Committee, one of only seven nurses nationwide. She was the President of the Rhode Island State Nurses Association in 2007, and is the current President of the Rhode Island Nurses Institute. | NRI Community Services is a not-for-profit provider of mental health & substance abuse treatment that offers an array of services from short-term private setting outpatient treatment, to long-term home and community based case management, as well as crisis stabilization, and hospital diversion. | http://nricommunityservices.org/news/nophotos.html | ||
| 7 | 11/8/2009 | Collaboration Results in Hospital Diversions | NRI Community Services is pleased to announce the opening of a new 10 bed Crisis Stabilization Unit on November 8, 2009 | For the last two months, dozens of uninsured Rhode Island residents, including a large number of homeless adults, have been stabilized at the Co-occurring Crisis Stabilization unit. Licensed by MHRH, the unit is striving to reduce the number of uninsured adults appearing in hospital emergency rooms in need of acute psychiatric care. | For many years the Rhode Island Department of Mental Health, Retardation and Hospitals (MHRH) purchased acute inpatient care at Butler Hospital for the uninsured. Simultaneously, MHRH purchased detoxification services for adults with acute drug and alcohol problems and no insurance from STAR-RI (Stanley Street Alcohol Rehab). | Given the State budget problems, the Division of Behavioral Healthcare Services created a new competitive contract opportunity and requested proposals that would address both uninsured groups, including those with co-occurring mental health and substance abuse problems. Emphasis was placed on diverting some clients to non-hospital settings and SSTAR was awarded the contract. | SSTAR is a comprehensive behavioral health agency in Massachusetts and Rhode Island that has collaborated with NRICS on projects in the past. Since NRICS services focus strongly on hospital diversion, crisis stabilization, and integrated treatment of mental illness and substance abuse problems, we were a logical SSTAR subcontractor. Following an intiial 5 bed program at NRICS' Wilson House for men, the two agencies created a 20 bed sub-acute co-occurring unit at SSTAR's Norht Kingston location. The project has helped the entire Rhode Island Mental health and substance abuse system begin to graple with several system issues: | The engagement of homeless adults with behavioral health problems in programs that will assist them in qualifying for Rhode Island Medicaid and/or subsidized housing vouchers. The engegement of sychiatrists and prescribing nurses in developing skills in treating co-occurring clients, including medication assisted approaches. The engagement of community hospitals and other key players in solving access problems for uninsured in need of inpatient psychiatric care. The engagement of State policy makers in shifting some State and Medicaid resources to hospital and nursing home diversion, acute care alternative, and the service needs of the uninsured. | Richard Crino, RN, Vice President of Acute & Critical Incident Services at NRICS was designated as the unit manager. NRICS salaried and consultant MDs and Master's level nurse prescribers provide daily rounds. NRICS and SSTAR collaborated on the selection, training, and supervision of three shifts of metnal health and substance abuse treatment staff employed by SSTAR.
We are extremely grateful to the many agencies that have stepped up and given priority to assisting these clients with housing and/or behavioral health services. |
http://nricommunityservices.org/news/nophotos.html |
| 8 | 8/13/2009 | NRI Community Services Receives Re-accreditation | CARF International has announced that NRICS has been accredited for a period of three years for multiple programs that it operates: | Assertive Community Treatment
Case Management/Services Coordination Community Housing Crisis Intervention Intensive Family-Based Services Outpatient Treatment Residential Treatment Employment Services |
The latest accreditation represents six consecutive times during the last 15 years that the international accrediting body has awarded to NRI Community Services its highest level of accreditation. | This accreditation decision represents the highest level of accreditation that can be awarded to an organization and shows the organization’s substantial conformance to the CARF standards. An organization receiving a Three-Year Accreditation has put itself through a rigorous peer review process and has demonstrated to a team of surveyors during a three day on-site visit that its programs and services are of the highest quality, measurable, and accountable. The surveyors commented that “Interviews with the persons served and families indicated a high level of satisfaction with services from NRICS.” Additionally, “The emergency services program plays an active role in the regional behavioral health disaster response team with members who are highly trained in critical incident stress management, psychological first aid, and trauma. The organization’s emergency services team is part of a statewide effort to train and certify police officers in how to respond to critical incidents and use de-escalation techniques when dealing with persons with mental illness. The commitment and passion of the administrative staff members and the dedication, enthusiasm, and skills of other staff members are trademarks of the organization. Their commitment to their jobs, persons served, and family members is remarkable.” And lastly, “NRICS has a diverse board of directors that reflects community membership.” | NRI Community Services is a nonprofit, mental health and substance abuse treatment organization with its main offices in Woonsocket. It has been providing services for children, families, adults and seniors in northern Rhode Island since 1966. | Founded in 1966 as the Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities, and now known as CARF, the nonprofit, accrediting body establishes consumer-focused standards to help organizations measure and improve the quality of their programs and services. | NRICS would welcome an opportunity to further acquaint readers with our services and respond to your questions. We believe we are a valuable asset to the communities we serve. For additional information, visit our website at www.NRICommunityServices.org or contact one of our Intake staff at 235-7121. | http://nricommunityservices.org/news/nophotos.html |
| 9 | 3/1/2008 | SSTAR Collaboration | Collaboration with SSTAR brings reduction in hospital emergency room visits by the uninsured | For the last two months, dozens of uninsured Rhode Island residents, including a large number of homeless adults, have been stabilized at the Co-occurring Crisis Stabilization unit. Licensed by MHRH, the unit is striving to reduce the number of uninsured adults appearing in hospital emergency rooms in need of acute psychiatric care. | For many years the Rhode Island Department of Mental Health, Retardation and Hospitals (MHRH) purchased acute inpatient care at Butler Hospital for the uninsured. Simultaneously, MHRH purchased detoxification services for adults with acute drug and alcohol problems and no insurance from STAR-RI (Stanley Street Alcohol Rehab). | Given the State budget problems, the Division of Behavioral Healthcare Services created a new competitive contract opportunity and requested proposals that would address both uninsured groups, including those with co-occurring mental health and substance abuse problems. Emphasis was placed on diverting some clients to non-hospital settings and SSTAR was awarded the contract. | SSTAR is a comprehensive behavioral health agency in Massachusetts and Rhode Island that has collaborated with NRICS on projects in the past. Since NRICS services focus strongly on hospital diversion, crisis stabilization, and integrated treatment of mental illness and substance abuse problems, we were a logical SSTAR subcontractor. | Following an intial 5 bed program at NRICS' Wilson House for men, the two agencies created a 20 bed sub-acute co-occurring unit at SSTAR's Norht Kingston location. The project has helped the entire Rhode Island Mental health and substance abuse system begin to grapple with several system issues: | The engagement of homeless adults with behavioral health problems in programs that will assist them in qualifying for Rhode Island Medicaid and/or subsidized housing vouchers
The engegement of sychiatrists and prescribing nurses in developing skills in treating co-occurring clients, including medication assisted approaches The engagement of community hospitals and other key players in solving access problems for uninsured in need of inpatient psychiatric care The engagemetn of State policy makers in shifting some State and Medicaid resources to hospital and nursing home diversion, acute care alternative, and the service needs of the uninsured |
http://nricommunityservices.org/news/nophotos.html |
| 10 | 5/7/2007 | News Release - The Fund for Community Progress Honors Campaign '06 Standouts | Celebrating Achievements in Housing and Nonviolence | At an awards ceremony on May 21, The Fund for Community Progress honors community members and workplaces for 2006 achievements. The awards recognize outstanding contributions to Campaign ’06 and to The Fund’s mission—to guarantee fairness and opportunity for all Rhode Islanders. The ceremony takes place from 5:30 until 7:00 p.m. at Local 121 at the Dreyfus Hotel, 121 Washington Street, Providence. The RSVP event is open to the public; cost is $25 per person. | Support to The Fund through workplaces increased 5.2% percent for Campaign '06. “These results are gratifying, considering The Fund was in transition to a new Executive Director,” said Peter Walsh, Chair of The Fund’s Board and Senior Vice President, BankRI. “Other federations report declines in payroll contributions,” noted Elaine M. Decker, The Fund’s Executive Director, “but we’re pleased with our results. Of course, we also appreciate the increase in on-line and credit card gifts.” Campaign Chair Christopher F. Koller, R.I. Health Insurance Commissioner, is also pleased with this year’s results. “The $284,336 total raised for Campaign ’06 will enable The Fund’s 26 agencies to bring positive change to many disadvantaged members of our communities,” affirmed Koller. | The Fund’s “Changemaker” awards honor community members whose work advances The Fund’s mission. “This year, we’re recognizing those who support affordable housing for all Rhode Islanders and those who, like our agencies, are especially visible in our neighborhoods,” said Walsh. For Campaign ’06, the Media Spotlight Award shines on Mario Hilario, WJAR NBC10 for his “Where Do We Live?” specials on the homeless. The Susan Hamilton Welin Award for Nonviolence is presented to Teny Gross and the Street Workers of The Institute for the Study and Practice of Nonviolence for defusing local conflicts. The Sister Carol McGovern “Voice for the Voiceless” Award recognizes the efforts of Brenda Clement, Director of The Housing Network of R.I., in support of affordable housing and Proposition 9. The Long Term Support Award celebrates Chris Koller’s years of service, especially as The Fund’s Campaign Chair. Finally, The Fund’s Member of the Year is Christian Stephens, President and CEO of NRI Community Services. | The Fund once again honors Brown University and Cavanagh Company for campaign results, while the City of Providence, the R.I. State Employees and Riverwood Mental Health Services are recognized for campaign growth. NeighborWorks Blackstone River Valley earns The Fund’s Member Workplace Campaign award. IKON Office Supplies receives the Community Leadership “Open Doors, Open Minds” award. | The Fund thanks its Campaign '06 Committee: Chair Chris Koller, Health Insurance Commissioner; Karen Adams, WPRI-TV; Bob Carniaux, Hasbro, Inc.; Jeanne Cola, Citizens Bank, Richard H. Godfrey, R.I Housing & Mortgage Finance Company; Eric Hirsch, Ph.D., Providence College; Brandon Melton, Lifespan; Scott Molloy, Ph.D., URI/Labor Research Center; H. Peter Olsen, Esq., Hinckley Allen & Snyder; Maggi Burns Rogers, U.S. Postal Service; Robert L. Stout, Ph.D., Decision Sciences Institute; and Peter Walsh, BankRI. | The Fund’s members are ACORN Institute, AIDS Project R.I., All Children's Theatre Ensemble, Alliance for Better Long Term Care, Center for Hispanic Policy & Advocacy (CHisPA), Childhood Lead Action Project, Connecting for Children and Families, Community Mediation Center of R.I., Galilee Mission to Fishermen, Gray Panthers of R.I., Greater Elmwood Neighborhood Services, Habitat for Humanity of R.I. - Greater Providence, The Housing Network of R.I., Mental Health Association of R.I., NeighborWorks Blackstone River Valley, NRI Child & Adolescent Service System Program, NRI Community Services, R.I. Parent Information Network, R.I. Parents for Progress, The Samaritans of R.I., Shelter Services, SWAP/Stop Wasting Abandoned Property, Thundermist Health Center, West Elmwood Housing Development Corporation, Westminster Senior Center and George Wiley Center. For more information, visit www.fundcp.org. To RSVP, call 941-7100. | http://nricommunityservices.org/news/nophotos.html |
| 11 | 6/23/2011 | 45th Annual Meeting | NRI Community Services Holds 45th Annual Meeting to Elect Officers and Directors | NRI Community Services, Inc., with offices in Woonsocket, celebrated its 45th Annual Meeting recently at Savini’s Restaurant. One hundred and seventy Board, staff and guests convened to elect Directors and Officers. The nonprofit, regional community mental health center also elected 120 “Friends,” including many local residents who serve on Boards and committees on behalf of NRICS. Outgoing chair person, Roland Boucher of N. Smithfield and long-time President/CEO, Chris Stephens noted accomplishment and challenges and praised employees for serving an ever increasing number of clients. | Although tax exempt, NRICS’ several office buildings and apartment buildings generate $167,000 in property taxes to the City of Woonsocket and a $9million a year payroll contributes to the local economy. The agency serves approximately 4,000 individuals a year, providing outpatient and residential services. | In attendance were many past recipients of “Community Champions” awards given annually during NRICS’ Music Series at Chan’s of Woonsocket. | New Officers for 2011-2012 are: Linda L. Deschenes, Chair; Denise Dussault Leduc, Vice Chair; Jennifer O’Toole, Secretary; and William M. Ryan, Treasurer. | http://nricommunityservices.org/images/annual_meeting2011/directors_0060.jpg | ||
| 12 | 7/19/2011 | Public Policy Institute and Hill Day | Honors go to Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse, Recipient of the Behavioral Health Champion Award | Washington, DC-- Christian L. Stephens, President/CEO of NRI Community Services Inc., along with other Rhode Island members of the National Council for Community Behavioral Healthcare, attended the 7th Annual Public Policy Institute and Hill Day to honor Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) for his Behavioral Health Champion award. Presented by the National Council on July 19th at a ceremony in the Dirksen Senate Office Building, Senator Whitehouse was recognized for his exemplary leadership on behalf of people with mental health and substance use disorders. | Sen. Whitehouse is a tireless advocate for improving the lives of people with mental health and addictions issues. He was an early champion to include behavioral health providers in health information technology programs in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. This year he introduced the Behavioral Health Information Technology Act, a bill to ensure that behavioral health, mental health and substance abuse treatment professionals and facilities receive federal incentives for the use of health information technology. | Of significance to members of the Rhode Island Council of Community Mental Health Organizations, Sen. Whitehouse has fought to protect Medicaid and other federally funded programs that support high quality, community-based mental health and addictions treatment services. He has also rallied support for mental health services for children and worked to promote awareness of important school-based services for our nation’s young people as a member of the Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee. | Over 500 Hill Day attendees, including persons with mental and addictions disorders, families, community members and healthcare providers, met with over 200 congressional offices to advocate for the following legislative priorities: support for Behavioral Health Information Technology Act of 2011, opposition to Medicaid cuts, and support for the creation of Federally Qualified Behavioral Health Centers. | http://nricommunityservices.org/images/washington/hill_day.pdf | ||
| 13 | 8/29/2011 | Board Member Receives Bronze Medal | Roger Harris Brings Medal Home from National Veterans Wheelchair Games | Roger Harris, a disabled veteran and member of NRI Community Services' Board of Directors, attended the 31st National Veterans Wheelchair Games in Pittsburg, PA on August 1st through the 6th. As a wheelchair athlete and veteran, Rober is a role model, bringing encouragement to returning veterans from Iraq and Afghanistan. He brought home a bronze medal for the discuss throw. | Roger's endeavors at the games were supported in part by NRICS staff, Board members and friends. | http://nricommunityservices.org/images/Roger_Harris2.jpg |