Over these six decades much has changed for the good, though the need for advocacy, awareness, empathy and action continues.  In spite of advances in our understanding of mental illnesses, and the decrease in stigma against those with mental health problems, and the increases in service access in public and private arenas, and the improved treatment tools including modern medication, evidenced-based practices and other technologies…in spite of all of this good news, there is plenty of reason to advocate as mental illness, substance abuse and developmental disabilities continue to affect millions.

According to the National Institute of Mental Health, fewer than 25% of people with a diagnosable mental disorder seek treatment.  Sometimes problems remit on their own as stressors abate, people develop coping skills, and time passes, but many disorders in behavioral health are long lasting with lifelong impact on individuals, loved ones, families and society as a whole.  Awareness, sensitivity and support can make a difference and Mental Health Awareness Month is a great time to be tuned in to the needs and opportunities for help.

Locally, San Diego County Health & Human Services Agency has been promoting a local public awareness campaign called, It’s Up to Us! (http://www.up2sd.org/).  As one of San Diego’s first resources for quality and cost effective mental health care and a leading innovator in integrated service delivery activities, Vista Hill is pleased to support this community effort as part of our ongoing efforts to support Mental Health Awareness Month.  Be aware, take care and do share— pass the word, May is Mental Health Awareness Month.

Written by: Mark S. Chenven, M.D., Executive Medical Director, Vista Hill

Tammie, along with other clients of the Adult Services program have planted potatoes, string beans, herbs, strawberries, Japanese eggplant, jalapenos, a lemon tree, beautiful flowers and more into an indoor garden space.  Fruits and vegetables from the garden will be incorporated into a cooking program which will teach clients in the program with developmental disabilities, how to prepare, cook and serve the food that they have grown.

The gardening therapy, it has been found, is a wonderful way for those with developmental disabilities such as autism to learn new skills.  In fact, in addition to honing fine motor skills as the clients sow, weed, and harvest, gardening provides additional socialization opportunities as many of the clients work together among themselves and with staff as they nurture their garden.

About Stein Education Center

Vista Hill’s Stein Education Center serves individuals with challenging behavioral issues. Our clients require an intensive level of support and receive vocational opportunities, skill development and training, relationship training to better support client progress. The program provides meaningful, creative and engaging training opportunities both on site and in community integrated settings. www.vistahill.org

But if we are going to help, we have to really get down to business and understand some simple facts. 

First, the education system can not make your child a good reader.  If the system worked for every child, then we would not have 44 million American adults unable to read well enough to read a simple story to their child (1992 Literacy Survey, US Department of Education).  If you want your child to be a good reader, it is up to you, as a parent to make that happen.

Second, some kids have reading and learning disabilities that make it especially difficult for them to learn to read.  Your child’s school can help you know if this is the case.  It does not change the importance of reading, but may help you know the best ways to help your child.

Third, reading is a skill and just like any skill, it takes practice to improve that skill.  There are no shortcuts, if you want your child to be a good reader; they have to spend time reading. 

But in an age of videogames, how do you get your child to want to read?  Here are some simple ideas to get you started:

•  Quiet Time.  Set aside some time in your home every day where you turn off the TV, games, music, and media.  Institute a reading time.  This is a great transition to bedtime, helps kids calm down, and gives you some peace a quiet in the evening.  Make it a habit every day, and your kids will stop giving you grief about reading time.
• Make it Fun!  Pick out books that they want to read.  Take them to a book store, the library, and borrow books from friends.  Your child’s teacher can help.  They know what books appeal to kids.  Comic books are great!
• Get the right level. Reading is not fun when you when you stumble over every word and don’t understand what you are reading. Reading for fun should be at a level that is easy for your child to read.  With practice, they will be able to take on more challenging books.
• Read Too!  Read to your kids and read with your kids.  Your example is your most powerful tool.  I know you are busy, I know that there are a million things that you need to do.  But in the big picture, none of those things are more important than your child’s future success.
• Rewards for reading.  Set individual and family rewards for reading.  It can be as simple as “you can watch as much TV each day as you spend time reading.”

And if you have all of this wired and you want to go the extra mile, consider organizing a kid’s book club at your local school.  For example, trying to get elementary school aged boys to stop long enough to read can be a challenge. Some schools are organizing Book Clubs for boys.  They choose books that appeal especially to boys, give them a chance to talk about the book without the distraction of girls, and then encourage each other to read.  Check out this link to a Boys Book Club in Denver:   http://www.denverpost.com/headlines/ci_12112015.

For more resources on evidenced based reading programs that work:

 http://ies.ed.gov/ncee/wwc/Topic.aspx?sid=8

http://www2.ed.gov/admins/lead/read/ereadingsbr03/edlite-index.html

The Vista Hill Learning Assistance Center is a school-based mental health program that helps kids overcome behavioral issues and succeed in school. www.vistahill.org/programs/lac.htm

Written by Dave Taylor, PhD, Director, North Inland Behavioral Health

Here at Special Care Services, Stein Education Center’s after school program; we are very conscientious about the importance of maintaining a healthy heart.  We understand that those we serve, children and young adults with intellectual disabilities and/or autism, lack the level of exercise that their typically developing peers may experience.  Thus, our daily services encompass the need for daily exercise and the value of maintaining a healthy heart for our students. 

The Special Care Services Program offers a Hip Hop class on Mondays, followed by music therapy on Tuesdays, which involves rhythm and lots of movement, and Wednesdays, it’s all about horse back riding.  Group walks are assigned for everyone daily.  You will see us walking on the upper field, walking track or out into our local community.  Weekly cooking projects are assigned with an emphasis on “healthy cooking.” 

It is never too late to work on developing good lifestyle habits.  So whether it involves healthy eating or exercising, today is as good a day as any to begin.  So whether we fill the role of educator, care-provider, or parent, we need to work together to get our students and young adults working towards a healthier life style.   Getting them involved in extra curricular activities, taking them on walks around the neighborhood, running around at the local park, taking the stairs instead of the elevator, every little bit will help to build a healthier heart and live healthier lives.  Make exercise a part of your lifestyle, it can be fun!  Why not start today!   

For a lot of us, a period of post-celebratory sadness and anxiety lingers.  Getting back into the swing of things is going slower than you hoped and you’re not sure you’re all that excited about it one way or another…

Topped off with the excitement of New Year’s Eve, your adrenaline has probably been pumping a lot of the time during theHolidayand New Year’s period. Returning to the usual routine and probably quieter workplace than normal can dampen your spirits just by the absence of exciting things to do and look forward to. Expecting to feel a little low is a way of telling yourself that this is a normal feeling and that it will soon pass once the routine re-establishes itself. 

Did the holidays go the way you had hoped?  Usually our holidays contain a mix of met and unmet expectations. Our over-spending and over-indulgence may have left us with a bit of debt and several pounds further from your ideal weight. Shortened daylight adds to the potential of Seasonal Affective Disorders (SAD). And the enthusiasm, music, and the good will of the season seems to have been swept away all too soon. Angry gift-exchanging shopping mall mobs and that huge pile of unattended emails are killing your buzz! And you are kicking yourself in the butt for the unrealistic New Years resolution that you have already broken…Yikes!!

Take heart…take a deep breath… and take a few moments to remember that you are more than a Hallmark card.  You don’t really live for the commercial indulgences of the season you live for the wonderful things you value all year long, right?  Well, that is the point… hope and expectations are within your control all year long!

Remember to care about and for those around you even after the holidays. 

• Take some time to laugh about the worst gift you received or the most hideous holiday sweater you saw (even if you were wearing it)… laughing is great medicine.
• Go easy on the “resolutions” they are intentions or goals…not laws.
• Get active physically (even if it just means a long easy walk) as extra those pounds and the short days can gain up to challenge our esteem and happiness.
• Eat something that does have extra sugar and sparkly things on it!
• Create some plans to look forward too…  be with friends (ones you actually like), simple fun activities…and … arghh … even getting ready for next year’s holidays!
• Life is a marathon… the holiday sprint may be a good reminder to be good to yourself -and those around you- all year long!!

 *Of course, for a few of us these feelings can linger and even intensify.  If you are really struggling (those “Blues” may be a sign of Depression…a more serious challenge) talk to someone you feel safe and comfortable with.  If you need some extra help, a professional may have some helpful suggestions. Call a Vista Hill professional (858-514-5100) or contact the Access and Crisis Line at 1-800-479-3339 for resources in your area.  Have a Happy 2012!!!

At Vista Hill we have many wonderful friends who help us and our client families in a myriad of ways.  They have given money, they have volunteered, and they have served on Friend of Vista Hill committees, etc.  We can say, “Thank you,” in person or by phone or write a note or send an email.  It’s a small enough thing to do, and our friends tell us that it means a great deal to them.

We also have dedicated Vista Hill clients who try hard every day to succeed.  Their success is our success, and for that we want to thank each of them…for improving their communication, for learning a new skill, for sticking to their recovery plan, for being the best parents they can be.

And we send thanks to each of you…for greeting a child with special needs, for befriending someone who has a mental health issue, and for helping others by not shying away from folks with problems.  When you do this, you are serving as a role model to others; and you are helping to remove the stigma…And we especially want to thank you for that.

Written and submitted by Ms. Ann Mound, VP Development for Friends of Vista Hill

Years later they are placed in our programs to “get better” or “get clean.” This is easier said than done when you understand their history. This is the time when Vista Hill steps in and lends their expertise. Our dedicated staff works with these clients to “re-parent” them, help them understand their past, help build their self-esteem, and to be supportive.

During these times we work much closer with our clients. We hold them accountable for their sobriety with increased alcohol and drug testing as well as increased support. We provide opportunities for them to celebrate with their children and offer assistance with holiday toys and food. And for some we actually provide a home.

Our wonderful Vista Hill Apartments (supported by the Dr. Seuss Foundation) is a place where families can be reunited in a safe and sober living environment. Some say that their apartment is the first place of their own and the sober living community is their “family.”

From all of us at Vista Hill and its many programs, we wish you a safe, sober and happy holiday season.

For ways you can help these families at the Vista Hill ParentCare programs please contact Angela Rowe at (619) 668-4205 or email arowe@vistahill.org.

Teenagers are looking to define their individualism. They seek novelty and take foolish risks. They’re growing past obeying you just because “I said so.”  Moral, legal, ethical, compassionate behavior seemingly takes a life time to learn. Encourage your teen to figure out why you set certain rules, how they broke them and what consequences there should be for not obeying rules. This is all part of the process of growing a successful teen.

Recently I visited one of the SAFIR (Supporting Adolescents and Families in Recovery) meetings during their celebration of sobriety. This event happens each month at the various six sites throughout the county. The parent presents a token to the student and the student reveals how he or she is working the program to remain alcohol and drug free. Sobriety becomes a basis for meeting the challenges in their everyday lives.

These families learn that in life we have a spiritual existence which gives us the confidence to face anything. Involvement and effort is needed to see this as a family issue and be grateful for the opportunity to change. One by one the youth expressed their gratitude for the support they had received. They expressed feelings of joy for the moment. On that day I celebrated gratitude with them and hope for the days to follow.

The words of President John Fitzgerald Kennedy comes to mind “As we express our gratitude, we must never forget that the highest appreciation is not to utter words, but to live by them.” “If it works, work it.” And SAFIR works!

We invite your questions or comments.

 Marie Miehls, Director, Community Service Programs

Here's Harley!

On a recent fall day at Stein Education Center (SEC) Adult Services, consumers are anxiously anticipating the arrival of a special guest.  It is Harley!  Harley is used for animal therapy. The consumers are willing to accept small social challenges from him, and their stress levels appear to be greatly reduced when he enters the room. Harley is a French bulldog who is well trained and has his AKC Canine Good Citizenship Training certificate. Harley regularly visits Stein Adult Services as part of our animal interaction program.

Positive Interactions  For the entire day Harley roams the facility and interacts with the consumers. The canine-human contact for people with developmental disabilities is well-studied and shows positive therapeutic affects, especially for those who find human-human interactions challenging. There is also marked change among consumers with severe cognitive disabilities who immediately become more focused and aware of their surroundings as they reach down to pet Harley.

Expanding the Animal Interaction Program  The Stein Education Center hosts other animals, such as birds, fish and even horses, through various formal and informal animal interaction programs. Love on a Leash is a non-profit organization that brings a Wheaton Terrier named Arthur monthly to the site. Arthur is specifically trained to interact with the disabled population correctly, for example, by placing paws on the knees of a person sitting in a wheelchair. Arthur is trained to respond to clients as they make the terrier perform tricks and obey commands. The staff at Stein has noted that the presence of the animals has a calming effect on clients, improves social skills and teaches positive interactions.

About Vista Hill Stein Education Center Adult Services  SEC Adult Services serves individuals with developmental disabilities such as Autism, Cerebral Palsy, Epilepsy and other neurological disorders. The program provides vocational opportunities, skill development and training, and socialization skills in a meaningful and creative manner both on site and in community-integrated settings.

At Vista Hill we are fortunate to have wonderful volunteers who make a difference for our client families throughout the entire year. We celebrate their important contribution on “Make A Difference Day,” but truth be told, we could celebrate their contributions every day of the year. they come faithfully to work as our front-desk receptionists doing all kinds of projects in the program office as they treat our clients and staff with kind attention and respect;

• they run the ParentCare Mother Hubbard’s Cupboard to help clients with food and emergency supplies; and they distribute gently-used clothing and household goods which have been collected by other dedicated volunteers;
• they read to our children and help them learn while serving as mentors to their moms;
• they bring new presents, help wrap them, provide refreshments, and help us make sure that every Vista Hill program has a nice holiday party; they make “goodie stockings” for our children; they take photos of our children with one of our dedicated volunteer Santas;
• they work with our skilled staff members at the SEC Adult Services Programs to help with art projects, equestrian therapy, the Tippett Picnic, and the annual Stein Education Center Walkathon for children and adults with developmental disabilities;
• they run food drives in their neighborhoods or at their businesses; they glue invitations and stuff and stamp envelopes; they edit newsletters; they purchase new bicycles for our children and put them together to be distributed throughout our many programs;
• they donate beautiful children’s books, they knit baby blankets, scarves, and afghans, and they collect hygiene articles, socks, and underwear for our client families;
• they serve on our Friends of Vista Hill boards and committees to help us raise money and raise awareness for Vista Hill; and they sell tickets, collect prizes, work on decorations, and seek underwriting year after year;
• they ask their relatives and friends to get involved with Vista Hill; they help educate and inform the community in order to remove the stigma of mental illness, substance abuse, and developmental disabilities; and they are our ambassadors in every way possible.

Bottom line?  They make a huge and positive difference for the children and families of Vista Hill…and that’s a great reason to celebrate!  If you want to help, click on the donate button.  We’ll put your gift to very good use!