Download Flyer Here: SOMO Flyer.pdf
 |
 |
|
Carolyn Watts Allen, Matt Wyner and Esther Pla |
Beachwood Mayor Merle Gorden with Patrolman Erin Draves, Inspector Erica Ziegler and Assistant Fire Chief William Peskura (Make a Connection Dinner) |
|
 |
 |
 |
Bill and Jamie Stevens |
Dave Kribel and Jim Nagle |
Dr. Jackson Wright with his wife Molly Wright (Make a Connection Dinner) |
Connections, one of Northeast Ohio’s
largest providers of behavioral health services
to children and Adults, hosted a benefit
attended by more than 200 people at the
Hilton Cleveland East/Beachwood. STORY AND PHOTOGRAPHS BY KATHRYN RIDDLE |
||
Connections Dinner - (Written by the Cleveland Jewish News)
Violet Spevack - (Original Story)
CJN Columnist
I finally made a connection with the impressive and highly effective community organization Connections, which offers an integrated system of behavioral healthcare, wellness and healing. The group's stimulating annual dinner meeting at the Hilton Beachwood was an eye-opener. Emcee of the program was WUAB-Channel 19 reporter Harry Boomer. Highlights included the presentation of the Martha Infeld Service Excellence Award to the city of Beachwood's safety services; it was accepted by Mayor Merle Gorden. I was seated at the mayor's table, alongside his boyhood friend and Beachwood councilman Melvin Jacobs, both of us beaming with pride.
Engrossing speakers discussed families dealing with mental illness. Especially poignant were the words of consumer advocate Kevin Buchberger, who spoke of his years coping with mental illness, including appearing on the cover of TIME magazine for a July 6, 1992, story about treatment options.
Connections board chair Matt Wyner kicked things off with a greeting. At the cocktail hour before the event, we had a chance to chat with Matt and his wife Joanna; his parents, national Jewish educator Susan and attorney Jeffrey Wyner. Faces in the crowd: Miriam and Dr. Martin Plax, Shelly Lipson, Joan and Robert Garfield, Amy Budish, and personable Beachwood Buzz editor Debby Rapoport, who recently returned from a yearlong jaunt around the eastern United States and the Bahamas aboard the Lady Royal with paramour Rob Certner, former CEO of the CJN.
They bleed red- so we wear red!"
Esther Pla, CEO of Connections Cleveland speaks to how the proposed reforms for Ohio's Medicaid system will help Ohio health providers coordinate the care of individuals with physical and behavioral health issues
Connections is the first community mental health agency in Cuyahoga County to move into the age of technology. To increase our ability to meet your psychiatric needs, Tele-health uses the technology of video conferencing to allow us to expand our staff of psychiatrists and available appointment times.
What is
tele-health? Just like using a video phone, the doctor is able to meet
with you while still being able to interact ‘face to face.’ Your appointment is
exactly the same as other psychiatric appointments but is conducted using a
video link over our secure computer network. Our large, 24 inch screen allows
you to easily interact with the doctor.
A favorite with her patients, Dr. Ibrahim has been with our agency since 2007 and though she moved to California last summer, she has returned to us now through telehealth with no wait to schedule immediate appointments.
For more information ask to speak with Sadie, or talk with your provider today.
The ADAMHSBCC awarded Connections a contract to lead the development and implementation of the Screening, Centralized Assessment, Level of Care Assignments and Engagement/Linkage to Treatment (SCALE) project. The SCALE Program began on January 3, 2011 and is for individuals 18 years of age or older, who are:
1) uninsured;
2) have proof of Cuyahoga County residency;
3) seeking mental health services; and
4) who are new to the community behavioral healthcare system.
The SCALE project was designed to:
1) develop a single point of contact for all uninsured adults entering the Cuyahoga County community mental health system; and
2) improve the use of limited non-Medicaid dollars.
Moreover, the SCALE project will change the course of accessing behavioral health care throughout Cuyahoga County. The SCALE project will also profoundly impact client success by:
1) removing key obstacles/barriers for clients to move from assessment to treatment;
2) reducing recidivism rate;
3) improving outcomes; and
4) ultimately, decreasing overall treatment cost.
SCALE Brochure - SCALE Brochure in Spanish
