Wednesday, March 27, 2013

BCCS Participates in Common Ground to Benefit Clients


At BCCS, we work hard to provide our clients with the highest level of care and offer them top- notch services that benefit their treatment.  We want to empower them to be able to make positive changes in their lives on their road to recovery.

These beliefs led us to our involvement with the DSAMH sponsored project, Common Ground.  Last week, BCCS held an open house to kick-off the launch of Common Ground, a web-based software program that helps people prepare to meet with psychiatrists and arrive at the best decisions for treatment and recovery.  The system will help co-occurring clients communicate better with their prescribing doctor and come to a shared decision with them about their treatment plans.

BCCS’s Lancaster site, located at 2713 Lancaster Avenue in Wilmington, is the first co-occurring site to use this software.  It is BCCS’s goal to successfully implement Common Ground at the Lancaster site and then begin using it at its other locations throughout the state of Delaware. 

Thursday, March 21, 2013

March is Social Work Month

March is Social Work month, so it’s a good time to say thank you to all of our dedicated staff at BCCS who work hard every day to help our clients make positive changes in their lives.  Below is a message written by BCCS’s Elizabeth Lombino, a Social Worker and the Director of Community Based Services & Staff Training and Development. 

Being a Social Worker means so many different things to me. It means having the opportunity to connect with diverse, vibrant people. It means a strong level of professional integrity. It means having a deeper understanding of the human race.

Being a Social Worker means being misunderstood. I kind of like this aspect of our profession. I am willing and able to inform others as to why the work of Social Workers is so important. Attempt to expand our collective world view.

Being a Social Worker means knowing how to work a soap box. Educate and advocate on behalf of those who do not always have the power or voice to advocate for themselves. Getting into a good debate with someone is part of the deal. These are the moments I feel most like a Social Worker. Advocating and attempting to raise awareness. Plus, I like to learn about people and see how their mind works. It’s a challenge and I kind of like that.

Being a Social Worker is a big part of who I am. Being a Social Worker means that I am part of a vibrant and wonderful profession. I could not imagine myself being anything other than a Social Worker.


Thursday, March 14, 2013

March Is National Nutrition Month

March is National Nutrition Month and this year’s theme is, "Eat Right, Your Way, Every Day," which encourages personalized healthy eating styles and recognizes that food preferences, lifestyle, cultural and ethnic traditions and health concerns all impact individual food choices.

National Nutrition Month encourages nationwide nutrition education and was created forty years ago by the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. We all are well aware that eating healthy will make people look better, feel better, and help them lead healthier lives, but making the right food choices on a daily basis can present challenges. Many of us do not take the time for ourselves to make good health a focus. Between the stress of daily life, work, and family – health and self-care are easy to put on the back burner. Below are a few tips on how to incorporate more healthy eating habits into your daily life.
  • Eat a Variety of Nutrient-Rich Foods You need more than 40 different nutrients for good health and no single food supplies them all. Incorporating more fruits and vegetables into your diet can increase your nutrient intake and help protect you from a plethora of diseases. 
  • Maintain a Healthy Weight The weight that's right for you depends on many factors including your sex, height, age and heredity. Excess body fat increases your chances for high blood pressure, heart disease, stroke, diabetes, some types of cancer, and other illnesses.
  • Eat Moderate Portions If you keep portion sizes reasonable, it's easier to eat the foods you want and to stay healthy.
  • Eat Regular Meals Skipping meals can lead to out-of-control hunger, often resulting in overeating.
  • Drink Water Cut calories by drinking water or unsweetened beverages. Soda, energy drinks, and sports drinks are a major source of added sugar, and calories, in American diets.
  • Cut Sodium Intake Select foods labeled “low sodium,” ”reduced sodium,” or “no salt added.” 
For more information, click here.

Wednesday, March 13, 2013

The Dangers of Underage Drinking

Underage drinking is a leading public health problem in the US. According to the US Department of Health and Human Services, each year approximately 5,000 young people under the age of 21 die as a result of underage drinking from motor vehicle crashes, homicides and suicides, as well as hundreds of other accidents such as falls, burns, and drowning.

Yet drinking continues to be widespread among adolescents. Nearly 10 million youths, ages 12 to 20, in this country report they have consumed alcohol in the past 30 days according to the 2011 National Survey on Drug Use and Health. In the state of Delaware, more than 20% of adolescents drank alcohol for the first time before turning 13 and have had five or more drinks of alcohol in a row within a few hours.

To make the problem worse, once adolescents begin drinking they face a number of potential health risks. Studies show that young people who drink heavily may put themselves at risk for a range of health problems such as brain and liver functioning and growth.

At BCCS, we take alcohol abuse seriously, particularly with DE’s vulnerable adolescent population. Recently, BCCS's Statewide Coalition was honored for its commitment to the community through its SPF SIG program, which was created to reduce alcohol use and misuse among 12-25 year-olds. Funded through the Division of Substance Abuse and Mental Health (DSAMH), the program provides comprehensive substance abuse prevention services, which prevent and reduce alcohol abuse.

Another initiative that aims to help youth learn tools to avoid drinking alcohol is our You – Front & Center program, which is designed to change the attitudes of young Delawareans regarding alcohol and substance abuse, and works to build a network of capable young adults ages 18-25 who want to make positive choices about their future.

Monday, March 11, 2013

The Drop In Center Turns One!


BCCS is excited to announce that February was our Drop In Center's one year anniversary! BCCS began providing services last winter in the Center, which was designed to support the needs of our clients to help them build their lives towards structure and stability.

“BCCS Outreach staff invited those who have been using the DIC throughout the year for services to come and celebrate how the center has helped them and changed their lives.  The staff was able to come together and prepare food that they served to the clients at the one year celebration.  It was great seeing the staff continuing to show their care and support of the DIC and the people that it helps every day,” said BCCS Program Manager, Ralph Bradley.

The Center has been a huge success and has helped approximately 300 people per week since its opening.  The Center offers a drop-in zone to sit down and have coffee, a space to accommodate families including children, access to two full bathrooms with showers, computer access for job searching and training, a clothes closet that offers a selection of donated items for adults and children, a food bank that is available for emergency needs, screening rooms for HIV, HCV, and pregnancy testing, and space for group sessions.