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The History of Segue, Inc.
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In February of 1984 Judith A. Zarend, CEO, began her career in mental health when she was hired by Project Transition at Ypsilanti State Hospital (YRPH) via a contract with Jackson-Hillsdale Community Mental Health Board (now renamed LifeWays). She began establishing social recreational groups for mentally ill individuals who were being released back into the community from YRPH. After a year of successful groups, the Director of JHCMHB, James O’Brian, suggested Judi start her own business and contract directly with his board. Judi first established a Doing Business As (DBA) advisory board, and they assisted her with her journey into the corporate world. Segue was established as a 501(c)3 on November 15, 1985 and the voyage into the mental health community began.
In September of 1985, while still a DBA, Segue, Inc. established the Fairweather Lodge in Jackson with the assistance of YRPH and JHCMHB. This project consisted of transitioning eight long-term hospital patients back into the community, and training them to live and work together in a residential neighborhood. These individuals resided in their own home without 24-hour supervision or staffing. Staff came in at various times during the day to assist them with problem solving and training for career opportunities. In 1986, the consumers formed their own successful company, Omni Janitorial.
Assertive Community Treatment
In September of 1986, Segue brought the Assertive Community Treatment (ACT) Program to Jackson County. During this time there were no programs designed to effectively treat severely mentally ill adults, and hospitalizations were frequent. With the determination and perseverance of Dr. Alex Lebedovych, Segue became the proud parent of IMPACT (Individualized Member Participation in Assertive Community Treatment) in Jackson County.
The success of the program became apparent when consumers began experiencing a reduction in crises and hospitalizations. With the assistance of Don Fiero, Director of ACT, the program grew to include three additional ACT teams, one of which is located in Hillsdale County and another devoted to criminal justice.
What started out as a 2-person office, with Larry Taylor as our very first employee, now employs over 50 employees. Mary Welcher, Director of Health Services, joined Segue in 1995, and through her devotion to the consumers, has greatly enhanced the ACT services by developing and providing quality nursing caring.
Segue, Inc. Continues to Grow
In 1988, EARS was established as a crisis telephone line. This would later become known as Behavioral Health Connections. In 1990, Segue established the Drop-In Center in Jackson as a comfortable social-recreational center for consumers to enjoy. The consumers enjoyed having activities and a place to go that fostered peer interaction, friendships, support and independence. The success of this program prompted the development of a sister Drop-In Center in Hillsdale County. With great pride, Segue turned over the program to the consumers on October 1, 2001. The Drop-In Centers are now consumer owned and operated with their own Board of Directors.
Behavioral Health Connections
In 1995, Behavioral Health Connections (BHC) was established as an Access and Referral Center for persons seeking mental health treatment. BHC added crisis intervention and crisis stabilization services and served the residents of Jackson and Hillsdale Counties, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Segue ended this contract with LifeWays in December of 2005.
Quality Improvement
Diane Reynolds, COO joined the Segue team in 1997 and has greatly improved our services. Diane added Quality Management, Human Resource Development, Safety and Information Systems Departments. Her contributions have resulted in a remarkable change and growth for the company.
Marketing & Development
In January 2005, Mike Thompson, Director of Marketing & Development joined the Segue family. He brought with him many years of experience in community mental health and the desire and ambition to further develop, not only the fidelity of Segue’s existing programs, but also to build and expand the company into other areas to better serve our communities.
Dreams
In January 2006, Segue started providing case management services (CSM). The Dreams program provides comprehensive individualized treatment for adult persons with a severe mental illness or developmental disability. The Dreams CSM program provides community coordination to assist consumers with housing, basic needs, entitlements, transportation, and employment through comprehensive assessments and service planning.
Family Psycho-Education
In February 2007 Segue started the Family Psycho-Education (FPE) program which allows family and/or friends to become a partner in the treatment and recovery of clients with a mental illness. FPE is offered to individuals in the family or others in the client’s support network. Mental illness education, support, and coping skills are taught by counselors to members of the client’s support network with the aim of supporting the client and family in the recovery process.
Integrated Dual Disorder Treatment (IDDT)
In 2008, Segue is embarking on a new treatment modality for people who have a dual diagnosis of major mental illness and substance abuse. Segue was awarded the IDDT contract by LifeWays in June 2008. Segue’s plan is to convert one Jackson team as well as the Hillsdale team into and IDDT-ACT teams. IDDT is a SAMHSA evidence-based practice, with great benefits for consumers dealing with both mental illnesses and substance abuse problems. IDDT is a treatment where a clinician or treatment team not only focuses on treating mental illness, but substance abuse as well.
Many people with mental illnesses are prone to abuse drugs and/or alcohol and the negative side-effects of these choices are greater with a person with mental illnesses. The goal of IDDT is to assist consumers with recovery and reduce the risk of increased symptoms of mental illnesses, incarceration, financial problems, and serious medical illnesses such as HIV, Hepatitis B & C, homelessness, suicide, sexual and physical victimization and many more problems.
Seuge, Inc.
Celebrating 20+ Years of Making the Difference
1984—2008
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