Stories

contributed by Cardinal Innovations Healthcare

A life filled with hope and integrity—it’s the goal of many. For Katherine Todd, these words have new meaning because of the partnership, encouragement and resources she has with her Cardinal Innovations Care Coordinator and Assertive Community Treatment Team (ACTT). 

Challenged by mental illness from a very young age, Katherine has faced the difficulties of managing chronic conditions and navigating complicated systems for health and human services. Years of fragmented care processes had left her with little hope. 

“I knew there were resources, but the system can be overwhelming,” Katherine said. “I didn’t know where to start, where to go or who to call.” 

A referral to Cardinal Innovations helped change that dynamic when Katherine was introduced to her own designated Care Team and Care Coordinator Joe Mattiacci. Together, the team provided the critical guidance she needed to better manage her mental health—one small step at a time. 

In recognition of May as Mental Health Awareness Month, Katherine’s story celebrates the success she has achieved because of personal connections within the community.

Instead of handing her a folder full of brochures about available services, her Care Team helped her make her phone calls to the right resources, prioritize next steps and then stay within the bounds of a daily care plan—an uncommon care experience Katherine said she had never encountered in decades of seeking services.

Katherine worked with her Care Team at least weekly to help manage her medications more effectively, contact the right resources when a crisis arose, and access needed community services on a regular basis. 

“They sent someone out to me, which was important. At the time I had no ambition to go out and get help. Joe showed up every week and was never late. I felt like a 5-year-old with a big brother. He went to bat for me,” Katherine said, adding that it was comforting to know that help was always a phone call away. “I felt a lot of hope for the first time in a long time.”

She points to her Care Coordinator as a big part of her ongoing success. “Meeting with someone in your home is different than an office environment,” Katherine said. “When he would come in, we would always have a nice conversation, and then get down to business. He’s very balanced in his approach—both friendly and professional.”

Most important, Katherine said that Joe “is a great man with a lot of integrity, always following through with his plans.” In fact, she wants her life to reflect the same integrity going forward as a measure of success.

“When he would leave after a visit, I’d have hope that maybe I could be stable one day,” she said. “I never want to lose touch with Joe because I want to show him the results when I am stable and doing good.”

As we celebrate Mental Health Awareness Month, Katherine shares that she looks forward to living on her own one day with a kitten. She wants everyone to know that no matter what, there is hope with the partnership and encouragement of the right the community resources.

If you or a loved one are experiencing a mental health crisis, or if you’d like information about mental health resources in your community, Cardinal Innovations is available 24/7 at 1-800-939-5911.

About Cardinal Innovations

Cardinal Innovations Healthcare provides access to Medicaid and state-funded benefits, providers and supports for more than 850,000 individuals with complex needs. Using a community-based model of care management, Cardinal Innovations seeks to improve the health and wellness of its members by collaborating with local providers and stakeholders. Recognized for operational excellence, innovative solutions and superior outcomes for members, as well as accuracy and speed of payments to providers and cost-effective funds management, Cardinal Innovations is a leading managed care organization proud to serve North Carolina’s most vulnerable citizens. For more information, visit cardinalinnovations.org.