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CRBH services tackle mental health, substance abuse disorders

Sentinel Echo - 5/7/2018

TRI-COUNTY - Almost eight million American adults battled co-occurring disorders, both a mental health disorder and a substance abuse disorder, in 2014 according to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.

Cumberland River Behavioral Health (CRBH) is a nonprofit community mental health center that serves eight counties within the region, including Laurel, Whitley and Knox. CRBH has been working to tackle these co-occurring disorders through a wide variety of programs.

Tim Cesario, director of Substance Abuse Services at Cumberland River Behavioral Health, said that CRBH works to "treat the whole person" through their substance abuse services.

"It's a lot of collaboration between mental health and substance abuse so we can meet all their needs instead of just the substance abuse," he said.

CRBH offers a variety of programs to ensure that all members of the community are given the opportunity to achieve their highest potential to become productive members of society.

As the director of substance abuse services, Cesario said his biggest job was to make sure the programs being offered were within the rules and regulations set forth by the Department of Behavioral Health and are in compliance with the contracts with their providers.

"Everything we do is according to the state guidelines from the programs that we offer down to the number of days that we do them," Cesario said.

CRBH offers DUI services to those who may need it, which includes assessments, outpatient treatment sessions and DUI classes.

All DUI offenders must first complete an assessment with a certified DUI assessor. CRBH has a certified DUI assessor available in seven of the eight counties it serves, Knox County being the only county without a certified assessor.

The assessor then makes a referral to the appropriate level of care to fit the client's needs, which may be to attend a minimum of a 20-hour education program or outpatient treatment sessions which can be in small groups or individual sessions.

CRBH also offers outpatient treatment services which include group or individual alcohol/drug counseling for all ages. Substance abuse assessments for legal issues, mining services, nursing licenses and food stamp services are also provided by CRBH.

Intensive Outpatient Programs (IOP) are also offered to clients who may need their services.

IOP is a group-focused, nonresidential program for substance dependent adults 19 and older. It is more intensive than the traditional outpatient treatment services by offering a minimum of nine hours of treatment per week.

"It's for people that are self-referred, people that need more help than outpatient but don't want to do residential," said Cesario. "It gives them a big chunk of time that is dedicated to recovery."

These groups meet for three hours, three times a week in both group and individual sessions.

Case management is also provided within the IOP, which include assessments, links to community resources, monitoring and advocacy.

The Regional Prevention Center is a prevention program offered by CRBH that collaborates with individuals and communities to help reduce risk factors that contribute to alcohol, tobacco and other drug misuse.

Kentucky Moms Maternal Assistance Towards Recovery program is another intensive outpatient program offered by CRBH that welcomes all women who are pregnant or have delivered within the past two months to workshops that are offered monthly throughout CRBH's eight-county region.

The program also offers additional classes for women at risk for substance abuse.

CRBH also offers several residential programs: Independence House, Crossroads and Cumberland Hope Community.

Independence House is non-medical facility that offers treatment and rehabilitation for pregnant and postpartum women. Crossroads is a non-medical residential substance abuse treatment program for men. Cumberland Hope Community is an intensive residential social recovery program for women.

Each of these facilities offer long-term treatment for those suffering with substance abuse.

All of these services offered by CRBH are meant to serve the community and help to tackle the substance abuse problem in the region.

With such a wide variety of programs offered, Cesario hopes to reach all of those within the community suffering with substance abuse issues.

"I feel a duty to make these programs available to as many people as we can in this region," said Cesario.

EADAMS@THETIMESTRIBUNE.com