After my last mental illness crisis in 2004, I hit rock bottom. I was fired from the company I had been employed by since 1981 as the Computer Software Director of Research and Development for a subchapter S corporation, while I was in the intensive care unit of a Midwestern Regional Hospital. I was not able to work in the career I was trained in, not insurable because of my mental health diagnosis and was not capable of living by myself and my COBRA benefits were long gone.
A new series of expensive drugs, costing over $1,000.00/month was coming out of my pocketbook. It didn’t take long before my house, extra cars and motorcycle went away while trying to pay my bills. I got a first hand look on what it was like going from a high middle class lifestyle to that of poverty.
I had to maintain my high costs of medications to live, I refused to go on welfare, that’s for lazy people (sarcastic), and I wasn’t going to be a stakeholder on a Medicaid program, that’s for poor people (sarcastic). So what do I do now? How would I recover from this tragic setback? I wrote about this in my book.
I knew of Philanthropic Foundations, sometimes named as Charity Foundations. It was suggested to me to ask for their help. I was use to making “The Ask” yet I felt uncomfortable making applications until I recalled, In all things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive.
Asking is the cornerstone in building Foundations.
I also wrote the Mott mottos, “Let us be known by our deeds” and “We shall be judged by our deeds”. My definition of deeds is taking action that is performed intentionally. Sometimes the results of action are good while, at other times good intentions go bad.
I needed to ask. The deed was an action to define the mission of the foundation. My deed of action was to fill out the applications for scholarships and grants. I believed in receiving. I did not judge the foundations in respect to who created it, donated and past actions. That did not matter. What mattered was I had an immediate need and the foundations had an immediate response.
Large pharmaceutical companies such as Pfizer, GlaxoSmithKline, and Merck have foundations that disburse grants in the form of scholarships. There are many foundations in the private sector to be found for a variety of services needed from companies that make Applesauce to Vehicles. Funding does not have to come from taxpayers in the way of state and federal government funds. I believe this fact must be stated. Recovery is not an entitlement program. Recovery takes people in collaboration with the public and private sectors. In my case, it took all three entities to help in my recovery.
I received a scholarship from GlaxoSmithKline that paid for all of my name brand medications, with two annuals grants that took care of my need for prescription drugs. I was granted access, by reduced rates, to my Community Mental Health Center’s services of therapy, medication plan and treatment plan. I was welcomed to my local affiliate of NAMI to become part of a support group. I would have never believed in recovery without what I received, by asking.
Today, I live on my benefits from working that included paying out the maximum limit, in most years, to the federal insurance contributions act and the interest earned from my 401(k) plan that I converted to an IRA.
I try to ‘give back’, only wishing I could make an impact like a large Foundation did. I would like to introduce to you the Mott Foundation, founded in Michigan. Today the Mott Foundation has branch offices in England and South Africa. Charles Stewart Mott and I share the Mott family name. You won’t find information about the Foundation in my book, even though the name of my book is Mott’s Mind. There are many Mott Community Foundations.
Mott built a hospital for children. They started a program to be a community health center. Today they are also a Community Mental Health Center. The hospital has a child and adolescent Psychiatry Department, providing mental health treatment and prevention services. Their goal is to promote the emotional growth of children within the context of their families and community. They provide services for Children who are experiencing emotional, behavioral or mental health concerns and who are at or below 200% of the federal poverty guidelines can be served at the Health Center. Health Plus Partners/PPOM/Champus and other insurers reimburse for our services. Clients are not turned away for inability to pay.
It takes a large and competent staff to run such a facility. There are private hospitals that have shut their doors to mental health wings. Hospital beds are being lost. Is it due to a money problem? In many cases, No.
It is due to a shortage of staff, people working in mental health care with people living with a mental illness. This is a problem throughout the United States. The question is how do you build and sustain a work force?
Mott built a Community College that would help to create a workforce. It goes along with the statement, “If you build it, they will come.”
Mott Community College creates people with an Accredited Associates Degree who work in different areas of Behavior Health. People are not born as mental illness workers. You create them.
Jeanne and Jim Mott of Iowa created a Foundation that is known as the J & J Corporation. It is one of many cornerstones for community based services.
They created and developed a service named M.O.T.T.S., an acronym for what they do in mental health. Their mission states M.O.T.T.S – Our mission is in our name.
• M Mentoring – to reach or counsel in a trusting manner
• O. Outreach – a system of delivery of services to surpass all others
• T. Training – a process of bringing a person to a higher level of proficiency
• T. Transition to aid people in the passage from 1 position or state to another
• S. Support – to give aid or encouragement to those in need
I could continue with more Mott Foundations that have an integral part of the mental illness recovery process.
When you need help, ASK. If the person doesn’t have any information for you, ASK for who they know who can help you.
The cornerstone has been laid for building Foundations that can help you.
Your deed is to ask. If you received nothing, continue asking. Make your asks as a never ending prayer. Expect to receive. Expect to start on a recovery plan.
Expect to have a Mott’s Mind.
Thank you.
No comments:
Post a Comment