The Well of PBC - Holiday Issue -December 2022

Letter from the editor

Can you believe it’s December already? We hope you all got a chance to see our first print copy of The Well of PBC this past October. It was so exciting to see everyone’s hard work come together and be able to hold it in our hands! As the holiday season and the new year approaches, we are beginning to reflect on everything that has happened over the past few years and how it has changed us.

Whether we see it or not, the past few years have caused unprecedented disruption to our normal activities. Things such as doctor appointments, work, concerts, spending time with friends and family, and how we keep ourselves healthy have changed over the past few years as our lives were impacted by global events. As we start to see the light at the end of the tunnel and re-emerge out the other side, it is important to reflect and look at who we are now and how we have had to evolve into new versions of ourselves.

I have learned and evolved a lot which has led me to change the way I prioritize both mental and physical health. As a parent, I now prioritize rest for both myself and my kids, I work to find a healthy work/life balance, and I have taught my children to be more comfortable in voicing their needs and prioritizing those over certain school deadlines or social obligations. It is more important now than ever that we take control not only of our physical health but our mental and emotional health as well.

In this edition, you will read stories from people in our community telling us what these past few years have taught them, how they have evolved, and what that means for them going forward. We are proud to feature The Merrell Family Foundation, artist David Rubinson, youth in our community, and several other amazing people who share their journeys with us.

We look forward to hearing your thoughts on our December edition. We hope you can feel the passion behind these articles and that you too have emerged as a better version of yourself following the unprecedented events over the past few years. Have a great holiday season and a happy new year! See you in 2023.

Thank you for being a part of the mission:

“To be the primary resource for behavioral health and wellness for Palm Beach County, a safe exchange space for community, and an outlet for our neighbors and stakeholders to transform the behavioral health landscape.

Julie

Khanna, Editor-in-Chief thewell@bewellpbc.org

To share feedback, obtain advertising information, or contribute, please reach us at thewell@bewellpbc.org

MADE POSSIBLE BY OUR INVESTED PARTNERS

The Mission

The Well of PBC is an online publication that strives to be the primary resource for behavioral health and wellness for Palm Beach County, a safe exchange space for the community, and an outlet for our neighbors and stakeholders to transform the behavioral health landscape.

So, what does that mean to you? It means we not only want to be your go-to place for all things behavioral health topics, but we want to tell your stories too!

We are looking for freelance photographers (willing to barter) and writers to contribute to our art, ask the experts, youth, self-care, cultural, spiritual, and provider columns. Email us for our contributor guidelines, editorial calendar, or if you’d like to share an event or position you’re hiring for.

E: thewell@bewellpbc.org | Follow along at @thewellofpbc

Our Team

Lauren Zuchman Publisher

Lauren is the Executive Director for the countywide initiative, BeWellPBC, advancing behavioral health and wellness for all residents in Palm Beach County. The Well of PBC is a passion project for Lauren to increase behavioral health awareness, engage diverse perspectives across the county, and promote solutions to address our county’s most complex challenges.

Katrina Blackmon Marketing Manager

Katrina, founder & CEO of Unity3 Palm Beach, brings her executive advertising background combined with her love of faith, family, and this vibrant multicultural community to The Well of PBC and BeWellPBC.

Julie Khanna Editor-in-Chief

Julie, CEO of Khanna Connections, enjoys using her creativity to help health and wellness industries communicate with their audiences.

Alita Faber BeWellPBC Staff

Alita Faber is the Networks & Special Projects Manager at BeWellPBC. Through her work, she wishes to help the field of behavioral health to become more equitable for the entire community, including those seeking services and those looking to work in the field.

Surej, founder of Photography & Design by Sunman, is the creative visionary that brings life into each page, concept, visual and digital design of The Well of PBC publication.

Otero Contributor

Melanie, president of Otero Communications, provides consulting services for some of Palm Beach County’s leading nonprofit organizations. With a special interest in behavioral health, she serves as a contributing writer to The Well of PBC.

The information in this issue of The Well of PBC is for information purposes only. The Well of PBC assumes no liability or responsibility for any inaccurate, delayed or incomplete information, nor for any actions taken in reliance thereon. The information contained about each individual, company, product or organization has been provided by such individual, company, product or organization without verification by us.

The opinion expressed in each article is the opinion of its author and does not necessarily reflect the opinion of The Well of PBC. Therefore, The Well of PBC carries no responsibility for the opinion expressed therein.

Any form of reproduction of any content in this magazine without the written permission of the publisher is strictly prohibited. © 2022 The Well of PBC All rights reserved.

Surej Kalathil AKA Sunman Creative Director

Melanie

A New Dawn

Palm Beach County Emerges from Uncertainty

By: Melanie Otero

Nina Simone first recorded the lyrics to “Feeling Good” in 1965 during the Civil Rights Movement as an expression of optimism and hope in the face of the tumultuous struggle for freedom.

As Palm Beach County emerges from a racial reckoning and the pandemic, there is a new dawn on the horizon, offering a sense of optimism and hope for a new day where all residents thrive and are feeling good.

Two community leaders at the forefront of services for residents in need say they see this historic time as an inflection point, a time of change to break free from conventional approaches by seeing and listening to people in a new light.

“We’re embracing diversity in a different way, dismantling racism, and creating equitable opportunities for all,” said James Green, director, Palm Beach County Community Services Department.

And I’m feeling good

Lisa Williams-Taylor, CEO, Children’s Services Council of Palm Beach County, concurred.

“We’re becoming even more collaborative with the families we serve, and filtering that into how we look at accountability,” she said.

Success on Your Terms

The pandemic and racial reckoning put everything on the table—connections to residents, partnerships with community agencies, improvements to policies and processes, and access to services and technology—coupled with a crisis-infused urgency and eagerness to act. Much like a damaging hurricane can push forward new and better ideas to rebuild, these Palm Beach County leaders are laying the foundation for innovative ways to serve stakeholders by starting with a simple question: What does success look like for you?

“The crisis allowed us to step back and ask, ‘What does success look like for our families? How do they define it and how do we include that in our work going forward?’” said Williams-Taylor whose agency provides prevention and early intervention services to children and families in the county, so all children have the opportunity to grow up healthy, safe and strong.

It’s a new dawn It’s a new day It’s a new life For me

James Green Palm Beach County Community Services Department Director

“

During community conversations, parents and youth shared that their top concern was mental health; but they made it clear that traditional approaches wouldn’t suffice. “Different communities need different services,” said Williams-Taylor. “We’re hearing what’s needed by being closer to community, talking to Black therapists, and exploring different angles. Peer-to-peer and youth-to-youth models are intriguing. And we’re learning new ways to partner and fund grassroots programs through our Great Ideas Initiative, so communities can develop solution-focused local services to address behavioral health and racism. The creativity and innovation are amazing to see.”

All for One, and One for All

For Green, whose department focuses on economic development, housing and homelessness, and substance use and behavioral disorders, shifts in behavioral health supports were underway before 2020, but the crisis expedited the Community Services Department’s efforts. “The major shift is the focus on recovery.”

The emphasis breaks away from traditional treatment models and focuses on individual success. Instead, practitioners use a recovery-oriented care model to improve a person’s long-term outcomes by building a team of natural and formal supports to achieve goals and a vision for a better life. It’s a highly individualized approach comprised of three components—Neutral Care Assessment, Recovery Capital Index, and recovery supports.

“We want to keep people from having to re-enter into treatment,” said Green. “The way to do that is to provide a guide to supports that are specific to the needs of the individual rather than them falling into

an abyss.”

Neutral Care Assessment is the design of customized care plans along a seamless continuum of clinical and non-clinical recovery support and social services. The Recovery Capital Index identifies aspects of a person’s recovery, what a person has in place, and what deficiencies exist. Recovery supports can be engaging with peers, socializing with people who can help maintain their recovery, or navigating to housing.

To support the new model, Green’s team has developed innovative relationships with the South Florida Behavioral Health Network and the Palm Beach County Criminal Justice Commission. Florida Atlantic University is conducting evaluations, which are showing significant progress. “We’re deploying best practices that will have implications locally and nationally,” said Green.

A Wider Vision

Both Green and Williams-Taylor see the county emerging from a time of uncertainty to greater clarity across all the social determinants that contribute to behavioral health, such as education, economic stability, and housing.

“We’ve been talking about root causes, the disparities we’re seeing, racial and ethnic, and looking at what can we do internally and where we can become advocates by working with other funders,” said Williams-Taylor. “What are areas that we will be out front on and what are the issues we can support?”

The pandemic, which exacerbated gaps and disparities, highlighted immediate needs. The first step for the Birth to 22 Alliance, supported by Children’s Services Council

About Children’s Services Council of Palm Beach County

Mission:

To plan, fund and evaluate prevention and early intervention programs and services, and promote public policies that benefit all Palm Beach County children and families.

Goals: All county children are:

• Born healthy

• Safe from abuse and neglect

• Ready for kindergarten

• Able to access quality afterschool and summer programming

Learn more: Website: cscpbc.org

EveryParent Website & App: EveryParentPBC.org

About Palm Beach County Community Services Department

Mission:

To promote independence and enhance the quality of life in Palm Beach County by providing effective and essential services to residents in need.

Strategic Priorities:

• Economic development

• Housing and homelessness

• Substance use and behavioral disorders

Learn more: discover.pbcgov.org/communityservices

Lisa Williams-Taylor,

Ph.D.

Chief Executive Officer Children’s Services Council of Palm Beach County

We’re becoming even more collaborative with families being served, and filtering that into how we look at accountability. ”

and the county’s Youth Services Department, was to tackle educational achievement gaps with mentoring and tutoring programs. The Alliance also noticed a decrease in children being identified in the child welfare system. In response, they began exploring how to reach families and support their needs. By providing internet access to families who didn’t have it before, the group connected families to social services, health care and educational supports.

Children’s Services Council also broadened its vision by moving away from policies and expectations that offered a one-sizefits-all approach. Williams-Taylor cites the unique child care system in the Glades that favors family care homes, each serving a small number of mostly Children of Color. “During the pandemic, they were in danger of going out of business, putting the Glades at risk of having a child care desert,” she said. “We invested in those centers to keep them afloat. Now we’re looking at how we can work differently with providers, creating a balance of holding them accountable, but also understanding circumstances that impact success. And we’re looking at racism in the childcare industry, how it shows up, and what it means for how we fund.”

Toward

a New Day

Changing circumstances was the norm for Green and his team at Community Ser-

vices Department during the pandemic. They pivoted to lead the state in pushing funding and assistance out to community members who fell on hard times, serving over 29,000 people and distributing over $135 million since the beginning of the pandemic, an effort awarded by the National Association of Counties—one of seven received from the association—and an honor he shares with the Palm Beach County Board of Commissioners, and county administrator, Verdenia Baker. “We have the most outstanding board of county commissioners and county administrator in the country,” he said. “They and our staff are passionate about taking care of our residents and supporting our mission.”

Green acknowledges that challenges remain, but the county is moving in the right direction, especially with the recent “yes” vote on the $200 million workforce and affordable housing referendum. “We’re at a point where everybody has to participate and pitch in and create conditions for economic mobility,” he said. “Everyone wants to live the American dream.”

The need for services and desire to work toward the American dream is evident. Community Services Department numbers tripled through improved access to support systems which were enhanced and expedited during the pandemic.

“Access has been an overarching theme,” said Green. “We’re providing more integrated services so that people who come for one service can access others. We’re working with our partners to create a one-stop shop, using online applications, and instituting a mobile outreach unit that goes deep into communities where there are language challenges or seniors who don’t have computers. We are enhancing every touchpoint for people to get the support they need.”

Going deeper into community to establish connections is something Williams-Taylor is focused on, too, with a new resident engagement position created postpandemic to build trust and relationships with families.

“We’re working from the concept of being invited in, and not inviting yourself in,” she said. “The thirst to work together, meet with families, and hear how we can best support them and their community is there. Everyone wants to be closer to community. Everyone joins in and helps out in this community. It’s a beautiful thing to see.”

And it feels good.

Merrell Family Foundation

By: Kayla Roderman

In 2012, tragedy forced the Merrell Family to find clarity beyond the devastation. In an instant, they lost a husband, father, papa, and friend to mental illness. The family struggled to find the right resources and receive the proper help largely due to the stigma surrounding mental illness. Learning from their loved ones and the community, they realized how many people have a similar story to share. The Merrell Family Foundation was formed and has worked hard on creating advocacy and reducing stigma for mental health to make it easier for someone to recognize when family, friends, or the community needs support and how to help them get the resources they need.

Within the last ten years, The Merrell Family Foundation intersected with increased discussions around mental health and gaining momentum in linking the community to resources. “We hope we have helped to open the conversation. We realized if we weren’t able to get help despite having resources, how many people are out there that need help and don’t have access to proper resources?” said Jill Merrell when asked what she hopes the foundation has been able to do for others. The resources that The Merrell Family Foundation links the community to are all established organizations and pre-vetted by them, using their own and others’ experience as a lens and finding the services they wish they had access to previously.

“We are an all-volunteer, board-led organization that is made up of 3 members of our family and our close family friend, Katherine. We are a listener and connector in the community and are honored to be the face of the cause,” says Jessica Merrell, daughter of Jill and the late John Merrell. The Merrell Family originally started the foundation as a way to mobilize the money raised after John had passed. Their first large scale initiative was in partnership with Palm Health Foundation in launching Train the Brain in 2018. The goal of that campaign was to help Palm Beach County residents understand that taking care of the brain is just as important as taking care of the body. Since then, they have supported many mental health initiatives

John Merrell

Merrell Family

within local organizations like Student ACES where they funded their executive director, Krissy Webb, to be trained in Mental Health First Aid. This has allowed for hundreds of students, teachers and school administrators to receive the equivalent of CPR certification for mental health crisis situations in Palm Beach County. In 2022 alone, the foundation granted four scholarships, raised $30,000 (thanks to match by Palm Health Foundation) for the scholarship fund, and funded and supported BeWellofPBC mini-grants that allows high school students to initiate a project where they see a need in the mental health space, and more.

It is the Merrell Family’s mission to measurably improve overall mental health in our communities through support of brain health initiatives, education on suicide prevention, and awareness to erase the stigma of mental illness. Their goal is to help as many people as possible to get out of a crisis situation and have a higher quality of life. “I feel like this foundation is the best way to honor my dad’s life,” says daughter Jessica Merrell.

The Merrell Family feels strongly about helping to promote mental health but also practices what they preach. Their board works to maintain strong mental health and has added to their routine of physical fitness that was developed over 30 years as a community leader in the fitness space, having owned and operated Ultima Fitness in Wellington, FL until early 2020. “Brain health is the most important kind of health, and I believe that physical fitness is a great enhancement to other brain health

modalities such as meditation and practicing daily gratitude,” adds Jessica Merrell. Another thing the family has found helpful, so much so that they have extended it into a weekly event for the community, is meditation and mindfulness sessions. This

session is led virtually by Jill Merrell, and it is a time for people to reflect on life, take time for themselves and be a safe space for questions. “We want to be the ones to ask and answer questions that people aren’t asking, either because they are too scared or because they are worried about what people might think,” says Jill Merrell, who believes these questions could be the difference between life or death for someone who struggles with their mental health.

Jill, Jessica, Justin Merrell, and close family friend Katherine plan to continue to partner with and support mental health organizations in the coming years. The foundation’s goal is to continue to be a connector for people struggling with mental health issues to find resources, listen to their needs and be their voice if needed. They also plan to continue to “walk the walk” by committing to managing and being proactive with their mental health and sharing their journey with others.

Join them or follow The Merrell Family Foundation at https://www.merrellfamilyfoundation.org.

The Word is a broad topic space for contributing writers (a.k.a the community) to share your stories of behavioral health or anything self-care related i.e. fitness, health, educational, parenting, hobbies, wellness, etc. To contribute, send your article ideas to thewell@bewellpbc.org with “The Word” in the subject line.

We hope we have helped to open the conversation. We realized if we weren’t able to get help despite having resources, how many people are out there that need help and don’t have access to proper resources?

Train the Brain Luncheon Katherine Paison-Senn, Veronice Merrell, Justin Merrell, Jill Merrell, Jessica Merrell, Wendy Galinksy and Libby Snyder

The Empowerment Of Change

Written by: Khloemichelle Wells @_khloemichelle

“Black or pinto beans?” are my favorite words to hear. Chipotle gives me the ability to make my own choices. I love Chipotle because it can be enjoyed in numerous different ways. It can be in salad or bowl form, tacos, burritos, and many more. Nevertheless, although confessing my obsession with Chipotle can be seen as far more than strange, I will always be remembered as the girl who loves Chipotle. There are many ways I can relate to Chipotle. While eating chipotle, every bite has something new in store. This special, ethical, and naturally produced savory meal is more than slop that’s being thrown into a bowl, my personal favorite. It is packed with multiple different “personalities” supporting its famous motto “food with integrity”. Beginning from when I was young to the adult I am now, integrity has always been my strongest virtue. When you have integrity you are not only able to easily gain the trust of others, but it allows you to honestly feel good about yourself and continue your life with a sense of jubilation. All in all, having a good understanding of oneself is the best way to put you on the most successful path in life.

The best way to begin this journey is to have a clear understanding of the 8 main stages of development. Infancy, toddlerhood, preschool years, early school years, adolescence, young adulthood, middle adulthood, and late adulthood. In today’s society, it is highly expected of any individual to meet every milestone excessively high. When we are young, most children

Including me, are so happy because we have little to no responsibilities or worries. Overall, we have no concept of time, we live in the now. In regards to my behavior, similar to many young children, I had a very distinct attachment style with my parents. I always wanted to be around them, eat around them, and sleep around them.

With time, now I am a very successful college student at Lynn University studying psychology, my transition from high school to college was not easy. During this salient period, I lost one of the most empowering and inspiring role models in my life, my grandfather. After this occurred, I became very depressed and my motivation for things I enjoyed the most in my everyday life completely snowballed. While I was preparing to move 1,000 miles across the states for college I realized I had enough moping and despair. I needed to take control of my life. This stage of my life you can think of as the “germination stage” of my beloved beans. This is when the bean starts to sprout. Being able to thrive in this

Although I seemed quite clingy, I was completely yin and yang and full of emotion. My spark will always be one of a kind. This attachment style affected me a tremendous amount as I got older, mainly affecting my social life. During this time I didn’t want to stay over at friends’ houses, be alone, or oftentimes make my own difficult decisions; I consistently had my parent’s guidance, advice, and approval.

My family was my garden, I needed to stop associating my life with my social anxiety, grief, and pessimism and instead with hope, positivity, and opportunity.

“ ”

Khloemichelle Wells and her grandfather

mindset allowed me to gain the courage for my next challenge: college. When friends and family asked me “are you ready for college?” I found it extremely difficult to answer. As a kid, I never thought about being alone or having to make my own choices, but as weird as it sounds I always had an extreme passion for independence.

From that moment on, I prided myself on perseverance. For beans to grow, they need nutrient-packed soil in a garden. Allowing beans to grow in the proper soil helps them prosper and sprout from their seed. My family was my garden, I needed to stop associating my life with my social anxiety, grief, and pessimism and instead with hope, positivity, and opportunity. As I began my flowering stage, I continuously repeated to myself “There’s nothing worse than missing a given opportunity”. That was my new motto for everything in life, I at least had to put the tip of my toe in the water. As I reflect, those 1,000 miles were the best stepping stones of my life. After 524 days go by, I am ecstatic to be an exceedingly successful first-generation college student in my family. Even though it takes 6 to 7 weeks for a bean seed to blossom, I know I’ve only scratched the surface of this beautiful journey I like to call life.

The Fountain is a space for youth to share their point of view on things that matter to them. To contribute, send your article ideas to thewell@bewellpbc.org with “The Fountain” in the subject line.

a to article thewell@bewell-

Khloemichelle Wells at High School Graduation

Khloemichelle Wells and her mother

WP TF

District’s Wellness Promotion Task Force

By: Paula Triana, RDN, LDN

Conversations around wellness began in The School District of Palm Beach County in 2004 due to a mandate from the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), through the Child Nutrition and WIC Reauthorization Act of 2004, that every school district must develop a local school wellness policy. On May 31, 2006, the first draft of our Wellness Promotion Policy (2.035) was adopted by the School Board, and we officially began the District’s Wellness Promotion journey. To date, there have been five additional revisions. Since its inception, this Policy has been overseen by the School Food Service Department in our District. Wellness has continued to thrive in the past 16 years, due to many initiatives linking the benefits of learning with positive health outcomes for our students and employees. The District recognizes that students and employees are facing increasing health and safety issues that can affect their overall wellness, ability to learn and perform, and ability to be productive citizens of our society.

I am so very proud of the collaboration from our District and Community stakeholders that support the Whole School, Whole Community, Whole Child (WSCC) model in practice, and infusing complete equity and diversity of accomplishments and positive progress in our District.

“ ”

In an effort to assist in addressing these issues, the last adoption of the Wellness Promotion Policy (2.035) incorporates the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s “Whole School, Whole Community, Whole Child” (WSCC) model. The WSCC model incorporates ten (10) components that are essential contributors and puts into action a whole-child approach to education and health. The District is committed to providing a school environment that enhances learning and the development of lifelong wellness practices and promotes and protects the overall well-being of all students and employees.

Since the first adoption of this Policy, a Wellness Promotion Task Force (WPTF) was created and meets at least twice a year with District and community stakeholders to share the progress of overall health and wellness initiatives. View the last WPTF meeting ‘Wellness Celebration’ agenda online

Wellness Promotion Task Force Purpose:

To create an educational forum that allows students, staff, parents, community partners, and members of the public to successfully collaborate in the promotion of healthier lives.

With the District’s ultimate goal of improving student performance, the direction of the Wellness Promotion Task Force is to encourage a proactive approach to holistically address the health, wellness, and safety of all school children and staff.

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the WPTF meetings had to be canceled; however, one silver lining that has kept our stakeholders connected has been the creation of the “Wellness Promotion:

District and Community Updates” newsletter launched on April 7, 2020 – view all 51 editions online.

“The School District’s Wellness Promotion Task Force is an incredible mechanism to bring all of the District and Community resources together in support of our students, educators, schools, and community.” Dr. Seth Bernstein, WPTF Community Chair & Executive Vice President of United Way of Palm Beach County. “The focus of the work remains strong after many years of partnership”.

The District’s Wellness Promotion Policy requires that we must deliver a comprehensive annual report that captures District-wide wellness initiatives and accomplishments to be shared with the community at large. View the Wellness Promotion Policy Annual Report Archives

“I am so very proud of the collaboration from our District and Community stakeholders that support the Whole School, Whole Community, Whole Child (WSCC) model in practice, and infusing complete equity and diversity of accomplishments and positive progress in our District.” Paula Triana, Wellness Promotion Manager. “I believe it is critical to incorporate the WSCC model in everything we do - as it is a true symphony of services improving learning and health, most especially during these challenging times. Our main goal is to showcase that all the pieces in this huge puzzle are critical to deciphering and delivering the best tools for the future of all involved...students, staff, families, and community.”

If you are interested in attending the next District’s WPTF meeting on February 2, 2023, please contact us at wellness@palmbeachschools.org.

The Providers is a space for providers, practitioners, thought leaders, and systems change leaders to share. To contribute, send your article ideas to thewell@bewellpbc. org with “The Providers” in the subject line.

Art, Harmony & Re-emergence

By: Kayla Roderman

My work seeks to invoke the harmony, beauty and perfection of our essential spiritual nature. During this last period of prolonged Covid isolation, our lack of connection to each other, as well as to our higher selves, was acute. As we re-emerge from the pandemic, the healing of our spirit and heart is essential. Through my art, I endeavor to express the energy of wholeness and well being that we need in order to move forward.

All artist Dave Rubinson’s framed limited edition UltraHD prints are signed and numbered. They are imaged on High-Gloss Fuji Crystal Pearl Paper which affords double resolution for maximum detail, color density, and a high gloss finish that will last 100 years.

“ ”

The Draw is a space for creatives to share their art, poetry, spoken word, etc. and/or how their art helps themselves and others. To contribute, send your article ideas to thewell@ bewellpbc.org with “The Draw” in the subject line.

What is the relationship between your art and re-emergence?

As we re-emerge from the pandemic, the healing of our spirit and heart is essential.

David Rubinson

Lyra C

Heart Flow

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Mental Health & the Church Conference

By: Dr. Debbie Manigat

The COVID-19 pandemic created a global crisis for mental health, fueling short- and long-term stresses and undermining the mental health of millions. Estimates put the rise in both anxiety and depressive disorders at more than 25% during the first year of the pandemic. At the same time, mental health services have been severely disrupted and the treatment gap for mental health conditions has widened.

For this World Mental Health Day 2022, the Palm Beach County community tried to close the gap locally by connecting families, therapists, and faith leaders to sing a new song of hope and joy at the 3rd annual New Song: Mental Health & the Church Conference. This conference was sponsored by BeWellPBC in partnership with Palm Beach Atlantic University School of Education and Behavioral Health, New Song Church Mental Health Ministry, and the Protective Factors Group (Nonprofit private practice). The conference focused on healing, support, and overcoming mental health stigma.

Attendees from the conference shared their experience as follows: “Thank you so much for this event. I especially loved the drumming circle, along with the fantastic selection of intriguing

speakers and dedicated panelists. I hope your conference goes on to solidify a third annual happening. As a young adult serving in volunteer leadership with NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness) of Palm Beach County, your programming has inspired some further thoughts for my own impactful initiatives...” - Davy Yue

The guest speakers and panelists included:

Judge Ginger Wren

(*Presided over first mental health court in America)

Commissioner Cathleen Ward

Commissioner Shalonda Warren

John Hulick, PalmBeach County Drug Czar

Jervonte Edmonds, Florida House of

Representative

Lisa Johnson, NAMI PBC Board Member

Lauren Zuchman, BeWellPBC Executive Director

Jeanette Gordon, McArthur’s Own, Inc.

Sarah Claire Smith, LMHC, Providencia Collective

Pablo Del Real, Mindfulness Educator

Philip Henry, PhD, Substance Abuse

Counseling Expert

Marcken Volmy, LMHC, NCC, EMDR/Trauma Abasi Hanif, Living the Rhythm

Attendees had an opportunity to enjoy lunch and treats provided by Chef Boris of BDS Catering and Gregory Eaton of “Cupcake Baptist”. The informational conference

bags and resources were sponsored by the American Association of Marriage & Family Therapy Minority Fellowship Program. Moreover, research and tools were provided by SAMHSA and YWCA PBC. Lastly, the Flawless Foundation graciously sponsored the Yoga Mats.

The 3rd Annual “Mental Health & the Church” Conference was a success thanks to the community coming together. Together, we are recharging families’ hearts in healing and empowering mental health professionals and faith leaders.

For more information, the conference was coordinated by Dr. Debbie Manigat, DMFT, LMFT, New Song Mental Health Ministry Director and Adjunct Professor at Palm Beach Atlantic University. Additional questions or future partnership requests for this conference may be sent to Debbie_Manigat1@pba.edu.

The Depth is a space for faithbased leaders and individuals to share their thoughts, guidance, encouragement, what they’re witnessing, and more. To contribute, send your article ideas to thewell@ bewellpbc.org with “The Depth” in the subject line.

November is recognized as National Family Caregivers Month and family caregivers deserve to be acknowledged and appreciated for the compassionate care they provide to their loved ones. Each year, Healthier Boynton Beach hosts their Family Caregivers Luncheon to recognize the many contributions of family caregivers and encourage community, health providers and others to support their invaluable efforts. This year was the 6th Annual Caregivers Luncheon and it was held at Benvenuto located in Boynton Beach. The theme was Mardi Gras and it provided caregivers a well-deserved afternoon filled with dancing, laughter and delicious food. Over 100 family caregivers attended the event that was supported by 22 sponsors and a hardworking committee to make the luncheon a success.

FEATURED

www.wellsaidpbc.org

Welcome to Well Said PBC the podcast network birthed out of the countywide initiative BeWellPBC, which connects Palm Beach County residents, professionals, community, and systems around behavioral health and wellness areas that matter most to them.

Well Said PBC features a diverse collection of topics, from healthy tips and local resources to challenging conversations about health equity, to how to support our neighbors and the helpers that support them.

Well Said PBC strives to fulfill BeWellPBC’s lofty goal to have every person in Palm Beach County feel hopeful, supported, connected, and empowered.

She

BeWellPBC Couch Conversations – Everyone wants to feel hopeful, supported, connected, and empowered. Join BeWellPBC’s Community Connectors as they open the door to insightful conversations between community and system partners in Palm Beach County who are understanding and exploring behavioral health and wellness needs and solutions together in new ways by including the voices of all. Each episode features an intriguing and relevant topic to our times and connects a diverse group of people passionate about creating positive change in behavioral health and wellness in our community.

Helping The Helpers - Each year about 400 physicians die by suicide. Work-related stressors and mental health problems are two well-known factors for suicide among health care workers. To help address the pressure doctors, nurses and other allied health professionals face every day, the T. Leroy Jefferson Medical Society is hosting a podcast called Helping the Helpers. No healthcare professional should suffer alone when there are resources available. Better wellness for our health professionals means better outcomes for us all.

SPARC Up - The idea for SPARC Up grew from a steady increase of voices in the minority community wishing for more information and acceptance of autistic children. This increase came to include professionals in the childcare, education, and mental health communities as well. By increasing community knowledge of autism in general, more services and interventions will be welcomed in institutions such as education, there will be less community stigma aimed at families with children with autism, and more advocates will be created to help bridge gaps between resources and those affected by autism.

Brie Hive - Catch us in the Brie Hive as the Lupie Girl shares the buzz full of encouragement, hope and support for individuals living with lupus and other chronic illnesses. Joined by health professionals and other special guests, the Lupie Girl is hyper-focused on mental, physical, and emotional health and wellness.

Join the Movement. Become a Sponsor of The Well of PBC!

The Well of PBC would like to offer individuals, business owners, organizations, community, funders, and city and county entities the opportunity to be a part of the movement by becoming a sponsor of The Well of PBC.

Become a resource and pour into The Well.

For more information contact Katrina Blackmon

Email: kblackmon@unity3palmbeach.com

How have you changed after the past few unprecedented years?

Well, these past few years made me realize that life could be tooooo short. To enjoy life, be cheerful, to share wonderful moments with my family. To enjoy my friends and also give time to myself. To understand that it is okay to say “no”. That is always hard for me, but now I am saying I will let you know, that way I can see my priorities. To help and volunteer, to see the huge importance of feeling happy, but at the same time to make sure that I can understand that is okay to have “down days.” To give value and importance to my achievements. I remind myself that I cannot make anyone happy if I am not happy.

“The past three years I’ve experienced some things that have allowed me to grow and understand the importance of self-care and living in the moment. Second, I’m more cautious and aware of how I spend my time. I have adopted a system that allows me to continuously master my niche in business and gain more knowledge. Last, I value time more than money now because over the past three years we experienced some things that have allowed me to be forever thankful to be in good health and spend my time with the ones I love most.

KENNETH EVERETT @JADENSBRAND

MARIA FERNANDA CRUZ @MARYFERAJ

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ISAIAH

After being confined for 2 years I finally was able to figure out what goals I wanted to pursue or what I felt like I should be doing more of. After the past few years of not being able to do regular activities and not going out anywhere, I told myself that I’d start to see the world more and try to discover all the different beauties within the world.

Post-pandemic I found myself heavy with grief and exhaustion; rethinking every aspect of my life. I moved 3000 miles across the country and then back home in search of...something. That something turned out to be joy and inspiration. I needed to rekindle the spark inside myself before I could be of service to others. I needed time and space (literally) for joy to unfold. I left my nonprofit C-suite job and struck out on my own. Now I consult with nonprofits, but I spend most of my time on freelance writing, editing, and proof-reading. I have found my way back to the person I always have been. Now I can serve others.

I found out I was pregnant in February 2020 and the following month, the world imploded with COVID-19.

As a result of experiencing a pregnancy and becoming a first time mom during the early days of COVID - I am a much more fraught person and find myself overthinking and spinning with anxiety far more than I used to. Somedays, my blood pressure remains mired in the red.

HOWEVER, in doing so, I have also learned the value of living a fulfilling life, mad with joy and adventure. Climbing the mountain, breathing the daylight or something as simple as saying, “Sure, kid. We can have ice cream for dinner tonight.”

Tomorrow isn’t promised to anyone and we owe it to ourselves to do as Thoreau wrote - “Live in the present, launch yourself on every wave, find your eternity in each moment. Live the life you’ve dreamed.”

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To have your voice heard from your corner of the neighborhood, send an email to thewell@bewellpbc.org with “Corner Talk and north, central, south, east or west” in the subject line.

PATTIE BREMEKAMP

PALM BEACH GARDENS

@PURPLEBOOKGIRL

JAIME ELDER

@JAIMEJOSHIELDER

ISAIAH LANCASTER

As they say, ‘the privilege of a lifetime is being who you are’ and I’m a gay badass.

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I’m a Gay Badass

By: Crystal Hochman @crystalhochman

This was never planned. Turning my life upside down wasn’t on my vision board of things I wanted to manifest to live my best and brightest future, yet hindsight is an interesting fellow. I don’t claim to have perfect vision, but let’s just say, I see things much clearer now. There was a day I was married to a great guy, had two beautiful children, and did all the things. We were super happy until we weren’t. Until I made a choice that changed everything I knew and trusted, in an instant. I made my bed and I had to lie in it – and this bed is where I literally lied with a woman I fell in love with. I was overcome by a desire that I can best describe as an introduction to a new dimension, awakening a deeper truth within me. It felt like freedom and there was no looking back, but there were interesting times ahead.

Courage is defined as ‘the ability to do something that frightens one’. Following one’s heart can be frightening and the way one navigates those waters can be tricky. There were those that loved, accepted, and supported me. For others, I became this agitation, as if I was this disrupter of the status quo - who the hell gave me permission to break the rules? Various men saw me as a damsel in distress and made it their

mission to sway me as if this was some fleeting phase of confusion. There was a lot of fear, doubt, and uncertainty…but was all of that mine to unpack – or theirs? I surrendered to the understanding of what was evolving and what was true for me. Ironically, as I tapped into this clarity, I also completely lost my sense of self. It was a trending theme in my life, but this was the icing on the cake. Instead of redefining who and what I wanted to be, I blindly became everything to everyone to somehow lessen the burden of my decisions – or maybe just me in general. Was I too much? Was I not enough? It seemed appropriate to be small because I didn’t want to be careless with open wounds. All day, every day, I was hypervigilant in managing expectations others had of me, or what I ‘thought’ they had of me. This might seem completely obvious, but let me tell you, it was utterly exhausting.

What I know is there is magic in all of it. I honor what was, what is and what’s to come. ‘Coming out’ is widely known as the metaphor used to describe how an LGBTQ person discloses their sexual orientation or gender identity, but don’t we all need to come out? Come out from the confines society places on us? Come out from all

the masks we wear that disguise our own unique energy and gifts? I realize that many do not have it easy – or even the right – to be who they want to be and love who they want to love. There is work to be done.

Advocacy begins with the face I see in the mirror. The closer I get to my simple truths, the more I accept and love who I am. I teach my children this and it is my hope they will teach theirs or their dog.

Even though this wasn’t planned, it was the greatest gift I’ve ever received. Isn’t life funny like that? I got exactly what I needed. I got me – who I was. Damn, that feels good. As they say, ‘the privilege of a lifetime is being who you are” and I’m a gay badass.

The Reservoir is the cultural space for contributors to highlight customs, celebrations, holidays, rituals, recipes, and more. To contribute, send your article ideas to thewell@ bewellpbc.org with “The Reservoir” in the subject line.

By: Dante and Yolanda Bates

Love, Hope & Healing is a Palm Beach County community-based nonprofit focused on at-risk and underserved youth and families, with the prospect of providing inspiration and motivation for future career and wellness prospects. The actual crafting of the nonprofit began in 2020, framed around the principle that providing support within the community was foundational to effective and sustained change. Founded by local residents and couple, Donte and Yolanda Bates, it was their individual stories that formed the framework and concept for Love, Hope & Healing, Inc.

Love, Hope & Healing was built upon the idea of creating opportunities for the community to gain the tools and resources required to change their story and journey. Moving forward with our efforts in the midst of a pandemic created a number of challenges, but also spoke to the need for

necessary support and resourcing to sustain hope and resilience. Our initial efforts were focused on establishing a partnership with Palm Beach State College and implementation of a five-week summer camp program which provided career exposure experience to both skilled trades and STEM opportunities. Our initial annual summer camp programming began in June of 2022 and will be hosted again on the Palm Beach State College in June of 2023.

At graduation in 2022 a total of 10 students completed the Summer Career Exploration Program. Students participated in a Heart Savers training program, obtaining Basic Life Support certification. They were also able to practice several different skill sets including carpentry, machining and welding. In addition, students provided impact statements to capture the influence of the program. Here is what some of our students had to say after completing the Summer Career Exploration Program:

“Camp was the best way to figure out what I wanted to do in life. Not only did it expose me to different work environments, but I was also exposed to working with all different groups of people and cooperating with other people I had never known. We became family, no matter the age or gender. Camp was truly worth going to, I couldn’t think of any other way to spend it. I left camp with hope for a better future, knowledge on different job fields and cooperating with people I’ve never met. Camp was truly astonishing.”

-Shynieder Ynnelus.

“During the summer, I was able to discover new career paths such as welding, machining and carpentry thanks to the camp. Without this, I don’t think I would have been as enlightened to these different opportunities as I am now. I am very thankful for the chance to have participated in this event.”

-DeVaughn Powell.

“My experience at Love, Hope and Healing, during the summer was eye opening. I was able to experience firsthand the many different jobs there are in the world. It taught me many different things like how to navigate better in the world and how to choose or make more wise decisions. I was also taught how to make better circles, to keep a good group of positive people around me. As well as I did actually get close to other positive people who are on the right track to becoming something great in the world. With this program, I was able to see my path in life clearer and help decide the road I want to take or decisions I need to make in order to achieve what I want to achieve in life.”

-Aniyah Rolle

The Love, Hope & Healing team looks forward to continued opportunities to expose the youth of our community to skilled trade and STEM career experiences, but also seeks to craft additional workshops to support mentoring, wellness and mental health resourcing for all in our community.

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For more information click the links below.

Website: www.1lovehopehealing.org

Contact number: 561-255-8890 Email: info@1lovehopehealing.org Instagram: @lovehopehealinginc Facebook: @lovehopehealinginc

Beyond The Couch highlights non-traditional mental health outlets and resources in Palm Beach County. To contribute, send your article ideas to thewell@bewellpbc. org with “Beyond the Couch” in the subject line.

We became family, no matter the age or gender. Camp was truly worth going to, I couldn’t think of any other way to spend it. I left camp with hope for a better future, knowledge on different job fields and cooperating with people I’ve never met.

Get your questions answered here

Why does it feel like as you get older, your circle gets smaller? D.W.

It feels like as we get older our circle gets smaller because it in fact does! Quantitatively, a 2016 study found that our circle of friends does decrease as we age, and more specifically beginning at age 25. Qualitatively, I found this to be true in my own life. Shortly after college my circle was so large, I thought I was weird that I felt so lonely. When I was younger, I equated happiness to large groups of friends, large gatherings, and major events. As I age, I have found that my true happiness lies within quality over quantity (I used to roll my eyes at this saying, but it is true), and I place higher value on time connecting. This became especially apparent during the COVID-19 pandemic which caused physical separation from friends and family while trying to remain socially connected to them. Additionally, with the addiction and mental health epi -

demic in the United States, I have lost many loved ones way too soon, which reinforces the importance and blessing of spending quality time truly connecting with a small circle over having a large surface circle.

- Lissa Franklin

AI believe that the older you get you’re circle gets smaller for the simple fact that you put more value into yourself and the people who you choose to spend your time with. As we get older the things that are most important to us with value the most and a lot of times along the way you tend to see your so called friends either stay in the same place or get worse with time so you’re forced to prune your tree of friends and when you’re on a positive path you want to keep only positive people around. Most times we’re not willing to put the effort into making new friends because of how many times you get burnt by your so-called ones. So in my opinion you keep your

Q A

circle smaller the older you get out of wisdom and self respect for yourself.

- Kenny Wright

Why do people hear crazy once they hear the word mental health? B.R.

I believe people hear the word “crazy” when they hear the term mental health, because of stigma. Stigma surrounding mental health can be professional, public, institutional, even self, and it is caused by past and present stigmatizing depictions of addiction and mental health in the news, film and music productions, tv, and regular conversation. Stigma I imposed on myself almost caused me to die, until I finally had the courage to ask for help. Stigma is the reason I so fiercely advocate locally and across the globe to change the conversation surrounding mental health because mental health is the control center of whole health, and recovery is so incredible.

- Lissa Franklin

I believe people think of the word crazy when you speak of mental health due to the influence that social media and the movie industry portray people with mental health issues. You hear it and the first thing that comes to mind is what you saw on TV or saw on the internet with the stigma of those people who suffer from a mental illness as just being plain old crazy and in truth there are many different variations of mental illnesses that are the farthest from being crazy.

- Kenny Wright

How to forgive yourself for something you couldn’t control? K.H.

Forgiveness is an action that took me a while to fully grasp once I entered recovery in 2012. I did many things I was not proud of during my active substance use, and most all were based around how I hurt my loved ones by things I said or in the ways that I behaved. What helped me with forgiveness of myself is realizing that I was not responsible for my substance use and mental health disorders (something I can’t control) but I was responsible for things I did during my

use (lies and not coming home) and my recovery. Remaining diligent in my long-term recovery is the best way for me to make daily amends to not only my loved ones but to myself, and it is the best insurance towards a peaceful and forgiven path forward.

- Lissa Franklin

AYou first realize that if it was out of your control you have absolutely nothing to forgive yourself for. Think about it like this, you didn’t cause the situation, you didn’t predict the outcome that came with the situation at hand, you were just left holding the bag when it was all said and done. It’s alright to feel bad about the situation or feel indifferent about it but not to blame yourself to lead you to believe you have to forgive yourself for something you didn’t even do. Fix the situation if it’s in your power to do so and move on and not harp about a situation that was out of your control in the first place.

- Kenny Wright

Lissa Franklin

Lissa Franklin is a person in long-term recovery since 2/1/12 and a proud Palm Beach County resident. She has over a decade’s worth of experience in the behavioral health field in the private, nonprofit and government sectors and at local, state, federal, and international levels. Lissa wholeheartedly believes that “teamwork makes the dream work”, and to learn more about her and how you can get involved locally please visit: www.mydelraybeachdtf.com

Kenny Wright

Kenny Wright was brought up in the streets and started out on the wrong path. After spending over 23 years in prison, Wright got his life together, stepped into the full-time father role, and is a thriving entrepreneur on a positive path. He’s the co-host of Coffee and Cream along with his wife, Sade Wright.

The Source asks YOUR questions to a lived and learned expert. Lived experts have experienced behavioral health challenges and/or are family members, caregivers, faith-based leaders, neighborhood champions, and influencers. Learned experts are behavioral health professionals, nonprofit agencies, local government, educational institutions, system leaders, and funders. Email thewell@bewellpbc.org with “The Source” in the subject line to ask a question or contribute as an expert.

The information presented is for the purpose of educating people. Nothing contained in this publication should be construed nor is intended to be used for medical diagnosis or treatment. It should not be used in place of the advice of your physician or other qualified healthcare provider. Should you have any health care related questions, please call or see your physician or other qualified healthcare provider promptly. You should never disregard medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read in this publication.

Healthcare jobs are one of the most in-demand occupations in Palm Beach County. Nearly 110,000 work in this industry sector and more than 7,000 jobs have been added in this sector over the year!

CareerSource Palm Beach County maintains a qualified pool of skilled and talented job seekers which include new to the market jobseekers, recent graduates, veterans, and people with disabilities. We can fill positions from entry level to top management in all industries.

Our no-cost services for businesses include:

• Assisting businesses of all sizes with recruiting, hiring, and training employees at all levels

• Posting positions in EmployFlorida.com, a statewide network of opportunities in all industries

• Providing funding as available for

training, updating skills, and hiring new employees without experience

• Using best practice to identify, match, and align talent to reduce turnover and increase ROI

• Offering online virtual job fairs and hiring events connecting thousands of job seekers with employers. This program year we hosted/participated in nearly 300 in-person and virtual job fairs/hiring events, some exclusively for healthcare providers.

Our recent and largest healthcare career expo and hiring event was held in September at the Palm Beach County Fairgrounds with 60 healthcare/medical support services employers. A variety of full and part-time jobs such as RNs, CNAs, home healthcare aides, paramedics, quality engineers, phlebotomists, tech support representatives, customer service representatives, administrative and medical support services positions were filled with participating employers

including Tenet Health (Good Samaritan, St. Mary’s hospitals), Baptist Hospital, Morselife, Cleveland Clinic, American Medical Response/ Global Medical Response, Lakeside Hospital, MSPS Medical Specialists, Home Care Services of the Palm Beaches, Promedica, and many more. In addition to job seekers, more than 400 medical magnet students from area schools countywide were bussed in for the opportunity to speak with employers and educational partners about rewarding future opportunities in the healthcare field.

Let us help your organization with your hiring needs! Begin by accessing our Business Services at our website: www.careersourcepbc.com where you can also contact any of our account managers to serve you.

Congratulations to CareerSource as a 6th Annual Hats Off Nonprofit awardee.

Marsha Martino

Marsha Martino has been involved with NAMI Palm Beach County since 2010. She is a NAMI Provider Education instructor and a NAMI Family-to-Family state instructor. She served for four years on the NAMI Palm Beach County Board of Directors. In 2015 Marsha was selected to serve as the Executive Director of the Palm Beach County affiliate of NAMI, a national organization with affiliates throughout Florida and the country.

Marsha’s prior work experience includes 25 years of developing and managing programs in Maine for individuals with neurological issues. In Florida, Marsha managed programs for individuals living with developmental disabilities, cystic fibrosis, and adult and juvenile justice issues. She has a passion for coordinating and developing resources for individuals who have multiple diagnoses and complex needs. As Marsha retires from her position in December 2022, we thank her for her incredible dedication, persistence, and leadership.