In the News Article Published in NJAMHA News February 2007 NJAMHA Bridgeway’s Evidence-Based Practices Empower Individuals to Achieve Independence Since launching its best-practices initiative nearly three years ago, Bridgeway Rehabilitation Services, Inc. in Elizabeth has achieved substantial success. In addition to implementing high fidelity Programs in Assertive Community Treatment (PACT), Supported Employment and Illness Management and Recovery (IMR)—three of six evidence based practice areas recognized by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration— they plan to incorporate the remaining areas: Family Education and Involvement, Integrated Dual Disorder Treatment and Medication Management. In each Bridgeway program, a menu of best practices services will be available individually or in combination. Bridgeway’s mission also focuses on “person first” language, with the preferred phrases to describe individuals who Bridgeway serves being “service recipients” or “individuals with mental illness.” According to Cory Storch, Executive Director, “The idea is that the person is more than the illness. It reinforces our mission to help people live successfully and move steadily toward recovery,” he said in an interview with NJAMHA News. Evidence-Based Practices Are Integral to Every Program Staff members are trained to empower individuals to take responsibility for their own rehabilitation, the core tenet of Bridgeway’s best practices initiative. First, they conduct motivational interviewing to help service recipients set goals on their own terms and overcome ambivalence they might have about receiving treatment, going back to work or where they want to live. Next, through cognitive behavioral interventions, service recipients develop skills that enable them to function, either with or without staff support. Then, they are ready to pursue a goal such as employment, with the staff assisting through the provision of Supported Employment Services. “The only way an agency can successfully implement these approaches is through a systemic approach, consisting of staff training and strong supervision. Our progress notes, service plans and other forms prompt staff to use best practices in their daily work. We also incorporate best-practice strategies in annual performance evaluations and outcomes measurement systems for every program,” Storch said. PACT and IMR Coordination Offers Success By augmenting PACT with IMR services, which involves teaching individuals to manage their mental illness, service recipients have made substantially more progress, compared to individuals who received PACT only services. The addition of IMR resulted in significantly higher rates of achieving housing stability (100 percent), securing competitive employment (32 percent) and having a stated recovery goal (94 percent), compared to the PACT-only group (71, 21 and 55 percent, respectively). IMR is now the standard in PACT and all other programs. Bridgeway runs six PACT teams. “We focus on wellness by helping with medical problems, nutrition and stress reduction, as well as mental illness,” Storch said. Bridgeway also operates the PACT Technical Assistance Center, a state-funded project through which they provide targeted technical assistance, consultation and training on evidencebased practices to all New Jersey PACT teams. Similar to supported employment and IMR, Bridgeway has made supportive housing an integral part of all its programs. Last year, 40 percent of Bridgeway’s supportive housing service recipients went back to work, which is significantly higher than the national average for individuals with mental illness. “In 2005, 203 people in the supportive employment and partial care programs were working or going to school. That was an all-time high for Bridgeway,” Storch added. WRAPs Ensure Individuals Have Say in Their Treatment Despite the progress that Bridgeway’s service recipients are making, unexpected relapses still occur. Bridgeway offers WRAP (Wellness Recovery Action Plan) Crisis Planning to help them manage their illness as much as possible. This initiative was launched at and is based in Bridgeway’s Partial Care program. Individuals first learn to identify and track early signs of possible relapse, develop coping skills and understand that the severity of their condition could prevent them from recognizing relapse. Then service recipients are assisted to write advance directive plans for health providers and proxies (friends or family members they identify) to use when they cannot communicate treatment preferences. This empowers people to have a say in their treatment when they are most vulnerable and powerless. The number of WRAP program participants has steadily grown from three people in 2002, when the program was introduced, to 22 individuals in 2006. Overall, 71 individuals completed the program and 18 individuals are currently working on WRAP. The increasing number is attributed to the addition of three groups—one for those who seek mental illness/chemical abuse treatment, one for those who speak Spanish and one for those with reading and writing difficulties —for a total of five groups, which the service recipients facilitate themselves. Fine Arts Program Offers Self- Expression and Community Reintegration Bridgeway also offers a Fine Arts Instruction program. Participants attend a class taught by a professional artist once or twice a week. All participants have exhibited and many have sold their art, and several returned to school to study art and pursue careers. “While some have engaged in art over the years, others have never picked up a pencil or paintbrush before. The results are amazing,” said Kathy Smith, Community Relations Coordinator. Bridgeway coordinates annual exhibitions at Kean University and the Union County administration building and has been invited to plan exhibitions at the local public library and a local corporation. Last year, the artists were invited to mount an exhibition at a commercial gallery in Hoboken. “For many individuals, this is the first time that they have had an opportunity to showcase their work in public. It’s terrific to see how proud everyone is when they have the opportunity to exhibit their work,” Smith said, adding that the artists take the opportunity to talk to people about their art and may offer it for sale during the opening receptions. “The most important outcome of the program is an opportunity for reintegration -- to connect with the cultural community,” Smith said. Fundraising Events Ensure Continued Services In October 2001, Bridgeway hosted its first Walkathon, which supports Bridgeway’s Assistance Fund to help service recipients achieve successful, independent lives by providing, for example, clothes for job interviews or support for obtaining apartments. “Our first Walkathon was a terrific success. It was well received by the community. Friends, business people, community members and service recipients from both Bridgeway and other area mental health programs participate every year,” Smith said. Bridgeway hosted its first Golf Classic at Suburban Golf Club in Union in June 2004. Not only did the event produce unexpected income, but it also helped establish critical connections to local businesses and major corporations supporting Bridgeway programs. On June 11, 2007, Bridgeway will host its fourth annual Golf Classic at Shackamaxon Golf and Country Club in Scotch Plains.