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Its Where I Am focuses on the various mental health struggles that people all around the world face every day. Each episode covers a different facet of mental health with a new special guest. It's Where I Am airs on 91.5 Jazz & More every second Saturday of the month.
Unknown Speaker 0:00
You're listening to locally produced programming created in KU NBC Studios on public radio K, u and v. 91.5. You're listening to special programming brought to you by it's where I am.com The content of this program does not reflect the views or opinions of 91.5 jobs and more University of Nevada, Las Vegas, or the Board of Regents, the Nevada System of Higher Education.
Zandra Polard 0:50
Good morning, Las Vegas, it's Zondra Polare. It's where I am. Thank you for tuning in to 91.5 Jazz and roar. today. My guest is Dr. G. He is in the building. Dr. G has been on show quite a few times. Na, I'm going to give you a little heads up. I'm going to be passing the baton to Dr. G to take over. It's where I am, he will be our guest host.
Unknown Speaker 1:26
Is that what it's called? That's right.
Zandra Polard 1:28
Okay, okay, well, so he's gonna be taking over, he's gonna be with me till the end of the year. And then starting in January, Dr. G will be here for you to inform you about different mental health issues, and things that are going on in the community. And whatever he feels can be of help. Okay, so thank you, Dr. G, for being here. Absolutely.
Unknown Speaker 1:52
I'm so excited to be his honor. And certainly, you know, I don't intend and stepping into your shoes, because they are way too big for me to fill. But with pleasure, though, I really look forward to holding this space and facilitating conversations about general mental health and, and really bringing relevant things to your listeners and to your viewers. So, again, thank you for allowing me this opportunity. Oh,
Zandra Polard 2:18
absolutely. You know, every time you come on the show, there's such chemistry, you know, and we and we get through the show, we have a good time. And we also give that information that's needed. So and with your educational background, you know, that's super helpful as well. So you have gone from working with kids recently, to now working with adults. And you are working with adults with severe mental health. Yes, yes. Diagnosis?
Unknown Speaker 2:49
Yes. So I've had the privilege of working in the field of mental health for the past 24 years. And I really have treated individuals throughout the lifespan. And so I have a transition from primarily working in Family Services where I was providing clinical services to birth to five aged children in their families, adolescence, to focusing more on adult general mental health, and specifically, at great minds counseling and Wellness Center, we provide clinical services for individuals that have severe mental illness. So we just identified that there was this gap in our community and really being able to meet the needs of those who have the highest acuity. And, and so at great minds, we provide a lot of non Reimbursable Services, because we've identified that by providing wraparound services, and, and, and really wrapping and holding tightly. These individuals by providing them day services, we've been able to keep them from going in and out of inpatient hospitalization, oh great. And so we've collected now a lot of data and research that we have hired a statistician to help us really collate those data so that we can use it to show the efficacy of how we're treating individuals with severe mental illness. So I think we really are unique in our community and how we provide clinical services to meet the needs of these individuals. Wow.
Zandra Polard 4:36
Well, I know that transportation is a huge issue. Huge.
Unknown Speaker 4:41
And so that's really one of the non reimbursable areas that we do provide at great minds counseling and Wellness Center, transportation, we pick up our patients, we just recognize that this was such a huge need of supporting and assisting individuals to Get to services. And so we pick them up and we bring them home. Okay.
Zandra Polard 5:04
Now what about telehealth? Is that a part of?
Unknown Speaker 5:08
Yeah, so it as well. So the belief is, though, is to get the individual out from their primary environment, right, and to allow them the opportunity to have socialization opportunities, yes. With other individuals, right. And so because
Zandra Polard 5:27
like the telehealth was like a band aid, right, correct, correct. So
Unknown Speaker 5:31
during times of COVID, when telehealth really became the primary source of providing clinical services, due to protecting oneself from from being exposed to COVID. But, you know, we really believe in providing direct clinical services face to face for most of our patients. And we're providing meals for our patients while they're on site participating in clinical services. So when they arrive in the morning, they may receive coffee, breakfast cake, that is zero sugar, we are very mindful in terms of what we're providing for snacks and food to our patients. Because we really want to provide care from a holistic perspective. And we're providing lunch or dinner, depending upon the time that patients are participating in clinical services. Okay,
Zandra Polard 6:30
well, so explain a day for me. If someone were to get services and say they come in in the morning, how long can they expect to be there? How many hours? Yes,
Unknown Speaker 6:40
so So if they're in the morning track, they could be arriving around 9am 9:30am, they could be on site at great minds for as long as for four and a half hours. Okay. So it's really a robust curriculum where we're providing individual therapy, group therapy, socialization activities, and lunch, or breakfast or both. And so it's really a way for us to identify that needs for each individual participant, and to really work with their care manager, their case manager, their pay, so that we're all on the same page. So we really are providing wraparound services. I mean, I feel like as a former wraparound director for five years, I can speak to the fidelity in terms of how we're providing clinical services. And we really are in line with with the philosophy of wraparound, and how it's implemented throughout the community in the county. So your
Zandra Polard 7:47
relationship with like, the mental health hospitals has to be very strong so that you are recommended for those wraparound services, because we know that you will actually provide them.
Unknown Speaker 7:57
Absolutely. So I was the actual first clinical director for the pavilion at Southern Hills hospital and medical center. And so I have very good working knowledge in regards to how that program there operates, and how we can access beds there if necessary, meeting our patients needs. I also worked for a subsidiary of desert Parkway up north and Reno, which was Reno behavioral health hospital. So I know the CEOs that are working at each of these inpatient hospitals, I have their cell phone numbers. And so you know, it really does assist us and coordinating care. And the follow up checking in to identify if one of our patients goes inpatient, that we're we're receiving updates in regards to how you doing and then how can we coordinate a safe step down from the hospital back into the community? Oh, that's
Zandra Polard 9:01
wonderful. So explain to me, what is severe mental health diagnosis or severe mental illness? What does that look like? Yeah,
Unknown Speaker 9:12
absolutely. So these are individuals that may have gone in and out of hospitals many times over. These are individuals that are connected to state programs. And where many of these people have a PE and so what a PE is is someone that is responsible for overseeing and managing the individuals money. Also,
Zandra Polard 9:42
like a residential program, like residential homes, like I know that because I worked for one at one time. They had they had control over their money and what happened with their money so and their care
Unknown Speaker 9:56
Yes, so through The courts many of these individuals may have either temporary or permanent guardianship, yes, that is over the person, right? As well as their estate. And so when we say that guardianship is over an individual's estate, it's it's the oversight for their money. Because they're incapable of managing their own money, paying their bills, paying rent, budgeting, and so there's a pay in place that could be a family member, or it could be a state Case Manager or group home care manager. That is the pay supporting the individual. Okay,
Zandra Polard 10:43
so let me back up some. So you said you work with the payee, you brought up payee in the first place?
Unknown Speaker 10:49
Yeah, so we go back to so we work with the case manager, we work with the group home manager, if we need to, we would contact the payer, the pay, usually all services, though, that we provide, what we build is through the individual's health insurance, which is either Medicaid or primarily Medicare. And, and so we interact with individuals that are involved in the person's life. So anybody that's significant and caring for the individual, you know, we want to have a release of information in place so that we can communicate and really make sure that we're capturing and meeting the identified needs.
Zandra Polard 11:34
Okay. So you brought up guardianship? Yes. Can you please explain guardianship because often, I speak to individuals who have a family member who has a mental health or mental illness scuze me, and they want to with their heart to help and take over but do not understand the responsibility of being you no one's guardian. And adult, right? Yes, you are caring, you are responsible for an adult. How does that work? What is involved? Yes, so
Unknown Speaker 12:14
so there's a lot to it. Yes. So typically, there are two scenarios in which an individual may pursue guardianship. Okay. It could be for a child, minor aged child, where an adult other than the parent may seek out guardianship, to care for the child to make decisions on behalf of the child. Then the other scenario is where we have an adult individual who's over the age of 18, where they are cognitively incapacitated, where it's determined that they are incapable or incompetent for men keeping themselves safe, and as determined by the state correct in managing their daily living, that they just can't do it. And so that's really when another adult person comes in and requests for guardianship of that adult, family member or person, because they're gravely disabled. And oftentimes, they have either a medical and or a mental health diagnosis that is already in place at that time, which is sort of like the justification, if you will, that's presented to the court to help the judge determine if if this is appropriate or not. Okay.
Zandra Polard 13:42
So it's a process, it takes a while, it's not like a quick 30 days, I will be your guardian now,
Unknown Speaker 13:50
because you're going in front of the judge, and this petition is being presented to the judge and, and medical information is being presented to help the judge determine if the rationale for guardianship is reasonable.
Zandra Polard 14:06
And then once you take on that role, that is your role until
Unknown Speaker 14:12
well, until the guardianship is well until the person may terminates pass away or or they die. Yeah. Okay. Yeah. That's a nice way to say I mean, that's correct. Clear.
Zandra Polard 14:27
Wow. So what if someone is a guardian? And they say, Oh, this is too much responsibility. I want to pass it on over to cousin so and so. Yeah,
Unknown Speaker 14:37
so those are conversations that need to be had in in treatment team meeting. And I always really encourage team members to be candid to be authentic. And if there are concerns, so just put them on the table address them so that as a team, we can all be on the same page and there's no surprises
Zandra Polard 14:56
and help with a smooth transition. You
Unknown Speaker 14:58
got it. Yeah. That's so important because we want to make sure that this human being is is not falling through the cracks.
Zandra Polard 15:06
Right? Well, I love what you're doing. So again, tell us the name of your agency.
Unknown Speaker 15:13
So I am the clinical director at great minds counseling and Wellness Center. And as of January one 2024, my role will expand with the organization. And I will also be the public relations and Communication Director,
Zandra Polard 15:31
as well as the guest host for it. Yeah. So, you know, you guys will be hearing about his agency quite a bit next year. So congratulations. Thank you. And thank you again,
Unknown Speaker 15:44
it's always such a pleasure being with you. Absolutely. So
Zandra Polard 15:46
glad to be with you. Glad you're here. Now, I want to get into some other things. Since I have you. And I know I'll have you for a couple of more weeks. Yes. But I just kind of want to set the stage. You know, I want everyone to be prepared for when you do feel my shoes, you know, and you can? You absolutely can, yes. And what you can bring to the conversation are stats because you are working with a statistician, right? Did I say the right statistician?
Unknown Speaker 16:15
You did? Oh, you did? Yeah, this is really exciting for us. Because I think in mental health. A lot of agencies, a lot of providers can say off off their tongue interventions, interventions that we all may use from a training approach. As far as how we're facilitating therapy. You know, we've been very successful at minimizing the number of inpatient hospitalizations for the sickest patients that we have in our community. And and, and that's a direct result of how we're really wrapping these individuals from a wraparound clinical perspective.
Zandra Polard 17:04
But okay, so what do you do when it's 110 117 degrees outside? Okay, we're in August. And there's a lot of people who will go into the hospital, or into a mental health facility, so they can get some air conditioning. So I'm speaking of the homeless, yes. Right. So then, how do you get those stats? Like how do you know the information when people are trying to get a basic need met? Yes,
Unknown Speaker 17:34
so So I really appreciate the last two words that you referenced Zondra, and you said, basic needs. So at great minds, counseling, a Wellness Center, you know, that's a focus for us as far as really meeting the basic needs for those that we provide clinical services to. So those that were physically touching and helping, it's, it's pivotal for us to make sure that our individuals have access to food, have access to clothing, and have access to housing. So we are very much involved in partnership with other members of each individual's team, to assist individuals to have their basic needs met. You know, this is truly a wraparound ideology, in terms of how we're providing clinical services at great minds. And, and that my control, who's the executive director and owner, just understands that basic needs must be met before any human being can focus on therapy and making change in their life.
Zandra Polard 18:52
And it doesn't mean just giving a resource, a phone number, a name, address, and then, you know, that's it, you have to do the follow up, which is so important. And I'm sure that your agency does that.
Unknown Speaker 19:05
So we do a lot of case management, that is non rubber reimbursable. It's just we know that it has to be done in order to help these individuals
Zandra Polard 19:17
know when you say non reimbursable do you mean free?
Unknown Speaker 19:21
We're not getting paid for a lot of the services that
Zandra Polard 19:23
we I just want to make it clear out there. Yeah, that means free. Yes.
Unknown Speaker 19:26
Because, you know, the state of Nevada doesn't reimburse for certain things. And that we recognize, though, that certain services need to be provided to this population,
Zandra Polard 19:39
and they're non reimbursable to you. Correct. So
Unknown Speaker 19:42
we're eating the cost, right? Okay. Yes. So, you know, it's really, really important to us that were treating these severely ill people with dignity and integrity and with risk Fact, and as a clinician myself, and I do carry a caseload at great minds. So I'm also meeting with a lot of these individuals, I hold them as capable. And so I think it's the first time for many individuals, where they're being held accountable, and being held capable, and that they're having the opportunities to practice acquiring new skills that are helping them move forward and function at a higher level on a daily basis. And, and, you know, I think, because of our passion, and because we treat people with kindness and with respect, and with dignity, that they thrive, I mean, we've created a solid wraparound program for the severely mentally ill, and the outcome is there.
Zandra Polard 20:51
So what is the what is your staff look like? How many people are in the clinic? Yeah, so
Unknown Speaker 20:58
you know, I would say that we're like a small to medium size, outpatient mental health agency, there's about 10 to 13 of us and total, okay, we're growing. So the owner, my is working on acquiring and buying her own building, because we're ready to expand and to meet the needs of more individuals throughout our community, because the need is there. And I feel like we have fine tuned our model, and we become more effective at implementing it, and that this efficacy today, the results speak for themselves. And and so we're going to start doing more recruitment, so that we can increase the size of our team so that we can help more people.
Zandra Polard 21:48
Beautiful. Well, I love it. I just want you all to know if you have missed any portion of this broadcast. You can find it at its where I am.com. Also, we're available on Apple, Spotify, Google and Amazon podcast platforms. And, you know, hey, I think you said a lot today. I'm looking forward to you come in next week. But we're gonna let you go with a great song by Aretha Franklin and duck G. What's your pick?
Unknown Speaker 22:21
Respect,
Zandra Polard 22:22
respect our ESP AECT did not spell the right are you? Yes. All right. We'll see you guys next week. 7:30am It's where I am with Zondra and Dr. G
Unknown Speaker 22:35
till next time.
Unknown Speaker 23:42
Passed
Unknown Speaker 23:43
Are you
Transcribed by https://otter.ai