News & Notes

Frances Rico believes it is important to practice what she preaches. Rico, who during the school year is a mental health clinician at Liberty Memorial Central Middle School, spends her summers working with youth to help them understand the connection between physical health and mental health. Rico is a member of the WRAP (Working to Recognize Alternative Possibilities) team at Bert Nash, a collaborative program with the Lawrence School District that places a master’s-level cl

During the past three years, more than 1,600 people have attended a Discover Bert Nash event — a community outreach program that highlights stories about people whose lives have been changed through services they received at the mental health center. At each of the more than 100 Discover Bert Nash events that have been held, one of the recovery stories that is shared involves WRAP (Working to Recognize Alternative Possibilities), a program that places a mental health clinicia

For a long time, Sean Sullivan was missing something in his life. Hope. He found it at the Bert Nash Community Mental Health Center. “I really owe it to Bert Nash for giving me that hope,” he said. “If it weren’t for Bert Nash, I don’t know where I would be.” Sullivan grew up knowing he was different; he just didn’t know why. “I always felt sort of socially isolated and like I didn’t belong,” he said. “I was kind of awkward growing up and not accepted by my peers. So I always

David Johnson, CEO at the Bert Nash Community Mental Health Center in Lawrence, remembers the first time Congresswoman Lynn Jenkins toured the Center and heard stories about people whose lives had been changed because of the services they received. Rep. Lynn Jenkins was presented with a National Council Behavioral Health Champion Award on Dec. 14. The 2nd District congresswoman has been instrumental in the introduction and championing of the Mental Health First Aid Act and se

The Bert Nash Community Mental Health Center and the Lawrence-Douglas County Housing Authority have received an award of $75,000 from the Kansas Housing Resources Corporation for continuation of the Community Support Services HOME Tenant Based Rental Assistance program. The Lawrence-Douglas County Housing Authority will administer the funds. The Community Support Services HOME Tenant Based Rental Assistance program – a collaboration between the Bert Nash Center, the Lawrence-

When Bill Welch interviewed for a job at the Bert Nash Community Mental Health Center, he discovered a problem. He had applied for the wrong job. But, as fate would have it, it turned out to be exactly the right job. “I came in and interviewed and after five or 10 minutes I realized this was not a peer mentoring job,” Welch said. “There is a big difference between being a peer mentor and a peer support specialist. I didn’t know that until I was in the interview.” Welch had pr

Eunice Ruttinger, Adult Services Director at Bert Nash Community Mental Health Center, who will retire September 4th, is excited about the next chapter in her life. But she has mixed emotions about leaving the place she has called her work home for the past 11 years. “I love Bert Nash. I love what I do here. I love what we stand for,” Ruttinger said. “But at the same time, I’m looking forward to doing some new things.” One of those things she will be doing is teaching Mental

When it comes to affordable housing, it definitely takes a village. The Lawrence-Douglas CountyHousing Authority knows that betterthan most. “We’re all in this together,” said Shannon Oury, housing authority executive director. The city of Lawrence is among those partnering with the housing authority to reduce homelessness in the community. On August 4th, commissioners approved $100,000 in the 2016 budget for the housing authority’s voucher-based transitional housing program.

Kyle Roggenkamp has a unique relationship with the Bert Nash Community Mental Health Center. In his role as human resources director for Ballard Community Services, at the Penn House location, he interacts almost daily with the Bert Nash staff. He is also a client. “It’s all about the tools,” Roggenkamp said. “I fully understand that without certain tools I’m not going to progress in my life as far as I want to. “ Recently, when he was at the Bert Nash Center for an appointme

Kyle Roggenkamp: “I know what it’s like to stand on the backs of great people. That’s what Bert Nash is, it’s an opportunity to stand on the backs of giants, of great people, and have that be a part of your support.” Jon Stewart, CEO of Heartland Community Health Center: “The inter-relationship between mental health and physical health is still under-appreciated in our American health care system. At Heartland, we are grateful for the innovative ways that the Bert Nash Center

Emily Farley, Bert Nash development specialist, talked about the Center’s programs and services during an interview May 28 on KLWN 1320 AM. Thank you, KLWN and Eric Holcomb, for the coverage!

May is Mental Health Month, and as the month winds down, Bert Nash Community Mental Health Center shares a few success stories of client recovery. Jackie Lira and TJ Reyes Jackie Lira knew something wasn’t right. She just didn’t know what it was. Or why. “I essentially wanted to jump out of my own skin,” she said. “And I couldn’t fix it." A couple of months earlier, Jackie and TJ Reyes’ son, Deacon, had been born premature. He arrived 10 weeks early and weighed only 2 pounds.