Chris Ramseur

Ketamine-assisted psychotherapy (KAP) is a mental health treatment method that involves using ketamine’s trance-inducing and pain-relieving properties to help individuals work through various mental and emotional challenges. Working with Veterans in Ketamine Assisted Psychotherapy and Outpatient Psychotherapy utilizing multiple modalities: Harm Reduction, MI, CBT, Trauma Focused, and more.

Mission Hospital Emergency Department Behavioral Health Intake and Assessment.

Department of Social Work Adjunct Professor Course: Addictions & Human Behavior in the Social Environment.

Our mission is to empower individuals and the community to manage and overcome substance use and mental health challenges. We are a local hub of service to vulnerable and marginalized individuals, many of whom struggle with significant mental health and/or substance use challenges. We offer a continuum of resources for individuals, their families & loved ones. Sunrise Community for Recovery and Wellness became a formal nonprofit in 2015, following several years of recovery advocacy and organizing work done by the organization’s founding members who recognized the value of peer support specialists in supporting individuals navigating their personal recoveries. Sunrise Community for Recovery and Wellness was established to provide additional community-embedded access to peer support for those in recovery and seeking recovery. Sunrise provides advocacy for recovery, education to community partners on the value of peer support and continuing education and training for those working as Certified Peer Support Specialists within our system of care. Founding members of the organization include peer support specialists, individuals in recovery and recovery allies working within our communities and behavioral health systems to create a recovery oriented system of care. Sunrise has provided over 20,000 episodes of peer support, training and recovery advocacy within our programs since 2015. Today, Sunrise operates 11 different programs, employs 23 Certified Peer Support Specialists and creates opportunities for numerous volunteers and interns. Sunrise is recognized by SAMHSA & NC Department of Health and Human Services as a regional Recovery Community Organization (RCO.)

The Asheville-Buncombe Continuum of Care (CoC) is the collaborative planning body responsible for developing and overseeing a comprehensive and well-coordinated system of effective services designed to prevent and quickly resolve occurrences of homelessness in Asheville and Buncombe County.

VRQ is the nation’s 5th largest Veteran’s Transitional Housing Program providing 160 beds of transitional housing and 40 beds for emergency shelter* and 50 units of permanent supportive housing for a total of 250 beds. Duties Include: Program Development and Efficacy, Structuring/Planning Therapeutic Activities, Clinical Supervision/Case Staffing, Community Partnership Development, Staff Training/Development, Assessment, Crisis Planning, Daily Operations Support.

Serving individuals with serious mental illness (SMI) who are being released from a DAC (NC Department of Adult Corrections) Facility and will be prioritized for re-entry coordination by both DAC and the applicable LME/MCO. Ensuring communication between all parties, including DAC and related divisions (health services, re-entry, community supervision) and community behavioral and physical health providers. The DAC Re-entry Coordinator ensures referrals are made to all necessary services including medication management, housing support, other social determinants of health needs, behavioral and physical healthcare, and benefits coordination. Referrals will be made by DAC directly to the DAC Re-entry Coordinator approximately 90 days prior to release from incarceration. This position will allow Local Management Entities/Managed Care Organizations (LME/MCOs) to interact with individuals with severe mental illness (SMI) who are within 90-days of releasing from a DAC (Division of Adult Corrections) Facility earlier on in the discharge planning process in an effort to better support positive outcomes upon their release from prison. This position will be responsible for providing case management to individuals referred in the process. The DAC re-entry coordinator will follow an individual indefinitely or until they qualify for tailored care management or other service providing a TCM equivalent, such as Assertive Community Treatment. The initial time period for this service will be ninety (90) days with the option to continue until needs are met as noted above.

Clinical Assessment and Treatment. Provides and/or coordinates therapeutic/clinical activities to include screening, clinical assessment, individual, group, collateral family counseling/therapy, and psychoeducational sessions in the Substance Use Disorders Outpatient Program. Meet with individual Veteran and their families in counseling, as appropriate. Makes provision for referral services to other agency or organizations, community resources (i.e., halfway house, shelter) or other governmental resources to resolve problems, as appropriate, refers Veterans with more serious problems to appropriate treatment resources within and outside the medical center. Acts as liaison between various treatment programs with the Mental Health Service in providing education, counseling, and treatment recommendations for patient cases, according to program-specific criteria. Works collaboratively with the patient and treatment team members to develop a comprehensive treatment plan, incorporating patient strengths' and weaknesses and the pertinent problems identified during psychosocial assessments. Outpatient treatment plans are developed independently with appropriate levels of professional autonomy. Develops comprehensive aftercare plans to facilitate continued recovery post­ completion. Participates in ongoing communication and networking with a wide and diverse range of community and system referral sources.

The Mental Health/Substance Use MH/SU Care Manager is responsible for providing proactive intervention and coordination of care to eligible members identified as Special Health Care Needs, Complex Care Management or High-Risk High Cost populations to ensure that these individuals receive appropriate assessment and services. The MHSU Care Manager works with the member and care team to alleviate inappropriate levels of care or care gaps through assessment, multidisciplinary team care planning, linkage and/or coordination of services across the MH/SU/IDD and other healthcare network(s) with existing or new care team members. MHSU Care Managers support and may provide clinical transition planning assistance to local hospitals and tracks individuals discharged from state and community hospitals to ensure they follow up with aftercare services and receive needed assistance to prevent further hospitalization. This is a mobile position with work done in a variety of locations. The MHSU Care Manager may work with members in their home communities. The MHSU Care Managers also works with other Vaya staff, members and family members, providers as well as community stakeholders. Essential job functions of the MHSU Care Managers include, but may not be limited to: CM Platform basics, Outreach & Engagement, Release of Information practices, Health Risk Assessment, Medication List and Continuity of Care process, Care Planning, and Interdisciplinary Care Team and Ongoing Care Management. Serves on the Buncombe County Veteran Treatment Court as a community/organization liaison.

ACTT, Assertive Community Treatment Team. As the ACT Team Substance Abuse Counselor, direct and indirect services are provided to adults with severe and persistent mental illness with co-morbid substance abuse issues, and resulting significant functional impairment. Lead consultant regarding the treatment of all ACTT consumers with an identified SA issue. Supporting consumers challenged with SA issues in changing destructive behaviors and learning new coping skills. Providing recovery-oriented interventions designed to sustain active commuity living on as independent a level as possible for each consumer. Charged with diagnosis, intake, orientation, and treatment planning; screening, diagnosing and assessmnent; case management; service coordination, consultation, and referral; supportive counseling, education, and skills development; crisis management; and documentation; employment/vocational counseling and supportive employment techniques, promoting successful adjustment, maintaining community employer contacts, networking with community businesses and agencies, counseling clients during difficult employment transitions, assess interpersonal work strengths; housing support. Clinician employs a diverse array of therapeutic techniques to assist clients in independence, stability, coping skills, trauma, supportive employment, housing, ADLs, medical assistance, support, intervention, emotional regulation, and counseling.

Major: U.S. History/20th Century European Military History Minor: Psychology

Licensed Clinical Social Work (LCSW) and Licensed Clinical Addiction Specialist (LCAS)