United Helpers Receives $611K Grant To Expand Behavioral Health Services

CANTON – As part of the Village of Canton’s $1,186,974 Community Development Block Grant, United Helpers Behavioral Health and Life Skills will receive more than $600,000 to help the organization expand its reach in the community.

United Helpers will specifically receive $611,974, which will be used to hire six new mental health clinicians and six new care coordinators.

Director of Behavioral Health Services David K. Nelson noted that more than 60% of the patients receiving mental health services through United Helpers do so from its Canton location, located at 22 State Highway 310. United Helpers also operates a Behavioral Health Clinic at 221 Hamilton Street in Ogdensburg. 

“Since 2019, we have built and grown mental health services in Canton, currently serving the community with four full-time clinicians and a part-time psychiatric nurse practitioner, who provides care for six hours each week,” Mr. Nelson said. “Presently, we receive as many as 50 referrals each month and have a wait list of more than 200 people. The average wait time for services is two weeks.”

United Helpers Health Home Care Coordination currently provides community-based services to 260 clients across the county, including many in the Canton area. Mr. Nelson said each care coordinator has a caseload of roughly 30 individuals, while each clinician is seeing as many as 80 patients at any given time.

“This grant will allow us to provide these much-needed mental health and care coordination services to as many as 432 new people,” Mr. Nelson said.

United Helpers Vice President of Development Christa J. Carroll worked together with Mr. Nelson and officials from the village on the grant application, which was submitted as part of the New York State Department of Homes and Community Renewal’s Community Development Block Grant CARES Program.

“We are thankful to the State of New York for this grant funding, and their recognition of our efforts to provide behavioral health services to the people of Northern New York,” Ms. Carroll said. “I am thankful to Dave and everyone from the village, especially Leigh Rodriguez, who worked so very hard on this grant application. We are excited about helping many more people.”

New York State Commissioner of Homes and Community Renewal Ruthanne Visnauskas said this particular version of the Community Development Block Grant was awarded to municipalities for efforts related to COVID-19 pandemic response.

In a letter announcing the awarding of the grant, Ms. Visnauskas wrote, “The projects selected for award will assist in the recovery of New York State communities by improving the resiliency of businesses and safety of homes and public facilities serving its residents.”

While United Helpers had been providing behavioral health and mental health services prior to the pandemic, Mr. Nelson said the pandemic led to a dramatic increase in the need for these types of services.

“United Helpers is seeing the highest levels of anxiety and depression we have ever seen since the pandemic hit in March of 2020. This is a troubling trend fueled by loneliness and isolation,” Mr. Nelson said. “We are beyond thankful that the state is recognizing our efforts.”

If you are struggling with anxiety, depression, or feel like you could benefit from counselling or therapy, give United Helpers a call. For services in Canton call 315-386-0264, for services in Ogdensburg call 315-541-3042. Services are offered to people of all ages, with Medicare, Medicaid, and most insurances accepted. Services may also be offered in-person or remotely.

Staff from the United Helpers Behavioral Health and Life Skills Mental Health Clinic in Canton are thrilled to hear their team will soon be expanding thanks to a grant from the New York State Department of Homes and Community Renewal’s Community Development Block Grant Cares Program. The grant of nearly $612,000 will allow for the hire of up to six new mental health clinicians and six new care coordinators. Front row, from left, Medical Assistant Danielle Jackson, Assistant Director of Behavioral Health Programs Brea Snyder, Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner and Clinical Director Stacey Ryan; back row, from left, Director of Behavioral Health Services Dave Nelson, LCSW-R, Canton Clinic Receptionist Alicia Vallance, Clinical Social Worker Lisa Van Kirk, LMSW, and Supervising Social Worker Jeanine Forrester, LCSW.

United Helpers Rehabilitation and Senior Care in Ogdensburg Working to Relocate Residents, Staff; Still Hiring Across Organization

OGDENSBURG - United Helpers Rehabilitation and Senior Care in Ogdensburg has been working with residents, resident representatives and staff on the pending closure of the facility.   

Progress has been made with the placement of residents and staff as we work our way through the closure process. The current resident census is 89. No residents are being relocated outside of the North Country, and the facility is actively securing alternate placement and care according to their individualized preferences.

United Helpers has offered work for all direct care staff affected by the closure at other locations throughout the United Helpers organization. The Human Resources department is assisting staff with a training and a transition plan as the census declines in the Ogdensburg skilled nursing facility.

In addition to retaining our valuable staff, there are other opportunities for direct care and increased pay incentives. United Helpers has work available throughout St. Lawrence County allowing employment close to home in a team-oriented environment. Opportunities are still available in the areas of home health, skilled nursing, assisted living, housing and the developmental and intellectually disabled population. 

 Inquiries by residents or their representatives should be made to Stacey Cannizzo, VP Clinical and Quality Services/Compliance Officer at slcannizzo@unitedhelpers.org, (315) 393-0730 or (315) 393-3072 ext. 313.

Inquiries related to employment opportunities should be made to Human Resources at:  tlgotham@unitedhelpers.org. You may also contact Tapanga Gotham for more information at (315) 393-3072 ext. 4270 or call/text (315) 276-6413.

Regular Visitor to United Helpers in Ogdensburg Comes for In-patient Therapy Stay

OGDENSBURG - After visiting United Helpers Rehabilitation and Senior Care regularly to deliver communion to residents, Sister Bernadette Collins recently spent just over two weeks there for an inpatient therapy stay.

As part of her mission work with the Diocese of Ogdensburg, Sister Bernadette has been visiting the facility on a weekly basis for more than three years.

Sister Bernadette Collins works with Chelsie Brenno, PTA.

“I knew the place and I had heard great things about the therapy here,” she said, adding she knew she wanted to do an inpatient stay following knee replacement surgery on her right leg.

The surgery took place on Dec. 30 and on Jan. 1 she checked into United Helpers. On Jan. 17 she was discharged back home. 

“I knew I wanted to do inpatient therapy because it would help me get better faster and I knew this was the place I wanted to do it,” Sister Bernadette said. “I’m glad I was able to get my therapy here, where I wanted.”

During her stay at United Helpers, Sister Bernadette said she’s received therapy twice a day, six days a week, with roughly 90 minutes of physical therapy and 30 minutes of occupational therapy each day.

While she says she’s happy with her progress, she said the road to recovery hasn’t been easy.

“The first week I was here, I said never again, but now looking back on it, I say, ‘if I have to do it again, it’s not so bad,’” she joked.

Physical Therapist Megan Morrison and Physical Therapist Assistant Chelsie Brenno worked with her during her stay, and Sister Bernadette said they were both great, as were the nurses, occupational therapy staff and everyone else she came into contact with during her stay.

“My therapists have been great. Megan is very good and so is Chelsie. The nurses have been great, and the food isn’t bad either,” she said.

Sister Bernadette said she can now walk short distances with a cane, while using a walker for longer distances. It is her goal to again walk unassisted, and Ms. Brenno said that should be achievable.

“She’s doing great and I try to remind her of that every day,” she said.

As Sister Bernadette continues working towards her goal, she will continue receiving physical therapy at United Helpers on an outpatient basis three times per week.

Thanks in part to the work she’s already put in with inpatient therapy, Ms. Morrison said Sister Bernadette now finds herself ahead of the game.

“Her range of motion is already ahead of where most people are when they start outpatient therapy,” Ms. Morrison said.

For more information regarding therapy services in Ogdensburg, please call (315) 393-0730 ext. 2156. For information regarding therapy services in Canton, please call (315) 386-4541 ext. 3217. You may also like United Helpers on Facebook or visit www.unitedhelpers.org.

M-W's Plumley Eyes Return to the Court With Help from United Helpers

OGDENSBURG – Coming off the best season of her young athletic career, Madrid-Waddington’s Emma Plumley was looking forward to using the AAU season to continue strengthening her game in preparation for her junior season with her eyes also set on taking the court at the next level.

Ms. Plumley’s sophomore season included a sectional title, first-team All-NAC, and Second-Team Watertown Daily Times All-Northern honors. 

Physical Therapist Brett Amo works on a drill with Emma Plumley.

Heading into the 2019-2020 season Ms. Plumley, a guard on the school’s basketball team, knew she would again be an important piece to the Yellow Jackets success, as the team’s only returning starter. However, the start of her junior season was pushed back when she tore her right ACL while “crossing-up” a defender during an AAU game last April.

“I felt my knee cap move and I thought I had dislocated my knee,” she said. “They carried me to the bench and then they carried me to the car, so I really hadn’t put any weight on it until I got home. When I got home and tried to walk to the house I experienced what was probably the worst pain I’ve ever felt,” she said.

Ms. Plumley then had surgery in Boston with former New England Patriots team physician Dr. Thomas Gill performing her operation. However, prior to her surgery, she came to United Helpers Rehabilitation and Senior Care in Ogdensburg for “prehab.”

“Those two months were focused on getting my leg stronger and improving my range of motion in preparation for surgery,” Ms. Plumley said, noting that prehab consisted of a lot of stretching and simple exercises that would help strengthen her leg without exacerbating her injury.

Two weeks after surgery and already off her crutches, Ms. Plumley returned to United Helpers to begin working towards the resumption of her athletic career.

“I knew I was going to come back, but I was super upset at the news (diagnosis of a torn ACL) and did briefly think what if I can’t play anymore,” she said. “But I only questioned myself for a little while and then got to work.”

Physical Therapist Brett Amo watches as Emma Plumley runs on a treadmill.

 Her therapy consisted of strength and flexibility training three times per week with Physical Therapist Brett Amo, who also worked with her prior to the surgery.

“Therapy was very challenging, but in a good way. It’s hard work, but I like to be pushed and Brett does a great job,” she said. “I’m actually probably in the best shape of my life.”

As she wrapped up what would be her final physical therapy appointment, Ms. Plumley said that her doctors have cleared her to return to action on Jan. 1, about a month-and-a-half after the season begins.

“After this, I want it more than ever,” she said. “I can’t wait to get back on the court.”

Adding to the excitement is the fact that Emma’s younger sister, Grace will also be joining the varsity team this year.

“I’m so excited because basketball is the one sport I really love (she also plays soccer) and I want to play in college,” she said. “I’m going to be a little nervous, especially the first time I do a crossover, but I am glad to be back.”

For more information regarding therapy services in Ogdensburg, please call (315) 393-0730 ext. 2156. For information regarding therapy services in Canton, please call (315) 386-4541 ext. 3217. You may also like United Helpers on Facebook or visit www.unitedhelpers.org.

City Man Comes Out Ahead After Battling Insurance Company To Cover Inpatient Therapy

OGDENSBURG – This past summer William O’Brien had knee replacement surgery for the second time and given his difficult recovery the first time, he knew he wanted to do things differently.

After receiving physical therapy from another provider following surgery on his right knee, he opted to come to United Helpers Rehabilitation & Senior Care following the operation on his left.

“There are a lot of choices out there for therapy and I am really glad I came here,” Mr. O’Brien said. “I was blown away by their knowledge and attention to detail.” 

His therapy began with a six-day inpatient stay, something that Mr. O’Brien said he had to fight with his insurance company for. 

United Helpers Physical Therapist Brett Amo uses a goniometer (similar to
 a protractor) to help measure the flexion in William O’Brien’s knee. Mr.
O’Brien, who has been receiving therapy for just over a month said his progress
is well ahead of where it was at the same time following his last surgery.

“My insurance company didn’t want to approve an inpatient stay, but it’s worth fighting for,” he said. “If I would have gone home I would have had therapy three times per week as an outpatient, but with an inpatient stay you receive therapy two or three times per day and that is a game changer.”

Following his first procedure, Mr. O’Brien said he had swelling in his knee for eight weeks.

“Now, it’s almost gone,” he said. “I’m so much further along this time than I was last time at this stage.’

Part of the reason, Mr. O’Brien said is the attention to detail paid by the staff at United Helpers.

William O’Brien works on stretching out his left knee 

with United Helpers Physical Therapist Brett Amo. 

Mr. O’Brien, who has been receiving therapy for 

just over a month said his progress is well ahead of 

where it was at the same time following his last surgery.

“With other providers a leg press is a leg press. You just put your feet up and push,” he said. “At United Helpers they work with you to make sure your feet are positioned properly and the right distance apart. That’s made a major difference.”

While Mr. O’Brien said everyone he has dealt with at United Helpers has been great, he wanted to especially thank physical therapist assistants Breanna Clement and Adam Soller for their assistance to him during his inpatient stay.

Now that he is receiving outpatient therapy, Mr. O’Brien is meeting three times per week with Physical Therapist Brett Amo.

“When I heard Brett was at United Helpers, that’s when I decided I wanted to go there. His reputation really does precede him,” he said. “Donna and Joe (Physical Therapist Assistants Donna Donnelly and Joseph Longshore) have been great too.”

When asked if he would recommend United Helpers to others, Mr. O’Brien replied, “There’s not a question in my mind.” 

For more information regarding therapy services in Canton, please call (315) 386-4541 ext. 3217. For information regarding therapy services in Ogdensburg, please call (315) 393-0730 ext. 2156. You may also like United Helpers on Facebook or visit www.unitedhelpers.org.