Perspective: Behavioral Health
Providing Essential Services in a Pandemic The COVID-19 pandemic has affected the delivery of essential mental health services in every way imaginable. Throughout Rutland Mental Health Services, staff are learning new ways of doing their jobs, demonstrating tremendous creativity, resilience, and sheer determination – all while dealing with the same fears and uncertainty as their clients. Leaders from across the agency share their thoughts and insights on a year like no other.
Usually, in agency life, change tends to take a long time; and yet, here we were completely changing everything we did overnight. It was an immediate pivot. Staff really rose to the occasion – literally everything had to be reinvented, without any reduction in service. In fact, the demand was even greater. We found pretty early on that telehealth with young kids and families could work – kids love devices. The fact they could see their case manager was really helpful. People had to work hard to be engaging over technology. We tried all kinds of crazy stuff – singing, dancing – anything to be more interesting. We had a lot of families in the middle of PCIT treatment (Parent-Child Interaction Therapy), and we had to find new ways of doing that over ZOOM, so kids couldn’t hear the coaching. It was messy, but somehow it worked out. I think staff discovered they are much more capable than they knew.
One of the benefits of being school-based is that we have access to kids – we can pop into classrooms, and we know exactly how they are doing. When the shutdown happened, we lost that access. I think I was most impressed with how quickly everyone mobilized. We very quickly figured out what we needed to do, with a lot of creativity and as few disruptions as possible. Fortunately, most families were able to engage with us remotely – either by video, phone or Google Voice. We very quickly adapted to using Doxy & ZOOM, and found that remote works well for some kids. We did have some families we had to troubleshoot, and in some cases, the school was able to drop off computers for families to use. Our staff does a range of things -- from parent support and individual therapy to case management and skill building. We don’t always have access to families, and the push to telehealth provided a new way to connect with them remotely. It’s interesting – this month we have started to feel and see the impact of everything. There is such a need right now -- no
We’ve started a new program for parents called Circle of Security™ which teaches how to be a secure base for your child. We are starting to run these groups on ZOOM, and it’s working. People are getting used to doing things remotely. My team is very close-knit, and it’s been hard to be separated – to not be able to bump ideas off each other. Also, young kids rely on hugs, lap-sitting, and being close to grownups. It’s been hard clinically, to collaborate with the families and be as helpful as we want to be.
LAUREN NORFORD, LICSW Program Manager, Early Childhood Services
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Scan to hear staff
one realized this pandemic was going perspectives on to go on for so long. The stressors resilience. just keep piling up, and the numbers are increasing. I think the hardest part has been seeing how overwhelmed our systems are, and not having enough resources to meet the need. In Rutland, we’re experiencing huge truancy issues – kids are supposed to be learning remotely and aren’t showing up. This is hard to address remotely. This pandemic has forced us all to be intentional with our own self-care; our own mental health, so we can help our clients more. Our team is trying to get outside more, exercise more, and be more mindful. I can’t underscore enough the creativity of my team, and how much they support each other.
HEATHER HILDEBRANT, LICSW Supervisor, School-Based Services
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2020 ANNUAL REPORT
Community Care Network | rmhsccn.org
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