a non-profit, comprehensive,
community mental health service

Vol. 2, No. 5
May 2011

MFS CHRONICLE

A Message from Bob Rooney, CEO

As my first month as Acting CEO draws to a close, several thoughts come to mind. First, someone once said that time flies when you are having fun. That certainly applies to my first month, both in terms of time passing quickly, as well as enjoying working with staff and management. I am struck by the welcoming response from so many of you. Thank you for making me feel so welcome and supported.

One of my disappointments is that I haven't been able to get around to meet more of you. I am eager to speak with everyone. I plan to meet with all departments over the next few weeks.

Our Medicaid billing in April continued to trend up, reflecting the hard work by many of you. Thanks to you all for keeping your focus on treating our consumers, especially during this transition period. It is critical that we all pull together and not be distracted from our jobs. In spite of our good billing, April ended with a minor financial loss.

On a more positive note, our new Director of Recovery Services, Joe Forscher started work at MFS on May 2nd. The clinical and management experience that Joe brings with him will be very helpful to our organization. In addition, Tonya Cornell ARNP has returned to MFS on a part time basis, working one day/week. Her return is a boost to the staff in Children's Services. Welcome aboard, Tonya and Joe.

On the flip side of that coin, Dr. Moran, a locum tenens psychiatrist, is no longer with MFS. Dr. Agisim is working closely with our HR Dept. to locate a replacement, with some interviews already occurring. Meanwhile Dr. Stein is helping by working some additional days. Thank you, Dr. Stein and Dr. Agisim for doing your best to cover the bases.

During the month of May, we presented our annual requests for funding from the Monadnock United Way. These meetings require a great deal of preparation by many staff members. Support from the MUW is extremely important to MFS. The total of all of our requests amounts to $287,000. I had the opportunity to join our staff for these presentations. Everyone did a wonderful job. I was proud to be sitting with them. While the final allocation from MUW will not be known until late June, early information is most encouraging. Kudos to everyone involved with this effort.

I have met twice with the leaders from other local human service agencies. I continue to be very pleased with their genuine offers to help MFS in any way that they can. They are eager for MFS to thrive. We are fortunate to live in such a wonderful community.

We invited Erik Riera, Administrator for the Bureau of Behavioral Health, and Nancy Rollins, Associate Commissioner for the NH Dept of Health and Human Services, to attend the May Board meeting. Based on their comments, it appears that the 2012 Medicaid funding will not be cut as badly as has been discussed. While funding is likely to be less than the current year, this news is most encouraging. We received a comprehensive overview of the new Medicaid reimbursement system, which is planned to start in Jan. 2012. This will be a major change for all community mental health centers. However, once again, what we heard gives us cause to view this change as possibly being positive for MFS. More information about this initiative will be made available in the near future.

Another major initiative for MFS will be the updating of our Electronic Medical Records system. An implementation team has been formed and planning is in progress. The actual implementation work is expected to start this July and be completed by the end of the year. The successful implementation of such a large system requires the cooperation of our entire staff. This system will result in improvements in both effectiveness and efficiency for MFS. This is a very big step. I know that I can count on your support to make this a smooth transition. More information will be forthcoming.

Thanks to John and Jean Hoffman, this year’s Staff Appreciation celebration will once again be held at their wonderful farm in Sullivan. We are so very fortunate to have such terrific friends and supporters. The event will be held on Friday, June 24 from noon to 4pm. The Agency will be closed during that time. The planning committee is continuing to work on preparations. Posters and sign-up sheets are at each location. The deadline to attend this fun activity is June 24th. I look forward to seeing you at this event.

I have just started to work with the board to initiate a search for a permanent CEO. I will keep you informed of our progress. Please feel free to contact me at anytime with your thoughts, questions or concerns. I can be reached at: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or 283-1564. I will continue to do my best to support you in any way possible.

Thanks again for your dedication to MFS and our consumers.

Red, White, Blue and You: Staff Appreciation Day 2011

Mark your calendars! MFS has scheduled the annual Staff Appreciation Day on Friday, June 24th from 12:00pm to 4:00pm. John and Jean Hoffman have generously offered their farm in Sullivan as the venue. There will be cotton candy, music, and plenty of fun! Bring your families and come prepared to have a good time! Look for posters in your building for further details. We look forward to seeing you there!

Featured Programs of the Month: BabyTime and FamilyTime

BabyTime and FamilyTime, located at the Vernon Street branch of MFS, work with families at the Resource Center or in their homes to provide education and support to meet the challenges of parenthood.

Since its beginning in 1998, BabyTime has supported over 200 pregnant women and new mothers. FamilyTime helps more than 80 families in crisis each year. The crises range from domestic abuse to children’s behavioral disorders to family dissolution.

Annelies Spykman of FamilyTime explained the important role that the program plays within MFS. “At FamilyTime, the whole family is our client,” she said. “We meet in the middle between adult and children’s services. Also, we are funded by a grant -- not Medicaid -- so we have a lot of flexibility in what we can do.”

A significant strength of the two programs is the degree of collaboration they have with other organizations.

BabyTime partners with hospitals, birth centers, nurses, doulas, and birth coaches to offer education about child development and prenatal care, connect participants with social service supports, and introduce participants to various methods of pain management. After the birth, BabyTime addresses postpartum depression, family goal-setting, and child developmental screenings.

FamilyTime, which works with each family for six months, interfaces with many organizations to ensure that all the needs of the family are met. For example, they connect families with doctors, dentists, and affordable childcare. They regularly encounter mental illness within the family and can refer those individuals to MFS for treatment. Because they are community-based, they can provide support to families that are unwilling or unable to secure transportation to receive services.

BabyTime holds a playgroup twice per month at the Resource Center, located outside their office at Vernon Street. The playgroup is open to the entire community. It is a place for parents with children ages five and under to connect, share snacks, and have peer support. The playgroup is held on the second and fourth Tuesday of every month from 10:00am to 12:00pm. You and your young children are welcome to attend!

Susan Bernstein of BabyTime explained that the challenging economic times have made it harder for low-income families to afford essentials. The Resource Center, which is used by both BabyTime and FamilyTime, houses donated items that participants can take. You can help both programs by donating children’s and adult clothing, diapers, cribs, strollers, feminine products, books, toys, baby wipes, household cleaning products, and food. Simply drop off the items at the Vernon Street Resource Center during regular business hours. Participants in both programs greatly appreciate your support!

Balloon Drive Supports Many Options

Monadnock Family Services is holding a balloon drive from now through June 30th to benefit Many Options.

Many Options is an after-school program at Washington Street which serves Keene students in grades 5 through 9 every school day from 2:30 to 5:00pm. Many Options fills the gap between elementary school children, who are too young to be left alone, and high school students, whose schools provide a broad range of after-school activities. Many Options offers carefully-chosen and structured activities such as homework help, fitness classes, cooking classes, book discussion groups, and community service.

Balloons are available in assorted colors and cost $2.00 each or $25.00 for a dozen. It is possible to have balloons delivered to any address in Keene. To purchase a balloon, contact Lisa Sullivan.

Buy your friends and loved ones a balloon today!

Workplace Wellness Gains Momentum at MFS

On May 18, roughly two dozen MFS employees gathered for lunch to discuss workplace wellness with Jodi Clark, Program Coordinator of Acting Out and Vision 2020 Champion.  Jodi shared the passion and knowledge she has experienced since becoming a Champion.

The lunch group felt that, as employees of a mental health care organization, it is critical to take care of our bodies and our minds.  Holistic wellness allows us to better support our clients, our coworkers, and ourselves.

Many people who attended the lunch were surprised to learn about wellness activities that are already happening at MFS.  Every day from 1:00 to 2:00pm, several people gather in the reception area on the second floor at 64 Main Street to work out.  From 12:00 to 1:00pm on Fridays, a group from Children’s Services goes for a walk.  The YMCA has in-staff training at 10:00am on Fridays.  Participants from each group had the same message: You are welcome to join us, and we want you there!

Jodi shared a list of eight things everyone could do to promote physical activity, such as talking about the root causes of the obesity epidemic and scheduling physical activity time.

At the request of the group, MFS will begin including a Workplace Wellness section in each monthly newsletter.  This will serve as a forum to connect various MFS departments and locations through physical activities.  You will find tips, challenges, and camaraderie.  We want to do our part to make Cheshire County the healthiest county in the nation by 2020!

This month, challenge yourself to walk more.  Take a walk during your meeting rather than sitting inside.  Take the stairs rather than the elevator – it is faster anyway!  Park a little further away.  If you need to travel between MFS buildings, walk rather than drive.  It takes between four and six minutes to walk between any of the Main Street, 93rd Street, and Vernon Street locations in downtown Keene.  Walking saves you the trouble of trying to find a parking space.

Jodi recommends purchasing a pedometer to measure the number of steps you take per day.  She started with 4,000 steps a year ago and gradually worked her way up to 10,000 steps – the daily recommended amount for healthy weight maintenance – by taking a daily walk along Court Street and walking between floors to talk with coworkers rather than e-mailing them.  She welcomes anyone with questions about pedometers or how to become a Vision 2020 Champion to e-mail her at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or to walk to her office at Vernon Street for a visit.

Coming up this month, consider participating in the InShape 5K Fundraiser in Manchester on June 23rd.  Think about attending the region-wide workplace wellness quarterly meeting at HCS in Keene on June 15th from 3:00 to 4:30pm.

Next month, please submit tips and suggestions for the “What I Do for Workplace Wellness” section of the newsletter to This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .  We are looking for suggestions for healthy, affordable lunch options within walking distance of MFS.

Timken Offers Volunteers through Monadnock United Way

Does your department have a project that would be perfect for a volunteer crew to take on?

The good people at Timken run a summer intern program and would like to offer the services of eight college interns on Tuesday, June 21 between the hours of 8:00am to 5:00pm. Preference is for the group to work together on one, two or three projects during the day.

The department would need to provide all materials for the project, along with refreshments/lunch.

To request either a full or partial-day project, please contact Ellen Avery, Director of Community Building, at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it . She will pass them on to Timken and they will select.

Let the fun begin!

InSHAPE Commences Annual Garden Groups

A Note from Peter Sebert

The InSHAPE annual garden groups give participants an opportunity to learn about growing nutritional foods.  Participants work on developing social skills, stress management, exercise, improving nutritional habits, communication skills, and community involvement.

The groups are designed so that all participants feel like they have succeeded in helping to create the garden.  Participants benefit from the fruits of their labor by receiving fresh food every week.

The group in Keene is held every Friday morning from 9:00am to 11:00am at the InSHAPE garden site on Victoria Street behind Wyman Way.  The group in Peterborough is held every Tuesday from 1:00pm to 2:00pm at the Peterborough community gardens on route 202.

Our garden groups have been a place of solitude to learn a new activity, meet a new friend, spend time out in the sun, and get some exercise.

We do take referrals (if medically indicated) for participation in our garden groups.

Happy Spring from InSHAPE!

Joe Forscher Settles In as Director of Recovery Services

Joe Forscher, who has spent the last month settling into his new role as Director of Recovery Services, is very excited to be part of the MFS team. We welcome the passion, vision, and skill Joe brings to our organization.

Joe is happy to be here because everything is new and fresh to him. He brings considerable knowledge and experience to his new role.

Joe has a solid background in mental health. He is a therapist and has specific training in DBT. He has worked as a quality assurance director and, at his former job in Connecticut, he oversaw six programs at a behavioral health organization similar to MFS.

Joe has additional experience outside the realm of mental health care. He was in the Coast Guard for four years, worked at a gas station for four years, and has been a 911 operator.

Joe is excited about his work at MFS and wants the same for others. He would like to support our team in exploring issues from different perspectives.

Joe looks forward to completing his move to Keene with his cat, Hobbes.

Adriana Elliot Steps Up as Director of Cheshire Mediation

MFS is pleased to welcome Adriana Elliot as the new Director of Cheshire Mediation.

Cheshire Mediation began in 1997.  The program’s New Hampshire Certified professional mediators work with couples in divorce, unmarried parents, and even parents and children to find ways to resolve disputes as amicably as possible and preserve relationships.  Cheshire Mediation’s four mediators handle more than 100 cases each year.

Adriana Elliot connected with Cheshire Mediation in 2007 when she trained with Greg Hessel, who was the program director at the time.  She also trained with local mediators Olivia Ruel and Greg Martin.  Since then, Adriana has worked at Cheshire Mediation as an intern and mediator and as a Guardian ad Litem for the Cheshire County Courts.  She also teaches adult fitness classes for Core Connection, the Wellness Program of MoCo Arts.

Adriana is passionate about bringing alternative dispute resolution to families in the Monadnock region.  She is actively working to broaden public awareness of mediation because of the many benefits the approach offers.

Adriana brings considerable experience, dedication, and leadership to her new role as Director of Cheshire Mediation at MFS.