Spring 2010

“If we do this right, we have the opportunity to positively change how mental health services are delivered not only in the Twin Cities but nationwide.”– Martha Lantz

Inside this issue

Rising Cedar Takes Root 1

So Long Winter! 2

Intentional Wisdom 3

Building Community 4

Donor Thank You 5

Help Hope Bloom 6

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from touchstone mental health

Kind WordsVolume 10

Issue 1

sprIng 2010 rIsIng Cedar Takes rooT

Touchstone mental Health is entering a new and exciting chapter in our 28 year history. This spring we are officially launching our first Capital Campaign. The rising Cedar Capital Campaign will make possible our newest long-term customized living facility – 40 single bedroom apartments for adults living with serious and persistent mental illness.

The 40 apartment units will be adjoined by the first Health and Wellness Center exclusively dedicated to the 62,000 men and women living with serious mental illness in our community. In the first three years of operation, our goal is to collaborate with 5,000 adults and develop action plans which support their physical, mental and social well-being. These efforts are intended to positively combat the horrible statistic that men and women living with serious mental illness historically die 25 years earlier than the general population mostly due to their increased likelihood of heart disease, pulmonary disease and diabetes. At Touchstone mental Health, we want to be a part of the solution which reduces this disparity.

Beginning with this publication, we will provide quarterly updates on our rising Cedar Campaign’s advancements including site renderings, program developments and funding milestones. We appreciate all of the efforts our Campaign Committee members are putting forth and look forward to celebrating our new residence’s ground breaking next spring. If you have questions, please feel free contact martha lantz, executive Director at 612-874-6409.

so Long WInTer! Thank you for your snoW-Capped beauTy!This winter members of Touchstone Intentional Communities met for a weekend “camping” adventure. The following are photos and a selected IC member’s summary of the weekend experience.

Winter WonderlandCamp is gathering experiences, going through them. selecting the gems from each. listening while others tell their stories, their adventures, the truths they have learned. That was indeed the experience I and others from Touchstone IC had. With the snow falling it didn’t discourage us. We hiked, took pictures, played games, ate camp food and had a bonfire. The cabins were warm for sleeping. Then when we broke bread and sipped hot cocoa with others, we opened our hearts and joyfully shared what had happened to us along the way.

Having experience is called living.sharing experience is called loving.I let myself enjoy both.

Bonita

Photos of nature and community captured during the trip.

TouCHsTone menTAl HeAlTH | pAge 2

board Membersmerrie Kaas, ph.D., Chair Katie lichty, esq.leslie Connelly JoAnn meyermichaela Diercks liz sjaastadDonna langer Catherine stine

Management Teammartha lantz, lICsW , mBAExecutive Director

glen Albert, lICsWDirector of Assisted Living

Bharati AcharyaDirector of Case Management

lynette AndersonFinance and Human Resources Director

Jennifer BaumgartnerDevelopment Director

DeDe VanslykeTreatment Director, Residential Treatment

michelle Wincell, lICsWDirector of Operations

editorial staffJennifer Baumgartnermartha lantz

programsassIsTed LIvIng aparTMenTs

7376 Bass lake roadnew Hope, mn 55428-3861(763) [email protected]

Care CoordInaTIon

2829 university Ave ste. 400minneapolis mn 55414(612) [email protected]

InTensIve rehabILITaTIon and Case ManageMenT servICes

2829 university Avenue se, suite 400minneapolis, mn 55414-3230(612) [email protected]

InTenTIonaL CoMMunITIes

310 east 38th street, suite 223minneapolis, mn 55409(612) [email protected]

resIdenTIaL TreaTMenT

2516 e. 24th streetminneapolis, mn 55406-1209(612) [email protected]

What Touchstone Means To MeWith the help of god, Touchstone means my bridge over troubled waters, when Cub food store could

no longer shelter me.my shelter from the storm, winter or clammy weather.my hope in a hopeless situation when no one else could open their doors to me.my motivator to let me know I can be among people again and not be embarrassed.The wind under my wings, to let me know I can lift my head up and smile again; and even try to be an

intercessor and prayer warrior once more.god bless Touchstone.Alice

Intentional WisdomThis is a short interview with elizabeth, who is a founding member of “IC one”, where she describes the impact of this community on her recovery.

What can you say about your involvement in the IC?“Fun!” I joined to have fun and meet new people. But I also joined because it is an experiment to form a true community with people I did not know. It is as difficult as it sounds but really rewarding”.

What do you find difficult and what is rewarding?“I am difficult” (she laughs). “I have strong opinions, I am outspoken, and this is difficult for other people which in turn creates problems for me. And paradoxically, strong opinions and outspokenness do not go hand in hand with strong self esteem. Becoming a member of a community, an equal among equals has been a challenge but has also been great. It has stretched me to my capacity sometimes”.

how has it stretched you?Well, I believe that everyone in the community is a leader and sometimes the only way I feel safe is by being the leader and I notice that others only feel safe sitting back. I think that I am hardwired not to want to be close to other people so when I am at the IC I am aware of a tendency to try to steer the boat in my own direction. In the Intentional Community we all have to decide where we are going. so I always have to work on my patterns and fear in order to just sit in the room with everyone.”

how does this process help you recover from symptoms of mental illness?

Well the IC is a safe place to start out with, and I can experiment with becoming a more whole and healthy person in relationship to others. I have even bonded to people I do not like. As a child I learned not to trust others and I think most mentally ill people do not trust themselves, each other or the mental health system or the helpers. In community all of that is constantly being worked on in a supportive environment with people I trust. At times when I have been too outspoken others in the community have stood up to me and said, “stop that”. And I did because these people mattered to me. I am gradually learning that I do not have to be perfect to be okay. A couple of months ago I needed a break, and when I came back to a community meeting everyone was over at the Birchwood Cafe having dinner together. There were about 12 people sitting around the table. When I saw all of them I felt so fortunate to have them in my life, I almost teared up.”

pAge 3 | TouCHsTone menTAl HeAlTH

Roxannemarch 8, 2010

my upbringing was abusive in all shapes and forms. I was married twice, both times to alcoholic and physically abusive men. This is what I knew for the first 43 years of my life. In 2004, I became homeless after being wrongly accused and jailed for five months for something my spouse was involved in. After that I was homeless for three years and I became depressed and suicidal. I was referred to Touchstone Intentional Community in may, 2007. I received a safe place to live and supportive people whom I learned to trust.

since starting with Touchstone Intentional Community, I have learned: that what I say is important, that I have rights as a person, and that there are ways to resolve issues without fighting. Before Touchstone I had big issues with anger and not trusting people and I did not like me. The IC taught me how to love myself, how to be roxanne. I got to know and like roxanne. Touchstone gave me a safe place to live, gave me community, and gave me back my hope.

The foLLoWIng sTorIes Were WrITTen by InTenTIonaL CoMMunITy MeMbers desCrIbIng WhaT Is Means To be a MeMber of a TouChsTone InTenTIonaL CoMMunITy.

In 2005, Touchstone mental Health set out to answer two questions…

• Could 15 adults with serious and persistent mental illness, 30 % dually diagnosed with chemical dependency, create an intentional community where they collaborate to define their community’s guidelines and support one another to achieve their individual and community goals?

• Could the community’s goals and guidelines then be managed and implemented by the peer members and only guided by mental health practitioners?

The answer to both questions was resoundingly – yes.

Historically, an Intentional Community (IC) is formed by a group of people who choose to live together with a common purpose, working collaboratively to create a lifestyle that reflects their shared core values. Within TmH’s IC, members gathered with the common purpose of creating their own community. They defined their vision and group decision making process; outlined their meetings; process and conflict resolution protocol; and developed a financial structure that stands today.

The member driven activities found in traditional models were expanded by removing staff directed goals from the process. By releasing conventional staff roles, clinical wisdom took on new forms. staff and members began to place trust in the members’ will, wisdom and desire to connect thus creating a community which reflected health rather than illness.

We set out to redefine the roles of members and mental health practitioners by creating a vehicle for member wellness that was driven by the member with the practitioner as a back seat passenger. While we are a presence in the community, it is as a guiding consultant with intention to cultivate the strengths of the members as leaders and teachers.

Today, the IC’s 15 members live independently in scattered apartments across minneapolis and join together at a central apartment that houses community space and a resident volunteer. members work together to create opportunities for social outings, meals and education including gathering for breakfast at a local restaurant and taking a group yoga class. This breaks down barriers of social isolation and creates experiences of heightened integration into the larger metropolitan community.

The peer focused approach to supportive problem solving fosters peer community and incorporates best practice peer support models. members

hold each other accountable for community membership and responsibilities including reciprocity, interdependence and mutual support for health. This is reflected in times when a member struggles with symptoms or relapse and peers offer support; set limits about participation if the member is actively using chemicals; and challenge each other to participate in the community life in spite of symptoms such as depression or anxiety.

“I feel ownership in creating what we are,” informed IC member, Dawn Christianson. “The objectives are focused on participation to the best of our abilities; a sense of empowerment is among each of us.”

outcomes highlight the success of this model with 96% of members maintaining stable affordable housing, 88% maintaining independent living and 95% maintaining good physical health. Based on the success of the first intentional community; a second 25 member intentional community was added in 2007. Today, both communities are thriving.

This effort was made possible by the commitment of the staff and members involved as well as the visionary support of our local county who financially supported the pilot program.

The lessons learned are reflected in member comments about what the community has become for them, including a place to feel safe, to find meaning, friends and something to look forward to. The IC is a safe place to go to relieve anxiety and renew hope about recovery and connection, things easily given up as people struggle with relationships, depression and isolation. This is the challenge of the mental health and chemical health system – creating a space for individuals to heal and recover.

“IC works because it is a true community,” shared lantz. “on one of my first visits to our first IC, I heard the story of a female member who was crying as she was preparing to enter the hospital. she was crying, not because she was entering the hospital, but because her fellow IC member had just confided that she would miss her, think of her and visit her while she was away. It would be the first time anyone other than her case manager would visit her in the hospital.”

For more information about Touchstone mental Health’s Intentional Communities, please visit www.touchstonemh.org or contact [email protected] or 612.874.6409

IC article reprinted with permission from the National Council for Community Behavioral Healthcare 2009, Issue 3.


buILdIng CoMMunITy as a paTh To reCoverymartha lantz, lICsW , mBA, executive Director; Birgit Kelly, lICsW , IC program Director; Kara Vangen IC program mentor Touchstone mental Health

InTenTIonaL CoMMunITIes

An Inukshuk is built in layers (foothold, cornerstone, core, pillar, keystone, and

pinnacle) with each layer serving an integral role in stabilizing the beautiful guiding structure. Just as an Inukshuk needs every layer to be complete, Touchstone mental Health needs support at every financial level. Thank you for making it possible for Touchstone to serve as an Inukshuk, or stable guide, in the lives of those we serve. Without you, we are incomplete.

Pinnacle

Pillar

core

Foothold cornerstone

Keystone

pinnacle$5000 +Donors providing our

Culminated successleslie and michael Connelly1335 Foundation

keystone$1000- $4,999Donors providing our

Cohesive stabilityTim and Holly Cashinmartha lantz and Kim mackieJoAnn and Carl meyerliz and John sjaastadDavid Vicksta

pillar$500 - $999Donors providing our

principle supportglen and sandy Albertlynette Andersoneric and Jennifer BaumgartnerKathleen CarterJohn and lori FrekotDonna langer-HansenKatie and marshall lichtygary & Barbara miltonrita and Dick sandersonKen and mary sutherlandWilmot Wheeler Foundation

Core$250 - $499Donors providing our

fundamental heartAnonymous (2)David Baunemichaela Diercksmichael & Kate gardos reidsharon T JohnsonKurt and lea langstonTony and Amy mcAllisterAl and Dianne melynchuckDustine and steve meyerDavid and Judy myersKaren palm and lynne sparksron and Tamera robinsonJeff and Ardella schoeneckJim and sarah stowellHonora Winther

Cornerstone$100-$249Donors providing our

firm baseBruce and Judy BernierDon & Betty CashinCeleste CulberthWasil g. Fiedorowelaine Darst and gunda georgBarbara DelaneyCandace gislasonCheryl gradyCynthia grossmarlyn and lorrie JohnsonBirgit and shawn Kelly

Jeannie Kenneyelaine KrenikBrandon and Colleen lichtymary martinHelen raleighsrividya raman and ganapathy

VenkatramanWilliam and Connie riggsKelly and raphael robertDavid sagulageri schererBarbara sobocinskigus and michelle Thompsonnina TuttleWhitney WaldenHolly Weinkoffmichelle Wincell and Bruce o’leary

footholdup to $99Donors providing our

Chief foundationAnonymous (1)sandra Accolasara Barron-leermark BetzlerBirgit e. Birkelandsarah Brewmaureen Cashin, John storm

and sonsBill & susan CochraneAnn ForanJohn FrekotKen & elaine gundersonrita A Halloran

Vanessa Heitsuzanne Hertherelaine Krenickscott and linda lichtypeggy matthies nelsenlucy minnBarbara radkeJames radantTheresa ronningAnelise sawkinsJoni sussmanmaryAnn syersmaryann WattersDon and Carol WilliamsKathleen WhitefordClaire Wright

In-kind supportlogan and sharon Andersonmartha lantzFio macKinneylucy Brown minnCatherine stine

foundation supportKimberly Clark Foundationlifetime Fitness Foundationminnesota state Fairupper midwest shelby Clubus Bancorp Foundation

donations In honorAnonymous In Honor of the Touchstone

residential Team

lynette Anderson In Honor of Helen raleighBruce and Judy Bernier In Honor of shawna sandersDon & Betty Cashin In Honor of Kathy Cashinmaureen Cashin, John storm

and sons In Honor of Kathy Cashinrita A Halloran In honor of Kathy Cashinmarlyn and lorrie Johnson In Honor of marnie Johnsonelaine Krenik In Honor of Kathy Cashinlucy minn In Honor of DeDe Van slykeBarbara radke In Honor of Intentional

CommunitiesKen and mary sutherland In honor of Kathy CashinDavid VickstaIn Honor of patricia Carolan

donations in MemoryHelen raleigh In memory of Arline raleighWilliam and Connie riggsIn memory of Cynthia riggsDavid sagulaIn memory of Cynthia riggsrita and Dick sanderson In memory of scott sanderson

pAge 5 | TouCHsTone menTAl HeAlTH

Thank you donorsYour support helps Touchstone serve as a guide and supporting presence for our clients as they travel their paths of hope, healing and well-being.January 1, 2009 – December 31, 2009

Thank you Touchstone mental Health Board of Directors and Host Committee members for making our may 25, 2010 “Hope Blooms” Breakfast event possible.

This energizing and inspiring women’s breakfast event will be held at The Depot renaissance minneapolis Hotel from 7:30 a.m. – 9:00 a.m. in the great Hall. Funds raised at this event will make Touchstone’s healing services possible across our six programs.

If you are interested in helping hope bloom, please contact Jennifer Baumgartner, Development Director at 612-767-2161.

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MissionTouchstone mental Health inspires hope, healing and well-being.

VisionTouchstone mental Health is a center of excellence, providing quality programs, services and products to assure that people living with mental illness can enjoy the highest quality of life and achieve their greatest personal potential. Touchstone builds on its history of innovation to deepen, grow and sustain its programs to meet existing and emerging needs.

organizational excellence is enhanced through:• effective strategic alliances• Quality staff and leadership• Increased visibility

and is supported by:• updated technology• Diversified base of funding


heLp hope bLooM on May 25Th

“where flowers bloom, so does hope.”

– Lady Bird Johnson

Documents

Spring 2010