FIRST Coordinated Specialty Care for First Episode Psychosis

FIRST Coordinated Specialty Care for First Episode Psychosis programs are available throughout Ohio and are committed providing to the best treatment services for individuals experiencing an initial episode of psychotic illness and their families as early in the course of the illness as possible.

Early Signs of Psychosis

Typically, a person will show changes in their behavior before psychosis develops.  These changes often occur during adolescence or in young adults. The list might help someone recognize the signs of psychosis:

• Worrisome drop in grades or job performance
• New trouble thinking clearly or concentrating
• Suspiciousness, paranoid ideas or uneasiness with others
• Withdrawing socially, spending a lot more time alone than usual
• Unusual, overly intense new ideas, strange feelings or having no feelings at all
• Decline in self-care or personal hygiene
• Difficulty telling reality from fantasy
• Confused speech or trouble communicating

Any one of these items by itself may be part of youth and young adult development, however someone with a combination of items on this list should consult with a mental health professional. You may be experiencing symptoms of psychosis which is more common than you think. You are not alone and help is available. A qualified psychologist, a psychiatrist or a trained social worker will be able to make a diagnosis and help develop a treatment plan.

If you notice these changes in behavior and they begin to intensify or do not go away, it is important to seek help. Early treatment of psychosis increases the chance of a successful recovery.

(From RA1SE, Recovery After an Initial Schizophrenia Episode, a research project of the National Institute of Mental Health.)

The Treatment

As an outpatient early identification and treatment of psychotic illness programs, FIRST programs are committed to:

• rapid access to services;
• helping people set and achieve goals for the future;
• and involving loved ones in the recovery process.

FIRST treatment services are provided in an integrated manner by an interdisciplinary team which include:

• psychiatric care
• individual therapy
• family education and support
• supported employment/education
• case management

Early outcomes for individuals participating in FIRST programs are promising: the majority of individuals in the FIRST programs are either working and/or pursuing educational goals full-time or part-time and the rate of re-hospitalization is low.

First Episode Psychosis Project ECHO

A tele-community for Ohio’s Coordinated Specialty Care for First Episode Psychosis team members and other interested Ohio clinicians. A public service offered by the Best Practice for Schizophrenia Treatment (BeST) Center and funded by the Ohio Department of Behavioral Health.

For the First Episode Psychosis Project ECHO curriculum, schedule and registration information, please visit this page.

COORDINATED SPECIALTY CARE FOR FIRST Episode Psychosis Programs

Our consultant trainers provide Coordinated Specialty Care for First Episode Psychosis training, consultation, and evaluation on evidence-based practices in psychosis treatment to FIRST Teams throughout Ohio.

If you care for someone experiencing psychosis, it is best to connect with a FIRST Team who can help to manage symptoms and begin recovery.

Counties: Allen, Auglaize, and Hardin

FIRST Greater Lima

Coleman Health Services

Team Leader: Emilia Baker, emilia.baker@colemanservices.org

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County: Butler

FIRST Butler

Greater Cincinnati Behavioral Health Services

Team Leader: Braden Stautberg, bstautberg@gcbhs.com

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Counties: Coshocton, Guernsey, Morgan, Muskingum, Noble, Perry

FIRST Allwell

Allwell Behavioral Health Services

Team Leader: Brandi Stillion, bstillion@allwell.org, 740-624-6955

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County: Cuyahoga

FIRST Centers

The Centers for Family and Children

Team Leader: Zachary Kloock, zachary.kloock@thecenters.org, 216-325-9150

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County: Cuyahoga

FIRST Cuyahoga

Catholic Charities

Team Leader: Elizabeth Doran, elizabeth.doran@ccdocle.org, 216-624-4326

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Counties: Hamilton and Clermont

FIRST Greater Cincinnati

Greater Cincinnati Behavioral Health Services

Team Leader: Braden Stautberg, bstautberg@gcbhs.com

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County: Lorain

FIRST Lorain

Riveon Mental Health and Recovery, formerly The Nord Center

Team Leader: Rachel Suhy, rsuhy@riveonhealth.org

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Counties: Lucas and Wood

FIRST Lucas/Wood

Zepf Center

Team Leader: Kristin Bruce, kbruce@zepfcenter.org

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Counties: Mahoning

FIRST Mahoning

Alta Care Group

Team Leader: Lalita Board, lalitab@altacaregroup.org

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Counties: Portage

FIRST Portage

Coleman Health Services

Team Leader: Jacquelin Claren, jacquelin.claren@colemanservices.org

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Counties: Stark

FIRST Stark

Coleman Health Services

Team Leader: Amy Molnar, amy.molnar@colemanservices.org

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CountY:  Summit

FIRST Summit

Child Guidance and Family Solutions

Team Leader: Brian Perusek, perub@cgfs.org

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County: Trumbull

FIRST Trumbull

Coleman Health Services

Team Leader: Yvette Clemons, yvette.clemons@colemanservices.org

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Counties: Warren and Clinton

FIRST Warren/Clinton

Greater Cincinnati Behavioral Health Services

Team Leader: William Bomkamp, wbomkamp@gcbhs.com

Resources

Mental Health Resources for Recognizing and Responding to First Episode Psychosis

Coordinated Specialty Care for First Episode Psychosis Resources and Programs in the United States

Looking for an online community for support? Strong 365

High-Risk for Psychosis

C-CAN is a collaborative effort to deliver treatment for Summit County, Ohio, individuals between the ages of 10-25 who may be experiencing warning signs for developing psychosis. C-CAN provides individual counseling, family education, case management, and employment and education support that is critical to achieving positive outcomes.

Funded by a $1.35 million grant awarded by the federal Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration through the County of Summit Alcohol, Drug Addiction & Mental Health Services Board, the C-CAN initiative includes Child Guidance & Family Solutions, Community Support Services and the Best Practices in Schizophrenia Treatment (BeST) Center. For more information call the C-CAN Resource Line: 234.788.1646 or email c-can@cgfs.org.

Related

• BeST Center Programs
• Family Psychoeducation
• Illinois FIRST.IL Coordinated Specialty Care for First Episode Psychosis Programs – IL FIRST Teams trained by the BeST Center
• Coordinating Centers of Excellence