Ascension St. Vincent Evansville has awarded $17,000 to Youth First, Inc. for vital services and programs in Diocese of Evansville Catholic schools.
Youth First’s purpose is to strengthen the mental health and well-being of young people so they can live safe, healthy, and productive lives. This year 86 Youth First Social Workers and Mental Health Professionals, along with evidence-based prevention programs, are embedded in 119 schools across 12 Indiana counties and accessible to over 50,000 students, their parents and caregivers.
Ascension St. Vincent Evansville’s gift will help provide service to 24 Catholic schools across five counties, including 13 in Vanderburgh County.
The U.S. Surgeon General, American Academy of Pediatrics, and others have declared a national youth mental health crisis, as suicide rates and drug overdoses have soared in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic. Youth First’s data since the start of the pandemic mirrors the national concerns. Over the last several school years, Youth First’s caseload data reflected a 58 percent increase for suicide risk, an 84 percent increase in interventions for immediate behavioral concerns, and a 73 percent increase in teacher/staff consultations, with a growing number of educators seeking support for their own stress as well as their students’ needs.
Youth First embeds mental health professionals, primarily master’s level, licensed social workers, in schools to serve as specialized mentors for students and prevention coaches for parents and teachers. They also coordinate with community partners to connect students and families to resources and services. They build caring relationships, foster readiness for positive change, and boost resiliency along with other valuable life skills. Research shows these protective factors are the keys to preventing addiction, suicide, violence, and similar outcomes for young people. The organization’s positive outcomes are driving growth, with more schools seeking Youth First’s help to address the mental health needs of students and best equip them for success. Youth First services are free for students and families thanks to funding partners like Ascension St. Vincent Evansville.
“Investing in the Future Through Learning About the Past: The 1878 Memorial Initiative”
September 19th | 6:30 PM | Browning Gallery
We are excited to invite you to a unique and enriching event that promises to take you on a captivating historical journey. The Southwestern Indiana Historical Society proudly presents:
**”Investing in the Future Through Learning About the Past: The 1878 Memorial Initiative”**
Join us on:
**Date:** September 19, 2023
**Time:** 6:30 PM
**Venue:** Browning Gallery, Lower Level of Willard Public Library
In this engaging presentation, renowned historians Kristalyn Shefveland and Laurel Standiford Reyes will delve deep into the historical significance of the 1878 Memorial Initiative. You’ll gain valuable insights into the ways our past has shaped our present and is influencing our future.
**Why Attend?**
– Discover the rich history of Southwestern Indiana.
– Learn about the 1878 Memorial Initiative’s lasting impact.
– Engage with fellow history enthusiasts and community members.
– Enjoy light refreshments and a welcoming atmosphere.
This event is perfect for students, history enthusiasts, and anyone curious about the heritage of our region. Admission is free, but seating is limited, so be sure to arrive early to secure your spot.
Mark your calendars and invite your friends and family to join us on September 19th. Together, let’s explore our shared history and invest in a brighter future through the knowledge of our past.
FOOTNOTE: Â EPD DAILY ACTIVITY REPORT information was provided by the EPD and posted by the City-County-County Observer without opinion, bias, or editing.
Lawmakers discuss the future of an illegal drug as a “breakthrough therapy†for Hoosiers
By Kyra Howard, TheStatehouseFile.com
Sep 16, 2023 Updated Sep 13, 2023
With veterans and first responders in mind, lawmakers are studying the use of psychedelic drugs such as psilocybin for people whose other interventions for mental health conditions have failed.
Ben Unger, left, and Dr. Ranji Varghese testified to share their experience in researching psilocybin as a mental health treatment. Varghese is an investigator in the first FDA-approved psilocybin research trial at the University of Minnesota.
Screenshot by Kyra Howard, TheStatehouseFile.com.
The Interim Study Committee on Public Health, Behavioral Health and Human Services met Wednesday afternoon at the Indiana Statehouse to hear testimony from doctors, psychiatrists and others.
Earlier this year, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration deemed the use of psychedelic drugs as potential treatmentsfor medical conditions as “breakthrough therapies.†According to its site, this designation speeds up the development and review of these drugs.
The study committee heard three hours of testimony to aid in consideration of what legislation to introduce next session, if any.
Dr. Diane Reis, medical director of Mental Health America of Indiana, gave an overview of conditions like PTSD, depression, and anxiety, noting the higher rates for veterans and first responders. She discussed treatments, including the use of psychedelics such as psilocybin. She added that she was not there to ask for a certain course of action but to help lawmakers understand clinical terms and treatments for different mental health issues.
The committee discussion mainly focused on psilocybin as a treatment. Research has indicated it can promote plasticity in the brain, according to the National Institute of Health, which can help people with resistant conditions like depression. Psilocybin, commonly known as magic mushrooms or shrooms, is naturally occurring and consumed for its hallucinogenic effects, according to the Alcohol and Drug Foundation.
Research and clinical trials are ongoing, but expert testimony seemed to encourage lawmakers to be proactive.
Ben Unger, director of psilocybin policy for New Approach, thanked Indiana lawmakers for tackling mental health and the sometimes seemingly controversial issues surrounding it.
“The hope and promise is real,†said Unger. “The science is real in a way that ought to help us rethink how we think about these substances. People need leadership from you all to figure out how to use these substances in a safe and responsible manner. And we think proactive policy is the best way to accomplish that.â€
Lawmakers raised some concerns over legalizing psilocybin as a treatment, asking about the cost, the potential negative impacts of drug use such as addiction, and the possible lasting hallucination effects.
Brock Patterson, director of government affairs for the Indiana Prosecuting Attorneys Council, echoed some of these concerns, also noting cases of individuals blaming psychedelic drugs for committing violent crimes.
“It is pretty disingenuous to try to tie those two things [crime and psychedelics] together,†said Rep. Justin Moed D-Indianapolis. He added there are laws in place to prosecute individuals when prescription drugs are misused.
Patternson stated that the attorneys council’s recommendation is that if lawmakers move forward, they should do so with a clinical research approach through Purdue or Indiana universities.
Testimony emphasized that these are therapeutic treatments supervised by trained individuals, not at-home or recreational use of psychedelics. Physicians would vet patients carefully for qualifying factors such as previous failed treatments, current mindstates and support systems.
The committee’s final meeting will take place Oct. 18, when it will make a final report with recommendations.
FOOTNOTE: Â Kyra Howard is a reporter for TheStatehouseFile.com, a news website powered by Franklin College journalism students.
A few days ago, Dr. Caitlin Bernard and Indiana Attorney General Todd Rokita each announced decisions not to appeal a punishment handed down by the Indiana State Medical Licensing Board.
The licensing board, at Rokita’s request, had reprimanded the doctor for supposedly violating the privacy rights of a 10-year-old Ohio girl who had become pregnant following a rape and came to Bernard for an abortion. The board also fined Bernard $3,000.
The board’s action earned—and merited—national and international scorn among medical and legal ethics experts.
The criticism focused on two areas.
The first was that the information Bernard had disclosed—the age of the patient, the medical procedure and the state where the patient resides—routinely can be found in medical journals and was well within accepted guidelines. Rokita himself had disclosed as much or more information about the little girl during his ceaseless attempts to attract attention from national right-wing media.
The second was that the licensing board is populated entirely with political appointees. These included board members who had made substantial campaign contributions to Rokita and yet chose not to recuse themselves.
When Bernard signaled that she was not going to appeal, she did so quietly, as if she were trying to turn the page on a sad chapter. Because of Rokita’s Javert-like persecution of her, both she and her family have received death threats.
Rokita, on the other hand, could not contain himself.
“We are not appealing because we won the case, and it’s not surprising Dr. Bernard is not appealing. The Medical Licensing Board found Dr. Bernard liable for violating state and federal patient privacy laws on three separate counts, penalized her with the maximum fine possible under the law, and issued a formal letter of reprimand. My team fought for the 10-year-old girl’s privacy rights and continues to do the same for other Hoosier patients,†crowed Rokita.
At no time did the attorney general acknowledge what he’d really “won.â€
Thanks to his efforts, the reputation of the medical licensing board has been severely tarnished before a national audience, perhaps beyond restoration or repair. Rokita may not care about such matters—given that he has done much the same thing to the office of the Indiana attorney general—but the members of the board may.
They may continue to pay a price in terms of professional reputation long after Rokita has moved on to other, equally senseless fights.
He also has sent a signal to other doctors interested in practicing medicine dealing with reproductive challenges that Indiana is not a place likely to welcome them. His relentless campaign to hunt down and punish Bernard for something—anything—likely will make it more difficult for Hoosier women to receive the health care they need.
And deserve.
Then there’s the specific case itself.
Nothing Todd Rokita has done or will do has helped that 10-year-old rape survivor in any way.
His determination to use her tragedy to burnish his credentials as an anti-abortion crusader obscures the nature of what happened to her.
A much older man assaulted her. That act of violation and violence all by itself is enough trauma to last a lifetime.
But the rape also left the little girl pregnant.
Todd Rokita’s position was and is that this child should have been forced to carry another child to term. Regardless of the risk to her own health, this 10-year-old rape survivor should have been compelled by the power of the state to spend months reliving the assault on her body and soul.
Because he thinks in terms of opportunities and issues, our attorney general lost sight of what that might do to the little girl. While he battled to claim a trophy, he gave scant consideration to the little girl and the suffering she experienced.
Dr. Bernard, on the other hand, only saw a little girl who had experienced something horrible.
And the doctor chose to help that little girl.
Todd Rokita scored a political win the other day.
All he had to sacrifice to notch it was the reputation of a state board, quality health care for pregnant women in Indiana and a wounded little girl’s peace of mind.
He took a victory lap to celebrate.
Yes, moral shabbiness often reveals itself most at moments of perceived triumph.
John Krull is director of Franklin College’s Pulliam School of Journalism and publisher of TheStatehouseFile.com, a news website powered by Franklin College journalism students. The views expressed are those of the author only and should not be attributed to Franklin College.
EVANSVILLE, IND. (09/15/2023) The University of Evansville Theatre announces five productions for the 2023-2024 season in Shanklin Theatre and the May Studio Theatre. The Shanklin Theatre season includes a 19th-century masterpiece, a riveting rock musical, and one of the most celebrated and significant plays of the American Theatre. The May Studio season includes an Obie Award-winning drama and a comedy straight from the 2022 Broadway season.
The Shanklin Theatre season kicks off with Anton Chekhov’s THE SEAGULL translated by Tom Stoppard, Sept. 29 through Oct. 15. Assistant Professor Amelia McClain ’03 serves as director for the production. This achingly beautiful story of unrequited love is as timeless today as in the 1890s Russian countryside in which it is set. Stoppard’s masterful translation remains faithful to the humor that Chekhov intended to convey amid all the pathos. Diving into the psychological minefields between mothers, sons, lovers, and familial relations, the passionate lives of these characters are all on full display as they make decisions that are often paradoxical, sometimes destructive, but always recognizably human. A vast emotive masterpiece with music in its words, this play will sear itself into your memory!
Assistant Professor Wes Grantom ’03 adds RENT, by Jonathan Larson, to his directing credits, Nov. 10 through 19, in Shanklin Theatre. The UE production also features music direction by guest artist Tyler Simpson. Winner of the Pulitzer Prize for Drama, an Obie Award, and the Tony Award for Best Musical in 1996, this iconic rock musical shaped a generation of audiences and is being performed for the first time in Shanklin Theatre. Loosely based on Puccini’s La Boheme and set in New York’s Lower East Side, this fast-paced musical follows a year in the life of a group of destitute young artists struggling to survive and stay true to their creative ambitions, all under the daunting shadow of the HIV/AIDS epidemic. This exuberant American rock opera is a pop-cultural phenomenon not to be missed!
The spring season begins with two student-directed productions in the May Studio Theatre. Bradley Baumhover, a senior theatre management major from Joplin, Mo., directs A BRIGHT NEW BOISE, by Samuel D. Hunter, Feb. 15 through 18. Winner of the 2011 Obie Award for Best Playwriting, this tragi-comedic play explores the intricacies of faith and the power of forgiveness. Set in the dismal break room of a Hobby Lobby, these low-wage earners struggle with both mundane daily routines and larger questions posed by the havoc that can be wreaked by blind faith. No respite from a scintillating scrapbook section can be found here though, as group politics dissolve into utter pandemonium!
Avery Finn, a theatre studies major from Terre Haute, Ind., directs POTUS, OR BEHIND EVERY GREAT DUMBASS ARE SEVEN WOMEN TRYING TO KEEP HIM ALIVE, by Selina Fillinger, March 14 through 17. This internationally produced writer burst onto the Broadway scene with this 2022 uproarious comedy. This bawdy farce follows seven beleaguered and brilliant women trying to save the President of the United States after he unwittingly spins a PR nightmare into a global crisis. This side-splitting satire takes an irreverent look at sex, politics, and the women in charge of the man in charge of the entire country!
Visiting Assistant Professor Stacey Yen takes the helm of the final production of the season, Clifford Odet’s WAITING FOR LEFTY, in Shanklin Theatre, April 12 through 21. Inspired by true events of a 1934 New York taxicab strike, this fictional retelling creates a powerful mosaic of the trials and tribulations of the working class. First produced in 1935, this play made a sensation of its playwright, who became the theatrical conscience of a generation, and this work remains one of the most celebrated and significant plays of the American Theatre. With the fight for living wages and safe, equitable workplaces continuing to cause political debates, this seminal play illustrates the power of individual protest and the right to reform. Grab your picket sign and get ready to march!
Subscription tickets for the three-play Shanklin Theatre series are available for $50 adult and $44 for senior adults, UE employees, and any non-UE student. Patrons can also purchase a two-play May Studio Theatre subscription for $18. Single tickets for THE SEAGULL, RENT, and WAITING FOR LEFTY are $20 for adults and $18 for senior adults, UE employees, and any non- UE student. Single tickets for A BRIGHT NEW BOISE and POTUS OR, BEHIND EVERY GREAT DUMBASS ARE SEVEN WOMEN TRYING TO KEEP HIM ALIVE are $12 for all patrons. All Thursday performances are “Pay What You Will,” as part of an initiative to create access for all in the Evansville community. UE students may obtain one free student rush ticket beginning at 12:00 p.m. on the day of the performance they wish to attend for all Shanklin Theatre and May Studio productions. Season subscriptions may be purchased by calling 812.488.2031, Monday through Friday, 12:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. Single tickets may be purchased by calling the ticket office or online at theatre.evansville.edu.
EVANSVILLE, Ind. (September 14, 2023) — The Evansville Regional Economic Partnership (E-REP) is thrilled to announce the eagerly anticipated 3rd Annual Meeting and Dinner, scheduled to take place on September 28, 2023. As one of the most significant business gatherings in our region, this event holds paramount importance as it honors local leaders, celebrates regional wins, and sets the stage for an exciting future.
This year’s event promises to be truly exceptional, with a focus on our region’s greatest assets—our riverfronts. We are honored to introduce our distinguished Keynote Speaker, Anna Cawrse, Sasaki’s Principal in Charge for E-REP’s Ohio Riverfront Vision and Strategic Plan. Anna’s visionary approach to landscape architecture and unwavering commitment to community involvement make her the perfect choice to guide us toward a brighter future.
Anna Cawrse is not just a landscape architect; she is a visionary who has dedicated her professional journey to transforming urban landscapes into havens of natural beauty and communal harmony. Her work has already left an indelible mark on our region through the Riverfront visioning sessions this summer, and we are excited to see her turn these visions into reality in the years to come.
