Thrive Behavioral Health

Thrive Behavioral Health To Be Included In Rhode Island’s Federal Designation as Leader in Improving Access to Behavioral Health Services

Thriving Together: Connecting Communities with the Tools for Lasting Wellness Justin Tipple’s apartment is a mess right now, but for good reason. Justin is packing to move into his first independent apartment. “I’ve experienced a lot of setbacks, but I knew I could do it. I just kept moving forward.” Said Justin, as we sat in his living room. “There was a time when I thought I’d never live alone, but then I got connected with Thrives services and here I am.” Raised in Coventry by his grandfather, Justin began receiving support in school that addressed his mental health. As his grandfather aged, Justin became his primary caregiver, but that all changed when his grandfather passed away. Unable to live on his own, Justin’s Aunt reached out to Thrive Behavioral Health, (Formerly known as the Kent Center) the state’s designated Community Behavioral Health Center for Kent County and got him quickly connected with services. Justin moved into Thrive’s residential program in East Greenwich in 2013. Thrive serves five congregate care homes in Rhode Island both in the East Bay and West Bay. “You won’t find a sign on our programs as we try to fit into the community like any other home in the state,” said Beverly Lachapelle Program Manager for residential services operating on the West Bay. Residents in the programs work with a team to coordinate their physical and mental health care. Everyone works on their personal goals, and many want to work toward independent living. Clients work with their care teams, including doctors, nurses, case managers and clinicians, to develop an individual recovery plan guided by the client’s goals, preferences, and values. With the right combination of support and care in the group home, Justin learned coping skills, stabilized on his medication, and made the next steps towards independent living by moving to Thrive’s supervised apartment program. This program gives residents semi autonomy with daily life tasks, while still having some wrap around services for support when needed 24 hours 7 days a week. “This is what I’d been looking forward to the most. I love to decorate and now finally I have my own space." says Justin. "As the Program Manager for the West Bay Residential programs I can honestly say that I am so proud of Justin and how far he has come. He is an individual who accepted his circumstances and really faced them head on and has achieved so much for himself. He has moved forward from living in one of our group homes to the supervised apartment program and is now moving to live on his own independently. Each one of those steps were proud moments for all of us, but most importantly Justin was able to see the growth he himself has made. He is a true role model. We wish him all the best and cannot congratulate him enough on a job well done!” To learn more about Thrives’s supervised apartment program and other support and treatment services, visit www.thrivebhri.org.

THANK YOU Champlin Foundation for $200,000 toward our HVAC system! "Working closely together, three of the grantees in this funding cycle are the first organizations in Rhode Island to become federally Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinics (CCBHC). To pursue the certification, Thrive Behavioral Health, Community Care Alliance, and Newport Mental Health have hired additional staff and reimagined or expanded their physical spaces to accommodate a standardized service model."

The Clubhouse Model highlighted on the front page of USA TODAY through our peers over at the Fountain House in Manhattan! We're so proud to be hosts of the only Clubhouse in Rhode Island. "As Mental Health Awareness Month comes to a close, we wanted to share some exciting news, and a major milestone for one of Thrive’s signature programs. This spring, the Hillsgrove Clubhouse received accreditation from Clubhouse International, a global organization of over 350 Accredited Clubhouses from 36 States and 33 countries. Hillsgrove is the only accredited Clubhouse in the state of Rhode Island.  Highlighted throughout the extensive report was validation of our many strengths in providing person-centered and mental health recovery-oriented services. The Clubhouse has been proven to reduce the devastating impact of social isolation, providing members with a supportive community of peers and colleagues. As a result, Clubhouse members are less likely to experience psychiatric hospitalization and are much more likely to maintain healthy and successful lives in the community. Accredited Clubhouses have higher employment and education rates for members, better quality of life measurements, and overall improved mental health recovery rates." - Clubhouse Director, Mark Maragnano Check out the USA Today article here: https://lnkd.in/eb8zwWPt

This week's 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline press conference held at BH Link RI was truly a celebration. We’re beyond excited for 988’s new campaign launching this summer! Expect to see more ads for the 988 lifeline all around RI and spread the word! It’s okay not to be okay, help is available! #988 #crisishotline #crisislifeline #rhodeisland#pressconference #behavioralhealth #mentalhealthawareness

Today's 401 Gives: Rhode Island's state-wide giving day. Consider a donation to Thrive Behavioral Health. Together we can make a difference in Rhode Islander's lives! 🌞 - Donate to Thrive here: https://lnkd.in/e29Z62Q3

In the midst of a tragic week for the Kent County community, the discussion around adequate funding for accessible emergency mental health services in the form of CCBHCs and the 988 Suicide Lifeline at today's annual Legislative Breakfast, proved more critical than ever. Thank you to Senators Matthew LaMountain and Bridget Valverde, and former State Senator Mike McCaffrey for attending this morning and demonstrating your commitment to leaning into these tough conversations to support these vital programs that benefit all Rhode Islanders. 

Thrive Behavioral Health supports the nomination of Richard Leclerc to the top spot with the Department of Behavioral Healthcare, Developmental Disabilities and Hospitals. Leclerc has a robust background in leading mental health provider organizations including front line experience with patient care. Having a practitioner at the head of one of the most important state agencies related to care delivery for Rhode Islanders that prioritizes addressing stigma and negative perceptions around mental health and substance use disorders and removing barriers to care and recovery is a step in the right direction to address gaps in behavioral health care delivery. - https://lnkd.in/eUhJwkUs

Uncovering the Realities of Homelessness in Kent County     When people ask why I work for a nonprofit organization my answer is easy. As a development director, I love that the success I have in my job directly impacts the community I am a part of.     Last month, I volunteered as a direct service administrator helping to collect data for Rhode Island’s annual Point in Time (PIT) count through interviews with unsheltered Rhode Islanders. Volunteering for the PIT count was personally an important opportunity for me to continue to see the reality we are facing as a state with low housing inventory, increasing rental prices, and not enough shelter beds.     The PIT count involved volunteers collecting survey results over the course of a week, asking unsheltered Rhode Islanders where they slept on the night of January 24th. The count provides critical data that affects decisions regarding federal and state funding, advocacy routes, and resource management. The data is used over the course of the year to better address the needs of people who are unsheltered, but my experience gave me insight that will last long beyond 365 days.     My team of three began by heading out on foot to areas that have been known as common tent sites in Kent County. We carried with us a bag packed full of small snacks, hand and feet warmers, harm reduction kits, and gift cards with small amounts to hand to those who completed the survey with us.     It was not too long until we came across an occupied tent set up in an abandoned tunnel. As we approached, the smell of rotting trash and refuse greeted us first. Living in the tent were an older, disabled couple whose home was destroyed in a fire and they had nowhere else to go. At the mercy of the waiting lists to get a voucher and then find an apartment that would accept it and be suitable for them, they set up a home here. They gladly complied with the survey and the team was able to supply them with some necessities.     As we continued, we heard the same story over and over - an unforeseen circumstance coupled with underlying, untreated physical or mental conditions landed these Rhode Islanders in their situation. They wanted help. Some didn’t know where to start or how to navigate the system. Others were receiving benefits but have been priced out of the area and possibly the state.    As hard as it was to witness the reality of the people we spoke with, it only refueled my passion to make long-term, lasting changes at a systemic level as well as address the current needs Thrive Behavioral Health’s outreach team sees on a daily basis.   By: Jessica Lachey  Director of Development   Thrive Behavioral Health  

Throughout the month of January Rhode Island homeless advocates are working to count how many people are living on the streets. It's called a "Point in Time Count." Thrive staff Tripp McCreery and Jessica Lachey took part in the count this past Thursday, and had the pleasure of meeting various Rhode Islanders and listening to their stories. Last year's count was considered a 370% increase in homelessness since 2019. It's clear that there's a need for affordable housing options in RI, having this information can better help advocate for solutions. Check out the video interview with Thrive's Development Director, Jessica Lachey! Click the link below. - https://lnkd.in/dVFviVqf