 |
PRESS RELEASE: July 19, 2010
Kent Center Awarded Highest CARF Accreditation:
Staff Commitment, Client Satisfaction & External Relationships Among Areas Praised
(Warwick, RI)—The Kent Center has received a Three-Year CARF Accreditation, the highest level that can be awarded to an
organization, for nine of its program areas, which represent all programs for which CARF accreditation was sought. This is the
sixth consecutive Three-Year Accreditation outcome that the international accrediting commission has awarded to The Kent Center.
An organization receiving a Three-Year Accreditation outcome has put itself through a rigorous peer review process and has
demonstrated to a team of surveyors during a full three-day, on-site visit that its programs and services are of the highest
quality, measurable, and accountable. According to Brian Boon, Ph.D., CARF President/CEO, "this achievement is an indication of
[The Kent Center's] dedication and commitment to improving the quality of the lives of persons served. Services, personnel, and
documentation clearly indicated an established pattern of practice excellence." An extensive survey report was generated and includes the following highlights:
- "Consumers speak very highly of working with clinicians from The Kent Center."
- "The staff at The Kent Center goes the extra mile to meet the needs of the persons served. The staff works collaboratively with a high degree of teamwork between many disciplines…"
- "The administrators are dedicated, competent, and do outstanding work."
- "The organization has extensive working relationships with external organizations and stakeholders."
- "The organization is successfully maintaining excellence despite severe economic cutbacks."
Click here
to review the complete survey summary.The Kent Center provides a wide range of mental health, substance abuse and trauma-informed services to over 4,100 men, women, children and families annually. Founded in 1966 as the Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities, and now known as CARF, the accrediting body
establishes consumer-focused standards to help organizations measure and improve the quality of their programs and services.
For additional information, contact Arlene Stoltz, Director of Development, at (401) 691-6000, x335. PRESS RELEASE: June 10, 2010
Warwick Police & The Kent Center Train Mental Health Crisis Responder Team
|
(L-R): Officer Patrick McGaffigan; Lieutenant Jeffrey Enos; Lieutenant Joseph Coffey; Officer John Larivee; Fay Baker, VP,
The Kent Center; Officer Daniel Lopez; Carol Giordano, Clinician, The Kent Center; Officer Kerri Chattan; Dee Tavares, Program Manager, Emergency Services, The Kent Center; Officer James Vible; Officer Frank
McGee. |
(Warwick, RI)-- The Warwick Police Department and The Kent Center have worked together for many years to train police officers in how to properly
handle encounters with people who have a mental illness or substance use disorder and are in crisis, and recently The Warwick PD and Kent Center also
participated in a state-wide Certified Crisis Responder Training. Now, with funding received through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009
(or Stimulus Bill), the Warwick Police and The Kent Center have taken the next step and created and trained a Mental Health Crisis Responder Team.
"The Warwick Police Department has long strived to implement a specialized mental health response program," explained Lieutenant Joseph Coffey. "The
Kent Center's equal interest and commitment has, given the Stimulus Bill funding, evolved into a collaboration we are confident will ultimately improve
encounters involving people with mental illness. The Warwick Police Department recognizes that, in many circumstances, the mentally ill person's need for help
begins with a police encounter. The ability for a subset of specially trained officers to identify such needs and consult with Kent clinicians as necessary will go a long way in determining a proper outcome." The Mental Health Crisis Responder Team is based on a Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) model that was originally created for police in Memphis, Tennessee
some years ago. Several communities around the country now have some sort of CIT on their police force. The team created by
the Warwick PD and Kent Center also incorporates a co-responding model and includes both police officers, highly trained in
responding to mental health calls, and Kent Center clinicians. As officers in the field encounter crisis situations that are complex,
they can call upon a mental health officer for assistance. In very difficult situations a Kent Center clinician may also be called for consultation, or may go to the scene if necessary.
The Mental Health Crisis Responder Team, which currently includes six police officers and three Kent Center clinical staff,
underwent an extensive 40-hour cross-training program, which was held at The Kent Center from May 17th- 21st. For officers,
the training curriculum included how to recognize sign and symptoms of mental illness and psychiatric crisis; how to de-escalate
the situation and adapt police responses to ensure the safety of all—those in crisis and the police; and how to use discretion in
determining if it's necessary to take the person to jail immediately, or more appropriate to seek treatment initially. For clinicians,
the training focused on understanding the role and responsibilities of police officers, and how clinicians can assist officers in crisis situations.
"We are very pleased with the Warwick Police Department's commitment to treating people in crisis in the most sensitive manner
possible and we think that this will mean getting people into treatment sooner, which will translate to better long-term outcomes
for them and the community," stated Fay Baker, Vice President of Clinical Services at The Kent Center.
For more information, call Lieutenant Joseph Coffey of the Warwick Police Department at 468-4200, or Arlene Stoltz of The Kent Center at 691-6000, x335. Great Turnout for Roberts Street Artists at Gallery Z
It was a full house throughout the evening of May 27th, with many people coming out to support The Kent Center's Robert's
Street Artists and to admire the beautiful glass installation piece that they created. The piece, entitled Recovery, was installed
in Gallery Z's public art window for the month of May and a reception with the artists was held on May 27th. Special thanks to Gallery Z for the wonderful opportunity.
For sale at the event were double matted prints and note cards featuring the work of the artists. Click here if interested in viewing and purchasing prints or note cards
.
Mental Health Month
 Long-time Kent Center client Jackie Eastman helps kick off Mental Health Month.
Story covered on NBC 10 Health Check.
View TV Coverage
Read Full Speech
PUBLIC NOTICE: April 12, 2010
The Kent Center Housing Office
Mainstream Housing Choice Voucher Program
The Kent Center hereby serves notice that the waiting list for the
Mainstream Housing Choice Voucher Program will open Monday
April 12, 2010 to individuals and families who meet the following criteria:
- Head of Household or spouse must have a verifiable disability.
- Residency preferences in accordance with CFR 982.206(b): For families who live in the Kent County area. Proof of preference must be submitted with application or the application will not be accepted.
- Eligible applicants must have incomes that do not exceed the income limits by household size as determined by HUD. Current HUD limits are:
|
|
|
|
|
$25,600
$29,250
$32,900
$36,600
$39,500
$42,450
$45,350
$48,300 |
|
Applications can be picked up at the Housing Office of The Kent Center, 2756 Post Rd. Suite 104, Warwick, Rhode Island, Monday – Friday between the hours of 9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. EST.
Completed applications and required documentation must be returned to The Kent Center Housing Office. The Kent Center
Housing Office will not be responsible for mail delays or lost mail. Incomplete applications will not be accepted.
The Mainstream Housing Choice Voucher program provides rental assistance to very low income and disabled families in order to
secure decent, safe, and sanitary housing. The Kent Center Housing Office will not deny any person the opportunity to apply
for, and if determined eligible, to receive housing assistance based on race, color, sex, religion, creed, national origin, ethnicity, age or disability. Diana Dumin
Housing Director
What is the Mainstream Housing Choice Voucher Program?The Voucher Program is the federal government's program for assisting eligible families to locate and rent decent, safe and
sanitary housing in the private market. Since the rental assistance is provided on behalf of the individual or family, participants
are able to find and lease privately owned housing, including single family homes, townhouses and apartments.
The participant is free to choose any housing that meets the requirements of the program and is not limited to units in subsidized housing developments.
Vouchers are administered locally by public housing agencies. The Kent Center Housing Office receives federal funds from HUD to
administer the program. A family is issued a voucher and is responsible for finding and selecting a suitable apartment. That may
be the unit where the family is presently living. Apartments must meet minimum standards of health and safety, as determined
by HUD's Housing Quality Standards and The Kent Center's Administrative Plan. A rental subsidy is paid directly by The Kent
Center to the landlord on behalf of the participating family. The family then pays a rent amount based on regulatory formulas. PRESS RELEASE: February 2, 2010
Billy Andrade-Brad Faxon Charities for Children Awards $5,000 Grant
to The Kent Center's Youth & Family Services
(Warwick, RI)—The Billy Andrade-Brad Faxon Charities for Children has awarded a grant of $5,000 to The Kent Center's Youth &
Family Services Division. The grant will support individual and family therapy for children who are facing an emotional health
challenge, such as depression and anxiety, and /or have experienced trauma through abuse and neglect, and are uninsured or underinsured for these services.
"We know that childhood trauma has many long-term mental health and general health repercussions that last into adulthood if
they are not addressed or if they are inadequately addressed," explains Barbara Lamoureux, a Program Manager within the
Center's Youth & Family Division. "Proper treatment is vital for the health and future of these children. However, because of new
limitations with funding streams, we see many children who are underinsured for therapeutic services. This generous gift from
the Andrade-Faxon Charities for Children helps us to overcome these funding hurdles and to provide the best possible care to children in need of support."
The Andrade-Faxon Charities for Children strives to improve the quality of life for at-risk children in Rhode Island and
Southeastern Massachusetts by funding projects or programs that directly target their needs. The foundation was established in
1990 by professional golfers and native Rhode Islanders, Billy Andrade and Brad Faxon. Since its inception, over $7.5 million has been raised for children's charities.
Established in 1976, The Kent Center's serves adults, children and families through a wide range of mental health, substance
abuse, and trauma-related services. The Kent Center served over 4,100 people in 2009. The Center's Youth & Family Division
provides children's psychiatric services, individual and group counseling, case management and emergency services, an ADHD
evaluation clinic, and family support services such as family therapy, parent education classes and parent aide services. To learn more, visit www.thekentcenter.org. PRESS RELEASE: January 26, 2010
New Officers Installed to Kent Center Board of Directors
(Warwick, RI)—The Kent Center has installed new officers to its Board of Directors. Taking over the chairmanship of the Board is
Larry Goldberg. Larry joined The Kent Center Board in 2004 and serves as the Chair of its Fundraising Committee. Additionally,
Larry is on the Advisory Board for the Center's Hillsgrove House. Larry is Housing Manager at Gatsby Housing Associates and is an active member of the Warwick Rotary Club.
Other new officers include Jean Gavigan who is stepping from the Chair position to Vice Chair. Jean is the sole proprietor of
Hodge Graphics, a Warwick-based graphic design and strategic marketing company. Jean serves on many subcommittees of the
Board including its Citizens Advisory Committee, which seeks to reduce the stigma associated with mental illness. She is also a member and former Chair of the Central Rhode Island Chamber of Commerce.
The Kent Center's new Treasurer and Chair of its Finance Committee is Chad Bjorklund. Chad joined The Kent Center Board in
2005, and serves on several additional committees including pension and strategic planning. Chad is an account executive at
Gencorp Insurance Group in East Greenwich. He is also an active member of the Warwick Rotary Club.
Rounding out the new team of officers at The Kent Center is Brenda Diko, who will serve as Secretary. Prior to joining the Board
in 2007, Brenda served on the Advisory Board for Hillsgrove House for many years. Brenda worked in the banking industry for 20
years, most recently as a Senior Recruiter for Sovereign Bank. Since leaving Sovereign in 2009, Brenda has worked as a consultant.
"I know that this new team will provide strong leadership for us at The Kent Center," stated President & CEO David Lauterbach.
"As there are for many organizations, there are challenging times ahead for the Center. I have great confidence however that Larry and his fellow officers will help to steer us through them."
Founded in 1976, The Kent Center's mission is to improve the quality of life for people who are struggling with behavioral health
challenges. Through a full range of mental health, substance abuse and trauma-related services, The Kent Center assists over
4,100 members of our community a year, including adults with a severe and persistent mental illness, children and teens struggling with emotional difficulties, and families in need of support. |
