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A PUBL IC AT ION OF CEN T ERS TONE
We Are Family How Therapeutic Foster Care Changed the Smiths
A Salute to Military Children | Medication-Assisted Treatment | Clinic Grand Openings
I S S U E T W E N T Y- T W O COVER FEATURE 2 | We Are Family: How Therapeutic Foster Care Changed the Smiths centerstone.org
HEALTH AND WELLNESS 7 | A Salute to Military Children 8 | Peer Support Services 9 | The Opioid Crisis: What Is Medication-Assisted Treatment?
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IN THE COMMUNITY 10 | Philanthropy in Action 11 | Community Gathers for Suicide Prevention Documentary 12 | News and Notes
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14 | Steven A. Cohen Military Family Clinic at Centerstone Celebrates Grand Opening 15 | Centerstone Opens New Outpatient Clinics in Cleveland and Cookeville
CENTERSTONE EMPLOYEE FOCUS
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16 | Physician Spotlight: Cherie Sgambati, DO 17 | Staff Announcements
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Editor in Chief Robert N. Vero, EdD Managing Editor David Schrader Executive Editor Elliot Pinsly Art Directors Alexandra Cope Michael Rivera
Centerstone’s Tennessee Board of Directors: Jim Sweeten, Chair R. Parker Griffith, Immediate Past Chair Dana Oman, Vice Chair Kate Satz, Secretary
From the Editor in Chief Greetings! Thanks for checking out Centerstone’s Reclaiming Lives magazine. You might call this edition our family issue with regard to the cover story on Therapeutic Foster Care and adoption services. As you’ll read, Mark and Brenda Smith stepped out of their original comfort zone years ago and have opened their family’s heart and home to nearly twenty foster children in need. The Smiths are full of fun stories, inspiring challenges and profound revelations. I’m excited for you to meet them in these pages.
Janet Ayers Kelly Crockett Crook Father Fred Dettwiller Dr. Vincent W. Durnan, Jr. Mark Faulkner Tracy Frist Father Bill Midgett Dr. Jill Obremskey Sperry Bell Simmons Dr. Robert N. Vero, CEO
We also take a look at military families, in particular the children of service members. These young people often make unique sacrifices we might not always consider, serving our country through giving up certain family and social norms. In addition, our family of behavioral health clinics is growing across Tennessee! Check out fun photos from the grand openings of our Centerstone clinics in Cleveland and Cookeville as well as the Steven A. Cohen Military Family Clinic at Centerstone in Clarksville. Finally, the opioid crisis continues to hit close to home across the country. Be sure to read about our organization’s growing efforts with medication-assisted treatment (MAT) to combat substance use disorder. Centerstone is dedicated to delivering care that changes people’s lives. In many cases, MAT is saving lives.
ABOUT CENTERSTONE Centerstone is a not-for-profit health care organization dedicated to delivering care that changes people’s lives. We are a nationally recognized leader, providing mental health and substance use treatment, related crisis care, education and support to people of all ages in communities in Florida, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky and Tennessee. Nationally, we offer specialized care for service members, veterans and their loved ones, and develop employee assistance programs for businesses of all sizes. Our research institute improves behavioral health care through research, evaluation and technology, and our foundation secures philanthropic resources to support our work. For more information about Centerstone, please call (888) 291-4357 or visit www.centerstone.org
5,500-1118
With my gratitude for your support,
Robert N. Vero, EdD Chief Executive Officer
COVER FEATURE
The Smiths
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We Are Family How Therapeutic Foster Care Changed the Smiths Mark and Brenda Smith have changed. When the couple met more than twenty-five years ago, he had just left the World Championship Wrestling league— featuring stars like Hulk Hogan and Randy “Macho Man” Savage—and she wanted to earn a business degree. They began college together and married. Both from broken homes, the idea of eventually starting their own family was somewhat daunting. “I remember the first time I told him I was pregnant, Mark made me take, like, three pregnancy tests,” says Brenda with a laugh. “It was like, ‘No, this can’t be happening!’” “Then you realize things aren’t always the way you thought,” says Mark. “With everything you go through, you change.” Indeed, the Smiths have transformed from a party of two into a party of seven—at minimum—and often more. Mark and Brenda have three biological children (Jessica, Ashlee and Austin). Years ago at church, Jessica befriended some girls who were in foster care. Stemming from that encounter, the Smith family connected with Centerstone’s Therapeutic Foster Care services and has since fostered 15 children and adopted two sons, Joseph and Cristian. “Mark had mentioned fostering before,” says Brenda. “I thought, ‘No, I don’t want to bring kids I don’t know into our home.’ I had a stereotype in my mind of what it would be like. Then we met these girls who’d spend the night at our house, and it really changed our perspective. We decided to look into it.”
What the Smiths learned is that Centerstone provides Therapeutic Foster Care for children and teens in several states—and there’s always a need for loving foster parents who will open their hearts and homes to kids in need. Placements can be short or long term. Some children need foster parents while working toward a return to their families of origin; others need a good home while working toward independent living. Centerstone also helps with adoption when that becomes a child’s permanent goal. Remarkably, the Smith family’s first foster parenting experience came with a twist. Mark, Brenda and “the unchosen” (as their son Austin jokingly refers to the biological offspring) decided to take in a fifteen-yearold girl who was a mother with one- and two-year-old babies of her own. “We were listed as foster parents for all three since the girl wasn’t an adult,” says Mark. “We taught her to parent while essentially taking on the grandparent role, too.” “It was a jump into the deep end, but it was a great experience,” says Brenda. “They were with us for a year, and I wouldn’t trade anything for it. The girl went from failing school to being a straight-A student. The Department of Children’s Services gave her a computer in 9th grade as a reward for doing so well.” A photograph of the girl and her babies now hangs in the Smith’s hallway at home among pictures of other family members from across the years. Every child who lives there for any length of time finds a place on that wall. continues on page 4 CENTERSTONE.ORG
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Anyone who walks through our door will be treated as family. -Mark Smith
Centerstone foster parents Mark and Brenda Smith
“We realized from the very beginning that anyone who walks through our door will be treated as family,” says Mark. “If we’re going somewhere, we take everybody with us. We’ve gone to New York, Chicago, Washington D.C., New Orleans . . . when people look at photos from family trips they’ll say, ‘Now, I recognize them, but who are these kids?’” Those kids are exceptionally brave ones who may have experienced trauma like physical or sexual abuse or neglect. Because such things can impair self-esteem, trust and willingness to build relationships, Centerstone addresses those issues head-on with Therapeutic Foster Care. Therapists, case managers and care coordinators from Centerstone work together with foster parents and children to strengthen all aspects of the child’s life including physical, educational, social, spiritual and mental well-being. “Centerstone gives you a support system,” Mark says. “There’s training and always someone to contact when questions come up. They don’t throw you on an island and say, ‘Good luck.’ It’s like a family.” Brenda agrees. “Centerstone knows us. We went through so much training before we even started which is awesome. We knew going in that as a therapeutic home all our kids would receive mental health services, because these kids go through so many things. I was never big on therapy before. Now I definitely see the benefit. We’ve had a great experience working with Centerstone as a therapeutic home.” Melanie Harwell, a Foster Care Coordinator at Centerstone, has worked with the Smiths since they began fostering and is quick to applaud what the entire family is doing. “There are two things about the Smith family,” says Harwell. “One, you really notice in their home that there’s no difference between blood relatives, foster kids and adopted children. A blindfolded outsider listening in on the family would not sense any differences. Two, they’re so willing to show these children new things; they’ve given
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Brothers Cristian, Joseph and Austin Smith
kids first vacations, airplane flights, trips to a good restaurant. They encourage them to do sports and music as long as they make good grades. I love how inclusive they are.” On a sunny Saturday afternoon at the Smith home, that sense of belonging is on full display. Everyone has piled into the family room (except Joseph who’s working and chats later), and the laughter is getting louder. Mark and Brenda joke about how Austin is grounded until age 86. Ashlee playfully teases the younger of two foster brothers (names and images withheld due to privacy laws). Stories about Cristian’s curious food preferences circulate. There are also two dogs, a guinea pig and a piñata named Gerald in the mix. It might be organized chaos, but they wouldn’t have it any other way.
“They made us into good young men,” says Joseph, who plans to join the National Guard and become a military police officer after graduation. “The Smiths re-taught and re-raised me and Cristian in a lot of ways. I had a big problem with lying. They helped me out there. Another thing was school. My mom never got onto me for failing. That changed with the Smiths. I got motivated to make better grades.” Likewise, Cristian, who was diagnosed with autism, made a huge academic leap upon joining the family. He has gone from once being in special education classes to now taking standard 10th grade courses. “I’ve got to brag on Cristian,” says Brenda. “When he came to us at age 11 he was at first grade levels in math and English. By ninth grade, he caught up and joined regular high school classes. He also joined the marching band to play clarinet and won a Student Composer Award. He’s doing just great.” “I used to be paranoid that people wouldn’t like me,” says Cristian. “But when I came to the Smith family I felt comfortable.” Siblings Jessica, Austin and Ashlee Smith
“I still can’t imagine what life was like when it was just the three of us,” says Jessica of her foster and adopted brothers. “It’s never sunshine and rainbows all day every day—it wasn’t like that before—but so many awesome things have happened, like having Cristian and Joseph.” Cristian (15) and Joseph (18) never knew their birth fathers and lost their mother years ago. After two years as foster children in the Smith home, the family adopted the siblings through Centerstone in 2016. Both have excelled, bringing joy and pride to the Smith household with a sense of gratitude and respect. continues on page 6 CENTERSTONE.ORG
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The entire Smith family continues to honor Cristian and Joseph’s late birth mother. Her picture is in their hallway, and they visit her grave in a neighboring town. Brenda also made pillows for each son from sweaters their mother wore. For all the ways that foster and adopted children may benefit from entering into a loving family, Mark and Brenda Smith make just as strong a case for the rewards of being foster parents. Beyond the free and comprehensive training, support and advocacy that Centerstone provides them, foster parents often see the beauty in small details, learn unexpected truths and change themselves as well as the world.
Front yard fun with Cristian, Austin, Ashlee and Jessica
“It sounds like a token word, but foster parenting is truly rewarding,” says Brenda. “We’ve seen so many more victories than defeats over the past seven years. It’s an opportunity almost daily to teach and share something with a child. What comes to my mind is how simple it can be—we took Cristian to a Subway restaurant for the first time and he was excited to pick out his own ingredients. It was the most disgusting looking thing, but he was so proud because he made it. It’s little things like that.”
“I think the unpredictability sometimes ends up being the most rewarding,” says Mark. “We didn’t go into this planning to adopt, then all of a sudden things change and we have two more children . . . and maybe more someday. We all crave having a purpose. If you asked everyone in America, the majority would say, ‘Sure, I would love to make a difference.’ Well, foster parenting is one way to do that.” Brenda adds, “Yeah, and I’ve often said not everyone should be a foster parent, but there are a lot more people out there who should. Don’t let fear get in the way.” “And don’t stereotype,” says Mark. “Forget the looks and the background. I mean, I was raised in the deep South and remember a hate group marching in my town’s Christmas parade. I grew up in that culture. Now we have opened our home to children of many different ethnicities. Racism is still a real thing in this world, but we don’t see color in our home.” Joseph agrees with Mark, who he began calling dad the day they met. “I really like the mix in our family because it shows what the world could be. If this family can get along with all its different backgrounds, so can other people.” Mark concludes, “I love the story about Sully, that pilot who saved so many lives in an emergency landing. Most people can’t say they’ve been a part of saving one life. But you have a chance to if you embrace foster parenting—you really do. When you instill your life and your heart into a child, and they take that and run with it, you’ve served a bigger purpose.” You can make a difference in a child’s life. Learn more about Centerstone Therapeutic Foster Care: (844) 9-FOSTER | fostercare@centerstone.org | centerstone.org/fostercare. 6
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A Salute to Military Children by Dr. Bob Vero
Public expressions of gratitude for our nation’s veterans and active military members are rightfully common across our country. We hold in our hearts the exceptional nature of their bravery and service. Their sense of duty, honor and commitment – essential and, moreover, crucial to the freedom and security we enjoy as a nation.
9/11 veterans and their families, says, “Considering the operational tempo and deployment cycles in their family culture, it’s important for these kids to explore their feelings, confront their concerns and develop healthy coping skills. Some military children have avoided close friendships, knowing a goodbye is bound to follow.”
Less noticed, however, are the bravery and service of our military family members especially, their children. These young people often encounter unique psychological and social challenges in light of their close family connection to America’s heroes.
But what a missed opportunity it would be not getting to know a military child.
“Children of deployed military personnel have more school-, family-, and peer-related emotional difficulties, compared with national samples,” according to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. Dr. Robert Begtrup, a psychiatrist at Centerstone and retired U.S. Army Reserve colonel who served families at Fort Campbell, agrees. He explains, “A typical cycle occurs within most military families: anticipating a parent’s deployment, the sadness upon deployment, readjustment in family member functions during deployment and the challenge of adjusting to frightening news from the front, whether involving family, friend or classmate.” Military children have watched mom or dad leave time and again. They may experience anxiety and depression when a parent is gone. When the entire family is back home together, they’re worried about the next deployment. They may also struggle to make social connections if a parent is frequently reassigned to a new base. Lisa Eggebeen, LCSW and director at the Steven A. Cohen Military Family Clinic at Centerstone, which serves post
Catherine Fearn is a mother who served as a Mariner in the U.S. Army and now works with Centerstone’s Supportive Services for Veterans Families, helping those families find housing. She says, “These are some of the strongest, most resilient people around. They’re strongminded and adaptable to change. Their experiences make them culturally diverse; some have traveled the world, speak a second language and respect different cultures. They’re flexible and don’t complain about picking up everything they own and moving every few years.” Colonel (Retired) Kent Crossley is executive director of Centerstone Military Services, which links active military members, veterans and families to free counseling services nationwide. “Everyone remembers to thank a veteran or active service member,” he says. “But it’s easy to forget that children and spouses serve, too. They sacrifice a lot for our country.” Indeed, military children in the United States deserve our ongoing thanks and support for what they give to our country by giving up certain family and social norms. Thank you, children of the military, for your service.
Dr. Bob Vero is CEO at Centerstone, overseeing the company’s Tennessee-based operations. CENTERSTONE.ORG
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Peer eer Support Services has helped me learn how to socialize and trust other people. Centerstone gives me a place to be with people just like me who peopl understand d what I go through. -Terry C., client
What Are Peer Support Services? Centerstone Peer Support Services provide a safe and supportive environment where individuals with mental illness or addiction gain confidence, build social skills, develop new friendships and engage in learning and leisure activities with peers.
Locations
These activities may include:
Bedford 1110 Woodbury Street Shelbyville, TN 37160 (931) 685-9330
Dickson 224 N. Main Street Dickson, TN 37055 (615) 441-6178
Coffee 709 N. Davidson Street Tullahoma, TN 37388 (931) 461-1345
Maury 6011-B Trotwood Avenue Columbia, TN 38401 (931) 560-3060
Davidson 230 Venture Circle Nashville, TN 37228 (615) 460-4452
Montgomery 611 Eighth Street Clarksville, TN 37040 (931) 920-7208
• Community outings (movies, shopping, etc.) • Holiday and special occasion celebrations • Creativity (with Healing Arts Project, Inc.) • Neighborhood service projects • Health and wellness classes • Learning to manage mental illness • Developing and pursuing recovery goals
Eligibility Services are available Monday through Friday and provided at no cost to adults through a grant from the Tennessee Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services. No insurance is required, but participants must be current or past consumers of mental health and/or addiction services. 8
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Participants can access these engaging and supportive services at Centerstone locations in the following Middle Tennessee counties:
Transportation is provided at no cost for eligible participants— contact the nearest Centerstone Peer Support Services location for more information.
The Opioid Crisis: What Is Medication-Assisted Treatment? Drug overdoses killed more than 70,000 Americans in 2017, according to the CDC. Among those deaths, 68% involved a prescription or illicit opioid drug. Other data shows nearly 12 million people are misusing opioids each year. This epidemic continues to spread and hits close to home – no matter where you live. Tennessee, for example, reported 1,776 overdose deaths in 2017. To combat the opioid crisis, medication-assisted treatment (MAT) is emerging as a leading method of care for many of those struggling with a substance use disorder. But what exactly is MAT? The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) defines it as “the use of FDA-approved medications, in combination with counseling and behavioral therapies, to provide a ‘whole-patient’ approach to the treatment of substance use disorders.” Several approved medications are commonly used to treat opioid addiction. Among them, buprenorphine’s unique properties help diminish the effects of opioid dependence, such as withdrawal symptoms and cravings, while reducing misuse and overdose potential. Often under the brand names Suboxone, Bunavail, or Zubsolv, buprenorphine is the most commonly prescribed medication for addiction treatment and significantly reduces mortality rates according to research. Naltrexone, available under the brand name Vivitrol, is non-addictive, blocks the effects of narcotics and reduces cravings. In addition to being used for those with opioid use disorder, naltrexone has also been proven effective in the treatment of alcohol use disorder. While there has been some debate about using medication to treat addiction, research shows that MAT is effective and should be made available to those seeking help. Centerstone offers MAT throughout the organization’s footprint, including at clinics in Dickson and Tullahoma in Tennessee, and recently received a $1.57M SAMHSA grant to expand access to this critical service. Michael Reynolds, Program Manager for Centerstone Recovery Court Services, said, “A doctor doesn’t tell a diabetic patient, ‘I can’t give you insulin because you chose to eat all those cupcakes.’ Denying someone life-saving medication is not acceptable. MAT saves lives, but with addiction, there is often still a stigma. People are dying before they reach treatment. This is why Centerstone has made this a priority.” Dr. Bob Vero, CEO at Centerstone, oversees the organization’s operations in Tennessee. He said, “As a nation, we must do better to ensure those struggling with addiction receive evidence-based, comprehensive, effective care.” Centerstone currently offers MAT using buprenorphine and naltrexone options. Buprenorphine treatment begins soon after early signs of withdrawal appear. After a psychiatric evaluation and nursing assessment, medication is administered under close supervision, to ensure no adverse side effects occur. Naltrexone treatment begins after clients are free from opioids for one-to-two weeks. Following psychiatric evaluation, the medication is administered, often by injection every 28 days. With all MAT provided at Centerstone, regular group and individual therapy sessions accompany routine medication management. MAT complements standard treatment, with different paths available to achieve the ultimate goal of recovery. “Centerstone offers a full range of mental health and addiction services,” said Dr. Allen Craig, a psychiatrist at Centerstone’s Tullahoma outpatient clinic in Tennessee. “Our evidence-based MAT gives those suffering from opioid dependence a chance to reclaim their lives." To learn more about medication-assisted treatment and other services available at Centerstone, call (888) 291-4357 (HELP). CENTERSTONE.ORG
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Philanthropy IN ACTION
Preds Foundation Grants $7K to Centerstone What’s cooler than the ice our Nashville Predators skate upon? The Nashville Predators Foundation—that’s what! Recently, the hockey team’s charity generously granted $7,000 to Centerstone. With those funds, therapists on our Intensive In-Home Treatment team have been able to attend a two-day Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) training to help with the psychotherapeutic treatment of children with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Centerstone’s Annual Giving Manager Rebecca Davis and Director of Advancement C.F. Callihan receive a generous check from the Nashville Predators Foundation.
ACEs Event Addresses Bullying, Suicide Centerstone partnered with ACE Nashville for “Adverse Childhood Experiences: The Many Faces of Childhood Trauma," a free lunch-and-learn event where local mental health and childhood professionals gathered to discuss bullying and suicide. The panel of experts included Centerstone’s Intensive In-Home Team Leader Bruce Theobald and ACE Nashville’s Ingrid Cockhren. The next community ACEs event will focus on race, mental health and toxic stress.
Centerstone Intensive In-Home Team Leader Bruce Theobald and ACE Nashville’s Ingrid Cockhren attend the ACEs event on bullying and suicide.
Noble Purpose Moments Centerstone’s noble purpose is to deliver care that changes people’s lives. Beyond the work being done within our traditional community behavioral health services, we’re always looking for additional “Noble Purpose Moments.” One example is our Client Assistance Fund, created through employee giving. With those dollars, bus passes were purchased for a client who couldn’t otherwise afford transportation to important doctor appointments. These funds also allowed two clients to receive much-needed services from the SHINE Hands on Health and Interfaith Dental Clinic. Save the Date! Reclaiming Lives Luncheon Centerstone’s annual Reclaiming Lives Luncheon will be held February 13, 2019 at the Loveless Barn in Nashville. Previous speakers have included bestselling authors Glennon Doyle Melton and Cheryl Strayed, award-winning singer Amy Grant and national newscaster Laurie Dhue. This year’s speaker will be Frank Warren, founder of PostSecret.com, the most visited advertisement-free blog in the world. He is a HopeLine Lifetime Achievement Award winner for his work on suicide prevention. 10
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Filmmaker Kevin Hines, Lacy Monday (Centerstone Director of Crisis Care Services) and Ensworth High School counselor Trina Flynn took part in an audience Q&A session following Centerstone’s screening event.
Community Gathers for
Suicide Prevention Documentary Kevin Hines and friends sport their #BeHereTomorrow t-shirts.
Centerstone recently hosted a free community screening of “Suicide: The Ripple Effect” at Ensworth High School’s Ingram Arts Center in Nashville. Award-winning filmmaker and bestselling author Kevin Hines, who at age 19 attempted to take his life by jumping from the Golden Gate Bridge, was there to speak with the audience afterward. “Suicide: The Ripple Effect” shares the story of Hines, who is using his experience to help others find hope and stay alive. The film is part of a global mission to help reduce the number of suicides and suicide attempts around the world.
An audience member comments on local suicide prevention efforts.
Data from the Tennessee Department of Health shows the state’s suicide rate is at a record high—up more than 24 percent since 1999 according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Tragically, a reported 1,110 Tennesseans intentionally take their own lives each year, above the national average. Centerstone has long sought to reduce suicides in its communities and is Executive Producer for “Suicide: The Ripple Effect.” “The screening in Nashville was such a powerful event,” said Dr. Bob Vero, Centerstone CEO. “I was reminded of the importance of our work throughout our communities—the lives we touch, the hearts we heal, the tomorrows we change. As we were closing out the evening, a handful of individuals identified themselves as being impacted by suicide. They shared their stories, and the tears and hugs flowed from there.”
Hines and Centerstone CEO Dr. Bob Vero CENTERSTONE.ORG
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CENTERSTONE NEWS&NOTES Michael Reynolds shares information about methamphetamine with NewsChannel 5.
Whole Strength CrossFit's Liz and Ryan partner with Centerstone’s Johnnie Tindall, Gino DeSalvatore and Ronnie Russell.
Ken Stewart speaks with reporter Jessica Bliss about mental health issues in Tennessee.
Chris and Mandi Ryan, Kathy Rogers, Ben Middleton and Dr. Bob Vero attend the Nashville Medical News Women to Watch awards ceremony.
Tennessean Features Ken Stewart While being interviewed for a series on stigma busting, Regional Vice President Ken Stewart was asked by The Tennessean what to do if someone experiences a mental health crisis. His insightful comments are now posted in a video on the newspaper’s web site.
Reynolds Discusses Meth Epidemic Program Manager Michael Reynolds discussed ongoing methamphetamine issues in 12
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Customer Care team members from our Tullahoma clinic smile for the photo booth.
Tennessee with CBS affiliate NewsChannel 5 Nashville. He is also helping Centerstone combat the opioid crisis through medicationassisted treatment (see page 9).
Ryan Named “Woman to Watch” Congratulations to Mandi Ryan, Director of Healthcare Innovation, who received a Women to Watch honor from Nashville Medical News. Accepting the award, Ryan said, “I love that in nursing I’ve had opportunities to pursue a wide variety of specialties, from open
heart surgery and pediatrics to corrections and behavioral health.”
Foster Kids Join the Gym! Flex time! Centerstone’s Therapeutic Foster Care team has partnered with Whole Strength CrossFit in Nashville to actively integrate physical health into the services our foster children receive. The kids enjoy doing box jumps, front squats, weightlifting and more.
Care Team Really Cares! Centerstone’s Customer Care team members from across Tennessee
Centerstone staff, family, friends and pets attend the NAMI Davidson County Walk and 5K.
(l-r) Elliot Pinsly, Ashleigh Hall, board members Tracy Frist and Dr. Jill Obremskey, Ben Middleton, Kim King and Dr. Matt Hardy attend the Governors Luncheon. Jennifer Armstrong and Amy McDaniel present at the Mental Health Marketing conference.
Dr. Mike Hogan (Zero Suicide), Becky Stoll, Dr. John Draper (National Suicide Prevention Lifeline) and David Covington (Recovery Innovations International) attend the International Zero Suicide Summit in Rotterdam.
Customer Care team members enjoy spending Saturday “at the beach.”
spent a Saturday together to receive new training in crisis de-escalation, scheduling and teambuilding. A fun photo booth (for a fun team!) distracted all from working on the weekend.
Teaching “Tech Enabled Care” Jennifer Armstrong, Vice President of Customer Engagement Operations, and Amy McDaniel, Director of Business Service Development, presented on “Technology Enabled Care: Keeping Clients Connected” at the Mental Health Marketing conference at Lipscomb University.
Employees Walk for Mental Health Awareness Two dozen Centerstone employees (along with family members and some adorable dogs!) took part in NAMI Davidson County’s annual Walk and 5K, raising more than $1,500 among them to support local community mental health efforts.
Board, Staff Attend TN Governors Lunch Committed to staying informed, several staff and board members attended the 2018 Governors
Luncheon in Murfreesboro to hear Tennessee gubernatorial candidates share their visions for the state.
Suicide Prevention in Europe Becky Stoll, Vice President of Crisis & Disaster Management, shared Centerstone’s innovative suicide prevention methods at several events in Europe. She spoke in London at the Urgent and Emergency Mental Healthcare Summit, in Belgium at the European Symposium on Suicide and Suicide Behavior and in Rotterdam at the International Zero Suicide Summit. CENTERSTONE.ORG
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Steven A. Cohen Military Family Clinic at Centerstone Celebrates
GRAND OPENING Tennessee Governor Bill Haslam, Medal of Honor recipient Staff Sergeant Ryan Pitts, TDMHSAS Commissioner Marie Williams and representatives from the Cohen Veterans Network (CVN) and Centerstone gathered in Clarksville to celebrate the grand opening of the Steven A. Cohen Military Family Clinic at Centerstone, a new resource for post-9/11 veterans and their loved ones, as well as families of active duty service members. “Clarksville is home to one of the largest populations of retired military in the country,” said Lisa Eggebeen, LCSW, Clinic Director for the Cohen Clinic at Centerstone. “The need for mental health care services in this region and among this population is great. We’re pleased that we can provide timely and compassionate care that changes people’s lives for the better.”
The Cohen Clinic at Centerstone provides confidential, high-quality, mental health care and case management resources for veterans, regardless of discharge status or role, and family members, including spouse, partner, children, parents, siblings and caregivers, regardless of insurance or ability to pay. Clients are given an intake screening upon their first contact with the clinic and can expect their first appointment within seven days. Staff at the Cohen Clinic at Centerstone are trained in military competencies and are aware of the unique challenges veterans and their families face. The newly built 10,000-square foot facility includes private waiting areas and clinic offices. There is also a family waiting area suitable for children of all ages and a community room where events and classes will be held in the future.
Ribbon cutting ceremony
Audience during National Anthem
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Cohen Clinic at Centerstone’s staff
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1) Ben Middleton, Chief Operating Officer, and Ken Stewart, Regional Vice President, officially open Centerstone’s outpatient clinic in Cookeville; 2) Ben Middleton and Ken Stewart cut the ribbon for the new outpatient facility in Cleveland, TN while Clinic Manager Alana Morris looks on; 3) Centerstone’s Kyle Collins, Jessica Branch and Leslie Burnett attend the Cookeville grand opening; 4) A crowd gathers for the Centerstone grand opening in Cleveland.
Centerstone Opens New Outpatient Clinics in Cleveland and Cookeville
Centerstone recently opened brand new outpatient facilities in Cleveland and Cookeville, Tennessee. Both locations offer traditional clinic-based therapy services as well as psychiatric evaluation and treatment for individuals suffering from mental illness or emotional disturbance.
The 1,500 square foot clinic in Cleveland marks an expansion of Centerstone services in Bradley County. Local residents already had access to Intensive In-Home Treatment for families, SchoolBased Therapy, Therapeutic Foster Care, Prevention Services and Health Link care coordination. Outpatient and court liaison services have also been provided by Centerstone from inside Bradley County Juvenile Court since 2016. Similarly, Centerstone has become a behavioral health leader in the Cookeville area since 2011, offering several of those services as well as providing School-Based Therapy in all 18 Putnam County schools. The new 3,000 square foot clinic will be a centralized home base for staff and clients across the continuum of care. “Opening these facilities allows us to better serve people in and around Bradley and Putnam Counties,” said Ken Stewart, Regional Vice President at Centerstone. “Our staff is honored to be part of these communities. And now we can provide a more collaborative approach for clients and their families with outpatient therapy, psychiatric care and other services based out of one brick and mortar location.”
Centerstone in Bradley County 4160 N. Ocoee St., Suite 8 Cleveland, TN 37212 Ph. (423) 464-4357
Centerstone in Putnam County 606 E. Spring St., Suite B Cookeville, TN 38501 Ph. (931) 303-0665 CENTERSTONE.ORG
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PHYSICIAN SPOTLIGHT
Cherie Sgambati, DO
Dr. Cherie Sgambati is a child and adolescent psychiatrist at the White Avenue clinic on Centerstone’s Dede Wallace Campus in Nashville. She attended Emory University in Atlanta, obtained her Masters of Public Health at Tulane University in New Orleans and went to medical school at the New York College of Osteopathic Medicine. Dr. Sgambati completed her psychiatry residence at Louisiana State University-Ochsner in New Orleans and her child-adolescent psychiatry fellowship at Vanderbilt University in Nashville.
Why do you choose to work at Centerstone? I always wanted to work in outpatient care, specifically with children and adolescents. In working with this population I feel that I can affect not just the children and adolescents themselves, but I have the opportunity to interact with their parents and potentially create positive change in the entire family dynamic. I appreciate the diversity of the patients I get to serve working at Centerstone, and I’m grateful for the opportunity I have every day to help treat and advocate for these extremely vulnerable populations that otherwise may not receive the services they need.
What made you interested in psychiatry? I learned early on in my medical school rotations that I really enjoyed talking to patients. As a Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine, the emphasis on treating every facet of the whole person is something that is taught from day
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one—not just the physical, but also the psychosocial, emotional and spiritual states of a patient. This is something I am very passionate about. Learning not just about their symptoms, I like hearing stories about Centerstone clients’ lives and getting to know them on a personal level to establish a genuine rapport and provider-client relationship that can help them beyond the time they spend directly with me. Psychiatry not only allows me, but requires me to interact with clients in all these ways.
What would you have done if you hadn't chosen this line of work? I love collecting recipes. I think cooking school would have been another career option if I did not pursue medicine. That said, having been a physician for over eight years now, my parents still tell the story of how as an adolescent in Biology Club I talked about wanting to be a doctor someday. I suppose it was inevitable that I ended up
practicing medicine.
What do you do in your spare time? During hockey season, my fiancé and I can be found at Bridgestone Arena, loudly cheering on the Nashville Predators. We’ve been season ticket holders for about five years. Outside of hockey I am a voraciously avid reader, travel as frequently as I can, and am trying to learn more about photography.
What is on your bucket list? At some point I would love to teach in a medical school where I can help assist students with their career development. I had some amazing mentors and professors in medical school and look forward to having an opportunity to also give back to the next generation of medical students and young physicians. Otherwise, I have a travel list that could take up this entire article, and I look forward to continuing my efforts to cross off as many locations as I possibly can.
Staff Announcements Everybody’s always on the go, but let’s stop here for a quick recap of Centerstone leadership changes we’re celebrating.
Lacy Monday Named Director of Crisis Care Services Lacy Monday is now Director of Crisis Care Services, charged with maintaining all departmental standards of clinical and operational excellence while leading the 24/7 Crisis Call Center. She first joined Centerstone as Program Coordinator for two suicide prevention grants. Monday oversees a team of mobile and call center crisis professionals that handles thousands of callers every month. Kevin Norton to Serve as Enterprise Chief Operating Officer Kevin Norton joins Centerstone as the enterprise’s Chief Operating Officer after serving as Chief Executive Officer of Lahey Health Behavioral Services. He has spent his entire career in health care, beginning as a therapist and later leading not-for-profit mergers as well as primary and behavioral health care integrations. Norton fills the role exited by Barry Hale, who will continue to lead special projects with Centerstone. Ramona Rhodes Appointed Foundation President Ramona Rhodes has been appointed President of Centerstone’s Foundation, having previously served as the department’s Chief Operating Officer. She is responsible for advancing Centerstone’s noble purpose through philanthropy, working in direct collaboration with the Centerstone’s Foundation Board of Directors in the areas of endowment investment and management, stewardship of donor intent and more. Dr. Jodie Robison to Lead as Executive Director of Military Services Dr. Jodie Robison has transitioned to Executive Director of Centerstone’s Military Services. Previously she was lead clinician for the Steven A. Cohen Military Family Clinic at Centerstone. Robison is a military spouse and parent whose experience ranges from pediatric integrated care to private behavioral health practice. She takes on her new role following COL (Ret) Kent Crossley’s retirement. Megan Williams Becomes Director of Suicide Prevention Megan Williams has returned to Centerstone as Director of Suicide Prevention. She first joined the company as part of the FEMA Psychological First Aid grant following the May 2010 Nashville flood. Her new position involves overseeing Centerstone’s suicide prevention efforts, including leadership of two statewide grants that provide enhanced crisis follow-up services.
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Board Member Spotlight: Father Fred Dettwiller Centerstone board members graciously donate time and resources toward our noble purpose of delivering care that changes people’s lives. Among them is Father Fred Dettwiller, an ordained priest in the Episcopal Church who works directly with the Bishop of Tennessee and has led invocations at many Centerstone special events. He also operates a company his father began back in 1951 and holds a bachelor’s degree from Vanderbilt University. Let’s find out more about our friend Father Fred.
the board at Nashville International Airport. Later, when I became Lead Chaplain at the Nashville Airport, I asked Becky to help. She and Centerstone CEO Bob Vero took part in a full-scale exercise dealing with various simulated attacks on the airport. It was about how to help victims and families of victims who had been hurt or killed.
When did you become a board member?
Where is your favorite place on earth?
I joined Centerstone’s Tennessee board in 2010. I remember how honored I felt to be asked. I’ve also been chair of the Superior Service board workgroup since 2016.
My home residence.
How did you first become aware of Centerstone? It was when I met Becky Stoll, Vice President of Crisis & Disaster Management. She was the instructor of an emergency preparedness class I attended while serving on
What issue are you most passionate about among our line of services? I don’t think I know every detail of every service offered, but the priestly part of my makeup resonates with the passion from Centerstone in terms of helping people with mental health challenges.
What could our society use most today? A better grasp of the “wants and needs” of God’s children. Tell us about your family. My family is a blended one. My wife and I each have family from previous marriages, which comprise our large family.