Current News
06/29/09
ELKIN—Crossroads Behavioral Healthcare announced that Stephanie S. Funderburk has been hired as the first Lead Family Partner for Iredell County. Under grant funding from Sisters of Mercy of North Carolina Foundation, Inc., this position will foster empowerment of families participating in Child and Family Teams through the Communities Caring for Families initiative. “Often families become overwhelmed when they are working to meet the behavioral healthcare needs of their child. The involvement of many community agencies can be daunting. Through our System of Care approach we work to bring all parties to the table. Stephanie, as Lead Family Partner, joins our System of Care Coordinator in Iredell, Kelly Johnson, to help families navigate the system and strengthen families,” said David Swann, Crossroads Area Director and CEO. “We are very thankful to Sisters of Mercy for providing the resources needed to help strengthen and empower families.”
06/16/09
ELKIN, NC – On May 29, 2009 the North Carolina Mental Health Consumers Organization President of the Board of Directors presented the Extra Mile Award to David Crosby, M.A., LPC in recognition of his efforts to support mental health consumers. Board President Jeff McCloud presented the award to Crosby at the annual meeting citing Crosby’s work in helping consumers through Wellness Recovery Action Planning training and facilitating local law enforcement’s participation in Crisis Intervention Team training.
06/08/09
Barium Springs, NC – On Thursday, June 5, 2009 the first Advocacy Academy for Substance Abuse Awareness & Recovery received their plaques signifying the completion of an intensive 15-hour training to prepare them to help develop a community solution to a dire problem – adult substance abuse.
Community leaders gathered at Little Joe’s Chapel on the campus of Barium Springs Home for Children to congratulate the Academy members on their accomplishment and to show their support as the Academy embarks on developing personal and group strategies to increase awareness of addictive disease and its impact in Iredell County; and to identify resources to help address treatment needs and to address the stigma that often keeps those in need from seeking treatment and support.
Working in conjunction with the North Carolina Evidence Based Practices Center, a collaboration between Duke University and North Carolina Area Health Education Center (AHEC), Crossroads Behavioral Healthcare sponsored this first Crossroads Iredell Advocacy Academy for Substance Abuse Awareness & Recovery.
The members of the first Academy are:
Marie Kocheck, RN -- Iredell Memorial Hospital,
Alan Dodson -- Davis Regional Hospital,
Amanda Peters -- Iredell Public Health Department,
Tamara Roach -- United Way of Central Carolina,
Gary West -- 5th Street Ministries,
Julie Pohlman -- Barium Springs Home for Children,
Jody Schwandt -- Mooresville Soup Kitchen,
Terry Turner -- Celebrate Recovery,
Cynthia Nixon -- Celebrate Recovery,
David Henson -- SCAN,
Natasha Crain RN -- Statesville Family Medicine,
Bobby Kearney MD, and
Patti Wiley -- My Sisters House.
05/29/09
Barium Springs—The inaugural class for Iredell County Advocacy Academy for Substance Abuse Awareness and Recovery will be participating in 15 hours of intensive training starting June 1. Through a partnership with Crossroads Behavioral Healthcare, Duke University, North Carolina Evidence Based Practices and North Carolina Area Health Education Center, the Academy will be working over the next year to evaluate community wide impacts of substance abuse; assist in developing stigma reduction activities; enhance intervention and treatment opportunities; and assume a community leadership role with policy and decision-makers to foster positive change in Iredell County.
Members elected to this first Academy are:
Marie Kocheck, RN -- Iredell Memorial Hospital
Alan Dodson, -- Davis Regional Hospital
Amanda Peters, -- Iredell Public Health Department
Tamara Roach, -- United Way of Central Carolina
Gary West, -- 5th Street Ministries
Julie Pohlman, -- Barium Springs Home for Children
Jody Schwandt, -- Mooresville Soup Kitchen
Terry Turner, -- Celebrate Recovery
Cynthia Nixon, -- Celebrate Recovery
David Henson, -- SCAN
Natasha Crain, RN, -- Statesville Family Medicine
Bobby Karney, MD
Patti Wiley, -- My Sisters House
05/27/09
IN THE NEWS: Crossroads Behavioral Healthcare received a four year grant of more than $100,000 per year for Surry County to combat alcohol related traffic fatalities. Started in 2007 this project is now launching its public awareness campaign to focus on prevention. The Surry Messenger news story, May 27, 2009 announcing the premier on May 28th in Mount Airy…
05/12/09
YADKINVILLE - On the first day that New Horizons Adult Day Services was in its new building on West Main Street, Leah Hanes had all of the adults in the program dip their hands in paint and put them on a lavender-colored wall.
It will be something to remember the day by.
New Horizons runs a day program for developmentally disabled adults. The program helps some of them with job placement and vocational training, depending on their ability, and has classes and activities for others.
In a rural county such as Yadkin, where resources are scattered, New Horizons has the only program for developmentally disabled adults.
05/12/09
Nearly 1,000 DWIs occurred each year in Surry County between 2002 and 2006. From 2001 to 2006, there were 759 reported alcohol-related automobile crashes in Surry. And from 2001 to 2006, just in parking lots, there were 19 alcohol-involved automobile crashes in the county.
These are facts posted on billboards around Surry County thanks to funding from the federal government being filtered to the county through the state. The money provides $100,000 each year for three years to research, create and implement a program to focus on driving while impaired and underage drinking in Surry County. The county received an additional $50,000 recently to add more emphasis on underage drinking this summer.
04/29/09
In an effort to better serve children with behavioral health problems, Northwest AHEC is collaborating with Northwest Community Care Network (NCCN), Crossroads Behavioral Healthcare, and the Department of Pediatrics at Wake Forest University Health Sciences (WFUHS). The group is working to foster interest in the integration of mental health professionals into pediatric primary care setting.
04/27/09
Two free events for parents, educators and sutdents will be held in Iredell County. Tuesday, April 28 in Statesvile and May 5 in Mooresville.
04/02/09
Barium Springs, NC – On Monday, April 6, 2009 community leaders will gather at Little Joe’s Chapel on the campus of Barium Springs Home for Children to learn about an exciting partnership that can help develop a community solution to a dire problem – adult substance abuse.
Working in conjunction with the North Carolina Evidence Based Practices Center, a collaboration between Duke University and North Carolina Area Health Education Center (AHEC), Crossroads Behavioral Healthcare is inviting citizens to participate in the first Crossroads Iredell Advocacy Academy for Substance Abuse Awareness & Recovery.
The purpose of the Iredell Advocacy Academy is to develop a collaborative, community-wide response to addiction and, through that collaboration, select and accomplish projects that achieve measurable positive impacts for substance abuse awareness and recovery. The Advocacy Academy will join together to:
• develop an integrated community-wide response to addiction;
• work to reduce stigma through accurate information about addiction and recovery;
• seek resources that will foster early intervention and engagement in treatment; and
• advocate for allocation of resources for treatment and recovery.
02/04/09
Help Shape Mental Health Services for Your Community
Participate in the Crossroads Town Hall Meeting to Plan for the Future.
ELKIN—Crossroads Behavioral Healthcare invites everyone in Yadkin County to help develop the strategic plan for mental health, developmental disability and substance abuse services for Iredell, Surry and Iredell counties. “We really want to hear from our citizens. This is an opportunity to let your voice be heard and to help shape how Crossroads works to meet the behavioral healthcare needs for the next three years,” said David Swann, Area Director and CEO for Crossroads.
The Behavioral Healthcare Town Hall meeting will be Thursday, February 26, 2009 at the Yadkin County Government Building located at 217 Willow Street in Yadkinville. The meeting will be in the Commission meeting room located on the second floor. The Town Hall session will start with an informal information open house starting at 5:10 p.m. where citizens will have the opportunity to ask individual questions of Crossroads staff. At 5:30 p.m. the forum will begin where citizens can share their thoughts and ideas about behavioral healthcare needs in their community.
01/28/09
ELKIN—Crossroads Behavioral Healthcare Area Board of Directors honored Clyde Shook of Surry County for his 30 years of dedication and service as a member of the Board. A 40-year veteran of the North Carolina Highway Patrol, since 1978 Sgt. Shook as represented Surry County on the Crossroads Behavioral Healthcare Area Board of Directors helping guide the development of North Carolina’s Mental Health System and making long-lasting contributions to the local mental health program and citizens of the Crossroads area. Scott Whitaker, Board Chairman recognized St. Shook at the January 28, 2009 meeting of the Board with a plague and a watch that bears the Crossroads logo.
Sgt. Shook served on the Executive Committee of the Board and as Board Chairman in 1985. He has also served on the Building Committee, Developmental Disabilities Services Committee, Finance Committee and Nominating Committee.
“Clyde has been my ‘go to man’ for the gentle sound advice that is so hard to find. I know whatever Clyde says, I can take it to the bank. Looking state wide, he is one of only about four who have served 30 or more years on an LME board. That level of experience and historical perspective will be missed,” noted Crossroads CEO David Swann.
01/06/09
The packages are all opened; the hustle and bustle of the holiday season is behind us – now is the time to relax and prepare for a new year. That is the ideal holiday picture for most of us as we step into the New Year. However; for one out every five, this is very far from their life because they struggle with a behavioral health condition. The high spirits of the holidays often make the symptoms of their conditions more difficult.
The real tragedy is that so many will try to hide their condition. They will refuse to seek the professional help that is needed. Some will start the New Year by saying, “Oh it is just the post holiday blues – I will get over it.” – or--“I know I can stop drinking now that the holidays are past.” – or – “It was just the stress of the holidays that made me lose my temper so much; I can usually keep it under control.” These statements may be true for four out of five of us; however for the one who is persistently sad for months on end, or the one who feels they must use alcohol or drugs just to function, or the one who consistently responds in a way that is not appropriate to the situation, this is the one in five who needs to seek professional help.
12/02/08
Friends,
It is my pleasure to share with you our 2007-2008 report to our community.
Crossroads Behavioral Healthcare has been the Road to Hope for more
than 37 years as your local behavioral healthcare leader, serving hundreds
of thousands of our citizens each year. This current year, 2008-2009,
Crossroads will provide critical – even life saving behavioral health care
for the 267,575 citizens in our three-county area with a budget
of $31,660,787.
Our report to you highlights some of the challenges and successes
we encountered during 2007-2008 as we helped those on the Road
to Hope through quality behavioral healthcare services available close
to home...."
David Swann
Area Director & CEO
10/21/08
ELKIN, NC—Six police officers from Mooresville and Statesville Police Departments completed a 40-hour training course that involves law enforcement working in partnership with the mental health system, consumers and families with the goal of diverting mental health consumers from the correctional system into appropriate treatment. On October 17, 2008 Police Officers R. Bryan Anderson, Frank J. Falzone, and Paul A. Burks with the Mooresville Police Department; and Police Offers Kenneth M. Powers, Paul W. Ballard, and Tim Denton with the Statesville Police Department received their certification in Crisis Intervention. With this graduating class, there are now 19 certified CIT officers in the Crossroads area.
10/21/08
Portland, OR (October 21, 2008) – Reclaiming Futures Crossroads is one of six communities in North Carolina, and the only multi-county collaboration, that will receive a $270,000 package of technical assistance and grants to adopt the Reclaiming Futures model, a tested approach that helps teens in the juvenile justice system beat problems with drugs and alcohol.
10/09/08
Iredell Sheriffs graduates bring innovative intervention techniques home
to help citizens in mental health crisis.
ELKIN, NC—Ten Iredell Sheriffs Deputies completed a 40-hour training course that involves law enforcement working in partnership with the mental health system, consumers and families with the goal of diverting mental health consumers from the correctional system into appropriate treatment. On September 12, 2008 Deputies Carl Adams, Stan Adams, Brian Boyd, Roger Cleary, Jr., Todd Donaldson, Troy Miller, Randall Pearson, Derrick Stutts, Leah Katheryn Taylor, and Tim Vanderburg received their certification in Crisis Intervention. These graduates join Deputy Kelly Wilson who is a member of the first Crossroads area CIT graduating class.
09/05/08
Recovery Month VISIT www.recoverync.org
September is National Recovery Month and a new statewide grassroots campaign, RecoveryNC, has been launched to engage and empower persons in treatment and/or recovery from addiction. Too often our society tends to ignore those battling addictive illness. I hear comments like, “Well, why don’t they just stop?” or, “Can’t they control themselves?” The answer is, “No they can’t.” Those battling an addictive illness require professional treatment, just as someone with diabetes requires professional care. To discount the estimated 18,856 individuals in Iredell, Surry and Yadkin counties over the age of 12 who have an addictive disorder is not only a disservice to that person, but to our entire community. That would be like taking almost 9% of our population and telling them that they don’t deserve to be well, or to have a full and productive life. I don’t know about you, but to me that is not acceptable, yet that is what is happening too often because of lack of knowledge, stigmatization, and lack of resources.
08/15/08
Crossroads Behavioral Healthcare CEO David R. Swann announced the appointment of
Cornelio Roderick Ruperto, MD as Medical Director. “We are thrilled to welcome Dr. Ruperto to the
Crossroads organization to provide medical oversight, utilization and management reviews of our
publicly-funded mental health services for the citizens of Iredell, Surry and Yadkin counties,” said
Swann in making the announcement.
08/01/08
Please go to the division web-site to find three versions of the DMH/DD/SAS Consumer Handbook:
1. A low resolution color version for easy web-viewing.
2. A black and white version with large print for downloading at home or for printing.
3. A high resolution full color version for professional printing.
07/09/08
The Wrap-Up Ceremony for Foothills Relay for Life at the Holiday Inn Express turned the spotlight on Crossroads for outstanding support for the 2008 Relay. Foothills’ goal of $57,000 was exceeded with a total of $62,000 in contributions, and Crossroads TEAM HOPE played a huge role in helping set this record. This is amazing especially since this has been a difficult year financially for everyone with job losses, soaring gas and living expenses and a generally unsettled economy.
Crossroads’ TEAM HOPE was recognized for helping achieve this record breaking success with three awards:
1) Crossroads ranked # 1 for the on-line fundraiser with close to $3,000.00! This was thanks in part to the eight team members - Diane Morrison, Crystal Dillard, Christie Dowell, Dean Reavis, June Littlefield, Wendy Childress, Beth White and Jackie Moser who sent out e-mails to everyone in our e-mail addresses begging for donations;
2) Crossroads was given an award for being the # 2 fundraising team, surpassing 22 other teams; and (drum roll please…)
3) Crossroads TEAM HOPE was the ONLY team to receive the highest level award, platinum, for raising a total of $7,060.50. This included all the on-line donations plus all the donations generously given through our fundraising events at work and through all the luminary donations, video donations and sponsorships.
06/03/08
ELKIN, NC—Three local law enforcement officers completed a 40-hour training course that involves law enforcement working in partnership with the mental health system, consumers and families with the goal of diverting mental health consumers from the correctional system into appropriate treatment. On May 9, 2008 Deputy Kelly Wilson with the Iredell County Sheriff’s Department and Sgt. Gale Hobrook and Sgt. Jamie Goad with Surry County Sheriff’s Department received their certification in Crisis Intervention.
05/30/08
Subject:BUDGET MESSAGE Fiscal Year 2008-09
The Crossroads Behavioral Healthcare proposed budget for Fiscal Year 2008-2009 is the culmination of four months of work by the Area Board, Finance Committee of the Area Board, the finance staff, county managers and county commissioners to build a budget plan that focuses on local behavioral healthcare needs in Iredell, Surry and Yadkin counties and meets the needs of increased population and demands. The Crossroads Area Board reviewed the proposed budget for $31,660,787 on Tuesday, May 27, 2008, and has approved for it to be advertised and for public comment.
05/08/08
ELKIN, NC – Crossroads Behavioral Healthcare, the local manager for mental health, developmental disabilities and substance abuse services for citizens of Iredell, Surry and Yadkin counties is urging everyone to “Get Connected.” May is National Mental Health Month. “Established more than 50 years ago to raise awareness about mental health conditions and the importance of mental wellness for all, Mental Health Month seeks to help our citizens focus on ways to improve their mental health,” said Crossroads CEO David Swann. This year we are focusing on a very simple, but essential component of maintaining and protecting mental health and wellness: social connectedness,” according to Swann.
“Get Connected” encourages people to reach out and develop the supports needed to promote good mental health. There are many ways of creating connections that support mental health:
04/04/08
4-4-2008 -- DHHS Secretary Dempsey Benton released the report from Mercer Government Human Services Consulting, an independent consultant hired by the state to review all Local Management Entities.
Mercer assessed Crossroads as a top performing LME in all three performance groupings: financial and business management operations; information technology and claims management; and clinical operations and governance. All LMEs were rated and assigned into one of three tiers. Tier One represents the highest performing LMEs, and Crossroads earned Tier One ratings in all three performance categories. There was only one other LME which earned Tier One ratings in all three performance categories, Mecklenburg County Area MH DD & SA Authority. For more information, download the full report.
03/18/08
Contract Amended for New River to Provide Substance Abuse Services at Mount Airy and Statesville Centers and Comprehensive Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services at Yadkinville and Mooresville Centers
ELKIN, NC – Crossroads Behavioral Healthcare announced today that a contract amendment has been signed with New River Behavioral HealthCare to deliver substance abuse services at the Mount Airy and Statesville centers and comprehensive mental health and substance abuse services at the Yadkinville and Mooresville centers effective March 29, 2008. “We are pleased that New River has agreed to expand their delivery of services in the Crossroads area. This contract amendment allows for our consumers to continue receiving services without any disruption in care,” said David Swann, area director and CEO for Crossroads Behavioral Healthcare on announcing the agreement.
03/05/08
The Business Journal for the Greater Triad Area recognized Crossroads Behavioral Healthcare Area Board Chairman K. Scott Whitaker as one of the top 40 young leaders in the Triad area. According to the president and publisher of the Triad Business Journal, “The goal of this effort, as always, was to find and recognize the best and brightest leaders this region has to offer who are yet to reach their 40th birthday,” said Douglas W. Copeland, Jr....
02/29/08
Crossroads Behavioral Healthcare has redesigned and launched a new website specifically with Consumer's and Provider's need in mind
Emotional difficulties, family conflict, stress, developmental disability or substance abuse will touch each one of us during our lives. Once, many of these problems went undiagnosed, untreated and even ignored or hidden. As with any illness, those suffering want to return to well-being, but do not know which way to turn for help. They find themselves at a crossroad. There are caring professionals close to home who can help. Crossroads Behavioral Healthcare provides professional guidance available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. One toll-free call to 1-888-235-4673 can guide you to the road for help.
