Behavioral Health
Latest Behavioral Health News
Myrna Agosto Wins 2022 ESPRIT Award!
November 22, 2022–“I always try to empower the poor and marginalized.” “In my role on the Brooklyn and Queens Mobile Crisis teams, I find it rewarding when I’m able to prevent someone from hurting themself or hurting someone else. It’s so satisfying when my colleagues and I can help get our clients into the hospital to ensure they get the care they need,” says Myrna. “I have been a witness to people’s lives being transformed from suffering with mental health and physical illnesses to living a more fulfilling life.” Myrna’s exceptional diagnostic skills and empathetic, caring nature extend beyond the vulnerable clients she serves. On one home visit, she saw that her patient’s spouse was suffering in her own right, struggling with her husband’s mental-health issues and her sadness at being unable to help him overcome them. With her signature straightforward style, Myrna took the time to educate her about her husband’s
Neighborhood Spotlight: Experience the Magic of Ghana!
November 8, 2022–More Ghanaian families live in the Bronx than any other part of the United States. In this latest Neighborhood Spotlight video, meet Behavioral Health Home Based Crisis Intervention (HBCI) team members Mary Nkeitah, Zamansky Twum, and Helena Tenkorang and see how they’re working with this community and changing children’s and their families’ lives for the better. To view this video, click here below. Spoiler alert: have some tissues handy!
Deborah Cho, Behavioral Health Promotion
September 1, 2022–Deborah Cho, LCSW, has almost 10 years of experience in the mental health field. She received her Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from Wesleyan University, then went on to obtain her Master’s degree in Social Work from Columbia University. She has worked in numerous settings, including hospitals, public schools, an inpatient rehabilitation center, a juvenile detention facility, and in the community, conducting home visits. Deborah joined VNS Health in 2015 and has held multiple positions, including Psychiatric Social Worker (Promise Zone Program), Program Coordinator (Bronx Mobile Crisis Team), and currently is the Program Manager for the Behavioral Health Community Transitions Program. In her new role as Associate Director of Hybrid Programs, Deborah will be responsible for overseeing the operations of the Behavioral Health Community Transitions Program, Parachute Program, and Pathway Home Program, including clinical and administrative functions, utilization and management of staff, and quality of client care. In Deborah’s free
Patricia Payne-Marsky, Behavioral Health Promotion
September 1, 2022–Patricia Payne-Marsky, LCSW-R, is a seasoned social work clinician, supervisor, and administrator, whose heart has always been in working in the community mental health field in New York City. A graduate of NYU and the Hunter School of Social Work, she began her undergraduate work with homebound older adults, adult chronically mentally ill, and homeless populations. After receiving advanced clinical training in child psychotherapy, she has dedicated most of her career to treating childhood mental health disorders and working with underserved families in the inner-city in both agency and private practice. This interest led her to accept the position that brought her to VNS in September 2019 to launch the Pathway Home Program for the Behavioral Health (BH) division where she has been serving as Program Manager. She is now very excited to be accepting the position of Associate Director of Treatment Programs where she will have oversight of BH
Natasha Dixon, Behavioral Health Promotion
September 1, 2022–Natasha M. Dixon, LMSW, is a first generation American, of Jamaican descent, born and raised in New York City. Natasha has over 18 years of experience in the mental health field. She received her Master’s in Social Work from Hunter College and her Bachelor’s degree in Social Sciences, with a concentration in Sociology, from St. Thomas Aquinas College in Sparkill, NY. Natasha began her career as a Residential Counselor in a Catholic Charities program serving adults with serious mental illness. In August of 2008, Natasha started at VNS Health as an Intensive Case Manager (ICM) and transitioned to what is now called the Health Home. She became a Program Coordinator in the Health Home and most recently a Program Manager. In that role, Natasha provided oversight and management of the Health Home Program, staff, and assisted with the quality measures for client care and delivery of services. In her new
Exciting Behavioral Health Reorganization Announcement
June 23, 2022–Dear Colleagues, The Behavioral Health (BH) team has been hard at work transforming our structure to allow for more agile and dynamic growth as we expand our programs in 2022 and beyond and become integral to one VNS Health. The first step was to ensure that we can be easily identified within VNS Health and the broader community. To more accurately represent all of the work we do – both Mental Health and Substance Use services – and to better align with industry standard terminology, Community Mental Health Services (CMHS) has officially been renamed Behavioral Health! Last year, BH and VNS Health leadership developed a strategic plan that includes expanding programs in the following areas: Substance Use Disorders; Children and Adolescents; Older Adults; and Integrated Care. All new service offerings will build on our history of providing excellent care within our grant programs and will ensure a focus on meeting
Meet the 2022 Liota and Marren Award Winners!
June 21, 2022–Congratulations to the 2022 Liota and Marren Award winners: John Tawiah and Natasha Merjuste, who were nominated by their VNS Health colleagues and selected by a committee of nursing leaders! John Tawiah, Psychiatric Nurse, Bronx ACT Team, Winner of the Marilyn Liota Award The Liota Award to Promote Cultural Diversity in Nursing Leadership, named after long-time VNS Health nurse and Queens Regional Vice President Marilyn Liota, is awarded each year to help an exemplary VNS Health nurse realize her or his leadership potential. The award provides a $1,500 scholarship for expenses related to nursing studies, continuing professional development, or communication/English language skills development. “Fighting the stigma around mental illness, and helping my patients lead better lives, are my driving forces.” In the Ghanaian village in which John grew up, mental illness was viewed as demonic possession. He is haunted by memories of a childhood classmate who would occasionally vanish into the bush. “I’ve heard
A Day in the Life of Bronx Geriatric Outreach Mental Health Specialist, Carmen Tirado
May 13, 2022–Welcome to “A Day in the Life”—a Frontline series that follows team members from different parts of VNSNY as they go through a typical day at work. Frontline recently followed Mental Health Specialist Carmen Tirado through her typical Wednesday. A 26-year VNSNY veteran, Carmen, who is out in the field three days a week, joined VNSNY Behavioral Health’s Geriatric Outreach program in 2000. For the past seven years, she has been based out of the FRIENDS office on East 153rd Street in the South Bronx. 4:30 a.m. I was born and raised in the South Bronx, but now I call Bridgeport, Connecticut home. I get up at 4:30 a.m., take a shower, start my coffee maker, get dressed, get my coffee, put my makeup on, do my hair, and then I’m ready to go! My daughter drops me off at the Bridgeport Metro-North train station around 5:45 a.m., and I
Spotlight on El Barrio: A Pathway Home for Behavioral Health Patients
May 2, 2022–In the latest VNS Health Neighborhood Spotlight video, host Amery Moultry heads uptown to East Harlem to meet with Pathway Home Program Manager Patricia Payne-Marsky and Peer Specialist Kenny Mick, to learn how the Behavioral Health team is addressing the complex health needs faced by many living in this vibrant community. To hear what Patricia and Kenny had to say, check out the video below!