expert angle

Mental Health Wellness - Tips & Activities to Stay Grounded. Part III

Mary Beth Woodward — Mon, 17 May 2021 16:53:44 +0000

Mental Health Wellness - Tips & Activities to Stay Grounded. Part III Mary Beth Woodward Mon, 05/17/2021 - 12:53

There once was a psychiatrist in New York who worked with patients who were depressed. While he provided the usual treatment, he would add something out of the ordinary. He would ask all his patients to do a mitzvah.

A mitzvah is a good deed, but not just any good deed. A mitzvah is a good deed where you are not expected to get anything back. You don’t expect an acknowledgment: it doesn’t give you points; you don’t get a reward; and you might not even get a thank you. You just do it because it’s the right thing to do.

After assigning a mitzvah, the psychiatrist noticed that his patients were coming back feeling better, sometimes making significant improvements.

Whether this story is true or not, there is clear scientific evidence that mitzvahs do work. When people complete a mitzvah, the body releases oxytocin, the feel-good hormone. People also report that after doing a mitzvah, they felt they had more meaning in their lives.

What a great way to meet people and become more connected with others by simply doing a mitzvah! It’s another great tool to add to your toolbox as you try to incorporate practices to increase socialization, as part of your mental health wellness.

Your mitzvah doesn’t have to be grand gesture; it can be simple. Let’s say you’re at the market, and a bag of bananas are bought two get one free. Take the free one to a neighbor, telling them you could not eat them all and would like to share. Make cookies for your child's class, even though it’s not a holiday or birthday. Volunteer at an animal shelter, a library, or help at a local farmer’s market.

As we practice and learn to be more social, a straightforward technique is to just do good.

Are you interested in talking one-on-one with a professional? Call the Center For Family Services’ Access line at 877.922.2377 or email or email access@centerffs.org. Access will work with you to set you up with a professional counselor who can help.

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mental health

wellness

expert angle

mental health awareness month

well being

professional care

center for family services

social services

Richard Lange, Ph.D., LPC, LCSW

Mental Health Wellness - Tips & Activities to Stay Grounded. Part I

Mary Beth Woodward — Thu, 06 May 2021 16:29:56 +0000

Mental Health Wellness - Tips & Activities to Stay Grounded. Part I Mary Beth Woodward Thu, 05/06/2021 - 12:29

May is Mental Health Awareness month. This month, organizations and agencies publish articles on how to identify mental health issues and best treatment practices. This year we’d would like to take a slightly different approach and focus on mental health wellness. In the next few weeks, we will present activities that have been shown to improve mental health. These activities work for people who are currently in treatment, have been in therapy, and want to stay well, and those who have never been in treatment but want to simply improve their mental health.

What does mental wellness mean? The American Mental Health Wellness Association defines mental wellness as “a state of well-being in which the individual realizes his or her abilities, can cope with the normal stresses of life, can work productively and fruitfully, and can make a contribution to his or her community.” That sounds like something we all can strive to be.

There are six primary wellness activities, or we can even call them “tools.” In the next couple of weeks, we will review each tool with suggestions about making them work best. Of course, these do not take the place of professional help. If you feel you are struggling with life issues, feeling depressed or anxious, having difficulty coping, or having trauma in your life, please connect with the mental health services listed at the bottom of this page.

The Importance of Being Social

While this activity has been put on hold by the pandemic, it is an excellent time to talk about this as society begins to open-up again and get back to normal.

A great deal of research shows that being social can reduce a host of physical problems, such as high blood pressure, heart problems, obesity, mental health, and reducing depression and anxiety in large samples of people.

Tips on Being Social

Face to Face is essential. While Zoom has all but killed our face-to-face time, it appears critical for mental health that we meet people face to face. If you have a friend and you are both vaccinated, it’s time to reach out and get together. Sometimes just meeting for an hour or two once a week.

Set up the same time to meet weekly. Having a set time keeps you both in contact. Reach out, find a friend, and set up a routine; it turns out you will both feel better for it.

If you find yourself in need of professional services for mental health reach out to Center For Family Services' Accee line at 877.922.2377 or email access@centerffs.org.

For more information on our Access services, visit https://www.centerffs.org/get-help.

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mental health

wellness

mental health awareness month

center for family services

Richard Lange, Ph.D., LPC, LCSW

Navigating the Healthcare Marketplace in 2021

Mary Beth Woodward — Thu, 22 Apr 2021 13:54:39 +0000

Navigating the Healthcare Marketplace in 2021 Mary Beth Woodward Thu, 04/22/2021 - 09:54

Have you heard the news? Healthcare is more affordable than before! Center For Family Services’ Navigators are here to help.

You might have heard in the news that 'healthcare insurance is more affordable than before! But what's that mean for you?

Perhaps you’ve been getting job-based insurance for years, until COVID blew away the job – and the insurance.
Perhaps you ran your own business until COVID came – and customers left.
Perhaps insurance was too expensive, and you and your family went without.

Since 2013, Center For Family Services has been at the forefront of getting New Jersey residents connected to affordable health care. Through the Navigator Exchange program, you can learn about your coverage options, understand qualifications that may help lower the cost of your plan, and so much more.

The latest COVID relief bill, called the American Rescue Plan, makes it easier to get healthcare coverage during this health crisis. Here’s what that means for you:

If you received unemployment insurance any time in 2021, you may be eligible for nearly free coverage
If your income was too high for financial help before, you might now qualify
If you already got help paying for your insurance, it’s likely that you’ll be able to get even more financial help

It’s important to note that If you can get insurance through your job, your employer is probably paying part of the bill and you can’t get financial help from this program.

Boy – is this confusing!

That’s why the Navigator Exchange program is here to help. We are Healthcare Navigators who have taken classes, passed tests, and become certified by the NJ State Department of Banking and Insurance. Why? Because we are passionate about healthcare and helping people find the most affordable, accessible, quality coverage available. We’re here to help you by answering your questions, figuring out what financial support you might get, and even filling out your enrollment forms with you. If you’re eligible for Medicaid, we’ll help you with that too. Healthcare insurance is complicated and confusing, especially now when it’s needed most. We are here waiting for your call.

It’s easier than ever to get your questions answered and receive guidance from the Navigator Exchange program. Join experienced Healthcare Navigators at 12:00pm every Tuesday in April, and every Wednesday in May to ask general questions about your options. You can also call the Navigator Exchange Hotline, Monday – Friday, 8am-7pm. Bilingual hotline navigators are available to answer your general questions, and set you up for a free, confidential, and private appointment with a Navigator who will help you apply for the most affordable healthcare insurance you can get.

As of April 14^th, 2021, Open Enrollment has been extended through the end of the year – December, 31, 2021. Due to the pandemic, enrollment and coverage options change frequently. In addition to reviewing our Frequently Asked Questions below and attending a virtual “Ask a Navigator” meeting, you are encouraged to visit the Navigator Exchange program and GetCoveredNJ websites for up to date enrollment details.

Let the Navigator Exchange program help you get peace of mind knowing your family has affordable and quality healthcare coverage.

“Ask A Navigator” with Lynn

Wednesdays in May

1pm

bluejeans.com/5468486846864

Navigator Exchange Program Hotline

Center For Family Services

877.962.8448

8am-7pm Monday-Friday

FAQ (updated April 19, 2021)

Where does this insurance come from?

You might hear the insurance program called the ACA (Affordable Care Act), or nicknamed “Obamacare”. You can buy it through Federal or State Health Insurance Marketplaces made to get quality and affordable healthcare coverage to US residents. Every health plan in the Marketplace must cover a set of “essential health benefits”, including doctor visits, preventive care, hospitalization, prescriptions, and more. Insurance companies can’t deny you coverage or charge you more if you have pre-existing medical conditions. The New Jersey Marketplace is called Get Covered NJ (getcovered.nj.gov).

Am I eligible for coverage through the New Jersey Marketplace?

All US citizens or nationals who live in New Jersey are eligible to buy an insurance plan through the Marketplace, whether or not you have a job. However, you can only get financial help if you don’t get insurance through your job. At the Center For Family Services, bilingual hotline navigators can answer your questions in both Spanish and Korean, and set you up for a free, confidential, and private appointment with a Navigator who can help you apply for the most affordable healthcare insurance that you are eligible for. Call 877.962.8448 between 8am-7pm Monday-Friday.

Am I eligible for financial help?

More people than ever will qualify because of the latest COVID relief bill. If you already get financial help, you will likely be eligible for more. If you didn’t get help before because your income was too high, you might now qualify for savings. Here are some examples for a family of 4:

Household Income (family of 4)	Financial Help
less than $36,576	you might be eligible for NJ Family Care, a complete heath insurance program, for little or no cost.
less than $39,300	your monthly premiums may be near zero and you’ll save when you go to a doctor or get drugs.
less than $65,500	you may get financial help for your monthly premiums and you’ll save when you go to a doctor or get drugs.
less than $94,080	your children might be eligible for low or no cost insurance through NJ Family Care.
less than $104,800	you get financial help to pay for your monthly premiums.
more than $104,800	NEW: you may get financial help so your healthcare insurance doesn’t cost more than 8 ½ % of your household income.
* If you get insurance through your job, you can’t get financial help for Marketplace plans.

This is very complicated! That’s why the Center For Family Services has a hotline to get a free, confidential, and private appointment with a Navigator who can help you find the most affordable healthcare insurance. Call 877.962.8448 between 8am-7pm Monday-Friday.

How do I apply financial help?

The Healthcare Navigators at the Center For Family Services can help you fill out the application forms. We can also help you find out if you are eligible for lower cost healthcare for you and/or your children through NJ Family Care. Call 877.962.8448 between 8am-7pm Monday-Friday to set up a free, confidential, and private appointment with a Navigator.

I’m unemployed. Am I eligible?

If you or your spouse has received or qualified for unemployment insurance at any time in 2021, your family is eligible for significantly reduced premiums. This is a temporary benefit only for 2021 from the new COVID relief bill. Contact the Navigator Hotline at 877.962.8448 to get the latest information.

Is there a deadline to enroll? What if I want to change my plan now that I have more financial help?

Usually, you can only enroll in health insurance plans once a year. But now, because of COVID and the extra financial help that will be available through the new COVID relief bill, enrollment in New Jersey will be open through the end of this year. This means that anyone can enroll or change their insurance plan at any time through December 31, 2021.

What do I need to enroll?

You will need this information for yourself and anyone in your household applying for coverage:

Home and/or mailing addresses
Birth dates
Social Security numbers
Document information for legal immigrants, if applicable
Employer and income information for every member of your household (for example, pay stubs, W-2 forms, unemployment insurance letter)

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healthcare

open enrollment

New Jersey

healthcare marketplace

affordable healthcare

expert angle

Lynn Perlmutter

You are believed: The path toward healing for a survivor.

Mary Beth Woodward — Tue, 20 Apr 2021 19:05:22 +0000

You are believed: The path toward healing for a survivor. Mary Beth Woodward Tue, 04/20/2021 - 15:05

The statistics are staggering.

Nearly 1 in 6 women and 1 in 33 men in the U.S. have experienced sexual assault or attempted sexual assault some time in their lives. While the effects of sexual violence are far reaching, many times taking hold of entire communities, it is the survivor who carries the trauma of their experience. Fortunately, they have options and services available to lead them on a path toward healing.

Center For Family Services’ Services Empowering Rights of Victims (SERV) program is dedicated to helping victims become survivors. By providing competent, respectful, and empathetic care, SERV helps more than 600 survivors of sexual violence annually throughout Camden, Cumberland, and Gloucester counties.

Providing a safe space for survivors is at the forefront of SERV’s work. By offering confidential and culturally sensitive services, highly trained staff are able to build trust with survivors and help them focus on recovery, self-care, and ultimately, healing.

Healing looks different for every survivor; everyone heals in their own time and in their own way. For many, the first step in the process of healing is feeling believed. At SERV, staff center everything around the voice of survivors. They make survivors feel safe and validated by using active listening, assuring confidentiality, and always believing a survivor’s story because when a survivor is believed, their experience and feelings are validated. It allows them the ability to trust, feel safe, and begin to heal.

SERV recognizes that each survivor’s healing journey is going to be unique to the individual. With that in mind, SERV strives to create an environment to personally accommodate each survivor as they navigate the healing process by creating a safe space where individuals are encouraged to bring themselves to a state of good physical, mental and emotional health. Through counseling and therapy, survivors are given the guidance to believe that their experience is in no way their fault and that no challenge is too big to overcome. For some survivors this may be the biggest challenge they will ever face but with the support of SERV they regain power and control in their lives, two things often lost after a traumatic event, and begin to heal.

Not only does the navigation of the healing process present differently for each survivor but so does the severity of sexual trauma. SERV advocates are equipped to provide the emotional support to all survivors of sexual violence regardless of how their trauma is presenting; sexual trauma in children and adults is associated with severe psychological consequences. It is important to understand that SERV recognizes the unique ways in which trauma presents itself regardless of the stage in life a survivor is currently in or the stage in life the trauma occurred.

If the sexual trauma occurs during childhood, often times there is an association with post-traumatic stress disorder, depression, eating disorders, and substance abuse. Those that experience this type of trauma at a young age also risk relationship difficulties later in life both sexual and non-sexual. Sexual trauma in adulthood is often times associated with short- and long-term psychological challenges. Short term meaning anxiety and fear for a set of time and then a sudden lack of symptoms from the trauma. Long term affects are often times extremely serious and could mean severe substance use, nonfatal suicidal behavior or threats, sexual dysfunction, depression, and the overall risk of developing mental health problem and perceptions of lack of control. SERV advocates help survivors access these trauma’s so that they do not go untreated and ultimately develop a continuum of care designed to recover so that these symptoms do not become a constant in their lives.

In addition to providing support to survivors, SERV works within the community to raise awareness about sexual violence, promote prevention efforts, and change long-standing beliefs and attitudes about sexual assault, including the importance of believing survivors. When society as a whole believes in the survivor’s experience, others feel empowered to come out and speak on their experiences. It creates a cycle of education and awareness and a common understanding that sexual assault is never the victim’s fault.

During the month of April, communities across the country recognize Sexual Assault Awareness Month. Join SERV in their mission to support and empower survivors and educate the community by committing to:

Stand against all forms of sexual violence

Speak out against violence and recognize and intervene in situations that could lead to violence

Empower others to support survivors and to create environments where sexual violence is unacceptable

By working together, and believing survivors we can put an end to sexual violence.

Learn more about SERV

Get involved with Stand.Speak.Empower Campaign

Make a donation in support of a survivor

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sexual violence month

awareness

survivor

healing