CHARG Resource Center

	What's New	Capitol Hill, Denver Colorado
CHARG Resource Center "Partners for Change" "The mission of CHARG Resource Center is to advance a model of genuine partnership among individuals who live with mental illness, mental health professionals, and the larger community through respectful comprehensive services."

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CHARG Resource Center Celebrates the Renovation and Naming of the "David Quarton Drop In Center @ CHARG"
November 3, 2011 - The complete remodeling and renovation of our Drop In Center has been in the works and a work in progress for over a year. But November 3, 2011 we celebrated the completion of our renovations and the renaming of the Drop In Center: "David Quarton Drop In Center @ CHARG ", in honor of one our of principal Mental Health consumer founders, who was CHARG Board of Directors president when the Drop In Center started and opened its doors in 1989. David (1935-2011), was respected and loved by all those at CHARG Resource Center. The celebration/open house on November 3, 2011 was well attended. The center was "packed", Barbara Quarton, David Quarton's surviving wife said. The renovations were largely funded by a grant, our Executive Director David Burgess submitted and obtained. And by countless hours of volunteer and staff labor. Painting, scrubbing, scrounging, tiling, carpentry, electrical, decorating, buffing, moving, fixing, planning, and probably much more. A "steering committee" met monthly and sometimes weekly to coordinate and plan all this. The committee consisted of M.H. consumers, staff, CHARG & HEART board members, and numerous other community volunteers. Below are photos of the renovated Drop in Center with descriptions and brief stories behind them.

This was the finishing touch. Just before our celebration. The sign for the "David Quarton Drop In Center @ CHARG "	Our drab entrance was also artistically sparked up. In the basement of "Our Savior's Lutheran" church.	The celebration decorations for the renovation completion and renaming, honoring our deceased founder, David Quarton	Jennifer Miller, Drop In Coordinator in her totally new office. AND she is all smiles.

A view of entrance into the community area.	The CHARG Board of Directors table with the phone that is available to consumers, in the corner.	Another view from the CHARG Board of Director's table. The computer area, and TV and Music area, in the background	A view of the Drop In Center as you enter the community area from outside.

The entrance to the community area and the Receptionist desk.	The Food Bank shelf and Coffee maker. Popular items for CHARG members.	A closer look at the 3 computers available to CHARG members	Portraits of the current CHARG Board of Directors and Founder David Quarton. In front of a piano, donated by the Jane Grogan estate.

Another view of the Drop In Center.	A view of the storage shelves, food bank shelf, Coffee maker and receptionist desk where members enter.	The Television and Music area.	An outstanding job was done on our kitchen! We should probably show a before photo as well.

Another view of our kitchen and the busy snack table.	A view of our new stove and range and food storage area.	An exercise tread mill at the Drop In Center. A popular item for some members. Particularly in cold weather.	Thanks to Leonard, our Air Hockey game is in working order again. He rebuilt the game to handle vigorous use.

Some how, we all think we are lucky at CHARG. I don't think this is a mere coincidence.

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Annual Joint Boards Meeting at Newly Remodeled and Named
"David Quarton Drop in Center @ CHARG "
(Click Photo for Larger Image)

September 29, 2011 - The Annual 2011 Joint Boards Meeting at the newly named and remodeled CHARG Drop in Center. The Drop in Center was renamed in honor of one of it's principal founding members David Quarton (1935-2011). At the Joint Boards meeting we discussed our annual financial audit. The Heart Board discussed it's efforts to get new members. And afterwards we enjoyed an awesomely home cooked meal by Vincent Reed (on very front at right) at the Drop in Center. Stay tuned for photos of the newly remodeled and decorated Drop in Center, including the kitchen. The remodeling has also involved the implementation of a Video Webinar capability. CHARG members recently had a Video Webinar with the 2Succeed "Advisory Council" of the Mental Health Center of Denver (MHCD). Those involved have remarked at how an effective form of communication this is.

This remodeling has been more than a year in active progress. We at CHARG are very pleased with all this!

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"Crazy Diamond USA" presents Crazy Diamond International &
Robert Whitaker at CHARG Drop In Center

January 24, 2011

The delicate topic of the imperfection of psychotropic medications was discussed at this meeting. Many of these issues that are very familiar to the Mental Health consumer are rarely brought up in the forum of a Mental Health Center. Alternatives to automatic medication for patients experiencing behavioral difficulties were discussed. Such as inpatient or outpatient treatment for a length of time without the psychotropic medications. So as not to condemn a patient to life on imperfect medication without attempting alternative treatments. So we can see what potential may lay under mask of heavy or sedative medications.

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David Burgess LCSW, Executive Director Receives Prestigious Non-Profit Award (03-12-2010)
David Burgess was selected for an important award in the Non Profit sector in Colorado. Over 800 people, legislatures, etc witnessed the elaborate ceremony. David gave a memorable overview of CHARG to the entire banquet hall. (Stay tuned for more details on this event)

David Burgess LCSW; Executive Director. At prestigious Non - Profit Award Ceremony	CHARG Table at ceremony helping celebrate Non-Profit Award given to David Burgess.	CHARG group posing at Award Ceremony.	David Burgess and some of his family, as well as CHARG staff and members, also helping to celebrate the occasion.

David Burgess and his wife Christine at the Banquet Ceremony.	David telling his and CHARG's story at the Award Ceremony	Group photo of CHARG members and David's family after the Award Ceremony	David Burgess and his family members after the spectacular Award ceremony and banquet.

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CHARG Resource Center's Remodeling Project - In Completion (10-20-2009)
Anyone who was unable to join us for our Open House celebration on November 19 is cordially invited to come visit our newly-renovated facility at 709 East 12th Avenue in Denver. Thanks to the City and County of Denver, we were fortunate to received Community Development Block Grant funds to support this ambitious project, which enabled us to completely replace our antiquated plumbing system as well as to install new kitchens and bathrooms in the two apartments we maintain for mental health consumers, a new kitchen in our downstairs program space, new lighting throughout the building, a new roof, repainting inside and out, carpeting, flooring, landscaping, and a new heating and air conditioning system. We feel blessed to have this incredible facility and look forward to another twenty years of empowering services for people who live with major mental illnesses. Also central to this effort were the Helen K. and Arthur E. Johnson Foundation, the Boettcher Foundation, the Mile High Community Loan Fund, and a number of individual contributors, who together helped us to put in place the major part of the local match required by the city. In planning and completing the work, we were extremely fortunate to have the assistance of housing specialist Cherie Kirschbaum, project manager Michael Jenson, grant expert Jennie Rodgers, and all the terrific people at CFC Construction. We would like to invite you to be a partner with us in this successful project. Our capital grant from the Boettcher Foundation was designed as a challenge grant, which means that we will receive their funds as soon as we have raised all of the remaining matching funds. As of this writing, we are close to our goal, but still have about $15,000 to raise. If you are able to contribute to this campaign, you will be helping us to receive this final grant; and if your contribution is received before January 1, 2010, your name will be included in a plaque to be hung in our main meeting room. Please join us in completing this exciting project! You can mail a check to us at CHARG Resource Center, 709 E. 12th Avenue, Denver CO 80203, send us Visa or Mastercard information, or click on the donation link on our home page. In any case, be sure to specify that your contribution is earmarked for the capital campaign. Here at CHARG, we feel very strongly that people in our community who live with severe and persistent mental illnesses need no longer be treated as second-class citizens. We are very proud to have a first-class facility, which symbolizes the amazing contributions that people with mental illness have made to our community and demonstrates how much we value them and their contributions!

The CHARG Resource Center Clinic and Administration Building completed extensive renovations 10-20-2009.	Among many other things the CHARG exterior was landscaped.	Victor Smith models the beautiful community and waiting room at the CHARG building.	We are all pleased with the completely redone kitchen

CHARG consumers showing off the new waiting area in the CHARG clinic with all the new furniture.	Paula Kuchta - Receptionist and her Service dog Gibson	.

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CHARG Resource Center's 20th Anniversary Gala

David Burgess LCSW; Executive Director. Took on an 'absurd' mission of implementing a Mental Health Center with legal 50 percent governance by a Mentally Ill population. He took on the job with gusto, skill and passion. A lesser man would have lost it or lost interest long ago.	Denver Mayor Hickenlooper eloquently outlined Mental Health priorities and objectives and CHARG's role in this	Jeannie Ritter gave CHARG her much appreciated attention, time and respect. Thank You from all of us.	CHARG Psychiatrist Dr. Alan Fine and his wife. Dr. Fine's wit and skill is making a difference at CHARG

Lynn Jones and Sister Maureen Kottenstette were key inspiration to the start of CHARG Resource Center 20 years ago.	Sister Maureen and Beverly Johnson (wife of deceased Pastor Luther Johnson of Our Savior's Lutheran Church) Made initial contacts to start CHARG at it's home 20 years ago.	Attorney James Dean a friend of the Mentally Ill and CHARG has worked faithfully behind the scenes for years. Laurie Kaczanowska, former HEART Board member and long-time supporter, and Jennifer Parrett pose with James Dean .	Rick and Esso Leete long time supporters of CHARG

Paula Kuchta and Dr. Carl Clark of MHCD. It is always good to see Dr. Clark at CHARG functions.	Steve Huff - Heart Board President as enthusiastic as ever starts off part of the Gala.	Consumer Diana Seals very glad to see Lynn Jones after years of absence.	Buck Edwinson and his wife Hilde Noe, a long time friend of CHARG

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What's New
Denver’s 150; Denver is 150!
I was recently quite honored to be presented with an award as one of “Denver’s 150.” This award was given by Denver Mayor John Hickenlooper to 150 unsung heroes in the Denver community at a ceremony on Saturday, November 22, on the occasion of Denver’s 150th anniversary as a city. Honorees included several of us who have been working in mental health and related fields, including Carl Clark from the Mental Health Center of Denver, Lacey Berumen from NAMI Colorado, John Parvensky from the Colorado Coalition for the Homeless, Leslie Foster from the Gathering Place, and Carol Lease from the Empowerment Program. I was especially pleased to see Randle Loeb, a tireless advocate for homeless people and a mental health consumer, included in the group. The ceremony was held at the Colorado History Museum, and it included a lovely rendition of America the Beautiful by fellow honoree Hazel Miller. My grandson Deven came with me to the ceremony, and together we took advantage of a photo opportunity with Mayor Hickenlooper. We also checked out the interesting exhibits at the museum following the ceremony, including a new one celebrating Denver’s 150th birthday. It is quite clear to me that I received this award because of the innovative record of CHARG Resource Center as a partnership of mental health consumers and professionals. I really accepted the award on behalf of everyone who has worked so hard to make CHARG a success. So congratulations to all of us for this recognition! David D. Burgess, LCSW Executive Director, CHARG Resource Center Top of Page
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		March 19, 2008 - Dr. Alan Fine talks 1 and a half hours on Nutrition at CHARG Resource Center Clinic. Dr. Fine has given talks in the past and they are always well received by Consumers and Staff alike. The room was full each time.
Top of page Top of page		CHARG & Crisis Intervention Team Training Over the past two years, CHARG Resource Center has participated in seven Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) trainings, with several more scheduled in the upcoming months. The purpose of CIT, as reported on the Colorado Division of Criminal Justice website (http://dcj.state.co.us/crcpi/CIT.html), gives police officers new strategies and tools for identifying, preventing, and de-escalating mental health crisis calls. CIT decreases arrest and injury rates for people with mental illness, increases officer and citizen safety, and enhances public involvement in law enforcement efforts. Police officers from many Front Range sheriffs departments as well as the Denver Police Department have visited with consumers and staff at the CHARG Drop in Center as part of their crisis intervention training. Everyone is invited to share their own experiences with regards to law enforcement and mental illness, and to discuss ways in which we can all make future encounters better for the parties involved. CHARG is very proud to be involved in the program and helping facilitate successful interactions between the mentally ill and law enforcement in our community.
Two New Easy Ways to Support CHARG Resource Center #1) GoodSearch.com – use it as your search engine and each time you search, GoodSearch makes a donation to CHARG! The money comes from the GoodSearch advertisers; an easy and free way to support CHARG Resource Center. It’s powered by Yahoo!, so you get great search results. How it works: - Go to www.goodsearch.com - Enter CHARG Resource Center as the charity you are goodsearching for and click on the “verify” button. - Start your search! (All of your searches will count toward donations except for the following: 1) image searches; 2) video searches; 3) “search this site” searches; 4) searches for URL’s (i.e., search terms ending in .com, .org, .net, .edu); 5) searches to sites for which the URL is well known such as HotMail, ESPN, MySpace, Facebook, GMail, AOL, etc.; 6) searches for stock quotes; 7) searches for word definitions *You can download the GoodSearch toolbar for easier future internet searches. #2 GoodShop.com - The new online marketplace that will donate a percentage of your purchase to CHARG. You can choose from hundreds of popular merchants and the experience of shopping through GoodShop is exactly the same as going to the retailer’s websites directly. Some of the retailers you will find at GoodShop.com are Amazon, Barnes & Noble, eBay, 1-800-Flowers, and Expedia. How it works: - Go to www.goodshop.com - Enter CHARG Resource Center as the charity you are shopping for and click on the “verify” button. - Start shopping!
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