Take a look at the numerous and varied recent innovations from Seminole Behavioral Healthcare. By staying on the cutting edge and always trying to improve our service delivery system, we position ourselves to continue to provide the highest quality services to our community. Applied innovations often result in more people being served, in a better way, at a lower cost. Click here to download the HD Version of this video..
Serving in the United States Navy in the Persian Gulf following the Desert Shield and Storm campaigns as a plan captain in the line shack (aircraft readiness and flight inspection for pre-launch and recovery) for F14 Tomcats on an aircraft carrier, Laurie was promoted to a position in the Navy’s Personnel section where she could apply her naturally developed people skills. After her service to her country, Laurie earned a B.S. degree with a major in sociology, and an M.S. degree in Marriage and Family Counseling. In addition, she is a Certified Addictions Professional and a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist. She is an expert in quality assurance, clinical processes, clinical documentation, as well as specialized Medicaid documentation regulations and often provides instruction at SBH to other clinicians and clinical supervisors/managers on these topics. Serving as the Project Manager for SBH’s recent CARF re-certification, she was formally recognized by the SBH Board of Directors for her organizational skills and initiative due to CARF’s recognition and citation of SBH’s multitude of exemplary clinical practices. Laurie serves as the agency’s Consumer Grievance Advocate as well as the agency’s single point of contact for interpretation services. One of her most visible and well defined talents is her ability to clearly communicate clinical issues to administration, and to clearly communicate administrative issues to clinicians.
Laurie was part of the NCCBH’s ground floor Mental Health First Aid initiative and was on e of the first individuals certified in the nation. She was the Project Manager for the initial Florida training in Mental Health First Aid by the NCCBH for 15 community providers. In addition, Laurie has trained numerous individuals, clinicians, support staff and administrators in MHFA. She was SBH’s first pioneer in the new Behavioral Health Access Project which links primary care providers with the behavioral healthcare system, as well as linking the child welfare system with the behavioral health system. Working as a FQHC and a CBC each week, Laurie directly interfaces with patients and clients who in turn may need the services our field offers. She has been called on to Baker Act FQHC patients at times, and her work is deeply appreciated by the medical professional in the FQHC and the CBC. Her role as a healthcare navigator has positively impacted several lives in Seminole County and continues to do so to this day.
Acting in her role of our Veteran’s Coordinator, Laurie is often called upon to speak at functions such as external clinical gatherings and meetings, Chamber of Commerces, churches, governmental community service bodies, and functions focusing on adolescents and families of military personnel. Laurie has performed exceedingly well at those events and her media appearances. Although her official title is Director of Quality Improvement and Utilization Management, Laurie wears many hats and always reflects very positively on SBH as well as her profession and our service industry.
Please join us in extending our congratulations to Laurie on this accomplishment.
Dennis Lemma, a member of the Seminole County’s Sheriff’s Office who also serves on the Seminole Behavioral Healthcare’s board of directors was recently promoted to the rank of Major by Sheriff Eslinger. Congratulations to Major Lemma on a well-deserved recognition of his contributions to the Sheriff’s Office and the community!
Seminole Behavioral Healthcare has been chosen to participate in the first National Council Learning Community for Adoption of Trauma-Informed Practices. We are proud to be among the 21 organizations nationwide that have been selected by the National Council for Community Behavioral Healthcare (National Council).
“The learning community is a group of healthcare organizations committed to creating environments and services that address the needs of individuals who have experienced significant trauma. The learning community is supported by an award from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.”
FERN PARK, Fla. (May 4, 2010) – Seminole Behavioral Healthcare, alongside Winter Springs and Seminole County commissioners, unveiled the “Seminole Cares” bus Friday (April 30) to help raise the organization’s profile in the community and to celebrate the much-needed expansion of its crisis stabilization unit (CSU) into new quarters.
The unit, located at 919 E. 2nd St. in Sanford, is Seminole County’s only public Baker Act receiving facility and provides treatment for those with a potentially life-threatening mental illness.
“Our organization is seeing an increase in demand for our services, and now, thanks to our community partners, we will continue to meet that demand with a top-notch facility,” said President and CEO James P. Berko. “Without the support and funding from local, state and federal government, this would not have been possible.”
The new CSU has the capacity for 30 beds, a 43 percent increase from its old facility.
Founded in 1969, Seminole Behavioral Healthcare is a private, nonprofit organization whose goal is to provide comprehensive behavioral-health care. In the past year, more than 4,000 people in Seminole County were touched through the many programs provided by the organization. For more information, visit www.seminolecares.org.
Mental Health First Aid is a 12-hour interactive certification course designed to lower stigma surrounding mental illness by increasing ones skill in helping a person cope with a mental health crisis. It gives primary care providers, educators, businesses, and others in the public a tool and a resource to help overcome fear of a mental health crisis. Fear is generally the root of most stigmas. The stigma surrounding mental illnesses in the United States is no different: fear of not understanding the problem, fear of doing or saying the “wrong” thing and fear of not knowing what to do when someone needs help.
The course was developed in 2000 by Betty Kitchener and Professor Tony Jorm with the aim to improve the mental health literacy of Australians, it is now auspiced by ORYGEN Research Centre at the University of Melbourne, Department of Psychiatry. The training program has since been replicated in six countries, including Scotland, Great Britain and Canada.
Last year the National Council has adapted this well-researched Australian program for the American public. And as of January 2008, the United States has been added to this list of other countries and Seminole Behavioral Healthcare was one out of seven agencies to be apart of this inaugural group training.
As a National Council member, Seminole Behavioral Healthcare was chosen to represent the state of Florida in leading and managing the certification program. The National Council’s vision is that by the year 2025, Mental Health First Aid certification will be as common and as well-known as CPR and other first aid certifications.
To be apart of this vision, please contact Julie Emmer to request further information via email on our upcoming scheduled trainings or call by phone at (407) 831-2411 extension 1206.
Feel free to check out the following websites for more information about the Mental Health First Aid initiative in the United States, Florida and abroad.
The National Council for Community Behavioral Healthcare
http://www.thenationalcouncil.org/
Florida Council for Community Mental Health
http://www.fccmh.org/
Australia Mental Health First Aid
http://www.mhfa.com.au/
If you would like to play a role in helping to achieve the mission of Seminole Behavioral Healthcare either through volunteering, planned giving, or other donations and contributions, we want to hear from you! Please contact us through any of the means listed HERE:
1-800-955-8771 (TDD) or 1-800-955-8770 (Voice)
If you have questions concerning access or wish to request a sign language interpreter or inquire about accommodations for a disability, call our SBH Single Point of Contact at (407) 831-2411 x 1266. Early requests are encouraged; a week will generally allow us to provide seamless access. Thank you.
Follow Us