Wyandot Behavioral Health Network is pleased to announce that Colene Medrano has joined our network of organizations as the Senior Director of RSI & Crisis. Medrano comes to Wyandot BHN with more than a decade of experience working in the mental health field. She most recently worked with HealthSource Integrated Solutions, supporting the system of community mental health centers across the state of Kansas. She also previously worked with KVC as a Child Placing Agency supervisor.
During her time with HealthSource, Colene became aware of the work that RSI did. She says she strongly believes in the services that RSI provides and is happy to be a part of the team.
“It feels like home, like family,” Colene says. “Everyone works as a team and gets the job done. There’s so much knowledge here and several people who have worked at RSI since the beginning.”
“We’re lucky that we have this resource here in our community.”
Colene is still settling in to her new role, but she already has several goals in mind for how to keep moving RSI forward. One of her top priorities is to integrate some therapeutic approaches with RSI’s existing medical model. She would like to have crisis clinicians come over to RSI to offer 1-on-1 therapy to RSI clients.
“I think that check in is important. You might see some clients open up and let you know what they need. That would help us to make sure we connect them to the services they need to be successful when they leave RSI.”
Another top priority for Colene is to connect with community partners to make sure they are all working together toward the same goal. She also wants to explore if there are other community resources or services that RSI could tap into that would benefit clients.
When it comes to serving Wyandotte County and the surrounding communities, Colene is a big believer in treating the mind first.
“You can’t treat the rest of the body if someone’s mind isn’t right. That’s my approach. The brain is what allows the rest of the body to function.”
Colene says she is glad that RSI can provide a safe place for individuals in crisis, especially for those who might not meet the criteria for hospitalization.
“I just wish there were more places like RSI around the state because they are needed,” Colene says. “We’re lucky that we have this resource here in our community.”