PROGRAMS & SERVICES

ADMHT CONSULTATION:
KYCAN gives assistance to any consumer who wishes to complete an Advanced Directive for Mental Health Treatment. ADMHT forms may be obtained from KYCAN and consultations on completing the ADMHT are provided upon request.

B.R.I.D.G.E.S. Building Recovery of Individual Dreams & Goals through Education & Support:
B.R.I.D.G.E.S./Education, a consumer taught program, that provides detailed information on mood disorders, schizophrenia, personality disorders and anxiety disorders as well as ways of coping with the challenges of living with a mental illness.
B.R.I.D.G.E.S./Support trains consumers to facilitate ongoing peer-to-peer support groups throughout Kentucky. B.R.I.D.G.E.S. /Support is based on the knowledge that consumers have expertise and abilities - learned from their own illnesses - that allow them to help each other in ways that providers can't.

CONSULTATIVE PEER REVIEW:
KYCAN, under contract with the state, coordinates independent consultative peer reviews of the 14 Community Mental Health Centers by teams of consumers, family members, and providers. Using focus groups, peer interviews with the CSP staff, the review teams develop consultative summary reports that may be used by all stakeholders to enhance and effect improvements in Kentucky's mental health system of care for consumers and their families.

PEER ADVOCACY & OLMSTEAD SUPPORT:
Peer Advocates work in various regions as liasions between consumers and  KYCAN, they perform various tasks and may act as an Affiliate Coordinator for a particular Region.
Olmstead Peer Support Staff serve consumers who are hospitalized or are at risk of hospitalization, and wish to live in the least restrictive environment approved by their treatment teams.

WRAP / WELLNESS RECOVERY ACTION PLAN:
KYCAN uses Mary Ellen Copeland's W.R.A.P. program in workshops that teach consumers how to identify, monitor, modify, and even eliminate the symptoms of their mental illnesses. These workshops include the development of "Individualized Mental Health Crisis Plans" that outline the responses consumers want from supporters when their illnesses make it impossible to make appropriate decisions for themselves. They are also given an opportunity to complete an Advance Directive for Mental Health Treatment (ADMHT).

DIVERSITY GROUPS:
Robin Bensinger, KYCAN's Diversity Coordinator, is currently working with three diversity groups.

The support group for elderly Hispanics, called Puentes (Spanish for "bridges"), meets on the 1st and/or 3rd Monday of each month at 5:30pm at Farmdale Adult Citizens Tower at 6500 Vandre Ave. They learn about nutrition, preventing and dealing with depression and stress, and other issues relevant to the elderly. She often invites guest speakers such as nutritionists, doctors, and social workers.

Churchill Downs' Latina Women's group will restart in the spring and will be held twice a month at the Klein Learning Center. English classes for the women will be offered every other week as well.

Bridges to Recovery Mental Health Support Group meets on the fourth Monday of the month from 5:30 to 6:30pm at Zion Missionary Baptist Church at 2200 W Muhammad Ali Blvd.

Robin also has a diversity newsletter coming soon. Stay tuned for more information.