A Publication by Bethesda PA Treatment & Healing

www.pathtochange.org

January 2008, Volume 1, 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 Evans

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

The Size of the Problem is not as Important as the Size of the Person!

 How big are you? I don’t mean your height or weight. I want to challenge you to be HUGE ON THE INSIDE. A truly big person may have a small stature and have a giant of a person living inside. A person like that has the right perspective on his problems. He doesn’t focus on how big his problems are, he focuses on how big his God is. Focusing on how big or how many problems we have may tempt us to give up, turn and run, or stay in bed. A big person realizes that it isn’t the size of our problems it’s the perspective we take in dealing with them that counts.  This type of individual constantly reminds himself that no matter how bleak or gigantic the dilemma ahead may seem, the Creator of the Universe, who flung each star into space, is in control and all things are possible through Him.

In 2 Corinthians 4:17 Paul writes “For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all”.  To become a HUGE person we must not magnify our problems, instead magnify how great our God is and press on. When you feel like giving up focus on all the great things God has done and all the controversy He has brought you though so far. We need to think of our problems as being light, temporary and necessary to take us to the next level on our journey of life. A wise person once told me that Big Problems in my life meant that I had a Big Future. It may be that God is testing and preparing us for a high calling in life through trials and tribulations.  I believe this is what God did with David when he faced and conquered Goliath.

Our problems may seem as big as Goliath.  David didn’t focus on the size of his problem. He focused on the promises that God made to him that his adversities would be light, temporary and preparation for bigger and better things to come. David could have had a defeated perspective and headed out of town but instead he believed there was no obstacle he could not overcome with God on his side. When it looked like David’s biggest defeat was going to happen he was just hours away from his biggest victory! As Paul Harvey would say and the rest of the story is that David, the little Shepherd boy eventually became King.

Keep a positive perspective and be HUGE for HIM.

Jerilyn

Jerilyn A. Keen, M.A.

President

News from our Corporate Office…

On January 4^th, President Keen and Program Compliance Manager (PCM), Erica Frey gathered our team of Clinical Supervisors together at Bloomsburg to collaborate on ensuring that our programs are functioning uniformly throughout the state.  The meeting was very beneficial for everyone in attendance.  The next meeting will be together with the Management Team on February 20^th.

PCM, Erica Frey and Regional Manager, Jennifer Evans conducted Individual and Group Therapy Training at the Corporate Office on January 11^th.  As experienced staff and managers we are fortunate to have them train our staff. They are learning from some of the best our agency has to offer.

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

PATH - Bloomsburg: The After School Evening Day Treatment/Intensive Adolescent clients have been practicing thinking about "what if" situations and figuring out how they could get out of a bad situation in a positive way or thinking about how they could prevent these situations from occurring. Some of the AEP students assisted at the local food pantry, and due to their efforts, Jill from the food pantry treated them to pizza. 

PATH - East Stroudsburg: Regional Manager, Steve Gaito and Program Manager, Lisa Alfieri met with Step by Step to present our program and inform them about our Intensive Adolescent Program.  On January 8^th the monthly “Family Night” was held.  Clinical Supervisor, Dwight Evans, did an outstanding job, as usual, explaining to the client’s families about the importance of  getting to the root causes of anger and how it helps our clients to better address their issues.  The families all gave a positive response and are anticipating the next event.  Dean of Students, Pete Charney, Teacher, Robin Johnson and Program Manager, Lisa Alfieri met with representatives from other Alternative Education Programs in the area to discuss issues and concerns that are faced by all.  The meeting was a positive and beneficial experience. All participants agreed they would like to continue to have these meetings.

PATH - Lehighton: Congratulations to Day Treatment Supervisor, Megan Goff and her husband on the birth of their daughter, Ava Nichole. Ava was born on January 14th, In January Robert Schaeffer, Special Education Teacher, began a cooperative work study program with Carbon Lehigh IU 21. Students over the age of 16, who have been on positive for 3 weeks, are able to participate. The studnts could spend up to 5 days of the week in a work setting with a job coach. They are able to choose a profession they would most like to learn job skills in, then after completing a resume, job application and a job interview they will attend a job site that best fits their various likes. The center has had three positively discharged clients in the last month. They all did an outstanding job while in the program and have made great improvements in their lives. The staff would like to congratulate themand wish them the best of luck!

PATH - Group Home - Middleburg: The staff would like to welcome our new Teacher, Amy Cotner-Klingler to our team. Clarence Fuller, Support Staff, is working on a bulletin board of articles and press releases on the negative effects of Drug and Alcohol on youth and families. Thank you, Clarence for all of your efforts. The residents continue to perform weekly community service assisting the elderly at the Penn Village. We would like to say Thank you to MA Specialist/D&A Clinical Supervisor, Michele Barrows for assisting with supervision and public relations at the Halfway House! 

PATH - Milton: The Milton Center has recently been serving Northumberland County Children and Youth. They are excited about the opportunity to work with this referral source. Teacher, Kurt Eck has been utilizing the donated computer projector to present students with current events and other information directly from the internet during classes. Teacher, Karen Heyler is taking her class to the Union County Public Library to research various Presidents; the students will then give presentations to their classes. The Milton staff hosted the 3rd and final day of the OMHSAS inspection for Diann Carter and Deb Hardy. Both inspectors applauded the efforts they read about in the case files. Way to go! 

PATH - South Montrose: On January 2nd, the Intensive Adolescent Program was "up and running" with the first three clients for this program. The South Montrose team of Cindy Wohlken, Clinical Supervisor, Walt Gieski, Program Manager, Dan Beesley, Social Worker, and Dean of Students Curt Keihl have been banding together to conduct individual counseling, groups, prepare dinner and transport clients. They all wear many hats to get the job done. The AEP students have been busy learning about electricity and one celled organisms. THey have been making posters that are displayed around the center. The students have also been following the 2008 Presidential candidates on the campaign trail and preparing to hold mock elections.

PATH - State College: The State College Center goes "green". They are recycling all paper and working toward being fully recyclable. A special thank you to Secretary, Lyndsay Chandler for coordinating this project. The AEP continues to expand the tutoring program with Penn State University. Currently the students are studying the impact the Civil War has had on our COunrty. We anticipate a field trip to Gettysburg in the spring. Program Manager, Jack Schreck would like to thank the entire Staff for their excellent job on the DPW inspection January 9th. Great Job! Congratulations also to Jack on receiving the Program Manager of the Quarter Award for the October - December quarter.

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 Walt Gieski, Program Manager of our South Montrose Center.

Walt and his wife Denise are the proud parents of two daughters, Brianna (18) and Jillian (9).  Walt attended the University of Scranton where he graduated with a Bachelors Degree in Criminal Justice.  After graduation Walt worked for St. Michael’s School for 10 years where he started as a Child Care Worker and was promoted to a Supervisor position after one year of employment. Prior to Walt’s employment with PA Treatment & Healing, Walt worked as a Care Manager and Trainer for Concern Foster Care Agency as well as served as an Administrative Officer for the Area Agency on Aging.

Although most of Walt’s free time is spent hunting and fishing with his wife and daughters, he also enjoys their vacations to Canada and trips to Penn State football games.  Walt also serves as President of the Big Brothers/Big Sisters Advisory Board of Susquehanna County.

Walt shares his thoughts on PATH ’s mission, “Over the years I have worked for some very good agencies, but by far the staff at PATH have been the best group of people to work with and for.  This agencies mission and purpose has a way of getting troubled youth back on the right track in society.”

Our Therapeutic Touch!

This month we focus our “therapeutic touch” on the outstanding treatment approaches being implemented at the Honesdale Center.

The Honesdale Center is conducting a series on anger management with some of the clients with anger issues.  A group began with four clients choosing to sit on separate sides of the room.  Each client brought in separate personal circumstances that were causing them a great deal of distress. Discussion ensued and the level of anger accelerated between the participants.  Rather than allowing the situation to result in intensified anger and resentment the facilitator took the opportunity to find a common theme among the group members and through active listening, empathy and unconditional positive regard, a safe positive environment was established in which the clients were able to express their feelings and begin to build a trusting relationship with each other.  The clients were able to express their underlying feelings that trigger their anger and physically move the clients closer together as the group.  They were able to offer each other support and feedback, as well as identify a connection between their feelings and experiences and their aggressive acting out behaviors.  Rather than focusing on fixing a problem or controlling a group of individuals, counselors at our center engage in client centered therapeutic approaches that encourage and provide clients with the best possible conditions for personal growth.

Congratulations to the Employees of the Quarter for October through December 2007.  Those staff are:

• Michelle Finck, HR/Administrative Assistant at the Corporate Office;

• Jodee Strine, Clinical Supervisor at the Bloomsburg Center;

• Robin Johnson, Special Education Teacher at the East Stroudsburg Center;

• Steve Rizzo, Program Manager at the Honesdale Center;

• Kari Hartman, Teacher Aide at the Lehighton Center;

• Karen Heyler, Teacher at the Milton Center;

• Jeremy Wohlken, Program Manager at the Scranton Center;

• Cindy Wohlken, Clinical Supervisor at the South Montrose Center; and

• Deb Nelson, D&A Counselor at the Williamsport Center

EMPLOYEE OF THE MONTH….

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

• Dawn Burrafato, Teacher’s Aide, East Stroudsburg

• Dolores Frick, Teacher’s Aide, Honesdale

We thank these staff for their dedication to our Agency!

Welcome to our family…

John Loden, Social Worker, Milton

Anna Moreno, Teachers Aide, Williamsport

Dorisa Miner, Teacher, Scranton                              

Jonathan Barnard, Social Worker, Williamsport

Joan Reilly-Rosa, Teacher, E. Stroudsburg             

Shannon Smith, Social Worker, Williamsport

Amy Cotner-Klingler, Teacher, Middleburg             

Colleen Miterko-O’Brien, Secretary, Honesdale

James O’Brien, Day Treatment Supervisor, East Stroudsburg