VOL. 7, ISSUE 4 December 2014

the Bert Nash CommunityN E W S L E T T E R

200MAINE STREET � LAWRENCE, KS 66044 � (785) 843-9192 � www.bertnash.orgSince 1950, the Bert Nash Community Mental Health Center has advanced the mental health of the Douglas Countycommunity through comprehensive behavioral services responsive to evolving need and changing environments.

When Jen-nifer Shawvisited the

new Sandra J. ShawCommunity HealthPark for the first time,she noticed somethingabout the people walk-ing on the nature trail.

They had smiles ontheir faces.

“It was such a joy tosee that,” Jennifer said.

Which is exactly whather momwould havewanted.

Lawrence’s newestcity park, which in-cludes the Outside for aBetter Inside Trail, wasnamed in honor of Jen-nifer’s mom, Sandra,the longtime CEO atthe Bert Nash Commu-nity Mental HealthCenter.

“I’m not sure Mumwould havewanted a park named after her, but shewould want what the park is about — aplace of learning and solitude and joy,”Jennifer said.

Jennifer, who lives in Anchorage,Alaska, returned to Lawrence, alongwith her husband, Tim Peltier, for thepark dedication Oct. 18. Other familymembers also attended, includingAaronWitt (Rochester, N.Y.) andLaura Bogart (Lawrence), the childrenof DougWitt, who was married to San-dra Shaw. Doug worked side-by-sidewith Sandra at Bert Nash for nearly 30years.

The occasion of the park dedicationbrought family members together fromdifferent parts of the country to cele-brate the lives of Sandra and Doug andthe impact of their work on the BertNash Center as well as the community.

Sandra and Doug had different stylesand personalities. She was a com-manding presence; he was a calmingone. She was the take-charge type; hewas more of a facilitator. But together,they made quite a team.

“MyMomwas a force to be reckonedwith, while Doug was a master atbringing light and wisdom and calm tosituations, while remaining almost in-visible,” Jennifer Shaw said. “Both ofthemwere incredibly wise and gentlepeople.”

Starting in 1971, when she becamedirector of Children’s Services, SandraShaw played a significant leadershiprole at Bert Nash. The Center grewfrom nine to 179 employees during hertenure. Sandra served as executive di-rector and later CEO from 1979 untilher retirement in 2001. She died inNovember 2010.

“What do I miss the most?Everything,” Jennifer Shawsaid about her mom. “I couldtalk to her about anything.She and Doug were truly thebest listeners. I just miss thejoy of spending time withthem.”

DougWitt held many rolesduring his time at the Center:clinical psychologist, directorof Children’s Services, Out-patient Services Director andClinical Director. He died inDecember 2013.

The Bert Nash Center do-nated the property for thepark to the city. The park islocated at 138 Alabama, onland northeast of the Center.Bert Nash purchased theproperty using money from afund established to honorSandra’s longtime leadershipto the Center.

“I want to say how proudwe are to make a gift of this

property to the people in our commu-nity,” Bert Nash CEODavid Johnsonsaid during the dedication. “Already Isee children and adolescents over herewith clinicians from Bert Nash. TheSandra J. Shaw Community HealthPark is now part of our treatment mi-lieu.”

The morning of the park dedicationwas a picture-perfect Kansas fall day.

“We couldn’t have asked for a betterday,” Jennifer Shaw said. “I under-stand we have Pat (Patricia RoachSmith, Bert Nash chief operating offi-cer) to thank for that; she was incharge of the weather.”

Community leaders and former col-leagues of Sandra Shaw and DougWitt’s attended the park dedication.

Shaw Park is ‘a place of joy’

Jennifer Shaw, right,with her sister Laura (Witt) Bogart andAaronWitt,celebrated not only the dedication of a new park but the lives of theirparents Sandra Shaw and DougWitt.

PLEASETURNTO PAGE 4

PAGE 2 THE BERT NASH COMMUNITY

Mental Health First Aid train-ing works. Evenmore, itcan be a lifesaver.

Literally.

Just ask Doug Stephens, whoserves on the Bert Nash GoverningBoard of Directors. Bert Nash wasone of seven test sites across thecountry chosen to start MentalHealth First Aid training in 2008.More than 1,100 Douglas Countyresidents have been trained, includ-ing Stephens.

Just as CPR training helps alayperson with nomedical traininglearn life-saving skills, MentalHealth First Aid helps a person withno clinical background know how tointervene when someone is experi-encing a mental health crisis, suchas contemplating suicide.

In 2012, that’s what Stephens hadto do.

“I had a phone call from amanwho said he knewme and had goneto school with my younger sisters,”Stephens said. “He said he had always re-memberedme in a nice way, that heheard I was easy to talk to and that Imight be able to help him with a real es-tate problem.”

Stephens, whose family had owned alongtime real estate company inLawrence, had counseled other men dur-ing and after the mortgage and financialcrisis when the real estate market bubbleburst.

“Manymen were coming to me duringthat time who were losing their busi-nesses and were on the verge of declaringbankruptcy. Some had not yet had thecourage to even tell their wives and fami-

lies,” Stephens said. “Most just wanted totalk to another man who would listen. Iused theMental Health First Aid trainingto help identify and encourage men whomight benefit frommore intensive help.”

When Stephens met with the man in2012, the man had lost his job, had re-ceived an eviction notice and would behomeless within the month. He was alsosuffering from a terminal illness, had noinsurance, no money, was divorced andhad lost a child in a freak accident. Infact, the day Stephens met with the manwas the anniversary of his daughter’sdeath.

“I asked him if he was thinking about

killing himself, something we wereencouraged to do inMental HealthFirst Aid training,” Stephens said.“He answered that he was.”

Stephens asked the man if he hada plan. The man said he had a gunin his car, had written a suicide let-ter and was planning to drive out tohis favorite spot at Lone Star Lakeand kill himself.

“I tried to encourage him that hewasn’t alone, that he could get helpfor what he was going through,”Stephens said. “I offered to go withhim right then to see someone. Hesaid he appreciated it and asked togo to the restroom.”

When the man didn’t return,Stephens asked his staff if he hadleft. He had. Stephens tried callingthe man’s cell phone, but there wasno answer. Stephens immediatelydialed 911. A Douglas County Sher-iff’s officer found the man at LoneStar Lake — alive — and took him toa medical facility for evaluation andhelp.

TheMental Health First Aid trainingStephens received gave him the knowl-edge and confidence to act — and ask thetough questions — when someone heknew was going through amental healthcrisis.

“Mental Health First Aid doesn’t qual-ity me to do anything more than to stepout of my comfort zone and ask thetough questions we don’t always feelcomfortable in asking to people who arehurting, and to encourage them to getthe help that we know is there,” Stephenssaid. “I encourage everyone to get thistraining.”

MHFAmakes critical difference

Bert Nash board member Doug Stephens has put hisMental Health FirstAid training to work.

January 2015 (Tuesdays) 6, 13, 20, 27 (4-6 pm) MHFA for adultsFebruary 2015 (Mondays) 2, 9, 16, 23 (4-6 pm) MHFA for adults who work with youthMay 2015 (Tuesdays) 5, 12, 19, 26 (4-6 pm) MHFA for adultsJune 8, 2015 8am-5pm;MHFA for adults who work with youthSeptember 2015 (Tuedays) 8, 15, 22, 29 (4-6 pm) MHFA for adultsOctober 2015 (Mondays) 5, 12, 19, 26 (4-6 pm) MHFA for adultsClasses cost $30 per person; which covers 8-hour instruction, a manual, and snacks.All classesare held at the Bert Nash Center, 200 Maine Street, Lawrence, KS. To sign up for a MHFA class,please email talktobert@bertnash.org, or for more information, visit bertnash.org.20

15Classes

THE BERT NASH COMMUNITY PAGE 3

Friends, supporters Celebrate Bert Nash

Lauren Parsons sang "BecauseYou Loved Me" at the Nov. 12 Celebrate Bert Nash.Thetheme of the event was "CourageousVoices."

From, left, Janet Riley-Luther, JudyWrightand LaRrisa Chambers.

Jackie Lira andTJ Reyes with their sonDeacon.

From left,AliceAnn Johnston,KellyWelchand Don Johnston.

Hank Booth,Amy Booth and Chloe O'Dell.

Wes Smith,Charles Branson and KathyBranson.

Sidney Sutton,Tod Sutton and JudyBrynds.

Mail to 200Maine St., Suite A, Lawrence, KS 66044For questions, contact Cindy Hart at 785-830-1701 or to make a secure online deposit go to www.bertnash.org

Please list my name as: ______________________________________________________________________________________________

Address: ____________________________________________________________

City: ________________________________________________________________

State: ____________________________________________Zip ______________

Phone: ______________________________________________________________

Email: ______________________________________________________________

� My check is enclosed � Credit CardPlease make check payable to: The Bert Nash Center. Your gift is 100% tax deductible. Thank you!

Visa/MC # ______________________________________________________________CVC Code ____________Exp. Date ____________

Amount Enclosed

� $2,500 Silver Society� $1,000 Circle of Leaders

� $500 Circle of Light� $250 Circle of Light� $100 Circle of Light� Other______________

PIONEER CLUB RECOGNITION

Thank you for all your support in 2014. Please consider Bert Nashin your end-of-year giving. Every donation makes a difference!

PAGE 4 THE BERT NASH COMMUNITY

GoverningBoard of DirectorsBarbara BallardFrank DeSalvoReed DillonJane FevurlySteve Glass (Chair)Don GrosdidierSue HackDavid JohnsonCindy MaudeKen McGovernBob MorseElizabeth SheilsDoug Stephens

Endowment TrusteesBeverly BillingsBrad BurnsideSteve GlassCarol HattonKelvin HeckAlice Ann JohnstonDavid JohnsonCindy MaudeMichael McGrewRachel MongerLinda Robinson (Chair)Gary SollarsBeth StellaMikeTreanorKellyWelchJudyWrightInvestment CommitteeChris AndersonCarolyn SheltonChuckWarnerKellyWelch (Chair)JideWintoki

BERT NASH CENTER200 Maine StreetLawrence, KS 66044(785) 843-9192bertnash.org

Besides Bert Nash CEO Johnson,LawrenceMayor Mike Amyx also spoke,as did JohnMcGrew, founder of Outsidefor a Better Inside — an advocacy groupthat promotes outdoor activities as a wayto improve mental and physical health foryouth. Jennifer Shaw and Laura Bogartspoke on behalf of the families.

“What a special day this is for Lawrenceand Sandi’s initiative she started so manyyears ago,” said McGrew, who grew up inthe area of the park. “Sandra Shaw’s life ofservice to our community inspired thisdream of a community health park. TheBert Nash gift of this landmade the parkidea possible. And the Sunflower Founda-tion put their stamp of approval on theconstruction of our Outside for a BetterInside Trail by awarding us a grant.”

For members of the Shaw andWitt fam-ilies, the park dedication — and the cele-bration of Sandra and Doug’s lives andwork —was particularly emotional.

“I was really touched by all of the com-ments and personal stories people had,”

Jennifer Shaw said. “That’s what makesthe memories of Mum and Doug becomeliving memories for me. The opportunityto be able to celebrate with the whole com-munity is something I will remember for areally long time.”

“It was a fantastic opportunity to cele-brate Dad and Sandi,” AaronWitt said.“As their kids growing up, it wasn’t alwaysas obvious how special they were to otherpeople, so this was really gratifying.”

“The dedication was a wonderful oppor-tunity to recognize Dad and Sandi,” LauraBogart said. “It was a good reminder oftheir commitment to community and peo-ple.”

Because of their parents, the children ofSandra Shaw and DougWitt have alwayshad a connection with the Bert Nash Cen-ter. Now there is a city park named forSandra Shaw.While it is her name that ap-pears on the sign for the new park, SandraShaw and DougWitt were partners inevery sense, and they will always be re-membered for the work they did together.

“The power of the two was greater thanany one of them,” Jennifer Shaw said.“They were a team.”

Members of the Sandra Shaw and DougWitt families gathered for the dedication of the newcity park, located northeast of the Bert Nash Center.

Sandra J. Shaw Park dedicationCONTINUED FROM PAGE 1