An avid volunteer, Ann Rowell began donating her time and talents to Methodist Family Health about five years ago through the Women in Mission group at St. James United Methodist Church. “When we started, we volunteered for a different organization each month, and not far into it, we found Methodist Family Health,” she says. Rowell and her fellow Women in Mission loved the organization’s different programs and soon made a commitment to volunteer on a monthly basis. Now, Rowell serves as the ambassador for MFH at St. James UMC and her husband, Steve, serves on the MFH foundation board. “This has become a family mission,” she says. Next month she’s helping the organization put on a brand-new, Derby Day-themed fundraiser, Southern Silks.
What exactly does Methodist Family Health do?
MFH provides psychiatric and behavioral healthcare to children and families in Arkansas. MFH serves approximately 1,400 clients daily through inpatient, residential and outpatient venues of care, including a behavioral hospital, therapeutic group homes, residential treatment centers, counseling clinics and other specialized programs. The Arkansas CARES program that MFH administers is unique. Women enrolled in the CARES program are able to have their children with them while undergoing therapy and treatment for addiction – another instance in which MFH is helping the entire family.
What do we really need to know about MFH?
MFH programs primarily serve children ranging in age from 5 to 18, and clients are of all faiths and denominations (you don’t have to be Methodist!). MFH takes a team approach to treatment that includes both client and family participation, and works in concert with a highly trained staff of therapists, physicians, case workers and other healthcare professionals to address emotional and behavioral challenges.
What sets MFH apart from other similar organizations?
MFH provides all levels of care, from very basic outpatient care to the most intensive residential services. At MFH, that’s called our Continuum of Care. All programs use the Teaching-Family Model, a highly structured approach proven to be effective with troubled children. The model uses positive, non-punitive interactions to encourage behavior change and achieve positive outcomes. MFH is the only behavioral healthcare system in the state that uses the Teaching-Family Model.
Tell us all about Southern Silks.
One of our board members and volunteers, Sally Riggs, brought this idea to us. Southern Silks will be held Sat., May 3, at the Clear Channel Metroplex Event Center. This is the day of the Kentucky Derby and guests can celebrate with a Derby-themed buffet dinner, drinks, faux horse racing, prizes and a live auction. It is more than your traditional fundraiser; it’s a party where you can play! All proceeds will go to the MFH Compassion Fund, which assists families of our clients with gas, gift cards and whatever is necessary to help the family better care for their children and get them the help they need.