On Tuesday, May 14, Governor Hogan signed House Bill 829, which will change the way that mental health services are provided in the state of Maryland. The bill prohibits private insurance carriers from rejecting an accredited community-based health care provider solely because the provider is a Licensed Graduate Social Worker (LGSW) or a Licensed Master Social Worker (LMSW). Public assistance has long been recognizing LGSWs and LMSWs as billable providers. Now, under HB 829, private carriers must follow suit.

For All Seasons Executive Director, Beth Anne Langrell, Delegate Jeff Ghrist (Caroline County), and the Mid Shore Behavioral Health Consortium worked on the bill for over two years. Langrell testified before the Senate, the House of Delegates Committees, and the Eastern Shore Delegation to help others understand the insurance billing challenges and how they affect individuals and families who need services.

(Back row, from left) Caroline County Delegate Jeff Ghrist, For All Seasons Executive Director, Beth Anne Langrell, and Legislative Assistant, Lois Dustin look on as Governor Hogan signs HB829.

According to Langrell, “People in need of care should not have to worry about whether they carry public or private insurance when scheduling a visit. HB 829 eliminates a long-standing discrepancy and simplifies getting more individuals the mental health services they need.”

Delegate Jeff Ghrist comments, “For so long private insurance holders have not received equal treatment in the ways their mental health services are billed. This bill helps to streamline access for people who need care, rather than complicate the process.”

The bill will go into effect on October 1, 2019.

For All Seasons offers individual and group therapy, general, child and adolescent therapy, marriage and couples’ counseling, grief counseling, school-based mental health therapy, urgent care services, Rape Crisis Response, Rape Crisis Counseling and Support, 24-Hour English and Spanish Hotlines, and education and outreach programming. For further information about For All Seasons or to donate, call 410-822-1018 or visit forallseasonsinc.org.

For All Seasons hosted its first community Denim Day event at the Talbot County Court House in Easton, MD. Denim Day was created 20 years ago after a ruling by the Italian Supreme Court where a rape conviction was overturned because the justices felt that since the victim was wearing tight jeans she must have helped the person who raped her remove her jeans, thereby implying consent. The following day, the women in the Italian Parliament came to work wearing jeans in solidarity with the victim. Participants wore denim with a purpose on this day to show their support in ending sexual violence and to protest the misconceptions and victim-blaming around sexual violence.

Photo: Proclamations were read by Senator Addie Eckardt and Mayor Bob Willey for Sexual Assault Awareness Month. They are pictured with For All Seasons Rape Crisis Center and Hotline staff. Pictured back row L-R are Katharine Petzold, Alberto Ardaya, Melissa Cardoso, Royshonda Boulden, and Lauren Kirby. Pictured front row L-R are Dawn Wilson, Fabiola Marquez, Michely Valentin, Yeslee Olivo-Martinez, Senator Addie Eckardt, Beth Anne Langrell, Ivy Garcia, Stella Lee Coulbourne, and Mayor Bob Willey. (Photo courtesy of Amy Blades Steward)

Senator Addie Eckardt and Mayor Bob Willey presented proclamations and Don McPherson, former Philadelphia Eagles quarterback, activist and feminist spoke about the importance of ending sexual violence.  “Today we have the opportunity to start a conversation that is essential to the community.  Denim Day isn’t just about a day, it’s about bringing awareness to an issue and using that awareness to make the commitment to continue the conversation and to join For All Seasons and its partners in ending sexual violence.”  For All Seasons’ 2019 sexual assault campaign focuses on the message “#metoo. We believe you.” The campaign is targeted at helping both men and women talk about this issue and to not be afraid to tell their stories about sexual assault.

Participants enjoyed a special teal-colored ice for Sexual Assault Awareness Month provided by Rita’s Italian Ice & Frozen Custard in Easton as they from signed denim quilts to be given to victims of sexual assault.

For All Seasons serves Caroline, Dorchester, Kent, Queen Anne, and Talbot counties. For All Seasons Rape Crisis Center offers certified sexual assault victim advocates; counseling and support groups, free and confidential services in English and Spanish, support in the hospital, police department, and court, and referrals to social and legal services. For All Seasons English Hotline is 1-800-310-RAPE (7273) and Spanish Hotline is 410-829-6143.

Thomas’s Fine Jewelry in Cambridge is donating sterling silver Hope Hearts necklaces to be included in For All Seasons “Comfort Kits” for victims of rape, sexual assault, abuse, or a traumatic experience as part of the agency’s Sexual Assault Awareness Campaign in April. “Comfort Kits” enable For All Seasons Victim Advocates to bring comfort on every call to the hospital to support these survivors. Each “Comfort Kit” includes a nice travel bag, basic clothing, footwear, and undergarments, personal hygiene items, a journal, and other items to return dignity, provide comfort, and let them know someone cares.

Photo: L-R – Beth Anne Langrell, Executive Director of For All Seasons; Thomas and Amanda Robinson, owners of Thomas’s Fine Jewelry in Cambridge; Stella Lee Coulbourne, Director of Sexual Assault Programming of For All Seasons Rape Crisis Programs; and Ivy Garcia, Director of Victim Services of For All Seasons Rape Crisis Programs. 

Thomas’s Fine Jewelry is owned by brother and sister, Thomas and Amanda Robinson. The shop opened in 2016 and features custom-made and handcrafted jewelry with unique designs. Amanda helps design the jewelry that Thomas creates. The two relocated to Cambridge after spending summers in Dorchester County with their family.

Thomas comments about the project, “We are donating 25 necklaces to For All Seasons for the ‘Comfort Kits.’ We were excited that we could find a necklace like this with an uplifting message of hope on it.”

Amanda adds, “This is our first community project. It is something we can stand behind and support and we are thrilled to be involved.”

For All Seasons recently presented its 9^th Annual Heart & Music at the Oxford Community Center to large crowds for its Gala and all three show performances.  This year, Director Ed Langrell and Music Director Ellen Barry Grunden returned with “Songs from the Stage” from Broadway and Beyond with selections by Carole King, Sara Bareilles, and Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons, as well as special guests from Crashbox Theatre Troupe. Producers for the show were Beth Anne Langrell and Lisa Roth.

L-R: Delia Denny, Beth Anne Langrell, Executive Director of For All Seasons, and Diane Flagler, Heart & Music Committee Chair. Photo by Randy Bachand.

This year’s Heart & Music cast included Gail Aveson, Jane Copple, Matt Folker, Marcia Gilliam, Bill Gross, Malley Hester, Beth Anne Langrell, Ed Langrell, Lisa Roth, Zack Schlag, Heather Scott, Mike Sousa, Shelby Swann, Joe Tyler, Becca Van Aken, and Richard Vitanovec.  Crashbox Theatre Troupe members included Sarah Anthony, Sara Chapple, Logan Herron, Aiden Loeser, Sophie McGee, Jaylen Nixon, and Seth Wagner.

A special thank you to the Heart & Music Angels, Dock Street Foundation, Laurie and Michael Frame, Price Rentals and Events, and What’s Up Media.

Heart & Music benefits For All Seasons, the only non-profit Behavioral Health and Rape Crisis Center serving the five counties of Maryland’s Mid-Shore.  For All Seasons offers individual and group therapy, general, child and adolescent therapy, marriage and couples’ counseling, grief counseling, school-based mental health therapy, urgent care services, Rape Crisis Response, Rape Crisis Counseling and Support, 24-Hour English and Spanish Hotlines, and education and outreach programming. For further information about For All Seasons or make a donation, call 410-822-1018 or visit forallseasonsinc.org.

For All Seasons Behavioral Health and Rape Crisis Center presents the 9^th Annual Heart & Music on Thursday, March 7^th through Sunday, March 10^th at the Oxford Community Center.  This year, Director Ed Langrell and Music Director Ellen Barry Grunden return with “Songs from the Stage” from Broadway and Beyond with selections such as Carole King, Sara Bareilles, and Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons.

Join the cast for a great show filled with talent and entertainment at the Opening Night Gala on Thursday, March 7 at 6 p.m. with tickets starting at $150 that includes cocktails and dinner.  Weekend performances are Friday, March 8 and Saturday, March 9 at 8 p.m. and a Sunday matinee on March 10 at 2 p.m. with tickets starting at $25 for adults and $10 for students.

To reserve seats, call 443-258-2130 or visit www.heartmusic.eventbrite.com.

Heart & Music benefits For All Seasons, the only non-profit Behavioral Health and Rape Crisis Center serving the five counties of Maryland’s Mid-Shore.  To learn more about their services or make a donation, visit www.forallseasonsinc.org.

For All Seasons Behavioral Health and Rape Crisis Center presents the 9th Annual Heart & Music on Thursday, March 7th through Sunday, March 10th at the Oxford Community Center. This year, Director Ed Langrell and Music Director Ellen Barry Grunden return with “Songs from the Stage” from Broadway and Beyond with selections such as Carole King, Sara Bareilles, and Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons, as well as special guests from Crashbox Theatre Troupe. Producers for the show are Beth Anne Langrell and Lisa Roth.

“Heart & Music, our annual fundraiser, once again brings together a talented cast to entertain and educate the community about the important mental health and rape crisis services that For All Seasons provides. This year, in particular, we celebrate the growth of our agency and the increasing role it is taking in the communities across the Mid Shore,” states Beth Anne Langrell, Executive Director, For All Seasons.

This year’s Heart & Music cast includes Gail Aveson, Jane Copple, Matt Folker, Marcia Gilliam, Bill Gross, Malley Hester, Beth Anne Langrell, Ed Langrell, Lisa Roth, Zack Schlag, Heather Scott, Mike Sousa, Shelby Swann, Joe Tyler, Becca Van Aken, and Richard Vitanovec. Crashbox Theatre Troupe members include Sarah Anthony, Sara Chapple, Logan Herron, Aiden Loeser, Sophie McGee, Jaylen Nixon, and Seth Wagner.

Music will include songs from a number of favorite Broadway shows, including “Beautiful: The Carole King Musical,” “Dear Evan Hansen,” “Jersey Boys,” “Waitress,” “Next to Normal,” “Big Fish,” “Once on This Island,” “Man of No Importance,” “The Bridges of Madison County,” “tick, tick…Boom!” and “Taboo.”

Join the cast for a great show filled with talent and entertainment at the Opening Night Gala on Thursday, March 7 at 6 p.m. with tickets starting at $150 that includes cocktails and dinner. Weekend performances are Friday, March 8 and Saturday, March 9 at 8 p.m. and a Sunday matinee on March 10 at 2 p.m. with tickets starting at $25 for adults and $10 for students. Special thanks to sponsors Laurie and Michael Frame, Sally and Tim Kagan, Price Rentals and Events, and What’s Up? Media.

To reserve seats, call 443-258-2130 or visit www.heartmusic.eventbrite.com.

Heart & Music benefits For All Seasons, the only non-profit Behavioral Health and Rape Crisis Center serving the five counties of Maryland’s Mid-Shore. For All Seasons offers individual and group therapy, general, child and adolescent therapy, marriage and couples’ counseling, grief counseling, school-based mental health therapy, urgent care services, Rape Crisis Response, Rape Crisis Counseling and Support, 24-Hour English and Spanish Hotlines, and education and outreach programming. For further information about For All Seasons or make a donation, call 410-822-1018 or visit forallseasonsinc.org.

Matt Dorman, CEO of Credible and Beth Anne Langrell, Executive Director of For All Seasons.

During the past three years, For All Seasons has focused on implementing major technology upgrades federally mandated for all mental health agencies by January 1, 2019. The upgrades have included new computers for all staff members, a new server, a new phone system, cyber insurance and new firewall security for agency offices. These upgrades have positioned the agency to be ready to purchase Credible, an electronic health record system which will enable the agency to comply with the federal mandate requiring all mental health agencies to use fully certified electronic health records by January 1, 2019.

The agency was recently awarded a grant from CareFirst Foundation which will enable the purchase of Credible. This electronic health record system (EHR) will help For All Seasons ensure better care to patients by providing such things as accurate, up-to-date and complete information about patients at the point of care; enabling quick access to patient records for more coordinated and efficient care; securely sharing electronic information with patients and other clinicians; and helping providers more effectively diagnose patients, reduce medical errors and provide safer care. By adopting Credible as an EHR system, For All Seasons hopes to create a more efficient billing process overall, enabling the agency to save money and at the same time, serve more people.

According to Beth Anne Langrell, Executive Director of For All Seasons, “This rounds out a five-year technology upgrade plan and we are grateful to the CareFirst Foundation who are helping us implement this transition.”

For All Seasons offers individual and group therapy, general, child and adolescent therapy, marriage and couples’ counseling, grief counseling, school-based mental health therapy, urgent care services, Rape Crisis Response, Rape Crisis Counseling and Support, 24-Hour English and Spanish Hotlines, and education and outreach programming. For further information about For All Seasons, call 410-822-1018 or visit forallseasonsinc.org.

Don McPherson

Don McPherson, former Philadelphia Eagles quarterback, activist and feminist, spoke at For All Seasons’ recent Donor Reception on the topic, “You Throw Like a Girl: A Conversation to End Sexual Violence.” His presentation focused on men and women having a conversation nurturing positive language and a healthy understanding of masculinity. For All Seasons will continue working with Don McPherson to create a community-based program to address men’s violence again women. McPherson will be engaging men to address the culture of unhealthy masculinity at the core of all forms of men’s violence against women. He will work with For All Seasons’ trauma-certified staff to create healthy relationship groups to support victims of crime, while deconstructing rape culture to enable points of engagement with men and women across the Mid Shore.

For All Seasons offers individual and group therapy, general, child and adolescent therapy, marriage and couples’ counseling, grief counseling, school-based mental health therapy, urgent care services, Rape Crisis Response, Rape Crisis Counseling and Support, 24-Hour English and Spanish Hotlines, and education and outreach programming. For further information about For All Seasons, call 410-822-1018 or visit forallseasonsinc.org.

On Thursday, November 15 at 6:30 p.m., For All Seasons will offer a conversation to end sexual violence with speaker Don McPherson, former Philadelphia Eagles quarterback, activist and feminist. McPherson’s topic, “You Throw Like a Girl: A Conversation to End Sexual Violence,” will discuss one of the issues of our time – men’s violence against women.

For more than 34 years, McPherson has used the power and appeal of sports to address complex social justice issues. He has created innovative programs, supported community service providers and has provided educational seminars and lectures throughout North America.

He comments, “Women have always been in this conversation about sexual violence. Now it’s time to bring the conversation together with men and women. This discussion is directed primarily at men and focuses on language such as ‘you throw like a girl’ that sets a standard on the narrow expectations of masculinity while simultaneously establishing an understanding that girls and women are ‘less than” men.’”

He adds, “The ‘Me Too’ movement provides an opportunity for men to not just stand in solidarity with women but make real change in the root causes of sexual violence.  My presentation focuses on nurturing positive language and a healthy understanding of masculinity.”

According to Beth Anne Langrell, Executive Director of For All Season, people are just trying to figure out where we go from here and what we do now that this issue is front and center in the media. She states, “Not talking about it is not an option. We need to have conversations that are pro-social and protect our families and individuals. We have to find age appropriate ways to have the conversation and by having Don here, we can start that conversation in our community.”

As an athlete, McPherson was a unanimous All-America quarterback at Syracuse University and is a veteran of the NFL and Canadian Football League. Since 1984 McPherson has delivered school and community-based programs addressing issues such as drunk driving, alcohol and substance abuse, bullying, youth leadership and mentoring.  Upon retiring from pro football in 1994, he joined Northeastern University’s Center for the Study of Sport in Society, as National Director of Athletes in Service to America.  In 1995, McPherson turned his focus to the issue of “men’s violence against women,” as director of Sport in Society’s Mentors in Violence Prevention Program and emerged as a national leader and advocate for the prevention of sexual and domestic violence.  He has conducted workshops and lectures for more than 300 college campuses, community organizations and national sports and violence prevention organizations.  His programs and lectures have reached more than one million people.

McPherson has received several honors in recognition of his service, including the Frederick Douglas Men of Strength Award, given by Men Can Stop Rape; Champions for Change, presented by Lifetime Television; The Creative Vision for Women’s Justice, presented by the Pace University Women’s Justice Center; and a Leadership Award from the National Center for Victims of Crime.  He has served as a board member, consultant and advisor for several national organizations including the Ms Foundation for Women and the National Football Foundation and the US National Committee for UN Women.  McPherson recently joined the Advisory Board of the Center for the Study of Men and Masculinities at Stony Brook University.

The For All Seasons event, to be held in the Gold Room at the Tidewater Inn at 101 E. Dover Street, is free and open to the public. To reserve your seat, visit donmcpherson.eventbrite.com or call 443-258-2130.

Throughout the year, For All Seasons brings awareness to the community about such issues as suicide, sexual assault, trauma, and mental health needs.For All Seasons provides Trauma Certified Individual, Family, and Group Therapy; Child, Adolescent, and Adult Psychiatry; and Crisis and Advocacy Services for Child, Adolescent, and Adult Victims of Sexual Assault, Rape and Trauma. For a same-day crisis appointment, call 410-822-1018.

Follow For All Seasons on Facebook to find out how to get involved. For further information, call Monika Mraz at 410-822-1018, email mmraz@forallseasonsinc.org or visit forallseasonsinc.org.