Expanding options

For those struggling with addiction, a new treatment option becomes available next week.

IU Health Jay will launch its Virtual Intensive Outpatient Program for the treatment of substance abuse disorders on Monday in partnership with Ball Memorial Hospital in Muncie.

The program can also help those dealing with other conditions such as mental illness, grief, loss and trauma.

“Our goal is not only to help those dealing with substance abuse disorder break the cycle of addiction but to also give our patients the tools they need to build or rebuild a satisfying life,” said Jenni VanSkyock, program manager of IU Health Jay Outpatient Behavioral Health and Ball Addiction Treatment and Recovery Center.

“I'm so excited for us to be able to offer a service to those in our area where there has continued to be a gap in treatment availability,” outpatient therapist Cassie Alexander said in a press release. “It will provide an option locally to those in need and assist them in entering sustainable recovery.”

The new program offers patients a local treatment option that falls in between an inpatient program and a traditional outpatient program. That can be a fit for those whose circumstances don’t allow them to take part in an inpatient program, are in the early stages of abstinence from substances or need support dealing with daily cravings and coping with emotions.

The bulk of the program will take place at IU Health Jay’s Outpatient Behavioral Health Office located on county road 100 South near Jay County High School. Patients will work with VanSkyock or Alexander, both clinical social workers, as well as a peer recovery coach. They will take part virtually in the sessions based at Ball and facilitated by Dr. Linda Daniel, a psychologist. (Dr. Ryan Brown is the medical director for the program, and nurse practitioner Heather Masters will work with patients on medication management.)

The sessions cover a variety of topics, including group psychotherapy, recovery, relapse prevention, 12-step programs, mindfulness and meditation and aftercare. They meet from 9 a.m. to noon Tuesday, Thursday and Friday in groups of 5 to 10 patients for six to eight weeks.

The only part of the program that would require travel to Ball would be for those in need of medication-assisted treatment.

VanSkyock said she’s looking forward to the opportunity to guide patients through the program at the local office.

“Versus being at home, there are so many distractions,” she said. “We tried to do virtual IOP with patients at home (when the state was under a stay-at-home order) just because that’s all we could do, and while we were able to treat people, it didn’t feel as effective as in a room, building relationships and having conversations.”

She emphasized the program’s motivational and non-judgmental approach.

“Patients who come to us, we want them to feel welcome, we want them to feel that they’re valued and they’re important,” VanSkyock said. “We want to help to instill some hope because a lot of times with addiction it becomes such a hopeless disease.”

The IU Health Jay program is modeled after a similar effort in the southern part of the state. There, patients at IU Health Morgan in Martinsville participate virtually in the intensive outpatient program at IU Health Bloomington.

VanSkyock has been the program manager at Ball for a year. And as part of the preparation for that work, she and others previously visited the program at IU Health Methodist in Indianapolis that is considered the standard-bearer for the organization.

Increasing access to addiction treatment and recovery programs is a priority for IU Health statewide, VanSkyock said. Locally, a survey that was part of the most recent IU Health Jay Community Health Needs Assessment identified substance use or abuse as the top local need, with nearly 87% of those responding saying it is a significant issue.

Those who think they might qualify for the new program can call (260) 726-1960. The first step would then be an assessment to determine what type of treatment is most appropriate.

And as patients complete the intensive outpatient program, IU Health Jay staff will work to connect with the recovery community that can help continue to offer them support. Those options include groups like A Better Life – Brianna’s Hope, A Second Chance at Life Ministries, Alcoholics Anonymous and Narcotics Anonymous, all of which have regular meetings in Jay County.

“We’re really excited to be able to expand these services and bring them here to the rural community,” said VanSkyock. “This has been a goal of ours for a long time.”