Inside Ascend
September 2026
September is National Suicide Prevention Month, a time to recognize the critical role that early identification, thoughtful assessment, and collaborative intervention play in protecting the health and well-being of the individuals we serve.
Over the past several months, our clinicians have demonstrated an incredible commitment to advancing suicide prevention efforts across Ascend. Through ongoing training, implementation of the Columbia-Suicide Severity Rating Scale (C-SSRS), enhanced suicide risk assessment practices, and the development of individualized safety plans, you have strengthened our ability to identify risk early, intervene effectively, and support patients through some of their most vulnerable moments. These efforts align with our organizational focus on essential components of quality care.
As we observe National Suicide Prevention Month, we want to thank each of you for your dedication, clinical expertise, and unwavering commitment to patient safety. The work you do every day saves lives, strengthens our communities, and exemplifies the very best of Ascend's mission and values.
Together, we are building a culture of safety, hope, and healing.
Every conversation matters. Every assessment matters. Every safety plan matters. Together, we can make a difference.
Suicide Prevention Month
Ascend Quarter 2, 2026 Business Highlights:
- More than 58,000 patient encounters in Q2
- 22% growth in patient encounters with current FQHC partners
- More than 42,000 unique patients seen in 2025-2026
- 17 new team members started with Ascend in Q2
- 6 new contracts added in 2026
Sacramento CA
Total Patients: 77,368
Current Mental Health Percentage: 4%
Launch Date: July 27, 2026
Aloha, Oregon
Total Patients: 53,743
Current Mental Health Percentage: 7.82%
Launch Date: September 8, 2026
HRSA Behavioral Health Badge Award Winner!
Canyonlands recently received the HRSA Behavioral Health Badge, a national recognition for health centers demonstrating strong behavioral health outcomes (only awarded to 16% of FQHC's, and the first Ascend partner to achieve this!). In 2025, after transitioning the behavioral health program to Ascend clinicians and leadership, the team:
Maintained depression screening and follow-up above 93%
Increased depression remission rates by 24.6%
Increased initiation and engagement in SUD care by 11.1%
These are meaningful results, and they reflect the commitment the Canyonlands Team brought to patients every day. Thank you for the care, energy, and heart you bring to this work. This recognition is well deserved. Please celebrate your accomplishments!
The Impact Behind the Work:
"I wanted to share a patient success, I have a pt that I have been working with since June, and we have been working on sobriety and this week my patient achieved 32 days of sustained sobriety, She has worked so hard to get here."
Veronica at Chiricahua
"I wanted to share something amazing that happened. I have a pt who was in a domestic violence situation and this week she went to court, no lawyer, just her. As she shared her documented notes of what she experienced while she was with him, the ex's lawyer asked "if it was so bad why did she not leave?" She said she remembered what we processed in session "that on average it takes people 7 times to leave an abusive relationship and she had to create a safety plan to leave because she felt like if she left it could be worse for her and her children, and how her trauma response was to freeze and submit because for her that was the safer option at the time." With that, she won full custody of her kids."
Tania at Open Door
Arturo at El Rio "A professional win this week - a female pt with PTSD told me she is glad she gave herself the opportunity to work with a male therapist, feeling safe and able to start reprocessing her past trauma."
Arturo at El Rio
Elizabeth at Open Door "A professional win for me is that I have a 12 year old pt that struggled with emotional regulation and hitting when upset with a frequency of once a day. She hasn't hit anyone in the last two weeks and is using her coping skills by removing and regulating herself."
Elizabeth at Open Door
"A professional win for me is that my client went out and got her nails done with a friend, which is huge for her because she did something for herself, connected with social supports, managed her mood while out and about, and left her home! She said it was so fun she was thinking about going to the garden center with this friend later this month!"
Gabby at Adelante
"My win for the week is that I am blessed to work with awesome people at Ascend."
Angelica at Adelante
"I created a Word document of the Stanley safety plan (Spanish version) template in case anyone needs to copy-paste into their note."
Suzuki Rodriguez Ventura
"The patient has been working with me for over a year, and I have tried to her encourage her to do therapy after she stopped seeing the CHC therapist. She is a supervisor at work, and I felt like she needed a therapist who understood the balance of supervisory responsibilities and having an empathetic heart. Enter: Christina. Christina made space (that probably wasn't there to begin with) for this patient in her busy schedule, and today, the patient shared that therapy with Christina is: "Way better than previous experiences in talk therapy. Even if I am spiraling, I know I can talk through this with Christina this week. I feel like I have a healthcare team for the first time in my life." Side note: PCP has also been great with care coordination and we got her on a medication for her physical health that has dual benefit for her mental health. True integrated care."
Caitlin Dale at Open Door
One Year Strong: Clinicas del Camino Real
Clinicas: Since launching our partnership in March 2025, the program has grown into a strong integrated care model. The recent addition of psychiatry services further expands access to comprehensive behavioral health support and reflects our shared commitment to high-quality care.
Please join us in congratulating our Associates on reaching the important milestone of becomming Independently Licensed!
Gabriella Malok, LPC
Melissa Diaz, LCSW
Kendia Baker, LCSW
Cassie Maradik, LCSW
Nisha Patel, LCSW
Congratulations to each of you on this achievement! Your dedication, hard work, and commitment to your professional journey are truly appreciated. We are proud to recognize your accomplishments and look forward to all that you will continue to achieve with Ascend.
Invest a Few Minutes. Benefit All Year.
Employees enrolled in an Ascend UHC medical plan can complete a free at-home biometric screening through the UHC wellness portal. Complete your screening and receive a $50 Wellness Credit from UnitedHealthcare.
More wellness benefits and Open Enrollment information coming soon!
September Chair Yoga Challenge
"Caring for Yourself While Caring for Others"
Those who spend their days supporting others often forget to prioritize their own well-being. This month's Chair Yoga Challenge is designed to fit into even the busiest schedule, helping you build strength, increase flexibility, and take a few intentional moments to care for yourself throughout the workday. Start your Challenge: Open Chair Yoga Instructions
Domain Change Complete
Thank you for your patience during our transition from Ascend Telehealth to Ascend Healthcare. This update included changes to our Microsoft 365 environment, SharePoint, OneDrive, and user accounts to align with our new brand identity. We appreciate your flexibility and support in helping make this transition smooth and minimizing disruptions to patient care and daily operations.
EHR Downtime Tips and Tricks
Unexpected EHR downtime can happen. Be prepared by:
-Reviewing your schedule daily and saving key appointments.
-Keeping important phone numbers handy for telephone encounters.
-Completing documentation promptly.
-Maintaining paper notes during downtime for later entry.
-Reporting system issues to the Help Desk as soon as possible.
October Clinical Focus
Topic:
Domestic Violence Awareness Month
We Want to Hear from You!
If you have specific patient stories, clinical questions, comments, or concerns that you’d like us to address during the Lunch & Learn and/or Grand Rounds, please share them by clicking the link below.