Summer 2010 - Rappahannock Area Community Services Board
Transcription
Summer 2010 - Rappahannock Area Community Services Board
Celebrating 40 Years of Service Quarterly Newsletter Double Issue Summer 2010 1970 - 2010: 40 Years of Service Booksigning with Doris Buffett & Mike Zitz The Rappahannock Area Community Services Board (RACSB) is a local government agency which was established in 1970 under Chapter 10 of the Code of Virginia. RACSB provides public mental health, intellectual disability, substance abuse, prevention, and early intervention services to the residents of the City of Fredericksburg and the Counties of Caroline, King George, Spotsylvania and Stafford. The Board is composed of fifteen volunteer members who are appointed by the local governing bodies. The Board members are people from the community with various occupations and interests, who serve three-year terms of office. CITY OF FREDERICKSBURG: James E. Bailey, David A. Vaughn & Barbara L. Williams CAROLINE COUNTY: Al Collins, Fonville B. Day & G. Warren Samuel KING GEORGE COUNTY: Beth F. Elkins, John D. Kunlo & James R. Johnson SPOTSYLVANIA COUNTY: Nancy L. Beebe, Sherry L. Givens & Ellen V. Sears STAFFORD COUNTY: Annette Johnson, Jack Rowley & Matthew W. Zurasky EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR: Ronald W. Branscome To Contact Newsletter: 8:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. Monday-Friday Phone: 540-373-3223, ext. 3074 Or at any time: Fax: 540-371-3753 Email: [email protected] Website: www.racsb.state.va.us 2 The RACSB Quarterly Newsletter is published four times a year. www.racsb.state.va.us Board Welcomes New Member The Rappahannock Area Community Services Board (RACSB) is pleased to welcome Fonville B. Day to the Board of Directors as a Caroline County Representative. Ms. Day works as a secretary at Storke Funeral Home in Bowling Green and assists with transportation at Remuda Ranch in Sparta on occasion. Fonville B. Day Ms. Day lives in Milford and has a daughter and two grandchildren. Board Member Recognized At the June 15, 2010, Board of Directors meeting, out-going Board member Linda T. Garrison was recognized and thanked for her years of service by Board Chairman David A. Vaughn and Executive Director Ron Branscome. Mrs. Garrison was presented with a plaque in appreciation of her 12 years of service as a representative of Caroline County. Chairman David A. Vaughn recognizes Linda T. Garrison for her years of service on the RACSB Board of Directors. Mrs. Garrison served a unique role on the Board as an individual who has personally received services as well as a parent of a child with an intellectual disability. Reflecting on her time on the Board, Mrs. Garrison shared that it has been an honor to work with such an outstanding and dedicated group of people. Mrs. Garrison intends to continue her volunteer efforts by working with veterans. Update Your Address Send your address changes to [email protected] or call Michelle Wagaman, Public Information Specialist, at 540373-3223, ext. 3074. Summer 2010 Board of Directors Elects Officers David A. Vaughn, Chair City of Fredericksburg Barbara L. Williams, Vice-chair City of Fredericksburg At the June 15, 2010 Board of Directors meeting of the Rappahannock Area Community Services Board (RACSB), officers were elected for terms beginning July 1, 2010. RACSB is governed by a 15member Board of Directors with equal representation from the City of Fredericksburg and the Counties of Caroline, King George, Spotsylvania, and Stafford. David A. Vaughn Reelected Chair David Vaughn of Fredericksburg was re-elected Chair for Fiscal Year (FY) 2011. Vaughn joined the Board of Directors in November 2005. He previously served as Vice-Chair and Chair of the Finance Committee for two years before becoming Chair in FY 2010. Vaughn retired from the United States Civil Service in 1999 after 34-years, having worked for both the U.S. Army and U.S. Marine Corps. At the time of his retirement, he was Director of Technology for the Marine Corps. Vaughn is President of the National Alliance on Mental Illness – Rappahannock (NAMI-R) and formerly served on the NAMI - Virginia Board of Directors. He’s an active member of St. Paul United Methodist Church in Woodbridge, VA. He and his wife, Frances, have a daughter. Barbara Williams Reelected ViceChair Barbara Williams of Fredericksburg was re-elected Vice-Chair for FY 2011. Williams joined the Board of Directors in October 2005. She has served as Chair of the Program Planning and Evaluation Committee for the past three years. Williams retired in 2005 as a counselor at Office of Consumer Affairs The Rappahannock Area Community Services Board (RACSB) has an Office of Consumer Affairs which serves as a central point for individuals receiving services and their family members to bring forward ideas, issues, and concerns regarding the programs and services offered by RACSB. The Office of Consumer Affairs provides the following services: Consumer Relations ● Information and referral ● Human rights advocacy ● Conflict resolution Summer 2010 Warren Samuel, Secretary Caroline County Northern Virginia Community College in Manassas, a position she held for 28 years. She has two children and is married to Floyd C. Williams. Warren Samuel Elected Secretary G. Warren Samuel of Caroline County was elected Secretary for FY 2011. Samuel joined the Board of Directors in July 2008. He taught agriculture at Caroline Middle School for nearly 30 years and retired from teaching in 2008. He and his wife Martha have two children. Outgoing Secretary Beth Elkins has served on the Board of Directors since July 2005 and represents King George County. Elkins will continue to serve on the Board in FY 2011 and chairs the Prevention/Public Information Committee. ● Consumer Feedback Education, Training, and Support Services ● Conducts regular Consumer Rights trainings for RACSB staff members ● Educates individuals regarding their rights and the grievance process ● Supports the Local Human Rights Committee ● Monitors individual programs The Office of Consumer Affairs is located at the Ronald W. Branscome Building, 600 Jackson Street, Fred- ericksburg. The Utilization Review/Consumer Affairs Specialist, Jennifer Acors, can be reached at 540-899-4616. www.racsb.state.va.us 3 RACSB Staff Become ASIST Trainers As the Coordinator for RACSB Emergency Services, Jacque Nuzum wanted to add a suicide prevention piece to the services provided by her office. Ms. Nuzum and Melanie Sheppard, Emergency Services Therapist, became certified ASIST trainers (Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training) through the Virginia Department of Health, Division of Injury and Violence Prevention. The local community expressed interest in these trainings. Two trainings offered in March and May quickly reached capacity. A separate training for probation and parole officers was held in April. RACSB Substance Abuse Case Manager Krystal Parker stated that it was the best training she has ever attended. She shared that the training provided her with practical information she can use. ASIST, the most widely used intervention skills training in the United States, is a two-day intensive, interactive and practice-dominated course. It is designed to help caregivers recognize risk for suicide, intervene to prevent immediate harm, and link persons at risk to the next level of care. ASIST is often used by people in a variety of “front line” positions. It is for all caregivers (any person in a position of trust). It is suitable for school counselors, psychologists, so- Trainer Melanie Sheppard (right) provides feedcial workers, administrators, back to role-play participant Glenda Knight from Project LINK. nurses, case workers, youth tion initiatives in Virginia, please workers, police/correctional/juvenile visit: www.preventsuicideva.org. justice staff, foster care staff, clergy and all 'natural helpers' who work in RACSB Emergency Services Therathe field of human service (regardpists are available 24-hours a day, less of the age group served). 365-days a year by calling 540-3736876. To learn more about suicide preven- Additional Crisis Intervention Trainings Held for Officers Two Crisis Intervention Trainings for area law enforcement have been conducted this year with a third training scheduled for September. A total of 63 officers have participated in the trainings coordinated by the Rappahannock Area Crisis Intervention Team and led by certified local trainers. This 40-hour training provides officers the opportunity to enhance their skills for when they come into contact with individuals experiencing a mental health crisis. Officers learned to better recognize individuals suffering from mental illness, techniques to verbally de-escalate the situation, basic crisis intervention skills, and suicide intervention skills. 4 Trainer Frank Shannon with the Stafford County Sherriff’s Office is quick to point out that these tools can even be used by officers in rou- www.racsb.state.va.us tine traffic stops. The skills add value to any interaction with the public. Officers spend several hours of the training conducting role-plays where they encounter scenarios taken from real life experiences of the trainers. Scenarios include a veteran experiencing combat flashbacks and an individual threatening a public suicide. One of the scenarios features a man who has barricaded himself because he can no longer afford the medication that treats his mental illness. He man recognizes the benefits of the medication and is distraught over his declining mental state. After initially seeking to harm himself, the man begins to worry about the expense he is causing the county because the officers have spent so much time with him. The response from training participant Training participants respond to a call of a man negotiating with the devil for his soul over the telephone while in a retail store. Officer Paul Dooley with the Fredericksburg Police Department sums up the training perfectly. “You’re not in trouble. You’re in crisis and we’re here to help.” To learn more about the Rappahannock Area Crisis Intervention Team, please visit www.rappahannockareacit.org. Summer 2010 Establishing a Secure Drop-Off The Rappahannock Area Community Services Board (RACSB) is partnering with the Fredericksburg Police Department to provide security at the Crisis Stabilization Program at The Sunshine Lady House for Mental Health Wellness & Recovery. The presence of off-duty officers allows the program to serve as a secure drop-off site for the Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) and accept individuals on temporary detention orders (TDOs) in the future. The secure drop-off site will allow responding officers to return to the street faster and help individuals experiencing a mental health crisis receive appropriate treatment sooner than if incarcerated. Law enforcement personnel typically have to accompany individuals requiring a mental health assessment to the emergency department at a local hospital. The officers are required to stay with the individual while the prescreening takes place to determine the proper level of care. The process can take several hours. By utilizing the secure drop-off site, officers turn custody of the individual to the Fredericksburg Police Officer on duty and returns to his/her patrol. Officers working at The Sunshine Lady House for Mental Health Wellness & Recovery take part in getting to know the residents. They may join the residents and staff for dinner as well as participate in evening activities. The building of these relationships helps to reduce the stigma that can exist between law enforcement and individuals with mental health disorders. The off-duty officers began providing security on February 1, 2010 and are onsite from 3:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m. daily. The 26 officers rotate shifts and are considered parttime RACSB employees. The off-duty officers working in the program are in uniform and have a squad car onsite. To learn more about the Crisis Stabilization Program at The Sunshine Lady House for Mental Health Wellness & Recovery, please visit www.racsb.state.va.us and click on “Mental Health Services.” Kenmore Club Hosts Annual Law Enforcement Appreciation Luncheon At the sixth annual Law Enforcement Appreciation Luncheon hosted by Kenmore Club on May 3, 2010, Crisis Stabilization Coordinator John Butler provided an update on the establishment of a secure drop-off site at The Sunshine Lady House for Mental Health Wellness & Recovery. He discussed comparing the job descriptions of a Residential Counselor and Police Officer. The only similarity he could see was “other duties as assigned.” However, Butler pointed out that individuals in those positions do not do it for the money. They select these jobs because they want to help people. Both spend a lot of time listening to others, assessing the situation at hand, and looking for solutions. Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) trainSummer 2010 ers, Captain Mike Harvey with the Spotsylvania County Sheriff’s Office and Deputy Frank Shannon with the Stafford County Sheriff’s Office also attended the luncheon. Captain Harvey discussed reducing stigma not only for those with mental illness but also for those in uniform. He reminded the group that everyone is unique with their own hobbies and dreams. Brian Jackson, long-time Kenmore Club member and RACSB Captain Mike Harvey, Spotsylvania County Peer Specialist, organizes the an- Sheriff’s Office (foreground) and Deputy Frank Shannon, Stafford County Sheriff’s nual event. Jackson personally had a positive experience with a Officer, are the first local trainers for the Crisis Intervention Training. member of law enforcement many Psychosocial Rehabilitation Servyears ago while he was in crisis. ices are provided at Kenmore Club That experience has led him to look for adults with severe and persistent for ways to share his story and help mental illness. Club members are improve the relationship between officers and individuals experiencing a provided the opportunity to work and become self-supporting memmental health crisis. bers of the community. www.racsb.state.va.us 5 Annual Plant Sale and Mayfest Celebration The 24th annual Mayfest Celebration was held Saturday, May 1, 2010 at Rappahannock Adults Activities 750 Kings Highway location. A great line up of live entertainment, food, abundance of plants for sale, and wide array of activities helped draw the community to this fun event. Held the first Saturday in May, Mayfest is the annual fundraiser for RAAI. Approximately $25,000 was raised through plant sales and Mayfest. Proceeds benefit program participants who may lack the needed funding sources to attend the day support program. More than 140 individuals with an intellectual disability receive services from RAAI. The event started with a breakfast hosted by Intellectual Disability Support Coordinators. Activities included performances by Rappahannock Area Kids on the Block, plant sales, moon bounce, bake sale, face painting, antique World War II Jeep, Fredericksburg Res- cue Squad’s barrel train, White Oak Fire Department, silent auction, and raffle prizes. Live musical entertainment was provided by Dixie Bells and Company, Kelly and Cates Bellringers, Becky Bennett’s “Sounds of Silence,” singer Bob Williams, country singer J.D. Dulin, and First Class Country with Donnie Stevens. Mayfest is a day of celebration for participants, their families, and staff members. This annual event would not be possible without the hard work and dedication of the RAAI Board of Directors, staff, and countless volunteers. RAAI is a partner agency of the Rappahannock United Way. (Combined Federal Campaign #75505; Local Government Campaign #6414) Save the date! Plan to attend the 25th annual Mayfest Celebration on Saturday, May 7, 2011. The Rappahannock Adult Activities, Inc. (RAAI) volunteer Board of Directors consists of: 6 Virginia Clement Charles A. Cooper Basil “Bill” Doumas, Vice President John Elkins Debe Fults Susan Hartsook, President Tom Higgins Rebecca Leggitt www.racsb.state.va.us Lyle McWhirt Jean Rossbacher Jim Schaefer Susan Sili Terria L. Spencer Diana Tansill Kathy Valentine Martha Weston, Secretary/ Treasurer Thank you to the following organizations and individuals for their support of Mayfest: B1010.5 and NewsTalk 1230; Allman’s Barbecue; Union First Market Bank; Johnnie Johnson; Roxbury Farm & Garden Center; Rappahannock Area YMCA; Panera Bread; Luray Caverns; Gemstone Creations; Nakia Valentine of NV Creations; and Mrs. Tony Kent. Many RACSB staff members lent their talents and donated handmade items: Tawnia Brown, Residential Counselor II; Amy Clark, Devon Drive Group Home Manager; Elaine Clark, Supported Living Program; Beverly Collins, Supported Living Program; Kristin Dietz, Prevention Specialist; Lacey Fisher, New Hope Estates Group Home Manager; Danielle Hemperly, Supported Living Program; Tracy Mahone, Supported Living and Sponsored Placement Program Supervisor; Sophia Masvaure, Residential Counselor II; Cathleen Pessolano, Prevention Programs Manager; Barbara Poudrier, Wolfe Street Group Home Manager; Jennifer Quigley, Supported Living Program; and Lindsey Troyer, Leeland Road Group Home Manager. To view the donated items or to learn more about Mayfest, please visit: www.celebratemayfest.com Summer 2010 Sixth Annual “The Art of Recovery” Exhibit Held The sixth annual Art of Recovery exhibit opened in conjunction with First Fridays on May 7, 2010. Held at the Gallery at 915, the exhibit featured 35 original pieces of art created by individuals with mental illness. The artwork included original drawings, three-dimensional artwork, textiles, photography, and mixed media. The show is organized by Bill Hartland, Bridgewater Street Supervised Apartment Supervisor, and members of Kenmore Club. Following the exhibit opening, Kenmore Club hosted a reception. According to Hartland, “The exhibit continues to grow in the number of art submissions as well as the number of individuals in the community providing their support.” The Art of Recovery provides a forum for artists living with mental illness to gain confidence in their abilities, challenge mental health stigma, and experience community support. A small traveling exhibit was on display at the Walkerton The May 7, 2010 exhibit opening enjoyed a steady stream of visitors. Tavern in Glen Allen from May 26-29, 2010. The travelThe exhibit coincided with National ing exhibit was coordinated with the Mental Health Month in an effort to Henrico Area Mental Health and De- bring awareness to mental health isvelopmental Services. sues. Annual Candlelight Vigil of Hope The community once again showed their support for area residents living with the effects of mental illness by attending the sixth annual Candlelight Vigil of Hope on May 7, 2010. The event took place at Hurkamp Park in downtown Fredericksburg. Organized by members of the Recovery in Motion (RIM) peer support and advocacy group, the vigil is a show of support for ending discrimination against individuals living with mental illness. RIM and Kenmore Club members Brian Jackson and Mike McGuire served as emcees. Music was provided by local artist Phil Makely. Personal stories of recovery were provided by Gloria Cooke and Theresa Seymour. RIM founder and Kenmore Club member Velma Walker accepted a Mental Health Month Proclamation from Fredericksburg City Council Member George Solley. The keynote address was provided by Todd and Michelle Brown, whose daughter Carol Anne committed suicide in April 2009. The Browns have Summer 2010 dedicated much of the past year to educating the community about bipolar disorder, the mental illness they believe Carol Anne had. They recently launched a website offering information and resources related to bipolar disorder: www.bipolaraware.org. The vigil followed a reception at Kenmore Club celebrating Carrol Morgan provided a tribute to longtime Kenthe opening of “The Art of more Club member Bill King who passed away Recovery” Exhibit. recently. Carrol is a member of RIM and NAMIRappahannock. The Recovery in Motion Peer Support and Advocacy Group, is supported by: Mary Washington Hospital Community Service Fund, Mental Health America of Fredericksburg, National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) - Rappahannock, Rappahannock Area Community Services Board, Snowden at Fredericksburg, and Virginia Interfaith Committee on Mental Illness Ministries. The Rappahannock Area Community Services Board offers crisis intervention services 24-hours a day. 540-373-6876 Fredericksburg, Spotsylvania and Stafford Counties 804-633-4148 Caroline County 540-775-5064 King George County www.racsb.state.va.us 7 Special Olympics Annual Torch Run The residents of Wolfe Street Group Home laced up their tennis shoes and joined area law enforcement in Colonial Beach for the Virginia Law Enforcement Torch Run for Special Olympics on June 9, 2010. The residents ran the last leg of the race along side officers. They were met with cheers at the finish line. This is the first time the Special Olympic Torch Run was held in Colonial Beach. The family of a resident asked the group home to participate. Group Home Manager Barbara Poudrier shared that the residents all enjoyed the experience and are looking forward to participating next year. A local restaurant treated the group to lunch with the officers following the run. Each summer, law enforcement officials from across Virginia carry the Flame of Hope on a 1,900 mile journey to the Special Olympics Virginia Summer Games Grand Opening Ceremony in Richmond. This eight day Torch Run involves more than 2,000 Wolfe Street Group Home Residents are all smiles following their participation in the annual Virginia Law law enforcement offiEnforcement Torch Run for Special Olympics on June cers and personnel rep- 9, 2010. resenting more than passed through Stafford, Spotsylva200 law enforcement agencies nia, King George, and Caroline across Virginia. Counties on its way to the RichSeparate legs of the Torch Run mond. RACSB Driver Competes in National Roadeo The first place finisher in the van division of the 2010 Virginia Paratransit Driving Roadeo competition was RACSB staff member Eric Fonda. The event, held in Chesterfield on April 10, 2010, was conducted by the Community Transportation Association of Virginia. The competition included approximately 15 participants in the 15-passenger van division. Drivers were judged on three components: a written test, wheelchair securement, and a 10-part obstacle course which tested their decision-making skills and precision. Reflecting on his win, Fonda expressed his appreciation for his teammates from RACSB who helped him prepare for the competition. 8 Fonda represented the Commonwealth as the Virginia State Paratransit Roadeo Champion at the 2010 National Roadeo, held in Long Beach, California on May 23, 2010. The course proved challenging with Fonda finishing 13th. www.racsb.state.va.us moted to manager of the new Scottsdale Estates Group Home. He shared that it was a tight course and the competition included a difficult preinspection where competitors were required to identify pre-set flaws. Fonda competed against some of the best transit drivers in the country including former national champions. Fonda has been employed with RACSB for three years serving as a Residential Counselor II with the Belmont Supervised Apartment Program at the time of the state competition. He has since been pro- RACSB staff members joining Fonda at the state competition were (pictured from left): Larinda Robinson, Manager, Belmont Supervised Apartment Program; Tim Alsfeld, Van Driver, Specialized Transportation Program; and Jordan DeForte, Residential Counselor II, New Hope Estates Group Home. Fonda is pictured below with the course at the 2010 National Roadeo in the background. Summer 2010 Community Impact Award Presented to RAAI On May 15, 2010, at the Fifth Anniversary Celebration of All Saints Parish Hall, Christ Episcopal Church presented their Community Impact Award to the Rappahannock Adult Activities (RAAI). RAAI was selected to receive the recognition for outstanding programs and services to the community. Senator Edd Houck, a member of the church, presented the award to RAAI. He reminded attendees of the importance of being kind to your neighbors, no matter who they are and no matter their abilities. RAAI first began partnering with Christ Church in 1999. Participants assist in light cleaning as well as occasionally setting up the church for events. Participants access the library, shops, parks, and post office located nearby. RAAI is onsite nearly five days a week. Most recently, participants have begun arriving directly at the Church and using that facility as their daily base. The church, located in the area of Spotsylvania Courthouse, is in close proximity to the Edith O. Fleming Building, RACSBs Spotsylvania County Clinic and future day support site. Members of the RAAI Board of Directors, staff, and residents of Piedmont Drive Group Home and Stonewall Estates Group Home participated in the celebration. RAAI has been providing community-based developmental day services since 1976. A non-profit organization, RAAI is dedicated to providing valuable opportunities for adults with intellectual disability to participate successfully in the community. Participants enjoy valuable social, vocational, and recreational activities that build upon their relationships with their families, friends, and communities. Pictured from left: Jim Gillespie, Community Support Services Director; Senator Edd Houck; Kathy Valentine, past RAAI Board President; Susan Hartsook, RAAI Board President; Martha Weston, RAAI Board Member; Bill Doumas, RAAI Board Member; RAAI participant Joseph Parker; and Day Support Specialist Angela Brown. Planting a Pinwheels for Prevention Garden On April 11, 2010, the community came together in front of the Rappahannock United Way Building in Fredericksburg, VA to plant a “Pinwheels for Prevention Garden” in honor of the children of the Greater Fredericksburg Area. The event was held in conjuction with Child Abuse Prevention Month. Senator Edd Houck attended the dedication ceremony and challenged the youth and representatives of the local social service agencies who were present to continue to work together to be the safety net that our community needs during these difficult times when economic stressors make the job of Summer 2010 parenting event more challenging. The garden is sponsored by the Rappahannock Area April Blue Ribbon Coalition. The pinwheel is the symbol of child abuse prevention recognizing that it takes an outside force to make a pinwheel move. Together, the people of our community can be that outside force that posi- tively impacts us to act collectively to promote alternatives to child abuse and neglect. To learn more, visit www.preventchildabuseva.org. www.racsb.state.va.us 9 Celebrating 40 Years of Community-based Services Rappahannock Area Community Services Board (RACSB) marked 40 years of service to the community with a celebration event on June 12, 2010 at the Ronald W. Branscome Building (600 Jackson Street, Fredericksburg). The anniversary event featured: free food; live entertainment provided by singer Amy Clark, Devon Drive Group Home Manager and Rappahannock Area Kids on the Block; Blue-Gray Therapy Dogs; face painting by Connie Melvin, Intellectual Disability Residential Specialist; children activities; moon bounce; Fredericksburg Fire Department; Stafford County Sheriff’s Office and McGruff the Crime Dog and RACSBs Specialized Transportation Program. RACSB program areas had information booths where attendees could learn more about specific services provided by the agency. In 1968, the Virginia General Assembly passed legislation authoriz- ing local governments to establish Community Mental Health and Mental Retardation Services Boards. This would allow community services to be established at the local level to best meet the special needs of each locality. In 1970, the Frank C. Pratt Chapter of the Mental Health Association of Fredericksburg voted to provide the required funds to match state appropriations for the establishment of a local Community Services Board and encouraged the local governments to form a regional board as a link in the growing state network. That year, with a staff of less than ten, the Rappahannock Area Mental Health and Mental Retardation Services Board was established. Forty years later, RACSB has grown to 30 facilities with more than 400 staff members. Mental health services are provided to nearly 7,000 individuals annually. Another 3,000 individuals with substance use disorder receive services from RACSB. Almost 1,500 individuals with intel- lectual disability are supported in their home community. Early Intervention Services are provided to 500 infants and toddlers with developmental delays. More than 10,000 individuals benefit from RACSB Prevention programs. As RACSB celebrates its 40th anniversary, appreciation is extended to the various individuals and community organizations that have supported RACSB and the individuals we serve over the years. Thank you to everyone who attended and helped make the 40th anniversary event a success! Booksigning with Doris Buffett and Mike Zitz Local philanthropist and friend of RACSB, Doris Buffett was a big draw to the 40th anniversary celebration. Ms. Buffett was joined by biographer Mike Zitz to sign copies of her new biography “Giving It All Away: The Doris Buffett Story.” More than 100 copies were sold at the event. A portion of the book sales benefited RACSB. RACSB and Executive Director Ron Branscome are mentioned in the biography in the chapter titled “Mental Illness and the Buffetts” (page 189). Through The Sunshine Lady Foundation, Ms. Buffett pledged $2 million to RACSB in 2008 to construct an expanded 12-bed Crisis Stabilization Program at The Sunshine Lady House for Mental Health Wellness & Recovery. The donation also paid for the renovation of 818 Lafayette Boulevard into an eight-bed long-term boarding house for adults with serious mental illness. These two state-of-the-art facilities greatly enhance residential options for individuals living with mental illness in our community. Both became operational in 2009. 10 www.racsb.state.va.us The Fredericksburg community is fortunate to have Doris Buffett, sister to Warren Buffett, as a resident. Through her Sunshine Lady Foundation, Ms. Buffett has donated more than $100 million of her own money to charities and individuals. To learn more, visit www.sunshinelady.org. Summer 2010 Celebrating 40 Years of Community-based Services The Rappahannock Area Community Services Board (RACSB) extends sincere appreciation to the 40th anniversary program sponsors and organizations donating services for the event. The anniversary program was printed compliments of Stafford Printing. The Fredericksburg Hospitality House and Conference Center donated accommodations. Party Headquarters, located in the Doc Stone Plaza, donated the moon bounce. Culligan Water Company of Virginia donated several cases of bottled water. Full-page advertisers: Half-page advertisers: Quarter-page advertisers: ● Abbott Reshape and Revive ● John and Marie Kunlo ● Little Tire Co. ● National Alliance on Mental Illness - Rappahannock ● Rappahannock Area Agency on Aging ● Jack and Patricia Rowley Thank you to Roxbury Farm & Garden Center for assistance decorating the informational tents with beautiful hanging baskets. Summer 2010 www.racsb.state.va.us 11 New Group Home Welcomes Residents in Stafford County The Rappahannock Area Community Services Board (RACSB) began welcomeing residents to its ninth group home for adults with intellectual disability in June 2010. The new six-bed home is located in the beautiful Scottsdale Estates community in South Stafford County. RACSB has been providing residential services for adults with intellectual disabilities in our community since 1977. Group homes allow individuals to remain in the community near their families and natural supports. This is important as aging parents are no longer able to provide long-term care to their child with an intellectual disability. Without local residential options, many families are forced to send their loved ones to a state institution several hours a way. There are currently 147 individuals with intellectual disability waiting for residential services in our area. RACSB staff members provide 24hour structured support to residents. All RACSB group homes are licensed by the Virginia Department of Behavioral Health and Develop- mental Services (DBHDS). They are inspected annually by the local fire marshall as well as health department. Under Section 15.2291 of the Code of Virginia, licensed group homes of eight or fewer individuals qualify under local zoning ordinances as a single family residence, which is consistent with the requirements of the Federal Fair Housing Act. RACSB has broken ground for a tenth group home also located in Stafford County in the Clearview Heights neighborhood. This will also be a six-bed home. RACSB recently was notified of receipt of another HUD Section 811 grant to fund construction costs of an 11th group home to be located in Waverly Village in Spotsylvania County. In addition to community group homes, RACSB also offers Supported Living arrangements that allow an individual to live in housing of their own with staff providing support in the home. The Sponsored Placement Program matches individuals with foster families who provide room, board, and supervision while teaching independent living skills. RACSB currently operates two Supervised Apartment Programs that offer a greater level of independence for adults with intellectual disability. Car Seats Distributed to Low Income Families Healthy Families Rappahannock Area once again joined forces with GEICO and the Virginia Department of Health Low-Income Safety Seat Distribution and Education Program to host the third annual “Safety First Regional Car Seat Campaign” on June 12, 2010 at GEICO’s office in Stafford. A total of 202 car seats were distributed to area children receiving Medicaid. All families receiving the free car seats participated in a training on proper car seat use and received installation assistance from trained volunteers. Children received either a free convertible or booster seat. 12 www.racsb.state.va.us Founded in 1997, Healthy Families Rappahannock Area is an interagency program which provides support to at-risk firsttime parents with free home visitations, and referrals to other community resources. Their goal is to reduce child maltreatment and increase school readiness. The program assisted 763 families in Fiscal Year 2010 (July 1, 2009 through June 30, 2010). The Rappahannock Area Community Services Board serves as the fiscal agent. Healthy Families Rappahannock Area is a partner agency of the Rappahannock United Way. To learn more, please contact Healthy Families at 540-288-1937. For information about child passenger safety, please visit Safe Kids Virginia at www.vcuhealth.org/virginiasafekids/. Summer 2010 Support for Veterans and their Families The Virginia Wounded Warrior Program for Northwestern Health Planning Region I has support groups for area veterans and their family members. The groups, facilitated by Peer Specialists, provide support and friendship. The Combat Support Group (CSG) is open to all combat veterans, reservists, members of the guard, as well as civilian contractors who have served in combat zones. Veterans of any conflict are encouraged to attend. Meetings are held weekly on Tuesdays from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at the Fredericksburg Baptist Church in Room PA-113 (1019 Princess Anne Street, Fredericksburg; use the Princess Anne Street entrance). A separate support group for veterans is forming in Culpeper. The Family Support Group is open to any family members, dependents, and caregivers of those who have served in combat. The Family Support Group meets twice a month on Mondays from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at Calvary Chapel located at 1103 Potomac Avenue (off Route 218 – White Oak Road), Fredericksburg, VA 22405. The group meets in the Youth center located directly across the street from the Chapel. Please call in advance to arrange childcare assistance. Meetings are scheduled for August 30, September 13, and September 27. For more information on the groups, please call Veteran Peer Specialists Claude Boushey (540-842-2481 or [email protected]) or Kevin Williams (540-273-4733 or [email protected]). In 2009, RACSB received notice of a grant award from the Virginia Department of Veterans Services to provide services to veterans and their families. The Virginia Wounded Warrior Program (VWWP) was created by the 2008 General Assembly to ensure that services to veterans and their families are readily available in all areas of the state. For more information about the Virginia Wounded Warrior Program, please contact Camilla Schwoebel, Regional Coordinator, at 540-3733223, ext. 3085. To learn more about the Virginia Wounded Warrior Program in our area, please visit www.nwvawoundedwarrior.org. Military Appreciation Day to benefit the Virginia Wounded Warrior Program and Operation First Response Saturday, November 13, 2010 National Guard Armory 1700 Jefferson Davis Highway Fredericksburg, VA 22401 Informational fair for area veterans and their families. Free food, children activities, live entertainment, and more! For vendor opportunities and other inquiries, please contact Camilla Schwoebel (540-373-3223, ext. 3085 or [email protected]) Summer 2010 Meet the Team Camilla Schwoebel, Regional Coordinator A veteran of the U.S. Coast Guard, having served on both active duty and in the Reserves. She is also a military spouse of 26 years. Schwoebel used her GI Bill to attend graduate school at California State University at Sacramento, where she received her Masters in Counseling. She is a licensed professional counselor with experience in the substance abuse field, with adolescents, and with military families. Claude Boushey, Veteran Peer Support Specialist - An U.S. Army veteran, having served two combat tours in Iraq and two Peacekeeping missions in Haiti and Bosnia. While on his first tour in Iraq, Boushey was severely injured in a helicopter crash. In addition to his work with VWWP, he also works as a command pilot in the Maryland State Police and does volunteer work with the Disabled American Veterans and the Wounded Warrior Project. Boushey holds a Masters Degree in Aeronautical Science from Emory-Riddle University. Kevin Williams, Veteran Peer Support Specialist - A 24-year veteran of the U.S. Navy who served in the Medical Corps as a Navy Medic and medical administrator. He served in both the Gulf War and Operation Enduring Freedom. Williams holds a Bachelors of Science Degree in Healthcare Management from Park University and a Masters of Arts Degree in Management from Regent University. In addition to his work with VWWP, he teaches Healthcare Administration and Management at the University of Phoenix. www.racsb.state.va.us 13 Operation Frontline Pre-Doctoral Clinical Psychology Internship The Rappahannock Area Community Services Board (RACSB) is in its 10th year of the pre-doctoral psychology internship program. The program is designed to prepare doctoral candidates for the practice of psychology. A graduation luncheon was held on June 26, 2010, at the Edith O. Fleming Building in Spotsylvania County for departing Fiscal Year 2010 interns. Project LINK recently partnered with the Family Nutrition Program of the Virginia Cooperative Extension to offer Operation Frontline cooking classes to women participants and their families. The program helps low income families learn to prepare healthier meals within their limited budgets. Thirteen individuals served by Project LINK participated. The class, a series of six sessions, allowed participants the opportunity to prepare nutritious meals with a volunteer professional chef. Each session included a free meal and a complimentary take home bag of groceries to encourage participants to put their new culinary skills to use. A portion of each session was devoted to nutrition education. Extension Agents Kim Elkins and Mary Belman helped participants read and understand labels as well appropriate portion sizes. One lesson had participants measure the amount of sugar in leading fruit juices and soft drinks. It was eye-opening for mothers to learn just how much sugar their children were ingesting. Participants are shown healthier, fresh snack options to replace sugary or salty prepackaged snacks. Educational lessons also covered food safety and menu planning. The final class was held at the local Wegmans grocery store. Participants compared labels as they shopped throughout the store.They were treated to a celebratory lunch and graduation ceremony. Project LINK Manager Glenda Knight was pleased with the program. She shared that the cooking class was a positive social activity. “It was an avenue for participants to realize that they can have fun without alcohol or illicit substances.” Project LINK is an interagency project aimed at helping pregnant and parenting women with risk factors for substance abuse or personal histories of chemical dependency. Its mission is to link women to resources that foster their physical, emotional, spiritual, and family well-being. The Virginia Cooperative Extension is a partnership of Virginia Tech and Virginia State University. To learn more about their programs, please visit www.ext.vt.edu. 14 www.racsb.state.va.us Amrita Joshi of the University of Hartford, Susan Reeves and Caron Casciato, both of Argosy University, Washington D.C. Campus, all speak highly of their experience at RACSB. Joshi worked at the Fredericksburg Clinic and gained experience working at the Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS) at the University of Mary Washington. Joshi shared that her “confidence in working with a variety of individuals has vastly improved over the year. And the supervision doubled my knowledge base and clinical skills.” Reeves will soon begin residency at a local private practice. According to Reeves, “the forensic experience has been wonderful and something I may not have pursued without the opportunities offered by RACSB.” Casciato is working to complete her dissertation and is seeking postdoctoral employment. As far as advice to the new interns that began June 28, 2010, Casciato says to “take advantage of the clinical experience and all that can be learned from the staff at RACSB.” During their time with RACSB, interns provide treatment and assessment services under the supervision of RACSB psychologists and psychology residents. Interns provide 2,000 hours of service during their tenure with RACSB. An intern the previous year, Lindsey Luedtke, recently returned to RACSB as a full-time psychologist at the Spotsylvania County Clinic. Summer 2010 Recovery Month Celebration “The Dawn of a New Day” Monday, September 27, 2010 6:00 p.m. Pratt Memorial Park Candlelight Vigil Mayor’s Proclamation Speakers sharing their personal stories of recovery Community Support Sponsored by the Bragg Hill Community Coalition: Bragg Hill Family Life Center; Drug Treatment Court; Rappahannock Area Community Services Board and Project LINK; and Fredericksburg Area Food Bank Save the Date! Clinic Open House Events for Legislators and Community Members 6:30 p.m. - 8:00 p.m. October 12 - Stafford County Charles A. Cooper Building October 13 - King George County Marie O. Kunlo Building October 20 - City of Fredericksburg Ronald W. Branscome Building October 21 - Caroline County Patricia K. Spaulding Building Join the Rappahannock Area Community Services Board at their fall open house events to learn more about their community-based programs and services. RACSB will take this opportunity to recognize three volunteers for their service to the community in the areas of mental health, intellectual disability, and substance abuse. Respond one week in advance of the open house to Michelle Wagaman, Public Information Specialist (540373-3223, ext. 3074 or [email protected]). Summer 2010 Upcoming Events A Smile Like Yours Second Annual Golf Tournament Benefiting The Arc of Rappahannock’s Dental Program Friday, September 10, 2010 Register by September 2nd 540-318-6061, ext. 111 arc.communitypoint.org Rappahannock United Way Days of Caring Fredericksburg - September 16, 2010 Caroline County - October 14, 2010 King George County - October 21, 2010 www.rappahannockunitedway.org Mental Illness Awareness Week October 3- 9, 2010 Spotsylvania’s Third Annual Out of the Darkness Community Walk Saturday, October 16, 2010 Patriot Park Amphitheatre 8:00 a.m. Check-in; 10:00 a.m. Walk www.spotsyootd.org CARF Accreditation Surveyors will be onsite from Wednesday, October 27 through Friday, October 29, 2010 RACSB has previously been awarded five three-year accreditations Craft Fair to Benefit the Program for Teen Parents Saturday, November 13, 2010 9:00 a.m. - 2:30 p.m. Riverbend High School, 12301 Spotswood Furnace Road, Fredericksburg Pathways to the Future Free informational conference addressing issues of transition from school to adulthood Keynote Speaker: J. Erin Rihle, Director of Project Search, recognized leader in employment for people with disabilities and employer education Saturday, November 13, 2010 9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. James Monroe High School Fredericksburg, Virginia Visit www.racsb.state.va.us for additional information and registration. www.racsb.state.va.us 15 Employee Service Recognitions John Butler, Crisis Stabilization Coordinator Robert Turner, Therapist, Spotsylvania County Clinic 20 Years Sherrie Johnson, Child & Adolescent Therapist, Fredericksburg Clinic DeAnna Neal, Infant and Child Support Coordinator Patricia Smith, Day Support Counselor, Rappahannock Adult Activities 15 Years Clarice Barker, Day Support Specialist Emily Barker, Information Technology Data Specialist Joan Gillis, Parent Educator, Program for Teen Parents Scott Henry, Therapist, Caroline County Clinic Rosbie Herbert, Residential Counselor I, Floater Tracy Mahone, Supported Living and Sponsored Placement Supervisor Susan McDonald, Residential Counselor, Devon Drive Group Home Kathy Murphy, Mental Health Nurse, Fredericksburg Clinic Dr. Robert Niccolini, Psychiatrist Sheila Thompson, Residential Counselor, Igo Road Group Home Tiffany Williams, Residential Counselor II, Cowan Boulevard Supervised Apartment Program Sheila Winslow, Residential Specialist, Intellectual Disability Supported Living Program 10 Years Marcia Carlisle, Residential Counselor II, Igo Road Group Home India Daniels, Residential Counselor, Piedmont Drive Group Home Alicia Deavers, Office Manager, A Woman’s Place Five Years 16 www.racsb.state.va.us Kathy Henderson, Day Support Counselor, Rappahannock Adult Activities Paulette Johnson, Mental Health Residential Specialist John Lantis, Property Maintenance Technician Christine Oxman, Residential Counselor, Scottsdale Estates Group Home Cordelia Ray, Day Support Counselor Robert Rezendes, Residential Counselor II, Piedmont Drive Group Home Pamela Robins, Substance Abuse Therapist, Probation & Parole Office Judy Saddler-Nieder, Substance Abuse Therapist, Probation & Parole Office Megan Sparks, Infant and Child Support Coordinator Debra Sturgis, Data Entry Clerk Bryon Yon, Mental Health Residential Specialist Bob Bowie, Emergency Services Therapist Shawn Brown, Mental Health Residential Specialist Lynn Carey, Residential Counselor, Wolfe Street Group Home Florence Chew, Residential Counselor, Ruffins Pond Group Home Jordan DeForte, Residential Counselor II, New Hope Estates Group Home Eric Fonda, Scottsdale Estates Group Home Manager Kristi Irby, Residential Counselor II, Bridgewater Street Supervised Apartment Program Brian Jackson, Peer Coach/Residential Aide, Home Road Supervised Apartment Program Brenda Knott, Residential Counselor II, Crisis Stabilization Program Jermaine Lane, Residential Counselor II, Bridgewater Street Supervised Apartment Program Jennifer Marshall, School-based Three Years Mental Health Therapist, Therapeutic Day Treatment Program Lorraine Miller, Mental Health Nurse, Crisis Stabilization Program Lincoln Saludez, Residential Counselor, Leeland Road Group Home Brandon Schwandt, Residential Counselor, New Hope Estates Group Home Shontae Threatt, Mental Health Residential Specialist, Bridgewater Street Supervised Apartment Program Judy Williams-Gregory, Intellectual Disability Residential Counselor, Supported Living Program Jim Willis, Therapist, Fredericksburg Clinic Lynda Woode, Residential Counselor, Stonewall Estates Group Home Dr. Scott Young, Psychiatrist Monte Abbott, Residential Counselor, Home Road Supervised Apartment Program Carolyn Brackett, Residential Counselor, Devon Drive Group Home Elaine Clark, Intellectual Disability Residential Counselor, Supported Living Program Nicole Coryell, Day Support Specialist, Rappahannock Adult Activities Pablo Cuadrado, Residential Counselor, Piedmont Drive Group Home Dionne DeTouche, Intellectual Disability Support Coordinator Ryan Eagles, Speech Pathologist, Parent Education – Infant Development Program Christine Graham, Substance Abuse Therapist, A Woman’s Place Erin Harrell, Residential Counselor, Wolfe Street Group Home Jason McIntosh, Mental Health Case Manager Kristian Moore, Residential Counselor, Crisis Stabilization Program One Year Summer 2010 Employee Changes January - June 2010 Temi Ajayi is now a full-time Residential Counselor at Lafayette Boulevard Boarding House, effective May 16, 2010. Kallista Cadden, Mental Health Residential Specialist, Lafayette Boulevard Boarding House, transferred to Mental Health Supportive Residential Services, effective May 17, 2010. William Cooper is now a full-time Residential Counselor II at the Crisis Stabilization Program, effective June 13, 2010. Nicole Coryell is now a full-time Day Support Specialist, effective June 28, 2010. Pablo Cuadrado, Property Maintenance Accounting Specialist, transferred to be a Residential Counselor at Piedmont Drive Group Home, effective February 22, 2010. Dan Dandridge is now a full-time Residential Counselor at Cowan Boulevard Supervised Apartment Program, effective June 13, 2010. Eric Fonda, Residential Counselor II, Belmont Supervised Apartment Program, was promoted to Scottsdale Estates Group Home Manager, effective June 7, 2010. Angela Henderson, Residential Counselor, New Hope Estates Group Home, transferred to be a Day Support Counselor, Rappahannock Adult Activities, effective May 17, 2010. Paul Hinsley, part-time Residential Counselor at Piedmont Drive, is now a full-time Residential Counselor at Scottsdale Estates Group Home, effective June 28, 2010. Christoper Gambell, Residential Counselor, transferred from New Hope Estates Group Home to Wolfe Street Group Home, effective February 8, 2010. Rosbie Herbert, Residential Counselor, Leeland Road Group Home, is a Residential Floater, effective June 7, 2010. Lynne Higgins, Residential Counselor at Igo Road Group Home, is now a Day Support Aide, effective June 28, 2010. Employee Service Recognition Continued from page 12. Patricia Newman, Mental Health Case Manager Peter Ogden, Van Driver, Specialized Transportation Program Krystal Parker, Substance Abuse Case Manager Melonie Peters, Day Support Spe- O ne Yea r Summer 2010 Joan Gillis, previously Project LINK Specialist and Parent Educator with the Program for Teen Parents, returned to working solely as a Parent Educator, effective March 19, 2010. Cosandra McBride, Residential Counselor, transferred from Piedmont Drive Group Home to the Home Road Supervised Apartment Program, effective January 25, 2010. Mary Newman, Residential Counselor II, Stonewall Estates Group Home, transferred to the Belmont Supervised Apartment Program, effective July 12, 2010. Robin Owens, Infant & Child Support Coordinator, is transferring to be a Residential Counselor at Devon Drive Group Home, effective April 19, 2010. Christine Oxman, part-time Residential Counselor at Belmont Supervised Apartment Program, is now a full-time Residential Counselor at Scottsdale Estates Group Home, effective June 13, 2010. Christy Pursell is now a Day Support Specialist at the Rappahannock Adult Activities Stafford County site, effective March 15, 2010. Brandon Schwandt, Residential Counselor, transferred from Wolfe Street Group Home to New Hope Estates Group Home, effective February 8, 2010. Shirley Shields, Residential Counselor, transferred from Leeland Road Group Home to Cowan Boulevard Supervised Apartment Program, effective February 8, 2010. Lynne Taylor, Mental Health Residential Counselor II, transferred from Home Road Supervised Apartment Program to Lafayette Boulevard Boarding House, effective May 17, 2010. Lindsey Troyer, Lead Day Support Specialist, Rappahannock Adult Activities, has been promoted to Leeland Road Group Home Manager, effective April 19, 2010. DeAndra Vaughan, Residential Counselor - Floater, has been promoted to Residential Counselor II at Leeland Road Group Home, effective April 5, 2010. cialist, Rappahannock Adult Activities Melissa Roth, Residential Counselor II, Home Road Supervised Apartment Program Emmanuel Sarfo, Residential Counselor II, Home Road Supervised Apartment Program Cecelia Sawyer, Residential Counselor, Belmont Supervised Apartment Program Abdul Sesay, Mental Health Nurse, Spotsylvania County Clinic Brandie Williams, Special Educator, Parent Education – Infant Development Program Frank Wyckoff, Substance Abuse Therapist, Rappahannock Regional Jail Congratulations and thank you! www.racsb.state.va.us 17 Welcome New Employees January - June 2010 Jennifer Blanchette, Psychology Intern, Fredericksburg Clinic Dr. Brandie Bartlett, Clinical Psychologist, Fredericksburg Clinic Samantha Brehm, Residential Counselor, Crisis Stabilization Program Samantha Bunker, Classroom-based Behavioral Specialist Kelly Camp, Infant and Child Support Coordinator, Fredericksburg Jessica Carnegie, Residential Counselor, Lafayette Boulevard Boarding House Elizabeth Carter, Day Support Aide, Rappahannock Adult Activities Joanna Carter, Residential Counselor I, Devon Drive Group Home Sharika Chappell, Residential Counselor, Scottsdale Estates Group Home Telina Chavez, Day Support Counselor, Rappahannock Adult Activities William Cooper, Residential Counselor II, Crisis Stabilization Program Kathryn Deters, Office Associate, Parent Education Infant Development Program Chris Dines, Information Technology Specialist Rebecca Dowling, Day Support Specialist, Rappahannock Adult Activities Brenda Duiguid, Stonewall Estates Group Home Manager Debbie Fuller, Project LINK Specialist, A Woman’s Place Sheila Hice, Mental Health Nurse, Crisis Stabilization Program Paul Hinsley, Residential Counselor, Scottsdale Estates Group Home Sara Hinsley, Property Management Accounting Specialist Theresa Howard, Residential Counselor, Scottsdale Estates Group Home Nathan Jones, Psychology Intern, Spotsylvania County Clinic Arezoo Khanzadeh, Psychology Intern, Caroline and Stafford County Clinics Chrissy Lawrence, Residential Counselor II, Scottsdale Estates Group Home Lindsey Luedtke, Psychologist Kate Mason, Classroom-based Behavioral Specialist Janae McKie, Infant and Child Support Coordinator, Fredericksburg Clinic Barbara Meyer, Mental Health Nurse, Crisis Stabilization Program Stephanie Minor, Residential Counselor, New Hope Estates Group Home 18 www.racsb.state.va.us Joy Myers, Residential Counselor, Lafayette Boulevard Boarding House Thanh Nguyen, Mental Health Nurse, Crisis Stabilization Program Kari Norris, Mental Health Case Manager, Rappahannock Regional Jail Melanie Peterson, Classroom-based Behavioral Specialist Daniel Poe, Day Support Aide, Rappahannock Adult Activities Diana Pool, Intern, Fredericksburg Clinic Tara Pope-Waddy, Day Support Specialist, Rappahannock Adult Activities Elesia Quinerly, Mental Health Therapist, Rappahannock Regional Jail Michael Rakes, Residential Counselor I, Piedmont Drive Group Home Rhonda Rhodes, Classroom-based Behavioral Specialist Angela Samuels, Van Driver, Specialized Transportation Program Caitrin Smith, Intern, Prevention Programs Tina Stringer, Office Manager, Caroline County Clinic Mary Sudduth, Mental Health/Substance Abuse Therapist, Crisis Stabilization Program Dianna Tanner, Intern, Caroline County Clinic Takeya Thomas, Residential Counselor, Igo Road Group Home Joseph Tweeddale, Substance Abuse Case Manager, Adult Drug Treatment Court Amy Undercoffer, Intern, Prevention Programs Margith Vaz, Residential Counselor, Lafayette Boulevard Boarding House Renee Wells, Office Associate, Parent Education - Infant Development Program Eric Williams, Residential Counselor I, New Hope Estates Group Home Kevin Williams, Veteran Peer Specialist Emily Wilson, Occupational Therapist, Parent Education - Infant Development Program Carrie Zollman, Residential Counselor, Leeland Road Group Home Employment opportunities are updated weekly at www.racsb.state.va.us. Click on “Careers” to learn more. Summer 2010 H. Rex Holland Employee of the Month Award Winners January 2010 - Melodie Eggleston, Family Support Worker, Healthy Families Rappahannock Area “Mel has been active in Healthy Families’ advocacy efforts. She has worked with families to share their stories with local and state legislators, emphasizing the importance of early childhood and parenting education. During a year when many families are dealing with unemployment and financial stress, Mel worked with local agencies to make sure that families that needed holiday assistance were able to receive support. All of this was done while still completing home visits and providing the support and encouragement that her families know they can count on.” February 2010 - Brian Anderson, Mental Health Residential Specialist “Brian keeps a calm and positive attitude which spreads to others around him. Brian has come to work on days off and worked extra hours to make sure those he serves have their needs met. Brian also works well with the families of those he serves. He helps them develop with constructive solutions in times of crisis. Most recently, Brian drove to Western State Hospital to pick up an individual when more than12 inches of snow was on the ground and the agency was closed.” March 2010 - Karen Robertson, Intellectual Disability Residential Counselor, Supported Living Program “Karen displays the sweetest, most gentle mannerism and extreme patience. These personality traits have been the reason for her success with several individuals served in the Supported Living Program. Her multi tasking skills are impeccable, which she does with a smile on her face and with a positive attitude. Karen is valued for her expertise and her positive spirit which she conveys to all that know her on a daily basis.” April 2010 – Julia Orrock, Reimbursement Technician “Julia strives daily to maximize the agency’s revenue by remaining on top of client financial eligibility and the Medicaid billing. She has provided invaluable assistance with the implementation of the new billing system by sharing Medicaid billing knowledge and assisting where needed. She has also worked extra hours to review cash entry in the new system for accuracy so the accounting period could be closed in a timely manner. Julia created and maintained a spreadsheet that will assist programs in tracking approximately 350 Medicaid authorizations.” May 2010 – Heather Hernandez, Day Support Counselor, Rappahannock Adult Activities “Heather coordinates two groups of individuals who need customized services to maintain their day support placement. She consistently uses person-centered tools with her team of staff to find creative ways to support these individuals. Heathers implemented detailed weekly routines, which often include five or more outings, per day, to provide a release for the high intensity of the individuals she serves. The incident reports for this group were greatly reduced as a result of these practices.” Summer 2010 June 2010 – Eric Fonda, Residential Counselor II, Belmont Supervised Apartments (recently promoted to Scottsdale Estates Group Home Manager) “Eric is a role model for the individuals we support and other residential support staff. Beyond his excellent attendance, dedication and strong work ethic, Eric goes above and beyond the call of duty. He excels at his position and is easy to talk to, always willing to lend an ear and helping hand to any concerns or suggestions. Eric is a fantastic team player and goes to trainings and other educational opportunities to increase his knowledge in order to better assist the individuals we serve. And he enjoys teaching other support staff.” www.racsb.state.va.us 19 Rappahannock Area Community Services Board 600 Jackson Street, Fredericksburg, VA 22401 www.racsb.state.va.us 540-373-3223 RACSB Newsletter published quarterly by the Rappahannock Area Community Services Board Executive Director - Ronald W. Branscome / Editor - Michelle T. Wagaman ADMINISTRATION/ EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Ronald W. Branscome Building 600 Jackson Street Fredericksburg, VA 22401 540-373-3223 V/TTY OUTPATIENT & CASE MANAGEMENT Fredericksburg Clinic Ronald W. Branscome Building 600 Jackson Street Fredericksburg, VA 22401 540-373-3223 V/TTY Spotsylvania County Clinic Edith O. Fleming Building 7424 Brock Road Spotsylvania, VA 22553 540-582-3980 V/TTY Stafford County Clinic Charles A. Cooper Building 15 Hope Road Stafford, VA 22554 540-659-2725 V/TTY Caroline County Clinic Patricia K. Spaulding Building 19254 Rogers Clark Boulevard Ruther Glen, VA 22546 804-633-9997 V/TTY King George County Clinic Marie O. Kunlo Building 8479 St. Anthony’s Road King George, VA 22485 540-775-9879 V/TTY A Woman’s Place 2016 Lafayette Boulevard Fredericksburg, VA 22401 540-891-3136 EMERGENCY SERVICES Fredericksburg: 540-373-6876 Stafford: 540-373-6876 Spotsylvania: 540-373-6876 Caroline: 804-633-4148 King George: 540-775-5064 DAY SUPPORT SERVICES Rappahannock Adult Activities(RAAI) Harper A. Gordon Building 750 Kings Highway Fredericksburg, VA 22405 540-373-7643 The Gathering Place (RAAI) Patricia K. Spaulding Building 19254 Rogers Clark Boulevard Ruther Glen, VA 22546 804-633-5721 Twin Lakes (RAAI) Twin Lakes Plaza 1646 Lafayette Boulevard Fredericksburg, VA 22401 540-372-6827 or 372-6981 Stafford County Clinic (RAAI) Charles A. Cooper Building 15 Hope Road Stafford, VA 22554 540-659-8527 V/TTY King George County Clinic (RAAI) Marie O. Kunlo Building 8479 St. Anthony’s Road King George, VA 22485 540-775-6590 V/TTY Psychosocial Rehabilitation Program - Kenmore Club Barbara C. Terry Building 632 Kenmore Avenue Fredericksburg, VA 22401 540-373-7737 EARLY INTERVENTION Parent Education-Infant Development Program Ronald W. Branscome Building 600 Jackson Street Fredericksburg, VA 22401 540-371-2712 Infant & Toddler Connection of the Rappahannock Area 540-372-3561 877-268-4169 (toll-free) PREVENTION SERVICES DARE To Be You, Second Step & Too Good For Drugs Bowman Center 3306 Bourbon Street Fredericksburg, VA 22408 540-374-3337 Healthy Families Rappahannock Area Charles A. Cooper Building 15 Hope Road Stafford, VA 22554 540-288-1937 Project LINK A Woman’s Place 2016 Lafayette Boulevard Fredericksburg, VA 22401 540-891-3132 Program for Teen Parents Edith O. Fleming Building 7424 Brock Road Spotsylvania, VA 22553 540-582-3980 (Spotsylvania County Only) Rappahannock Area Kids on the Block Ronald W. Branscome Building 600 Jackson Street Fredericksburg, VA 22401 540-373-3223 RESIDENTIAL SERVICES Crisis Stabilization Program at the Sunshine Lady House for Mental Health Wellness & Recovery 615 Wolfe Street Fredericksburg, VA 22401 540-374-3386 Mental Health Supportive Residential Services 401 Bridgewater Street Fredericksburg, VA 22401 540-899-4516 Bridgewater Supervised Apartment Program 405-409 Bridgewater Street Fredericksburg, VA 22401 540-899-4673 Riverplace Supervised Apartments 708 Sophia Street Fredericksburg, VA 22401 540-899-4516 Liberty Street Supervised Apartments 915 Liberty Street Fredericksburg, VA 22401 540-899-4516 Home Road Supervised Apartments 200 Home Road Fredericksburg, VA 22405 540-899-4086 Lafayette Boulevard Boarding House 818 Lafayette Boulevard Fredericksburg, VA 22401 540-372-3590 Intellectual Disability Residential Services Bowman Center 3306 Bourbon Street Fredericksburg, VA 22408 540-899-4358 Intellectual Disability Sponsored Placement Program & Supported Living Bowman Center 3306 Bourbon Street Fredericksburg, VA 22408 540-899-4436 or 373-9891 Belmont Supervised Apartments 2524 Carriage Lane Apt. 3D Fredericksburg, VA 22401 540-899-4437 Cowan Boulevard Supervised Apartments 2340 Cowan Boulevard Apt. 302/303 Fredericksburg, VA 22401 540-899-4483 US Postage Paid Non-Profit Org. Fredericksburg, VA Permit No. 210 Devon Drive Group Home 729 Welsh Drive Ruther Glen, VA 22546 804-448-1510 Igo Road Group Home 6159 Igo Road King George, VA 22485 540-775-3860 Leeland Road Group Home 82 Leeland Road Fredericksburg, VA 22405 540-899-4430 New Hope Estates Group Home 163 New Hope Church Road Fredericksburg, VA 22405 540-372-3585 Piedmont Drive Group Home 11430 Piedmont Drive Fredericksburg, VA 22407 540-786-3676 Ruffins Pond Group Home 10100 Heriot Row Fredericksburg, VA 22408 540-654-1700 Scottsdale Estates Group Home 2 Scottsdale Drive Fredericksburg, VA 22405 540-899-4935 Stonewall Estates Group Home 601 Halleck Street Fredericksburg, VA 22407 540-785-9626 Wolfe Street Group Home 815 Wolfe Street Fredericksburg, VA 22401 540-899-4428 SPECIALIZED TRANSPORTATION Bowman Center 11903 Main Street Fredericksburg, VA 22408 540-899-4331