Since it first opened in 2021, the First Step Behavioral Health Urgent Care Center has welcomed thousands of Calhoun County residents who were seeking assistance.

What kind of assistance they would need had to be determined once they arrived. In the years since the doors opened, we at Summit Pointe have been able to study our processes and make adjustments.

In this episode, First Step Supervisor Morgan Clauss talks about how getting more information when meeting new customers speeds up access to the assistance customers seek. She also shares what to expect when you visit.

Episode Resources
First Step/Summit Pointe

Summit Pointe Podcast 61 is a Livemic Communications production.

Summit Pointe, the Behavioral Health Authority in Calhoun County, Michigan, is pioneering Community Mental Health Services by developing innovative ideas and community partnerships that lead to high-quality care and a healthy community.

Summit Pointe is governed by a volunteer Board of Directors who oversee the execution of our mission to provide "the hightest quality behavioral health services to help individuals maximize their potential."

In this episode, Kathy-Sue Vette, who has served on our Board of Directors since 2015, talks about what inspires her to do so. Her Board role has most recently included being the chair.

Thank you for your leadership, Kathy-Sue!

Episode Resources
Summit Pointe Board

Summit Pointe Podcast 60 is a Livemic Communications production.

Summit Pointe, the Behavioral Health Authority in Calhoun County, Michigan, is pioneering Community Mental Health Services by developing innovative ideas and community partnerships that lead to high-quality care and a healthy community.

African Americans and other minorities are underserved when it comes to mental health services and resources. That's why the "Flip the Script" campaign is working to target those groups - and anyone who might be held back from breaking through the barriers of improved mental health.

In this episode, Regina, Community Engagement, discusses the goals of "Flip the Script" and how it and Summit Pointe can help.

Episode Resources
First Step Psychiatric Urgent Care

Summit Pointe Podcast 59 is a Livemic Communications production.

Summit Pointe, the Behavioral Health Authority in Calhoun County, Michigan, is pioneering Community Mental Health Services by developing innovative ideas and community partnerships that lead to high-quality care and a healthy community.

Part of our support for youth and families at Summit Pointe means removing barriers. Doing so may simply mean we need to go to a family at their home rather than have them come to us.

In this episode, we set out to understand better what situations might call for home-based services - and how they help.

Episode Resources
Home-Based Services for Youth and Families
First Step Psychiatric Urgent Care

Summit Pointe Podcast 58 is a Livemic Communications production.

Summit Pointe, the Behavioral Health Authority in Calhoun County, Michigan, is pioneering Community Mental Health Services by developing innovative ideas and community partnerships that lead to high-quality care and a healthy community.

An approach to opioid use disorder might, for some, seem a bit ponderous: Using medications as treatment for addiction to another medication.

But, as we learn in this episode, Medications for Opioid Use Disorder - sometimes called MOUD - can be very successful and perhaps life-saving.

Bronson's Dr. Maureen Ford and Paul Bodenberg talk about what MOUD actually means, does, and helps.

Episode Resources
Summit Pointe-First Step
Naloxone (NARCAN) Locations Map

Summit Pointe Podcast is a Livemic Communications production.

Summit Pointe, the Behavioral Health Authority in Calhoun County, Michigan, is pioneering Community Mental Health Services by developing innovative ideas and community partnerships that lead to high-quality care and a healthy community.

Intensive Crisis Stabilization - ICS for short - is a Summit Pointe program meant to help young people and their families who are experiencing a crisis.

That typically means our Summit Pointe experts have to respond quickly and immediately for an on-site intervention.

Angela and Harry talk with us in this episode about the goals and impact of this program.

Episode Resources
First Step Psychiatric Urgent Care


Summit Pointe Podcast 56 is a Livemic Communications production.

Summit Pointe, the Behavioral Health Authority in Calhoun County, Michigan, is pioneering Community Mental Health Services by developing innovative ideas and community partnerships that lead to high-quality care and a healthy community.

In episode 5 of the Summit Pointe Podcast, we caught up with Scott Teichmer who runs the Suicide Prevention Coalition of Calhoun County, a Summit Pointe partner. Scott told us about the zero-deaths-by-suicide concept and how folks like you can help.

Three years later, we get an update from Scott on how the protocol is expanding - and an understanding of how it all began.

Episode Resources
Summit Pointe Crisis Line: 800.632.5449
Nationwide Suicide and Crisis Lifeline: Call or Text 9-8-8
Summit Pointe-First Step


Summit Pointe Podcast is a Livemic Communications production.

Summit Pointe, the Behavioral Health Authority in Calhoun County, Michigan, is pioneering Community Mental Health Services by developing innovative ideas and community partnerships that lead to high-quality care and a healthy community.

Summit Pointe provides a broad scope of quality services for youth and families. But before we can determine which services are best for a youth, we must first understand their needs.

In this episode of the Summit Pointe Podcast, Youth Care Manager Devan talks about the initial process in welcoming young customers and their families and guiding them to high-quality care.

Episode Resources
First Step Psychiatric Urgent Care
Youth and Family Services

Summit Pointe Podcast is a Livemic Communications production.

Summit Pointe, the Behavioral Health Authority in Calhoun County, Michigan, is pioneering Community Mental Health Services by developing innovative ideas and community partnerships that lead to high-quality care and a healthy community.