A local mental health conference celebrating its 25th year is recognizing District 18 Senator Jean Hunhoff as a mental wellbeing silver lining for his mental health advocacy and vision.
The Yankton Area Mental Wellness, Inc., (YAMWI) Annual Conference will begin Wednesday at 8:00 am at Mount Marty University and feature two days of select speakers and breakout sessions to explore current therapies and techniques, as well as issues and factors affecting mental health professionals.
Hunhoff has served as chairman of the Senate Appropriations Committee, chairman of the Joint Appropriations Committee and on multiple special committees to represent the needs of mental health facilities, providers, clients and their families, according to the conference literature. Senator Hunhoff embodies the positives of advocacy for those facing mental illness, support for service providers, and a vision for an ever-brighter future for mental health in our great state.
Hunhoff, who presents the YAMWI conference each year, told Press & Dakotan the recognition was humbling.
Money (for programs) is important. There is no doubt about this. You have to have it, she said, referring to his role in the appropriations. But what is really important are those who provide the services. That’s where the rubber meets the road. You can give all the money you want, but they (have to) use it for the right resources and to get the right staff on board, so they can deliver the services. That’s where I find success is.
In her years as a lawmaker, Hunhoff said, one of the main issues she’s worked on involves reimbursement for mental health services and doing her best when it comes to funding state agencies and agencies that have contracts for services. of behavioral health, she said. .
The dollars we’ve been able to provide to behavioral health centers over the past couple of years have really helped, Hunhoff said. We have given dollars and grants to develop regional mental health centers and again, last year, we were able to significantly boost behavioral health services for social workers and counselors.
He noted that Lewis & Clark Behavioral Health Services broke ground on a new crisis intervention center in Yankton this week.
I was involved in that, Hunhoff said. Those individuals came before the appropriations. I have listened to them. I supported them. I definitely got them involved in the community.
In recent years, the treatment of mental health crises has changed, with service providers often able to stabilize people quickly, sending them home days later rather than institutionalizing them, he said, adding that telehealth has been a huge factor in enabling people to heal in their own communities.
Additionally, the COVID-19 pandemic has increased awareness of and need for behavioral health services, which now include drug and alcohol treatment.
I think we are all hearing about the growing need for behavioral health, and not just those with mental health services, but we are also talking about addiction services and most importantly with our young children, accidents, early childhood experiences and their impact, Hunhoff said. When you sit in Pierre, you listen to all these providers who are dealing with all kinds of mental health issues. Over the years of sitting there listening, it’s just escalated, and I think it’s very important that we continue to support these people, to support organizations that are providing any of these types of services that are definitely impacting health mentality of our citizens of South Dakota.
Last year, the lawmaker was able to get behavioral health providers 100% reimbursed, but more help is needed, she said.
They are facing some serious shortages, especially in the field of social work masters, Hunhoff said. These people are badly needed to lead, manage cases and provide direct services.
In her experience as a nurse who made assessments and referred patients to mental health services, Hunhoff said she learned that mental health is an important part of a patient’s overall health care.
(Also), I think we’re all touched by (behavioral health issues) in our personal lives, she said. We had a daughter who had a methamphetamine problem and she got involved in a program (Teen Challenge) that made a difference. She now she (she moved) to Minnesota because there she will develop a Teen Challenge program for women.
Mental health issues exist in families and it’s important to take care of those individuals, Hunhoff said, adding that she has learned so much through her role as a YAMWI conference presenter.
Behavioral health is changing and there are so many areas in need. This conference provides an overview that addresses hot topics, so I’m listening and learning from the people there, she said. And I can take that information back because it’s going to show up somewhere to Pierre, and I want to defend it.
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