Members of Petoskey Clubhouse and New Horizons Clubhouse represented the six counties served by North Country Community Mental Health (NCCMH) at the 18th annual Walk-a-Mile in My Shoes Rally in Lansing on September 15 to remind legislators to prioritize people first in the ongoing discussions to privatize parts of our state’s mental health system.

In 2019, nearly 4,000 advocates rallied on behalf of 300,000 vulnerable citizens at risk, as ‘Budget Section 298’ on privatization traveled through the Michigan legislature. While the passing of 298 was unsuccessful, the ongoing threat of privatization continues with the recent introduction of Senate Bill 597 and Senate Bill 598.

This year, Kevin Fischer, Executive Director of the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI), Michigan Chapter, gave a rousing speech on the need to advocate against privatization efforts. He stressed that Michiganders are best served by the existing public, nonprofit mental health system.

The Community Mental Health Association of Michigan – the advocacy organization for community mental health organizations, the CMH-governed public health plans and the CMH provider networks throughout the state – organized the event. It featured an advocacy walk around the Capitol and stories from citizens who have experienced disruption of services from budget cuts, focusing on the personal experiences of those who use community mental health services.

“As the state’s CMH system continues to innovate, we must also continue to advocate for persons served, reminding people the system’s value lies in its ability to serve some of the most vulnerable and resilient members of our communities, while employing and continually developing innovative mental health practices in communities across the state,” said Brian Babbitt, NCCMH CEO. “We look forward to working with our community partners to strengthen and improve the community-based safety net. The state’s public CMH system—and our local system at North Country CMH— are stable and strong. In the face of continued external threats to our system, our focus remains on delivering quality services to benefit our communities and individuals we are privileged to serve.”

The Michigan Public mental health system is ranked sixth in the nation for its access to services and outcomes, according to The State of Mental Health in America 2020 report. It also has significantly greater dollars spent on services for persons with mental health needs.

• Private health plans spend 21% of Medicaid dollars received on administration and profits, leaving only 79% of remaining funds for care and services (Medicaid Managed Care Financial Results, 2020. Milliman)
• Michigan’s public mental health system spends only 6% on administration with no funds in the form of profits to shareholders and dedicating 94% of Medicaid dollars to persons with mental health needs (Medicaid Utilization Net Cost reports for FY 2018, 2019, 2020)

Michigan’s public mental health system serves more than 300,000 individuals in the state. After enduring over a year of isolation due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the services and community engagement that community mental health organizations offer are more valuable than ever before. CMHA and CMH boards from across the state, mental health, and developmental disability advocacy organizations, work to promote accessible and affordable mental health care among the legislatures, public and media.

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NCCMH’s Christine Dillon delivered Carter Kits and trained 8 Chiefs in Antrim County on their use. The bags are full of items proven to help children with Autism cope during a traumatic situation, such as noise-canceling headphones, fidget toys, sunglasses, and weighted blankets. All of the Chiefs were engaged in the training, asked thoughtful questions, and expressed appreciation for having tools they can use at the scene to diffuse conflict.  We will be delivering to first responders in all six of our counties. Thanks to all for partnering with us on this important initiative!

L-R: F/Lt. Carl Rothenberger, Michigan State Police 73 Post Commander, Chief Bill Drollinger, Bellaire PD, Chief Brian Lagrandeur, Mancelona PD, Chief Dave Centala, Elk Rapids PD, James L. Rossiter, Antrim County Prosecuting Attorney, Daniel S. Bean, Antrim County Sheriff, Kevin Hoch, Antrim County Undersheriff. Front: Lt. James Gorno, DNR Law Enforcement Division Supervisor, at Michigan Department of Natural Resources.

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CHARLEVOIX, MI – North Country Community Mental Health (NCCMH), along   with Charlevoix County community partners, has released the Charlevoix County

First Responder’s Guide for Behavioral Interventions. This guide was created as an outcome of Charlevoix County’s Stepping-Up Initiative and was personalized to Charlevoix County stakeholders and processes.

Nina Martenson, MA, LLP, QIDP, QMHP, and NCCMH Charlevoix Center Supervisor, explained that “The purpose of the First Responder’s Guide for Behavioral Interventions is to provide community partners with a clear outline of processes and procedures related to behavioral health interventions, especially at the intersection with the criminal justice system.”

The Guide identifies which agencies the procedure or process applies to, at each step, and assigns responsibility for the task(s). The First Responder’s Guide also represents the underlying team effort and agreement on roles and resources involved in providing an integrated delivery of services to the community.

Martenson said, “This manual represents the strong network of community partnerships and individual professional relationships that demonstrate compassion for individuals, the community, and the professional team of first responders who serve the community.”

Brian Babbitt, NCCMH Chief Executive Officer, said, “We are pleased to have completed this comprehensive resource to assist the community in responding to people with mental illness, reducing the number of people with mental illness in jail, and increasing their access to appropriate treatment.”

Babbitt added, “Charlevoix County was one of the first counties to adopt the Stepping-Up initiative in 2015. In Charlevoix County, the Stepping-Up vision is to be a community in which individuals with mental illness and/or substance use disorders who come in contact with the criminal justice/legal system receive treatment and services based on research, data, best practices and compassion.”

Martenson added, “We welcome any individual or organization to utilize this excellent resource, which is now available to community partners and individuals in the community alike.”

The First Responder’s Guide and an index of related forms may be accessed at https://www.norcocmh.org/charfirstrespondersguide/.

North Country Community Mental Health provides services to residents of Antrim, Charlevoix, Cheboygan, Emmet, Kalkaska, and Otsego Counties experiencing a serious mental illness, severe emotional problem, or intellectual/developmental disability, including individuals with co-occurring substance use disorder.

Persons wishing to know more about North Country Community Mental Health are encouraged to visit www.norcocmh.org or to access services call 877-470-7130.

Collaborators include:

North Country Community Mental Health
East Jordan Family Health Center
Northern Michigan Regional Entity
BASES Recovery Center
Charlevoix County Courts
Charlevoix County Prosecuting Attorney
Charlevoix County Sheriff Department
Charlevoix County Jail Emergency Medical Response
Charlevoix County 911 Central Dispatch
Munson Healthcare
Charlevoix Hospital
Psychiatric Inpatient Hospitals
Crisis Residential Units
Michigan Department of Health and Human Services-Charlevoix-Emmet County

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The purpose of the First Responder’s Guide for Behavioral Interventions is to provide community partners with a clear outline of rules, processes, and procedures when responding to behavioral health related emergencies, especially when it intersects with the criminal justice system.

The Guide identifies which agencies the procedure or process applies
to and, at each step, assigns responsibility for the task(s).

Click the Cover Image to download the Digital Copy.

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The Board of Directors of North Country Community Mental Health (NCCMH) recognized Dennis Priess for serving with distinction and dedication on the NCCMH Board of Directors for nine years.

Priess was appointed to the North Country Community Mental Health Board by the Charlevoix County Board of Commissioners in February 2013. During his tenure, Priess served on the Personnel Committee and Quality Improvement Council. He was also appointed to represent NCCMH on the Board of Directors of the Northern Michigan Regional Entity where he served for six years, with one year as Board Chair from April 2016 to April 2017.

A resolution of recognition was presented to Priess by Ed Ginop, NCCMH Board Chair.

The resolution states, “Dennis Priess has proven to be an individual who supports and is a friend to the programs, services, and clients of North Country Community Mental Health. North Country Community Mental Health commends Dennis Priess for his dedication and expresses its deep appreciation for his service.”

Previous to his retirement, Priess worked for Northern Michigan Substance Abuse Services (NMSAS) as its Director, Otsego Memorial Hospital, and CHIP Counseling. He is a member of the Community Reformed Church of Charlevoix and Safe Haven Ministries.

Priess said, “It was a privilege to serve our Northern Michigan area as a member of the Board of Directors of North Country CMH, and I will continue to support the critically important work of the organization.”

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May 23, 2022

The Board of Directors of North Country Community Mental Health (NCCMH) offered the position of Chief Executive Officer to Brian Babbitt, current Chief Operating Officer, to succeed retiring Chief Executive Officer Christine Gebhard, effective July 1, 2022.  Mr. Babbitt accepted the offer, and the Board approved his contract at its May 19, 2022 meeting.

Gebhard has been in the CEO position since April 2017 and has worked for NCCMH for the past 25 years.

Babbitt served as NCCMH’s contract manager for three years prior to becoming its Chief Operating Officer in 2017. He holds a BA in Business Administration and Accounting; is a Certified Professional in Healthcare Risk Management; and certified in Healthcare Compliance. Prior to joining NCCMH, Babbitt was Vice President of Marketing and Manufacturing for MDG Medical in Ohio responsible for marketing and manufacturing operations and managing its international and domestic partner relationships. As General Manager for Cardinal Health in Puerto Rico, he was responsible for leading strategic planning and day-to-day operations for a $13M international start-up operation during which he successfully implemented and facilitated Lean Six Sigma projects resulting in significant performance improvement and cost savings. In his younger days, while attending college, Babbitt was a direct care worker in an AFC home, ultimately becoming the in-residence home manager.

Babbitt said, “I am honored to be to be chosen as the next CEO for North Country Community Mental Health. This is an organization comprised of talented people dedicated to providing high quality behavioral health services. I am excited to lead this extraordinary team forward as we continue the work underway.”

Gebhard said, “Leading North Country CMH these past five years has been the highlight of my career and I’m proud of all that we’ve accomplished. Brian has been my right-hand and I’m thrilled that he’s been given this opportunity. I know the organization will continue to thrive under his leadership.”

The board expressed its gratitude at finding such a qualified candidate internal to the organization.

According to Ed Ginop, NCCMH Board Chair, “Brian has a thorough understanding of the organization and has effectively managed its business operations. The Board is confident in Brian’s leadership in fulfilling our mission.”

The NCCMH Board of Directors utilized Rehmann to assist with the search for a new CEO and interviewed three finalists for the position.

North Country Community Mental Health provides services to residents of Antrim, Charlevoix, Cheboygan, Emmet, Kalkaska, and Otsego Counties experiencing a serious mental illness, severe emotional problem, or intellectual/developmental disability, including individuals with co-occurring substance use disorder.

Persons wishing to know more about North Country Community Mental Health are encouraged to visit www.norcocmh.org or to access services call 877-470-7130.

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Samantha Sprague, owner of the Game Realm in Petoskey, was present to receive an award, along with two of Petoskey Club’s members who work at Game Realm, Catherine Rubino and Kandyce Alworden.

What makes the award to Sprague especially meaningful, according to Jama Moffett, Petoskey Club Director, is that “Samantha is a previous member of the Petoskey Club who went on to start her own business and is now helping others on their way as well.”

After receiving the award, Sprague shared the following sentiment, “I was a little hesitant to accept the award because I didn’t do this for recognition. When I was at Petoskey Club they helped me to open up and gave me the courage to open my own business. I can’t say thank you enough for all Petoskey Club has done for me and for others, and I’m really glad that I can do this small thing to help other people.”

Rubino, one of the Petoskey Club members who works at the Game Realm, said, “I would like to thank Samantha and the Game Realm for giving me the chance to grow as a person. During my time employed at Game Realm, my self-confidence and sense of worth have increased in many significant ways. I have learned a lot about myself by being a part of the team. This experience continues to make me a better person.”

Alworden, who was the first Transitional Employment (TE) worker at Game Realm, and now maintains an ongoing Supported Employment (SE) position there, helped train Rubino for the TE job.  Alworden said that “Working at the Realm has been a learning experience with doing more in-depth sorting and filing, which has given me the confidence to take on additional responsibilities and has helped me to be less afraid to speak with people.”

Moffett noted, “Employment is a powerful tool for recovery for people challenged by living with a mental illness. Because of the stigma associated with mental illness, some employers are initially hesitant to hire our clients until they understand that our partnership is a win-win endeavor. At this event, we honor forward thinking employers who have looked past preconceptions to learn what our program supports can do to foster success. They’ve hired our Clubhouse members, found that they are willing and dependable employees, and are a positive example to other employers, demonstrating that our members make great employees, and our program is here to back them up.”

Clubhouses are comprehensive rehabilitation, recovery and support centers for people recovering from mental illnesses such as bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, major depression and anxiety disorders to live successfully in their communities. Clubhouse members choose to volunteer their time and talents to run the Clubhouse while working side by side with staff colleagues, which is inherently rehabilitative and fosters recovery. Many members become interested in paid employment, and so the Clubhouse provides Transitional Employment and Supported Employment opportunities through partnerships with local businesses. In Transitional Employment, members work for six to nine months and receive training and absence coverage is provided by the Clubhouse staff Placement Managers. In Supported Employment, an established connection between the Clubhouse and the employer helps the member get the job, with optional training offered, as well as ongoing support being available. Estimates put Clubhouse members’ combined earnings at nearly $2.7 million per year in Michigan.

Moffett added, “There are more than 200 Clubhouses in the United States that support over 45,000 adults in their recovery. We are blessed to have over 40 clubhouses right here in Michigan, more than any other state.”

Petoskey Club is a program of North Country Community Mental Health. If you would like to learn more about the Petoskey Club, please contact Jama Moffett, Director, at 231-347-1786.

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North Country Community Mental Health is one of five member Community Mental Health service programs which received its first order of Carter Kits at the Northern Michigan Regional Entity office in Gaylord on April 27, 2022.

Carter Severs showing the sensory toys in the Carter Kits.

Carter Kits were designed by Carter Severs who has autism. In the kits there are clinically proven items to help first responders and other organizations to help children stay calm in an emergency: sensory toys, weighted blankets, noise-canceling headphones, sunglasses, and a non-verbal communication card. Following the delivery, there was a “train the trainer” segment to prepare local instructors to train the personnel and agencies that receive a Carter Kit.

North Country and its partner CMH organizations will spearhead distribution across the region to reach community partners who also serve youth, including first responders, such as EMS, law enforcement, and schools.

The first delivery contained the first 400 of 2000 Carter Kits coming to Northern Michigan.

The first boxes are loaded up for sharing with North Country CMH CEO, Christine Gebhard!

For more details, see:

UpNorth Live Story

TV 9 and 10 Story

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March 18, 2022

After a year in the planning, North Country Community Mental Health (NCCMH) hosted an intensive two-day Behavioral Health Partnership Training for first responders in Northern Michigan. Twenty law enforcement officers and EMS responders from four counties convened at the Kirtland Gaylord M-TEC on March 15-16.

The Behavioral Health Emergency Partnership (BHEP) training was designed to equip first responders with the tools they need to effectively recognize, respond, and mitigate a behavioral health emergency.

According to Carole Doherty, NCCMH Director of Crisis Services, “Peace officers in Michigan and across the nation are frequently called upon to manage incidents involving people with mental illness in crisis. Specialized training on the topic of mental health helps to prepare peace officers and other responders to resolve these incidents in a safe and effective manner.   Officers learn to identify signs and symptoms of mental illnesses, and how to utilize a range of stabilization and de-escalation techniques, and they learn about disposition options, community resources, and legal issues.”

“The primary goals of behavioral health emergency trainings are to reduce injuries to first responders  and the person experiencing a mental health crisis, and to appropriately redirect the person in crisis  from the judicial system into the services and support they need, and reduce future contact with police,” said Doherty.

The Behavioral Health Emergency Partnership Training consists of three linked training segments: Pre-Course Online Training, Classroom Instruction and Scenario Based Training. The scenarios include situations involving delusions and hallucinations, medical emergencies, and recovery.

A presentation by a person with lived experience with mental illness provided perspective at the end of the training. Joseph Reid, Executive Director of Broken People, shared his recovery journey and the need for officers to also take care of themselves. “I go through most days feeling broken and having thoughts of suicide. Being patient and caring is one of the most important things I would ask of you. Also, as first responders, you all have very tough jobs. I really encourage you all to find ways to take care of yourself. If you don’t take care of you, you can’t take care of me, and I need you!“

Eric Waddell, Chief Learning Officer at the Cardinal Group II which facilitates and conducts the training, said, “We appreciate the commitment of North Country Community Mental Health to bring the law enforcement community together in partnership to learn new perspectives and ways of serving people with mental illness, at what is often some of the worst times in their lives. We look forward to providing a second training in Northern Michigan this May.”

Funding for the training was provided by the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) Mental Health Diversion Council and the Michigan Commission on Law Enforcement Standards (MCOLES).

For more information see https://upnorthlive.com/news/local/michigan-law-enforcement-participates-in-mental-health-crisis-training

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North Country Community Mental Health (NCCMH) has announced the retirement of its Chief Executive Officer, Christine Gebhard, on July 1, 2022. Ms. Gebhard has been in the CEO position since April 2017 and has worked for NCCMH for the past 25 years.

“It has been an honor and privilege to work for North Country Community Mental Health the past 25 years. When I was offered the CEO position, I was intent on being a transformational leader. Fortunately, I’ve had the benefit of a highly supportive board, an exceptionally cohesive and dedicated executive team, and a cadre of professional and paraprofessional staff committed to our mission.  I never imagined we’d be facing a two+ year pandemic, and yet another legislative threat to privatize our locally-governed public behavioral health system.”

According to Ed Ginop, NCCMH Board Chair, “It was Ms. Gebhard’s vision for the organization, and her encouragement of the Board to heavily invest in information technology, that let staff quickly adapt to the virtual environment brought on by the COVID pandemic.  Clients continued to receive needed services through telehealth, now in-person, while staff remained connected across our six counties through Zoom.  Our [the Board’s] confidence in Ms. Gebhard’s leadership and commitment to fulfilling our mission has been unwavering.”

Gebhard’s organizational development initiatives have included implementation of the LEAN management system as a means to improve service quality and efficiency, a multi-year investment in technology and data systems, an outcomes framework to demonstrate value-based performance measures, and strengthening community partnerships.

Gebhard also spearheaded adoption of the Stepping Up Initiative, a collaborative partnership with sheriffs and other county stakeholders to prevent unnecessary incarceration of individuals with mental illness by diverting them into treatment. To date, Charlevoix, Cheboygan, Emmet, Antrim, and Kalkaska Counties are engaged in the Stepping Up process.

“Throughout her tenure as CEO,” said Vice-Chair Karla Sherman, “Ms. Gebhard has brought innovation into the organization.  Her firm will and tireless effort to reach out and create positive, productive communication within the organization and also with county commissioners, law enforcement, sheriffs, health departments, and hospitals has greatly enhanced the public behavioral health system and the community at-large.  Ms. Gebhard has been a constant voice in advocating with state legislators and policy makers for the health and wellbeing of the citizens of northern Michigan…that voice will be greatly missed.”

The NCCMH Board of Directors has approved a contract with Rehmann to assist with the search for a new CEO.

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