Unity Point Health Des Moines Opening New Behavioral Health Urgent Care

NEWS RELEASE
CONTACT:
AJ ELLINGSON – Media Relations
OFFICE 515-241-5057
CELL 515-205-6090

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:  April 20, 2020

UnityPoint Health – Des Moines to open Behavioral Health Urgent Care

Des Moines, IOWA (April 20, 2020) – Beginning today, UnityPoint Health – Des Moines will be opening and operating a new behavioral health urgent care clinic in central Iowa to provide services to individuals who are needing mental health services, psychiatric evaluation and assessment, addiction medicine, crisis services and community resources. The new UnityPoint Health – Behavioral Health Urgent Care will be open 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., 7 days a week and is located at 1250 East 9^th Street in Des Moines. This location will serve patients of all ages. Patients younger than 18 years of age must have a guardian with them.

“We know this clinic will fit an immediate need and our team of experts is ready to connect patients with all of our resources,” said Kevin Carroll, Vice President of Behavioral Health at UnityPoint Health – Des Moines. “Residents of central Iowa with mental health or substance abuse issues can now get immediate, walk-in help seven days a week. This will be a tremendous new resource for parents, schools, employers and our community.”

Services provided at the new Behavioral Health Urgent Care will include receiving an initial assessment from a licensed mental health clinician and then being connected to appropriate interventions. Additional interventions could include but are not limited to:

·       Inpatient psychiatric admission

·       On-site coordination to Eyerly Ball Community Mental Health Services and Orchard Place Child Guidance Center

·       Connection to other community resources for basic needs

Patients are advised to utilize the Emergency Room instead of the Urgent Care Clinic if they are needing immediate medical attention (i.e. open or fresh wounds), are a minor who does not have a guardian to sign a consent to treat, demonstrating aggressive behavior or having a crisis outside of the hours listed above. For all other behavioral health, psychiatric and addiction related care, patients should access the new Behavioral Health Urgent Care.

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About UnityPoint Health – Des Moines
UnityPoint Health – Des Moines has more than 7,700 employees and 1,000 physicians providing convenient care to patients in central Iowa through our integrated network of clinics, hospitals and home care services. UnityPoint Health – Des Moines is made of up Iowa Methodist Medical Center, including Younker Rehabilitation and central Iowa's only Level I Trauma Center; Iowa Lutheran Hospital; Methodist West Hospital; Blank Children’s Hospital, including pediatric sub-specialty clinics; John Stoddard Cancer Center; Grinnell Regional Medical Center; Eyerly Ball Community Mental Health Services; UnityPoint Clinic; UnityPoint at Home and UnityPoint Hospice.

Please Pass the Love Resources!

A local group, Please Pass the Love, continues to do amazing work when it comes to Mental Health of our youth and families in Iowa. I'm placing a link below that has daily opportunities for kids of all ages to participate in Zoom conversations about COVID-19, their physical and mental health, and just check in with other kids and caring adults. There are also webinars and online chats for adults to get information on how to protect our children's mental health during this time as well. After all these opportunities, there are a ton of resources that are helpful when it comes to kids, adults, families, COVID-19, and mental health issues. Please check out their site and their information, they are amazing!

Click here to see their programming and resources!

Elementary Programs

• Tuesdays and Thursday at 9:30am Books & Buddies

       Bring your favorite stuffed animal and listen to Emmalee read some crowd favorite stories.

 Click join us button T & Th @ 9:30am.

Middle School Programs

• Mondays and Wednesdays at 1pm MS Meet Up

       Stuck at home and want someone to talk with? Come hang out and talk, ask questions, and check-in with other middle school students about all things trying to figure out how to manage this new way of life since covid-19.

 Click join us button MW @ 1pm.

High School Programs

• Monday, Wednesday & Fridays at 11am HS Meet Up

       Stuck at home and want someone to talk with? Come hang out and talk, ask questions, and check-in with other high school students about all things trying to figure out how to manage this new way of life since covid-19. 

Click join us button MWF @ 11am.

Middle & High School Programs

• Thursdays 2pm Art Share with Zion

       Been creating some art to pass the time? Come share what you’ve been working on with other young people. 

Click join us button Thursdays at 2pm.

• Tuesdays 2pm & Saturdays 11am Time to Relax with Music & a Book

       Join Miya for an hour of relaxing music and time to read your own book with other young people wanting to relax together. 

• Thursdays 11:30           Power Learning with Emmalee & Jen (Click Join us button Thursdays @ 11:30a)

                                             

                                              March 26th     Wait I’m Stuck Home for How Long? Tips for dealing with the                                                                        impact of covid-19 as a teen.  

                                               April 2nd         Using Arts-Based Coping Skills

                                               April 9th          How to Support My Friends that May Be Struggling

• Join our Slack group to meet other young people, talk, be lifted up, and have fun in a safe space created by young people for young people.  Cats, dogs, and tacos included. THIS IS FOR TEENS ONLY.

• Check out our Instagram @PPthelove, Twitter @PPthelove & Tik tok for some fun. 

Adult Programs for Educators, Admin, School Counselors, and Anyone that Works with Kids

• Wednesdays at 9:30a  Coffee Chat Discussions

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                     What the Heck Just Happened & Where Do I Go from Here?

                      March 25th, April 1st, & April 8th

                     These online sessions will discuss some of the critical components we need to remember in protecting the social emotional health of our youth and emerging issues and an opportunity to connect with other professionals trying to navigate where we go from here. 

• Fridays 1pm                  Power Learning: Free Webinars with Dr. Jennifer Ulie-Wells

                                               March 27th      Beyond Self-care & Maintaining Your Own Mental Health

                                               April 3rd           Covid-19 and Suicide Risk

                                               April 10th         Protecting Student Social-Emotional Health from Afar

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• Tuesdays & Thursdays 3p   Twitter Chats with @PPthelove

       Use hashtag #SDLF (Storms Don’t Last Forever) with different topics as we navigate this unique time. 

How to Help Pre-Teen Kids Through This Corona Virus Shutdown

   When in doubt, rely on the experts. I came across this article yesterday and found it very helpful with lots of good advice. Phyliss Fagell is a therapist and counselor and an author. I am continuing to read her book "Middle School Matters" which is PHENOMENAL and is a must read for educators, counselors, and parents who work with middle school students or children at school or home. She offered advice in a recent article and I have linked it here. Give it a read sometime today!

Phyliss Fagell on how to help Pre-Teens through this crisis click here

Our School Food Pantry: Still Open but Will Look a Little Different!

We are excited that our School Food Pantry will still be open on the 1st and 3rd Thursday of each month and that we will still be able to help those in our community who need extra help and support. But with the COVID-19 virus and restrictions, our pantry will definitely look a little different. Whether you have been to our School Pantry or not, we want to help anyone we can in our community. Here is what you need to know for our upcoming openings. Please read and spread the word!

*When are we open: 1st and 3rd Thursday of each month. HOWEVER, we will be open the following upcoming dates:
Thursday, March 26th, 4-6 p.m.
Thursday, April 2nd, 4-6 p.m.

*Where are we located: Our actual pantry is located just inside the east elementary doors right across from the nurse's office. HOWEVER, during all future openings (until school/COVID-19 restrictions are lifted), we will have the food/supply items just outside the east entry on the sidewalk or just inside the first set of doors.

*How will the pantry operate now/currently: Typically, people have been able to come into our pantry and take what they need. We limited people to one milk, one dozen eggs, and one bread. And limited to one bag of freezer items and up to 5 personal care/hygiene items. The rest of the items were take what your family needed. HOWEVER, with the pantry moving to the outside and trying to ration what we have and keep the line moving, this will be our system for the foreseeable future:
--All items will be pre-bagged by our volunteers
--Those who visit our pantry will sign in as they always do (do not need to prove financial need or bring ID)
--Each person/family will get one milk, one dozen eggs, one bread (we are trying to get enough of these to provide for all), one bag of freezer items pre-bagged, one bag of personal care items (pre-bagged), and one or two bags of dry goods/non-perishables. Once you have these bags, you are able to leave. So it should go quickly for all who attend, but you won't be able to "shop" as you have been able to before.
--We do ask that all who attend our pantry practice safe social distancing as much as possible. And as much as we would love to see your kids and our students, please leave them at home or in the car. This will keep the kids healthy and not risk exposure!
--Until further notice, our School Food Pantry will operate in this manner.

*Who can use our pantry:   Anyone in our community who could benefit from this resource is invited to stop in. You do not have to bring your ID and do not have to prove financial need. If/when school is in session, our students can use the pantry any day of the week. They can fill a backpack and bring food home to their family. We sometimes get a large variety of snacks that students can use daily.

*Where do we get our food/supplies: We get most of our food from the Food Bank of Iowa as they are the group that helps set up School Food Pantries. We also purchase some of our fresh food from Fareway using our Pantry account that is funded by donations and fundraisers. At times throughout the year, we have different groups and families donate food and supplies to our pantry. Thank you to all who have donated in the past...you are amazing!

  I think that is about it for now. Thank you for your support and thank you for helping spread the word. We do not know how many will show up to our pantry the next couple weeks but we are hoping to help as many as we can!

Stress, Anxiety, COVID-19 Virus, and Resources/Contacts

Well, about the time I am writing this would be about the time I would be at school with my own five kids and would be beginning to plan my day. Which students do I need to meet with, which students should I meet with, what teachers and parents can I reach out to, and in general...how can I help someone today? But instead, I am sitting in a chair at home wondering all these same things and not having an easy way to do any of them. My hope is maybe I can blog daily or every other day with some resources and ideas and still help in some way. And keep the hope and faith alive that soon I will be back to my office setting my daily goal to help as many as possible in as many ways as possible!

   Currently, my biggest worry and concern is about student (and adult!) anxiety and stresses. Anytime there is a change in schedule, you can expect change in behaviors, especially with kids. Doesn't matter if kids are 16 or 17 or 3 or 4, change in schedule equals change in behavior. And change in schedule equals anxiety and stress. Depending on the change, the anxiety and stress can be minimal or it can be fairly large. I think we all agree that this virus and the changes we have had to make would equal a very, very large change in our schedule. So anxiety and stress is a very normal reaction. So how can we, as parents, help our kids through this time? (and I am in this boat too as we have 5 kids and with a wife who is a medical professional, I am the only one home all day with them!) Here are some ideas, resources/links, and reminder of key phone numbers.

   First off, I want to make sure students and families know that our school contracts with Employee Family Resources (EFR) so students grades 6-12 have access to free therapy outside of school. Currently, these therapy sessions are done over the phone/video, but it is still an excellent resource. And even if you or your child doesn't need therapy, their 24/7 phone number is a great resource to take advantage of during times of stress, anxiety, confusion, anger, anything! Here is their website and phone number:

www.efr.org
515-244-6090

    A few other contact numbers that I think are important for every student and family to know are listed below. Please use these if you think someone could help.
*United Way COVID-19 hotline: 211  Just dial 211! You can also visit their website: 211.org

*National Crisis Hotline: 1-800-273-8255. This isn't just a suicidal thoughts and behaviors hotline, this is for anyone who feels they are in crisis or having a crisis. A trained person will answer the call 24/7 and help you through whatever you are going through.

*Texting hotlin: 741-741  Again, no matter what the crisis, text "HOME" to 741-741 and a trained person will begin to text back and forth with you. I have had students use this before and tell me it really helped them through their crisis. They were sent links and advice and support via text/their phone.

  Outside of phone numbers and outside resources, what else can parents and families do?

*Take care of yourself first and make sure you are working through your own stress/anxiety. The phrase "You can't pour from an empty cup" is very true. We can't help others unless we ourselves haven't been helped first. So all the ideas and resources below are just as important for adults as they are for kids.

*Sleep schedule. Keep it regular and get what you need! For kids, sleep is what regulates their emotions and works through their background to-do list each night. Lack of sleep or irregular sleep does not allow kids to work through all the background stuff and their emotions aren't as regulated, so the waking-time during the day can be up and down and much higher stress/anxiety. As much as it is fun to Binge Netflix or play video games, get these out of the bedrooms and stick to a regular sleep schedule (8 to 8? 9 to 9? 9 to 7?)

*Have a schedule during the day. This does not mean "home school" work all day long. We all have to understand that this situation is unprecedented and very strange for all. Stressed brains cannot learn and do not learn. So no point in cramming instruction and education all day long. Allow time for exercise, down time, stress-reducing activities, etc. This will make time you set up for education or schooling much better. But whatever the schedule is, write it down and try to stick to it as much as possible. Kids crave structure (even if they say they don't....they do!)

*Exercise! Go for walks (stay distanced from others, but still...go for a walk!). Do exercise inside. Our body's mental health depends on our physical health so we cannot forget our physical health during this time. Plus exercise produces positive hormones that help our mood and reduce stress, anxiety, and depressive symptoms.

*Breathing/meditation/calming apps. There are tons of these on the App store and online. And sometimes just playing some relaxing music from Youtube or Spotify in the background while we rest or read is all our brain and emotions need. Personally, I love the CALM app and use it daily and do the daily Calm meditation. Just 10 minutes a day but helps my entire day go better (and helps me sleep better!).

*Family time! Life does not slow down very often in life, but now it has. Let's use it. Make sure to eat as a family, talk as a family, play a game as a family. Teenagers may push back against this idea, but this is not the time to let your teen isolate. Humans are social animals and we are not meant to isolate. Sure, some of us are introverted and may not like socializing as much as others, but we are still not meant to isolate. And we shouldn't isolate from our families. So make sure to have a meal or a game together or do something as a family every day. This chance we have been given to slow down and work on our family bonds may have an effect that truly lasts a lifetime.

One final resource from our Student Assistance Program (EFR), is at this link. Just some overall ideas on how to deal with stress and anxiety. Some are things I listed above and others are different ideas. A good one-page document to keep handy.


Until I see all of you and our students next, please stay safe and healthy and don't hesitate to reach out if you need something!

College/Career Readiness Survey

8th graders, please take this 5 question survey. Happy Spring Break!

Carlisle Middle School Raising Money for Local Families/Kids

 If you missed this past week's Wildcat Weekly, I have reposted a short blurb about an upcoming project at Carlisle Middle School. Not sure how many years we have done this (I think at least 15!), but this is one of our favorite ways to give back every year. Our staff and students work to raise enough money to provide Christmas presents and gift cards to 4-6 local families who are in need. Every single penny raised goes towards providing a great holiday for these families. And it is awesome to see how generous our students are each year. We seem to set a fundraising record each year and I am guessing this year will be no different! If you would like to support this cause, please send money with your middle school child or any middle school student or simply contact Ms. Beydler or Mr. Barry. Thank you!

"Carlisle Middle School will be doing a community service project to purchase toys for families in need in Carlisle.  A group of Carlisle Middle School students will be collecting spare change from all students in the Carlisle Middle School from December 10-18.  The change will then be counted and a group of students will be going to purchase toys to donate to families in need in the Carlisle School District to ensure all children have a gift on Christmas.  Last year $2020 was raised, our goal this year is $2025!  "

Guest Blogger Addeline Morlan Tells Her Joyology Journey

Joyology!

by Addeline Morlan

            Joyology is a student-run group at Carlisle Middle School that spreads kindness, positivity, joy, and acceptance throughout the school to make people feel more included and welcome in the school environment. 

            I created Joyology in fifth grade when I noticed more and more kids being excluded, and when others were alone on the playground. When I noticed this I started to go over to them and be kind to make them feel included. Soon other friends joined me and we would go around the playground and be kind to those students. We would also offer for them to join us at recess. Not only would we help kids who were excluded, but we would also help solve disagreements between friend groups. 

            In sixth grade, I decided to build upon the same concept, but instead, turn it into a student-run group. This is when many of my friends got involved and wanted to help. Joyology then became an official group. Throughout our middle school years, we have had regular meetings during lunch. At our meetings, we planned events and small acts of kindness to do for the students and staff of our school. 

           Some examples of Joyology’s kind acts include: candy and compliments, hanging up posters, kindness challenges, candy cane bombing the parking lot, and giving the teachers notes and treats.       

  

            I feel that kindness is important because if someone feels good in response to a kind action, then they are more likely to spread the kindness that they received, creating a ripple effect.  Also, you never know what battles people are fighting, and to do something kind, even though it may be small, could really impact someone who is having a tough time. This kindness is needed to help kids who are having a hard time, and it is especially needed in middle school. It is nice to know that people have your back, so I feel like doing these small acts of kindness is a reminder that there are people who care. 

Joyology has helped me realize how important kindness is, no matter how small the kind acts are, they are always appreciated by someone who needs it. Joyology has helped me strive to do little acts of kindness everyday. If there has been anything that I have learned, it would be that acts of kindness, big or small, can have a big impact. I have also learned that kindness never has a downside. I believe kindness is a super power because it can change the world.

Summer Meal Programs!

Summer Meals and Pantry Programs!

     With summer approaching very soon, our counseling and student support team wants to make sure families in our community know and have a few resources when it comes to food and meals. We know the summer can be tough for some families to provide enough food for their family, especially their children. Our community is fortunate to have two different food pantries. One is our School Food Pantry located in our elementary building. The other is the Community Food Pantry located at Holy Cross Lutheran Church in Carlisle. Here are the “open” dates for the School Food Pantry this summer:

June 6^th

June 20^th

**July 2^nd (This is a TUESDAY. We will not be open on July 4^th)

July 18^th

August 1^st

August 15^th

   The Holy Cross Lutheran Church in Carlisle (1100 Market St.) has a food pantry open to the community on the 2^nd and 4^th Tuesday of the month. This pantry is open from 4:00-5:30 p.m. on these days.

   One final great source of food and meals is the Summer Meal Meet-Up program. There is a graphic attached to this Counselor’s Corner giving more details. This program provides daily breakfast and lunch to children age 18 and under here in Warren County. Polk County also has several daily breakfast and lunch programs as well. If these Warren County locations do not work, feel free to text “FOOD” to 877-877 to find out where the nearest free meal location is each day. You can also call the United Way at 2-1-1 and ask about the Summer Meals program.

    If you have any questions, please reach out to a school counselor in our district. We are here to help and we want to make sure the children and families in our district have resources to help with any of their food/nutrition needs.

Love and Logic Resource Links for Parents

Here is a brief article from our Counseling Corner that gives parents some resources and tools from Love and Logic, a great resource for parents and anyone who works with kids.

Have things been a little chaotic lately?   Looking for a few new tools to add to your parenting toolbox?

Perhaps you will find exactly what you need with Love and Logic.   Love and Logic provides strategies to help raise self-confident, happier, responsible, and motivated children while making parenting fun and rewarding.

Sound too good to be true? Check out https://www.loveandlogic.com/articles-advice/parents

This website is full of articles, video samples, and resources to get you on your way.

For frequently asked questions check out https://www.loveandlogic.com/faq

Love and Logic does offer online classes (https://www.loveandlogic.com/love-and-logic-parenting-on-line) and many short video clips can be found on Youtube.

CMS 8th Graders to Visit College Campuses Around Central Iowa

            Our 8^th graders have begun their final semester of middle school and now is the time we really begin to get ready for high school. But we do not only prepare for high school, we also prepare for life after high school. We have a focus on creating students who are “College and Career Ready” at Carlisle and for 8^th graders, this means a busy final semester. So while 8^th graders are making their 4-year plans and selecting high school courses, they are also going on one of six college campus visit days as well!

            Beginning this week with an Iowa State trip, groups of 20-35 8^th graders will go on a trip to either Iowa State University, Simpson College, Grandview University, Central College, Drake University, or Des Moines Area Community College (DMACC) in Ankeny sometime in the next month or two. Each student was placed on one of these visits based on college or career interests they listed on a notecard. The goal of these visits is for students to see what a college or university looks like, help students see themselves on a college campus someday, and to get ideas and plans in their heads as they begin to plan their high school coursework. While not every student goes on to a 2 or 4-year college after high school, we want all students to know and understand this option and how a student could pursue this option if that is the route he/she chooses to go.

            Near the end of the year, the Carlisle Alumni Association puts on a Career Day for our 8^th graders. This event brings 20 or more Carlisle High School Alumni who are working their careers and want to help our students understand how to work towards getting into a similar career. This helps our students who have already seen what colleges are like to now see what a few careers are like. These two events combined are a great way to expose our students to the “College and Career Ready” culture we try to foster each and every day across our district. Being that this is our 5^th year of doing the college visits, when this year is done, every student grades 8-12 will have been on a college campus via this annual program!

School Counseling Week 2019!

School Counselors Celebrate During National School Counseling Week, February 4-8, 2019

National School Counseling Week, sponsored by the American School Counselor Association (ASCA), will be celebrated February 4-8, 2019, to bring attention to the unique contribution of professional school counselors.  National School Counseling Week highlights the tremendous impact school counselors can have in helping students achieve school success and graduate college and career ready.

School counselors are actively engaged in helping students examine their abilities, strengths, interests and talents; work in a partnership with parents as they encounter the challenges of raising children in today's world; focus on positive ways to enhance students' social/personal, educational and career development; and work with teachers and other educators to provide an educational system where students can realize their potential and set healthy, realistic and optimistic aspirations for themselves. Professional school counselors are certified, experienced educators with a master's degree in school counseling. The combination of their training and experience makes them an integral part of the total educational program.

Carlisle Community School District has a strong team of professional school counselors who work with students every day.  The counselors host many events throughout the school year including:  College Planning Night, Financial Aid Night, Resource Fair, Mental Health Awareness Night, Career Day, 8^th Grade College visits, Character Education, and Operation Backpack. 

Be sure to thank the counselors for all the work they do with our students!

Elementary Counselor:  Alex Wright

Hartford and Middle School Counselor:  Kim Flagor

Middle School Counselor:  Ben Barry

High School Counselors:  Stephanie Guthrie and Leah Heidemann