Solutions For Life
Support for Today, Strength for Tomorrow
Annual Report
FY12
Providing services to Converse and Niobrara Counties since 1978
Mission and Vision Statement
Solutions For Life provides outpatient mental health and substance abuse services to the population of Converse and Niobrara counties with facilities in Douglas, Glenrock and Lusk.
Mission Statement:
The mission of Solutions For Life is to advocate and partner with individuals and communities to deliver professional mental health and substance abuse treatment, education, and consultation designed to enhance the strengths and well-being of the persons served.
Vision Statement:
Through a proactive stance and with sensitivity to the changing needs and attitudes of the diverse community served, Solutions For Life will continuously refine outcome-driven services.
Funding Partners:
We are grateful to each funding source and would like to thank everyone in assisting us in meeting our mission. Without the support of the entities listed below, families in our community and across the State of Wyoming would not have the opportunity to receive services in their individual communities.
Converse County Commissioners
Niobrara County Commissioners
City of Douglas
City of Glenrock
City of Lusk
United Way of Converse County
Duke Energy
Wyoming Department of Health
Through Wyoming Legislative funding, mental health and substance abuse services are available in each county throughout Wyoming. The Wyoming Department of Health, Behavioral Health Division contracts local providers to provide core mental health and substance abuse services. Solutions For Life is Converse and Niobrara counties contracted provider for outpatient mental health and substance abuse treatment services. Our committed staff work together to create a quality system of care.
The Wyoming Association of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Centers (WAMHSAC) is an association of community mental health and substance abuse treatment centers across Wyoming. Our services are provided through support from federal, state, city, and county funds, United Way and client fees and insurance. Many of our centers offer sliding fee schedules, and most insurance plans, including Medicaid and Medicare, are accepted.
If you or a loved one is in need of our services, please do not hesitate to contact us, or the center in your area. (www.wamhsac.org)
We look forward to continuing to provide quality services to our community. Thank you for your ongoing support.
Transformation of Care
Now is an exciting time to be in our field. Clinical advancements, emerging technology, and efforts to reform healthcare all have the potential to transform our work. Despite all of the potential changes, we believe we will continue to provide quality programs that are outcome focused.
In order to understand the issues currently facing the current mental health care delivery system, it is useful to trace its evolution. The earliest record of a mental health care system in the United States dates back to the 18th century. Asylums were used to “restore the mental health of individuals” and continued to be built throughout the 19th century. However, they could not prevent mental illnesses from becoming chronic conditions. Because of this failure, by the middle of the 19th century, asylums primarily housed individuals with untreatable and chronic mental illnesses. Quality of care continued to deteriorate by over crowing and under funding for treatment.
At the turn of the 20th century the emerging trend to treat individuals in their respective communities also shifted the financial responsibility to local governments. States passed laws requiring the states to assume financial responsibility for asylums. However, treatments continued to be largely ineffective and communities’ ill equipped to meet the treatment and social needs of the mentally ill. The criminal justice system and homeless shelters began to be used.
Solutions For Life was established in 1978 and has been providing outpatient mental health and substance abuse treatment services ever since.
System transformation in Wyoming was affected by Federal laws and State laws. The Chris S lawsuit in the mid 90’s identified inadequacies and the unavailability of appropriate facilities and services for persons within the state of Wyoming with mental illness. As a result, numerous advances were made to facilities and services available to persons with mental illness in the State of Wyoming. Legislation supported these advances through Senate File 76 (2007), House Bill 91 (2006) and House Bill 308 (2005).
Senate File 76 and house bill 91 allocated money for additional services throughout the State in 2007 (including our group home), an increase in substance abuse residential beds, data infrastructure, enhancement of psychiatric availability, etc.
Care for individuals with mental illness has long been a challenging issue largely due to the historical lack of effective treatment options. While there have been recent advances in treatment options, the delivery system and financing mechanisms have been slow to transform. Many problems remain, including the lack of health insurance and underinsurance for mental illnesses even among those who have health insurance. And unfortunately, financial resources may determine the provider and setting for a patient’s mental health care which has a bearing on the quality of care a person receives.
The system of care continues to undergo transformation but we are looking ahead with anticipation.
Hours of Service
The Behavioral Health Division of Wyoming contracts SFL to provide outpatient mental health and substance abuse services for residents of Converse and Niobrara counties. This money is not given without accountability. Performance is measured by hours of service and administrative oversight. The chart below shows that SFL provided 7,296 hours of mental health service and 1,994 hours of substance abuse services for fiscal year 2012. Hours have continued to fall over the past several years due to budget cuts in 2010 and loss in staff in 2011.
422 new admissions were performed in FY12. Of these 422 clients 106 were diagnosed as SPMI (Seriously and Persistently Mentally Ill) and 57 diagnosed as SED (Seriously Emotionally Disturbed, for children 18 or younger).
Substance Abuse Treatment
Substance abuse is preventable, but if left untreated can become a chronic disease. SFL has developed a continuum of services to address the full spectrum of substance use problems, from harmful use to chronic conditions. Treatment services are based on the American Society of Addiction Medicine (ASAM) Patient Placement Criteria. Clients are matched to the appropriate level, type, and intensity of services.
137 Substance Abuse Evaluations were provided for FY12
·17 Individuals received MIP (minor in possession) class
·40 individuals received DUI (driver under the influence) class
·22 individuals received the Intensive Outpatient Treatment Program (IOP)
·76 individuals received general outpatient treatment
Of our clients with substance abuse issues, they reported the following drug of choice:
·76% reported drug of choice as alcohol
·15% reported drug of choice as marijuana
·12% reported other (meth, opiates, synthetics, etc.)
78% reported age of first use of drugs or alcohol was 12 to 17 years old.
Continuum of Services
Solutions For Life embraces and promotes the recovery model. The model uses the concept of non-linear access to care, which means people can receive very limited services or a full continuum of services based on their needs. The continuum of available services includes:
·Outpatient treatment
·24-hour crisis assessment
·Psychotropic medication management
·Psychosocial rehabilitation, including vocational training and skills development
·Case management
·Community supports, including in-home services
·Consultation and education services, including case consultation, collaboration with other county service agencies, public education and public information.
Emergency services are provided for persons in need of immediate assistance by calling the SOLUTIONS FOR LIFE phone number, 358-2846, to reach the on-call therapist.
Crisis Intervention
Crisis assessments are provided at the local emergency room, detention center, and schools to assess individuals who are a danger to themselves or others.
For FY12 SFL staff conducted 160 total crisis calls. 38 of those were sent to the Wyoming Behavioral Institute (WBI) in Casper, WY.
For FY11 SFL had 98 crisis calls of which 39 resulted in hospitalizations. Community treatment interventions and social support prevent hospitalization of high risk individuals.
Goals for the coming year
The overall goal will continue to be to maximize the value of services delivered to persons served. However, health care reform will significantly impact and change all aspects of the health care service delivery system and the way in which our services are delivered to clients. In preparation for these changes we are working to create a new vision for integrated health care services. This delivery approach should focus on the whole person and provide integrated healthcare coordination that includes primary care and behavioral healthcare. We must be capable of assessing the various medical and behavioral needs of the person served.
Our Board of Directors
Visit our website at www.WyomingWellness.com