We’d like to take a moment to acknowledge the tragic events that have unfolded across the U.S. over the last few weeks. Senseless violence resulting in the loss of precious lives – both young and old. Whether you’re a mother or father, sister or brother, co-worker, family or friend, everyone is affected. Please know that’s it’s okay to feel sad, angry, anxious or fearful. And it’s okay to not know how to feel. Take the time you need for you and your family to process what’s happening, talk about it and share your feelings with each other.
If you need help navigating these challenging events, please download or share this resource.
On May 25, our team in California hosted a spontaneous support session for all survivors of the mass shootings that occurred at Route 91, Borderline and Saugus High. You can see news coverage here.
PROGRAM UPDATES
Give an Hour Tackles Opioid Epidemic Head-On with Launch of Prescriber Series
A series of workshops was recently launched to assist local prescribers with the prevention and reduction of opioid misuse and opioid use disorder. This is an additional tool at the disposal of Ventura County physicians to further reduce the number of opioid overdose emergencies and is a collaboration with Give an Hour, Ventura County Behavioral Health and the Ventura County Medical Examiner’s Office as part of the Opioid Overdose Prevention Program.
Workshops will feature local subject matter experts who specialize in best practices related to prescribing and describing opioids. The series will cover:
- Recognizing illicit drug use
- Destigmatizing substance use disorder
- Strategies to reduce opioid overdose deaths
- Latest information on medication-assisted treatment
- How to connect patients to treatment who are diagnosed with substance use disorder
According to the Ventura County Medical Examiner, 2017 to 2020 saw a 24% decrease in opioid prescriptions throughout the county as a result of providers who employed safe prescribing practices and increased the use of non-narcotic pain management strategies. However, illegal fentanyl is contributing to the growing number of overdose emergencies.
If you’re a Ventura County provider and are interested in attending the discussion series, please follow the link below to register. Continuing medical education credits are available.
Seeking Rare-Disease Caregivers for Focus Group
Give an Hour invites rare-disease caregivers to join a small, web-based focus group to discuss their unique emotional health and wellness needs. A licensed mental health clinician with extensive experience supporting rare-disease caregivers will facilitate the focus group. Information gathered will inform a specialized mental health and wellness program dedicated to serving rare-disease caregivers. Individuals selected to participate will receive a $200 stipend.
All information gathered and dialogue from the focus group will be kept confidential. If you’re interested in participating, please let us know.
PROVIDER NEWS
Give an Hour Welcomes Provisionally Licensed Mental Health Care Provides to Its Network
It’s no secret that the pandemic, among other things, contributed to an increased need for mental health services in the U.S. With that in mind, Give an Hour opened its doors (so to speak) in April 2022 to provisionally licensed or associate providers.
This change will increase our capacity to serve clients seeking care without creating an undue burden on our existing network providers. And … Of Give an Hour’s current providers, 23% supervise provisionally licensed mental health care professionals and are in favor of this change. Thus far, 18 provisionally licensed providers have registered with the Give an Hour network.
Eligibility* for participation includes:
- Graduate of a master’s degree program
- Supervisor must be in place (not required to be a Give an Hour provider)
- Willing to inform Give an Hour clients of provisional status and offer supervisor’s information
- Registered with licensing board
- Carry liability insurance
To give you an idea of the impact made by our providers, the first quarter of this year shows providers donated 3,560 hours, which brings the total hours donated by providers to 373,069 since Give an Hour’s inception in 2005. Our volunteer providers are asked to commit one hour of pro-bono care each week for a year to our military and veteran clients.
Why participate? Aside from receiving quality, continuing educational opportunities at no cost, provisionally licensed mental health providers can feel good about their decision to donate time and expertise to the men and women – and sometimes their loved ones – who are serving or who have served our country selflessly and deserve care in their time of need.
If you’re interested in participating in our provider network, please click the button below. Alternatively, if you know someone who might be a good fit, please consider forwarding this information.
*Licensing board verifications are the responsibility of the license holder and supervisor.
FIND THE ONE CHALLENGE
Find the ONE Challenge — AND Sweepstakes
May has been chock full of opportunities to find your ONE. To be strong and to challenge others to do the same. We hope you’ve been inspired by and maybe even learned a thing or two … We still have a few days left so don’t forget to check our social media platforms and our blog. Most importantly … We hope you’re feeling lucky! It’s not too late to enter the Give an Hour Find the ONE Sweepstakes.* Donate to Give an Hour (or send us a postcard) and be eligible to win a few great prizes!
*Official Rules and Advertising Disclosures
YOU’RE INVITED
HORIZON3.ai Hosts Veteran Networking Event, Raises Funds for Give an Hour
The upcoming RSA Conference is hosting a Veteran Networking Event on Tuesday, June 7 from 6 to 9 p.m. PST in the Crystal Ballroom at Marines’ Memorial Club & Hotel and raising funds for Give an Hour and the Special Operations Warrior Foundation at the same time. Dr. Trina Clayeux, CEO of Give an Hour, will be onsite, as will Lt. Gen Scott Howell of the Special Operations Warrior Foundation.
Founded by veterans in tech, Horizon3.ai is dedicated to helping veterans successfully transition into civilian life.
IN OTHER NEWS …
Give an Hour gained another new ambassador, Kimberly Abrams. Kimberly’s began her career as a national educator for a Fortune 500 company and transitioned to managing her husband’s, Bryan Abrams, music career. She is no stranger to the struggles of those suffering from mental illness. As a child, she witnessed the struggles of family members and later helped her husband through his recovery from substance use and eating disorders. Stay tuned to learn more in upcoming publications.
What a fantastic webinar with great takeaways! If you missed “Secrets Revealed to Make Healthy Habits Stick” you’re in luck because it was recorded.
Hear our expert panelists share their perspectives on how to make positive changes to live a stronger, healthier life — mentally, physically and nutritionally.
Thank you to: moderator, Seth Serxner, Ph.D., M.P.H. (Independent Consultant and Well-being Expert); and panelists, Trina Clayeux, Ph.D. (CEO, Give an Hour); Katie Fitzgerald (Co-founder, CEO and Nutritionist, Knowell); Vanila Singh, M.D. (Former Chief Medical Officer, US Department of Health and Human Services; Stanford School of Medicine, Clinical Associate Professor); and the Hon. Rob Wilkins (Member, President’s Council on Sports, Fitness & Nutrition; USAF Master Sergeant (Ret)).
Earlier this month, Dr. Trina Clayeux, Give an Hour CEO, attended a private dinner and discussion with General David H. Petraeus, US Army (Ret.) (pictured third from left) benefiting the Boulder Crest Foundation.
IN THE NEWS
- MilitaryTimes.com: The changing face of the VFW
- Chicago Crusader: Military caregivers deserve our thanks as well
- Maxar Better World Foundation Issues Grants to Organizations Supporting Veterans and Active-Duty Military and Their Families
- New Hampshire Union Leader: ‘So many depending on us’: Broderick book urges action on mental illness
- University of Phoenix Supports Give an Hour® With Donation Drive During Mental Health Awareness Month
- CBSLA: Southland nonprofit hosts private support group for mass shooting survivors
BLOGS
Sexual Assault and the Role it Plays in Mental Health
April is Sexual Assault Awareness Month
Volunteer Pulls Double Duty as Provider, Ambassador
Bob Stead considers his volunteer work for Give an Hour a “labor of love.”
Thank a Service Member, Veteran in May
May is Military Appreciation Month
Give an Hour Board Chair Offers Insight into Organization’s Future Direction, Growth
As Give an Hour wraps up its fiscal year, board chair, Sean Howard, shares plans for the organization’s future direction and growth.
Challenge Yourself to be Strong During May
Give an Hour Launches Find the ONE Challenge During Mental Health Awareness Month
Children Have Mental Health Too
Don’t discount the little people in your life! The mental health of children is vital to healthy development overall.
Challenge Yourself this May to Find the ONE
Find the ONE Challenge: STRONG Mind + STRONG Body = Resilient YOU
Give an Hour Appreciates Military, Veterans Every Day of the Year
Learn how Give an Hour appreciates military and veterans every day of the year.
