Expanding Crisis Services in Rural Areas
Thursday 8/26/2021 11:00 AM - 12:30 PM CST
The presenters will discuss previous interventions used by Crisis Intervention Teams and Residential Stabilization Facilities, current Best Practices, and CIT expansion in Ohio. They will also discuss implementation of technological systems, collaboration with law enforcement officers and emergency medical services, creating a Mobile Crisis Unit, and stabilization and diversion efforts to private hospitals from state facilities. They will discuss MOUs for continuity of care with mental health patients and private hospitals, timely follow up, and outcomes of current best practices.
Presented by:
Chaz Canter, LPCC
Chaz started his career at Appalachian Behavioral Healthcare in 2011 while a Sophomore at Ohio University in the Psychology bachelor's program. Once awarded a bachelor's degree from Ohio University, Chaz began his career at Hopewell Health Centers as a Behavioral Specialist at a Youth Partial Hospitalization Program working with youth in crisis while also entering his master's Program in Clinical Mental Health Counseling at Ohio University. After completion of his master's Program, Mr. Canter then went on to work in Crisis Services at Hopewell Health Centers in 2016 as a crisis counselor conducting pre-screens to inpatient hospitalization for O'bleness Memorial Hospital, Hocking Valley Hospital, HHC Athens Clinic and Southeast Ohio Regional Jail. In January of 2018, Chaz was promoted to Crisis Coordinator for Athens, Hocking, and Vinton counties implementing current processes, overseeing the crisis team and building relationships with community partners. 3 years later, Mr. Canter was promoted to Director of Crisis Services for Athens, Hocking, Vinton, Gallia, Jackson and Meigs counties, which is his current position held.
Margaret Sterling, LPCC-S, LICDC
Margaret obtained a Master's in Community Counseling from Ohio University in 2004, and since then has been working with Hopewell Health Centers in the Crisis Program. For 15 years, she was in the role of crisis counselor, conducting prescreens to determine need for inpatient care, coordinating with both state and private hospitals, local ERs and law enforcement. She also has done counseling in the Southeast Ohio Regional Jail, and currently is a member of the Athens, Hocking, and Vinton County Jail Diversion Board, as well as one of three leaders of the training team for our local CIT program. She moved into the role of Director of Adam-Amanda Mental Health Rehabilitation Center 3 years ago, and created a pilot program designed to assist individuals with SPMI to stabilize post-hospitalization, to learn independent living skills, to coordinate care with their home counties, and to return to their county of residence once able to manage symptoms and have treatment teams that will follow them into the future. In addition, she manages the local Crisis Stabilization Unit (housed within Adam-Amanda), manages the Crisis Hotline, and is the Director of a new group home in Athens County for adults with mental illness. She received the Mental Health Advocate of the Year in Athens County approximately 2 years ago, and recently was awarded the Mental Health Champion of the year by NAMI Ohio.
