George West Mental Health Foundation Inc

SKYLAND TRAIL INSPIRES PEOPLE WITH MENTAL ILLNESS TO THRIVE THROUGH A HOLISTIC PROGRAM OF EVIDENCE-BASED PSYCHIATRIC TREATMENT, INTEGRATED MEDICAL CARE, RESEARCH, AND EDUCATION.

RESIDENTIAL TREATMENT: RESIDENTIAL TREATMENT SERVICES OFFER GRADUATED LEVELS OF CARE THAT ARE APPROPRIATE FOR INDIVIDUALS LEAVING AN ACUTE CARE FACILITY WHO ARE NOT READY FOR COMMUNITY REINTEGRATION. RESIDENTIAL COMMUNITIES ARE LICENSED BY THE STATE OF GEORGIA, ACCREDITED BY THE JOINT COMMISSION, AND ARE UNLOCKED VOLUNTARY FACILITIES. LICENSED NURSING STAFF IS ONSITE 24/7. SPECIALIZED AND RESPECTFUL MENTAL HEALTH RESIDENTIAL TREATMENT FACILITIES OFFER AGE-APPROPRIATE SOCIALIZATION AND SUPPORT. EMERGING AND COLLEGE-AGE ADULTS AGES 18 TO 25 STAY IN OUR 32-BED YOUNG ADULT TREATMENT CENTER ON THE ROLLINS CAMPUS. ADULTS AGES 26 AND OLDER BEGIN TREATMENT AT SKYLAND TRAIL SOUTH RESIDENTIAL CAMPUS. ADOLESCENTS 14-17 YEAR OLD RECEIVE TREATMENT AT THE J REX FUQUA ADOLESCENT CAMPUS. ALL ADMITTING CLIENTS ARE REQUIRED TO BE COVID TESTED AT ADMISSION.

LIFE ENRICHMENT ADULT PROGRAM (LEAP) AND VOCATIONAL SERVICES: LEAP: INTEREST IN NEW FRIENDSHIPS, ACTIVITIES, AND SOCIAL ENGAGEMENT IS A MAJOR MILESTONE IN RECOVERY. THE LIFE ENRICHMENT ADULT PROGRAM (LEAP) PROVIDES A VARIETY OF OPPORTUNITIES FOR CLIENTS TO FORM RELATIONSHIPS, LEARN SKILLS, AND CULTIVATE HOBBIES AND INTERESTS. LEAP ACTIVITIES TAKE PLACE ON EVENINGS AND WEEKENDS AND INCLUDE COOKING CLASSES, ART PROJECTS, GROUP FITNESS AND RECREATION, PET THERAPY, AND SPECIAL OUTINGS TO SPORTING EVENTS, RESTAURANTS AND MUSEUMS. LICENSED COUNSELORS ORGANIZE AND LEAD LEAP ACTIVITIES AND HELP CLIENTS ADDRESS THEIR SOCIAL ANXIETIES THROUGH EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING. VOCATIONAL SERVICES: THE VOCATIONAL SERVICES PROGRAM SUPPORTS ADULTS WITH MENTAL ILLNESS WHO WANT TO PURSUE COMPETITIVE EMPLOYMENT, VOLUNTEER POSITIONS, AND INTERNSHIPS OR CONTINUE THEIR EDUCATION. GROUP-BASED TRAINING SESSIONS FOCUS ON BUILDING SKILLS AND LEARNING THE EXPECTATIONS OF EMPLOYERS AND VOLUNTEER SUPERVISORS. INDIVIDUAL SESSIONS WITH VOCATIONAL COUNSELORS HELP CLIENTS DEVELOP A PORTFOLIO, INCLUDING RESUME PREPARATION, LETTER DEVELOPMENT, ONLINE JOB SEARCHES AND APPLICATIONS, "DRESS FOR SUCCESS" TIPS, AS WELL AS PROBLEM-SOLVING IN ALL PHASES OF SEEKING AND OBTAINING EMPLOYMENT. THE PROGRAM ALSO OFFERS WORK ADJUSTMENT OPPORTUNITIES AND A SUPPORTED EMPLOYMENT PROGRAM. GLENN FAMILY WELLNESS CLINIC: SKYLAND TRAIL INTEGRATES MEDICAL CARE INTO MENTAL HEALTH TREATMENT. CLINICS ARE LOCATED ON ADULT AND ADOLESCENT SITES AND ARE STAFFED BY MEDICAL PROFESSIONALS WITH EXPERTISE IN ADDRESSING THE PHYSICAL HEALTH NEEDS OF CLIENTS WITH MENTAL ILLNESS. ALL CLIENTS RECEIVE AN INITIAL PHYSICAL EXAM AND CONTINUE TO RECEIVE PRIMARY CARE SERVICES THROUGHOUT THEIR TREATMENT. THE CLINIC HELPS CLIENTS MANAGE EXISTING HEALTH ISSUES AND MONITORS FOR THE ONSET OF NEW CONDITIONS RELATED TO LONG-TERM USE OF MEDICATIONS.TRANSITIONAL HOUSING AND INDEPENDENCE COACHING. SKYLAND TRAIL OFFERS TRANSITIONAL HOUSING APARTMENTS ON THE SKYLAND TRAIL NORTH TRANSITIONAL LIVING CAMPUS WHERE CLIENTS LIVE ON THEIR OWN WITH MODERATE SUPPORT FROM OUR STAFF. SKYLAND TRAIL NORTH INCLUDES 13, TWO-BEDROOM APARTMENTS. TRANSITIONAL CLIENTS HAVE A PRIVATE BEDROOM, AND SHARE A BATHROOM AND LIVING AREA WITH ANOTHER CLIENT. SKYLAND TRAIL NORTH ALSO INCLUDES COMMUNITY LIVING AREAS, A COMMUNITY DINING ROOM AND KITCHEN, AND GARDENS. ALL CLIENTS IN OUR TRANSITIONAL LIVING PROGRAM MUST ALSO PARTICIPATE IN OUR INDEPENDENCE COACHING PROGRAM. AN INDEPENDENCE COACH VISITS CLIENTS IN THEIR APARTMENTS AT LEAST ONCE EACH WEEK (MORE FREQUENTLY IF NEEDED) TO ENSURE CLIENTS ARE SUCCESSFULLY ADJUSTING TO INDEPENDENT LIVING AND ARE TAKING THEIR MEDICATIONS APPROPRIATELY. THE COACH ALSO PROVIDES ASSISTANCE WITH PRACTICAL MATTERS LIKE PAYING BILLS, PLANNING TRANSPORTATION, ACCESSING COMMUNITY RESOURCES AND MAKING AND STICKING TO A SCHEDULE.COMMUNITY OUTREACH AND EDUCATION: EDUCATION IS AN IMPORTANT PART OF THE SKYLAND TRAIL MISSION. THROUGHOUT THE YEAR, SKYLAND TRAIL ORGANIZES MANY OPPORTUNITIES FOR FAMILIES, MENTAL HEALTH PROFESSIONALS, AND THE BROADER COMMUNITY TO LEARN ABOUT ADVANCES IN THE PREVENTION, DIAGNOSIS, AND TREATMENT OF MENTAL ILLNESS. AS A TEACHING INSTITUTION, WE ALSO PROVIDE OUTSTANDING LEARNING EXPERIENCES FOR STUDENTS PURSUING CAREERS IN SOCIAL WORK, PSYCHOLOGY, NURSING, ADJUNCTIVE THERAPIES, AND RELATED PROGRAMS. SKYLAND TRAIL ALSO BUILDS RELATIONSHIPS WITH ESTABLISHED AND EMERGING TREATMENT ORGANIZATIONS AROUND THE COUNTRY TO SHARE BEST PRACTICES AND CONTRIBUTE NEW RESEARCH AND OUTCOMES EVALUATION RESULTS TO EXPAND THE NATIONAL KNOWLEDGE BASE OF WHAT WORKS IN MENTAL HEALTH TREATMENT.FINANCIAL AID FUND: THROUGH THE GENEROSITY OF SKYLAND TRAIL DONORS AND FRIENDS, SKYLAND TRAIL OFFERS A FINANCIAL AID PROGRAM TO ASSIST CLIENTS AND FAMILIES WHO MEET THE NEED-BASED FINANCIAL CRITERIA. AFTER A THOROUGH REVIEW, FINANCIAL AID AWARDS ARE GRANTED BY A BOARD COMMITTEE TO OFFSET A PORTION OF THE PROGRAM FEES. OTHER PROGRAMS: TMS SERVICES, FAMILY THERAPY, ALUMNI PROGRAM, STEP PROGRAM, AND ASSESSMENT CENTER.

DAY TREATMENT: MOST SKYLAND TRAIL CLIENTS BEGIN IN THE RESIDENTIAL TREATMENT PROGRAM AND "STEP DOWN" TO THE NON-RESIDENTIAL DAY TREATMENT PROGRAM AS THEY MAKE PROGRESS TOWARD THEIR RECOVERY GOALS. SOME ADULT CLIENTS ADMIT DIRECTLY TO DAY TREATMENT. DAY TREATMENT CLIENTS PARTICIPATE IN A FULL SCHEDULE OF INDIVIDUAL AND GROUP SESSIONS TO HELP THEM ACHIEVE THEIR RECOVERY GOALS. EVIDENCE-BASED GROUP THERAPY SESSIONS INCLUDE PSYCHOTHERAPY, EDUCATION AND ADJUNCTIVE THERAPY GROUP SESSIONS. NON-RESIDENTIAL CLIENTS TRANSITIONED TO VIRTUAL THERAPY IN 2020 IN RESPONSE TO COVID 19 PANDEMIC. CLIENTS RETURNED TO CAMPUS IN 2022.

PHYSICIAN SERVICES: WHEN EACH CLIENT ADMITS, A PSYCHIATRIST CONDUCTS A ONE HOUR PSYCHIATRIC DIAGNOSTIC ASSESSMENT, FORMULATES A WORKING DIAGNOSIS, AND THEN DEVELOPS AND LEADS TREATMENT PLANNING. IN WEEKLY ONE-ON-ONE PSYCHIATRIC SESSIONS, THE PSYCHIATRIST WORKS WITH CLIENTS TO DEVELOP AN EFFECTIVE MEDICATION REGIME, MAKING CHANGES OVER THE COURSE OF TREATMENT TO HELP CLIENTS FEEL BETTER MENTALLY AND PHYSICALLY. THE PSYCHIATRIST ALSO FOLLOWS ESSENTIAL LAB TESTS AND ADJUSTS MEDICATION LEVELS AS NECESSARY. A COMPREHENSIVE PSYCHIATRIC DIAGNOSTIC AND ASSESSMENT SERVICE IS AVAILABLE AS AN OUTPATIENT SERVICE. WHETHER RECEIVING AN INITIAL DIAGNOSIS OR CLARIFYING A PREVIOUS ONE, ASSESSMENT CLIENTS GET A COMPREHENSIVE, CONSUMER-FRIENDLY REPORT - A ROADMAP FOR EFFECTIVE TREATMENT AT SKYLAND TRAIL OR THROUGH ANOTHER MENTAL HEALTH SERVICE PROVIDER. CLIENTS AND FAMILIES AT SKYLAND TRAIL MAY ALSO RECEIVE FAMILY THERAPY SERVICES FROM THE FAMILY PSYCHOLOGIST.