Mental Health America In Allen County Inc

Programs: Adult guardianship services - mental health america of northeast indiana (mhani) enhances the quality of life of adults with intellectual/developmental disabilities, dementias, mental illness, and other aging disorders by providing legal guardianship. As guardian of the person, mhani undertakes the legal responsibility to make major life decisions and agree to advocate on behalf of their wards. Mhani served 84 adults under guardianship in 2017.

community advocacy and peer support - trained community advocates provide no-cost consultation for individuals and families facing a mental health or substance use challenge. Advocates assess needs, identify strengths and existing supports, and engage in shared problem solving with the individual or family to develop a plan for their connection to appropriate local resources. In 2017, community advocates served 426 individuals. Mhani also provides peer support, where individuals with lived experience overcoming a mental health condition or substance use disorder help others who are actively struggling. Peers offer coaching, peer to peer support groups, and wellness recovery action plan (wrap) classes. Mhani also facilitates emergency detention orders (edos) and psychiatric involuntary commitments (pics) 24-hours a day for the lutheran health network and veteran's administration (va). In 2017, mhani completed 364 edos and pics.

cedars hope - cedars hope is a permanent, supportive housing program for women with moderate to severe mental illness who are homeless or at-risk of homelessness. Our program has been proven to break the connection between mental illness and homelessness. Residents are able to make tremendous strides towards greater independence and recovery by having a safe place to call home. In 2017, cedars hope served 22 residents, 4 former residents through aftercare services and 1 man living in the community.

education and training - mhani believes that one of the best ways to fight stigma, dispel myths, teach coping skills, and promote evidence-based and trauma-informed practices is through education. Trainings include youth mental health first aid (ymhfa), bi-monthly safetalk suicide prevention trainings, certified recovery specialist/community health worker trainings, bi-monthly mental health lunch and learns, physician residency trainings, and mental health/suicide prevention trainings tailored to the needs of individual agencies or religious organizations. In 2017, mhani offered 47 mental health trainings, serving 1,581 community participants. Kids on the block - kids on the block is an evidence-based educational program that helps introduce children with special needs into school classrooms and prevent bullying. The program uses child size puppets to help children learn about other children with disabilities and mental health and social concerns such as bullying, peer pressure, divorce, violence, and prejudice. Mhani presented kids on the block to 2,098 third grade students in 2017. Parent cafe - new in 2017, mhani offers parent cafes to individuals in ten northeast indiana counties. Parent cafes are a combination workshop and support group where parents learn about protective factors and receive support from other parents going through similar situations and struggles. In 2017, mental health america in allen county serves 30 parents through parent cafe.