Telecare Hero: Mike McKinsey

Telecare Hero: Mike McKinsey

Telecare’s Mike McKinsey (PSC II/Benefits Specialist at the Orange County AOT program) was part of a special group of employees who helped the Orange County Health Care Agency provide clinical assessments to more than 700 individuals experiencing homelessness. Mike, who previously dealt with homelessness himself, used his lived experience to help elevate others in need.

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Selected Artists for Telecare's Annual Holiday Card & Recovery Calendar

Telecare’s 2019 holiday card. Artist: toan ph.

Telecare’s 2019 holiday card. Artist: toan ph.

Each year, Telecare collects artwork submissions from partners across our programs to be featured in our annual recovery calendar and holiday card.

This year, we asked artists to submit any work that represents their heritage, culture, journey, or individual uniqueness for our theme of Who We Are.

We are pleased to showcase the selected artists for Telecare’s annual holiday card and 2020 recovery calendar in the gallery below!

Please note: All artwork is attributed and shared with consent and guidance from the artist.


Telecare's LA HOP 7 & HOMES Featured in County Training Video

staff at telecare’s los angeles hop 7 program prepare for their morning meeting. The team’s collaborative approach is featured in an upcoming training video from the los angeles department of mental health.

staff at telecare’s los angeles hop 7 program prepare for their morning meeting. The team’s collaborative approach is featured in an upcoming training video from the los angeles department of mental health.

rachel schwartz, administrator of Telecare’s la hop 7, homes, and kaiser downey.

rachel schwartz, administrator of Telecare’s la hop 7, homes, and kaiser downey.

Telecare’s Los Angeles HOP 7 and Helping Our Members Establish Success (HOMES) programs in Bellflower, California, are featured in a recent training video created by the Los Angeles Department of Mental Health (DMH). The video is part of the LA DMH Full Service Partnership (FSP) Transformation Project, which was created to set standards for what they would like to see in an FSP team and help providers get back on track with the Assertive Community Treatment (ACT) model. Going forward as they develop contracts, every FSP provider in the county will be mandated to watch the video.

This training video features two FSP teams in LA County and includes an interview with Rachel Schwartz, Administrator of LA HOP 7, HOMES, and Kaiser Downey. Rachel walks through the many aspects of the morning meeting and how that helps bring the team together and game plan for the day. The video captures the big and little things that make the team successful as well as what outstanding teamwork looks like.

The developer is kindly permitting Telecare to share a draft of the video. You can watch it by clicking the link to Vimeo below and entering the password.

Watch the Video:

Corporate Staff Celebrate Thanksgiving 2019

On Thursday, November 21, the corporate staff at Telecare celebrated Thanksgiving by holding a luncheon.

Turkeys were cooked by staff members, and everyone brought in appetizers, side dishes, and desserts to share with one another.

Telecare’s CEO and President, Anne Bakar, wanted to share her photos from the event and wish everyone at all of our programs nationwide a very happy Thanksgiving.

Oregon ACT Comes Together for a Holiday Meal

Oregon ACT staff and members gathered together to celebrate the holidays by sharing a nice meal together.

More than 26 members, an interpreter, and staff from both ACT and the Recovery Center at Gresham were involved.

Staff thoroughly planned, organized, cooked, gave rides, set-up, served, decorated, and cleaned after the event.

There was plenty of music, food, and decorations to set the tone for the beginning of a wonderful holiday season.

Enjoy their photos below!

Telecare + NAMI Oregon Honor Senator Ron Wyden

The National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) of Oregon has chosen Senator Ron Wyden as the recipient of the 11th Annual Gordon and Sharon Smith New Freedom Award.

SENATOR RON WYDEN (COURTESY OF WWW.WYDEN.SENATE.GOV)

SENATOR RON WYDEN (COURTESY OF WWW.WYDEN.SENATE.GOV)

Created by NAMI Oregon in 2009 to honor the mental health advocacy efforts of former United States Senator Gordon Smith and his wife, Sharon, the New Freedom Award is presented annually and recognizes an individual or individuals for their leadership on mental health issues.

Telecare and NAMI Oregon leaders were present at Senator Wyden’s award ceremony on October 1 at the Portland Downtown Waterfront Marriott.

“Senator Wyden has been a champion for mental health for many years,” Jim Sechrist, Regional Director of Operations for Telecare’s Oregon programs, said.

As an organization, Telecare is a proud supporter of NAMI and its programs in the communities we serve. Together, we want to continue to raise awareness of the importance of mental health advocacy, reduce the stigma surrounding mental health disorders, and provide resources for those who may be in need of services.

To find your local NAMI chapter, click here.

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Shown in Photograph:

Back row from left to right:

  • David Ochoa, Clinical Director, CATC

  • Janet Bardossi, Floating Administrator, Northwest
    Chris Bouneff, Executive Director, NAMI Oregon

  • Jim Sechrist- Telecare Regional Director of Operations

  • Megan Chaloupka, Administrator, Gresham Recovery Center


Front row from left to right:

  • Lisa Naito, Lobbyist

  • Linda Reese, Vice President of Operations, Northwest, Telecare

  • Melinda Howard, Administrator, CATC

  • Jamie DeRuyter, Administrator, Woodburn Recover Center

Celebrating the Opening of Mark Reed E&T

Telecare Corporation, with the support of Great Rivers Behavioral Health Organization, is pleased to announce the opening of Mark Reed Evaluation and Treatment Center in McCleary, WA.

This new 16-bed facility is designed to provide recovery-centered inpatient care for individuals experiencing an acute behavioral health crisis. The goal is to help those in need to regain stability, connect to additional resources, and return to regular life as soon as possible.

The program serves adults in Grays Harbor County who meet the criteria for an Involuntary Treatment Act (ITA) detention and/or a 14-day commitment, and it is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Nearly 50 people gathered to celebrate the center’s ribbon-cutting ceremony on August 14. Many people who had worked at the facility when it was a hospital and were thrilled to see what Telecare had done to the building.

The Mark Reed Evaluation and Treatment Center is Telecare’s first program in partnership with Great Rivers Behavioral Health Organization. We are honored to be new members of this community.

California Launches Statewide Peer-Staffed Warm Line

Ahead of World Mental Health Day on Thursday, October 10, the state of California debuted a statewide mental health phone line to help those who need help, but aren't in crisis.

Most counties already run a suicide prevention hotline, however, only a few have a “warm line.” Warm lines, which offer emotional support and resource referrals for people who are experiencing depression, anxiety and other symptoms, are considered a lower level of care. They’re ideal for those who may need someone to talk to and are not suicidal.

During its initial launch, the warm line will be staffed for most of the day. Staffed by peers, individuals can choose to either call or text the line.

  • 7 a.m. through 11 p.m. (Monday-Friday)

  • 7 a.m. through 3 p.m. (Saturday)

  • 7 a.m. through 9 p.m. (Sunday)

By the end of the year, the call center is expected to operate 24/7.

The line is funded by $10.8 million from Gov. Gavin Newsom’s first budget to expand the line statewide and operate it for the next three years.

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5B Documentary Film Screening at Fort Mason

Last week, a few Telecare staff (past and present) attended a screening of the documentary 5B to support a longtime leader and Redwood Place Administrator, Cliff Morrison. The documentary was screened at an event in San Francisco’s Historic Fort Mason as part of a larger Q&A session with people involved in the production.

Cliff is featured throughout 5B for his work in the early 1980’s establishing the first AIDS ward in the country at San Francisco General Hospital. Telecare’s been following along on his journey as it headed to the Cannes Film Festival, premiered at Los Angeles Pride, and spoke to NPR’s Fresh Air host Terry Gross in an interview earlier this summer with a former colleague.

Check out images from the Fort Mason event below. We are so proud of cliff and congratulate him on all his successes. For more information on the documentary, visit the 5B film website.