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Early
Assessment and Support
Alliance
EASA
Partnering for Success in School and Life
Serving ages 12-30 in Union County Oregon
So What
is EASA?
The purpose is to identify youth with
symptoms of psychosis as early as possible, and to
provide the most effective support and treatment so they
can be successful.
…And What is Psychosis?
Psychosis is a common brain condition
which, if untreated, prevents the person from being able
to know what is real and what is not real.
3 in 100 individuals develop
psychosis, usually between ages 12 and 25.
The early symptoms of psychosis are often
subtle, but can be the most disabling. They affect
young people’s ability to complete schoolwork, interact
socially, or accomplish daily tasks. Common early
symptoms include:
Ø
Changes to the brain’s working memory and
organizational ability
Ø
Reduced ability to filter out information
Ø
Sensory sensitivity
Later symptoms of psychosis include:
Ø
Hallucinations (seeing and hearing things
others do not)
Ø
Delusions (bizarre, out-of-character,
fixed beliefs)
Ø
Disturbances to speech, emotional
expression, and movement
Hey! But don’t fret… with early,
effective treatment and support, most young people will
succeed in school, work, and life! So DON’T WAIT!
Ok- So
Who Should I Refer?
If a person is having, new,
significant, and worsening difficulties in several of
the following areas, call for a consultation:
-
Reduced Performance
Ø
Trouble reading or understanding complex
sentences
Ø
Trouble speaking or understanding what
others are saying
Ø
Becoming easily confused or lost
Ø
Trouble in sports or other activities
that used to be easy (Example: can’t dribble basketball
or pass to team members)
Ø
Attendance problems related to sleep or
fearfulness
-
Behavior Changes
Ø
Extreme fear for no apparent reason
Ø
Uncharacteristic and bizarre actions or
statements
Ø
Impulsive and reckless behavior (giving
away all belongings, etc.)
Ø
New, bizarre beliefs
Ø
Incoherent or bizarre writing
Ø
Extreme social withdrawal
Ø
Decline in appearance and hygiene
Ø
Dramatic changes in sleep (sleeping
almost not at all or all the time)
Ø
Dramatic changes in eating behavior
-
Perceptual Changes
Ø
Fear that others are trying to hurt them
Ø
Heightened sensitivity to sights, sounds,
smells, or touch
Ø
Making statements like “my brain is
playing tricks on me”
Ø
Hearing voices or other sounds that
others don’t
Ø
Reporting visual changes (colors more
intense, faces distorted, lines turned wavy)
Ø
Feeling like someone else is putting
thoughts into their brain or that others are reading
their thoughts
Other
Important Referral Guidelines You Should Know:
Ø
Age 12-30
Ø
Lives in Union County Oregon
Ø
IQ over 70
Ø
Not already receiving treatment for
psychosis
Ø
Symptoms are not clearly resulting from
drug use or a known medical condition
Ok- Now
What Should I Do if Someone is Experiencing These
Changes?
Talk to the parents
or other family members about what you observe. Call
EASA for a consultation. Anyone can refer to
EASA, or can call for an anonymous consultation. EASA
can come meet with the family at school, home, or any
other location!
Just
DON’T WAIT!
What
Does EASA Offer Anyway?
EASA services are based on the most
current research. They are available without
regard to or ability to pay. Services include:
Ø
Educational seminars, written materials,
consultation and problem solving for schools, community
members, and families
Ø
Outreach and specialized assessment
Ø
Coaching to understand changes and help
the young person succeed in school and elsewhere
Ø
Treatment and support form a team
including a doctor, nurse, mental health professionals,
occupational therapist, vocational specialist, and
mentors who have succeeded in similar situations
Ø
Family groups where families learn
together how to understand the illness and how to
provide the best support to the family member
(Multi-Family Groups)
Some
People Say…
“This program provided us with hope, knowledge about the
illness, support and expert treatment.”
~Parent
of an EASA graduate
“They helped me realize that I am not alone, and make
positive and lasting changes in my life. The program
has given me the tools to help me though the times that
are the toughest.”
~EASA
graduate
But
I’ve Got MORE Questions! Who Should I Call???
Start by calling Mary Beth Anderson at
the Center for Human Development, Inc. She provides
consultations, screenings, and much more! If an
individual is right for the program, Mary Beth can get
them going and if they aren’t the right fit for the EASA
program, she can point the individual in the right
direction. Give her a call today!
Mary
Beth Anderson
541-962-8855
And
Please, Whatever You Do…
DON’T WAIT!
The
Center for Human Development, Inc (CHD) is a nonprofit
organization providing a comprehensive array of services
in Northeast Oregon, including mental health, substance
abuse, prevention, public health, environmental health,
developmental disabilities case management, and
veterans’ services.
In
order to receive government funding, CHD is required by
state and county policies to charge for services it
provided to the public. However, no one will be denied
clinical services because of an inability to pay. CHD
does not discriminate on the basis of race, sex,
religion, national origin, family status, age or
disability. For further information about this policy,
contact Human Resources, 541-962-8811, or TTY
1-800-735-2900 or dial 771.
Center for Human Development, Inc
1100 K Avenue
La Grande, OR 97850
541-962-8800 Main Office
TTY: 771 Oregon Telephone Relay Svc.
541-963-5272 Fax
www.chdinc.org
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