CO Impact Days Brings Investors and Social Ventures Together Arapahoe/Douglas Mental Health Network (ADMHN) was thrilled to participate in CO Impact Days Social Venture Showcase on March 4, 2016. ADMHN was one of 60 ventures invited to meet face to face with more than 200 accredited angel investors in order to seek millions of dollars of "impact investments." The 60 ventures convened at the Ellie Caulkins Opera House at the Denver Center for the Performing Arts (DCPA) for the first of its kind, statewide marketplace for impact investing. The chosen social ventures had the opportunity to showcase their ability to provide a return on the investment while improving Colorado communities. CO Impact Days Marketplace "This is the first time in the U.S. that 200 accredited impact investors came together for a statewide marketplace, where they could connect with each other, learn, and have intimate access to social ventures representing projects, for profits, nonprofits, and funds at any stage of growth," said Dr. Stephanie Gripne, Founder of the Impact Finance Center and creator of CO Impact Days and Initiative. "This was a first for impact investors and social ventures." The goal of CO Impact Initiative is to catalyze $100 million in impact investments into Colorado social ventures in the next three years, and it kicked off with CO Impact Days on March 2nd. CO Impact Days encourages a new breed of impact investors and community members to Learn. Connect. Invest. ADMHN is thrilled to have been selected to participate in this initiative," said ADMHN CEO, Joan DiMaria. "This is the first time we have had the opportunity to pitch investors of this level and to prove our viability, our importance to this community, and our ability to provide a great return on their investment. We received interest in our integrated healthcare project and will meet with prospective investors to see how we might work together to serve the community." CO Impact Days' innovation is uniquely possible here in Colorado. The state is home to a number of national leaders in impact investing, a thriving and collaborative community of social venture entrepreneurs in both the for profit and nonprofit sectors, as well as philanthropists and investors who are committed to growing Colorado's economy and creating good jobs while ensuring our state remains one of the best places to work, live, and play in the U.S. Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing Treatment Helps Clients Heal from Trauma Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) is an effective psychotherapy developed by Francine Shapiro, Ph.D. in 1987 to help people heal
from the symptoms and emotional distress caused by traumatic memories. There are 25 clinicians within ADMHN who offer this treatment to clients in need of EMDR specialized treatment, and an additional 28 clinicians scheduled to be trained in early 2016. Clinicians report tremendous professional satisfaction associated with the provision of EMDR due to remarkable client improvement. EMDR sessions are weekly or bi-weekly and follow a specific sequence of phases. Practitioners use bilateral stimulation, such as eye movements; to help the client process unresolved memories from adverse experiences. EMDR can be used to address any number of concerns, and it is compatible with other types of therapy. It has been demonstrated to be effective with trauma and post-traumatic stress disorder as well as a number of other issues including anxiety, panic, phobias, depression, psychotic disorders due to trauma, adjustment disorders, attachment, grief and loss, chronic pain and substance abuse. Smart-Girl Annual Luncheon Tickets are on sale now for the Smart-Girl Annual Luncheon on April 22nd, 2016; featuring keynote speaker Meredith Walker: Co-Founder and Executive Director of Amy Poehler's Smart Girls. This is an event you don't want to miss - get your tickets today by clicking here! Individual Tickets: $100 Young Professional and Educators: $75 Friend of Smart-Girl: $250 When: Friday, April 22, 2016 at 11:00 AM 11:00 AM - 1:00 PM Where: Inverness Hotel and Conference Center 200 Inverness Dr W, Englewood, CO 80112 Individual Placement and Support Program Competes for 'The Tank' Funding On March 16th, the South Metro Denver Chamber of Commerce held an event modeled after ABC's "Shark Tank" to bring together businesses to support local nonprofits. The event raised $17,870, which was distributed that evening to the competing nonprofits. ADMHN was one of 11
nonprofits to be invited to pitch their unique program to a panel of 'SHARKS' for a guaranteed cash prize of $500. Deirdre Sage, Vocational Coordinator for ADMHN's Individual Placement and Support (IPS) program, presented to the team of 'SHARKS' and 60 other attendees, and ultimately secured $850 in funding for the program. "The Tank experience was an excellent opportunity to talk about recovery to a new group of people. Learning how to condense big ideas into four minutes is a challenge. I believe that when a business invests in a nonprofit they are showing their customers that they care about people more than money. I am so proud to have represented ADMHN at this event. Having the support of ADMHN leadership was a testament to their support of quality mental health programming," said Sage. Funds raised at 'The Tank' will be used to support the IPS program, which is the evidence based supported employment program designed for people living with mental illness. The goal of the IPS program, developed at Dartmouth University, is to assist these individuals in joining the competitive labor market. Most individuals with severe mental illness want to work and feel that work is an important goal in their recovery. The program has been running for a year and a half and has been so successful that there are currently 89 individuals on the waiting list. Be Well: Ways to Cultivate Gratitude In Praise of Gratitude by Harvard Health Publications, Harvard Medical School Gratitude is a way for people to appreciate what they have instead of always reaching for something new in the hopes it will make them happier, or thinking they can't feel satisfied until every physical and material need is met. Gratitude helps people refocus on what they have instead of what they lack. And, although it may feel contrived at first, this mental state grows stronger with use and practice. Here are some ways to cultivate gratitude on a regular basis. Write a thank-you note. You can make yourself happier and nurture your relationship with another person by writing a thank-you letter expressing your enjoyment and appreciation of that person's impact on your life. Send it, or better yet, deliver and read it in person if possible. Make a habit of sending at least one gratitude letter a month. Once in a while, write one to yourself. Thank someone mentally. No time to write? It may help just to think about someone who has done something nice for you, and mentally thank the individual. Keep a gratitude journal. Make it a habit to write down or share with a loved one thoughts about the gifts you've received each day. Count your blessings. Pick a time every week to sit down and write about your blessings - reflecting on what went right or what you are grateful for. Sometimes it helps to pick a number - such as three to five things - that you will identify each week. As you write, be specific and think about the sensations you felt when something good happened to you. Meditate. Mindfulness meditation involves focusing on the present moment without judgment. Although people often focus on a word or phrase (such as "peace"), it is also possible to focus on what you're
grateful for (the warmth of the sun, a pleasant sound, etc.). Thank You to Our March Featured Sponsors Arapahoe/Douglas Mental Health Network 303.730.8858 www.admhn.org
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