Merakey USA (NHS)

Merakey USA continued its administrative and supportive services for its affiliated entities throughout fy 2023. It assisted entities in providing services to individuals through technology, regulatory guidance, and consultative support through an ever-changing post-pandemic landscape.merakey USA lead fy23 with 8,130 employees spread over six departments. Those employees served 35,029 individuals at 709 different sites via 1,123 outstanding programs.guiding Merakey are the following:our purpose: putting our heart and soul into exceptional care.our vision: to be a nationally recognized provider of the highest quality health and human services.our core values: compassion, diversity, integrity, safety, trust, and qualitymerakey continues its commitment to safety in partnership with praesidium, the national leader in abuse risk management. We have expanded prevention of abuse policies, adapted our screening and hiring protocols, added more training, and revamped supervision/monitoring and consumer participation. Accreditation from praesidium demonstrates our commitment to providing the highest quality services and a zero-tolerance environment for abuse of any kind for those within our care. Merakey continues to deepen our focus on diversity, equity, and inclusion through the work of various employee resource groups (erg) like as (the black / african american erg), the lgbtq+ erg, and the women's erg. For black history month, the black/african american erg hosted a courageous conversation virtual event in february 2023 titled "love your hair!" Discussing the history of black hair leading up to the crown act. Lgbtq+ erg, with the collaboration of Merakey's dei committee, grew their annual events honoring pride month (june) and national coming out day (october 11). This year, Merakey created a new erg, the neurodivergent erg, whose mission is to foster an inclusive and supportive environment that spreads awareness, retains, empowers, and meets the diverse needs of neurodivergent individuals at merakey.in july 2022, Merakey parkside recovery expanded its services in philadelphia and welcomed nearly 30 new team members and more than 400 consumers at two philadelphia locations providing addiction recovery services. Formerly operated by jevs in philadelphia, these services are now part of Merakey parkside recovery, which has been proudly serving the philadelphia community for over 30 years. Services at the new locations provide support for each person's road to recovery, and include medication assisted treatment, individual and group therapy, and more. In august 2022, fun day was celebrated at Merakey children's services in philadelphia, a large outdoor event for individuals served, families, and community members to enjoy good food, music, and interactive activities including face painting, balloon animals, photo booths, and fun games. The event was covered by several news outlets and brought awareness of our services to the local community by offering family-friendly activities, health services, and educational resources for youth and families.in september 2022, Merakey held the 2nd annual virtual conference "the future of the dual diagnosis population: what's next?" This two-day free event gave health care professionals, family members, and individuals the tools and resources to improve care and services for people with a dual diagnosis of intellectual/developmental disability and mental illness.merakey was a reelabilities community partner with reelabilities pittsburgh, pittsburgh's dynamic film festival that celebrates the lives, stories, and artistic expressions of individuals with disabilities.in october 2022, Merakey was announced as part of septa's new safety plan to address philadelphia's vulnerable population. Septa transportation in philadelphia released a new safety plan that aims to decrease homelessness on rail lines by connecting vulnerable individuals with housing, social services, and mental health care. Mobile services from Merakey parkside recovery is part of this effort.merakey's senior executive director of clinical services and innovation jena fisher was elected to serve on the cfha (collaborative family healthcare association) board of directors, a group of professionals who are all passionate about integrated care and the work of cfha. The Merakey it team won the 2022 dvhimss hall of fame award, recognizing outstanding technological achievements that benefit consumers and patients. Merakey it won the award for developing a mobile application to capture consumer signatures. The mobile application securely sends consumers their encounter form that can be accessed through a link via email or text message. This new streamlined process reduces the time required to complete an encounter and get a bill out to the payor. Bob mceldowney, senior director of application development and data analytics attended the dvhimms conference in october 2022 to accept the award on behalf of merakey.dr. Tim barksdale, senior executive director of clinical services at Merakey, won the Pennsylvania psychological association (ppa) apa division 31 spta (state, provincial and territorial affairs) diversity award for 2023. Presented during the american psychological association's practice leadership conference, the diversity award "recognizes innovation, creative and significant contributions by a state and provincial psychological association to advance diversity for its members, in its leadership, and for the public, and ongoing activities related to diversity in membership, governance and leadership, and programming.in february 2023, Merakey's adult residential program in escondido, ca was featured in the san diego union tribune for their innovative program that provides its residents, who have been institutionalized for most of their lives, a unique opportunity to develop their interpersonal skills through the care of animals, specifically fostering dogs. With support from a local recue shelter and from Merakey's incredible staff, the individuals have learned what it means to be responsible and how to care for others. Merakey launched two certified community behavioral health clinics (ccbhcs) - one in the mt. Airy section of philadelphia and the other in the city of colmar in montgomery county, pa. The ccbhcs opened in february 2023 and are helping to transform community behavioral health systems and provide comprehensive, coordinated behavioral health care by establishing new ccbhc programs and services (e.g., primary care, 24/7 mobile crisis). The ccbhcs will provide a comprehensive range of outreach, screening, assessment, treatment, care coordination, and recovery supports.the idd staff development team participated in the ntg/nadsp workshop and became regional affiliated trainers. The group is now certified to deliver the full ntg dementia capable care curriculum. Affiliated trainers have access to greatly expanded topic modules, trainer manual, free monthly ntg continuing education webinars, and will become part of the ntg's national network of affiliated regional trainers with ongoing continuing education, support, and resources.raymond bobb d.o., medical director at Merakey parkside recovery in philadelphia attended and participated in the american society of addiction medicine (asam) annual conference in Washington, d.c. In april 2023. The conference is the nation's premier event providing the latest innovations and scientific developments in addiction medicine. Dr. bobb shared a poster presentation to conference attendees, and even recorded an audio version of his presentation so fellow medical professionals can access the information. The poster was done for an article on a case of acute opioid withdrawal that was just published in the journal of addiction medicine. Medical professionals from across the country were able to learn about this case and hear dr. bobb speak about the important work done by the team at Merakey parkside recovery.in april 2023, Merakey associate executive director samantha warner attended a disability policy seminar on capitol hill. Self-advocates, allies, care workers, and advocate representatives from all over the united states met with their senators, congressmen, state representatives, and members of their staff to discuss the need to support individuals with disabilities in several different funding and law-making areas. Samantha warner was part of the eight-person delegation from the state of Pennsylvania who met with members of senate and members of congress.