With Pentagon data showing declining satisfaction with military life among military spouses, leaders of the Air and Space Forces and their spouses discussed the challenges and importance of work-life balance Sept. 13 at AFA’s Air, Space, & Cyber Conference.

The chiefs and top enlisted members from both services and their partners also shared insights on how to seek support and prioritize self-care.

Back in February, the Department of Defense announced the results of a survey revealing troubling trends in the satisfaction of partners of those who wear uniforms with their spouse’s military life. Only 49 percent of military spouses were satisfied in 2021, down from 56 percent in 2019, and the percentage in favor of their spouses remaining in service decreased to 54 percent, a notable dip from 68 percent in 2012.

A central theme of the panel discussion was how to maintain quality time when the demands of military service never seem to end. Sharene Brown, the wife of Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Charles Q. Brown Jr., talked about reaching out to the community and stressed the importance of connecting with other military spouses to cope with the inevitable hardships of military life.

“Military spouses connecting, creating a safe space, and expressing any resentment they may have is crucial. We understand each other. Often, they feel they can’t voice their concerns, but that’s not a healthy approach,” she said.

Gen. Charles Q. Brown, Jr., Chief of Staff of the Air Force and Sharene Brown, wife of CSAF at the Air, Space & Cyber Conference on September 12, 2023, at National Harbor, Maryland. Photo by Mike Tsukamoto/Air & Space Forces Magazine

Rachel Rush, the spouse of Chief Master Sergeant of the Space Force Roger Towberman, talked about resentment that spouses can feel. Rush, who is also a nurse, shared her experiences of self-doubt, and said she sometimes felt like a “plus one” in her husband’s life; she emphasized that military spouses should have their own identity and purpose.

“Although you share this journey with the person you love, it’s important to pursue your own passions as much as you support each other,” Rush said. “I love him, but I also love myself, and he allows me to be selfish at times, which enriches our life together.”

Towberman echoed this, saying that serving the nation is a team effort, and the family is an integral part of that journey. He also discussed the challenges of balancing family time, preferring the term “harmony” to “balance.”

CMSSF Roger Towberman and Rachel Rush, wife of CMSSF, at the Air, Space & Cyber Conference on September 12, 2023, at National Harbor, Maryland. Photo by Mike Tsukamoto/Air & Space Forces Magazine

Making Time for Each Other

While setting aside time for communication in any relationship can be a struggle, in military families, this challenge is even more pronounced, panel members said. Not only does the military member have issues such as classified information they can’t share with their partners, but they also grapple with irregular work hours and frequent relocations. Often, they find it difficult to leave work behind because the weight of their duties lingers on their minds even after they return to their families.

Jennifer Saltzman, the wife of Chief of Space Operations Gen. B. Chance Saltzman, shared her approach to coping with these challenges. She said that she and her husband haven’t quite achieved the ideal work-life balance yet, but they are working toward it.

“It’s challenging to separate the demanding work, especially when you can’t always share it. So, you must intentionally set aside time for each other and take care of one another as much as possible.”

This deliberate allocation of time for each other is particularly demanding for dual military families like Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force JoAnne S. Bass and her husband, retired Army 1st Sgt. Rahn Bass. JoAnne Bass discussed the importance of community involvement, such as engaging with neighbors and having friends nearby to help alleviate these challenges.

“Often, our military bases were located far away, so we learned that communication between us was vital, even when it came to the kids, their homework, or the local community. Neighbors and wingmen are willing to offer assistance. Reach out and be open to their support.”

Rahn Bass added that finding a supportive church community and cultivating friendships with civilians and other couples have also contributed positively to their relationship. He emphasized that the need for humility is a shared sentiment, whether one wears the uniform or not.

CMSAF JoAnne S. Bass and Rahn Bass, husband of CMSAF, at the Air, Space & Cyber Conference on September 12, 2023, at National Harbor, Maryland. Photo by Mike Tsukamoto/Air & Space Forces Magazine

Growing Community and Resources

Throughout the decades, there have been some major policy changes that have been implemented for service members and their families. Beyond the expanding options and resources for therapy, networking, and veteran care, Charles Brown underscored the crucial role that the community and neighbors play in the lives of those undergoing a permanent change of station (PCS). He noted that many individuals find solace in making friends and connecting with civilians who have experienced similar situations, reaching out beyond the military community.

In this context, Sharon Brown shed light on the Exceptional Family Member Program (EFMP), which provides services for family members with special needs. She shared how programs like EFMP and School Liaisons went the extra mile to locate the appropriate resources for one of her sons who had been diagnosed with autism.

Gen. Saltzman described the PCS process as a ‘blessing and a curse.’ Relocating is never an easy task, but he said he appreciates the opportunity to witness his children relishing unique experiences in each location they’ve lived in. He went on to talk about how local individuals, from neighbors to his children’s school friends, have played a crucial role in helping the family adapt to new environments.

Gen. B. Chance Saltzman, Chief of Space Operations, and Jennifer Saltzman, wife of CSO, at the Air, Space & Cyber Conference on September 12, 2023, at National Harbor, Maryland. Photo by Mike Tsukamoto/Air & Space Forces Magazine

In This Together

In May, Jennifer Saltzman and Sharene Brown shared their insights on the “5 keys” to life as a military spouse during the United Forces & Families event hosted by the Air & Space Forces Association. These five principles, including cherishing family moments, engaging with the local community and building connections beyond the military sphere, resonated strongly at the Sept. 13 panel discussion. And what appeared to impress the audience were the moments when the military leaders and their partners candidly spoke about the challenges they’ve faced. As Gen. Brown emphasized, maintaining a family’s resilience and bonds is a formidable task, regardless of one’s rank. His departing message was straightforward: Appreciate those who are near and dear to you.

“We’re just regular people, like you. Our families either embraced this lifestyle through marriage or were born into it. We chose this path, but they had no say in it. So, let’s show them appreciation and say thank you.”

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In partnership with The Repository, every Monday, Stark Community Foundation highlights positive happenings in our community. Here’s to Good News Mondays!

After behavioral health emerged as the top concern during the 2022 Stark County Health Improvement Summit, a dedicated group of community leaders, convened by Stark Community Foundation, joined forces to address the issue and seek collaborative solutions to enhance health outcomes.

With representation from various sectors across Stark County, the Stark County Behavioral Health Collective embarked on a journey to create a roadmap for fostering a north star for behavioral health: everyone struggles; no one struggles alone.

Amy Krebs, vice president of grants and community initiatives at Stark Community Foundation, highlighted the urgency of the situation, sharing, “During last year’s Health Summit, 76% of community leaders expressed concerns about the insufficient mental health services in Stark County. Challenges such as staffing shortages, limited access to care, stigma reduction, affordability and the lack of integration of mental health into other health care services were identified.”

As a foundation with a deep community commitment, convening role and collaborative approach, Stark Community Foundation took the lead in bringing a growing network of community partners together to discuss the complex challenge of behavioral health and explore opportunities for collaboration.

Through months of guided discussions and brainstorming sessions, a shared community vision for behavioral health was developed, resulting in the development of nearly 125 health improvement experiments and strategies.

To streamline the process and obtain a more focused approach, facilitators assisted in reducing the extensive list of strategies to a final selection of 10. These 10 strategies were presented for discussion and voting at the 2023 Health Summit.

More Heart of Stark:Stark County Imagination Library celebrates enrollment milestone

What are the top strategies?

At the Health Summit, local participants chose five of the selected strategies to address the priority health need of mental health access, as identified in the 2022 Community Health Needs Assessment.

“Working with entities across various sectors and through data collection, the five selected strategies will be utilized to monitor incremental change in improving mental health in Stark County,” said Dr. Anju Mader, chief integration officer at Stark County Mental Health & Addiction Recovery. “We encourage agencies and organizations to explore the 120+ collective work strategies to address and improve mental health access. While no one strategy is definitive, collaborating on concurrent multiple strategies can have a cumulative effect.”

This year’s strategies are:

1. No cellphone usage in schools to improve mood and focus. In May 2023, the U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy issued an advisory on the impact of social media use on the mental health of youth. The advisory highlighted concerns about the harmful effects of social media, including exposure to violent and sexual content, bullying, compromised sleep and limited personal interactions. The surgeon general emphasized the lack of evidence supporting the safety of social media for young people and the growing evidence linking its use to mental health issues. To address this national youth mental health crisis, our proposed strategy is to implement a “no cellphone usage in schools to improve mood and focus” policy. This approach aims to minimize students’ exposure to social media during the school day, with the hypothesis that it will lead to improved mood, increased attentiveness and a better learning environment.
2. Guaranteed funding for addressing non-treatment barriers for behavioral health access. When individuals who are already struggling with mental health issues face non-treatment barriers to seeking clinical care, it can further increase their stress and anxiety levels. To address this problem, our strategy aims to help individuals overcome these barriers, such as transportation and childcare. Resources will be made available through various avenues to alleviate these barriers and ensure easier access to necessary healthcare services.
3. Behavioral health support for school staff within their school district. Our school districts are facing the challenging responsibility of not only educating students but also addressing their behavioral and mental health challenges. Furthermore, schools are now extending their support to help families meet basic needs. As a result, the school staff is experiencing significant burdens. To address this issue, behavioral health support will be provided specifically for staff members. This support will include education, clinical services and non-clinical, evidence-based programming.
4. Formalized partnerships between behavioral health providers and medical offices/urgent care centers for streamlined and efficient care. With this strategy, patients who have been identified by their primary care office or local urgent care centers as having mental health struggles and requiring mental health services will receive priority in scheduling appointments at behavioral health partner agencies.
5. Digital technology platform to unify health and human services through shared data. Collaborative partners from the health and human services sectors will come together to utilize a data entry platform that serves as a unified record of care for our most vulnerable populations. This platform will enable screenings to assess basic needs and facilitate connections to community resources. By doing so, the platform will generate comprehensive and up-to-date data. This data will help identify improvements in individuals’ health outcomes, as well as highlight any gaps in resources and services. This valuable information will allow for better allocation of resources and improved support for those in need.

What are the next steps?

“As part of our Community Health Improvement Plan, these strategies need support from everyone in the community, not just agencies or programs,” said Kay Conley, director of administration and support services for the Stark County Health Department. “Any agency or individual can support and adopt some of the processes, behaviors or systems under one or more of these strategies. First, people need to be aware of and get behind the strategy, and then they have to figure out how they can support the work on a personal, agency or systems change level.”

Each strategy will be supported by a working committee consisting of dedicated volunteers who are committed to advancing that particular strategy. If you are interested in participating in one or more of these working groups, reach out to Conley at conleyk@starkhealth.org or 330-451-1446.

Stark Community Foundation helps individuals, families, businesses and nonprofits achieve their philanthropic goals through a variety of charitable funds and strategic initiatives. Ranked in the top 10% of community foundations in the country, the foundation and its family of donors have granted $230 million to nonprofits since 1963. Learn more at www.starkcf.org.

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The Government of Sweden aims to broaden the human resource base with experience of international work and work within the development sector, by giving younger, passionate, and educated people the opportunity to serve in the United Nations as junior professional officers (JPOs). In 2017 UNSSC and the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida) co-created a phenomenally successful learning programme designed to broaden JPOs’ leadership skills, improve their career prospects, and foster collaboration within the UN System.

“Sida finances programs for the Swedish JPOs to provide them with the keys to advance their careers towards serving in the UN system.”

– Thao Do Jorgensen, Programme Manager, Sida

This year 2023 UN Emerging Leadership and Career Booster for Swedish JPOs welcomed 29 mid-level Swedish JPOs representing 16 agencies and 22 duty stations to the Staff College campus in Turin, Italy.

Becoming a leader in the UN 

From the beginning of programme, participants were asked to reflect on the true meaning of being a leader in the UN, starting with their interactions with a former JPO (now Evaluation Specialist) and UNICEF Representative in El Salvador. They touched on the topics of mobility, accountability, and the values that guide the work of young professionals and leaders within the UN.   

To prompt dialogue and encourage reflection, the JPOs were tasked with conveying their stories and values through a Lego ® Serious Play, discussing their career journeys and giving advice to their peers with similar experiences. 

Mindfulness in the workplace and assessing DiSC profile results

Consistent self-care practice is one of the most effective ways working professionals can avoid or reduce the effects of burnout. Participants were provided with tips, advice and practical approaches to self-care as well as stress management techniques and tools to help them keep a healthy work-life balance.

Dominance, Influence, Steadiness and Compliance (DiSC) Assessments help improve workplace productivity, teamwork, and communication. JPOs received feedback and guidance on how to optimize and benefit from the results of their assessments.

“Exchanging and learning from each other was the best part of this programme. We all face very similar challenges which were very powerful and useful to learn. This network will be extremely useful and important going forward.”

– Participant, Sida JPO Programme, 2023

Personal branding, acing interviews, and career trajectories 

Participants had the opportunity to learn how improve their personal branding and how to best showcase their skills or competencies in interviews. JPOs participants were also guided to develop their career timelines and vision for their future. They were asked to reflect on their purpose and priorities and draft a vision that reflected their values.

In a special session hosted by IOM’s Director of Human Resource Management, Michael Emery, JPOs gained insights on the latest developments in terms of UN career trends, news, and opportunities to help them effectively prepare and plan their career trajectories.

“Enjoyed the opportunity to network with peers and other JPOs present during the residential week. The most effective was the session on “Peers as Resources” as it gave us the opportunity to allocate time to listen to each other in a more structured way.”

– Participant, Sida JPO Programme, 2023

Next Steps

“This year marked seven years and the second blended edition of emerging leadership and career booster for Swedish Junior Professional Officers. This programme speaks very much to the UN System Staff College’s core mandate and mission. The collaboration and co-creation with Sida specifically amplifies it in a powerful way. Throughout our seventh-year collaboration with Sida on this programme, we have enjoyed accompanying the JPOs on this important learning journey. At UNSSC we help them become better leaders, find their career path in the UN and prepare for their next career move.”

– Aida Ghazaryan, Learning Portfolio Manager, UNSSC

It was a jam-packed programme full of fruitful learning for the Swedish JPOs, providing them with opportunities to connect with peers while learning from a host of qualified leaders both within and outside the United Nations.

The learning continues even though they have left Turin! Each JPO will benefit from bilateral sessions with leadership and career coaches to ensure they turn all the wisdom they received into action.

UNSSC is proud to have hosted this 2023 cohort of JPOs in collaboration Sida. Learn more about the 2023 UN Emerging Leadership and Career Booster for Swedish JPOs on social media! 

#SIDA2023 #UNSSC 

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NEW HANOVER — State and local leaders met in Wilmington Monday to discuss mental health and school safety at a roundtable hosted by U.S. Sen. Thom Tillis.

READ MORE: More staff reductions, divisions to shave off $1M to balance NHCS budget

The group mostly agreed on the barriers to mental health care in the school system, including the need for competitive wages for mental healthcare employees and a stronger pipeline of graduates into education environments.

Aside from Tillis, the roundtable included State Superintendent Catherine Truitt, North Carolina Sen. Michael Lee, Wilmington Mayor Bill Saffo, New Hanover County Commissioners Chairman Bill Rivenbark, New Hanover County Schools Superintendent Charles Foust, New Hanover County Sheriff’s Office Maj. Jonathan Hart, Ryan Estes of Coastal Horizons and Roxie Wells from Novant Health.

Tillis sought feedback to ensure future grants from last year’s Bipartisan Safer Communities Act were targeted to the right needs and communities. The senator is also working with Matthew and Camila McConaughey’s Greenlights Grant Initiative, which helps connect school districts with resources to complete the complicated grant process. 

BSCA is known for being the most significant gun law reform passed in 30 years. President Joe Biden signed the bill — Tillis serving as a key negotiator — into law in June 2022 following mass shootings in Buffalo, New York, and Uvalde, Texas. The law introduced stricter background checks for gun buyers under 21, closed the “boyfriend loophole” to prevent convicted domestic abusers from purchasing firearms for five years, and created criminal offenses for federal straw purchasing and gun trafficking. 

The legislation also puts $300 million for school districts to institute school safety measures, violence prevention, and training for law enforcement, school personnel and students. Another $3 billion is put toward mental health services within educational environments or in the community. 

Tillis described the roundtable as an awareness campaign ensuring North Carolina school systems were equipped to put themselves in the running for the federal grants. 

However, the grants are competitive, and Tillis told reporters on Monday districts with great need would be prioritized over districts with great applications. 

“Nothing’s funded perpetually this year,” Tillis said. So you’re always having to go back, but the programs that have the best chance of future funding are the programs that are actually proving that they’re solving the problem.” 

With limited funding to spread across the nation’s 13,000-plus school districts, coupled with New Hanover County’s ranking in the top 10 wealthiest North Carolina counties, there may be slim chances BSCA funding will reach local levels. 

Though, roundtable participants noted the need is there. 

“If we have the cultural capital to make it happen and we’re still falling short, I can’t imagine what it looks like in counties that don’t really have the resources that we have,” Foust said.

State Superintendent Truitt noted how important it was to have dedicated staff in schools to address physical and mental health needs and provide hands-on care. 

“So frequently it is the teacher who is handling all of these issues, and that cannot continue because that is what leads to teacher burnout,” Truitt said. “Not to mention the fact that teachers are not equipped to deal with the mental health issues or medical issues — your teacher shouldn’t be giving insulin shots in schools.” 

But health providers are some of the most vulnerable positions in a school system as federal Covid-19 funding expires, salary and benefit costs increase, and state funding fails to fully cover the gaps. In this year’s NHCS budget, the district plans to cut dozens of positions, including teachers, guidance counselors, a social-emotional learning coach and specialist, an EC coach and curriculum specialist, social workers, and technology and media coordinators.

On top of this, Commissioner Rivenbark, who served on the school board for two years, recalled teachers he’s talked to were struggling to handle behavioral issues following the Covid-19 pandemic. 

Estes added students and teachers were “traumatized” and that would take a while to subside, even with adequate resources. 

The chief operating officer at Coastal Horizons also pushed the importance of competitive pay.

“We don’t have a workforce shortage,” Estes said. “We have a wage shortage, paying mental health [employees] disproportionate wages to what someone can do in private therapy. We’re never going to build out an infrastructure if the going rate for therapy is $150 on the private market and it’s $70 on our Medicaid system.” 

Wells, the SVP chief physician executive and strategy officer for Novant Health’s coastal region, noted there was a shortage of healthcare workers, but not necessarily because fewer people were interested in allied health careers. 

“I think there are 80,000 individuals who apply to nursing school on a yearly basis and they don’t get in because there’s not space there; they don’t have enough educators to actually grow the schools,” Wells said. 

She pointed to the importance of exposing students to allied health career options and putting resources toward reducing barriers to choosing those career paths, which could also include cross-state licensures. Wells said many nurses moving to the state face a long wait to get licensed to practice there. 

Sen. Lee noted a cross-state licensure was part of the General Assembly’s ongoing budget conversations. As a note of caution, Estes said doing so could cause healthcare providers in North Carolina to practice in other states with higher pay via telehealth. 

Wells also plugged Novant Health’s new residency program for adolescent psychiatrists, and Truitt said the state was exploring paid internships for school psychologists. Both actions, they described, would unclog the pipeline of graduates to school employees. 

Though most of the conversation focused on mental health, Maj. Hart noted the sheriff’s office is focused on leveraging technology to better secure school buildings in what’s called “school hardening” — surveillance technology, metal detectors, fortified entries and more.

After the roundtable discussion, Tillis said his next steps include “getting the legislature more dialed in” to effective implementation of the grant distribution.

“I think it’s more important just to make sure they understand the resources and the opportunity to put North Carolina on the map as one of the most successful states,” Tillis said. 

Grants from the BSCA have already begun to be distributed to various applicants, including the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction so far.

Reach journalist Brenna Flanagan at brenna@localdailymedia.com 

Want to read more from PCD? Subscribe now and then sign up for our newsletter, Wilmington Wire, and get the headlines delivered to your inbox every morning.

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By Kristin Fox

At the May regular meeting of the Jackson County Board of Education, Meagan Crews, LCSW, Director of Behavioral Health for Jackson County Public Schools, gave an update on Project AWARE. In September 2021, Jackson County was selected as one of six school systems in the state to serve as a pilot site for Project AWARE.

Jackson County Schools is the first school system located in the Mountain region to be selected for Project AWARE joining Nash County Schools and Sampson County Schools located in the Coastal Plain region in the second cohort of pilot sites for the program. The first cohort pilot sites include Beaufort County Schools located in the Coastal Plain region along with Cleveland County Schools and Rockingham County Schools which are both located in the Piedmont region.  

North Carolina’s Project AWARE (Advancing Wellness and Resiliency in Education) also locally known as NC Project ACTIVATE (Advancing Coordinated and Timely InterVentions, Awareness, Training, and Education) addresses the three tiers of mental health (promotion, prevention, and intervention) through a continuum of education, universal screening, and appropriate services and supports for all students in grades PK-12 in response to varying levels of needs identified within the classroom and at school. 

Project AWARE also provides training for school personnel and other adults who interact with school-aged youth to detect and respond to mental health challenges, and connects school-aged youth, who may present behavioral health challenges, and their families to needed mental health help. 

The Project AWARE program strives to increase mental health awareness in schools across states, territories, and tribal communities. The program has increased mental health literacy among the schools and communities, removed barriers to find care, and ensured cultural relevance for all school programs.

The federally funded program was created by the NC Department of Public Instruction and the NC Department of Health and Human Services to promote student well-being, healthy behaviors, and interventions to address mental health problems before they occur.

According to statistics from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention nationally one in five children has a diagnosable mental health disorder. That translates to 20 percent of our youth in the nation are meeting challenges that could meet criteria for a mental health disorder ranging from depression, anxiety, ADHD and encompasses all mental health challenges. In a classroom of 30 students, at least six need some level of support.

Twice a year in March and October, the Jackson County School System issues the BASC-3 BESS, a universal mental health screener, to identify the needs of their students. Staff and professionals use the information obtained through the biannual screenings to help to meet these needs. 

During the screening, teachers report on the well-being of younger aged students, fourth grade and below, based on their observations and interaction with the students. Older students fifth through twelve grades self-report their mental health challenges in the screening.

In the most recent screening conducted in March 2023 in Jackson County School System, 26.8 percent of Jackson County students scored in the elevated and extremely elevated risk, meaning that they are identified as needing some level of support.  Nearly 18 percent of Jackson County students identified as elevated risk and close to 9 percent identified as extremely elevated risk for needing mental health support.

“This does not mean that they have a diagnosable disorder, it means that they need some level of support to be well, to learn and access the things that the teachers and staff are trying to teach them,” said Crews.

Another alarming statistic among youth in the nation is that suicide is the second leading cause of death for children and adolescents after the age of 10 years. In 2021, according to statistics from the Youth Risk Survey 22 percent of high school students in North Carolina that were polled seriously considered attempting suicide, and 10 percent made an attempt. The survey is administered in North Carolina schools every odd year.

Locally, suicide statistics obtained in Jackson County show similar behavior among its students. During the 2022-2023 school year, Jackson County Public School staff conducted at least 130 suicide screeners since August meaning that at least 130 students were identified by a teacher, peer or self-identified enough to get help because they wanted to end their lives. Twenty-two Jackson County students were hospitalized because they could not remain at home safely.

Faced with these sobering statistics Jackson County has stepped up to the plate and is doing its part to help its students with mental health challenges.

In 2018, concerned students and community members made a formal request to the Jackson County Board of Education to improve access to mental health services. Jackson County students and community members rallied and advocated for three things: Single entry-points for all school buildings, School Resource Officers on every campus and increased mental health and counseling support. At that time, the district’s staff-to-student ratio for mental health providers trailed behind the national average. 

The Jackson County School Board as well as the Jackson County Board of Commissioners listened and provided and continue to allocate the necessary funding to improve students’ access to mental health help. With this commitment from school and county officials, much progress has been made to help students with mental health challenges. 

“Project AWARE is a very large grant with lots of goals and objectives,” said Crews. “The central goal is to connect youth and families with mental health services. Through local funds from our commissioners and the grant funding we have been able to build a team of six highly qualified mental health therapists to help meet this goal.” 

These six clinicians serve in all nine schools in Jackson County to try to meet the mental health needs of its students. Services provided include:

• • Suicide screeners and crisis interventions
  • School based therapy services
  • Case management and referrals
  • Partnering with student support teams to provide universal prevention services
  • Providing training to Jackson County Public School staff and community members

These efforts are in compliance with NC session law 2020-7, which requires districts to adopt a school-based mental health plan that includes a mental health training program and suicide risk referral protocol.

Studies conducted in 1998 found that when children are referred to mental health services 13 percent of children started the services. However, when children were referred to mental health services on-site at school, 96 percent of the children started the services. In addition, providing mental health services at schools eliminates the barriers of transportation as well as saves time and money.

Providing mental health services at schools for students have proven to have positive outcomes on students including improvement in decision-making capacity and relationship skills, better academic outcomes, fewer special education referrals and decreased need for restrictive placement. Schools providing these services have also had fewer disciplinary actions, increased student engagement and feeling of connectedness to schools.

A 2011 study found that schools that implemented a school-wide mental health promotion program saw an increase in academic performance that was equivalent to up to six additional months of school. At the same time, it has been realized that untreated mental health challenges in early childhood and adolescence increase the risk for poor academic performance. 

Jackson County is fortunate to have been selected for the five-year grant from Project AWARE. The grant coupled with funding from Jackson County has allowed Jackson County Public schools to expand mental health services for all Jackson County Students.

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MOULTRIE – Mental health organizations and representatives made several connections to Moultrie and Colquitt County faith leaders during the We 4-C Healing luncheon Thursday morning.

Jacobs Ladder Consulting, LLC, in partnership with NAMI Moultrie and The Yellow Elephant, held the Faith Community Behavioral Health and Partnership luncheon with support from the Georgia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities. The event was held from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Southern Regional Technical College, Moultrie Campus.

“The purpose [of the event] was to reach out to our faith leaders in the community because the church is the one of the first places people reach out to when they’re in any type of crisis, whether it’s mental health, financial or a death in the family. We just wanted to give them an extra tool for their own self care and for people that attend their churches,” Michelle Cope, the founder of The Yellow Elephant (TYE), said in an interview prior to the luncheon.

She explained that the four C’s represent the luncheon’s values: compassion, connection, collaboration and conversation.

The Rev. Dr. Richard Wright, left, and Renée Jacobs, right, converse with Lynn Wilson, center at the We 4-C Healing Luncheon Thursday morning. Jacobs Ladder Consulting, LLC, in partnership with NAMI Moultrie, The Yellow Elephant held the Faith Community Behavioral Health and Partnership luncheon with support from the Georgia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities.

By Kasmira Smith | kasmira.smith@gaflnews.com

Renée Jacobs, the CEO of Jacobs Ladder Consulting, said the recent shooting at the local McDonald’s restaurant highlights the need for discussions similar to the luncheon.

“Even in light of everything that’s happened as an effect of COVID-19, in terms of people’s emotional wellness coming to light, there’s still some people who just do not get it. It’s a very real thing. It’s sitting with us at work and on the pews. It’s with us wherever we are,” Jacobs said.

She said it’s important to be able to understand your experiences, and she said how you respond or are impacted by them is different for everyone.

Cope, Jacobs and Lynn Wilson, the president of NAMI Moultrie, welcomed several leaders with opening remarks.

Jacobs told the crowd, “We want to make sure that the faith leaders are aware that you’re a first responder.”

State Sen. Sam Watson speaks to faith leaders and mental health organization representatives during the We 4-C Healing luncheon held at Southern Regional Technical College Thursday morning.

By Kasmira Smith | kasmira.smith@gaflnews.com

Community leaders heard from DBHDD Commissioner Kevin Tanner and state Sen. Sam Watson who briefly updated the attendees on the state’s recent work on mental health.

Selina Popovich-Evans, the director of Region 4 Mobile Crisis Response Team with Benchmark Human Services, presented an update on the 988 suicide crisis line – which is approaching its one year anniversary. She told the attendees that the crisis line is experiencing a 12% increase statewide and a 22% increase in calls from rural areas like those within Region 4.

Todd Lynch, NAMI Moultrie’s vice president, moderated the 4-C discussion and Chaplain Lou Koon from the Armed Forces Mission served as the keynote speaker.

Attendees were able to converse with area mental health outreach programs and resources throughout the event’s breaks and briefly prior to the event.

Jase Bass, Alan Whitehead and Mark Harrell with Life Under the Son briefly speak to attendees at the We 4-C Healing Luncheon Thursday morning. Bass, who is the president of the Moultrie-based non-profit, said its mission is to help direct and be a point of contact for people who have mental health issues or suffer from addiction.

By Kasmira Smith | kasmira.smith@gaflnews.com

Jase Bass, the president of a Moultrie based non-profit called Life Under the Son, said its mission is to help direct and be a point of contact for people who have mental health issues or suffer from addiction.

“We build relationships in the community. We have relationships with men and women who are coming out of jails, who are on the street or homeless, people at Turning Point, or those who might not feel comfortable with going to a church or crisis center,” Bass explained.

Mark Harrell has been volunteering for the organization for about a year. After moving to Moultrie, Bass introduced Harrell to local churches and people in the community.

“The fellowship was probably one of the biggest things that helped steer me in the right direction. There’s evidence that it works,” Harrell said. “Attending events like the luncheon helps with finding others with the same goals of helping the community.”

A few of the local attendees were Michele Jessica Smith, CEO and founder of Teens Have Visions 2; MPD Co-Responder Team members Julio Ginel, a Georgia Pines clinical co-responder, and Lt. Tonero Bender; Reginald Sweet with the HEARTS for Families organization and Benjie Nobles, the pastor of Greater Believers Worship Center and criminal justice instructor at Southern Regional Technical College.

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