Our Community, Our Mission

Ep #321- Finding Hope Through Partnership: Astra Mental Health & Recovery

• TRM Ministries

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 In this episode, we discuss how extreme heat is impacting our community, driving increased demand for food, water, and support at Topeka Rescue Mission. We're joined by Kathy Mosher, CEO of Astra Mental Health and Recovery, and Pam Evans, Director of Marketing and Development, to explore how Astra is expanding access to mental health services through same-day care, school-based programs, crisis response, and community support. We also examine the connection between homelessness and mental illness, the importance of collaboration in serving those in need, and highlight Astra's Vivid: The Art of Healing gala supporting mental health and recovery services. 

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Opening Prayer And Welcome

SPEAKER_05

Gracious God, we are so thankful for each day that we get to come and serve you. Lord, we are thankful for the guests that we have today and the wonderful partnership that has come about because of the people that we serve and our desire to do the best we can in every situation. Lord, we know that the heat right now is kind of unbearable and we just lift up our unsheltered neighbors who are out in it all day, every day. Make sure that those of us who are serving are checking on people and making sure that they're okay. Lord, be with us today as we have great conversation. Um have our words be impactful to the people that need to hear whatever is said today. We love you and we thank you in Jesus' precious name. Amen.

unknown

Amen.

SPEAKER_01

Hello, everybody. Thank you for joining us for our Community Our Mission, a podcast of the Topeka Rescue Mission. I'm your host today, Barry Feeker, here on July 28, 2026. This is episode number 321, been around a while. And so good morning, Lamanda and Miriam. Good morning. Are you um I think you are uh like everybody else in the Topeka, Kansas area, complaining about humidity today?

SPEAKER_00

Yeah. Goodness.

SPEAKER_01

Yeah, it's all I hear about.

SPEAKER_00

We're worried about our hair. Exactly. Not that you can relate. But Miriam and I can relate. Yeah.

SPEAKER_01

Well, I tell you what. You know, it's very dangerous to have the guy who's in charge of the program start out that way because man, could he really take this in a way we don't want it to go? Here's the deal.

SPEAKER_05

We have to get our licks in early because we know when yes to get started on that.

SPEAKER_01

So we're just gonna jump right into the licks right now. Okay,

July 28 Fun Facts

SPEAKER_01

this is the test that we do. Thank you for our research and development department who has come along and uh come up with some very, very important things about the day, uh, which is the 28th of July. You know, we're almost out of July if you do your math. I know I cannot believe that. Brandon, you were an educator at one time. How many days left in this month? C. Public school.

SPEAKER_00

There are 31 days. And do you know we just had a meeting last week and we were doing it on our knuckles. Remember, you start with your left knuckle and down in the valley and up and down. Um yeah, one of our community partners taught the whole meeting about that. And I still go based on it.

SPEAKER_05

I know the poem. Thirty Days has September, April, June, and November. Right. All the rest have 31. Except for except for February.

SPEAKER_01

Yeah, okay.

SPEAKER_05

What kind of poem is that? Well, February kind of messes it up. Uh-huh.

SPEAKER_01

Well, listeners, that's not part of the test today, but uh since Amanda started out with such a joyful thing. People with no hair. So there is a lot of guys around that don't have hair. You know that? Sure. Okay.

SPEAKER_05

But you do shave on save on shave.

SPEAKER_01

You do save on chocolate. We got a real assortment of hats, too, I want to tell you. Okay, we're gonna jump into what is uh important about today, and it's National Milk Chocolate Day. What's the difference between milk chocolate day and chocolate milk day?

SPEAKER_05

One you chew and one you drink.

SPEAKER_01

Okay, very good. Okay, so why do you think we would have a national day? And you know what, there's a lot of different chocolate special days. And I don't I think they just switched the names around. I think so. But it's milk chocolate day. It's not chocolate milk.

SPEAKER_05

Not my favorite.

SPEAKER_01

Not your favorite?

SPEAKER_00

No. Give me dark chocolate. And dark chocolate is not mine. And it's healthier. She's right. You know, it's healthier. But that is why I like sharing chocolate bags with Miriam, because we don't like the same thing. That's exactly right. And so we get more quantities in that little what are they? You know, the yellow one is the Mr. Good Bar, the red one is the Nestle, dark chocolates, anyways.

SPEAKER_01

So I don't know who would think about milk chocolate or dark chocolate in July. Because it's just, you know, it's hot, right? It's melting. But the next one, National Water Park Day. Yeah, that makes a little more sense with July, especially in this part of the world. And so have you ever been to a water park?

SPEAKER_00

Yes. I have too.

SPEAKER_01

Have you?

SPEAKER_00

Yeah. About to go to another one.

SPEAKER_01

Look at you.

SPEAKER_00

Yeah. Um we survive. Sometimes we need a vacation after the vacation day of the water park.

SPEAKER_01

When I was a kid, we made our own water parks. Remember? I do remember that. Yes, exactly.

SPEAKER_05

Or if you grew up on a farm, you just use the tank that the cattle drank out of. Yeah.

SPEAKER_01

What? Uh huh.

SPEAKER_05

You did? I'm telling you.

SPEAKER_01

That's why she likes dark chocolate. That's right. Okay, two more. World Nature Conservation Day.

SPEAKER_05

This is important. Yeah. Okay.

SPEAKER_01

That we're looking at that. Seeing that there's a lot of uh biodiversity opinions that are going on.

SPEAKER_05

A lot of conversation right now with natural resources.

SPEAKER_01

For sure. For sure. Okay, last one. And why they picked July 28th for National Soccer Day. Didn't we just kind of get through something about soccer?

SPEAKER_05

The World Cup just ended.

SPEAKER_01

Yeah. So why July 28th? Did somebody mess up on this? I think so.

SPEAKER_05

Not not any of our research and development people. Right, right.

SPEAKER_01

Yeah. So maybe the national World Cup folks weren't counting their knuckles.

SPEAKER_05

Or maybe this happened before them.

unknown

Maybe so.

SPEAKER_05

Before the World Cup was happening. I really know nothing about soccer. Nothing. Me neither.

SPEAKER_00

Or maybe soccer just isn't the normal fiscal years like we know it, and this is going to kick off the new 2026-2027 soccer year.

SPEAKER_05

That can be it. We can we can justify anything.

SPEAKER_01

You guys did pretty good today on these since you had all the answers in front of you. So uh we're going to be able to do that. It makes it so much easier. So, research and development department, please do me a favor next time. Do not put the answers in front of them. We've got to see how smart they think are. So that's why we had to jump to how many days are in July.

SPEAKER_04

Okay.

SPEAKER_01

All right.

Food Demand Spike And Hydration

SPEAKER_01

Real quick update before we get into our special guest today, Lamanda, always needed water.

SPEAKER_00

Yes. You know, I think um publicly we have been talking to the community um pretty significantly about the need for food just because of how we announced last month that we had an over 250% increase just from June 1 to June 30th in um the families that we serve. And those were households, those were not even individuals. So that being said, um, you know, we're always tasked with the way we can communicate to the community without sounding alarms and making the community feel like we need to panic, but then also being transparent with the community on the needs we have to say, here's the demands of food scarcity and food insecurity that we have that we've seen at the rescue mission. Um and so, in order to meet those demands and those needs, we need the community to rally around us and donate or do the canned food drives, the non-perishable items, those kinds of things. What we probably haven't done as much the last 30 days is push the need for hydration items. And we we've tried to communicate both needs, the need for food so that we can help keep up with the needs that our community are facing, but then also talk about water bottles and the packets of hydration things, popsicles that we can freeze and hand out on distribution days or when people come to the front desk and they're hot. So I just wanted to take some time to just remind that even though TRM is communicating because of our significant increase in food demands, that that need for water bottles, the need for propel, Gatorade, um, the hydration packets that you can put in water bottles, um, it's even a blessing when we get fresh fruit, especially watermelon, cantaloupe, kiwis, things like that that are soft for people, um, especially if there are uh dental concerns. Uh, we've realized that in the last several years, you know better, you do better. And so um, even fruit items that are soft for people is a way to keep them hydrated. So I just wanted to uh thank the community for rallying around us and for the blessings that we've received in um food. Want to also thank people for how you've blessed us with water bottle donations and those hydration needs, but also uh transparently still say um that the need is great. And when we're giving out hundreds of water bottles every week to um not only our guests, our unsheltered neighbors, uh, that's one of the ways that we partner with the Moving Ahead Partnership here at the Compassion Impact Center. What might seem like a big donation goes very quickly because the amount of people that we serve. And so I don't ever want us to appear to be greedy or I don't want people to say, well, we just saw on social media they did a post for this a week ago and now they're asking again. But when we're looking at the magnitudes and serving hundreds every week in our food pantry, in our food service dining hall, out our kitchen, walk-ups that we have, moving ahead partnership, um, that's why it goes so quickly.

SPEAKER_01

It does. So if people want to help, how can they help?

SPEAKER_00

Yeah, several things. Um, you know, I think sometimes people um aren't sure where to start, so they don't start. So I think the easiest way to start is do an order and send it to us. You can do that from your phone, you can do that from your home, where you can utilize Walmart, Target, Sam's Club, Dylan's, many of them do deliveries, uh, send it directly to us. Um, you can also order things off of Amazon, um, and normally we get it within 24 to 48 hours. So that's an easy way. Um, other ways that people can help is to organize drives. Um, and it's really neat. We've seen some kiddos uh do some drives with their friends or classmates and things where they try to get one or two cases of water and they donate it and their parents bring them down. We also see businesses and or church small groups or churches as a whole do one or two Sundays where they are doing drives for us and then we're able to come pick up the items or they can bring them to 401 Northwest Norris. We also have some people that enjoy the process of giving as well. And so they don't want to have convenience of just ordering. And so please know when you are already doing your own grocery shopping and you're spending $4.83 for that case of water, buy two if you can. Um, and bring it down to 401 Northwest Norris. We would love to thank you. Uh, neat thing people might not know uh is when someone's at our donation door, um, that's what we say. We say um something on the intercom about uh donations at the donation door, we're thankful. Or um God's providing, we do different things like that. So every case of water, every little packet that we put in um is not just numbers. Uh those items are going to someone who is uh often probably physically thirsty and hungry in need, and um also it's soul care because oftentimes those people that are hurting for basic needs are also hurting mentally, um, emotionally, and um social emotionally as well.

SPEAKER_01

Very good. Well, thank you. Something very, very simple that we all take for granted when we go to the tap of our kitchen, turn it on. Not everybody has that. And so um people can help in such a tangible way. Well, one of the important things uh not only is the donors and the volunteers, but also the different organizations that work with Topeka Rescue Mission, work with Compassion Strategies Moving Ahead Partnership at the Compassion Impact Center.

Meet Astra Leaders And Merger

SPEAKER_01

So many titles in that thing now. So uh mouthful. And our outreach programs is um an organization that now we refer to as Astra Mental Health and Recovery, which is a combining together of the family service and guidance of Topeka as well as Vallejo. And today we're very blessed to have Kathy Mosier, who's the CEO of uh the new organization, Astra, and also Pam Evans, who is Director of Marketing and Development. Welcome.

SPEAKER_02

Thank you.

SPEAKER_01

So uh Pam, you've been on this podcast before, briefly. Briefly. Uh-huh. Kathy, this is your first podcast.

SPEAKER_03

I am a virgin podcaster. There you go. We're glad you're here.

SPEAKER_01

So much fun with the new people.

SPEAKER_00

And so be ready for the quizzes, Kathy. Be ready.

SPEAKER_01

I'm getting quizzed. No. Uh you're gonna enjoy this and listen to it after it's over. And so uh and when I come back next week. So yeah, Kathy, uh um, Pam, either one of you um talk however you want to talk about uh something about the foundational importance of both Vallejo, as we've understood that name for a long time, and family service and guidance, and then they've come together at the beginning of this year. It wasn't like you just, hey, we're just gonna come together. This took a while.

SPEAKER_04

Yes.

SPEAKER_01

Uh what was the what was the services before? Why come together, and what are the services now?

SPEAKER_03

Well, first of all, this uh the merger between Family Service and Guidance Center and Vallejo Behavioral Health Care, uh, we didn't do it for us. This was about what the community needed for us to be better. And we're always looking at ways that we can improve. Uh so one of the the biggest reasons that we came together is that Family Service and Guidance for a hundred years has served uh kids and families, and Vallejo has been serving adults' mental health and addiction needs. And to um and it's it's sometimes it's confusing for the community. And we know that when people are coming to get help, they are not at their best, they're not thinking at their best. It's not it's one of the lower points in their life, and we wanted to make it as easy as possible. So this way we could take care of the full continuum of lifespan uh together. And then together we could be stronger and do more. Uh it also is uh helping us with our our uh workforce shortage that's in health care. It's also in mental health care. We can be more flexible and um helpful to each other and uh serve our community better. So that's that was kind of where it started. We chose Astra, mental health and recovery. Uh it it it comes from our state's motto, at Astra per Aspra, to the stars through difficulties. And uh so Astra is to the stars, and healing is within reach. And we believe that anyone in need that it that recovery is possible.

SPEAKER_01

Family service guide has been around a hundred years, is that right?

SPEAKER_02

Wow. And uh 1904 was when it was actually found. Can you believe that? Yeah. And it was in response to a really bad flood in North Topeka. Uh-huh. And it's just evolved over the years.

SPEAKER_01

So, Pam, a flood started Family Service and Guidance.

SPEAKER_02

Right?

SPEAKER_01

Or that was a response. How did that connect?

SPEAKER_02

Well, you know, over the years, so so the the flood obviously created lots of difficulties for individuals you know living here. And it was um the group of people then came together and really focused on basic basic needs. Sound kind of familiar, right? Um, but over the years, you know, the the organization changed and adapted to the community's needs. Um and you know, mental health over the decades um just became just a critical need of the community. Um and you know, Vallejo, if I remember correctly, uh was formed in mid-1960s. That's what I'm recalling. Yeah. Okay. Good. Thank you.

SPEAKER_01

I don't know if that's true. Okay, well, I do think that's a good thing. It's a fact now. Yeah.

SPEAKER_02

Yeah, but you know, over the needs that over the the decades, um we just continued to change and and proactively address the n the evolving needs. And that's what, you know, just kind of dovetailing on what Kathy said, um it's a just a constant uh focus on on what the individuals in our community need. Sure.

SPEAKER_01

So I didn't know that about the starting in 1904 related to the flood. I just I just think that's very interesting. And then how it's stepped up to the plate to meet the variety of community needs. I think generally people think of Vallejo as psychiatric services and recovery services and family services and guidance to trouble children. So straighten us out on that. What what is the big picture of what we call Astra now? Um obviously um you're not out there dealing with natural disasters, I don't think, anymore. Uh but maybe you are. Uh but a lot of disasters that happen in people's lives. So what's the and I've looked at the org charts. Whoa.

SPEAKER_04

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01

I'm not even gonna try to unpack that. But how can you bring it down to if if people are in need of whatever need that you serve, how can you tell people in the community what you do?

Walk-In Access And Whole-Person Care

SPEAKER_03

You know, uh when we uh when you come for help, uh you we have a walk-in service. So same-day service to get started. That's the easiest way to make it for our community to reduce barriers to get to get that help started. So that was our number one concern and uh what we wanted to offer our community. So it doesn't matter what door you enter now, whether you're entering our youth campus or our adult campus, uh you can get started and we have people who can help.

SPEAKER_01

And Kathy, what kind of help? What do you mean?

SPEAKER_03

Right. So a lot of a lot of times when you think mental health uh or struggling with uh substance abuse or alcohol issues, people think of therapy and they think of uh medication. And those two things are very crucial parts of what we offer, but they are not the only thing. And so what we have done is created a full circle of comprehensive mental health care from prevention to uh follow-through. And it includes sometimes uh therapy, talk therapy is not what people prefer. Uh so we can provide community services in the home, we can to support them in independent living, in improving their functioning levels, their daily functioning levels, which might be affected by depression or anxiety. We can with youth, we provide services in the schools so that uh if they so they don't have to take an entire half day off to come to an appointment, grab lunch, get back to school. Uh it's actually increasing their attendance at school by our presence. Uh and then they also for youth in schools, we'll just go there for a minute. Uh it also provides uh behavioral health, like the write-ups that you might get in school for misbehaviors. It reduces it. We've had we've seen a significant reduction in those with our presence to uh be there for people when the in the kids uh with and these are kids who sometimes weren't coming through our door doors. And so it's a way to go outside our walls to our community, and sometimes our teachers are able to identify those. They have a relationship with the parents already to say, hey, if it's okay, you know, we'd like to uh we get their consent and uh we'd like to give them a little extra help and see if this makes a difference in their in their schoolwork. We've helped keep kids in school. Um so the school-based program is one part of our community-based programs, and then going into the homes where they eat, live, breathe in their communities. Maybe they can't get along with anyone at recess. Maybe uh, maybe on the adults side that um trying to build a community uh uh is not easy to do. It's friendships are hard to come by. And so we can work with them in the community resources that the wonderful abundance of community resources that we have. And then we are so thankful for Topeka Rescue Mission and helping with the basic needs, and then we don't have to duplicate missions. So one of our most powerful, I think, strategies and strengths is the great partnerships that Topeka has. And I don't think a lot of people are aware of all the help out there in Topeka for those who have different needs, and how we've been coming together uh in the last decade, really, to really work together, not duplicate what we're doing, but to help make warmer handoffs, help uh help when someone has a basic need, but they're in a mental health center, rather than trying to do it all ourselves and taxing our community with donations, we can work together and say, you know what, this is their specific. Mission. And rather than just give you a referral, I'm going to help you get connected with them and we're going to go meet them and we're going to get you there and we're going to get things started. So I believe that that's not just an Astra thing. That's our entire community organization with a lot of helpful organizations along the way. And together we're stronger. With the merger, we just were able to provide one easy shop to know where we are and where to go and get help and make it a lot easier for folks to reduce those barriers to get the access and to improve access. So uh to get them access sooner. We what we say uh is getting the right service at the right time when they need it.

SPEAKER_01

So geographically, between the former Vallejo, former First Family Some Service and Guidance, you guys are in the same kind of geography over off of Sixth and McVicker area, um, where people can have some different doors they can go through to get their different uh questions answered or services, different times, obviously uh different functions with what people need. But also, and as we're aware, and I think the community should be aware, you're not just on your campus, you're out in the community, as you said. You are um involved in Topeka Rescue Mission, you're involved in the Moving Ahead Partnership with your outreach workers, uh, you are involved in schools, which it sounds like you just talked about. What other areas would you say that you have with AstraNow that are involved of going outside the walls? Um you mentioned something about homes, being involved in people's homes. Um talk a little bit about that balance of not just saying, hey, if you got a problem, come see me. Uh we're gonna come see you.

SPEAKER_03

Of course, yes. Uh so there are times when um there's confusion and it's difficult for people to stay on their medication regimen. Uh we make medication drops where we will uh go to the homes, we will take care of their medication, and we will watch them take it to help them stay on that regime and maximize the benefit that they can get and not overuse. Um, and to make sure it's accessible to them. We work on transportation issues is one of our new things that we're doing with um vouchers, working with the Topeka Transit, but also uh more community-based workers. We have what's called care coordinators who can assist even between mental health, basic needs, and their physical health. So we are uh working to have one treatment plan between their physical health concerns and their mental health concerns, and that's ultimately where we'd like to get and work with our community partners on the medical side as well. And then the important thing I think is that we provide both to folks who have the means to, we want to be excellent for those who have the means to uh pay for their services or have health, good health care coverage, but so many don't that we want the same service array whether they have that or not. And so we are open to anyone, so it so it's not a you have to be eligible kind of thing. Uh so that's kind of where we are. We are we do we are regulated and um by both the state and um federal guidelines, and uh we do have to operate within those, but within those we want to make the reduce the barriers as much as possible to get an array of help. It could be groups, it could be skill building, it could be parent support, it could be peer support, it could be housing specialists, it could be benefit specialists. Maybe you're eligible for benefits that you don't know about that we can help get you hooked up with to access resources more easily. Um and then there's there's what we call uh community one-on-one. There's a uh tenant care for daily living. Uh so there's a whole there's a whole there's a whole world out there outside therapy. But at the same time, therapy is what's what the demand is, it's what people know to ask for. We did increase therapy through our merger by 44%.

SPEAKER_04

Wow.

SPEAKER_03

Um, and that was combining both what we had to where we are today and being able to better fill vacancies. So there has also been some sustainability strength uh through the merger to where we are stronger and can better be a better employer so that we can offer competitive um wages and uh fill our vacancies to make sure that we can serve that need.

Mobile Crisis And Best Practices

SPEAKER_01

As a go ahead, Pam.

SPEAKER_02

And one other thing where where we're really meeting people literally where they're at, we have crisis services 24-7 and a super strong relationship with the Topeka Police Department, but we also have mobile crisis. So um instead of saying, you know, you need to come to our crisis center, we can go to them. And I Kathy, I don't know if you remember right off the top of your head, but I know our our mobile crisis response times are way above average. Um but you know it's so critical to be with the people when their needs are the highest.

SPEAKER_01

So 18 minutes.

SPEAKER_02

18 minutes.

SPEAKER_01

So you know that that's good. Um This is a community mental health center. And when we say a community mental health center, what is the catchment, as they say, or the geography that uh Astra serves?

SPEAKER_03

We're here for all of Shawnee County, but we are also now a certified CCBHC, which is a very mouth big mouthful of letters that says certified community, certified community mental uh behavioral health center clinic. Sorry. So many things. But what that does is that model is a is a model that has helped us access more uh of the best practices. So it requires more of us, and it has infused some funding for us and requires us to use best practices for everything we're treating. And uh we work within those guidelines. So it has helped us bring things like parent-child interactional training uh to light, it cognitive behavioral therapy to get even better at and higher trained in, anxiety uh clinic uh progressive best practices for reducing anxiety. So there there are so many benefits, and we're highly audited. So I will say that when you when you come to us, you can be assured that everybody nobody knows your name, nobody knows who you are, but our but we are so heavily red regulated that people are going through our uh services constantly to make sure that we are delivering at a high level. And that's because we do receive some help from the state and county. Uh without that, we could not serve the uninsured or the people who can't afford to pay. And this is what allows us to take anyone regardless of their ability to pay. And we want to make sure that we honor that and we spend very conservatively, and that everything that we do is reinvested into the community that we're serving.

SPEAKER_01

So Shawnee County, but with the merger and the new C C BHC close.

SPEAKER_03

You did it.

SPEAKER_01

Uh does that reach out beyond Shawnee County?

SPEAKER_03

It does. So Shawnee County is our CMHC catchment area, but as a C C B H C we can take anyone from anywhere.

SPEAKER_01

Anywhere. So anywhere in Kansas or anywhere within Northeast Kansas or anywhere in the country.

SPEAKER_03

Anyone who shows up at the or calls. Yeah. So for example, now we don't travel outside.

SPEAKER_01

Not going down to Oklahoma doing recruiting.

SPEAKER_03

So community services, we would say, you know, you have a C C B H C. We have a network of C C B H C's. We're we were the first one in Kansas. Um our state was the first in Kansas to have C C BHC across every county in Kansas. Our legislature said, if we're going to do this, we want to do this for the entire state. And they took care of everyone. So our network covers every county in Kansas. So there is a closer one. So they don't have to travel, people don't have to travel as far, and we do help connect them with those too, but they do have that opportunity in every county they live in in Kansas.

SPEAKER_01

So barring the people that show up from Texas or whatever, um, the general area here, um, and this is over oversimplification, but you have your mental health services and I'm going to say your um substance abuse services, and that's an oversimplification. What is the magnitude of clients that Astra serves in regards to just numbers? And I know that's an oversimplification as well, but I think it'd be good for us to understand how many people are struggling that you know about that that uh organization like yours is there to help.

SPEAKER_03

Yeah, we are here and ready to serve the entire population of Shawnee County. We served last year over 11,000 people, and um even more than that through things like mental health first aid classes and other kinds of educational opportunities. Uh and then we take anybody from the range of diagnosis or issues. We don't have the luxury of cherry picking who we serve, and we don't want to. Um so what we we we have people who specialize in different areas. We also have generalists that can take anything that any any issue that might come through the door, and then we have this whole statewide resource of uh technical assistance that we depend on each other, the other C C B H Cs, we get along great and we work together. And we when there's something that we haven't encountered or that we know they have a specialist in that we don't, we share.

SPEAKER_01

So this 11,000 number, is that people in Shawnee County roughly that are struggling with some type form of mental health challenges or substance abuse or both? Is that is that the magnitude we're talking about?

SPEAKER_03

It's bigger.

SPEAKER_01

It's bigger. Explain bigger.

SPEAKER_03

So we know there are people out there that are struggling. It could be youth struggling uh with friendships or being bullied or uh traumatic uh family situations, it could be parents trying to figure out what to do, it could be adults trying to navigate all the pressures of the economy. Uh it could be mental illness, it could be severe and persistent mental illness, it could be addiction. Uh so there are more out there that we need to reach, and um this sets a foundation, the merger sets a foundation for us to be able to continue to grow outside our four walls to make sure that people can access us, access us even better. But to your point, it is the last statistic I read was it was one in five people at some point in their life will need professional help for their mental issues.

SPEAKER_01

I could just talk with these two ladies all the rest of the we've got two other folks over here, Lamanda and Miriam. Um jump in here. Um this is a pretty significant need in this community, which um obviously uh when people are struggling um with whatever regards that Astra attempts to help out with, uh sometimes it results in people coming into homelessness. And so, Lamanda, when people come through the door of the Topeka Rescue Mission, it's not just they don't have a bed to sleep in. There are many other different issues that maybe were a part of that or maybe persist yeah, started it.

SPEAKER_00

Precipitated it.

SPEAKER_01

Thank you very much, educator. Um and uh how many days in January or July? So um talk about the what you see here, and Miriam jumping here as well. What you see here to paint a picture for people who may not be aware of this issue of homelessness and people who also struggle with these other issues, and what's the importance that you see in working with Astro?

SPEAKER_00

You

Homelessness Mental Health And Partnership

SPEAKER_00

know, in my opinion, it's really a question of what comes first, the chicken or the egg. Um, and I get asked that a lot when I go to speaking events. Well, did mental illness lead to homelessness? Or did homelessness lead to mental illness? And I say yes. Like that can be the answer. Um, and you can replace those verbs with anything. Did addiction lead to homelessness, or did homelessness lead to addiction? Yes. Um, so what is incredible, in my opinion, is um, in my opinion, our partnership with Astra, we can't do this without them because we wouldn't be treating holistically the concerns of an individual. And so, for instance, a baking pan is wonderful to have, but if you don't have the ingredients in the baking pan, you're not going to have any kind of product. And so when we're looking at people's lives and they show up at the rescue mission, um, we can help um with getting IDs, we can help with the basic needs, we can help feed them, clothe them, we can help with hygiene, we can even help somebody accomplish housing again. The difficulty with that is those things without other types of supports, um, oftentimes, not with everybody, but oftentimes, that would be null and void because you're not really treating the loneliness, you're not really treating the depression, you're not really treating the addiction. And so our part is an important part, but it's just that. It's a part of caring for someone. Um, not to try to put words in Kathy's mouth, but also their part without the rescue mission is only a part. So if somebody's coming for therapy and then they're walking out those doors to go back to a tent by Topeka Boulevard, there's going to be some major issues that are not being addressed. Um, if we are addressing addiction and people are going to the classes, but then they don't have anywhere else to go home to. Or they're coming to classes and they're coming to classes completely hungry with no basic needs met, that class is not going to be successful. Again, Astra's work is only a part of holistic care for people. And so that's why I think it's so important when we say partnerships. Partnership, I wish we could come up with something different. It's starting to be, in my opinion, so cliche. We need partnerships. They're a great partner. No, when you really think of a partnership, it's two-way. Anything else could be considered of a leech. It's one way, it's taking. And so partnerships are something that is really important to the rescue mission because we never want to always be asking and receiving. But the other side of it is it's also hard sometimes when people say, Yep, we're in a partnership. And I want to say, but we're not yet because we're not in the trenches together. We're not having crucial conversations about what the organizations could do better. Uh, there are some places where we do need to be having hard conversations where we stop doing what we've always done just because we've always done it. And we start looking at what does our community need, not just what's on our own siloed organization's five-year plan. And so to me, that is how we define true partnerships at TRM. It's compromise, it's sacrifice, it's crucial conversations, all working collectively to holistically care for the needs of our community. And so I appreciate the work that is done with Astra. Um, I appreciate the respect that they have with us. But honestly, more importantly, right now, through their merger and through some of the key people we work with, what I am so impressed appreciative of as the CEO is how we've been able to think differently and be able to say, hey, this really isn't working when Astra does this. Or this really isn't working when this is how hard the referral process is to TRM. Or this is really hard when we've had somebody ready for crisis four times and they've waited eight plus hours. Or when Astra tells us, this is really hard for us when we said you said that there's a bed and then they come down there and there's not a bed. We've been able to have so many crucial conversations where we may not have all the answers, but we at least have the cards on the table. And we are striving every day to not just have everything with bells and whistles on it. We're really looking at what both organizations need to keep the same that's really good, and then also what we need to revise because we can do better. And I have so much appreciated the authenticity of that and how we're working together to better serve oftentimes the same people, but just with different needs.

SPEAKER_05

You know, Barry, we talk about all the time that the key to helping the people that we serve is relationship. It's the same way with people who are truly our partners. It is really about building relationship first so we can trust each other, you know, that we know, okay, I'm not telling you that this isn't working because I think you're awful, right? I'm telling you this because we've got this great relationship that's that's based on mutual respect for each other, that then allows us to be really honest with each other. You know, the number of times that things go unsaid that we wish we would hear so we could make changes is unbelievable, right? Especially when it's people that we think are our partners, you know. But to really invest in partnership and true collaboration, it's a risk, right? It's a risk. And that's where that relationship piece then just bolsters everything up because we care about each other.

SPEAKER_03

And I think you guys are describing first you nailed it. I'm thinking Emerald in my head, going bam. That takes it up a nut. But that's what you do when you when you lay your cards on the table and you say, you know, here here are the regulations we have to work within. Sometimes it's not that we're not working well together, it's that we have regulations and we have to stay compliant. And so we have to understand that about each other and listen to each other and then work through those gaps. And uh that does, it takes it up a level. And I think through from that partnership relationship to integration is where we want to get to, and that integration is where the magic happens for the people we serve to make it a smoother system of care, no matter what system they're attached to. Right.

SPEAKER_05

And it's about keeping the people we serve in the center. You know, we hear United Way says that really well at every Tuesday call meeting, right? That we're here keeping the person that we're serving at the center of our conversations. And it's so it isn't about Astra getting credit or TRM getting credit, it's about us coming together to say, okay, it doesn't really matter who gets credit. Because look what's happening now for the person that we mutually are serving.

SPEAKER_01

People crave that unity, uh, but they don't see it too many places. And so they don't trust it. And uh and I'm not just talking about the people receiving services, people inside the services don't trust that. But when you have that that has grown between the rescue mission, Astra, uh that wasn't always this way. I wasn't here in 1904. But sometime after that, and starting in this position, matter of fact, I did my college internship with Shawnee Community Mental Health. So I got an inside view of that, then worked State Hospital in Minegar before Topeka Rescue Mission. It didn't used to be a connection. It was them and us, or us and them, and there was a lot of dysfunction and disconnect in that. Over the years, because of people. Wanting to work together. And we talked about a shout out to our Robert Harter with Astra and Amy Mullins with Astra, who you they're your department leaders in some of your many departments have been the most phenomenal people to work with. You know, getting a chance to see you, Kathy, or Pam, you know, is gonna be a little harder because you got such a mountain of responsibility. Same thing with Lamanda here. But to have frontline people working with frontline people to be able to have these crucial conversations like you pointed out, Lamanda, and Miriam, what you pointed out, to be people-centered, not just system-centered. Then we can come back and go, hmm, this is not working so well. What can we do to make it work better? And so that's that's a that's a that's a a chemistry that you can't just have because you want it. You gotta build it. And uh and and you all in this room here have been a big, big part of that um for a lot of time a lot many years, but now it's at a time where our community needs it. And um and so people who are in crisis or the people who care about them need somebody to step up to the plate. Um they need um help, um, whether it's an individual or family or uh parent with a child or or a child with a parent or whatever, and they uh don't know where to turn. And so maybe that first stop that they go wasn't the right stop. How do we get involved in their lives so they don't feel like there's nobody out here? When there's a lot of people out here and a lot of systems out here, how do we work together whether they're in a lean two over here around the corner or whether they're living in an affluent area of our community, but they are struggling? Um, how do we then um when we hear nobody does anything or nobody's there for us, how do we how do we help them to see that there really is? Hard

Awareness Quality Improvement And First Aid

SPEAKER_01

question, I know.

SPEAKER_02

I I I'll go first. How's that? Um, you know, I don't think there's one specific way. Um, you know, making sure, you know, with the merger, getting the word out that Valleo and Family Service and Guidance Center merge to become Astra. You know, there's a lot of of advertising out there, a lot of social media, um, but we're also we the the marketing and development team has been going to a lot, I mean a lot of community events to be visible, to be present, to make sure people are aware that just because they're not hearing about FSGC and Valleo, the programs and services are still there, just under a new name. So that's that's been a critical piece of the merger. But then also, you know, Kathy mentioned, you know, we have clinicians and case managers working in the schools and and the relationships, the existing relationships that we have with with community partners, um having their help in in getting the word out, you know, the to call the main number, to, you know, that crisis services are available, still available. Um it is a multifaceted um project to, you know, to continue to ensure. And and and it's it's a it's a big lift, no, no doubt. Um, because you know, when you're if you're sitting on your couch and and you're not in the market for a car and you see uh an advertisement on TV, you're not it's not gonna resonate with you. But to your point, um, you know, the the families when when they are struggling, they need to know where to go. And and you know, being out and and having so many connections, connections in the community. Um, our board members making sure that they're you know, they're they're helping us spread awareness and and just making sure that folks are aware that we have community events and or excuse me, community classes and whatnot. Um a variety of different ways. That that is a tough question.

SPEAKER_01

Well, it's a tough question. It's just a reality that we see that there's so many needs. You mentioned 11,000, but a whole lot more that are out there. Same thing with what Topeka Rescue Mission can help, same thing with Moving Ahead Partnership. We're not helping everybody at this point. Now, does that mean that we're satisfied with what we're doing? No.

SPEAKER_04

No.

SPEAKER_01

Not at all. But I think that, you know, where I was uh throwing that tough question out there, I think that the um answer to that is that we know each other well enough to um have those transparent conversations like we've talked about, um, to say here's the good, here's the bad, here's the ugly, here's what we know, what we don't know. But when somebody comes to us and says, hey, you know what, that rescue mission, they don't let anybody in, or, you know, uh they kicked me out for uh the rest of my life, um, or whatever the case might be, we know if that's accurate or not. Or we know who to call because of relationships. It's not just this organization and that organization, this is what's come together. If you go in the this building today, you go back to the west end of it, there's Astra workers back there working with Jenny Falk, who's the director of MAP, um, and they are hand in glove. It's Astra with their case managers over here, but there's a Christie Hobbs down here who knows what Jenny knows. And Jenny, the best she can, knows what Christy knows. And two different organizations, but they're here joining hands together. And so when people come in and they're desperate for that bottle of water or that meal or that shower or whatever it is, that they don't see two different organizations. They see everybody working together, even though it is two unique different organizations doing unique things, but it's because we know each other and we have those transparent conversations. And sometimes they're not comfortable, are they?

SPEAKER_03

They no, they are they aren't. But I, you know, what I what I really respect about uh, you know, the the rescue mission and all of our other community partners that we work with is that we we start with we're not perfect. We're not perfect, but but we want to be. We want to get better, we want to constantly improve. And you know, I know that at Astra with this merger, we have put in formal, continuous quality improvement. Uh, that's another best practice that uh these things can come to and get looked at and solutions and bring the right people to the table. And uh so that's that's one thing. And then education, uh, if if our community all took a mental health first aid class, you would, I believe, what I hear from the feedback is that I better, I am better prepared to have a conversation and have a hard conversation when I need to with somebody that I see who's hurting, and I know how to approach that. Um that's what we need. It it's not just professionals, it takes all of the community working together, and you know, I appreciate that so much, and just understanding we're a work in progress. Now, I mean it didn't used to be this way, all of the uh police department trains their their um officers in mental health and as they call it CIT and crisis intervention. So we are learning about each other's um opportunities, each other's specific missions, and working together and integrating those to make it smoother for each person who may need may need multiple things from multiple places.

SPEAKER_01

Incredible, wonderful things

What Astra Wants Next Year

SPEAKER_01

going on. Uh, before we close today, um what does Astra hope to see a year from now?

SPEAKER_03

We want no one to have to wait for any service that they need at all. That's what we want. Um we've started the walk-in service to get started, but with that, word gets out and more people come in the door, and then that second service gets a little backloged. So we are working through that system and through each service that we provide. Um, and also asking, are we the best provider? Because if we're not, we will own that and we will get them to the best provider we know for them in our community. And so we we just want to work together uh and bring our community together. And I am, I think it is a diamond in the rough that people often don't know the treasure they have in Topeka with all the helpfulness that's out there and all the organizations. Uh and so we do have to do a better job so that people know it's out there and where to go.

SPEAKER_01

Anything new on the horizon? I know the Crisis Um Intervention Center, um, I believe that's what you're calling it, uh, is um either open or getting ready to open. Um there's going to be an opportunity for people that don't necessarily or formally would have to go to a place like Osawatomi for involuntary mental health treatment. Um how close are you to opening that? Is that going to be open this year yet? Is it already open? Is it going to be open next year?

SPEAKER_03

Well, that would be a question for KDADs at the moment.

SPEAKER_01

Okay.

SPEAKER_03

That would be our state partner.

SPEAKER_01

We'll invite them next time.

SPEAKER_03

But yes, we are we are expanding our crisis services to be more available and uh to keep people closer to their in their homes and in their communities longer, um, but have overnight when they need that intensive time while still doing the work with the family. And that's one thing we try to do in all of our crisis centers, whether it's in our youth crisis center or an adult crisis center, is to involve the their community, um their families in that treatment because we know that's stronger and will help them uh will help them long term.

SPEAKER_01

I think we lost a lot when we uh got rid of Topeka State and we farmed people out and had them go away and the systems just don't work for local folks. I say they don't work, they don't work as well as they used to.

SPEAKER_03

Aaron Powell It's hard for families to go to a state hospital that's not in their community and do that family work and and be ready to be successful when they come back out.

SPEAKER_01

So what you've done is you've stepped back up to the plate and said, okay, that was tried. Yep. That didn't work so well, so we have to come back around, do something more more reasonable.

Vivid Art Of Healing Gala

SPEAKER_01

Um before we close, again, uh Pam, um August 15th, uh something called Vivid that's coming up. Um talk about that as the marketing and development director for um Astra, kind of a special night.

SPEAKER_02

It's a very special night. This is our first ever Vivid, the Art of Healing gala. Like you said, August 15th is the big evening. Um, lots of different um pieces to this event, including an online auction of all kinds of uh professional art and really unique experiences. Um Zach Brown band, uh Robert Plant, concert tickets, um amazing professional art, paintings, pottery, jewelry. Um but the event itself um is a celebration um to to really shine a spotlight on the creativity, talent, and and resilience of the individuals we serve. So we took the best of both galas, both Vallejo and Family Service and Guidance Center had a gala. Um our child artists created some artwork and we framed up those pieces and they will go up on stage and those will be auctioned off live. This year, I am so excited about this. We have some adults who are gonna provide some musical entertainment in the evening. And the adults are involved in our expressive therapies um group. Um so it is it will just be a night of celebration, um, some inspirational stories of individuals who are thriving now, um, thanks to first and foremost their hard work with the support of Astra's staff and the treatment, obviously, that goes on behind that. But the neat thing with the online auction that that opens on Friday, anyone in the community can bid. That's one good thing COVID um did shine a light on. You know, very few good things. This is why I said I phrased it that way. Um we opened it up to the community, the online auction, and had folks when they swung by in the days of social distancing, they're like, thank you so much for for having the ability to do this because we want to support. We we want to support mental health and substance use treatment. This is a fun way for us and you know, for those who who might not um want to dress up and go to a gala. Um so yeah, so it it is it is looking like a phenomenal night. And we do have a few tickets left.

SPEAKER_01

A lot of people access those.

SPEAKER_02

Yeah. So they can check out the online auction or buy tickets and and just look at all of the amazing fun that's planned uh by going to the website, which is www.astraks.org. That is our main website. But put a forward slash art behind it and you'll get to that event website. So astraks.org forward slash art.

SPEAKER_01

If somebody like me doesn't retain information very well or have a pen, well, I guess I have a pen in my hand, uh, can they go to your website um and just or Google Astra and find information on this?

SPEAKER_02

Yes, and um absolutely, and Facebook. We're posting a lot of um information on Facebook. So encourage folks to check that out.

SPEAKER_03

If you've never been, I'm telling you, you won't regret it. It's it's an exciting, it's a fun time.

SPEAKER_01

Good, good.

SPEAKER_05

Well, I actually have a piece of art in my house from that a child from Family Service and Guidance did from years ago. It's beautiful. It's beautiful, it's big, it's colorful, I love it.

SPEAKER_02

So it's a great event. To see the kids' faces up on stage. A lot of the kids might not have been celebrated for just who they are, right? And they just beam. The second year I looked, I was like, okay, yeah, I know what a difference it makes for the kids. Yeah. But I made a a point to to turn around and look at the parents sitting at the table.

SPEAKER_05

Yeah.

SPEAKER_02

Incredible. I mean, the the the pride. Yeah. Yes. Thank you.

SPEAKER_03

And the auction will be terrific. So get on and and put some bids in because there's some great donations. Uh people have been very generous.

SPEAKER_01

So well, it's another opportunity to support what Astra is doing, not just in an awareness piece and celebration piece, but also financially. Um, because uh not all of your money comes from these other sources. That's right. Um, that also depend upon it. And and I think that what we've talked about here today is what we like to talk about so much, and that is who are we as a community? What can we do together? What is our mission together, even though we may be different approaching it for different reasons or different ways that we do it, we still do it better together. And uh that's what we've been able to enjoy today. So, Kathy Pam, thank you for being here today. Thank you for what you do. Thanks for taking on this Bohemoth merger.

SPEAKER_03

Likewise to you guys too. Thank you for what you do, and we couldn't do it without you.

Closing And How To Help

SPEAKER_01

Very good. Well, thank you for listening to our community our mission. If you'd like more information about Topeka Rescue Mission, you could go to TRMOnline.org. That's TRMonline.org. And there you can find out information how you can support uh Topeka Rescue Mission that works with Astra and so many others in the community, and also a way that maybe you can personally volunteer. Thank you for being a part of our community, our mission.