The Beacon

Published by:  Bethesda Day Treatment Center, Inc.

 ...let your light shine before men, that they may see your good

deeds and praise your Father in heaven.  Matthew 5:16

May/June 2007                      Vol. 11 Issue #5    

Board of Directors

Joseph Pugliese

Chairman

Jerilyn Keen

President

Timothy Gage

Director

Fred Martin

Director

Mary Tiffin

Director  

Chris Bingaman

Director  

Stacey Kifolo

Secretary

Gene McCarty

Treasurer

Advisory Committee

Jerilyn Keen

Scott Constantini

Stephen Gaito

Robert Vanderwall

Jennifer Napp

Don Coleman

William Rossnock

Joseph Talarico

Dr. Elizabth Ciaravino

Thomas Bell

Agent William Weber

Larry Weidman

John Gigunto

Matthew Yonkin

Consultants

Dr. Vikas Passi

D&A Medical Director

Dr. Frederick Maue

Mental Health Director

Dr. Matthew Emery

Psychological Consultant

Dr. Hugh Smith & Associates

Psychological Consultants

Bethesda PA Treatment & Healing

Most would agree that this agency outgrew the name Bethesda Day Treatment Center, a long time ago. Back in 1983, when Bethesda began, the one and only service that we offered was exactly that - day treatment. The name fit then, but doesn’t represent all the types of services we offer today. Through the years we have expanded geographically from one to eleven treatment centers while continually cultivating and adapting the programmatic services that we provide today! With the help of a team of committed staff, we proudly offer a vast menu of highly regarded, effective therapeutic services to 26 counties in PA. In addition to Day Treatment, we provide Alternative Education, Licensed Outpatient Drug and Alcohol Counseling, Specialized Foster Care, a Residential Group Home, Healthy Parenting, the Outdoor Weekend “Be Challenged” program, Outpatient Counseling, Community Service programs, and Medical Assistance approved Mental Health Services.

This agency continues to be committed to developing, sharpening, and expanding to meet the needs of the youth and families of our communities. With these aspects in mind, we proudly present our new name and logo:

Our goal is “Guiding People on the Path to Change” throughout the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.

We hope you agree that our newly designed logo is representative of the agency’s desire to lead people of all ages on the one and only path to real and lasting positive change.

Be sure to check out our new website at www.pathtochange.org.

All My Very Best,

Jerilyn

Jerilyn A. Keen, M.A.

President

News from our Administrative Office…

As we bring another successful school year to a close, we wish to thank our AEP staff for their dedication and commitment to our students.  Our focus this month is on the end of school year celebrations and activities at each center.  Through a generous donation from Jerilyn and Bill Keen, each Center was able to present a Wal-mart gift card to specially recognize an outstanding AEP student.  The Keens also offered a special gift to the two graduates at the Middleburg Group Home.

We thank President Keen for conducting Experiential Group Counseling Training on May 9^th.  As always, this training allowed staff to experience the same process of dealing with personal issues that is utilized to guide our clients and families on the path to change.

On May 16^th, we held our first Drug & Alcohol Clinical Staffing meeting with the Drug & Alcohol Counselors.  The time proved to be very beneficial with each counselor presenting one specific case for feedback from the other staff.  The Drug & Alcohol staff are looking forward to the August meeting!

On May 23^rd, Clinical Supervisor Jennifer Sheptock, with assistance from President Keen and Program Compliance Manager Erica Frey, facilitated a meeting for Clinical Supervisors, Regional Managers and Program Managers.  The MA process was discussed in detail with Jennifer presenting information through a PowerPoint presentation.  Additional meetings will be held to “master” the MA process!

On May 31^st, we were saddened to say good-bye to our colleague and friend, Collette Benner.  After ten years of service and putting her heart into the work that she did here at Bethesda , Collette accepted a position at Geisinger Medical Center in the Compensation Department.  We were able to enjoy a time of fellowship with Collette to offer our warmest regards and to present her with a token of our appreciation for all that she gave to our Agency.  She will be truly missed!

We welcome Nicole Bingaman to the Administrative Office as an Administrative Assistant for the summer.  Nicole serves as a Teacher’s Aide at the Milton Center during the school year.  We are excited to have Nicole’s shining face and Christ-like spirit at the Administrative Office.  Welcome, Nicole!

Bethesda Highlights

We congratulate the Scranton and South Montrose Centers on their successful Department of Public Welfare inspections.  Both offices received 100% compliance!  Thanks to the staff for their hard work and dedication to ensure that the Centers and files remain in compliance.

Program Compliance Manager, Erica Frey has been busy at work reviewing daily case notes, summer schedules, and weekly menus with a fine-tooth comb!  Our goal in evaluating each of our systems and how they are functioning is part of our plan to provide the very best quality of service to our clients and referring agencies possible!  Erica’s role with her many years of experience in Relational Healing, Normative Systems, the Day Treatment, AEP and Group Home is to make sure that no detail is missed or watered down.  In order to do this she will be adjusting her focus of detail periodically to each of our very diverse treatment components in order to make sure that everything is being done with the same quality that made us a National Model Program!  We have always strived to be an agency that operates with the highest therapeutic integrity!  Having someone with Erica’s experience provide a fresh pair of eyes to examine our systems and make absolutely sure everything is operating as effectively and efficiently as possible is the driving force behind her position.  She has also been on the look out for and thoroughly enjoys recognizing the exemplary efforts of staff at each center!  To be constantly evaluating and improving is the mark of a progressive organization.  Thank you to each and every staff member who has enthusiastically embraced her and welcomed her helpful insight.  As an agency, our goal is to be constantly moving forward, delivering the highest quality treatment to our clients and referring agents.

This is “What’s Happening” at Our Centers…

East Stroudsburg:  To celebrate the end of the school year, the AEP staff and students enjoyed a cookout and awards presentation to recognize students who made remarkable strides during the school year. Congratulations to Dennis for receiving the President’s AEP Award. We would also like to share that C.J., a youth who was in foster care with us for 3 years has been adopted by East Stroudsburg foster parents Joann and Jimmie Brown. Thank you, Jimmie and Joann, for opening your home and your hearts to C.J.!

Honesdale:  The Honesdale AEP wrapped up their school year with a cookout. The students enjoyed playing basketball and spending time in fellowship with the staff. Congratulations to Samantha on receiving the Outstanding Student Award!

Lehighton:  The AEP held its year-end celebration at Beltzville State Park on June 1^st. The students enjoyed fishing, swimming and playing football. Everyone enjoyed the feast of hot dogs, hamburgers and other picnic food generously prepared by the staff! Staff and students had a wonderful time at their kick-off to summer vacation! Congratulations, Caevaun, for being the proud recipient of the President’s Award!

Lewistown:  The AEP students and staff enjoyed a day at Knoebel's Amusement Resort on June 1st. Two students completed requirements for graduation and received their diplomas. As an additinal reward, these students were given the President's Award. Congratulations! We congratulate Secretary Lisa (Orloski) Carey on her May 26th wedding. Best wishes!

Middleburg Group Home:  The Group Home was able to celebrate in the graduation of two residents – Mark and Byron. Both boys received their diplomas from Midd-West High School with certifications from Sun Area Vo-Tech. Bryon received his certificate in Advertising and Design and Mark received his certificate from the Masonry Program. We wish both young men the best! We congratulate Jon Gamble and his wife on the birth of their daughter, Gianna Marie. This little gal made her appearance on May 17^th, weighing in at 7 lbs, 5 ounces and was 17 inches long. Congratulations!

Milton:  The AEP students were rewarded with a trip to Hershey Park on May 30th for the end of year celebration. The weather was terrific and the students has a blast! Program Manager John Dunne thanks all the staff for a tremendous year! We congratulate Colt for receiving the President's Award of Excellence.

Montoursville:  The Elementary AEP students were given the opportunity to go to Trout Pond Park to roller skate and fish for their end-of-year reward. The Junior High and High School students went to Hershey Park to celebrate the end of the school year! The students had a great time! Felicia was the proud recipient of the President’s AEP Award.

South Montrose:  On June 6th, the AEP celebrated with a field day and a cookout. The students and staff enjoyed hot dogs, hamburgers and various salads as well as competing in volleyball, wiffle ball, touch football and relay races. South Montrose had six students graduate this year. A celebration was held consisting of cake and ice cream. Gifts and plaques were presented to the seniors. We congratulate Albert on receiving the President's AEP Award. Way to go!

Each month we are featuring a member of our Management Team as a way to honor their dedication and commitment to make Bethesda the best it can be! This month we highlight Regional Manager Jennifer Napp.

Jennifer recently announced her engagement to Kurt Evans of Lewisburg, PA. An October 13^th wedding is planned at Bucknell University. Prior to her tenure at Bethesda, Jennifer graduated from Bucknell with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science. She worked for about a year and a half substitute teaching and working at Wal-Mart and the Holiday Inn Express before being snagged up by the Bethesda Milton Center as a Caseworker. Jenn states, “Once there I quickly learned the difference between a simple career aspiration and the power behind a call from God. Nobody has ever needed us more than these kids.”

While working full-time as a Caseworker at the Milton Center, Jennifer returned to Bucknell University to pursue a Masters of Science Degree in Education as an Instructional Specialist. “Bethesda supported me wholeheartedly in furthering my education. My supervisors helped me to arrange for my student teaching and the completion of my Master’s Thesis within the Agency.” Jennifer also worked weekends at the Group Home to help put herself through Graduate School. Currently, Jennifer serves as a Regional Manager with the Agency, overseeing operations at the Middleburg Boys Group Home and Lewistown Center. She also performs a supportive role assisting at the Administrative Office and providing private counseling to the community. Jennifer enjoys participating in community, church and family activities, playing volleyball and performing community service. She is an avid supporter of Bucknell Athletics, especially wrestling.

Her thoughts on Bethesda’s mission and purpose, “God entrusts each youth and family to Bethesda in order for us to be a role model in helping to shape and change their lives, which have gone off course by becoming overwhelmed by emotional and relational issues and demonstrating negative coping skills.  Each individual and family has strengths that can be used to overcome these obstacles and the stress of negative life events.  

Our Therapeutic Touch!

Family Systems Specialist Dwight Evans and Day Treatment Supervisor Jon Sharpe recently attended a week-long training on the treatment of juvenile sexual offenders in pursuit of their certification in this area.  Obtaining this certification will provide for the implementation of the treatment of juvenile sex offenders as a new aspect of treatment.  Jon and Dwight are planning to utilize the knowledge, skills and abilities that they received in attending training and participating in the certification process to benefit the After School Evening Day Treatment and Intensive Adolescent Partial Hospitalization Program youth and their families.

Currently, practicum proposals were submitted and approved by the instructors at the University of Ohio .  Jon Sharpe states that he plans to “develop a specialized therapeutic component to the After School Evening and Intensive Programs incorporating both individual and group counseling approaches for treating juvenile sexual offenders.”  This specialized component would work in conjunction with the regular Day Treatment and Partial programming.  Dwight Evans plans to “incorporate the treatment of juvenile sexual offenders as a service modality providing individual, group and parental counseling to clients and their families referred to the Day Treatment and Partial Programs.”  Additionally, the two plan to conduct regional and Agency-wide trainings for staff.  We are thankful to Dwight and Jon for taking the time away from their families to seek training and certification and for their willingness to guide our youth and families on the path to change.

We thank Honesdale Secretary Kelly Maree on her generous donation of a computer to be used at the Center.  We wish Kelly the best as she relocates to Georgia and thank her for all that she contributed to our Agency!

EMPLOYEE OF THE MONTH….

Rich Hoffman, Support Staff at the Group Home was selected as Bethesda's Exceptional Employee of the Month for May. It is our privilege to recognize Rich for being an integral part of the support team at the Middleburg Group Home. The rapport he has gained with the staff and residents is commendabloe. His thoroughness with the security and procedures of the home as well as his reliability and quality of work is appreciated!

Pete Charney, Dean of Students of the East Stroudsburg AEP is being recognized as the Employee of the Month for June.  Pete is a valuable and committed asset to the East Stroudsburg Center .  He is always willing to cover extra classes or groups whenever need.  His positive attitude is a key attribute to the success of the AEP!  Thanks, Pete, for all you do for our Agency!

The following staff were also nominated for Employee of the Month for May and June: 

v Yvonne Clay, Foster Care Coordinator at the East Stroudsburg Center

v Megan Goff, Day Treatment Supervisor at the Lehighton Center

v Lee Viola, Head Community Monitor at the Honesdale Center

v John Evans, Community Monitor at the Scranton Center  

v Mark Robinson, Teacher at the South Montrose Center

We thank these staff for their hard work and dedication!

Welcome to our family…

 Richard Hornberger, Support Staff, Middleburg Group Home

Jamie Wemple, Human Resources/Administrative Assistant, Administration