3^RD ANNUAL NORTHCARE REINDEER RUN
DECEMBER 3^RD, 2011
All proceeds to benefit crisis counseling for children. See Reindeer Run page for more info.

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CONGRATULATIONS TO OUR OUTSTANDING EMPLOYEE WINNERS!

• Alisha Blackwell
  
• Harriett Fincham
  
• Phillip Francis
  

These three were nominated by co-workers who recognized their passion for making a difference in the lives of others.

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Northcare is Sponsoring: "WORKING WITH CHILDREN OF INCARCERATED PARENTS" Training

Date: January 21, 2011 Presented by: Stacey Burgess, LCSW & Jennifer Carsey, MSW Three Hours of CEU's Available See the registration form for more details!

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$2 MILLION GRANT WILL BRING PRIMARY CARE TO INDIVIDUALS WITH MENTALL ILLNESS

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Friday, Oct. 1, 2010

CONTACT: Tres Savage, Variety Care
(405) 808-0308

OKLAHOMA CITY — NorthCare, an Oklahoma City non-profit mental health agency, has been awarded a $2 million federal grant to provide fully integrated primary and behavioral health care for individuals with severe mental illness.

NorthCare and Variety Care, an Oklahoma City community health center, began a small pilot project in 2008 to deliver Variety Care's comprehensive primary medical care services to individuals with severe mental illness. Now, this partnership will expand to serve about 500 patients annually, said NorthCare Chief Operating Officer Clark Grothe.

“Individuals with severe mental illness deal with a wide range of other health problems as well,” Grothe said. “This partnership and funding source will offer comprehensive and coordinated health care that historically has been unavailable to these individuals in our community. This partnership represents two organizations working together for the benefit of our community and maximizing the efficient use of public resources.”

Grothe referred to a recent study showing that patients with severe mental illness (SMI) die about 25 years earlier than other Americans, with three out of five SMI patients dying from preventable conditions such as obesity, diabetes and heart disease. (http://www.usatoday.com/news/health/2007-05-03-mental-illness_N.htm)

Variety Care CEO Lou Carmichael called the $2 million federal grant — which will be spread out over four years — a tremendous resource for helping a population that can be difficult to serve.

“Our mission is to make quality health care affordable and accessible for all,” Carmichael said. “This grant and partnership will make that possible for these vulnerable patients.”

The grant is part of $26.2 million awarded around the nation for similar programs this month, and it will be jointly funded by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) and the Health Resources Services Administration (HRSA).

Carmichael and Grothe said NorthCare patients will also be able to access preventative dental care at Variety Care through a state program funded by the Oklahoma Department of Health.

“This is exactly the sort of health care integration that can improve health outcomes for many patient populations in Oklahoma, and we are excited to connect our patients with Variety Care's excellent doctors,” Grothe said.

About Variety Care

Variety Care is a non-profit community health center with several locations in Oklahoma City and rural southwestern Oklahoma. Variety Care serves about 50,000 patients annually and provides comprehensive medical, dental, vision and behavioral health care to anyone. Uninsured patients receive care by paying on a sliding fee scale based on family income.

About NorthCare:
NorthCare, led by CEO Randy Tate, is a private non-profit agency that has provided comprehensive outpatient mental health and substance abuse services in Oklahoma for 30 years. NorthCare serves about 12,000 individuals and families annually, providing outpatient counseling, crisis intervention, trauma counseling, medication clinic and case management services.

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2010 HOLIDAY SCHEDULE
NorthCare will be closed for the following holidays:

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NORTHCARE RECEIVES THREE YEAR ACCREDITATION for select programs from the Commission of Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities (CARF) for 2008-2011.