Philanthropy Today
Philanthropy Today
Pawnee Mental Health on the GMCF Community Hour Show Episode - 301
Use Left/Right to seek, Home/End to jump to start or end. Hold shift to jump forward or backward.
We talk with Diane Hinrichs of Pawnee Mental Health about making support easier to find, easier to accept, and more connected to everyday life. We share what Pawnee offers across 10 counties, why 24/7 mobile crisis matters, and how art can help people move toward more good days.
• mental health as physical health and why asking for help matters
• youth and adult community services as wraparound support in real-world settings
• serving nearly 7,000 people a year with a large regional team
• critical stabilization support and coordination with local law enforcement
• 24/7 mobile crisis response and how it meets people anywhere
• Pancakes for Pawnee as accessible, community-driven fundraising
• Grow Green Match Day support for expanding art therapy
• More Good Days art shows and local display partners in multiple towns
• client pride, recovery, and the ongoing nature of mental health care
Sponsor And Segment Setup
SPEAKER_00Philanthropy Today is brought to you by the Greater Manhattan Community Foundation. In this episode, we feature a recently broadcast segment of the GMCF Community Hour, as heard on News Radio KMAN. Welcome back to the GMCF Community Hour. On News Radio KMAN, Di Henrix is here on behalf of Ponnie Metal Health. She is the Chief Advancement and Engagement Officer. You just recently got a promotion and more words on your business card.
SPEAKER_01I did. Congratulations. Well, thank you. How long have you been there now? Um, eight years. Okay. So a couple weeks ago I hit hit my eight-year mark.
SPEAKER_00And they they the you things just keep moving up for you. Yeah. So far.
SPEAKER_01Yeah.
Mental Health Month Message
SPEAKER_00You got a lot of good things going on over there. And and May is mental health month, and that's a big day for building awareness for the work that you do and for the services you provide for others that are in need.
SPEAKER_01Yeah, for sure. May is mental health month, and it's really that time that we want to be sure to remind everybody that, you know, mental health is physical health, and and that you need to take care of yourself and that there's absolutely nothing wrong with asking for help and and making sure that people know how to get it.
Wraparound Community Services Explained
SPEAKER_00It's okay to not be okay. Exactly. Is one of those phrases that we've kind of accepted over the last or you know, embraced in the last several years. And um, you know, there's so many different types of help that you are able to provide those that are in need at Ponnee.
SPEAKER_01Yes, we are the most comprehensive mental health agency in in our area. Um it doesn't say, and that's not to say that we provide everything that everybody else does. Um, but you know, we we don't provide Stravato or or any of those, but we have uh a lot of unique programs to us, uh, our adult community services and our youth community services that a lot of people are like, what is that? I don't understand. And and really it's for um, so when we talk about youth, it's for children who have serious emotional disturbances. And these community services are just that additional wraparound. You know, it lets them, if you think about those who have had been in therapy, they might be given a suggestion of, hey, try this. And so with the community services, this is just additional support. It's, you know, if you think about sports, I know Vern was just here and, you know, he talks sports all every day. Um, you know, it's like this is their practice, you know, that that life's their game, but this gives them an opportunity to practice what they've they've learned and and how that improves their mental health, how they they can help to uh maintain their symptoms. And, you know, it's it's a unique program. It's the you know, like I said, we're the only ones who provide that. And then we do the same thing for adults uh who have severe and persistent mental illness.
SPEAKER_00How many do you have on staff now?
SPEAKER_01We are at 285 throughout the 10 counties.
SPEAKER_00And that's one of the things a lot of people don't realize, you know, throughout 10 counties, you know, there's a number of facilities and and obviously a lot of patients that uh are being served.
SPEAKER_01Yes. Yes. We are we serve nearly 7,000 people a year.
SPEAKER_00Goodness. Well, thanks for doing that. And uh, you know, one of the things, you know, with mental health month is that you just want to stress, you know, it's it's not okay, it's okay to not be okay and that there are resources around, you know, especially, you know, when you've got uh, you know, a scenario like uh the the facility that you have on Hayes Drive, um the critical uh stabilization unit. Yeah. And and and that is one I know that has uh been a tremendous blessing. And the interaction that you have with local law enforcement to make sure that, you know, when they have a situation where they're dealing with somebody, they have people that they can reach immediately to help uh diffuse the situation, maybe or contribute to the well-being of that individual.
SPEAKER_01They do. Um, you know, RCPD has really worked hard over the last few years to make sure that their staff are, you know, and their officers are prepared and and that if they aren't prepared to handle a situation, that they um they know they can reach out to us and and and we're there. Um they've had co-responders in the past, um, but you know, recently, you know, in 2024, we began our our co our mobile crisis unit. And and that was a limited time frame, you know, during the day. Um that I think it went, it used to go from like 8 a.m. to to 6 or 7 p.m. uh but starting in January, we went 24, 247. Uh so you know, this is and this has been huge for people because I I think a lot of people don't realize that it exists. Um, but you know, you call in and you know, our staff, they have the just go attitude that they head out and you know, it's not their job to determine if you need help. It's your job. And so they go and check things out and then they continue that follow-up. But, you know, mobile crisis, you know, it they come here. I mean, they're at your businesses within the community in the park. It doesn't matter where you're at, they're willing to come.
Pancakes Fundraiser Brings Community In
SPEAKER_00I think one of the biggest challenges um is making sure that people do know, and you may mention this, there's a lot of people that don't know that we have this. Getting that word out, and there's all kinds of ways, you know, here through radio, there's all kinds of different opportunities for you to share messages about the work that you do at Pawnee. I know you have a new podcast, I've been parts of those, and and you know, but but you know, you continue to to work outside those walls that you've had before and integrate more so in the community. And things like pancakes for Pawnee helped contribute to the to sharing that message.
SPEAKER_01Yeah, yeah. Um, we had our pancakes for Pawnee. It was our eighth annual one.
SPEAKER_00Eight years now? Eight years. That's a lot of pancakes I've had. Oh, 100%. I wasn't able to get there this year. That's out of town this year.
SPEAKER_01And and you know, and I gotta say, I was I was out, I'd had some surgery, and so my my staff did a wonderful job handling it and getting everybody through. And so I was so proud of them. Um, but yeah, this is our eighth year, and we're gonna have it going on our ninth. Okay. Um, so it's always on Fat Tuesday, so or Shrove Tuesday, and you know, we just continue to to grow with that, and you know, it's a great opportunity to bring the community together. And what I really like about it too is that, you know, when we talk about philanthropy, a lot of people are like, oh, I don't have that kind of money. Yeah. And and, you know, at nine dollars or it might raise up to 10 next year, you know, for a ticket, most people can afford that. I mean, it's almost cheaper than a happy meal.
SPEAKER_00Sure.
SPEAKER_01Anymore.
SPEAKER_00You know, or or it's a happier meal than the happy meal.
SPEAKER_01Exactly. It is, it is. And you get the fancy color changing cup and and things. So it it has really been a blessing. You know, our community has really done a great job of supporting us with that. And and, you know, we we love doing it. It's just a lot of fun.
SPEAKER_00Special shout out to the folks at Early Edition over on the east side on the west side for making that possible. And everybody, I know you have a lot of volunteers that help, and just it's it's fun how you do things.
SPEAKER_01Yeah, but we couldn't do it without early edition.
SPEAKER_00Yeah, yeah. Let's talk briefly about Grow Green Match Day and what that meant to you.
SPEAKER_01Oh, that that was so wonderful. We we did amazing. Um, you know, last you know, we last I saw we had were short of a little bit over 30,000. And and I was so excited about that. Um, because what we're raising money for this year is for art therapy. And, you know, that's one of the things we have had, um, we've been blessed to get a grant through the Kansas Art Council for the last couple of years that, you know, again, the groups that I was just talking about, the adult student services, the youth services, that we bring in local and art instructors and we teach them various forms of art. And art is a place that for children, it really helps them to share their feelings in ways that maybe they don't have words for. And for adults, it helps them to be able to, you know, find ways to manage their symptoms and and get through stress and and get through trauma. And and so through the the art council grant, you know, we've been able to have these programs for them and they've they've loved it. It's just been wonderful for our clients. And and, you know, so actually what we do have going on in relation to that this year is and as part of May's Mental Health Month, is we are having art shows. Um so we're having an art show in Manhattan and Junction City and Concordia. Um, the Manhattan one, we kick off with our reception on May 21st from five to eight. And that's going to be at the Midtown Um off of Fourth Street. And then after that, so between the 21st and June 4th, the art that they've that our clients have created is going to be displayed in uh various places. Uh so flight crew and tropical snow and therapy and the bodega. So downtown points um locations are going to be displaying the art our artwork that our clients did. And we also did a shout out to allow community members to join in too if they wanted to. And I think we have a couple of those. And so we're really excited about it. Um, the junction one is it's our first one. So it's May 7th through the 26th, and it's at the Dorothy Bramledge Public Library. And in case there's any people listening from a distance, the Concordia one is May 7th, May 14th through the 28th. And those displays will be at the North Central Kansas Medical Center. So we partnered with the hospital to well, that's a nice new facility up there, isn't it? Oh, it's beautiful. It is beautiful. And and you know, we we felt like it's a place that, you know, the public could go and you know, that there's probably a lot of people going through anyway and would be able to see it. So we're very, very excited about it. But but yeah, so that's where, you know, the money we raised this year is going to be used to expand our art programs. And, you know, because we've got a number of art programs, our recovery program is one to get in the game. And and, you know, we've been talking about just even therapy, how we can create some therapy groups with the art. Um, and and then also, you know, we're even throwing around the idea of what could we do publicly, you know, to just maybe have a mental health something that that helps remind people when they drive by that it's okay to not be okay. And, you know, reach out, get help.
More Good Days Through Creative Recovery
SPEAKER_00One of the things that um, you know, we have I made mention about the podcast, which is called Bright Minds, Brighter Days. Yes. And you have an event coming up called More Good Days. Just a really neat tie-in. And and you know, your marketing team is doing a fantastic job. Been very impressed with them when they come in and and do things, you know, for their podcast and the messages that they are getting out and the way that they are sharing that. So let's talk a bit about what more good days is for Pawnee and for your patients.
SPEAKER_01So with the more good days, so that's you know, that's kind of the, you know, the title of our art shows. And okay, you know, and what that is, is it really, you know, we want everybody to remember that there's more good days coming up, that, you know, your mental health is, you know, that if if you're struggling now, that, you know, if you reach out and get some help, that, you know, there's gonna be more better days in the future. And and that, you know, we want you to continue to have those good days. And we hope that through the art, that, you know, it ex that it's gonna expire in inspire, you know, brighter tomorrows for people. Um, we hope that people, when they look at the art, they recognize what, you know, doing this art has, the, the help that it's provided to our um, you know, to our clients and in in, you know, working towards, you know, their recovery. And, you know, and recovery for a lot of people sometimes is ongoing the rest of their life, and that's okay. Um, you know, but it's it really helps to, you know, identify what's going on and how they can can be better at it.
SPEAKER_00Yeah. I got a friend named Jacob that does a lot of artwork, and I know he's struggled with a lot of different things, you know, post uh service from his military days, and he posts a number of his works on social media. And to see the kind of response he gets, I know that that's very uplifting. And I think, you know, when people come in, I suppose, you know, the these exhibits that you have, you know, at Midtown and the the four uh places where you can have food and enjoy some art, which that's like a a double win right there. It is. That's just gotta really help boost their their thoughts on on themselves.
SPEAKER_01I think it does. You know, last year, the last two years, we've had this grant as well. And so we've had the art, we just had the art show at Flight Crew. And and so it was a one-night event. We we didn't extend, you know, this year we decided to expand it. And, you know, a lot of our clients who made the art would come in and they were just, you know, they just loved it. You know, they and and yes, you could see the pride when they were talking to people about what they created, about the programs that they were involved in. And and you know, and and two, I would be remiss to not shout out um Suzanne Glymore. Um Suzanne is is the the uh chair and you know the owner of uh of gosh, let me think.
SPEAKER_00I'm drawing a blank too, so don't feel so bad.
SPEAKER_01It's um um But she's a she's a maker.
SPEAKER_00I mean she makes things happen.
Roots Of Pawnee And Closing
SPEAKER_01She is, you know, honestly, we wouldn't have this program without her. She is the connection we have between, you know, the art, the the art instructors, and she comes up with what art we're gonna do and you know, schedules all the times and the dates, and and you know, the hardest thing I can get her to do is send me a bill for her time. And you know, that that's usually our biggest conversation. But she's just amazing to work with. And and for the last three years, she's been the one who's done all of our scheduling and things like that. And truly, this would not happen if it wasn't for her.
SPEAKER_00Did you know Rick Shanlein?
SPEAKER_01I did not.
SPEAKER_00He's basically the founder of Pawnee Mental Health. And I it it showed up on my Facebook page that he would have turned 100 just the other day. Oh, how far. And and I knew uh Rex and Phyllis and just delightful people. I think he'd be really proud of where Pawnee is today.
SPEAKER_01Well, that's that's you know, great news to hear. You know, we had we had a tremendous leader for 18 years in Robin Cole. Absolutely. And, you know, Mike has has stepped in, stepped into big shoes, and but we continue to you know expand, you know, with uh, you know, through Mike's leadership and and do more things. You know, again, the the mobile crisis expansion was you know definitely part of that.
SPEAKER_00Well, you've expanded, you've innovated, you've contributed a lot to the community. Di Henriks, thanks for joining us.
SPEAKER_01Well, thank you, Dave.
SPEAKER_00Great show today. Coming up next, Michelle Sinck's going to be stepping into the seat, and uh, she's here on behalf of Kansas Biggs. We'll get an update on some of the activities that they're involved in and uh the aftermath of Mar of January 27. We'll be back with more of the GMCF community hour here on News Radio K M A N.