A Publication by Bethesda PA Treatment & Healing

www.pathtochange.org

December 2007, Volume 1, Issue 4

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

Captain 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

Henry Ford said, “Whether you think you can or think you can’t, either way you are right.”  When Henry Ford brought forth his vision to make it possible for every family to own a motor vehicle, he was ridiculed and thought to be a ridiculous fool. Can you begin to imagine our world today if he had given up his dream and allowed others to discourage him? What if instead of pressing on, he believed the negative comments that others tried to discourage him with?

Are you facing something today that seems impossible? With man it may be, but with God, you can achieve and do anything you dream of doing!  ALL things are possible with God (Matthew 19:26)!  Any invention, any aspiration, any hurt you need to forgive, God has equipped you with whatever it takes to make it possible! When He puts a dream in your heart He also provides you with the talent, skill, and ability to accomplish it.  Do you think you can? This is a must in order to make it happen!    

If you seem to be in an impossible situation, get with God!  He will help you believe you can!  Sometimes it's so easy to focus on our problems, get discouraged, try to solve them in our own strength or find reasons to give up. But remember, the battle belongs to the Lord.  He can make the things that seem impossible, possible. Scripture tell us that He has plans for our good, not for evil, to give us a future and a hope. Start believing today, "I am with God, and with God all things are possible!" Do your relationships need healing?  With God, believe restoration of all relationships is possible. Is there sickness in your body?  With God, believe complete healing is possible!

Do you have a dream but don’t see a way to make it happen?  Like Henry Ford, “whether you think you can or think you can’t, either way you are right.” You must believe that with God all things are possible!

Believing that PATH is going to be great in 2008!

Jerilyn

Jerilyn A. Keen, M.A.

President

News from our Corporate Office…

December was a busy month at the Corporate Office with staff preparing for the Holiday Celebration and our annual DPW Inspection . We would like to thank all the staff for their hard work to prepare for both! Your dedication and commitment is greatly appreciated!

As we close 2007, we would like to thank all of our staff, Board of Directors, and Advisory Committee Members for their faithfulness and dedication to our agency. We have been truly blessed this past year! This would not have been possible without a special team of individuals who are dedicated to our mission! Thank you all for such a wonderful year! “ PATH is going to be great in 2008”.

On behalf of all of the PA Treatment & Healing employees, we would like to express our gratitude to the Board of Directors for their generous approval of the cash incentives this year. Thank you!

We welcome a new face to the Corporate Office! Marcie Long has joined our family as our new Office Assistant. Please extend a warm welcome to her the next time you call or visit the Corporate Office!

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

PATH - Bloomsburg: Program Manager, Lisa Vandermark would like to thank everyone at the Bloomsburg Center for pitching in and going above and beyond the call of duty while she was out. The hard work and dedication you all showed is greatly appreciated. We would like to welcome Social Worker, Maria Farnell to the Bloomsburg Center. The Day Treatment clients were busy helping this Holiday season by tying ribbons around the meters for free parking in downtown Bloomsburg. While working on characteristics of a healthy self-esteem, the AEP students made posters about who they are and their positive traits. The students were able to make encouraging comments about themselves and other individuals in the program. They found this project very enjoyable and encouraging. They processed the importance of building each other up instead of breaking each other down.

PATH - East Stroudsburg: The AEP staff set up an Arts & Crafts Day/Christmas Party for the students. The students had a great time working on projects such as dream catchers, gingerbread houses, and posters which are on display throughout the center. Social Worker, Hillary Ziebler has begun a series of art therapy projects with the Day Treatment Clients. The clients appear to be very engaged based on the outcome of the projects and the attention to detail they have given to them so far. Dean of Students, Pete Charney and Teacher, Robin Johnson recently met with Stroudsburg School District and they have sent us several new referrals based on the positive outcome of the meeting. Congratulations to Social Worker, Shaun Crump and his wife as they welcomed their baby boy Braelin on November 30^th. Braelin weighed 8 lbs. 9 oz. and was 19 inches long.

PATH - Honesdale: The Honesdale center recently had their annual DPW and BDAP inspections and scored 100% on BDAP. Congratulations on a job well done gang! The Day Treatment clients have been busy preparing for the holiday season; they took part in many different projects. The clients participated in decorating small wreaths to distribute to the Senior Centers in the area as well as decorated the center for Christmas. During a group on “Selflessness” the Clients created Christmas cards for wounded Soldiers at the Walter Reede Hospital . The clients have also begun to build a Doll House to be auctioned off to raise money for Habitat for Humanity, and for their outstanding service in the community they were invited to a Habitat for Humanity Dinner. Keep up the good work! The AEP Students have been active in D&A Education classes, and groups have been working very hard on creating Public Service Announcements. One of our students utilized the center’s laptop and created a PowerPoint presentation on Inhalants. Great Job!

PATH - Lehighton: All of the clients participated in the making of Gingerbread houses during treatment. Day Treatment Supervisor Megan Goff will be preparing a Christmas dinner for the clients on December 20th. The students and clients at the center would like to extend our congratulations to Day Treatment Supervisor, Megan Goff as she will be leaving at the end of December to prepare for the coming of her first child. Good luck, Megan!

PATH - Group Home - Middleburg: The staff and residents are busy preparing for the Christmas holiday. They are all working together to get everyone in the Holiday spirit by decorating their tree. The clients have worked hard selling candles through Sandy’s Scents and have raised $130.00. Great Job guys! They are also providing services to Penn Lutheran Village and the American Red Cross in Middleburg. We would like to say a special thank you to President Keen and her family and Higher Hope Ministries for their wonderful Christmas Donations. We wish a special blessing on each of you!

PATH - Milton: The AEP clients celebrated the holidays by having a wonderful lunch prepared by the AEP Teachers. Nicole Bingaman made a special appearance to celebrate with the Milton Center. A special thank you to Community Monitor, Jim Strahan and his wife who worked hard to prepare a Christmas meal that was shared with the staff, clients, and their parents and foster parents. The Milton Center recently helped the local Red Cross with their blood drive by posting signs and pamphlets advertising the event. The AEP and ASE clients continue to assist the local Chamber of Commerce by packing envelopes for their monthly mailings. Great job! Congratulations to Foster Care Coordinator, Stephanie Rice and her husband LeVert as they have recently found out they are going to have another baby!

PATH - South Montrose: The center took part in multiple projects within the community. The students and staff collected food and other items for our local "Food Pantry" donations. During the holiday season the AEP students spent their Friday afternoons at local supermarkets "ringing the bell" and collecting money for the Salvation Army. The students also participated in a presentation by Ray Osbourne of the Susquehanna County Children & Youth. Mr. Osbourne spoke to the students about PA State Truancy Laws and the services provided by his agency. We would like to say thank you to Mrs. Beverly Grier, mother of AEP Teacher Doreen Armitage, for taking an afternoon to make holiday cookies with our students. The students enjoyed this activity very much! Thank you, Beverly!

PATH - State College: A special Open House was held for our State College Center on Wednesday, December 5th. Despite the weather, numerous agencies from throughout Centre County attended the event. The center continues to work in conjunction with Penn State University regarding mentoring and tutoring the State College clients. Thank you Lions for your dedication and commitment to helping our youth!  

PATH - Williamsport: The AEP clients were getting into the holiday spirit by having a door decorating contest and participating in constructing gingerbread houses. The clients really enjoyed these activities. The Williamsport center received a Christmas tree from the Jean Lumber Mill and Secretary, Sally Edler did a great job decorating the tree and the center. Thank you Sally for taking on all the extra special duties. Congratulations to Caseworker, Jeremy Eck on completing the 1st semester of his Master program with a perfect 4.0! Great job, Jeremy, we are all proud of you! Regional Manager, Bob Vanderwall and his wife Amy, celebrated the birth of their first son, Gabriel Carl on December 15th. He weighed 4lbs, 11 oz and was a month early. Congratulations Bob and Amy, we send our blessings and prayers to you!

Each month we are featuring a member of our Management Team as a way to honor their dedication and commitment to make our Agency the best it can be!!  This month we highlight Jon Gamble, Program Manager of our Middleburg Group Home.

Jon and his wife Elizabeth, are the proud parents of 3 beautiful children: Alyvia (4), Ava (1) and Gianna (7 months).  Jon attended Bloomsburg University where he graduated with a Bachelors Degree in Social Work.

Although most of Jon’s free time is occupied spending time with his wife and three daughters, he also enjoys working with his hands, and remodeling his home.

Jon shares his thoughts on PATH’s mission, “I believe wholeheartedly in the power of relationships.  I believe relationships are the foundation to finding personal happiness, esteem, and forgiveness for oneself and others.  There are many responsibilities involved in working with troubled youth, however at the beginning and end of the day the most important thing for me to remember is that ‘Helping the kids is my number one priority’.”

Our Therapeutic Touch!

This month we focus our “therapeutic touch” on our East Stroudsburg Center.

On December 20^th the Center conducted a group on the real meaning of Christmas!  There were 14 clients in the room, and the majority of them had never heard from Luke 2 in the Bible.  After a full explanation of the rationale for the group, Clinical Supervisor, Dwight Evans and Drug and Alcohol Counselor, Doug Luisi read the Christmas Story.  After the reading there was a discussion of the story of the Virgin Birth and the coming of the Messiah.  During this time they were able to relate to the lives of the clients and the significance of their suffering, but also the purpose that each client has been designed for.  The clients were very welcome to this event and were asking to do it again in the future.

We would like to express our gratitude to Foster Care Coordinator, Stephanie Rice who  requested donations for door prizes to be given at this year’s Holiday Celebration.  We received a plethora of prizes to reward our staff.  Thank you, Stephanie, for all of your hard work and dedication!

EMPLOYEE OF THE MONTH….

The following staff were also nominated for Employees of the Month for October:

Scott Constantini, Regional Manager, North East Region

We thank these staff for their dedication to our Agency!

Welcome to our family…

Dana Williams, Teacher, Williamsport

Wayne Currie, Community Monitor, Scranton

Marcie Long, Office Assistant, Corporate

David Weibley, Community Monitor, East Stroudsburg

Maria Farnell, Social Worker, Bloomsburg

For twenty-two years of service:

Jerilyn Keen, President

The PA Treatment & Healing Teaching Award of Excellence was presented to Robin Johnson, Teacher, East Stroudsburg Center. The PA Treatment & Healing Counseling Award of Excellence was presented to Heather Heiny, Day Treatment Supervisor, Milton Center..
	The Spirit of PA Treatment & Healing Award was presented to Stephanie Rice, Foster Care Coordinator, Milton/Williamsport Centers.
The Employee of the Year Award was presented Curt Keihl, Dean of Students, South Montrose Center.
	The Outstanding Teamwork Award was presented to the Williamsport Center .
The Presidential Award for Perseverance was presented to the State College Center.
	The 2007 Manager’s Leadership Award was presented to Scott Constantini, Regional Manager.
In addition, center awards were presented as well as recognition given to the Risk Management Committee, the 2007 Employees of the Month, and the 2007 Caught in the Act of Caring Recipients.