News & Notes

What I’ve learned in my first 100 days: I have an amazingly talented, well-educated, passionate team to work with here at Bert Nash. They told me before I got here that that is the kind of team we have, and it’s been proven to me repeatedly. We’re here to serve people. The reason I do this work is because when I was in junior high my family struggled and we ended up getting the kind of services provided here at Bert Nash. The individual and family counseling we received made

Sometimes in life a person needs help getting from Point A to Point B. That’s where Bridges comes in. Bridges is a transitional group home in Lawrence for people with mental illness, owned and operated by the Bert Nash Mental Health Center. “This is for residents who are transitioning from hospitalization or jail or substance abuse treatment and need some additional support for stabilization before they can move into independent living,” said Eddie Velez, lead residential cas

How do you feel about joining the Bert Nash team? “I am thrilled, excited and honored to be joining the Bert Nash team. I feel like it is a perfect fit. The center has a long, proud history in the community — working to better people’s quality of life. My whole career has been dedicated to that same type of work.” What attracted you to the position? “Simple. I have a deep respect for Bert Nash’s mission and a great love for our community. In addition to that, I have a lot of

There’s a plaque on the door of Patricia Roach Smith’s office that reads, “Don’t worry. It is all going to be amazing.” The saying underscores her anticipation about the next phase in her life – retirement. After 29 years with the Bert Nash Center – the past 16 as chief operating officer – Roach Smith’s last day at the Center will be October 6th. “I’ve had this incredible career at the Center, offering the chance to work with remarkable people, courageous clients and outstand

Naomi Cataudella and Paul Leffingwell have been in their roles as AID clinicians at the Douglas County Jail for less than two years. But in that short time the program has quickly gained national attention. AID stands for Assess, Identify, and Divert. The unique program is a collaboration between Bert Nash Community Mental Health Center, the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office and the University of Kansas School of Social Welfare. Professors Jason Matejkowski and Margaret Severso

When Amy Warren was doing her social work practicum in the late 1990s at the Bert Nash Community Mental Health Center, Patricia Roach Smith was her field instructor. Roach Smith was the director of Child and Family Services at Bert Nash at the time and Warren was going through the Master of Social Work degree program at the University of Kansas. Now, about 20 years later, Warren will succeed Roach Smith as the Bert Nash Center’s chief operating officer. Bert Nash CEO Patrick

When he came to Bert Nash Center, the client reported feeling alone, hopeless, worthless and depressed. And he had written a suicide note. A little more than a year later, after participating in different therapy retreats for depression offered at the Center, the client is in a much better place. “He became more engaged after several sessions,” said Adult Outpatient Program therapist Shelly Goscha, who was one of the Bert Nash therapists who worked with the client. “He began

Patrick Schmitz knows he is joining some select company. Schmitz, 51, will become just the third CEO of the Bert Nash Community Mental Health Center in nearly 40 years. He will succeed David Johnson, who is in his 17th year as CEO of the Bert Nash Center and is retiring the first of July. Johnson’s predecessor, Sandra Shaw, was CEO of the Center for more than 20 years. “I’m very excited,” Schmitz said. “The more I went through the process, and the more I found out about Bert

“I am honored and excited to be joining Bert Nash on June 5 and its staff of highly dedicated, talented and professional team members. I look forward to getting to know all of you, working alongside of you and helping continue the legacy and reputation of high-quality, effective services to the citizens of Douglas County. I am impressed with the breadth and depth of excellent services you have all developed over the years and I hope and plan to provide the support, knowledge

If he could, David Johnson, retiring CEO of the Bert Nash Community Mental Health Center, would see to it that everyone in Douglas County received training in Mental Health First Aid. While that scenario may seem improbable, Johnson would like nothing better as he departs from the job he’s held for the past 16 years than to see that Mental Health First Aid training is made available to the community in perpetuity. That’s the goal of a fundraising campaign called Dave’s Dream.

When asked about the best job he ever had, David Johnson didn’t hesitate. “This job,” Johnson said. “Absolutely, this job.” This job may well be the last one he will ever have. After 17 years as CEO of the Bert Nash Community Mental Health Center, Johnson, 65, will retire around the first of July. His successor, Patrick Schmitz, will start the first of June. There were many reasons why this was the best job Johnson ever had, he said. For one, the people and the organization.

Note: Bert Nash Community Mental Health Center will observe Mental Health Awareness Month in May with stories of hope and recovery. It used to be, Matt and Kathy Brown didn’t talk about mental illness and how it impacted their children. “We hid it from everybody at first, because of the stigma,” Matt said. Eventually, they opened up about things with Matt’s mom. “She is the only one who knew about it for a long time,” Matt said. Today, the Browns talk openly about the mental