Both people who depend on C4 services and the staffwho help them have been on a rollercoaster ride

since July 1, when drastic cuts in the state budget forcedC4 to turn away hundreds of people without insurance orMedicaid. At the time, 30 therapists and eight adminis-trative staff were laid off.

Since then, about 90 percent of C4’s funding formental health and substance use services has beenrestored, but the future remains uncertain. Expertspredict that the state may run out of funds as early asJanuary 2010.

So far, 20 clinical staff members and three administra-tive staff who lost their jobs have been rehired. Despitethis gain, C4 lost funding for some critical programs,including Young Adult Services, which helped adoles-cents and young adults with major mental illness tran-sition to independence.

“We were serving a unique population that wasfalling through the cracks,” observes ShannonGarrison, who coordinated the program that taughtyoung adults life skills such asfinding a job, enrolling in school,and locating affordable housing.

“I’m very sad. We were having alot of success,” said Garrison,adding that two youth advisorpositions were eliminated. C4continues to serve young adults,but without the intensive life skillscomponent.

Also cut was Urban Systems of Care, which offeredafter school and support services to 60 families and chil-dren who lived in the now razed ABLA public housingdevelopment.

The agency’s substance useprograms at C4 RecoveryPoint have been forced toreduce services, due to a25 percent cut in statefunding. As a result, C4 willnot fill two positions lost toattrition, meaning longerwaits for intakes. C4 Re-covery Point will also drasti-cally reduce early interventionservices for individuals onparole.

C4 is now trying to inform1,200 adults and childrenwho lost service on July 1 thatthey can now resume treatment. Staff observes thatgetting the word out is a daunting task.

“Many of our clients don’t have phones or a stableaddress,” explains Michael Scholl, supervisor at C4

Clark, which absorbed the bruntof the cuts. Other especiallyvulnerable clients are undocu-mented immigrants, fearful ofseeking help elsewhere.Besides the logistical challenge of

communicating with clients, thereis the deeper issue of re-engagingthem in treatment.“Our clients had a trusting rela-

tionship with their counselor,” says Scholl. “For many wewere the most significant figure in their lives. People getattached. It’s traumatic to lose your clinician.”

N e w s l e t t e r o f C o m m u n i t y C o u n s e l i n g C e n t e r s o f C h i c a g o

the art of healing Life

STATE FUNDING RESTOREDSERVICES CONTINUE WITH REDUCED STAFF

FALL 2009

Spread the word:C4 is now accepting new

and former clientswith or without insurance

or MedicaidPhone: 773.769.0205

C4 GetsStimulus Funds

p. 3

A Look Back atC4 Miles 2009pp. 4–5

Recovery Talks: Makinga Humane Investment

p. 6

Inside

HEALING VIEWS

From the Desk of Tony Kopera, Ph.D.President and CEO

Keeping Our Mission Alive

2

L ike many other communitymental health agencies, C4

continues to navigate uncertaintimes. The good news is that C4 nowhas about 90 percent of our statefunding restored. The bad news isthat we do not know what willhappen in January, when expertspredict that the state will run out of

The past few months have beenextremely challenging for our staff,our community, and most of all, forthe people who come to us for help.On July 1, more than 1,200 individuals were told they could not accessour services because we were no longer subsidized for sliding fee scales.Instead of human services being provided to people who need them, statesupported services were restricted to those with insurance.

Over the past nine months, we have lost about 70 staff members. Butthe reality is that we have done more with less. When our funding was cutby $1 million in 2009, our staff actually served 1,000 more men, womenand children.

Now that this year’s budget is passed, where are we? We will call backas many of the people who come to us for help as our reduced staff canresponsibly serve. We will advocate for a state budget that providessupport for those needing mental health services, for those suffering fromthe ravages of substance use, and for the victims of sexual violence. Mostof all, we will maintain our mission to serve those who need our helpwhile striving to achieve our vision of healthy communities for all.

www.c4chicago.org

M y name is Doug, and I have amental illness. I go home to my

SRO room, which is already not apleasant place to be. I hear voices, andsometimes I think the people whotalk in the hallway are voices talkingabout me.

Mental illness can manifest itself inways besides voices, such as anxiety,depression and many others. I distractthe voices by attending groups at C4,watching TV, sports and news. I walk tothe park to watch the dogs play.

I hope to be able to be more comfort-able in talking with people from theoutside. It has taken 21 years just to beable to cope and be calm— having nostrings attached to emotions. When youhave mental illness, there can be some-thing taxing your mind a lot.

I am going to be volunteering in thesnack bar so I can get a certificate towork in the community. I already havethe C4 certificate for janitorial work. C4has been great in helping me further myrecovery through counseling, casemanagement, and vocational training.All the groups have helped me, but theones that have helped me the most are:men’s group, yoga and journaling.

I have become a whole person, asmuch as I can truly be, capable ofseeking what I truly want.

Doug A. is enrolled inthe journaling class atC4 Broadway.

“SEEKING WHAT ITRULY WANT”By Doug A.

C4’s annual report for 2009, “Seasons of C4,” wasawarded first place in the statewide communicationcontest sponsored by the Illinois Women’s PressAssociation. For the second straight year, the calendarformat featured original work by C4 artists.

The publication was written by C4’s DevelopmentDepartment, designed by mc2 Communications, andprinted by Hafner Printing Company.

The art of healing Life newsletter received anhonorable mention in the same contest.

“SEASONS” TAKES FIRST

money.

FUNDING NEWS

www.c4chicago.org

Joe Rogowin remembers fillingprescriptions for people seen at

the Edgewater Uptown CommunityMental Health Center back in 1973.Decades later, the Albany Park-bornpharmacist opened Lawrence HouseDrugs, and the small clinic becameCommunity Counseling Centers ofChicago.

“It’s amazing to see how C4 hasgrown,” observes Rogowin, whosefull service pharmacy at the corner ofLawrence and Kenmore has been afixture of the Uptown communitysince 1986.

The bonds between LawrenceHouse Drugs and C4 have grownstronger over time, in part due toRogowin’s sensitivity to issues facedby people struggling with long-termmental illness.

“Mental illness is something thathits all income brackets, but it hitsthe poor more,” observes Rogowin,who says that his staff has gone theextra mile for customers.

“We’ve worked behind the sceneswith people, trying to resolve theirissues with Medicaid so there is nointerruption in their prescriptions,”

explains Rogowin.The pharmacy’s eight full-

time staff includes two phar-macists (besides Rogowin),and two delivery persons.

Lawrence House Drugshas been a good neighbor,having become a loyal donorand sponsor of C4 Miles:Making Strides for MentalHealth.

“C4 fulfills an absoluteneed in our community formental health care that is providedregardless of someone’s income,” saysRogowin.

Customer loyalty has played a bigrole in helping independent LawrenceHouse withstand the pressures of bigchain pharmacies.

“People out of our area still cometo us,” says Rogowin, adding thatLawrence House makes deliveries tothe Loop and even suburbs.

Some customers, including somereceiving services at C4, havebeen filling their prescriptions atLawrence House for over 20 years.

Another key to success has beenLawrence House’s service-oriented

approach and a little patience.“It’s all about the customer,” says

Rogowin. To accommodate thelarge Russian-speaking population,Rogowin fills his shelves with Russianteas and products, besides having astaff member fluent in Russian.

Rogowin credits his success tounconditional support from hismother and father, as well as the“grace of God.” “It’s been more thanhard work and luck,” he says.

Today a significant number ofprescriptions filled at LawrenceHouse are from C4 consumers.“We’ll keep serving the communitytogether for a long time.”

LAWRENCE HOUSE DRUGS: RX FOR SUCCESS

C4 has received federal stimulusfunds to provide mental

health and linkage services to menand women discharged from localpsychiatric hospitals and CookCounty Jail. The $486,000 Com-munity Services Block Grant throughthe American Recovery and Reinvest-ment Act will enable C4 to providetreatment and community linkageservices to low-income adults withmental illness and co-occurring sub-stance use disorders who are beingtreated at community psychiatric

hospitals or incarcerated at Cook

Bruce Seitzer, C4 chief clinicalofficer, observed that the high riskindividuals who will benefit from theseservices often have a poor record ofsuccessfully obtaining care once theyleave the hospital or jail. The stimulusfunds will enable C4 to expand its

linkage services from state institu-tions to include private hospitalsand Cook County Jail.

C4 has also received a $50,000grant from The John D. and

Catherine T. MacArthur Foundationto support these linkage efforts whichthe agency hopes will prevent home-lessness as well as reduce recidivism athospitals and Cook County Jail.The Chicago Coalition for theHomeless estimates that 40 percent ofhomeless persons in Chicago sufferfrom mental illness.

C4 AWARDED $486,000 IN STIMULUS FUNDS

Help Heal a Life…Donate online at www.c4chicago.org

3

County Jail.

HIGHLIGHTS

www.c4chicago.org

More than 600 people—runners, walkers and volun-

teers—converged on the lakefront atMontrose Harbor on May 3 for thesecond annual C4 Miles: MakingStrides for Mental Health.

Repeating his first place perform-ance from last year was JanuszSarnicki of Chicago, who finishedthe four-mile course with a time of22:03.9, barely 20 seconds over his21:41 finish last year.

“I came back to win again,” saidSarnicki, who placed 26th in theChicago Marathon.

The top female finisher wasChelsey Clammer, 26, of Chicago,who clocked in with a time of26:49.6 and finished 6th overallamong the 225 runners.

Clammer, who was diagnosedwith bipolar disorder at the age of16, is completing her master’s inwomen’s studies at Loyola University.

“I wanted to do a short race andI was also looking for a cause,”said Clammer. (See opposite page.)

As top male and female winners,both Sarnicki and Clammer receivedawards honoring former C4 boardpresidents Lannie LeGear and FrankAlschuler.

LeGear, a clinical psychologistand long time advocate for children’smental health, died last March. An

architect by profession,Alschuler worked toestablish C4 in 1972and has lent hisexpertise when theagency acquired newbuildings. He continuesto serve on the board.

For the second con-secutive year, WGN

morning sports anchor Pat Tomasuloserved as emcee.

“You’re running for a great cause,”said Tomasulo. “We know that treat-ment works.”

C4 MILES MAKES A STRONG FINISHDraws 600 to Fight Stigma, Raise Funds for Treatment

4

Photos by Charisse M. Linder

HIGHLIGHTS

www.c4chicago.org5

For Chelsey Clammer,being the first female to

cross the finish line at thisyear’s C4 Miles was espe-cially sweet. The 26-year-old Rogers Park resident hadwon top honors at the

Buffalo–Niagara Fallsevent, and finished110th in the ChicagoMarathon.

“I was lookingfor a shorter

race with a goodcause,” explainsClammer, who

was diagnosed with bi-polardisorder at age 16.

Clammer, who typically runs 50miles a week and enters ultra-marathons of over 50 miles, says shehas encountered stigma in her life,notably in the running community.

Usually it’s the language that star-tles her.

“I hear people say that I’m ‘crazy’to run 50 miles,” says the Loyolagraduate student. “When someonedoesn’t understand something, theylabel it as ‘crazy.’”

In a recent team challenge event,she recalls being asked to answer a

riddle mid-way through the race.“The question was ‘What path

does a crazy person take? The answeris a psychopath.”

This June, Clammer completedher graduate thesis on mental illnessand bodywork, investigating thephysical manifestations of emotionalstress.

“Running is a great release forme,” says Clammer, who also cyclesand writes in a journal to help regu-late her moods.You can check out Chelsey’s blog on

running at www.chelseyclammer.wordpress.com.

WINNER’S CLOSE-UP

Special Thank You to our Sponsors (see p.7)

www.c4chicago.org6

C4 HIGHLIGHTS

RETURN ON INVESTMENTby Linda Malstrom, Director, C4 Recovery Point

Twenty years ago I left my job inthe business world after

achieving a master’s in social work.My first job was as a counselor in astate funded substance use outpa-tient treatment program which waspart of a large comprehensive socialservice agency.

When I told people what I didfor a living, they would ask,“Tough work?” I would respondhonestly, “No, it’s a privilege. Ihave had the opportunity to sharewith people their recoveryjourney.” The courage, strengthand resiliency of these individuals isamazing.

Until recently, I awoke each daygrateful and satisfied with thecareer choice I made. However, inthe past few years some of the dailyexcitement I experienced each dayat work has waned. This change isnot due to the fact that more of theclients we serve have complexmultiple problems, though they do,or that the clients are frequentlymandated into treatment by courts,parole and DCFS—many of these

individuals also recover. Instead, Iam worn down by annual budgetcuts—either actual or threatened—and the resulting loss of services we

are able to provide the citizens ofIllinois who are in need of behavioralhealth services. My new task eachday is to determine who is worthy ofhelp, a task I find overwhelming. Is

someone more worthy of treatmentbecause his or her disease hasprogressed to late stage, or should welimit treatment to those individualswith a positive prognosis?

For fiscal year 2010 the State ofIllinois appears to have determinedthat treatment “worthiness” is basedon an individual’s Medicaid or otherinsurance coverage. Our 2010proposed budget for substance usetreatment services for clients withoutMedicaid/insurance has been cut by25 percent. This means we will beproviding services to significantlyfewer clients and limiting adjunctservices such as case managementand psychiatric services.

The problems addressed bycommunity-based social service agen-cies will not disappear just becausewe have stopped providing services.Instead, the problems will become

more acute. Those individuals whowould have received communitymental health and substance usetreatment services will instead betreated in hospitals, emergencyrooms, nursing homes, jails andprisons.

While Illinois struggles finan-cially, we are ignoring one of our bestreturns on investment. For everydollar spent on substance usetreatment services we save at leastseven dollars in terms of healthcare costs, increased productivity,and reductions in accidents. Howcan Illinois afford to be not onlyinhumane, but also penny wise andpound foolish?

Linda (at left) with Mary Olivier, who receives services at C4 Recovery Point

On November 2,C4 will relocate its

substance use servicesto 5961 N. Ridge,Chicago. Watch

www.c4chicago.org formore details.

www.c4chicago.org7

C4 HIGHLIGHTS

When C4 RecoveryPoint was threat-

ened by budget cuts,people helped by itsservices made DVDs todescribe the impactC4 has made on theirlives. Substance use coun-selor Herbert Cobbs,who filmed the inter-views, sent copies toGovernor Quinn andlegislative leaders.

“Most of the peopleyou see in the DVDs werehomeless when they first came to C4,and had been through institutions,jails, and in and out of jobs,” observesCobbs.

Amother of young children who

has been coming to C4 for sevenmonths said the cuts would be devas-tating for her and her family.

“I get help here with my substanceabuse and depression,” she said in the

interview. “This is notlike an AA meetingcoming here, it’s likecoming to your family.”

Another consumerwho lost his wife, homeand job to addictionwas more pointed in hiscriticism of the state’splan to cut funding for250,000 people whodepend on state-fundedmental health andsubstance use services.

“When these legisla-tors go through things, everything isokay. But when it comes to thelittle man, they always want to cut{services},” he said.

DVDS TELL STORIES OF RECOVERY

Worried that afamily member maybe suffering from

depression?

Learn the facts about mental health andwhat you can do to help.

Enroll in Mental Health First Aid, a 12-hour training taught by certified mentalhealth professionals

October 22-23 9 am - 4 pm5710 N. Broadway, ChicagoCost: $150 Some financial assistance available

Future trainings:November 16-17 9 am - 4 pmDecember 10-11 9 am - 4 pm

For more information, contact MartaGomez at 773.765.0824, ormarta.gomez@c4chicago.org

Global Employee BenefitsWalgreensLawrence House DrugsAlbany CareBryn Mawr CareGreenwood CareWilson CareBridgeview BankChicago Lakeshore HospitalJ.N. Morcos Insurance

AgencyWest Bend InsuranceSutcliffe PharmacyTattoo FactoryTiger P. ProductionsUptown Service StationBomberg Property

ManagementEdgewater Community

Council, Inc.Grace Then Beauty

Ministries

Nash Disability LawThe Dugan Family

MediaWGN 9WDRV-The DriveSkylineChicago Journal

In-KindWhole FoodsPompeiBally Total FitnessFleet Feet SportsUnicareCaribou CoffeeTEVAChicago PizzaDJ Gregory MooreCleo the Clown

Special Thanks to our C4 Miles Sponsors!

Several of the C4 Recovery Point Eagles recorded their stories on the DVDs sent tolegislators.

4740 North ClarkChicago, Illinois 60640

773.769.0205www.c4chicago.org

Community Counseling Centers of Chicago

C4’s Board of DirectorsJoyce Dugan, ChairJohn Fitzgerald, Vice ChairAnthony A. Kopera, Ph.D., President*Angela Joiner-Jones, Secretary*Evan Freund, TreasurerFrank AlschulerDeidra Byrd, Esq.Rev. Michael KittSharon PulliamKeith ScottNan Sullivan* Officer not Director

Executive StaffAnthony A. Kopera, Ph.D., President & CEOBruce Seitzer, Chief Clinical OfficerJohn Troy, Chief Administrative OfficerViviana Ploper, Regional DirectorPaul Stieber, Chief Information OfficerBetty Daugherty, Specialized Services DirectorChris Carroll, Specialized Services DirectorCheryl Croll, Human Resources Director

The art of healing Life is produced by C4’sDevelopment Dept.

Marta A. Bailey, Development DirectorMarcy Darin, Assistant Development Directormc2 Communications, Graphic DesignHafner Printing, printer

C4 is funded in part by the IllinoisDepartment of Human Services (IDHS)

Community Counseling Centers ofChicago is a private, non-profitbehavioral health organization.

C4 is accredited by The Joint Commission.

C4’s protests of state cuts in behav-ioral health services were heard

over several media outlets this summer,including NPR, Fox Chicago and CBSNews. Here are the highlights:

• CBS News: Robert Scott, an Uptownresident and C4 consumer, C4 CEOTony Kopera and C4 therapist AudraMassey were interviewed by politicalreporter Mike Flannery for June 26broadcast.

• FOX Chicago: Tony Kopera, SusanKogan, C4 Clark site director, andRobert Scott were interviewed byreporter Anita Padilla in a report airedJuly 7.

You can find links to these broad-casts at www.c4chicago.org.

C4 staff and volunteers have made twotapings on CAN-TV (Channel 19):

• President & CEO Tony Kopera,Specialized Services DirectorChris Carroll, and C4 Miles volunteerMelissa Kaufman discussed mental

illness and stigma in one taping.

• Regional Director Viviana Ploperand Parenting Education DirectorKatharine Bensinger discussed child-hood and adolescent suicide in aSpanish segment. Both shows willbe aired throughout the year. Watchwww.c4chicago.org for details.

• Jae Jin Pak, violence prevention coor-dinator for the Quetzal Center, wasinterviewed for a documentary pro-duced by Community TV (CTV) onpreventing rape culture.

• Volunteer Darlene Fahrenkrog’s long-time contribution to C4’s art therapyservices is described in the Fall issue offorester magazine, the alumni publica-tion of Concordia University.

• Quetzal Center therapist YvetteArnoux and interns Eryn Smith-Moeller and Jessica Carrasquillo werehonored with the 2009 Moxie Awardfrom the Illinois Coalition AgainstSexual Assault.

IN THE NEWS

T o save costs and deliver more up-to-date news, C4 will now publish onlytwo print newsletters a year, in addition to e-newsletters. Please contact

marcy.darin@c4chicago.org to join our e-mailing list so we can send youe-newsletters and alerts. Let us know if you would like to receive an e-alertadvising that a newsletter has been posted on our web site. Thanks foryour support!

HELP C4 GO GREEN!