Cenpatico Blog

I have to admit to doing the unthinkable. You know the smoke alarms in your home that require about five minutes or less of attention a year? They will emit the loud beeping noise that lands like a saber straight to the brain, alerting you to their imminent ineffectiveness if you don’t change the batteries NOW.

I didn’t have the correct batteries on hand on one particular afternoon, and I was expecting a barrage of children anytime to celebrate my four-year-old’s birthday. Annoyed, and in defiance of the invitation to simply take a moment to get the right batteries, I proceeded to dismantle the smoke alarm instead.

I have fought with equipment before – lazy toasters, unresponsive vacuums – and I’m not afraid to exert my will on them. I grabbed a stepladder, took my Phillips head to the screw, and yanked out the dead batteries. I even left the wires hanging out as a warning to the other smoke alarms should they even think about it…

A little while later, in came the children, parents, presents and loud, happy noises – your typical kid party with little bodies running in every direction. Within an hour of arriving, the little one we lovingly refer to as ‘Firefly’ had lit a scented pinecone on fire and smoke filled the room. Unfortunately, the party had moved outside and nobody noticed it or the smothering smell of frankincense. We sure didn’t hear the smoke alarm go off, either, because it had just been eviscerated.

It was only on a restroom run that one of the parents saw the lit pinecone and acted quickly to put it out. No one was hurt, and nothing of any consequence was damaged, but I was a wreck, thinking about the disastrous possibilities.

This lesson won’t need to be offered at my house again!

Now, we always have the correct smoke alarm batteries on hand, and we added a new family tradition. On the first Saturday of the month, we change the AC filter, review our fire safety plan and test the smoke alarms. I admit this wasn’t my idea, though. When my child told his class about the fire, we received an outpouring of safety suggestions from his teacher.

Chagrined, but eager to provide the safest home environment I could, I followed up on the great idea to head over to the local fire station. They have safety checklists and fun kid activities that teach home safety.

There is still the occasional unruly appliance at my house, but the smoke alarm has my utmost respect!

The Home Safety Council annually recognizes June as Home Safety Month. Check out their official website – www.homesafetycouncil.org – there are a wealth of tools available to help make your home safer!  These include a virtual tour of a safe home, the ability to share your personal home safety store, and a safety guide of tips to protect you against the leading causes of home injury.

Additionally, Cenpatico has developed a brochure to improve safety in the home- this includes information on storing medication safely, locking up firearms, and more.

Cenpatico encourages everyone to take the time to find out everything you can about making your home safe – its well worth it.

Robin Cermak

Clinical Quality Improvement Coordinator

This entry is filed under Blog.

AUSTIN, TEXAS – (June 4, 2010) – Cenpatico today announced their award for Full Managed Behavioral Health Care Organization (MBHO) accreditation by the National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA).

Accreditation by NCQA is an industry standard of excellence.  The accreditation process is based on a comprehensive review of all service areas within an MBHO including quality improvement, clinical programs, credentialing, service and appointment accessibility, culturally appropriate care, customer service, provider network management and utilization review.

“We are very pleased to have received full accreditation from NCQA,” said Sam Donaldson, CEO and President of Cenpatico.  “This award is the culmination of hard work on the part of employees throughout the company, and evidences our ongoing commitment to providing high quality care and support for recovery to consumers.”

About Cenpatico

Cenpatico is a Managed Behavioral Healthcare Organization focusing on mental health and substance abuse benefits. Cenpatico offers health plans and state agencies a continuum of services for individuals at risk of, or suffering from, mental, addictive or other behavioral health disorders. Cenpatico has been in business since 1994 and is one of the nation’s most experienced behavioral health companies in managing behavioral health benefits for individuals enrolled in Medicaid, Medicare Advantage and the State Children’s Health Insurance Program (SCHIP). Cenpatico provides managed behavioral healthcare in Arizona, Florida, Indiana, Georgia, Kansas, Massachusetts, Ohio, South Carolina, Texas and Wisconsin. For more information, please visit Cenpatico www.cenpatico.com or Cenpatico Arizona www.cenpaticoaz.com.

For more information about NCQA, please visit www.ncqa.org.

This entry is filed under News.

The Texas Chapter of the Foster Care Alumni of America (FCAA) will host TOGETHER 2010: The Third Annual Foster Care Alumni Family Reunion at the Texas State Capitol Building on Saturday, May 22. Integrated Mental Health Services (IMHS)* is serving as a sponsor of the three-hour event, which is scheduled to begin at noon on the front lawn of the capitol building.

Saturday’s reunion affords foster care graduates a chance to rekindle relationships with their foster families and to educate the public about their past experiences with, and the current culture of, the foster care program in Texas.

“No matter what age, it is never too late to make a family memory, and by doing this reunion, we, as a community, are giving these foster care youth an opportunity they may have lost during their childhood,” said Ashley Gallardo, an IMHS Consumer Advocate. Gallardo is not only an employee for IMHS, but she is also a foster care alumnus and chair member of the FCAA. “Being outdoors with your family, playing games, listening to music, sitting on the grass with your mom or dad, these small things are momentous to some, and everyone deserves the chance to experience that.” The Third Annual Foster Care Alumni Family Reunion provides such an experience for foster children and the families that raised them.

Scheduled to be in attendance for the reunion are a host committee of state representatives and senators, including: Representatives Joe Deshotel, Mike Hamilton, Eddie Rodriguez and Patrick Rose and Senators Jane Nelson, Steve Ogden, Tommy Williams and Judith Zaffirini.

Included among the event’s festivities are a potluck meal, a musical performance by Austin-based Tornahdo and testimonials from various foster care alumni, including Gallardo.

“We’re humbled to offer our performance to raise awareness for the Foster Care Alumni of America and to get the word out about the plentiful resources and opportunities they offer for foster children,” said Kelvin Baron, IMHS Provider Web Administrator and Tornahdo’s lead guitarist.

The mission of the FCAA is “to connect the alumni community and to transform foster care policy and practice, ensuring opportunity for people in and from foster care.”

For more information on TOGETHER 2010: The Third Annual Texas Foster Care Alumni Family Reunion, logon to www.fostercarealumni.org/TXchapter or contact Ashley Gallardo at 512-775-4598. To make a contribution to the FCAA, contact Amy Sheldon at 1-888-258-6640.

* — Throughout the State of Texas, Cenpatico does business as Integrated Mental Health Services (IMHS).

This entry is filed under News.

The Women’s Foundation of Greater Kansas City (WFGKC) has honored Cenpatico Network Manager Deb Burnham for her work in the community in its 2010 publication, A Celebration of Women. The annual commemorative journal has honored more than 2,000 of Kansas City’s women and girls from all walks of life since the publication was established in 1993.

Burnham, a co-chair for the development of the journal, has been involved with WFGKC for two years, and she will be chairing the journal committee in 2011. Through A Celebration of Women, the Kansas City community has been introduced to many remarkable women and girls and the enormously varied ways they affect their families, friends, community and professions.

“I was surprised and honored by my family and friends to be included in the 2010 commemorative journal,” Burnham said. “To be recognized by them for the volunteer and community work I have done is truly heartwarming.  They are my inspiration and make my life complete.”

Burnham was officially recognized by the WFGKC during a ceremony at the 2010 commemorative journal’s unveiling at the New Theatre Restaurant in Overland Park on May 10.

The mission of the WFGKC is to raise, invest and grant funds to promote equity and opportunity for women and girls in the greater Kansas City area.  Additionally, monies raised through these tributes have enabled the foundation to educate women and girls about philanthropy and to play a leadership role in the challenges and opportunities facing women and girls in the community. Since its creation in 1991, the Women’s Foundation has made 200 grants totaling more than $1.8 million to projects benefiting the women and girls of the community.

This entry is filed under News.

Cenpatico will continue its pursuit of raising awareness for mental health when it takes part in the 2010 NAMIWalk in Milwaukee, Wis. on Saturday.

The National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) will host five NAMIWalks throughout Wisconsin this weekend, and Cenpatico has sponsored a Walk Team for the NAMI Greater Milwaukee event.

“This is an important way to bring attention to those afflicted with mental illness and to fight the stigma associated with it,” said Provider Relations Specialist Kristel L. Johns, who will be among the Cenpatico contingent at the event.

The three-mile benefit walk will begin at 10 a.m. at Veteran’s Park at the Milwaukee County War Memorial Center – 1010 N Lincoln Memorial Drive.

The honorary chairman of the Greater Milwaukee NAMIWalk is Greg Jennings, an all-pro wide receiver with the Green Bay Packers who will chair the event alongside his wife, Nicole.

Refreshments, music and other forms of entertainment will follow the walk.

Registration for the event is free of charge. For more information on the Greater Milwaukee 2010 NAMIWalk, logon to www.nami.org/namiwalks10/grm.

This entry is filed under News.