April is Autism Acceptance Month

Dear Friends,

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a developmental disability caused by differences in the brain. Some people with ASD have a known difference, such as a genetic condition. Other causes are not yet known. Scientists believe there are multiple causes of ASD that act together to change the most common ways people develop. We still have much to learn about these causes and how they impact people with ASD. According to the Centers for Disease Control, autism affects an estimated 1 in 36 children in the United States today.

ASD begins before the age of 3 years and can last throughout a person’s life, although symptoms may improve over time. Some children show ASD symptoms within the first 12 months of life. In others, symptoms may not show up until 24 months of age or later. Some children with ASD gain new skills and meet developmental milestones until around 18 to 24 months of age, and then they stop gaining new skills or lose the skills they once had. Research shows that early intervention leads to positive outcomes in life for people with autism.

People with ASD may behave, communicate, interact, and learn in ways that are different from most other people. There is often nothing about how they look that sets them apart from other people. The abilities of people with ASD can vary significantly. They may have difficulties developing and maintaining friendships, communicating with peers and adults, or understanding what behaviors are expected in school or on the job. These characteristics can make life very challenging. We still have much to learn about these causes and how they impact people with ASD. It is important to remember that Autism is treatable, and not a hopeless condition.

"If you’re always trying to be normal, you will never know how amazing you can be.”

– Maya Angelou

Welcome to the Team!

Crystal Gaulden - New Case Manager

Crystal comes with over 20+ years of experience in the field of social work. She has experience in various areas of social work, public mental health, substance abuse, homelessness to name a few areas. Crystal is a country girl at heart, a true GA Peach. She is a proud mother of two fur babies. Her hobbies include baking sweet treats, photography, adult kickball, and camping. We are so happy to have her as a Case Manager on the Disability Services team!

Upcoming Mandatory Meetings:

2024 Quarterly Support Companion Meeting Schedule

April 2, 2024, 11:00am-12:00pm - ROME

April 4, 2024, 11:00am-12:00pm - ATLANTA

April 11, 2024, 11:00am-12:00pm - SAVANNAH

April 17, 2024, 11:00am-12:00pm - ATHENS

We are so excited to see everyone at our in-person meetings in April!

The July Support Companion quarterly meeting will be held as a virtual meeting. The Zoom link will be sent through the family web portal.

Stay tuned for the October in-person meeting dates, times, and locations.

*Make sure to check your emails for the We Inspire Weekly newsletter for important information and reminders!

Inspiritus WE Awards

Inspiritus WE Awards

Through the family portal, SharePoint, and via email, every individual, Support Companion, and team member can nominate anyone for anything they do “With Excellence." Once a quarter, the Disability Services Leadership Team reviews all nominations for Excellence and chooses one individual, one Support Companion, and one team member who clearly embraces the key concepts of WE. Both a nomination and a quarterly selection earn points to receive Inspiritus SWAG and we highlight them in the quarterly newsletter!

*1st Highlight $10 + SWAG Bag

*2nd Highlight $15 + SWAG Bag

*3rd Highlight $25 + SWAG Bag

Support Companion Highlight:

Congratulations Florence Carpenter!

Ms. Carpenter has been with Inspiritus for 11 years! The work you do does not go unnoticed. We appreciate your dedication to our individuals, and we couldn't do it without providers like you. You make a difference. Thank you!

Individual Highlight:

Congratulations Marion Taksa!

Marion has been in services with Inspiritus for seven years! She is doing great at her placement with Ms. Carpenter. Marion is the sweetest and we are so thankful that we have the opportunity to serve her.

Team Member Highlight:

Congratulations Denise Parker!

Denise has been with Inspiritus for nine years and she is such a significant part of our Disability Services team! We can always depend on Denise to know the answer or find the answer. We appreciate her willingness to always help whenever she can. Denise is also a huge advocate for our individuals. She went to Washington, DC to participate in “Hill Day,” where she had the opportunity to talk to Georgia Senators, their staff, and other members of Congress about the important needs of individuals with disabilities and the direct care workforce. Thank you, Denise, for all that you do!

Our Individuals are Vibing & Thriving!

Director's Corner

April is also Stress Awareness Month

Since 1992, April has been recognized as National Stress Awareness Month to bring attention to the negative impact of stress. Managing stress is an essential component of a healthy lifestyle. Knowing how to manage stress can improve mental and physical well-being as well as minimize exacerbation of health-related issues.

It’s critical to recognize what stress and anxiety look like, take steps to build resilience, and know where to go for help.

Stress in minor to moderate doses may be expected, as the body is equipped to handle these reactions. However, ongoing or unattended stress can have serious consequences. Chronic stress impacts the entire body and can harm well-being in the long term.

Understanding the signs of stress may help you recognize them and find strategies that target the unique circumstances of your stressful situation.

Below are a few of these indicators:

• Increased irritability and anger

• A loss of interest in previously enjoyed activities

• Mental burnout

• Changes in appetite

• Changes in sleep patterns

• Gastrointestinal distress like nausea, constipation, diarrhea, and indigestion

• Loneliness

• Body aches and muscle tension

• Mood swings

• Feeling overwhelmed

• Headaches, especially tension headaches or migraines

Steps to manage stress:

• Take time for yourself

• Try new routines and hobbies

• Be active, eat healthy, and get plenty of rest

• Stay connected and make new friends

• Recognize and counter signs of stress

• Seek help. Talk to someone you trust or a health care professional

As dedicated Support Companions, you must take care of yourselves first before you can take care of others. The work you do is very important, and it’s not easy. We are hoping you do what is necessary for your health, including managing stress, by following some of the recommended self-care suggestions.

We appreciate each of you!

Warm regards,

LaWanda

On Call Information

Weekdays: 5:00pm – 8:30am

Weekends: Friday 5:00pm – Monday 8:30am

Holidays: All day until 8:30am the next weekday morning

*Life threatening emergencies require calling 911 or an immediate Emergency Room/ Emergency Department visit followed by notification to the on-all number (or to your Case Manager during normal business hours).

Advocacy: Disability Services in Georgia

Dear Friends,

At Inspiritus, our Disability & Health Services program offers residential housing to individuals with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (IDD) in a host home setting. These homes offer an intimate and person-centered residence with compassionate, well-trained support companions, who collaborate with state and regional agencies to provide a coordinated plan of care and support.

In the state of Georgia, these Support Companions are known as Direct Support Professionals (DSPs), and they make our mission of empowering those we accompany possible. DSPs are central to the health and safety of those living with IDD, as our Support Companions accommodate a number of medical issues, such as seizure disorder, incontinence, speech disorders, hypertension, and diabetes. We could not empower the individuals we accompany without their support.

Sadly, Inspiritus and other IDD providers are currently facing a crisis of epic proportion in our ability to obtain and preserve a skilled workforce of Direct Support Professionals to provide safe and secure services for individuals we accompany. The DSP turnover rate for IDD providers is approaching 50% with the average DSP in Georgia having been on the job for less than one year. Georgia services are funded at a rate that only allows for an hourly DSP wage of $10.64 or $22,131 annually. No one in Georgia can live on that wage. No one can pay rent, buy food, gas, and insurance for that amount.

This is the current reality of the DSP workforce crisis, and it is critical to address it in a meaningful and impactful way as soon as possible. Without a well-trained and stable DSP workforce, individuals with IDD are in peril and are at risk.

The time to act is now, but we cannot do it alone. We need your help to ensure DSPs are paid a living wage so we can further empower the individuals we accompany on their journey from surviving to thriving.

HOW CAN YOU HELP?

Join our call to action in supporting a 5% increase on all waiver services to help address the DSP workforce crisis.

By signing the petitions below, you can advocate for a $6,150,000 increase of funding to be added to the 2022 Fiscal Year Budget, and for a $12.3m to be added to the 2023 budget to annualize this 5% increase.

We invite you to join us in sending an email to your Georgia state legislators asking that they provide funding for increased DSP wages. It is imperative that Georgia's General Assembly include funding in the state budget during the 2022 legislative session to provide an hourly wage for DSPs that will encourage stability, reduce turnover, and demonstrate our state’s belief that Georgians with IDD do deserve high quality support from a stable and skilled workforce.

A template has been created so that all you need to do is enter your information and hit "send". However, you also have the option to personalize the email if you would like to enter a personal story about how this issue is impacting your life. Let them know how important Direct Support Professionals are and ask them to act now to increase DSP wages and address the workforce shortage.

Our success depends on YOUR participation! Sign and circulate the DSP Petition AND use the GCDD tool to communicate your support of a 5% increase to legislators directly.

We invite you to circulate each of these advocacy activities with your families, friends, collogues, and community partners to ensure our voice is heard in the Georgia state legislature.

Thank you for your continued support in empowering those we accompany on their journeys from surviving to thriving!

Sincerely,

Rev. John R. Moeller, Jr.
President & CEO,
Inspiritus

Meet Shane

Shane is a young man who grew up in foster care system and has experienced many placements. Fortunately, once he was placed with Inspiritus, we were able to provide the stability he needed. Over the last four years, Shane has thrived due to the care of his loving foster mother who nurtured, cared for, and ushered him into adulthood. What is so special about this story is that Shane is autistic, has cerebral palsy, and functions at an adolescent level. As Shane reached the age of 21, he almost fell through the cracks as many young adults with disabilities do. But thanks to the collaboration of Inspiritus, DFCS and DBHDD, he was successfully transitioned to Inspiritus’ Host Home program where he continues to move into independence and reach his full potential! If you are interested in caring for a young person with special needs, please fill out an inquiry form here or you may reach us at (800) 343-2458 for more information.

Behavioral Health Services Closing in Atlanta

A note from Gary Johnstone, Interim CEO of Lutheran Services of Georgia

It is with sadness and regret that I must inform the Lutheran Services of Georgia family that the Behavioral Health Services program will close on June 30, 2015. Since opening its doors, BHS has served individuals- and their families - who struggled with mental health and substance abuse issues.

The dedicated BHS staff members have faced numerous challenges in their efforts to become accredited and licensed, but through it all, Dr. Lucy Cannon, Dr. Gibson, Alice Camp, and Samantha Eberhardt have worked very hard to make this program a success. Due to unforeseen and insurmountable barriers, the decision has been made to close the program.

BHS has had many successes: they received a three-year CARF Accreditation and were approved to provide services by several third party insurance providers, including Blue Cross/Blue Shield, Aetna, Tri Care, Medicare, FEI Behavioral Health, EAP, and Amerigroup. In addition, they established a sliding-scale fee plan based on income so that they could serve all clients in need.

Dr. Cannon, Director of BHS, and her staff have expressed their pride in being able to serve people from numerous programs within LSG and have felt supported in their efforts. Vice President of Programs Dr. Alie Redd has provided guidance and support during this time and is continuing to support Dr. Cannon during this resolution process.

Thank you, Behavioral Health Services staff, for your dedication to bringing restored hope, transformed lives, and healthy tomorrows to individuals and families throughout Georgia.

Behavioral Health Services Celebrates One Year Anniversary

By Dr. Lucy R. Cannon, LCSW, CCDP-D, Clinical Director of Behavioral Health Services

Lutheran Services of Georgia, Inc. is proud to announce the celebration of our new Behavioral Health Services program’s one year anniversary. We provide outpatient mental health and substance abuse services to children, adolescents, and adults in metropolitan Atlanta. Our BHS clinical staff provided mental health services to our first client on August 21, 2013. BHS’s first client referral came from LSG’s FACES program, which provides support for individuals with developmental disabilities. BHS has a full-time Director/Clinical Director and qualified part-time clinical and administrative staff members that will include a board certified and Forensic psychiatrist, registered nurse, licensed professional counselor, and administrative staff. Our great team now provides mental health and substance abuse services to 15 clients.

BHS’s first year has been very successful. On July 3, 2013, BHS obtained an Outpatient Substance Abuse license through the Department of Community Health (DCH). In March 2014, thanks to the hard work of LSG leadership, the Quality Improvement Program Manager, and BHS Program staff, BHS received a 3-year CARF accreditation. LSG’s CEO and President Floyd R. Blair, Chief Operations Officer (COO) Gary Johnston, and Vicky McClention have been instrumental in assisting LSG in implementing the Behavioral Health Services program.

BHS has also become a provider of third party insurance companies to include FEI Behavioral Health, EAP, Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Georgia, AETNA, and TRICARE (military insurance coverage for active duty service members, veterans, and military families). BHS recently received a CMO Medicaid Provider number from DCH. Currently, we are awaiting final approval to become an Amerigroup Child and Adolescent Medicaid provider pending credentialing approval. In October 2014, we will be applying for adult Contracted Provider Services, formerly Core Services, through the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities Services (DBHDD). We also offer sliding scale fees for indigent and private pay clients.

Our commitment to provide state-of-the-art services allows us to establish unique relationships with our loyal clients and family members, internal LSG programs, and community agencies. These relationships are the main reason we were able to successfully meet the needs of the people we served over this past year. Our staff has worked hard to achieve these successes. We want to personally thank the entire LSG leadership and staff for all of their support of this new program over this past year. We are excited about the further growth and development of Behavioral Health Services and the continued support of the LSG Team.

For more information about Behavioral Health Services, click here.

LSG Joins Georgia School of Addiction Studies Board of Directors!

The Georgia School of Addiction Studies (GSAS) has appointed Lutheran Services of Georgia to be on its Board of Directors, effective as of March 2014. The Board of Directors will address the need for knowledge and skill development through advanced training for consumers of mental health, substance abuse, and intellectual disabilities, along with paraprofessionals and licensed clinicians in the fields of substance abuse and mental health. LSG will be instrumental in bringing its expertise to the GSAS Board of Directors. CEO and President Mr. Floyd R. Blair and Director of Behavioral Health Services Dr. Lucy Cannon will serve as representatives on the board.

The GSAS offers unique opportunities for professional development, information exchange, and networking, including its annual GSAS Conference. The 2014 GSAS Conference will take place in SAvannah, Georgia from August 25 through 29. Each year, the conference features highly qualified speakers and experts from various organizations throughout the United States who present on topics related to prevention, treatment, and recovery. Noted keynote speakers such as Dr. David Satcher, former Surgeon General Dr. Drew Pinsky, Host of Celebrity Rehab Dr. H. Wesley Clark, Director of SAMHSA Center for Substance Abuse Treatment, and other experts in addiction and mental health are represented. Click here for more information about the GSAS.

Lutheran Behavioral Health Services Receives Three-Year CARF Accreditation

Lutheran Services of Georgia is excited to announce that the Lutheran Behavioral Health Services program (LBHS) recently received a three-year accreditation from CARF International, the maximum length of accreditation that CARF offers to health and human service providers.

LBHS offers an array of outpatient mental health and substance abuse counseling services to children, adolescents, adults, and seniors in the Metropolitan Atlanta area. LBHS utilizes a person-centered treatment plan to assist clients with reaching their personal goals to improve their lives and promotes mental health through service, advocacy, and education.

Since the launch of LBHS in August, 2013, LSG has sought accreditation from CARF International to support this crucial program. CARF International is an accreditation body that assists service providers in improving service quality, demonstrating value, and meeting internationally recognized organizational and program standards. Organizations like LSG must undergo a comprehensive review of policies and procedures to ensure that they meet CARF standards.

Dr. Lucy Cannon, LBHS Program Director, and Ms. Joy Jones, LSG’s Senior Manager of Quality and Improvement led LSG staff through this process. Together, LSG staff and stakeholders developed a plan that allowed LBHS to succeed. As an accredited program, LBHS can now take steps towards becoming a certified Medicaid provider in Georgia and is eligible for federal, state, and local funding sources. LSG will further develop and implement survey and outcome measurement tools to improve its mental health and substance abuse services for clients and families.

LSG thanks Dr. Cannon, Ms. Jones, LSG staff, CARF Surveyor Ms. Lesley Levin, LCSW, clients, and other stakeholders who successfully assisted LSG through this process.

For more information about LBHS or to make a referral, visit the LBHS webpage.