Leading the Way: How Rainbow Prioritized Mental Health in 2025

Leading the Way: How Rainbow Prioritized Mental Health in 2025

by Kenyon Kemnitz

In the world of hospice, the most vital tools aren't always found in a medical bag. Sometimes, the most important "first aid" is knowing exactly what to say when someone is in the midst of a mental health crisis.

Mental health care has always been part of the job for Jeanine Lew, Rainbow’s Clinical Process and Staff Development Manager, but the way we talk about it is changing. As a former nurse, Jeanine recalls that while her medical education covered clinical diagnoses like schizophrenia or bipolar disorder, it often lacked the practical "first aid" skills needed for real-time intervention.

"I don’t remember in nursing school being taught a skill set of how to address a mental health challenge—what to do, what to say, or how to approach the subject," Jeanine explained.

To bridge this gap, Jeanine, along with social workers Leslie Anderson and Kendall Uttech, became certified Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) instructors in late 2024. Their mission was to move beyond labels and clinical theory, providing Rainbow staff with a tangible toolkit to support patients, families, and each other.

Maximizing the Moment

The push to certify instructors was championed by Rainbow Social Services Director Mindy Triebold, who recognized the immense value of mental health literacy in a hospice and healthcare environment and an essential investment in Rainbow’s workforce. By partnering with Madison College and utilizing a federal grant through the Health Works group, Jeanine, Leslie, and Kendall became adjunct professors, allowing them to provide the training seamlessly and at no cost to the organization.

Throughout 2025, the team worked at a breakneck pace to capitalize on this funding before the grant concluded in October. The result was a resounding success: Rainbow emerged as a regional leader in training engagement, consistently seeing high participation rates that reflected the staff's deep commitment to holistic care.

More Than Just a Diagnosis

Unlike clinical mental health training, MHFA focuses on "the skill set to recognize and how to approach" someone in distress. Jeanine emphasizes the importance of language—moving away from stigmatizing terms like "committed suicide" and focusing on person-first language.

Leslie noted how eye-opening this shift was for many participants.

"When you say 'person-first,' most people say, 'What’s that?'" Leslie explained. "We are so used to putting the diagnosis or personality before the person and defining them that way. It is rewarding to see people being allowed to be people, and the things in their life not being the defining or primary thing about them."

In the world of hospice, where care is inherently holistic, these Mental Health First Aid skills are vital. Jeanine recognized that many people stay silent not because they don't care, but because they feel unprepared.

"We may even delay or avoid intervention altogether because of our own inadequacies," Jeanine noted. “The program was designed specifically to bridge that gap, moving staff from a place of uncertainty to feeling confident and fully equipped."

The training helped broaden the toolbox that Rainbow staff can utilize to support people in their lives, such as family, friends, coworkers, or patients.

"We became more comfortable with broaching a topic—mental health—that isn't always openly talked about," Kendall said. "It reminds us to be mindful of how a person's past experiences can impact their current response to a situation."

This training provided participants with a specific framework known as the ALGEE action plan:

A – Assess for risk of suicide or harm

L – Listen non-judgmentally

G – Give reassurance and information

E – Encourage appropriate professional help

E – Encourage self-help and other support strategies

By focusing on these five pillars, staff are equipped to notice, approach, and support an individual well before a mental challenge becomes a crisis.

"We look at people from a physical, psychosocial, emotional, and spiritual standpoint," Jeanine said. "As a manager, you see when something is 'off' with a co-worker. As a nurse in the field, you can’t always just wait for a social worker or chaplain to arrive. Our staff now has the confidence to intervene effectively.”

Expanding the Circle

As the program gained momentum through word-of-mouth and glowing staff testimonials, the vision grew. By late summer, the instructors also opened the sessions to a group of volunteers, making the classes even more robust through diverse perspectives and shared experiences. That also created a richer learning environment, ensuring that the “Rainbow way” of compassionate support extends to every level of the organization.

The impact of this culture shift is best described by the staff members who now carry these tools into the field. Rainbow Triage RN Trina Clutterbuck noted that the training filled a specific professional gap.

"As an RN, I appreciated the practical approach presented and the highly interactive classroom experience," Trina shared. "It helped me to bridge the gap between recognizing symptoms and taking appropriate action. These skills will be valuable not only at work but also in any setting in my personal life as well."

For others, the training provided a vital framework for the difficult conversations that often arise in hospice care. Volunteer Coordinator Jill Radke found the course's structure particularly impressive.

"The material really made you think about how others may be feeling and gave you a game plan on how to handle uncomfortable, sensitive, and difficult situations," Jill noted. "I highly recommend it to our staff as we deal with so many people on a daily basis."

Employees report a newfound confidence, moving from a place of uncertainty to having a clear "toolbelt" for mental health crises. For Jeanine and her fellow instructors, the growth has been mutual.

"We continue to grow as instructors," Jeanine said. "The more we teach it, the better it feels. It’s a long time coming for our nation, and we are proud to be part of that change."

The experience was a powerful reminder for Leslie on why she entered the field of social work.

"Teaching MHFA brought me back to the basics of Social Work," Leslie said. "It reminded me that we all need to care for each other with open curiosity about how we can help."

That curiosity has already paid off in real-world results. Leslie shared that following the training, several attendees reached out to share stories of how they were able to handle personal crises with newfound confidence using the tools they learned in class.

A Lasting Impact

Now, as we head into 2026, the focus has shifted toward sustainability. Although the grant has expired, the commitment to Mental Health First Aid remains a priority. Jeanine, Leslie, and Kendall continue to maintain their instructor statuses, ensuring that Rainbow is well-positioned to keep mental health literacy at the forefront of its culture for years to come.

The goal remains the same as it was when they started: ensuring that every member of the Rainbow team—from management to patient care—is equipped to provide support the moment it’s needed.

Fast Facts: Mental Health First Aid at Rainbow

Detail	Information
Instructors	Jeanine Lew, Leslie Anderson, Kendall Uttech
Program Start	Certified November 2024; Classes began early 2025
Total Impact	67 employees and volunteers have successfully earned their 3-year certifications. Rainbow recognized as a top-performing organization for training engagement within the Health Works cohort.
Partnership	Madison College (Federal Grant funded through October 2025)
Certification	Valid for 3 years
Format	Blended (online pre-work + in-person) or All In-Person (8 hours). Versatility: Training formats were adapted to include "blended" online learning and two-half days in-person sessions or an intensive one day 8-hour in-person session to accommodate various schedules.