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For more information about Labette Center for Mental Health Servicescall 620-421-3770, check out our website at www.lcmhs.com, or followus on Facebook, LinkedIn, Google+ and Twitter!

Problems do not go away. They must be worked through or else theyremain, forever a barrier to the growth and development of the spirit.

M. Scott Peck

Nation of Patriot Tour 2013

On Friday July 12th, 2013 the Nation of Patriot Tour will pass through Parsons carrthe American Flag. LCMHS invites area residents to join us in welcoming the NatioPatriot Tour to Parsons by lining the sidewalks of Main Street. LCMHS employees

be located at the corner of 16th and Main to hand out ags to participants. Throug

tour, which travels the continental United States over 100 days, the group honors aAmericas Armed Forces, past, present and fallen, as well as their families. The gpasses through Parsons on their way from Joplin, MO to Wichita, KS.

This is the 4th year Labette Center has welcomed the riders as they pass through ParThey should be arriving in Parsons at approximately 10:45am with plans to arrive

Ernestos, 200 North Central Avenue, at 11:00am to stop for lunch. The riderswill enter town on Main Street and drive through to the corner of Cen-

tral and Main, turning on Central to arrive at Ernestos.

It is an honor for the people of Parsons and La-bette County to have this opportunity toshow our gratitude and respect to those

who are serving, or have served us in theArmed Forces, LCMHS Executive Di-

rector Matthew Atteberry added. LabetteCenter for Mental Health Services is proud to

welcome the Nation of Patriot riders as theytravel through the area.

The Nation of Patriots was formed to provide -nancial support to the families of wounded men and women that volunteered their

in the preservation, protection and future of The United States. The organizationformed under the idea that the people must honor service men and women, espec

those wounded in their servitude to our country. An independent, non partisan, 50non prot organization that draws strength from patriotic Americans from all ove

country, the Nation of Patriots strives to launch major campaigns on a national levpromote the awareness of the physical, emotional, and economic misfortune that woed veterans and their families are living with today and everyday.

For more information on the Nation of Patriots tour, visit www.nationofpatriots.org

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Finding Recovery, A 36 Year Journey . . . . . .

(The name of the individual in this story has been changed to protect their identity. The

name Mary is a ctitious name, with no connection to the individual discussed.)

In the 70s, it was fairly common for teenagers to experiment with substances. Combined

with the peer pressures that go hand in hand with high school and the events taking place

during the 70s, Mary was no different than many other teenagers and found herself ex-

perimenting with drugs. She could typically nd opportunities to participate in drug use after school func

or even during them. By her early 20s, experimentation had begun turning into addiction which would

to change her life in more ways than she could imagine.

Mary was raised in a strong Christian home, in which the dangers of drug use had been heavily discussed

there always seemed to be ways to justify using. She had been able to nd bible passages that she felt, a

time, gave permission to use marijuana, and other substances. During the height of her 36 year addictio

recalled using a wide variety of substances, including marijuana, opium, hash, and LSD. The drug use ha

pacted the lives of her four children as well as her own. They became challenged by her continued habit.

were unable to invite friends over because there would be too high a risk of them nding out about the dru

and smelling the odor of the drugs in the home. During this period, there became a time when a new hompurchased. This home represented a new start and a new surrondings. Before the children were taken

the home, Mary and her then husband spent time constructing a secret room off the master bedroom in

to grow marijuana. There, in the secret room, they were able to grow their own marijuana for many years

children were constantly reminded not to tell anyone about the drug use taking place or the events in the h

To this day, Mary reported, her daughter suffers from anxiety attacks when she hears police sirens. A

point, during a search with drug dogs at her sons high school, his locker was targeted because the dogs

the smell of marijuana on his coat. As adults, and parents themselves, her children utilize the stories o

mothers addiction to inuence their own teenage children to avoid substance use.

Mary rst began considering the need to quit using substances during her second marriage, when her an

husband would argue over the monetary cost of the drugs. She would feel that the money would be better

taking care of the four children she was responsible for. Arguments would inevitably ensue. He wouldtime to time, attempt to quit, however when he would relapse, so would she.

Through the years she suffered multiple health issues due to the drug use. Her veins became unusable for

cal staff, due to the needles used to inject narcotics into her system. Because of that, she had to have a p

nent port placed in her chest. She began to need regular physician care for her medical needs. At her m

ofce, her physician created a contract which stated they were able to randomly drug test her due to bei

prescription narcotic substance. Because of her history of usage, the physician needed to try to ensure a

of safety for her while under his care and being prescribed these medications. During a routine ofce vis

was tested, and failed. In light of discovering the drug use, he advised her that she would have to stop usi

substances or he would have to stop treating her. At this point in her life, she had returned to church. Fi

strength in her faith and her church family, she used the substance that had held her prisoner for 36 yeathe last time. On December 31st, 2012 at the stroke of midnight, armed with a picture of her recently dec

husband and the will power to move on, she smoked her last joint.

Today Mary celebrates her sobriety. Being clean for over 180 days has been able to give her a new outlo

life, her family and her surroundings. For the rst time in 36 years she was able to entertain house gu

womens group from her church. This was something she had never been able to do for fear of someone

ing out about her life style. She no longer has to worry about putting up items associated with her drug us

is now freely able to enjoy time with her grandchildren without the fear of them nding items that were

related. Mary does have times where she becomes lonely. By stopping her substance use, she had also l

of the friends she had made through using. However, she feels the rewards of being sober, are far better.

attributes her recovery success to having access to a nding the way back to her faith, a good recovery pla

the support she has received through Labette Center for Mental Health Services.

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Now nd us in even more places on the web! bette Center can be found on Facebook, Tter, LinkedIn, Google+, and Google BlogAnd dont forget to check our website as w

Update and Report

February 2013 to June 21, 2013

The My Family Labette Program has completed 61 out of

68 referrals to services. Below is an overview of the pro-

gram demographics for February to June 21, 2013.

For more information on Labette Centers My Family

bette program, visit www.lcmhs.com or call 620-421-3

Labette Center Sends Staff to Knoxville

TN for Integrated Care Training

n May 2nd and 3rd, Executive Director Matthew At-berry, Medical Director Dr. Mark Haslett, and DirectorBusiness and Financial Services Sandra Dickerson at-

nded meetings in Knoxville, TN in response to beingwarded a planning grant from the Sunower Founda-

n. The purpose of this planning grant is that it willused toward establishing an integrated care model tobette Center in order to provide integrated care treat-

ent to individuals who suffer from sever and persistentental illness. The meetings which were held at Chero-e Health Systems, one of the innovators in the eldintegrated care, provided a unique experience for theee managers which will help guide them through the

ocess of planning and establishing integrated care atbette Center.

. Haslett, who is very much an advocate of enhancingmmunication and improving medical treatment for pa-nts, was excited to attend the meetings. He feels thategrating behavioral health care with regular medical

re is . . . much more than just having each side ofe equation know what the other side is doing. It is ailosophy of treatment that views the patient as a wholerson and not just as a group of behaviors or symp-ms.

bette Center is excited to continue toward the goalimplementing integrated care and providing the best

ssible services to the clients we serve.

Leadership Labette istaking applications fo2013-14 Program sion. Leadership Laban eight-month commleadership develomen

gram with a strong focus on Kansas Leadership Centers Kansas munity Leadership Initiative (KCLI) curriculum and CompetenciCivic Leadership. Participants have an opportunity to learn more themselves and their communities and is designed to provide an sphere in which participants develop leadership skills useful at bus

community, and personal levels. Leadership Labette began in 19Leadership Parsons and has evolved over the years to meet the chaneeds of our community. Leadership Labette is open to all adult conity participants of greater Labette County. Applications must be suted by August 22, 2013. Nomination is not required, but suggestioappreciated. Class size is limited to 20, and participants will be accat the discretion of the Leadership Labette board.

Program applications are available from Labette Center for Mental HServices at 1730 Belmont, PO Box 258, Parsons, Kansas, 67357. Reyours by email at monica@lcmhs.com or call 620-421-3770 or 8003770. You may also download the information from the LCMHS wat www.lcmhs.com. For detailed information about the program,

sessions and activities, and other leadership development opportuncheck out Leadership Labette on Facebook, or our website, www.lshiplabette.org.

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tteCenterforMentalHealthServices,Inc.POBox2581730BelmontParsons,KS67357

www.lcmhs.com

Postage

Mental Health First Aid Course

August 8th & 9th

Labette Center for Mental Health Services will be holding an A

Mental Health First Aid course on Thursday August 8th and Fr

August 9th from 8:00am to 12:15pm each day. The course w

held at Labette Centers main facility located at 1730 Belmont

sons KS in the multi-purpose room. To register for the August M

tal Health First Aid Training, individuals can visit our webs

http://www.lcmhs.com/Mental-Health-First-Aid-65456.asp or

620-421-3770 800-303-3770.

Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) is a ground breaking prog

which has been endorsed by President Obama. Through an 8

interactive public education program, individuals are able to

how to identify, understand, and respond to signs of mental il

and substance use disorders. Labette Center is proud to be ab

provide both the adult and youth versions of this course.

For more information about the Mental Health First Aid prog

visit: http://www.mentalhealthrstaid.org