SafeMinds' Dr. Michael Cummings and Janell Van Cleve on APIC Access to Psychiatry through Intermediate Care Program
From our friends at SafeMinds, an important message for families.
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Research shows that up to 56 percent of people with autism aggress against their caregivers, and that autism mothers have been shown to have the same level of stress as combat soldiers. There are few resources and support services available to meet the behavioral and mental health needs of the growing population of people with autism, and those who care for them.
Fortunately, SafeMinds Board Vice President Dr. Michael Cummings, M.D., and SafeMinds Research Committee Member Janell Van Cleve, have pioneered a program known as Access to Psychiatry through Intermediate Care Program (APIC). The grant-funded APIC program makes house calls to families facing challenging behaviors in 17 New York counties, free of charge.
APIC focuses on four specific areas—medical needs, alternative behavioral health therapies, home environment, and time for caregivers to get respite. Pairs of APIC staff members meet with families in crisis situations, connect them with medical and social service providers, and collaborate on strategies for preventing avoidable emergency room and extended hospital stays related to challenging, aggressive behaviors.
The program has achieved measurable success. Dr. Cummings reports that, according to Erie County Medicaid data, the APIC program has assisted in reaching a 40 percent reduction in hospitalizations, 30 percent reduction in ER visits, and a 50 percent increase in outpatient case management visits during the past 3.5 years, among the population it serves. Family reported aggression measures decreased by 40 percent, and family distress fell by 50 percent. Read more here.
If only they could all get to Rossignal MD in Florida. He has helped our son Kevin so much. No more temper tantrums. Kevin is so much happier and calmer now. Glutamate levels were too high even with the GFCF diet. Nemenda higher dose and then also added amantadine has helped him lower this level to produce a calmer mind. (He has been fully Chelated of mercury rather late at 11years-14 yrs. Vaccine injured in 95.) Propranolol also helped him. We are now both taking Figi water 1 pint per day now to try to pee aluminum out. Lots of behavior therapy from me, his Mom. Lots of luck and Love to all of you.
Posted by: Loraine Fishel | August 30, 2018 at 12:58 AM
This is nothing more than a blatant attempt by psychiatry to expand their market, and make themselves look more legitimate in the public's eyes. Yes, I'm glad (some) families seem to have been "helped". And yes, there ARE SOME individual psychiatrists who are kind, caring, and competent. They are the minority. Overall, psychiatry is a pseudoscience, a drug racket, and a means of social control. It's 21st Century Phrenology, with potent neurotoxins. Psych drugs are not as safe, not as effective, and not as necessary as the psychs want you to believe. Psychs are little more than drug pushers for PhRMA. I strongly recommend you visit >madinamerica.com<, and learn some TRUTH. Psychiatry has done, and continues to do, far more harm than good. Yeah, if you pump enough neuro-toxic drugs and tranquilizers into an ASD person, they will be pretty mellow. For a while....Autism is NOT a "mental illness".
Posted by: Bill | August 29, 2018 at 07:59 PM
Grace you'll probably know about it already but,there are Direct Payments in Scotland .We had our adult son on it but we stopped after a year as the paper work was to laborious and time consuming.Although it paid for a lot of activities,days out,a full time carer which we had to do all the payroll ,employment contracts etc etc,I agree, you cant mention medical and autism in the same breath not a penny for that though..
https://www.sehd.scot.nhs.uk/publications/grdps/grdps-01.htm
Pharma For Prison
MMR RIP
Posted by: Angus Files | August 29, 2018 at 05:39 PM
“It takes a village to poison a child”
Truer words have never been spoken!
Thank you, thank you, thank you Mrs Donnley!!!!!
Posted by: annie | August 29, 2018 at 03:44 PM
So sorry about all the typos. Writing on broken screen phone.
Posted by: anita Donnelly | August 29, 2018 at 11:10 AM
This is insanely tragic. If it werent for the Moms who risked ridicule in 2002 and warned me to stop my son’s shots. It it werent for gen ren and dr wakefield and dr krigsman and DAN Drs and RFK jr and dr bradsreer and did I mention the parents and JB and Jenny and Dan and Mark ...if it weren't for people speaking out I wouldnt be worrying my son has only 1 friend in improv class and a 2.5 GPA we would be prisoners in our home. So this is why I tweet and tweet and tweet (psuedonym) and put up with the jerks. This is why i give pregnant women I barely know dan and max’s book vaccines 2.0 and now jb’s book. My son can laugh at crazy shows with me and make jokes again. My son sill stuggles and has foggy days but he is back. That others tried all that we did and it dodnt work for then breaks my heart. Truly there but for the courage of autism
Parents and autism drs go I. It takes a village to poison a child and it takes a world-wide community to reverse the damage. My heart goes out to every parent facing an angry hurting child.
Posted by: anita Donnelly | August 29, 2018 at 11:08 AM
This is insanely tragic. If it werent for the Moms who risked ridicule in 2002 and warned me to stop my son’s shots. It it werent for gen ren and dr wakefield and dr krigsman and DAN Drs and RFK jr and dr bradsreer and did I mention the parents and JB and Jenny and Dan and Mark ...if it weren't for people speaking out I wouldnt be worrying my son has only 1 friend in improv class and a 2.5 GPA we would be prisoners in our home. So this is why I tweet and tweet and tweet (psuedonym) and put up with the jerks. This is why i give pregnant women I barely know dan and max’s book vaccines 2.0 and now jb’s book. My son can laugh at crazy shows with me and make jokes again. My son sill stuggles and has foggy days but he is back. That others tried all that we did and it dodnt work for then breaks my heart. Truly there but for the courage of autism
Parents and autism drs go I. It takes a village to poison a child and it takes a world-wide community to reverse the damage. My heart goes out to every parent facing an angry hurting child.
Posted by: anita Donnelly | August 29, 2018 at 11:08 AM
Hi Grace. I can’t punish progress. Families are being destroyed by the behaviors and aggressions they face. If Dr Cummings csn help I am all for it. Let gastros step up / few will.... they know what might happen.
Posted by: Kim | August 29, 2018 at 09:16 AM
Why does it need psychiatrists to identify that people with autism need medical care, financial and social provision, and respite care to give their carers a break? I suppose it's to be expected that an organization called Safeminds doesn't understand the difference between the mind and the brain. I have only ever been offered "counseling" and never the healthcare, provision and services that I need. This is part of the attempt to pretend that autism is psychological not medical. Safeminds, which I think does some good work, should carefully reassess their approach.
Posted by: Grace Green | August 29, 2018 at 06:58 AM