A Chat with The Chef

Behind every successful operation is an entire team of people, and the kitchen and cafeteria at Pomegranate is no exception. Facilities Director John Hedrick explained, ‘Our food is not institutional here. Don’t think prisons or cafeteria. It’s restaurant quality. We are balancing healthcare considerations with food that appeals to teens. Those might seem like conflicting demands.’  Pomegranate surveys its teen residents on an ongoing basis on a number of quality measures, food among them. Everyone has an opinion; and ‘food’ is not a neutral topic. We went to Registered Dietician, Shelby, of Dietary Solutions,  and Pomegranate’s Chef Bart for answers.

How does Pomegranate decide what to serve residents?

“There are many factors we consider when writing the menus. It has to look good, taste good, be healthy and nutritious, be cost effective and on top of all that, something the kids will actually eat,” explained Chef Bart.  “Some teens have specific needs or allergies which must be taken into account,” added RD, Shelby.

 Are there options?

“Any kid that does not like/want whatever we are having for a particular meal has the option of ordering a substitute,” said Bart.

What are some of the considerations a registered dietician must take into account?

“I look at overall calories, activity, age, gender, vitamins & minerals, sodium, carbs, sugar, fat, basic food groups, fresh, healthy foods, and balance,” said Shelby. Shelby then gives Chef Bart written recommendations for kids as needed.  He writes those recommendations on a dry erase board in the kitchen to communicate to all dietary staff so they know what to do.

Residents have input into what is chosen. How does that work?

“Every month the Resident Senate meets. I get together with one representative from each unit and we discuss what they like about the menu and what things they would like to change,” explained Chef Bart. 

What are some of the favorite meals?

“The kids really enjoy the things all kids like.  Things like pizza, chicken, and mac & cheese.  One of the favorites is what we call Hot Cheeto Chicken, which are chicken tenders that we bread in-house with crushed Flamin’ Hot Cheetos in the mix.  It’s definitely the thing I get asked, ‘When are we having that again?”  the most,” he added.

Does popularity of particular foods change?

“Yes, if we have a particular item too much the kids get tired of it. Also tastes change with the seasons.  Now that we are in the spring season, it’s time for lighter, more fresh options as the produce becomes readily available,” he said.

What has changed since Pomegranate started in 2008?

‘Well I haven’t been here since the beginning, but I have been with Pomegranate for over five years.  I’d say the biggest change is the number of kids.  With the expansion last year and all the beds they added, it sure keeps us busy. Teens go to the cafeteria in small extended family size groups by campus. It is a symphony of scheduling by walkie-talkie. There isn’t any overlap or a huge school cafeteria feel,’ he said.

What have been some learning experiences?

“I have really learned the difference between the tastes of kids and adults.  I am a classically trained chef with a fine dining background but that doesn’t matter if the kids won’t eat what I’m cooking.  I have learned little techniques to invite the kids to try new things, like our wording on the menus or by pairing something they are reluctant to try with something they really like. The biggest thing is getting them to try it,” Chef Bart suggested.  “They usually say, “Hey this is actually good!”’, added Shelby

What have been some high points for you along the way (makes your job rewarding)?

“Although I’m not around the kids as much as the direct care staff, I still enjoy getting to know them.  Telling them, “Good job!” as they reach a goal.  (Discharge, Graduation)  Making something that they really like and then having a kid come tell you it was the best thing they ever ate;  that’s why I do it, he said with a smile.

Anything else our readers might want to know; a ‘did you know . . . ?

“I am very proud to be leading dietary staff here at Pomegranate.  We have five full time cooks, two dishwashers and a couple of utility workers, and between us we put out three meals and three snacks 365 days a year, for residents and staff members. And that’s not including special events, meetings and parties that we cater.” 

Meet the New Nursing Management Team

         Pomegranate announced an updated nursing management infrastructure recently. Under Pomegranate’s new Director of Nursing, Melveena D. Edwards, PhD, RN, BSN, MA (with significant psychiatric nursing experience),  three nursing supervisors were named: All have demonstrated psychiatric nursing proficiency and supervisory experience.  The new structure includes a supervising nurse manager, Thomas Engram, RN, whose focus is management and support for nursing and care staff in both the acute hospital and residential treatment setting across all five wings. Pomegranate employs over 200.  

          Edwards explained the new nursing model, ‘Nursing C.A.R.E.S’, which stands for: compassion, accountability, respect, excellence and service. The inspiration behind the model is Watson’s ‘Ten Carative Factors’.  “The DON will assume a more educational focus to promote excellence, innovation and change management encompassing evidence-based practice.  There are now rounding nurse huddles, a greater reliance on strategy, data collection and statistics as well as documentation. When a resident/patient is admitted, he/she is assigned a therapist and a CPST (psychiatric case manager) and now, his/her own nurse.  In addition, nursing is assuming a more prominent leadership role as part of the enhanced corporate-wide emphasis on trauma-informed care,” said Angela Nickell, MS, CEO.

           At the October 2015 All Staff meetings, nursing supervisors presented an updated and more thorough trauma-informed care module which will be expanded upon in small group sessions with participation of Pomegranate’s compliance/quality improvement manager, Kia Brown, LPN.  Nurse Engram, the presenter, shared statistics that ‘90% of public mental health clients were exposed to trauma and most to multiple experiences of trauma.’  He explained that the effects of trauma predispose a client to maladaptive coping mechanisms such as the body’s natural alarm system not functioning as it should -which can result in a diminished capacity to trust others and affect an individual’s sense of safety.  A maladaptive response might include the survival mode of fight, flight or freeze with rational thought less possible. A client might experience hyperarousal or shutdown mode.

             According to Nickell, “along with the nursing infrastructure update, an intake social worker is joining the acute admissions team due to Pomegranate’s growth and quality enhancement initiative.  The exam room is being renovated and updated with an enhanced focus on patient and family care upon admission, with a streamlined entry process in the works.  Nurse Tiffany Folmar RN was named residential UR/admissions manager as Valerie Nutter transitions to the business development & marketing team as customer relations manager.  This will continue to contribute to our positive, safe and therapeutic environment in building professionalism, enhanced therapeutic communication, rapport, and patient advocacy as Pomegranate continues to look toward the future.”

Can teens recover? Do Pomegranate teens make it? YES!

Within the past two weeks we’ve rejoiced with three client success stories. It goes without saying that working with behaviorally challenged teens sometimes presents the team with opportunities to exercise patience and use every skill they’ve been taught. And then, there are the success stories, the kind that make faces beam with pride and eyes mist. [The teen and her mother interviewed here completed a media release and wanted to share their experience with others.]

For 16 year old Isabelle and her mother, Samantha, ‘Pomegranate is a little diamond in the rough. We hadn’t heard much- if anything- about it.” Isabelle explained that ‘It’s sometimes about being an example for other people. It’s important to share good things about my healing journey, and to give them hope.’ Both women agree that, “recovery is a lifetime process,” and they could not be more pleased with this outcome. Isabelle was treated in Pomegranate’s acute hospital. In appreciation, she created abstract artwork for Valerie in admissions, Tiffany-CPST, and her therapist, Brandi. The transparent overlays of colorful shapes are reminiscent of stained glass windows. The two returned on a steamy July day to express their thanks.

Client A.R. wrote us on Facebook. [Because of the HIPAA privacy act and under 18 population, we do not feature an open forum.] A.R.’s learning opened a new world to him. He says, “My name is —- and I was one of your recent patients. I want to thank you for your treatment and services. It has changed my life so much (that) words can’t explain how happy (I am) and set on my future. I love life, and your facility is the best thing that has ever happened to me. I am at a positive stage in my life and have goals for the future. I thought to myself when I got out of Pomegranate that I wanted to help people with their life problems such as: stress, anxiety, depression, PTSD, suicidal thoughts, and cutting problems. I am only 17 but I have (begun) my first goal and dream in life. I have written a biography of my life and it includes information of how I have used my coping skills, and how to view the better part of life. I include information about setting goals, finding natural remedies for treating stress, anxiety, depression, and PTSD- the main, most common source of all of those symptoms.”

AR want to share the proceeds from his book “as a way of saying thank you for the wonderful treatment and help that Pomegranate Health Systems provides to the youth who need the help and treatment your company has to offer. I was really impressed with how life-changing your system is. Thank you . . . “

Another resident who came to Pomegranate through the Department of Youth Services celebrated her high school graduation, and plans to go on to college and career. https://twitter.com/OhioDYS/status/617709815171805184

At  Columbus State for the mental health resource fair last  year, a transition age young adult visited our table.  We asked if he’d heard of Pomegranate and he said he’d lived here- it helped change his life significantly for the better.  For many, it comes down to learning new skills and making the right choices. Without that interval of intensive daily therapeutic intervention, outcomes may not have been as positive. We congratulate all our teens and wish them the very best wherever they are in their journey.

Pomegranate to offer Alcohol and Drug Workshops by Maryhaven

This Spring, Maryhaven began offering AOD group programming at Pomegranate Health Systems. Maryhaven is a well-known treatment provider for alcohol and drug addiction in Central Ohio, accepting voluntary admissions, medical and court-referred clients. Maryhaven has operated in Central Ohio for over five decades and in that time, served over 175,000 people.

Angela Reynolds is Maryhaven’s site program counselor. Reynolds has a LCDC II (licensed chemical dependency counselor designation) and a SWA. She has experience with adult inpatient counseling, detoxification counseling, adult and adolescent outpatient counseling, and now is taking on the role of working with adolescents who are dealing with addiction issues.

What happens in an AOD group counseling?

• Psychoeducational groups, which teach about the different types of substance abuse.
• Skills development groups, which practice the skills necessary to break free of addictions.
• Cognitive–behavioral groups, which challenge patterns of thinking and action that lead to addiction.
• Support groups, where peers can challenge each other’s excuses and support and encourage constructive change.
• Process group psychotherapy which enable clients to rethink the rational and irrational choices and decisions that they have made which lead them to the substance use.

Her first order of business is to provide AOD individual and group counseling. Part of her mission is education (for instance, psycho-education on drugs and the effects on their young bodies, coping skills and relapse prevention).

“Based on experience it is highly likely that most of the residents at Pomegranate have had some sort of familiarity with drug or alcohol use or abuse in their home environment or have a peer group that uses. This is evidence-based treatment to help the clients work towards a realization of how the affects of addiction are directly related to criminal behavior and how to work on changing thought processes that directly relate with behavior,” she explained.

“Clients will learn about thinking errors, coping skills to deal with the world they live in, relapse prevention and how to maintain sobriety in their life. Behavior change and thinking pattern change can help the clients at Pomegranate, to not look at themselves as broken. It can give them a new insight like a light shining in their corner that says “I can be a contributing member in society”, said Reynolds. “As the program grows we are certain that it will benefit all clients at Pomegranate who have AOD concerns.”

For context, the state population age 12-20 numbered 1,466,000. In looking at underage drinking facts from the Report to Congress on the Prevention and Reduction of Underage Drinking,  27% or 406,000 used alcohol in the past month and 29% engaged in binge alcohol use.  Alcohol use starts with 5% in the age 12-14 cohort, moves to 22.5%  (110,000) in the age 15-17 group, and 51.5%  (274,000) in the 18-20 group. Illicit drug use ages 12-17 stands at 8.8% of the population per SAMHSA Center for Behavioral Health Statistics & Quality NSDUH 2013.

The recent PCSAO 2015-2016 Factbook cites the impact of the opiate epidemic effect on child welfare. For instance, “Child welfare cases involving parents abusing heroin, cocaine, or both rose from about 15 percent to more than 25 percent of the statewide caseload between 2009 and 2013.  Seventy percent of children age 1 or younger placed in Ohio’s foster system are children of parents with substance use disorders involving opiates and cocaine.”  Clearly, drug abuse is a serious and growing concern not to mention the societal cost.  Teen parents and parents of addicted teens alike are affected.

[photo credit: Wavebreakmediamicro/Dreamweaver #39195983 Therapist talking with . . . taking notes]

 

Team Wears Blue to Prevent Child Abuse

You may have noticed mylar blue and silver pinwheels  on the lawn of children service agencies, provider agencies, and on the lawns of churches.  It’s a sign that April is Child Abuse Awareness and Prevention month.  The public children service agencies in Ohio do an incredible job of ensuring safety and permanency for Ohio’s children and families. “In Ohio there were 100,139 new reports of child abuse and neglect (including dependency and other) with 21% sent to ‘alternative response’.” Data-PCSAO Factbook.  ‘There are 2,519 children awaiting adoption.’ pp14-15.

In recent years Ohio has moved to reduce the number of children in out- of-home placements and that includes group and residential facilities, except when absolutely necessary for therapy and safety.  Reliance on this type of placement declined nearly 7 percent since 2007.  Long-term foster care placements known as PPLA (planned permanent living arrangement) declined by nearly 42%.  The number of days spent in placement saw a 25% decline with re-unifications up 56%. Kinship care –placement in a relative’s home increased 12%.   There has been a significant move to intensive home-based therapy and FFT- functional family therapy to help keep a family unit together and be an ally and advocate in the process. Much of this change is due to the recognition that removal from a familiar environment does in terms of traumatizing a child.

The reason children are removed from a home to placement include neglect 25%, dependency 31%, physical abuse 10%, sexual abuse 5%, delinquency/unruly 5%, and ‘other’ 26%.  In addition to higher rates of children of color being over- represented, the opiate epidemic, at-risk children with behavioral health needs, there are resource considerations.  PCSAO says, ‘As a state, Ohio provides the lowest investment in child welfare in the nation: 9 cents on the dollar in 2013. Nationally, states provide an average of 43 cents of every child welfare dollar, with local resources making up only 11 cents.”   This legislature saw fit to award $10 million more in state funding  towards child welfare.  This is after a six year loss of state revenue.

The new paradigms include attention to early screening, diagnosis and treatment,  trauma-informed care, better med management, and an eye toward managed care in the near future. Clearly the opiate epidemic has reached the Governor’s Cabinet, which last year tackled the problem alongside child protective agencies.  There is a focus on permanency, which means, ‘forever homes’ and a recognition that just because you’re 18, you’re not instantly and magically an adult, but a ‘transition age’ youth requiring attention too, for a successful launch to adult-hood.

Every year the team at Pomegranate wears blue and pauses long enough to  join together for a group photo.  Some years it’s in the courtyard -with sunshine and a brisk Spring day.  April 8^th, 2015 was in the gym with thunderstorms in the forecast. We’ve included a photo of another cool gym mural.  Our teens have painted the slogan, ‘Be your own hero’ . . . and to the right of that-not in the picture, ‘Aspire to be more’.  It sums up what therapists, teachers,  nurses, psychiatrists, and support personnel  are doing right by some hurting, but hopeful, and promising kids.

“Incorrigible” [!/?]

“Incorrigible.”  “Assaultive.”  “Belligerent.”  What’s the difference between a mental health disorder and a behavioral health disorder?  At the root of any diagnosis is a potentially frightened, angry adolescent whose brain hasn’t matured and is incapable of making sound decisions and complying with reasonable behaviors- for whatever reason.  It might be genetics, trauma, brain chemistry or environmental considerations or a combination.  Abuse, a lack of love or inadequate parenting at crucial developmental milestones, hereditary or bio-chemical issues might be contributors, or a combination of factors. Sometimes, the cause is simply unknown.

The DSM V spells out several categories and classes of disorders.  The resource site Psy-Web explains,  “The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM) actually lists a wide range of psychiatric conditions, including everything from primary insomnia to nicotine dependence. Yet most people would never regard someone who’s been having trouble sleeping for the past month or a two-pack-a-day smoker as having a “mental disorder”.  Mental disorders are quite prevalent; they affect far more people than you might think. Granted, some disorders like stress disorder, last for only a few days to a few weeks and then subside. Some mental disorders are recurring – which is often the case with disorders like major depressive disorder. But some, like schizophrenia, typically last a lifetime – even with treatment. The traditional treatment of most mental disorders usually involves psychotropic medication, psychotherapy or a combination of both.”  http://www.psyweb.com/DSM_IV/jsp/DSM_VCodes.jsp

On that continuum of ‘mental to behavioral’, the National Institute of Health’s Medicine Plus resource says, “All kids misbehave some times. And some may have temporary behavior problems due to stress. For example, the birth of a sibling, a divorce, or a death in the family may cause a child to act out. Behavior disorders are more serious. They involve a pattern of hostile, aggressive, or disruptive behaviors for more than 6 months. The behavior is also not appropriate for the child’s age. Warning signs can include:

• Harming or threatening themselves, other people or pets
• Damaging or destroying property
• Lying or stealing
• Not doing well in school, skipping school
• Early smoking, drinking or drug use
• Early sexual activity
• Frequent tantrums and arguments
• Consistent hostility towards authority figues” http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/childbehaviordisorders.html

Children are often labeled for life or the suggestion is made that they are ‘incorrigible’ – not ‘fixable’. Rusty’s dad used to threaten his mischievous 5-year old, ‘If you don’t straighten up, you’re going to wind up like that man, digging sewers!’ (Other threats were, ‘picking up garbage- like the men in orange jumpsuits’, or whatever handy reference he could come up with at the time that would register an impact on an impressionable wide-eyed child).

Behavioral health disorders include oppositional defiant disorder, conduct disorder, various other adjustment disorders.  “Roughly half of the children who exhibit conduct problems do not become delinquent adolescents (Lahey, Loebere, Burke, & Rathouz, 2002). When examining adult outcomes, Caspi and Moffitt (1995) found that about 85% of adolescents who engaged in conduct problems stopped by the time they reached adulthood. However, even when antisocial behavior decreased, adults still experienced problems with family and work. When antisocial behavior fails to decrease, adults’ symptoms progress to the point where they engage in criminal behavior and are more likely to be diagnosed with psychiatric problems (Moffitt, Caspi, Harrington, & Milne, 2002). Upon examination of the course of conduct disorder it becomes clear that untreated conduct problems are a cause for serious concern because the disorder is harmful to both the patient and society. Luckily, there are several options for treatment including intervention, parent management training, cognitive behavioral treatment, pharmacological, and multi-systemic treatment.” [Childhood disorders Wiki-Massachusetts college for liberal arts](italics ours)http://web2.mcla.edu/index.php/psyc387/Treatment_for_conduct_disorder/

Back to ‘incorrigible’.  According to dictionary reference, the term means: “adjective 1. not corrigible; bad beyond correction or reform: incorrigible behavior; an incorrigible liar.  2. impervious to constraints or punishment; willful; unruly” … The definitions go on to state in ‘your dictionary’: “someone who is naughty or bad (or who engages in generally unacceptable behavior) and who cannot be corrected.”  Increasingly, those in the juvenile justice system recognize that for many teens, incarceration is NOT the answer for many mental and behavioral health disorders as well as developmental and socio-economic factors. Caught early and treated properly and consistently, outcomes are vastly more positive.

At the 31^st Annual Intercourt Conference, Lucas County Juvenile Court Rachael Gardner and Kendra Kec put together a presentation on JDAI or Juvenile Detention Alternatives Initiative founded by the Annie E. Casey Foundation.  This is a ‘reform driven’ process which is designed to ‘safely reduce reliance on secure detention.  It is based NOT on letting all kids go free, but to reduce the over-reliance on secure detention when it’s unnecessary, and to minimize delinquent behavior,’ as explained by Rachael.  The JDAI initiative discovered that ‘roughly a quarter of children detained are acutely mentally ill; less than a third of youth in detention were charged with violent crimes; almost two-thirds of detained youth were youth of color; eighty percent of girls detained report physical abuse; fifty percent of girls reported sexual abuse . . . ‘

The statistics are dramatic: ‘In the pre-JDAI days 13,984 youth were placed in state juvenile corrections facilities annually; in 2013 the number is 7,633 or a 45% decrease (in Franklin County a 54% decrease).’ The alternatives include day treatment, reception centers and better screening assessments, linkage to assistance, home detention, treatment with monitoring, diversion programs, and keeping kids accountable in new ways. See www.jdaihelpdesk.org; and www.aecf.org for more information.

MedlinePlus links to health information from the National Institutes of Health:

Conduct disorders: http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/000919.htm

Oppositional defiant disorder: http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/001537.htm

Temper tantrums: http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/001922.htm

Discipline: http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/002211.htm

ADHD: http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/attentiondeficithyperactivitydisorder.html

Teen Violence: http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/teenviolence.html

Dual Diagnosis: http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/dualdiagnosis.html

From American Association of Pediatrics Healthy Children site:

http://www.healthychildren.org/English/health-issues/conditions/emotional-problems/Pages/Disruptive-Behavior-Disorders.aspx

[photo credit: hooded teenage girl by jmpaget/Dreamstime 25719839]

Sometimes a parent doesn’t like it . . .

‘Let’s just say a parent isn’t happy their teen has a mental or behavioral health disorder. (These are hypothetical stories). And let’s say the teen has learned how to pull mom or dad’s strings and emotionally manipulate the family through a variety of tactics, well-honed over the years, or succeeded in hiding a self-abusive behavior like cutting. Maybe it was the ‘other kid’s fault’ court charges were pressed. Perhaps that teacher is ‘a first class jerk and the school’s administrators are clueless’. Or maybe a non-custodial parent is abusive and that’s been well-covered up; or perhaps the other parent has a significant substance abuse problem which might come out. It could be the child has been in foster care since early childhood or in several disrupted placements, without having the core issue/s effectively addressed. Often a caring parent simply doesn’t know what to do next. Maybe only the friend realized a teen was suicidal or homicidal because of cyber-bullying and parents are in disbelief. Maybe there have been patterns of behavior in place for so long, a parent is at the teen’s mercy when the whining starts, the threats come out, or the lies begin,’ suggested Judy, LISW-S, clinical supervisor. ‘There is a reason a teen arrives at Pomegranate and usually a family system is involved- which also needs to be considered.’

Enter Pomegranate Health Systems. ‘The parent or guardian often, but not always come to visitation and/or family sessions with the therapist, CPST and caseworker. Many are deeply concerned and highly motivated. (Some parents do not attend holiday dinner invitations with their son or daughter-at Thanksgiving, Christmas, Easter, or choose not to come to any sessions.) Other parents (on rare occasions) attempt to sneak treats to their child during visiting hours, items which may not be permitted on the ‘contraband list’ in the patient handbook, or offer their child a smoke at court. Yet other highly motivated parents are heartbroken that in spite of every solid and valiant attempt, the teen has rebuffed them, countered them on every count or actively misrepresented his or her life with them. This is not a ‘one size fits all’ situation or solution!’ explained Judy.

In closer quarters, a teen is assessed and observed 24/7 as the diagnostic and therapeutic process takes place. It is a partnership between all the types and levels of caregiver; a holistic and inter-disciplinary approach. “There are things a parent might not know, that emerge with nursing care, or might be addressed in nursing group- anything from a strange rash to a sexually transmitted infection to a pregnancy. It could come out that “twenty something neighbor” really is a creepy predator, even though 16 year-old Jasmine thinks he’s potential husband material truly in love with her, and her parents are evil for putting a stop to the (way past budding) relationship,” said Rebecca, nurse practitioner.

In the latest acute parent discharge survey, 80% of parents felt treatment issues were explained in above-average to excellent fashion; and an additional 15% satisfactorily. Ninety-five percent also rated treatment progress above average to excellent- of the 409 responses returned. Two parents were not pleased and their concerns were addressed.

In 30 day  outcome surveys, Pomegranate tracks follow up and compliance with medication and therapy. With serious mental and behavioral issues, one doesn’t get an ‘instant fix’ to a longer term problem.  Approximately 80% are doing alright- above average to excellent. Of those ‘below expectation’, one re-evaluates why and how, and makes adjustments at their outpatient appointment. (A parent’s expectation that a child’s gender identity issue will go away might claim ‘below expectation’.) In mental health treatment, recovery is possible, if not always immediate, and we’ll take ‘minor progress’- though 82% of parents surveyed claimed patient was maintaining, or exhibiting moderate to major improvement. This is a life-long process and not a one-time destination.

Sometimes parents will write comments or send notes to the CEO- good or bad. They might say something like, ‘I wanted to let you know that (the therapist) and (CPST) were wonderful and did an excellent job with C!!’ -or- “We waited 25 hours in the ER before our child could be transferred to Pomegranate.” –or, stressed out, ‘We drove there 2 hours, only to find out ‘J’ could have gone by ambulance.’ –or- ‘Great job! You guys do amazing work. Thank-you! Thank-you! Thank-you!’

On Wed, Sep 24, 2014 at 10:06 AM the acute unit clerk wrote:

“I JUST WANT TO PUT THIS OUT HERE, I THINK YOU GUYS SHOULD KNOW THAT YOU ARE GREATLY APPRECIATED BY THE PARENTS.” She continued . . .  

“XY’s” father spoke very highly of the service we provided for his son. Mr. “Y” told me to let the staff know to keep doing what we do here. We will make a difference in kid’s lives. Dad said he sees a big difference in his son; a big turn-around in his son’s behavior; he is using all the techniques he was provided with here. ‘X’ (son) wants to personally thank you guys, that’s how good he feels. Dad is very happy, says to keep up the good work.”

It’s all in a day’s (or night’s) work . . .

[photo credit: Dreamstime 18461971]

Sometimes a teen doesn’t like it . . .

“Let’s just say an adolescent has had some behavioral issues. (This is a hypothetical story) And let’s say the teen has been unmanageable at school, often truant, and violates curfew; occasionally even disappears for a day or two. And perhaps the teen has been disruptive at home; threatening parent/s, siblings and ‘hanging out’ with some folks the family would rather not see.  Maybe this child has had an encounter with the law, or the family has had a discussion with counselors and/or children service.  The teen sleeps in, watches TV, plays video games, eats chips and soda and supplements his/her  sporadic diet of  ‘junk food’ with ‘fast food’.  His/her personal hygiene/health has also suffered as he/she engages in risky and/or illegal behaviors. There could be an STI/STD.  Freedom to harm others, and one’s self is an issue with a minor who may also suffer mood swings, or bouts of depression,” explained Rhena, LPCC/CR, residential therapist.

->Enter Pomegranate Health Systems. ‘The teen receives a complete diagnostic assessment- mental, physical, nutritional, and is assigned a CPST and a therapist.  He/she receives a patient handbook (we have a new one for 2015).  Each teen must follow a schedule that includes individual therapy, group therapy, treatment team, nursing group, art therapy, scheduled recreation, and CPST sessions.  It is an intensive, integrative program that takes the whole child into consideration.  Electronics- cell phone, personal tablet, cameras are not permitted.  There is school on site (Summit Academy); a classroom on every unit. And there are house rules to be honest, considerate, use manners and behave and dress in a socially acceptable way,’ explained Valerie, Admissions/UR Manager. ‘This is a secure facility. A teen cannot come and go as they please-for their own good.’

She continued, “This is a strength-based program.  There are award points for completing everything from personal hygiene to attending group.  The points are redeemable for rewards- personal care products, music downloads etc. and outings. Student Senate gives residents a voice in everything from meal selection to community visits/rewards.   In our latest survey, 0.26% felt the staff was not courteous (one patient); 86% gave above average to excellent ratings, out of 409 total.”

Occasionally the staff will get a letter:  “I just wanted to say thanks for doing everything you’ve done for me. I know I have been rude to you my whole stay here, but I really want you to know that you have helped me get through my issues. You are pretty cool and I will miss you.”  So, in the beginning, sometimes a teen doesn’t like it . . .

View our CEO on patient rights, quality and compliance.  We do take these things seriously.

http://youtu.be/6xQeg_9CVMg

Pomegranate completes expansion of residential wing

We’ve posted the following release & photos to PR Web:

http://www.prweb.com/releases/2014/12/prweb12399617.htm

 

Pomegranate Health Systems breaks ground on facility expansion

View the release at:
http://www.prweb.com/releases/2014/07/prweb12033848.htm

copyright 2014 PR Web
photo credit: Pomegranate archives