Chas Foundation

THE MISSION OF THE CHAS FOUNDATION IS: TO ADVOCATE FOR INDIVIDUALS WITH MENTAL ILLNESS; TO STRIVE FOR PUBLIC ACCEPTANCE FOR PEOPLE LIVING WITH A MENTAL ILLNESS; TO STREAMLINE ACCESS TO EFFECTIVE TREATMENT; TO SAVE THE LIVES OF THOSE STRUGGLING WITH A MENTAL ILLNESS BY WORKING WITH PRIVATE AND PUBLIC PROFESSIONALS; TO PROVIDE EDUCATION AND SUPPORT FOR FAMILY MEMBERS IMPACTED BY THEIR LOVED ONE'S MENTAL ILLNESS. ESTABLISHED IN 2012, THE CHAS FOUNDATION AIMS TO STREAMLINE ACCESS TO EFFECTIVE TREATMENT FOR THOSE IMPACTED BY MENTAL ILLNESS IN THE HAMPTON ROADS REGION. CHAS STANDS FOR COURAGE, HOPE, ACCEPTANCE, AND SUPPORT. THE ORGANIZATION WAS CREATED IN MEMORY OF CHARLES H. KIRKWOOD (CHAS) WHO STRUGGLED WITH BIPOLAR DISORDER, ENCOUNTERED NUMEROUS BARRIERS TO TREATMENT, AND ULTIMATELY LOST HIS LIFE TO SUICIDE. THE ORGANIZATION BEGAN AS A GRASSROOTS MOVEMENT TO SIGNIFICANTLY CHANGE HOW MENTAL ILLNESS IS BOTH PERCEIVED AND TREATED WITHIN THE COMMUNITY.

MENTAL ILLNESS NAVIGATOR & SUPPORT (MINS) PROGRAM IN 2022, THE CHAS FOUNDATION CONTINUED HELPING INDIVIDUALS AND THEIR FAMILIES STRUGGLING WITH MENTAL ILLNESS BY SUPPORTING AND CONNECTING THEM TO THE MOST EFFECTIVE RESOURCES POSSIBLE THAT CAN HELP IMPROVE THEIR OVERALL MENTAL HEALTH. INDEED, THERE IS A DISCONNECT BETWEEN AN INDIVIDUAL NEEDING MENTAL HEALTH TREATMENT AND THEM RECEIVING TREATMENT. A MULTITUDE OF BARRIERS EXIST ACCESSING TREATMENT INCLUDING COST, TRANSPORTATION, LACK OF PROVIDERS, WAIT-TIMES TO RECEIVE TREATMENT, SUBSTANCE ABUSE, ETC CHAS SEEKS TO ELIMINATE THOSE BARRIERS. THE MENTAL ILLNESS NAVIGATOR AND SUPPORT PROGRAM EDUCATES FAMILIES ABOUT THE COMPLEX MENTAL HEALTHCARE SYSTEM, SUPPORTS THEM ALONG THEIR JOURNEY, AND PROVIDES A CONTINUUM OF CARE THROUGH REFERRALS AND CONNECTIONS TO LOCAL MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES (TREATMENT PROVIDERS, HOUSING, POLICE, COURT, JAILS). WHEN INPATIENT AND OUTPATIENT SERVICES AND RESOURCES ARE INADEQUATE, OR THE INDIVIDUAL AND/OR FAMILY HAS EXHAUSTED ALL OPTIONS, THE CHAS FOUNDATION CONTINUES TO PROVIDE PEER FAMILY SUPPORT SO THAT A SUPPORT SYSTEM IS ESTABLISHED FOR THE ENTIRE FAMILY UNIT. ADDITIONAL SUPPORT IS GIVEN BY MEETING WITH INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES AT THEIR CHOICE OF LOCATION, PROVIDING TRANSPORTATION TO REACH SERVICE PROVIDERS, AND ASSISTANCE MAKING DOCTOR'S APPOINTMENTS. THE MENTAL HEALTH SYSTEM CAN BE A MAZE FOR INDIVIDUALS. MANY PEOPLE, FAMILIES AND CARETAKERS, DO NOT KNOW WHERE TO START OR HOW TO NAVIGATE THE SYSTEM. AN ONLINE MENTAL HEALTH RESOURCE GUIDE SHOWING RESOURCES AND SERVICES IN EVERY HAMPTON ROADS CITY IS CONTINUALLY UPDATED FOR COMMUNITY USE. CHAS IS THE PRIMARY CONTACT LISTED FOR RESIDENTS TO ACCESS RESOURCES AND SERVICES ON THE MENTALLY HEALTHY HAMPTON ROADS RESOURCE GUIDE. THE RESOURCE GUIDE CAN BE FOUND AND DOWNLOADED AT TALKABOUTITNORFOLK.COM. CHAS AND THE NAVIGATOR AND SUPPORT PROGRAM PROVIDE A FREE LOCAL MENTAL HEALTH RESOURCE FOR THE HAMPTON ROADS REGION. A PERSON CAN CALL AND SPEAK WITH A PEER-SPECIALIST THAT'S COMPASSIONATE, CARING, SUPPORTIVE, AND INFORMATIVE WHILE WORKING TO INCREASE ACCESS TO MENTAL HEALTH CARE FOR THAT INDIVIDUAL, FAMILY MEMBER, OR CARETAKER. A CHAS PEER-FAMILY-SUPPORT SPECIALIST IS AVAILABLE FROM 9AM TO 5PM MONDAY THROUGH FRIDAY AND NO APPOINTMENT IS NECESSARY. THE SUPPORT SPECIALIST IS LOCAL TO THE REGION AND PROVIDES BOTH INFORMATION AND SUPPORT THAT IS TRULY A LIFELINE TO CALLERS AND PROGRAM PARTICIPANTS. THE MINS PEER-SUPPORT-SPECIALIST CAN BE ON THE PHONE OR MEETING WITH A PROGRAM PARTICIPANT FOR UPWARDS OF 3 HOURS PER DAY. MINS STAFF WORK WITH SOME PROGRAM PARTICIPANTS DAILY OR MULTIPLE TIMES PER WEEK AND SOME PARTICIPANTS HAVE BEEN IN THE MINS PROGRAM FOR OVER 7 YEARS. UNLIKE BEFORE, LOCAL HEALTH CARE AND INSURANCE PROVIDERS ARE NOW REFERRING FAMILIES TO THE CHAS FOUNDATION. THE MINS PROGRAM ALSO RECEIVES CALLS FROM PEOPLE ASKING FOR INFORMATION ABOUT MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES AND RESOURCES INCLUDING BASIC INFORMATION LIKE PHONE NUMBERS OR ADDRESSES FOR INPATIENT AND OUTPATIENT TREATMENT PROVIDERS. IN 2022, 779 PEER-SUPPORT CONNECTIONS TO SERVICE PROVIDERS AND RESOURCES WERE MADE BY THE MINS PROGRAM. PEER-FAMILY-SUPPORT CONNECTIONS INCREASED 49% FROM 2021 TO 2022 SHOWING MORE PEOPLE ARE REACHING OUT FOR ASSISTANCE THAN EVER BEFORE. 402 FAMILIES WERE PROVIDED CARE COORDINATION. THE MINS PROGRAM HAS AIDED OVER 2200 FAMILIES AND MADE OVER 4,000 CONNECTIONS TO LOCAL SERVICES SINCE 2015. MINDFULNESS PROGRAM MINDFULNESS-BASED COGNITIVE THERAPY MAY ALSO BE USEFUL FOR TREATING SYMPTOMS OF ANXIETY, ACCORDING TO RESEARCH PUBLISHED RECENTLY IN THE BRITISH JOURNAL OF PSYCHIATRY. RESEARCHERS LOOKED AT CHANGES IN ANXIETY LEVELS AMONG PATIENTS WITH GENERALIZED ANXIETY DISORDER USING DIFFERENT TREATMENTS. THEY FOUND THAT MBCT AND COGNITIVE-BEHAVIORAL THERAPY-BASED PSYCHOEDUCATION WERE BOTH EFFECTIVE IN REDUCING ANXIETY SYMPTOMS. MINDFULNESS-BASED INTERVENTIONS HAVE ALSO BEEN FOUND TO BE USEFUL ADDITIONS FOR IMPROVING SYMPTOMS AND REDUCING HOSPITALIZATION AMONG PEOPLE WITH PSYCHOSIS. SOME RESEARCH SHOWS THAT FOR PEOPLE WITH ADHD, MINDFULNESS TRAINING MAY BE A HELPFUL SUPPLEMENT TO MEDICATION IN ADDRESSING REMAINING SYMPTOMS OF INATTENTION. MEDITATION PROGRAMS ARE ALSO BEING USED TO HELP REDUCE PTSD SEVERITY IN VETERANS. CHAS CONTINUES HOLDING TRAININGS AND WORKSHOPS FOR MINDFULNESS. IN 2022, THE PROGRAM CONTINUED WITH WORKSHOPS AT LOCAL HAMPTON ROADS HIGH SCHOOLS AND WORKING WITH BOTH STUDENTS AND FACULTY. OVER 440 INDIVIDUALS HAVE BEEN TRAINED THIS YEAR IN BOTH GROUP AND INDIVIDUAL SETTINGS. MINDFULNESS IS NOW RECOMMENDED AS AN ALTERNATIVE OR SUPPLEMENTAL TREATMENT FOR INDIVIDUALS WHO EXPERIENCE MENTAL HEALTH PROBLEMS SUCH AS ANXIETY, DEPRESSION, AND BIPOLAR DISORDER. FAMILIES AND CARETAKERS OF THOSE STRUGGLING WITH A MENTAL ILLNESS CONTINUE TO UTILIZE THE MINDFULNESS OR "WELLNESS" ROOM LOCATED AT THE CHAS OFFICE. MINDFULNESS HELPS THESE INDIVIDUALS DEVELOP COPING SKILLS AND USEFUL TECHNIQUES THAT CAN IMPROVE THEIR MENTAL HEALTH AND OVERALL WELL-BEING. EDUCATION/TRAINING THE CHAS FOUNDATION HAS BEEN INSTRUMENTAL IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE CRISIS INTERVENTION TEAM IN NORFOLK, VA. CRISIS INTERVENTION TEAMS (CIT) ARE PROGRAMS THAT BRING TOGETHER LOCAL STAKEHOLDERS, INCLUDING LAW ENFORCEMENT, EMERGENCY DISPATCHERS, MENTAL HEALTH PROVIDERS, CONSUMERS OF MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES, AND FAMILY ADVOCATES IN ORDER TO IMPROVE MULTI-SYSTEMS' RESPONSE TO PERSONS EXPERIENCING BEHAVIORAL HEALTH CRISIS WHO COME INTO CONTACT WITH LAW ENFORCEMENT OR OTHER FIRST RESPONDERS. THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE CHAS FOUNDATION HAS BEEN AN INSTRUCTOR FOR THE NORFOLK POLICE DEPARTMENT'S CRISIS INTERVENTION TEAM FOR 9 YEARS AND HAS TRAINED OVER 1500 POLICE OFFICERS. THE DIRECTOR ALSO TRAINS CORRECTIONAL OFFICERS AT THE NORFOLK SHERIFF'S OFFICE. 280 CORRECTION'S OFFICERS HAVE BEEN TRAINED BY CHAS. IN ADDITION, THE CHAS FOUNDATION ATTENDS MENTAL HEALTH FAIRS THROUGHOUT HAMPTON ROADS EDUCATING THE PUBLIC ON OUR PROGRAMS AND SERVICES ALONG WITH PROMOTING DISCUSSIONS ON MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES FACING OUR COMMUNITIES. THE FAIRS HAVE REACHED AN ESTIMATED 1800 PARTICIPANTS. THE CHAS FOUNDATION CONTINUES PROVIDING COMMUNITY MENTAL HEALTH TRAINING THAT EDUCATES THE PUBLIC ABOUT WHAT MENTAL ILLNESS LOOKS LIKE, SOME OF THE MOST COMMON TYPES, AND STEPS TO TAKE IF AN INDIVIDUAL OR FAMILY MEMBER IS STRUGGLING WITH A MENTAL ILLNESS. PUBLIC AWARENESS & ANTI-STIGMA IN 2022, THE CHAS FOUNDATION CONTINUED MENTAL HEALTH AWARENESS AND ANTI- STIGMA CAMPAIGNS, ESPECIALLY DURING THE MONTH OF MAY. MAY IS MENTAL HEALTH AWARENESS MONTH. POSITIVE MENTAL HEALTH MESSAGES WERE SPREAD THROUGH SOCIAL MEDIA AND EBLASTS STATING IT IS OK TO REACH OUT FOR HELP AND THAT CHAS IS A FREE RESOURCE AVAILABLE TO THE COMMUNITY. EARLY TREATMENT AND DIAGNOSIS OF MENTAL ILLNESS HAS SHOWN TO INCREASE AN INDIVIDUAL'S ABILITY TO ACHIEVE A SUCCESSFUL RECOVERY. UNLIKE MANY PHYSICAL CONDITIONS AND/OR DISEASES, INDIVIDUALS OFTEN HIDE MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES AND MASK THEM, ESPECIALLY IN THE EARLY STAGES. CHAS AIMS TO HELP AN INDIVIDUAL RECOGNIZE THAT THEY SHOULD NEVER FEEL ASHAMED ASKING FOR HELP AND SEEKING TREATMENT. SOCIAL MEDIA WAS THE PRIMARY TOOL UTILIZED TO CONTINUE RAISING AWARENESS AND EDUCATING THE PUBLIC ON NEW RESEARCH REGARDING MENTAL ILLNESS. THE CAMPAIGN AND ADS ON FACEBOOK AND INSTAGRAM WERE SEEN BY 83,487 PEOPLE AND WERE RUN IN THE MONTHS OF MAY AND SEPTEMBER. COMMUNITY OUTREACH TO INCREASE ACCESS TO MENTAL HEALTH CARE AND SERVICES, CHAS HAS COLLABORATED AND PARTNERED WITH NUMEROUS HOSPITALS AND ORGANIZATIONS. CHAS HAS BEEN AN INTEGRAL MEMBER OF MENTALLY HEALTHY NORFOLK, A COALITION OF LEADERS REPRESENTING PUBLIC HEALTH, NONPROFIT, GOVERNMENT, EDUCATION, AND FAITH COMMUNITIES. THE CITY OF NORFOLK, EVMS, CHKD, AND OTHER ORGANIZATIONS MAKE UP THE GROUP. OUR MISSION IS TO CREATE SAFE SPACES THROUGHOUT NORFOLK WHERE PEOPLE FEEL READY AND ABLE TO SEEK THE MENTAL HEALTH CARE THEY NEED, WHEN THEY NEED IT. OUR VISION IS TO MAKE A STIGMA-FREE COMMUNITY AND OUR CORE INITIATIVE IS "TALK ABOUT IT NORFOLK", AN ONGOING CAMPAIGN TO BRING CONVERSATIONS ABOUT MENTAL HEALTH OUT OF THE SHADOWS OF STIGMA AND INTO EVERYDAY LIFE. OUR GOAL IS TO EXPAND THIS TO INVOLVE ALL CITIES IN AND AROUND HAMPTON ROADS. RESOURCE GUIDES WERE PRINTED AND DISTRIBUTED THROUGHOUT THE REGION. THE CHAS FOUNDATION CONTINUED TO PARTNER WITH THE CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL OF THE KINGS DAUGHTERS (CHKD) BY PARTICIPATING IN A FAMILY ADVISORY PANEL THAT GIVES ADVICE AND FEEDBACK REGARDING THE NEWLY DESIGNED BEHAVIORAL HEALTH HOSPITAL, THE CHILDREN'S PAVILION. CHAS WAS ALSO INSTRUMENTAL IN ADVOCATING AT THE STATE AND LEGISLATIVE LEVEL BY EXPLAINING WHY A CHKD BEHAVIORAL HEALTH HOSPITAL IS SO DESPERATELY NEEDED FOR HAMPTON ROADS, THE STATE OF VIRGINIA, AND ENTIRE MID-ATLANTIC REGION. 2022 MARKED THE FINAL COMPLETION OF THE CHILDREN'S PAVILION AT CHKD, A TRUE ASSET FOR THE STATE AND ENTIRE AREA. CHAS ALSO PARTNERED WITH THE CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL OF THE KINGS DAUGHTERS ON A YOUTH S