Behavioral Health Programs Changing Lives Life is full of many challenges. Thankfully, we don't have to face them all alone. For Sandy Frischman and others who suffer from depression, Southwest provides a valuable source of support through ADAPT, the Adult Diversion and Program Transition, where clients learn coping skills in individual and group therapy sessions. "ADAPT staff has always been there for me.  They are very compassionate and helpful when it comes to my depression," said Frischman.  "Each member of the staff really reaches out to help everyone who participates in their program.  My life has improved due to the ADAPT program and the wonderful staff."

Family Medicine of Southwest Washington Sandra Gresh credits Family Medicine of Southwest Washington with saving her life. The 58-year-old Vancouver woman was having trouble with the vision in one of her eyes, so she made an appointment at the clinic thinking she would be referred to an eye doctor. However, chief resident Kelley Aurand, MD, realized quickly that it was more than an eye problem. Gresh had the classic symptoms of a stroke. She was having trouble following conversations and remembered one day when she lost the use of her right arm for a few seconds. Dr. Aurand consulted with a colleague and then referred Gresh to Riyad Karmy-Jones, MD, for vascular surgery after tests showed Gresh's carotid artery was almost completely blocked. Gresh eventually had surgery and spent several days in the Intensive Care Unit, but she's doing great now, thanks to a skilled resident at Family Medicine.

Child Care Scholarship Recipient Dena Stockton is a 12-year Southwest employee who qualified for a Foundation scholarship that grants her a discount off daily child care fees at the Patricia Nierenberg Child Care and Early Learning Center. The HR Information Systems employee uses the program for her eight-year-old boy during off-school times. The Foundation offers significant discounts on daily child care rates based on employee income levels. "I'm a single mother and it makes all the difference because I can afford to send him on field trips and other educational events offered through the Center," said Stockton.

Tuition Reimbursement Benefit Mike Roll is a unit secretary in the Emergency Department who's also working on his bachelor's degree in Biology at Clark College. He plans to transfer to Washington State University and eventually apply for medical school next summer. Along the way, Southwest has been supporting Roll with tuition reimbursement. He gets about 45% of his tuition expenses covered through the program or about $1,500 a year. "I think it's phenomenal. It's tax free money in my pocket," said Roll, who pays his tuition up front and is then reimbursed by the hospital. "It's one of the main benefits appreciate," added Roll.

Healthy Steps Maternity Support Changing Lives The Maternity Support program at the Healthy Steps Women's and Children's Center has been serving women and their families since 1992. One woman who benefited from the program is Anna, an IV heroin and methamphetamine addict who escaped an abusive relationship. Anna sought out prenatal care for her unborn baby and help with her drug addictions. During her pregnancy she completed both inpatient and outpatient treatment programs at Recovery Northwest in Longview. During a six month period she kept all her prenatal appointments at Healthy Steps and worked closely with her maternity support nurse, Jess Khabra, RN, and with her medical social worker, Kristin Hamilton. Anna attended child birth classes and took parenting classes at Healthy Steps. Through much support, she stayed clean during the pregnancy and gave birth to a healthy baby girl. Anna has since found a great job as an accountant and also remarried. Self sufficient for seven years, she and her husband recently welcomed a second daughter into their family.

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