Oakwood Center of the Palm Beaches News

On May 17th, city officials, staff members and, most importantly, those we serve at the Oakwood Center of the Palm Beaches, Inc., attended the 4th Anniversary of the Barbara and Jerry Golden Pavilion.

Four years ago, Barbara and Jerry Golden generously donated funds to the Center to construct a pavilion on the grounds of the Center where clients could sit in the shade and socialize while waiting for their programs to begin or their transportation.

It was certainly a day of fun and celebration. The clients were treated to a delicious barbecue donated by the Goldens, clients were recognized for their achievements and presented with Certificates of Congratulations and a poem of thanks to the Goldens was composed and read by person served, Cindy.

Linda DePiano, Ph.D., Chief Executive Officer of the Center said a few words and Mayor Lois Frankel, City of West Palm Beach, was there to celebrate with us.

Click on the link below to view the video!
http://www.youtube.com/westpalmtv#p/u/7/M27zlxJmUQA

OAKWOOD CENTER RECEIVES $50,000 PALM HEALTHCARE FOUNDATION GRANT FOR PROGRAM ENTITLED “COPING WITH ECONOMIC STRESS”

The Oakwood Center of the Palm Beaches, Inc. announces the award of $50,000 from the Palm Healthcare Foundation for an inaugural program “Coping with Economic Stress.” Without strong systems in place to help families and individuals whose lives have been disrupted by job loss or significant income reduction, the community cannot adequately cope with economic stress. This grant will support a program to provide individuals with the necessary coping skills to deal with the negative implications due to the current economy. “We are truly grateful to Palm Healthcare Foundation for supporting this important and timely initiative” said Dr. Linda DePiano, Chief Executive Officer of the Oakwood Center of the Palm Beaches. DePiano credited Barbara E. Golden, Ph.D. and Kristin McCabe, MS, with the development of this innovative program after reading the extensive research of Dr. Rand Conger and Dr. Glen H. Elder on families in economic crisis.

Through a series of 5 free workshops the participants will engage in activities including group discussions, education, and role play designed to identify stressors, increase resilience, improve coping skills, improve family communications and strengthen ties to the community. Individual and family therapy will also be offered to maximize the benefits of the workshop.

To find out more information on this program please call 561-246-0834

Oakwood Center’s Show Reveals the Power of Art
Center’s clients gain self-confidence, self-awareness through unique program

The Oakwood Center of the Palm Beaches held their annual “Art at Oakwood” show on April 27, 2009. The art show featured more than 60 pieces of art using multi-mediums including acrylic paintings, ink and stick creations, clay designs, textile art and collages. The exhibition was presented by Oakwood’s talented clients under the direction of teaching artists: Ruth Amiel, Nancy Rossi, Maryellen Shafer, Kathy Azeez, and Oakwood Center’s Chairman of the Board, art class director Barbara E. Golden, Ph. D.

The Oakwood Center art program allows clients to express their thoughts and creativity through the unique classes as a way to help manage symptoms of stress; to cope with traumatic experiences; to enhance cognitive abilities; and to enjoy the life-affirming pleasures that come with creating artwork.

“The art process is just as important as the end product,” said Dr. Barbara Golden. “When you come to the show and see the remarkable displays, you are witnessing the result of months of hard work. The students spent time expressing their thoughts and feelings through their art objectively, which leads to a greater sense of self-awareness, and will help them in their future endeavors.”

“The art program is one of the most rewarding achievements for both the artists and for the instructors,” said Dr. Linda DePiano, CEO of Oakwood Center. “The artists see their pieces during the show and realize the incredible achievements they have accomplished. This is more than a typical art show, and we are thrilled with the creativity and the efforts the artists put into their exhibition.”

Oakwood Center provides treatment for adults and children with behavioral disorders to help them restore and maintain their productive lives in the community. Its mission is to help clients build resiliency, facilitate recovery and achieve reintegration into the community by designing and delivering behavioral health care services that meet their needs and expectations. For more information on Oakwood Center and its services please contact (561) 383-5725 or www.oakwoodcenter.org.

Oakwood Center of the Palm Beaches CEO Visits U.S. Congress,
Urges Support for Mental Health and Addictions Services

Linda DePiano, PhD., CEO of the Oakwood Center of the Palm Beaches in West Palm Beach will join nearly 350 public mental health and addictions administrators, psychiatrists, patients and community leaders from 40 states in Washington, DC June 9-10 to add their voices to the growing healthcare reform debate.

The local representatives, members of the National Council for Community Behavioral Healthcare (National Council), are meeting with Representative Alcee L. Hastings, Senator Mel Martinez, Representative Ron Klein, Senator Bill Nelson, and Representative Robert Wexler to ask for the resources that people with mental illnesses and addiction disorders need to live full and productive lives.

These advocates arrive in Washington DC as community mental health and addiction treatment organizations nationwide are experiencing a 20 percent surge in demand for services, according to a recent survey by the National Council. Demand is increasing and states are cutting funds -- reducing services, closing programs and imposing hiring freezes.

“Even though Florida’s state funding remains stable, the demand for services has increased by 25% and admissions have increased by 12% in the past four months. The cost of care has continued on the rise even though Medicaid reform has restricted funds for programs,” says DePiano. “Oakwood Center itself is also dealing with a decrease in local municipal funds and donations from private donors. The national healthcare reform agenda must include mental health and addiction services, which are vital to keeping us strong, safe and productive."

Nationwide, the economic, social and human costs of mental health and addictions disorders are staggering:

Mental illness drains our economy of more than $80 billion every year, accounting for 15 percent of the total economic burden of all disease.
Alcohol and drug abuse contributes to the death of more than 100,000 Americans and costs upwards of half a trillion dollars a year.
A quarter of all Social Security disability payments are for individuals with mental illness.

"Legislators representing Florida can bring mental health and addictions treatment to the table as we discuss healthcare reform. We cannot afford to let this historic opportunity pass and we cannot let our most vulnerable citizens go without care," says DePiano.

To prepare for a new era of healthcare accountability while attempting to stem the escalating mortality rates of people with serious mental illnesses, Oakwood Center of the Palm Beaches, Inc., along with the National Council, is pursuing four initiatives:

Mental Health and Substance-Use Disorders Included in Benefit Packages: Mental health and substance abuse benefits must be part of any nationwide healthcare reform plan, with equitable insurance coverage for mental health and addiction disorders on par with other health conditions.
"Federally Qualified" Behavioral Health Centers: Create a national standard of evidence-based treatment and supports for persons with mental illnesses and addiction disorders, with reimbursement based upon the cost of delivering services.
Co-location of Primary Care in Community Behavioral Health Organizations: Enable persons with serious mental illness to benefit from one-stop, comprehensive care for behavioral and physical conditions under one roof.
HIT Funding: Ensure that community behavioral health organizations are eligible for any federal health information technology funding made available to help physicians, hospitals and community health centers adopt and use electronic health records.