from touchstone mental health

Kind Words

2829 un iver s i ty avenue s esu i t e 400

m inneapol i s mn 5 5 4 1 4 - 3 2 3 0

SeaSon of reneWal Inspiration and hope have arrived, and all of us at Touchstone Mental Health are experiencing the benefits this time of year has to offer – warm weather, green grass below our feet and leaves on the trees, as well as the longer daylight hour benefits of vitamin D and increased energy. Clients and staff alike are taking nature’s cue and getting outside to enjoy all that the weather has to offer.

New beginnings is the theme in our Assisted Living and Intentional Community programs where new leadership staff have brought their fresh ideas to our teams, residents and community members. Our Care Coordination program is expanding and supporting more clients in the community with face-to-face direct support helping to better meet clients’ physical, mental and social wellness needs. Our Intensive Community Rehabilitation Services and Residential Treatment have also expanded group service offerings.

Agency wide we are expanding our clients, residents and community members’ holistic well-being by incorporating additional layers of diabetes education and support as well as helping clients as they work to connect with primary health care physicians.

We embraced Mother nature on Saturday, June 16th, for our first outdoor yoga event in the Seward neighborhood, as we collaborated with the Gorilla Yogis for a morning of health, renewal and fundraising to support our Health and Wellness Programs.

Our much anticipated Rising Cedar Apartments and Health and Wellness Center break ground this month and we are entering a year of construction, development and opportunity.

All of these things are taking place in our 30th summer season of service in the Twin Cities. It is our 30th year of dedication to the thousands of men and women in our community who live with a serious mental illness. We look forward to the opportunities the season and the year will bring, and wish you a year of hope, health and well-being.

Over the coming months we want to communicate with you in a “green friendly” style. We invite you to sign up to receive our electronic updates that include construction, program and funding news around our Rising Cedar Project. Additionally we will be sharing increased health and wellness articles through our home page – so please visit frequently.

thank you for your support of touchstone’s clients, residents and community members.

Inside this issue

Season of Renewal 1

Friends in Motion 2

Wellness Super Heroes 3

Food for Wellness 3

Season of Well-Being 4

VOLUME 12

ISSUE 1

SUMMER 2012

PHOTO: LIz WEST

friendS in MotionPhysical activity is at the heart of feeling good and taking care of oneself. As three of Touchstone’s Intentional Community members can attest, it is also a creator of friendships and social supports.

Melissa, Lauren and Colleen first met in February 2009 at a Touchstone Holistic Healing group. Melissa and Lauren, who happened to be neighbors in the same apartment complex, started taking frequent walks around the Seward neighborhood to get out and get moving. Melissa who is an avid runner, personal trainer and coach extended the invitation to Lauren, mutual acquaintance Suzan and to Colleen asking if they would want to meet at the YWCA to work out together. The ladies began meeting regularly and formed a friendship on the treadmills.

Over the years the regular meet-ups at the gym have transitioned into supporting one another as they set, work toward and achieve personal fitness goals including 5-Ks, half marathons, marathons and triathlon completions.

Through it all, they feel that the friendships, social connection and physical benefits achieved by all have helped them through times of struggle with their varying mental illness symptoms.

As Melissa shared, “We feel better, have better moods, have more energy, are more positive and are more relaxed/calm from working out. We have supported each other in our fitness goals and overall health and well-being.”

Even though it was their serious mental illness diagnosis that provided the opportunity to meet, it is far from the focus of their relationships. “We also began to socialize outside of working out as well,” the women shared. “We regularly get together, share healthy and sometimes not so healthy meals, travel together, and watch certain shows and sporting events. We are all very supportive of each other. We can talk about anything and help each other through life’s challenges. It is a wonderful thing, our friendship.”

This summer try the Walk for Wellness Challenge… start small. See if you can walk outside. Find a path to walk, even twice a week for 10-minutes. Your walk can take place in the city or in the suburbs, on a bike path or around one of our 10,000 lakes. Invite a friend, family member or neighbor to join you. Set a goal and together share your success. Email your health and wellness success story to healthandwellness@touchstonemh.org. The benefits are tremendous – and it starts with the first step.

Acupuncture, so calm and niceJust like tea with cinnamon and spice.

So relaxing and peaceful,a time to relax and reflect.

So many different thoughts,many feelings and aspects.

A time to speak,a time to be great.

Poem by Debbie, Touchstone Mental Health acupuncture group participant. January 2012

TOUCHSTOnE MEnTAL HEALTH | PAGE 2

board MembersLeslie Connelly, Chair Katie Lichty, Esq.Leigh Erin Irons JoAnn MeyerMerrie Kaas, Ph.D. John SjaastadDonna Langer-Hansen Darrell Washington

Management teamMartha Lantz, LICSW, MBAExecutive Director

Michelle Wincell O’Leary, LICSWDirector of Operations

Lynette AndersonFinance and Administration Director

Jennifer BaumgartnerDevelopment Director

Bharati Acharya, LPCCDirector of Case Management

Deb Hesli, LICSWDirector of Assisted Living

DeDe VanSlyke, LPCCTreatment Director, Residential Treatment

Rebecca Spartz, LICSWCare Coordination Director

Terri Berg-nelson, Rn, BSn, PHnDirector of Health and Wellness Services

editorial StaffJennifer Baumgartner Martha Lantz

ProgramsaSSiSted living aPartMentS7376 Bass Lake Roadnew Hope, Mn 55428-3861(763) 536-8134assistedlivinginfo@touchstonemh.org

care coordination2829 University Ave Ste. 400Minneapolis Mn 55414(612) 874-6409carecoordinationinfo@touchstonemh.org

intenSive reHabilitation and caSe ManageMent ServiceS2829 University Avenue SE, Suite 400Minneapolis, Mn 55414-3230(612) 874-6409intensiverehabilitationinfo@touchstonemh.org

intentional coMMunitieS310 East 38th Street, Suite 223Minneapolis, Mn 55409(612) 767-3881intentionalinfo@touchstonemh.org

reSidential treatMent2516 E. 24th StreetMinneapolis, Mn 55406-1209(612) 722-1892residentialinfo@touchstonemh.org

food for WellneSS in neW HoPeThe team at Touchstone Assisted Living has formed The Wellness Task Force. They provide a holistic team approach of healthy lifestyle education to the residents of their community. After brainstorming ideas of ways to motivate residents to participate in healthy lifestyle changes, the Wellness Task Force constructed the fruit and vegetable nutrition program.

The fruit and vegetable nutrition program provides opportunities to taste and learn about new foods, in hopes that residents will increase their daily intake of fruits and vegetables.

The overarching goal is to educate everyone, residents and staff alike, on the importance of adding fruits and vegetables to our diet, healthy eating habits, providing fresh produce to eat, and to reach out to those residents who usually do not attend other social groups and activities.

Components of the program include “Fruit of the Week” education and tasting, grocery store scavenger hunts, in home cooking classes, and “Vegetable of the Week”. The Wellness Task Force is very excited about this new program and we are eager to see positive results throughout Touchstone Assisted Living! Feel free to enjoy a new resident favorite – Oven Fried zucchini Sticks.

a simple, fun, and healthy recipe for you to try!

HealtHy HoMe HeroeSOn June 28, 2012 Touchstone Mental Health realized a dream four years in the making… we closed and broke ground on our new Rising Cedar apartments with adjoining Health and Wellness Center. Just as it has taken a community of mental health, housing, county, state, physical health, business and philanthropic leaders to realize this dream, it will take the support of thousands more for us to reach the grand opening.

To date, through collaboration we have secured the support of 11.7 million of the needed 13.8 million dollars to not only provide shelter, but create 40 homes – to not only provide space for physical health assessments but a healing center with fitness equipment, nutrition counseling and therapeutic recreation activities.

to reach the grand opening goals – we need you!

Healthy Home Heroes and Wellness WarriorsWe are seeking 40 Healthy Home Heroes who will transition 40 empty apartments into furnished community building homes including a bed with sheets, table, couch and basic kitchen and bathroom essentials. We need 40 Wellness Warriors to provide integrated health care access to those who currently go without. Warriors will help make physical health assessment equipment, stationary bikes, nutrition class materials, horticulture therapy materials, health resource equipment, medical exam tables, individual and group healing services, diabetes management support and senior wellness programs possible.

Healthy Home Heroes and Wellness Warriors pledge their support at the $5,000 level to make a profound impact over the next 2 years.

To learn more about Healthy Home Heroes, Wellness Warriors, or other ways to be a part of the Rising Cedar Success story providing homes for 40 people in needs and health and wellness services to thousands, please contact our development team at 612-767-2161 or jbaumgartner@touchstonemh.org or visit www.touchstonemh.org/capitalcampaign.

oven-fried Zucchini Sticksingredients:Canola or olive oil cooking spray½ cup whole-wheat flour½ cup all-purpose flour2 tablespoons cornmeal1 teaspoon salt½ teaspoon freshly ground pepper1 ½ pounds zucchini, (about 3 medium), cut into ½-by-3-inch sticks2 large egg whites, lightly beaten

directions:Preheat oven to 475°F. Coat a large baking sheet with cooking spray. Coat all exposed sides with cooking spray.

Combine flours, cornmeal, salt and pepper in a large sealable plastic bag. Dip zucchini in egg white, shake in the bag to coat, and arrange, not touching, on the baking sheet.

Bake on the center rack for 10 minutes. Turn the zucchini and coat any floury spots with cooking spray. Continue to bake until golden and just tender, about 8 to 10 minutes more. Serve hot.

nutritional informationPer serving: 127 calories; 2 g fat (0 g sat , 0 g mono ); 0 mg cholesterol; 23 g carbohydrates; 7 g protein; 4 g fiber; 427 mg sodium; 524 mg potassium.

nutrition Bonus: Potassium (15% daily value).

PAGE 3 | TOUCHSTOnE MEnTAL HEALTH

2829 un iver s i ty avenue s esu i t e 400

m inneapol i s mn 5 5 4 1 4 - 3 2 3 0

Making SuMMer a SeaSon of Well-beingHealth and Wellness Tips from Touchstone Mental Health’s Health and Wellness Director, Terri Berg-Nelson RN, NPH, BS

Summer is here! As we find ourselves outside during the extended daylight hours, there are key health and wellness tips to keep you feeling good from 5:00 a.m. sunrise till 9:00 p.m. sunset.

Hydration – Water is the source of life and it is critical to our physical wellness, especially on hot summer days. A baseline measure of healthy water intake is 6-8, 8 oz glasses of water a day. Most anti-depressants and/or psychotropic medications hinder the body’s ability to regulate its temperature. During the hotter summer months (85 degrees +), this increases the need to consume water, making certain one drinks two 16 oz water bottles of water a day.

SunScreen – If venturing outside, especially between the hours of 10 a.m.- 2 p.m., make certain to apply a sunscreen with a SPF of 30+. Apply before going outside and reapply every hour. Most psychotropic and/or anti-depressants increase the skin’s sensitivity to the sun’s harmful UVA and UVB rays increasing the need for sunscreen and seeking out shade between the hours of 10 a.m.-2 p.m.

tHe tHree l’S – during hot days it is important to remember to wear LOOSE, LIGHT color and LAYERED clothing. This approach will best help regulate body temperature and reflect heat from the body versus attracting heat.

Seeking Cooling Refuge – during days of 85°+ especially when partnered with high humidity it is important to seek cooler temperatures. Air conditioning can be found in public libraries, public malls, movie theatres, etc. Plan your weekly outings to those venues to coincide with the steamiest summer days.

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.

TOUCHSTOnE MEnTAL HEALTH | PAGE 4