by Lisa Moody Breslin, photography by Walter P. Calahan
For more than 35 years, the Carroll County Youth Service Bureau (CCYSB) has been Lynn Davis’ professional calling. As the private, nonprofit organization grew from a county stronghold for outpatient mental health services into a multi-disciplinary behavioral health services practice that offers a range of outpatient treatment services, Davis has been there. She has served in most of the positions in the agency: counselor, group therapist, school liaison, parent educator, assistant director and now executive director. Davis has also dedicated time as board member for the Montessori School of Westminster, The Arc Carroll County and Carroll County Habitat for Humanity.
What is your greatest source of personal pride? I’m not sure if this counts for personal pride but I truly enjoy the fact that I love my work. I am so very fortunate to work in the positive culture that is CCYSB.
This year, what is one (or two) sources of professional pride? Due to many years of striving for excellence and a very concentrated effort the last six months, CCYSB was just certified by the Council for the Accreditation of Rehabilitative Facilities (CARF) at the highest level of certification. Another “professional pride” moment would be the completion of the intensive training for seven therapists in Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT). Their commitment and dedication to this stringent evidence-based treatment is nothing short of amazing! This is the fourth research-based therapy that we now provide for our clients: therapies that are proven effective and yield life-changing results for our clients.
Sometime it’s hard to put a face on the recipients of nonprofit services – even a nonprofit as vast as CCYSB. Briefly describe some of the challenges that your clients face. Many of our clients are in the low or low-moderate income level. So in addition to experiencing mental health and substance use issues, some also have the critical issue of poverty. Approximately 70% of our clients have both substance use and mental health concerns and 50% of our clients with substance use issues are under the age of 24, pretty significant stats for our young people.
Many of our clients have mood disorders (depression, bi-polar and anxiety disorders), post traumatic stress disorder, attention deficit disorder, suicidal thoughts or actions and family relationship problems. It is important to note that many of our clients have a history of sexual or physical abuse and/or neglect, come from homes with addiction and/or incarcerated parents and have a family history of behavioral heath issues. In addition to our clinic, our Assertive Community Treatment team serves people with serious and persistent mental illness like difficult-to-treat mood disorders and schizophrenia.
When your clients can overcome those challenges (often because of CCYSB services), who are they? What are some of their attributes/strengths/talents? Our clients are, of course, are why we come to work every day; we are fully invested in their recovery. There is no particular profile, they are in all walks of life, and possess a desire to enjoy a better life. We approach a new client where they are, looking first at where their strengths lie and encouraging and helping them to broaden those strengths as they work toward a better life for themselves and their family.
At CCYSB, we believe that all people are capable of change, no matter how small, and it is our responsibility to teach the skills and provide the care to help our clients make these changes. We are often amazed at the resiliency and determination that our clients show to achieve their goals … and a life well worth living.
CCYSB offers wide portfolio of outpatient behavioral health clinic services. Which are the top three that are tapped the most? Certainly the greatest number served is in our clinic setting, treating people with behavioral health problems. Due to the high-demand for our evidence-based treatments, Assertive Community Treatment (ACT), Brief Strategic Family Therapy (BSFT), Parent Child Interaction Therapy (PCIT), and Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), are also high on the list of desired services. Our Family Preservation Program (in Partnership with Department of Social Services) is a well-used program for families at imminent risk of having a child removed from the home. This service is home-based rather than in-clinic services.
Has there been a spike over the last few years in one or two of those three? Our substance use services have spiked over the last
five years, certainly in part due to the increase in opioid use, but also due to alcohol and other drug addictions. The county has been generous in providing increased funding to grow services to combat this concerning uptick.
Who or what inspired you the most this year? I was truly inspired by the depth and breadth of the Women’s March – totally unexpected. Believing in one’s convictions and using one’s voice to communicate those convictions is so powerful.
I also believe that those voices were a precursor to the even more compelling #MeToo movement; how very courageous are the people who came forward? I am hoping that their actions are the beginnings of a culture change in our country.
What keeps you up at night regarding CCYSB? Honestly, not much. Our agency has been very intentional in cultivating a very capable team of people with a caring and compassion for the challenging yet rewarding work, a very strong work ethic, and an expertise and desire for continued learning.
My greatest concern at this time is achieving parity in salaries; our staff is simply not making the level of pay they deserve.
With regard to your partnership with Carroll County Public Schools – what aspect of that partnership do you think (or hope) benefits students and parents the most? CCYSB has been serving Carroll County since 1972 and has enjoyed an excellent working relationship with our school system since we opened our doors. We provide counseling services for The Gateway School and assessments during the school year for students who have thoughts or actions indicating suicide or self-injury behavior, or for students who threaten or perform violent acts.
All of these students (accompanied by parents) are given a comprehensive assessment, followed by recommendations that may pertain to the youth, the parents, or the school. I believe that this is a tremendously beneficial program because it provides that first step to youth and families who might benefit from services but might not make it to our door on their own. Sixty percent of the families who engage in this assessment go on to involve themselves in further treatment. To me this is a win-win for all involved!
We also have rewarding, contracted partnerships with the Department of Social Services, Department of Juvenile Services, the Local Management Board, The Judy Center, and our local health department: The Bureau of Wellness, Prevention and Recovery.
When you and your team learned about electronic health records (EHR), what was your first reaction? Feel free to describe that reaction in three adjectives. Sticker shock.
Do we really have to do this? Opportunity.
What are your favorite ways to relax? I sometimes sneak off to catch a chapter or two in my current book, but reading in general is always the way I end my day. About five or six years ago I started playing tennis on a somewhat regular basis and absolutely love the sport. I’ve met many new friends through tennis. My husband says I’m usually smiling while playing tennis. I honestly think my fun times on the court are because I’m not quite good enough at the sport to be bothered by bad hits! I’m not sure if one would call it relaxing, but traveling is high on my “let’s do it” list.
Three adjectives to describe electronic health records now? Well, I would love to say that all roads ahead are smoothly paved, but the company we chose (after much vetting) announced a year in that they were closing their business. So, we are in the middle of yet another EHR and learning curve. The bad news is that the investment is comparable to the first price tag; the good news is that we recognize that this company is far superior to our first venture and we will realize many more benefits with this go-round.
Now that you all have had more time to acclimate to the process, what are some of the most remarkable benefits? I would probably defer to the EHR users for specifics, but I do know that our medical billing office has experienced some ease in their workload and the therapists (all but the technologically challenged!) appreciate the lessening of paperwork burdens, prescriptions that zip off to the pharmacy, and the immediate sharing of information with the treating physician.
Biggest goal for CCYSB this upcoming year? We are actively looking for more space. Yes that’s right, eight years after moving into our new facility, we are looking for more space! When we moved in we had 18 unoccupied rooms, and now we are doubled up in many. Our primary funder (MD Department of Juvenile Services) asked us why we didn’t add a third story and we chuckled at the notion. Well, had we foreseen the growth that would occur, we might well have built up another floor! So we are searching for a new home for our Assertive Community Treatment (ACT) program, which will not only provide many open offices in our main building but also allow the ACT program to add services which will better serve their clients’ needs.
Biggest personal goal? Staying healthy in mind, body and spirit and helping my family to do the same (or at least striving to do so)! Being grateful for my wonderful life.
