From the Hendersonville Times-News October 5, 2008-Be Our Guest Column.

An Emerging Mental Health Vision...Sixth Avenue Clubhouse and Psychiatric Rehabilitation Partners.

As a county resident, I am more comfortable knowing that while the NC state approach to mental health reform is lacking..... here in Henderson County, because of timely action by Henderson County Management and merging new mental health providers, a catastrophe, so far, has been averted. Hospitalizations and incarcerations have been far less than anticipated. However, some mental health providers are struggling or have failed...putting pressure on the surviving mental health providers to provide the needed services by qualified personnel and to do so profitably ...a major challenge when confronted with a nightmare array of state and federal regulations in order to get reimbursed for services performed.

When I began my pastoral care minister responsibilities at Trinity Presbyterian Church 7 years ago, I extended spiritual help to those afflicted with mental illnesses. After being associated with 6th Ave Clubhouse 5 years ago, it became obvious that spiritual aid in itself was not enough. ...every one of us needs total respect, sources of strength and courage to deal with our daily issues, hope for tomorrow and unlimited opportunity to have friends, proper housing , education and employment opportunities. An avid interest in the needs of the mentally ill turned into a personal passion. We were born to help each other.

And then the vision.

Jacque Combs, Director and employee of 6th Ave Clubhouse for 25 years, had the emerging vision about 2 years ago. New Vistas-Mountain Laurel was sinking ...and the proceeds of the sale of the 6th Av property were going to be used to help keep the major mental health provider afloat. She and her colleague Kim Calhoun were certain of the consequences of such a sale. Clubhouse members would not be availed of critical and necessary and adjunct services. Jacque wanted to do more than save the clubhouse property. Jacque and Kim and a few others believed with their whole hearts and souls that we could become a full mental health provider team with the ability to add significantly to the scope of what is accomplished at the Clubhouse ( a safe place to be accepted, learn and practice skills, develop relationships). When I initially listened to Jacque 2 years ago, I thought she needed a reality check when she said we should also add services which would provide the comprehensive means by which individuals most greatly impacted by mental illness could achieve and maintain stability outside of a hospital setting (Assertive Community Treatment Team) and also provide services for clients that are intended to connect them with the appropriate resources through out our community for all their needs and allow them to use those services adequately (Community Support Team). Jacque said that we needed to do all of these good things under the umbrella of a Non - Profit agency......that we must implement this comprehensive vision..now becoming mine too...within 30 days and she did not have a clue as to where the funds were to come from or how much it was going to cost to do it. How is that for a business plan? And we pledged to make it happen.

Incredibly, we did it.

I became the start up Chair of Sixth Avenue Psychiatric Rehabilitation Partners, Inc, on 11/1/06 and I have the privilege of continuing in that capacity. We have recently added qualified counselors to address those being dually diagnosed with substance abuse. Help us to keep the vision alive. We have an incredibly competent and dedicated management team (Kim Calhoun heads up Community Support and Rob Johnson, the ACCT Team) and Mary Jo Stark is Office Administrator and Financial Services manager. The startup staff were not assured back in October of 2006 as to when they would get paid for their work..it did not matter. They all had faith in God, a shared vision and confidence in each other and themselves. Our vision today is not just to survive but to be the role model mental health provider in NC. We serve 170 clients. The Clubhouse structure is very old ...we need your financial support and your hands on talents to help us be all that we can be for the sake of our clients and our community. Please go to our website at sixth-avenue.org to see how you can be a factor in providing hope for tomorrow.....for all of us.

The Board of Directors of Sixth Avenue Psychiatric Rehabilitation Partners, Inc is committed to the vision.

Join us in our commitment.....please. Joe Gernoske 19 Iroquois Dr Hendersonville, NC 28791 697-5308