Nature can be a powerful teacher.
Earlier this month, students from the “Intro to Medical Careers” class at 916 Career and Tech participated in a mindful nature walk. The excursion was led by their instructor and Canvas Health’s Mental Health Specialist, Matthew Darnold. During the walk, they practiced mindfulness by silently focusing on their senses and connecting with nature.
Without disturbing living plants or animals, students were encouraged to gather a small collection of natural items for a group project. While enjoying the crisp air and autumnal colors, students collected natural materials like pinecones, acorns, leaves, and stones to create nature mandalas with their group at the end of the walk.
Mandalas are geometric designs that symbolize harmony and balance in Hindu and Buddhist culture. While mandalas can be made of anything, using natural materials made this experience particularly meaningful.
Arranging natural materials into designs fostered a sense of calm and collaboration among the group. After the project was completed, students returned their eco-friendly designs back outside. This full-circle experience taught students the benefits of slowing down to connect with nature and find their own inner balance and harmony.
This type of learning experience is made possible through Canvas Health’s School-Based Mental Health Services. Our Therapeutic Assistance Program (TAP) provides on-site services to students who many not otherwise be able to access to them due to financial, transportation, or scheduling challenges. This collaborative effort between school psychologists, school social workers, teachers, and mental health providers includes diagnostic assessments and therapy.
To learn more our school-based services, click here.
Nature can be a powerful teacher. Earlier this month, students from the “Intro to Medical Careers” class at 916 Career and Tech participated in a mindful nature walk. The excursion was led by their instructor and Canvas Health’s Mental Health Specialist, Matthew Darnold. During the walk, they practiced mindfulness by silently focusing on their senses […]
In our Staff Showcase series, we’re highlighting individuals who make Canvas Health an exceptional mental health provider. Today, we shine the spotlight on Gena Dickens, Dan Johnson, and Jean Mortenson who have dedicated 15 years of their careers to making a difference in our community.
Join us in thanking our incredible staff for their contributions to our mission!
Gena Dickens in the Supervisor of the Children’s Mental Health Case Management Team. Gena joined Canvas Health in September, 2008. She became the Senior CMHCM in November, 2013 and in March, 2017 she stepped into the supervisor role. Gena earned her Bachelor of Social Work degree from Minnesota State University – Mankato and her Master of Social Work from the joint program College of St. Catherine and University of St. Thomas.
Both during her time providing direct case management services as well as now providing clinical and program supervision, Gena continues to work from a client focused, strength based and clinical perspective. Her position places the responsibly of the care of Washington County children and families who are struggling with mental health into her horizon. In her role as Supervisor of the Children’s Mental Health Case Management team, she is the face for Canvas Health to many of our partners, including Washington County Community Services, Community Corrections, and the County Attorney’s office, as well as the Department of Human Services and the Metro CMHCM supervisors’ team.
Sarah Amundson, Community Services Division Manager from Washington County, has this to say about Gena and her work:
Gena is a fantastic partner to the Children’s Division at Wash. Co! Her straightforward style and her ability to connect make her well-respected. Gena has excellent clinical skills and somehow manages to keep up with all the numerous requirements that come with Children’s Mental Health Case Management. She knows when things are working well and voices her concerns when we are lacking resources for the most vulnerable kids in our community. Her passion and dedication come through on a daily basis! We could not ask for a better partner in this work!
Gena – you are a wonderful ambassador of the Canvas Health Mission of bringing Hope Healing and Recovery to your everyday work life. THANK YOU for the 15 years of service children and families and for all of the support, direction , coaching and mentoring you have provided to your staff. Thank you for your dedication, living social work values and your sense of humor. Here’s to 15 more!
Congratulations to Dan on 15 years at Canvas Health! Dan provides outstanding leadership for Psychological Services and Canvas Health. Dan started 15+ years ago as a supervisor in Psychological Services and has progressed to his current position as Chief Psychologist.
Dan is a pleasure to work with, and his open-mindedness and low-key sense of humor make him an excellent leader and clinician. Staff describe him as the glue that holds Psychological Services together. He has been instrumental in many projects and changes at Canvas Health, to name a few, he started the vicarious trauma group, assisted in implementing Credible and CCBHC standards, and has enhanced the psych internship learning opportunities.
Thank you, Dan, for all that you do and for making Canvas Health a better place.
Jean has worn many hats during her time at Canvas Health, largely in the Substance Use Disorder Admin Program and currently at the front desk in our Forest Lake office. She is a go-to for insight on past processes and better understanding of how things have evolved at Canvas Health.
Jean has such a big heart for the clients we serve and goes above and beyond to help in any way that she can. She takes the time to find answers to questions she doesn’t know and never shies away from sharing her knowledge with others. Jean has also been a great leader at the Forest Lake front desk for providers and fellow front desk staff. She is always willing to help train new staff and be an ongoing resource, and for that we are very appreciative.
Jean is kind-hearted, honest and up front, a solid team player and has the best dry sense of humor. Our front desk team has learned a lot from Jean and her experience here at Canvas and we are grateful to have her as part of our team. Congratulations, Jean, on 15 years!
In our Staff Showcase series, we’re highlighting individuals who make Canvas Health an exceptional mental health provider. Today, we shine the spotlight on Gena Dickens, Dan Johnson, and Jean Mortenson who have dedicated 15 years of their careers to making a difference in our community. Join us in thanking our incredible staff for their contributions […]
I’ve been watching “Nutrition by Kylie” a lot on YouTube lately. Surprisingly, this series has posed a unique opportunity to talk about the depth of consent conversations.
Kylie is a registered dietician with a recurring series on cooking “unexpected” foods. She often showcases things we’ve been taught absolutely aren’t included on a healthy plate: things like salty spam wedges or a bowl of instant ramen. Kylie’s goal isn’t for viewers to cut out flavors that they love—in fact, her mantra is always “focus on what you can add to, not what you can subtract from, your meals.”
This simple concept of being additive instead of restrictive is directly applicable in consent conversations.
While I could spend hours lecturing about things that you absolutely cannot do (like not having sex with someone who is drunk or who hasn’t clearly and verbally consented), it would be a disservice, especially to young people, to stop the conversation there.
Young people are hungry for information about how to find someone they are compatible with and how to treat their partner right. If we focus solely on listing all the limitations in a relationship, we miss the opportunity to go deeper to ensure consent in other aspects of relationships.
I had a student recently who perfectly captured this idea. We had watched the Cycling Through Consent video, which uses the metaphor of a bike ride to explain the complexities of consent. Afterward, he raised his hand and asked: “Okay, so you told us what not to do. But…say if I hypothetically wanted to find a bike riding partner…how can I do that?”
The answer is to ask! An additive approach to consent is to lean into the conversation and be curious. Going from one bike ride to a more long-term bike riding schedule/partnership simply requires some more dialogue. Go the extra step to tell them what YOU think would be fun, then ask if that’s okay with them.
One of my favorite examples of informed consent comes from a surprising source: Drew Barrymore and Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson. In this short video, Drew asks if Dwayne could do five squats while she was on his back. Dwayne laughs and says “Yes, do you want to do it now?” to which Drew heartily agreed.
Dwayne already had Drew’s consent (she was hyped, she was smiling, she verbally said yes, “let’s do it”), but he went the extra mile to say “here’s what I’m going to do…” This is what an additive approach to consent looks like. It gave them both a chance to head into the bit fully engaged and prepared. Everyone had fun and it’s because everyone (including the audience) was on the same page.
This type of thoughtful, thorough consent is overtimes overlooked. In our day to day life, consent typically only comes up when something “bad” has happened, typically regarding sexual misconduct. But as these examples show, it’s about respect and choice. It’s about being aligned with the people around you and never making assumptions. And most importantly, it’s seeing consent as a more holistic and essential component to happy, healthy relationships.
Written by: Jasmine Lee, Prevention and Education Specialist, Abuse Response & Prevention Services
To learn more about our Abuse Response & Prevention Services, click here.
I’ve been watching “Nutrition by Kylie” a lot on YouTube lately. Surprisingly, this series has posed a unique opportunity to talk about the depth of consent conversations. Kylie is a registered dietician with a recurring series on cooking “unexpected” foods. She often showcases things we’ve been taught absolutely aren’t included on a healthy plate: things […]
In our Staff Showcase series, we’re highlighting individuals who make Canvas Health an exceptional mental health provider. Today, we shine the spotlight on Sarah Melby who has dedicated 20 years of her career to making a difference in our community.
Join us in thanking our incredible staff for their contributions to our mission!
We are thrilled to recognize Sarah for her 20 years of service at Canvas Health. She joined the agency in March 2004 as an AR/Billing Specialist and advanced her career in the AR team as an AR Billing/Collection Specialist, Senior Billing/Collection Specialist, Senior Billing Specialist and currently Billing Revenue & Credentialing Supervisor.
Sarah is truly an expert in understanding our complex billing requirements to make sure staff get paid for the services they deliver to our clients. She helped us implement our previous EHR Profiler more than 15 years ago, and she was a valued project team member on the Credible implementation project which went live in February 2021.
Since then, Sarah has managed and updated our billing matrix in Credible which is significantly more complex than Profiler was. And our CCBHC designation since February 2022 has only added to the billing fun as well as our cost reporting requirements! In addition Sarah is also providing information and guidance for our credentialing process which is a critical prerequisite to getting paid for services.
All along Sarah has always been eager to grow her skills and take on challenging assignments, and she also shares her skills with others to solve workflow problems or billing issues. She is great at data analytics and identifying the root cause of problems that we come across on a regular basis. We are very fortunate to have Sarah on our team. Thank you to Sarah for 20 years of dedicated service to Canvas Health!
In our Staff Showcase series, we’re highlighting individuals who make Canvas Health an exceptional mental health provider. Today, we shine the spotlight on Sarah Melby who has dedicated 20 years of her career to making a difference in our community. Join us in thanking our incredible staff for their contributions to our mission! Celebrating 20 […]
In our Staff Showcase series, we’re highlighting individuals who make Canvas Health an exceptional mental health provider. Today, we shine the spotlight on Darcy Gassman who has dedicated 25 years of her career to making a difference in our community.
Join us in thanking our incredible staff for their contributions to our mission!
Darcy chose to join HSI in March of 1999. She was the therapist in one of our adolescent day treatment programs TLC 2, located in Oak Park Heights, for 14 years. After that program closed in 2013, she moved to Oakdale as the therapist at TLC. In 2017 she became the Lead Therapist and remains in that position today, with just a short 3 month stint to start our all-day TEC program.
At our recent staff event, we recognized 25 years of passion, unconditional positive regard, dedication, humor, excellent clinical skills, mentorship/leadership, and so much more. Of those attributes, we want to highlight specifically her passion. She never just “dials it in,” she continues to have the same level of excitement about her work as some of my new young therapists.
Darcy’s impact has reached hundreds of adolescents, their families, schools, co-workers, and communities. Because of Darcy, kids and their families have learned to love themselves, forgive, be vulnerable, love others, take risks, be assertive, set boundaries, accept themselves, and know their worth. On behalf of Canvas Health and the community we want to thank Darcy for her 25 years in day treatment, which is no small feat. We are truly better because Darcy continues to choose Canvas Health.
In our Staff Showcase series, we’re highlighting individuals who make Canvas Health an exceptional mental health provider. Today, we shine the spotlight on Darcy Gassman who has dedicated 25 years of her career to making a difference in our community. Join us in thanking our incredible staff for their contributions to our mission! Celebrating 25 […]
Erika Furo completed a Master’s level internship at Canvas Health. She now works in our school-based mental health program. Recently she shared some thoughts about why she continues to work at Canvas Health.
“I decided to stay at Canvas Health because I felt impressed by their values, reputation, and ways of operating.
The individuals who make up the TAP team are compassionate and valuable clinicians who I feel grateful to work with. There is a noticeable absence of negativity on the TAP team, which makes everyone feel included and celebrated for the work they do.
Those in positions of leadership on the team foster a sense of comfortability that allows clinicians to advocate for their own needs. Canvas Health has contributed greatly to my success as a therapist.”
-Erika Furo, LGSW, MSW
Erika Furo completed a Master’s level internship at Canvas Health. She now works in our school-based mental health program. Recently she shared some thoughts about why she continues to work at Canvas Health. “I decided to stay at Canvas Health because I felt impressed by their values, reputation, and ways of operating. The individuals who make up the TAP team are compassionate and valuable clinicians who […]
As a part of Pride Month, Canvas Health’s Rainbow Affinity Group has scheduled a series of LGBTQIA+ Lunch & Learn sessions. Each week over the lunch hour, staff are invited to tune in to the virtual meetings to learn more about the mental health topics relating to this community.
At the June 5 Lunch & Learn, the group focused on Mental Health and Substance Use Disorder in the LGBTQIA+ Community. Here are some of the facts that were shared with the group that underscore the importance of prioritizing mental health for LGBTQIA+ individuals.
The LGBTGIA+ community tends to have a higher occurrence of both mental health and substance use disorders than the more significant population:
Many within the community struggle in silence and face worse health outcomes as a result. For example, 40% of transgender adults have attempted suicide in their lifetime, as compared to less than 5% of the general U.S. population. It is also estimated that LGBTQIA+ youth and young adults have a 120% risk of experiencing homelessness for several reasons, including family rejection or discrimination based on gender identity or sexual orientation.
Higher substance use rates within the community can be attributed to several reasons, including higher levels of stress, marketing, and even a lack of cultural humility within healthcare services. Higher levels of stress in the LBGTQIA+ community might be due to social prejudices or even discriminatory laws in areas of daily life (i.e., employment, relationship recognition, healthcare, etc.). Many healthcare providers grow up outside of the community and do not take the time to show cultural humility towards the community. As a result, many problems arise, such as microaggressions. Marketing by using targeted efforts to exploit LGBTQIA+ connections to bars and clubs via alcohol and tobacco has been pervasive. Efforts such as direct advertising in national gay and transgender magazines or sponsorships of events/organizations for LBGTQIA+ issues only further normalize substance use within the community.
The LGBTQIA+ community is only growing as time moves forward. We greatly hope this is due to increased allyship within the broader community. An ally tries to understand what others in the LGBTQIA+ community might be experiencing and lends their voice to help combat issues like those mentioned in this article.
Our role at Canvas Health is to lead with empathy and compassion to make sure that all are welcome at our organization.
As a part of Pride Month, Canvas Health’s Rainbow Affinity Group has scheduled a series of LGBTQIA+ Lunch & Learn sessions. Each week over the lunch hour, staff are invited to tune in to the virtual meetings to learn more about the mental health topics relating to this community. June 5: Mental Health & Substance […]
In our Staff Showcase series, we’re highlighting individuals who make Canvas Health an exceptional substance use disorder provider. Today, we shine the spotlight on John Cassidy who has dedicated his career to making a difference in our community.
Join us in thanking our incredible staff for their contributions to our mission!
In 1983, Human Services, Inc. in Washington County was a mere fourteen years old when John was hired as a full-time assessor. The Stillwater offices were in two locations: in the Government Center and above the AA Club, downtown. During those days, the agency worked in close collaboration with Washington County to provide its Pre-Petition Screening for civil commitment. Assessment services were mobile, meaning John spent a great deal of time driving, providing assessments to people in various hospitals and detox centers around the metro. For several years, John and a colleague also led the charge with the “Washington County Team Experience.” They gathered the top students from Washington County High Schools and took them on a three-day adventure to the University of River Falls to learn leadership skills.
To better serve the agency’s client, the agency asked John to study and learn the Spanish language. In 1990, he was chosen to be part of a two-year international fellowship, offering him the opportunity to share his skills among various countries throughout Central and South America. Since then, he continues to visit Central and South America.
During his time with the agency, John has completed thousands of assessments, touching so many lives. He has witnessed four changes in the agency’s name and the employee count has increased from, “about 60,” to over 320 total employees. There have been five different CEOs and seven Department Managers. Canvas Health is fortunate to have employed John Cassidy for the past forty years. He has proven to be dedicated, skilled, dependable, and loyal.
In our Staff Showcase series, we’re highlighting individuals who make Canvas Health an exceptional substance use disorder provider. Today, we shine the spotlight on John Cassidy who has dedicated his career to making a difference in our community. Join us in thanking our incredible staff for their contributions to our mission! Celebrating 40 Years with […]
Our school-based clinicians in Minneapolis Public Schools met with providers from other agencies also providing service in the district earlier this month.
The focus of the meeting was planning smooth transitions for students who are changing buildings and need ongoing mental health supports.
The clinicians identified ways to help navigate these transitions and were able to meet and talk with clinicians from schools where their students would be going.
Canvas Health‘s Beth Hopkins was on the planning committee and made maps for everyone to better understand the schools and neighborhoods!
Learn more about our school-based mental health program >>
Our school-based clinicians in Minneapolis Public Schools met with providers from other agencies also providing service in the district earlier this month. The focus of the meeting was planning smooth transitions for students who are changing buildings and need ongoing mental health supports. The clinicians identified ways to help navigate these transitions and were able to meet and talk […]
Canvas Health‘s mobile crisis teams (Anoka County, East Central Crisis Services, and Scott County) recently came together at our Oakdale clinic for a full-day role play training on the Collaborative Assessment and Management of Suicidality (CAMS).
CAMS is a therapeutic framework for suicide-specific assessment and treatment of a patient’s suicidal risk. It is a flexible approach that can be used across theoretical orientations and disciplines for a wide range of suicidal patients across treatment settings and different treatment modalities.
This training was a part of the crisis staff’s pursuit of earning the designation of “CAMS-Trained.” Training over the next several months will include online learning, book learning, the on-site role play training, and consultation calls with CAMS trainer, Dr. Blaire Ehret, Ph.D.
Learn more about our mobile crisis response teams >>
Canvas Health‘s mobile crisis teams (Anoka County, East Central Crisis Services, and Scott County) recently came together at our Oakdale clinic for a full-day role play training on the Collaborative Assessment and Management of Suicidality (CAMS). CAMS is a therapeutic framework for suicide-specific assessment and treatment of a patient’s suicidal risk. It is a flexible approach […]
Sometimes all it takes to turn a life around is for one person to see your potential.
That’s the case for Jerry*, a former client at Washington County Jail.
Jerry overcame addiction through our Jail Program. With the help of our embedded staff, Jerry was able to look more deeply at the underlying reasons for his dependence and make positive changes to his lifestyle. Through evidence-based therapy including Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and Enhanced Illness Management and Recover (EIMR), Jerry learned coping strategies and changed his belief system for the better. As a result, his whole life looks totally different.
“Years ago, the clinicians in the Washington County Jail helped me start my recovery journey. I’ve now been sober for almost 12 years, and I have so much gratitude to the clinicians for meeting me where I was at back then. I’m now married, coach at my children’s school, am active in my church, and I have a successful career. Oftentimes I suppose the clinicians see people at their worst and struggling, but they don’t get to see the fruits of their labor when they are at their best. Thank you for helping me be my best.”
Jerry*, Former Client at Washington County Jail
Sometimes all it takes to turn a life around is for one person to see your potential. That’s the case for Jerry*, a former client at Washington County Jail. Jerry overcame addiction through our Jail Program. With the help of our embedded staff, Jerry was able to look more deeply at the underlying reasons for […]
Mental health challenges can make it difficult for individuals to keep their jobs due to the cyclical nature of their illness or insufficient coping and work-related skills. Canvas Health provides vocational services to help these individuals seek and attain employment, and to develop skills to help them maintain employment.
For individuals living with mental health challenges, a job can be a powerful component in their recovery. Here’s an example from one of our clients:
After not working for over 20 years, John* felt uncertain about how to go about applying for jobs.
Janessa, an Employment Specialist with Partnering for Jobs, started working working with John in early 2023. Through coaching, John gained valuable volunteering experience that helped him build back his confidence. After a few volunteering opportunities, John felt ready to dive into the job search.
With his renewed confidence, he quickly gained interviews and was able to advocate for his needs.
John recently started a job as a night auditor at a hotel. He is feeling self-assured in his job and so happy with all the progress he’s made!
Learn more about our Vocational Services for Adults and Youth to see how our specialists can help with:
Partnering for Jobs services are funded by Minnesota Vocational Rehabilitation Services and are provided at no cost to participants. This program is offered in collaboration with Lutheran Social Service of Minnesota and the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development.
Mental health challenges can make it difficult for individuals to keep their jobs due to the cyclical nature of their illness or insufficient coping and work-related skills. Canvas Health provides vocational services to help these individuals seek and attain employment, and to develop skills to help them maintain employment. For individuals living with mental health […]
“I am the Substance Use Counselor for the evening substance use program at the North Branch clinic. This was an extremely exciting opportunity as Canvas Health is engaging people in treatment in the community that I grew up in and call home to this day. There was no doubt in my mind that this was the right place for me and a way to engage and give back to my community.
The New Choices for Recovery Intensive Outpatient evening program that I facilitate is a three-day-a-week intensive outpatient treatment program that is open to all adults. I integrate and engage clients with innovative activities that allow them to increase their awareness and recovery growth. This program’s expectations are a nonjudgmental environment in which all are welcome. My requirements of the group are to be present and respectful of your fellow group members.
There is something so powerful to be in an environment where people can authentically be themselves. Vulnerability is a beautiful struggle in treatment and one that is encouraged. Treatment is not an easy journey, but a beautiful one.”
“It is my honor and privilege to be a part of the Canvas Health team and to provide care and an amazing range of services to this wonderful community. I am grateful to the entire North Branch staff that work extremely hard to make treatment possible.”
– Brooke Fricke, Substance Use Counselor
“I am the Substance Use Counselor for the evening substance use program at the North Branch clinic. This was an extremely exciting opportunity as Canvas Health is engaging people in treatment in the community that I grew up in and call home to this day. There was no doubt in my mind that this was […]
Canvas Health recently announced its 2024 Board of Directors leadership.
The Board will be chaired by Karen Dodson, who served more than 30 years in the healthcare industry prior to joining Canvas Health’s Board. “I am honored to work alongside Canvas Health staff and volunteers to serve our community through sustainable growth, quality clinical care, and a commitment to our mission of hope, healing, and recovery,” said Dodson.
Canvas Health recently announced its 2024 Board of Directors leadership. The Board will be chaired by Karen Dodson, who served more than 30 years in the healthcare industry prior to joining Canvas Health’s Board. “I am honored to work alongside Canvas Health staff and volunteers to serve our community through sustainable growth, quality clinical care, […]
Overcoming alcohol or drug dependence can feel like climbing a mountain, alone, in the dark. But it doesn’t have to be that way.
Canvas Health offers Substance Use Disorder Services to guide adults and adolescents to recovery using an approach that includes assessments, treatment plans, and group therapy.
While each individual’s journey is unique, group therapy sessions are a place to find common ground. Groups provide non-judgmental peer support from those who understand what climbing the mountain feels like.
The camaraderie and kinship that comes from other group members can make an enormous difference in the healing process. Through dialogue led by trained facilitators, group members can gain strategies and coping skills from others with similar experiences. Learning from each other while being vulnerable is a powerful way for those who may have felt misunderstood to feel seen and valued.
Groups also can influence the individual treatment plans that are designed to change thinking and behaviors. With the help of facilitators, group sessions challenge negative self-talk and inspire new ways of thinking and behaviors, both to prevent relapse and to form a more positive relationship with self, others, and community.
Adult groups and adolescent groups have the same goal: to provide peer learning. Not only do individuals grow to understand the connection between substance use disorders and mental health, they also gain the ability to talk more openly about it. Learning how to educate family and friends about substance use disorders is just another way to help people feel less alone.
Canvas Health is here to help individuals struggling with alcohol or drug dependence to feel supported when they are ready to climb their mountain to recovery. With expert guidance from our counselors and comforting peer support in group sessions, people can begin to feel hope that reaching the summit is not only possible, but that the way there won’t be quite so lonely.
If you believe that you or someone you care about could benefit from outpatient treatment for drug or alcohol use, call (651) 777-5222 to request an appointment for an assessment at one of our clinic locations.
Join a Group: To join a group, you must have a recent substance use assessment, which can be provided by Canvas Health or an outside agency. Group members also attend individual treatment sessions with a Canvas Health substance use counselor.
Click here to view the Adult Group Schedule >>
Click here to view the Adolescent Group Schedule >>
Overcoming alcohol or drug dependence can feel like climbing a mountain, alone, in the dark. But it doesn’t have to be that way. Canvas Health offers Substance Use Disorder Services to guide adults and adolescents to recovery using an approach that includes assessments, treatment plans, and group therapy. While each individual’s journey is unique, group […]
