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 Welcome!
There are times when all of us need a helping hand. We are an organization of people, programs and services that is available to children, adolescents and adults who may be experiencing problems with mental illness, substance abuse or stress in living. We welcome your call for information or assistance.
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What's New at NCCMHC?
Congressman Patrick J. Kennedy Visits New Program at NCCMHC 
NCCMHC has been hard at work developing new programs to offset the elimination of services resulting from this year's state budget cuts. One such program is our Early Childhood Day Treatment Program (ECDT.)Begun in August of this year, ECDT provides intensive day treatment to children ages two to six years who suffer from mental health and/or emotional behavioral difficulties that cannot be treated in a less intense level of care.
The program consists of social skill development, proper behavioral functioning at mealtimes, nutritional meals, development and maintenance of self regulating behaviors through the daily activities and rest periods.A case manager is assigned to each child and is present on the floor throughout the day.Individual, family and group counseling are provided by a therapist.Psychiatric assessments, medication monitoring and treatment support are provided by a child psychiatrist and a psychiatric registered nurse is present to administer medication to children while they are in the program.
During his visit, Congressman Kennedy immediately engaged the children in conversation asking if they knew what they would be for Halloween and giving "High Fives" to eagerly awaiting hands.Pictured with Congressman Kennedy is Damon, who seemed particularly captivated by the Congressman.
Following the tour of ECDT, Congressman Kennedy met with NCCMHC staff to discuss the increasing challenge to provide services to both adult and children populations due to more and more funding being cut. 
Present for this meeting, from left to right, were Chris Reidy, MSW, LICSW, CATS Administrator; Ruth Zaccaria, RN, CATS Program Coordinator; Francis 'Butch' Paranzino, MSW, LICSW, ACSW, VP & COO; J. Clement 'Bud' Cicilline, M.S., President & CEO; Congressman Kennedy; Chairman of the NCCMHC Board of Directors, Paul L. Gaines; Emily Allen, MA, LMHC, CCSP, CIS Program Coordinator, Gary Cournoyer, MSW, LICSW, CIS Administrator and Jacob Abraham, MD, Children's Services Medical Director.
Congressman Kennedy spoke passionately about the tragedy of behavioral health services, like those provided by ECDT, being eliminated due to the present financial crisis both at the state and federal levels.He acknowledged that it is essential to keep these children in programs where they can receive the treatment they need to become healthy and happy young adults. __________________________________________________
NCCMHC PARTICIPATES IN PREPARING TOMORROW'S NURSES
 
The Tuesday class of URI Nursing Students The Thursday class of URI Nursing Students
Instructor: Alison B. Dwyer, MS,RN, PCNS Instructor: Mary Jane Creely, MS, RN, PCNS
NCCMHC VP and QIO
Providing comprehensive orientation, ongoing training and in-service education to NCCMHC's staff is a core value of its leadership, which strives to support staff competency while continuing to attempt to improve staff satisfaction and to provide opportunities for growth.Additionally, NCCMHC is a site of various clinical field placements from several colleges and universities representing Rhode Island and the bordering states of Massachusetts and Connecticut.Supervision of students pursuing a career in human services including nursing is viewed as both an organizational responsibility and priviledge.
Currently, NCCMHC is viewed as a "Site of Excellence" for the preparation of both undergraduate and graduate nursing students by the University of Rhode Island's College of Nursing.As a result, NCCMHC has been requested to sponsor and host two full clinical groups each semester.Nursing students pursuing their BSN degree are being provided valuable, community-based, psychiatric, mental health nursing experience by spending eight supervised clinical hours per week at NCCMHC.Each Tuesday and Thursday a total of 16 students are being rotated through the various programs including Emergency Services, Anita Jackson House, Freedom Apartments, MTT, RIACT II and the Phoenix One Program.
To round out the nursing students' experience, they spend one day on the psychiatric inpatient unit at Newport Hospital and are provided an overview of the nursing services provided to children and adolescents.They also attend a Grand Rounds provided by NCCMHC nursing staff.This spring 2008 semester, the topic will include "Nursing Strategies and Interventions When Working with Clients with Personality Disorders."
The URI Clinical Instructors supervising the students this semester are Alison Dwyer, MS, RN,PCNS; and Mary Jane Creely, MS,RN,PCNS.
NCCMHC is proud to participate in the professional preparation of students who will soon move onto their respective careers in professional nursing
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