Monday, March 23
BRATTLEBORO -- For the past two years, the Brattleboro Retreat's chief executive officer has been ushering in a new era at the 175-year-old institution. At the same time, Rob Simpson is also bringing back what made the Retreat so special. One of the simplest things -- and one of the most effective -- that he has implemented was a change in the name, from Retreat Healthcare to the Brattleboro Retreat.
"That's who we are. It's important to go back and be who we are," said Simpson.
Later this year, the Retreat is hosting its 175th anniversary.
This year, Simpson is introducing three new programs to the Retreat that will create new jobs and bring new patients to the facility.
"We will be bringing new jobs to Brattleboro," said Simpson, who wouldn't say exactly how many. "If these programs work, there will be a significant number of new employees added."
While he will be looking for those with highly specialized skills -- such as social workers, psychiatrists, counselors and nurses -- he will also be looking for new support staff.
The first program is for uniformed service workers, such as police, firefighters and emergency responders.
People in those career fields have a 300 percent higher incidence of post traumatic stress disorder than the general population, he said, and have a higher incidence of domestic violence, substance abuse, divorce and depression.
Simpson said that's because what these people see and experience on a daily basis affects how they themselves interact with the world.
"This hits every town in America. There is a strong national need for this."
He has been working with uniformed service advocacy groups, police and fire chiefs and the Center for Post Traumatic Stress Disorder at the Veterans Affairs Medical Center in White River Junction.
He hopes to have that program up and running by late May.
A second program that will also come on line in May is one especially designed for the gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgendered community.
Many mental health programs simply don't understand the needs of the GLBT community, said Simpson, a group of people that are already stigmatized by a large segment of society for their sexual orientation.
Having a mental illness is a double whammy for gays, lesbians, bisexuals and transgendered people, he said.
"Most programs don't understand the issues of gender bias," said Simpson.
Finally, the Retreat will be opening its doors to patients who have been institutionalized for much of their lives and have been housed at the Vermont State Hospital in Waterbury.
Working with Health Care and Rehabilitation Services of Southeastern Vermont, the Retreat will help the patients learn the tools needed to transition back into society, said Simpson.
During the course of a year, the Retreat sees about 5,000 people, said Simpson. There are usually about 90 patients on campus during a regular day.
On any given day, there can be up to 150 children on the Retreat campus, participating in residential and inpatient programs or attending the day school there.
"This is a very special and beautiful place," he said. "It's a cut above the normal psychiatric facility."
Simpson came on board two years ago and he first tackled the physical aspects of the Retreat, cleaning the campus, renovating buildings and even pruning trees and bushes on the property.
"People thought the place was a little tired looking."
He and his team also redesigned the Retreat's admission procedures, streamlining them and making it easier to check in for help.
Much of the work he has been overseeing is meant to make the Retreat more accessible and inviting, he said, and is also meant to help reduce the stigma that is often associated with mental illness and substance abuse.
During past two years, Simpson has opened his door to industry experts and cohorts and the local community and has also improved communication between Retreat administration and its 500 employees.
"There doesn't need to be any secrets."
Bob Audette can be reached at raudette@reformer.com, or 802-254-2311, ext. 273.
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