2018 July-August Cornerstone Newsletter

A NEXUS NEWSLETTER
JULY/AUGUST 2018
cornerst ne
IN THIS ISSUE
Creating a Culture 1
Getting your voice HEARD 2
Planning for the Future 3
Focus: Individuals 5
Value of Accreditation 5
Choosing the Right Care 6
Our Seat at theTable 7
Powered by Purpose 9
Bustling Summer at MLA 11
Namaste in Gerard 13
Heroes Rise to the Occasion 15
25th
Anniversary of IOA 17
Woodbourne says Farewell to
TaraWilliams 19
KFF’sTwo-Wheeled
Donations 21
NGL Humanizes BPD 23
PATH’s Camp Connect 2018 25
purposeUNITING

advice in difficult situations. Leaders should give people the
benefit of the doubt and be clear about what is expected.
6. Even though there will be times when I have to make
unpopular decisions, I will seek input, when possible, before
making major decisions. Different opinions, viewpoints, and
alternative solutions will be welcomed and discussed with
various groups during decision-making.
7. We will work towards a unified voice among senior
leadership, and with time, across all layers of Nexus. Leaders
will be united in decisions and understanding so there is
clarity about our direction.
8. I will encourage clear standards and procedures, clarity
around roles and responsibilities, and structure in our
delivery of care so we are accountable to doing our best work
and accomplishing our mission. I expect us to be cognizant
of how we can improve processes and systems as I believe
that many problems are caused by a breakdown of systems,
and not because of people.
9. As we continue to evolve, I will seek better alignment,
integration, and collaboration between our various services,
sites, and affiliates. We need more clarity around the
relationship of Nexus and its services, as well as the role
that corporate departments play in support and oversight.
I will strive for a stronger connection, both visibly and
functionally, throughout Nexus so that our identities,
strengths, influence, and voice are well integrated.
10. I want to establish our expertise in working with and
supporting families and treating complex mental health
problems. Nexus will work to provide interventions that are
effective, cutting-edge, and evidence- and research-based so
we know that our services have positive, lasting results. New
ideas are encouraged to help strengthen our organization and
services.
I look forward to working with each of you as Nexus transforms
to become a strong, unified organization in purpose and impact.
1 | JULY/AUGUST 2018
CEO Message
Dr. Michelle K. Murray
CEO
As the newly appointed
CEO, I want to outline my
leadership style and what
you can expect from me.
1. You may hear me
reference Nexus’ outcomes,
purpose, and impact. I
want employees to have a good sense of our impact and have
an aligned message to communicate our outcomes. My hope
is for every employee to be able to identify their purpose and
understand their effect on others.
2. I will emphasize community outreach, and be involved at
events, work in partnership with site leadership, and stay
informed on major issues or concerns across the organization.
To create a strong partnership between Nexus senior leaders
and site executive directors, I will hold regular meetings to
better align our efforts and strategies.
3. My goal is to enhance communication from the corporate
office to the sites, and from myself to all staff. I will encourage
outreach from senior leadership, myself, and corporate
departments through in-person meetings, bi-monthly briefs,
newsletters, organizational chats, webinars, email blasts, etc.
Make sure to read these messages to stay informed on major
organizational decisions or actions.
4. I will establish a culture of openness, trust, directness, and
safety in my interaction with others, and expect the same
behavior from all leaders. I will demonstrate our values, invite
and listen to feedback, and not be threatened by information
so that employees feel comfortable to ask questions, engage in
difficult conversations, and share disagreements.
5. I expect employees, particularly leaders, to talk directly about
concerns, problems, or disagreements, and to not engage in
conversations or actions that encourage negative feelings, create
problems, or reinforce discouragement and hopelessness. It’s
important to be solution-oriented and lean on each other for
Creating a Culture:
Alignment, Unity, and Integration

JULY/AUGUST 2018 | 2
HR Report
Jennifer McIntosh
VP of Human Resources
Get your Voice HEARD!
As a leader, have you ever asked for opinions and heard
nothing but silence? As an employee, have you ever sat silent
because you felt like your opinion didn’t matter or were
uncomfortable speaking up?
Our Nexus Employee Engagement Survey consistently
shows that lack of communication and miscommunication
are always at the top of the list for improvement. Lack
of communication and miscommunication are not only
common in many workplaces, but detrimental to employee
morale and productivity.
Leaders can foster open communication by creating a “voice-
empowered culture” where they:
• Build a foundation of trust. Leaders must communicate
openly, share information, and stay visible. Don’t hide in
your office; walk around so you are seen as available and
ready to listen.
• Create feelings of safety. Pay attention to how you react
when others offer ideas. If you shut down or roll your eyes,
do not expect much involvement from your staff.
• Be open and supportive of ideas. Allow incomplete ideas,
ask for feedback on your ideas, be open to criticism, and
admit when you are wrong.
• Respond. Show your employees the impact of their
suggestions, recognize them, and respond individually with
the “why” if their ideas are not favorable.
• Provide guidance. If someone is monopolizing the meeting
or rude while others share their opinions, take that person
aside and explain that you appreciate the feedback, but they
are making others uncomfortable. Coach them on how to
deliver the message and understand that listening is just as
important as speaking.
According to the Society of Human Resources Management
(SHRM), research conducted by Fierce Conversations and
Quantum Workplace of over 1,300 employees captured
people’s perceptions about communication in the workplace,
and how lack of communication and miscommunication
affect employee engagement.
When participants were asked who should be responsible
for reducing miscommunication at work, nearly 1 in 3
respondents said managers and supervisors. Slightly more
than half said that all employee
groups were responsible.
The research also found that
about half of employees don’t
regularly speak their minds at
work—whether to colleagues or
managers. This means that the
road to open communication goes both ways for leaders and
employees.
Here are some tips on how to speak up and be heard:
• Ask questions, listen, and learn. Keep an ear to
the ground, attend meetings, and learn about the
organization. Your interest and involvement will be
noticed.
• Consider the person. People have different
communication styles and opinions. A good idea isn’t
always self-evident, sometimes it needs to be packaged in
a way that is appealing to the person listening.
• Focus on the positive. Try to find a positive way to
deliver your message. “I really like the Nexus mission. I’m
concerned that this process won’t help us get to where we
want to be. Have you considered…?”
• Timing is everything. Suggesting a new idea during the
heat of a crisis or deadline can often work against you.
Propose your idea during calmer times.
• Frame the problem as your perception, not as fact. “This
procedure is all wrong” is a lot less effective than “This
procedure appears to be more time-consuming for staff.”
“Company cultures are developed from the top down, in both
favorable and unfavorable situations,” Dana Wilkie of SHRM
wrote. “It is critical that leaders not only hold themselves
accountable to prevent and resolve miscommunication that
happen within their own teams, but also those that occur
company-wide.”
To set the stage for a culture of honesty and transparency,
Nexus CEO Michelle Murray is supporting the
implementation of additional training opportunities for over
200 leaders at Nexus. With this support and spirit of open
communication, please share your thoughts and ideas with
Nexus’ senior leaders. Your voice matters!

Financial Force
Budgeting
Planning for the Future
In the last Cornerstone, we learned about the concept of
assets, liabilities, and net assets.
To quickly recap, assets are things we own that have value
(such as furniture, buildings, and money we expect to
collect for our services, etc.), while liabilities are what
we owe to our bank, vendors, or others (loans, unpaid
bills, etc.). The difference between assets and liabilities
is called net assets which is the value of what you own
after subtracting what you owe. Net assets help us build
a reserve for the future to ensure that Nexus continues to
provide services for many years to come.
Building up a reserve takes a lot of planning and good
management, and all of the Nexus sites spend many weeks
each year going through the annual budget process.
During this process, each site plans out what services they
will provide the next year and what staffing, program,
client, and other expenses it will take to deliver these
services.
If sites are planning to start up a new program, even more
effort has to go into how to do this because it requires a lot
of upfront resources before you can admit the first clients.
Every detail has to be planned out to make sure we don’t
get caught off guard by unexpected expenses.
To go into a bit more detail, during the budget process, the
site leaders work together to determine what client census
they expect in the next year along with what daily rate they
might get from our referral sources. That determines the
monthly revenue that the site expects to receive. Then, we
look at the required staff-to-client ratios for each program
and make sure our budgets reflect the proper staffing,
program and client expenses and anything else that is
needed to run a successful program with the outcomes we
would like to see for our clients.
Once each site has finalized their budget, we add together
the budgets for all the sites and the corporate office. We
determine whether Nexus will be able to cover all of its
expenses from the revenue it is taking in, plus generate a
small reserve for the future. We then finalize the budget
and present it to our Board of Directors for approval.
A budget is intended to show us the path we want to take
in the next year and how to achieve our plan. You have to
know the path and your destination in order to get there.
That’s what budgeting is all about. You can apply the same
to your personal life.
You can create your own budget to achieve your short and
long-term goals. All it takes is to record your monthly
income and your monthly expenses, then see if you have
money left over at the end of the month to save for your
goals. If you don’t, you can either try to increase your
income or reduce your expenses.
The better you understand where you spend your money
each month, the easier it is to identify opportunities to
reduce spending. Oftentimes, it is the small items that add
up. If you decide to skip the Starbucks coffee or drive-
through breakfast that you normally purchase on your way
to work, the daily savings can add up quickly. Give it a try
for a month and see for yourself!

Development: Funding our Future
Focus: IndividualsBy Joelene Evenson
Joelene Evenson
Director of Development
Bill Mojica
Director of Development, MD
GivingUSA2018:TheAnnualReportonPhilanthropyfortheYear2017,apublicationofGivingUSAFoundation,2018,researchedandwrittenby
theIndianaUniversityLillyFamilySchoolofPhilanthropy.Availableonlineatwww.givingusa.org.
Each year, Giving USA releases an annual report
highlighting details about philanthropic support
across America. The report reflects on the source
of philanthropic gifts, as well as the type of
organizations receiving such gifts.
In 2017, the United States exceeded $400 billion in
philanthropic giving for the first time, largely in part
to a strong economy and booming stock market.
Gifts from individuals represent 70% of the total
giving, 79% when including bequests (gifts from
an individual following their death). Individual
giving has historically represented the largest
percentage of philanthropic giving in America.
However, organizations often focus on grants from
foundations and gifts from corporations as the
primary source of their philanthropic support.
Foundations and corporations are great resources
for organizations and can provide critical start-up
funding for new initiatives, support for expansion
of services, or investments in capital campaigns, for
example. Foundations and corporations also have
restrictions/requirements for their gifts that must be
adhered to and may change their purpose from time
to time, which can restrict the availability of funds
or result in a loss of funds for an organization if it no
longer aligns with the new guidelines.
A comprehensive development program needs to
secure gifts from a variety of sources—individuals,
foundations, and corporations—and in a variety of
ways—grants, events, mail appeals, crowdfunding,
and personal requests to individuals. However, it’s
vital for an organization to build a strong individual
giving program because it helps ensure long-term
growth of its philanthropic
support. And, as illustrated in
the Giving USA report, gifts
from individuals far outpace
those from other sources.
For this reason, individual
giving is a focus of Nexus
development efforts this year,
in addition to our work on
enhancing events and growing
support from foundations and
corporations.
This focus is intended to
increase revenue for Nexus
and enhance our work in all
areas as we build relationships
that tie donors to the mission
and impact of Nexus. This involves engaging employees,
volunteers, and even our clients in our efforts, and is one
way we can create a culture of philanthropy that will grow
philanthropic support for Nexus.

The Value of Accreditation
How does a service
organization like Nexus
know how they are
doing? How do they
measure their abilities
in comparison to other
providers?
If Nexus was a person, what would they see when they
look in the mirror? Even more intriguing, what do others
see when they look at Nexus?
There are licensing standards, regulations, and program
operating standards set by federal regulations, and
state licensing. However, one of the best benchmarks
of program operational capacity and service excellence
comes through accreditation.
Accreditation is the formal evaluation of an organization
or program against best practice standards. It is both
a status and a process. As a status, it signifies that an
organization or program meets standards set forth by
the accrediting body. As a process It involves an in-depth
self-review against currently accepted best practice
standards, an onsite visit by an evaluation team, and a
subsequent review.
Much of Nexus is currently going
through a Council on Accreditation
(COA) re-accreditation process.
COA collaborates with human
service organizations worldwide to
improve service delivery outcomes
by developing, applying, and promoting accreditation
standards.
An accreditation standard articulates a level of quality
developed by subject matter experts. Accreditation
signifies that an organization or program is effectively
managing its resources and providing the best possible
services to all of its stakeholders. Here are a few Nexus
stakeholders and the measurements used:
Consumers
• Services meet best practice standards and are delivered
by trained staff.
• Clients participate in the decision-making process of
service delivery.
• Services are provided in a safe, respectful environment
and client rights and privacy are protected.
• Services support positive outcomes and are culturally
competent.
Staff
• Health and safety are protected while risk and liability
are minimized.
• Service environments are efficient, effective, and
supported by a quality improvement-oriented culture.
Board
• Sound financial management practices are in place and
practices are ethical.
• Strategic plan is current, relevant, and monitored.
• Effective performance quality improvement and risk
management systems in place.
• Policies and procedures address conflict of interest,
preferential treatment, accountability, and delegation of
authority.
Donors, Funders, Regulators
• Validation of the delivery of high quality services.
• Sound financial practices and risk management policies
and mechanisms are in place to prevent fraud and
promote efficient organizational operations.
In the next few months, Nexus will begin to find out if what
we see in the mirror sets a tone for quality and impactful
services as seen not only by us, but by all of our stakeholders.
Clinical View
Bill Kerzman
Director of Community-
Based Services

Choosing the Right Care
Knowing your options before you need care can save you time and money. Visits to the emergency room are
costly and often unnecessary; an online doctor, visiting a retail clinic, or even urgent care are often a better
choice. The guide below can help you choose the right level of care the next time you need it.
Wellbeing
©2016BlueCrossandBlueShieldofMinnesota.Allrightsreserved.
BlueCross®andBlueShield®ofMinnesotaandBluePlus®arenonprofitindependentlicenseesoftheBlueCrossandBlueShieldAssociation.
Online care allows you to meet with a health care professional through video
conferencing. This option is usually more cost-effective and convenient than other
treatment options for non-emergency situations. Use online care for many different
common conditions, including allergies, cold and flu symptoms, bladder, sinus, ear and
eye infections, stomach problems, and even acne.
Retail clinics provide an excellent supplement to primary care for common, minor
concerns like strep throat, sinus, ear and eye infections, or bronchitis.
Your primary doctor is the best place to get care for most of your medical needs,
including minor injuries and routine health exams.
Urgent care centers provide care on a walk-in basis for illnesses and injuries that need
immediate attention such as sprains, simple cuts and burns, and eye injuries.
Emergency room visits should be made only for the most serious or life-threatening
issues, such as difficulty breathing, serious injuries, seizures, or if you think you’re
having a stroke.

Jeff Hansen
Director of Business &
Government Relations
Finding Our Seat at the Table
Legislative Lens
Preparing for the 2019 Legislative Session
Nexus is preparing for the upcoming 2019 legislative
sessions that begins in January. While that may seem
like a ways off, Nexus is using this time to meet with
key legislators and stakeholders in each of our states
to prepare for the upcoming session. This is a mid-
term election year so many of our legislators are busy
campaigning. As with all election years, new faces
will emerge. Nexus will work hard to engage with any
newly elected officials, while maintaining our previous
relationships.
Nexus continually works on developing advocacy efforts
so that we are in a good position at the local, state, and
federal level. Being a part of the process, or “having
a seat at the table” where the decisions are made and
resources are allocated, is important for the protection of
our mission. This also helps establish Nexus as a thought
leader and gives us the opportunity to shape discussions
as they occur.
The goal is to be aware of any decisions that could
potentially impact our mission, allowing us the
opportunity to be proactive in our advocacy and
education of the issues. These discussions may be related
to reimbursement rates, staffing regulations, interactions
with local law enforcement, funding for workforce
development, or foster care regulations or rates.
Nexus’ advocacy efforts are designed to ensure that all
of our sites and affiliates have the resources they need to
deliver their services. Our focus for the 2019 session is
customized for each state.
Maryland: Woodbourne’s focus is centered on getting
rate increases for our residential treatment center,
foster care, and non-public educational services. Our
residential rate in Maryland is the second lowest in the
state, and our Treatment Foster Care rate is 31st
out of
33 agencies. Our non-public education rate is also one
of the lowest in the Maryland. We will be working with
various state agencies as well as the legislative branch to
get more equitable rates.
Illinois: Onarga and Indian Oaks Academy (IOA) have
recently started engaging in advocacy efforts in addition
to their partnership with the Illinois Collaboration on
Youth (ICOY).
As with Woodbourne, IOA and Onarga are focused on
rate increases for our residential services. While this is
a heavy lift, we will remain diligent on working with the
legislators in Springfield, as well as the Governor’s office
and other stakeholders.
Minnesota: Gerard and Mille Lacs Academy were
recently reclassified as Institutions for Mental Diseases by
the Federal Government. The implications of this change
are still uncertain. The state has secured continued
funding for residential services through April 30, 2019.
After that, funding for residential care remains unclear.
There are many moving parts to resolving this new
classification; one option would have the sites become
Psychiatric Residential Treatment Facilities (PRTF),
or remain as they are and be funded directly by state

Family First Prevention Services Act: Part I - Residential Treatment Impacts
On February 9, 2018, Congress passed the Bipartisan Budget Act of 2018, which included the Family First Prevention Services Act (FFPSA).
The FFPSA redirects federal funds to provide services to keep children with their families and out of foster care.When foster care is needed, the
act allows federal reimbursement for care in family-based settings and certain residential treatment programs for children with emotional and
behavioral disturbance requiring special treatment.
The FFPSA introduced a new category of residential treatment called the Quality ResidentialTreatment Program (QRTP).
From our initial review, Nexus is well prepared to respond to the requirements of becoming a QRTP If we are required to do so.These specific
requirements include:
• be accredited through one of the allowable associations (Nexus and all of its sites and affiliates meet this through their accreditation with COA
or JC.)
• have trauma-informed treatment model
• facilitate and document family involvement and outreach
• provide at least six months of post-discharge, family-based aftercare and support
In addition, QRTPs are required to have a registered nurse and other licensed clinical staff available to be on site“in accordance with the QRTP’s
treatment model”and available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, as needed. Such positions can be contracted or on-call.
Many areas still need to be finalized, and each state has the ability to manage the bill more subjectively. Each state can ask for a non-binding two-
year waiver of the October 1, 2019, timeline; at this time, none of the states Nexus operates in have made such a decision. If they do, their state will
not be eligible for any IV-E funding.
Nexus is seeking answers to many questions, specifically clarification on our residential sites’classifications. Our advocacy relationships and
memberships with National organizations such as Association for Child Residential Centers and the Alliance for Strong Families and Communities
will keep us abreast of the developments related to the FFPSA.
managed dollars. Nexus intends to remain engaged in
this development through our advocacy efforts and work
within our state association, AspireMN.
North Dakota: North Dakota is unique in that their
legislative sessions run on a biennium (every other
year), so they have not been in session since spring of
2017. However, all legislators and the Executive Branch
continue to work and meet during non-session years.
North Dakota, specifically the Department of Human
Services, is experiencing some significant change.
In 2017, the legislators voted to remove the burden of
paying for social services from the county level and move
it to the state level. This upcoming session will provide
greater clarification as to how this impacts business in
North Dakota.
The state, which is lead by the Republicans, would like
to see more public/private partnerships with better
outcomes and a reduction in costs.

The 7th
Annual Conference is right around the corner!
We have a lot of great trainings lined up for our
attendees with three keynote speakers, a round of job-
focused training sessions, and Nexus staff-led breakouts.
Plus, attendees will get the opportunity to hear from
Nexus’ new CEO, Dr. Michelle K. Murray.
Keynote speakers include:
Kevin Wayne Johnson, an
independent certified coach,
teacher, and speaker with the
nationally recognized John Maxwell
Team, delivers training on the
elements of dynamic relationships
to equip teams with the attitudes
and attributes needed to develop
individuals into leaders. He will lead Nexus staff through
the 10 focus areas to become a person of influence.
Jim Conway from the Search
Institute is a veteran trainer
and speaker with over 25 years
experience providing training
and consultation to youth serving
professionals in educational and
community-based organizations.
Conway will introduce Search
Institute research that identifies
critical strengths for families in his presentation
on engaging families through a relationship-based
approach. Conway is also leading one of the focused
training sessions to discuss the strengths and supports
that are essential to a youth’s success.
Powered by Purpose
Nexus 7th
Annual Conference
Cordelia Anderson, MA, is
the founder of Sensibilities and
Prevention Services, her own
training and consultation business.
She has worked to promote sexual
health and prevent sexual harm
since 1976. As part of her focus on
preventing harm, she’s been training
advocates and therapists on self-care and the individual
and organizational realities of secondary trauma.
Anderson will focus on staff burnout, compassion
fatigue, and PTSD of professionals in the youth-serving
field.
Job-focused trainings will be assigned to attendees based
on their job function. These half-day trainings will focus
on:
• building a culture of philanthropy (presented by
Barb Ritchie, former CEO of Griffith Center in
Colorado),
• becoming an asset builder for youth (presented by
Jim Conway of Search Institute); and,
• developing strong customer service skills (presented
by Stacey Jewell of Onarga Academy).
Attendees will get the opportunity to hear from their
peers during two sessions of Nexus staff-led breakouts.
Staff from almost all of the Nexus sites submitted
proposals to lead breakouts this year! Check out the list
on the next page.
Nexus Annual Conference

To add some fun to two jam-packed
days of learning, Wednesday night’s
dinner will feature comedian John
DeBoer and a raffle prize drawing.
Guests can partake in activities
throughout the conference to win raffle
tickets for the three prize drawings.
The Annual Conference is always an informative,
energizing, and inspiring event. It’s great to see staff from
all over the country connecting around Nexus’ mission.
Watch the Nexus Facebook page for updates on the
conference.
See you in September!
STAFF-LED BREAKOUTS
Session1:
The6CriticalPracticesforLeadingaTeam
PresentedbyPaulaMinske
(NexusCorporate)
TeachingandMonitoringSocialMediaUsein
ResidentialCare:ImportanceofSafety
PresentedbyStacyJewellandAmberEstes
(OnargaAcademy)
RetentionofStaffthroughTeambuilding
PresentedbyLeahBallandDeniseDallas
(MilleLacsAcademy)
TheParentPartner:SupportingandEngaging
FamiliesthroughPeerSupportforYouthSuccess
PresentedbyChristinaVeerkampandStephenJohnson
(MilleLacsAcademy)
BenefitsofSoundTherapyinaTherapeuticSetting
PresentedbyLionelMatthews
(WoodbourneCenter)
Session2:
PetsandPlantsintheClassroomorProgram
PresentedbyDJPapineauandKatePapineau
(IndianOaksAcademy)
TheInfusionofTrauma-InformedCarein
Organizations:AreWeWalkingtheTalk?
PresentedbyHeatherSimonich
(PATH)
FunwithData:Yes,it’sPossible!
PresentedbyJodiDuttenhefer
(PATH)
LGBTQIA+
PresentedbyEricaAlvarado,JesusCamarena,LeeRegnier,
andLauraVecchetti
(OnargaAcademy)

Bustling Summer Days
Anyone who has been fishing with an inexperienced fisherman knows that it
can potentially be an anxiety producing situation.
The MLA Recreation team takes a proactive
approach with our young anglers. They host
a fishing clinic for all four programs prior to
going out on the water.
During the clinic, youth learn the different
reel options available to them (spincasting
and spinning reel), and the times to use live
or artificial bait. They also practice how to tie
on their bait, cast accurately and safely, and
remove a hook from their fish.
GOLF TOURNAMENT
MLA GRADUATES 5 YOUTH
Helpusreachnewheightsatourannualgolf
event!Proceedswillbeusedtopurchasean
automaticbelaysystemforyouthwishing
tousetheclimbingwall.Thissystemallows
youthtoclimbsafelywithoutacertified
belayer.Itwillalsoeliminatetheneedand
costsassociatedwithcertifyingstaff.
Friday,September7,2018
StonesThrowGolfCourse,Milaca,MN
Shotgunstartat11:00a.m.
Rafflefora50”SamsungFullHDTV
Registerat:
www.MilleLacsAcademyEvents.org
Aheartfeltcongratulationstoourclassof
2018graduates! Weappreciatetheworkyou
putintoachievingthismajormilestoneand
areveryproudofyou.Goodluckinyourfuture
educationalendeavors!
Employee of the Year
Amanda Kampa, Clinical Supervisor, was
named Mille Lacs Academy’s Employee
of the year! Kampa’s journey at Mille Lacs
started in 2005 when she started as a Case
Manager. Now, 13 years later, she is in her
third year as our Clinical Supervisor.
As part of her nomination to be employee
of the year, Kampa’s peers submitted lists of
her award-worthy behaviors.
• She is meticulous in her work, goes
above and beyond to help other
employees and departments, and demonstrates the Cornerstone Values
consistently.
• She leads by example, advocates for her team and the youth, helps the entire
campus, and trains all new employees.
• Amanda truly believes in all the work MLA does by paving a positive future
for the youth, no matter what. On some of the roughest days, Amanda is
still positive and supportive.
• She is moral and driven. She is willing to fight for what is right. Others can
always go to her for answers.
Congratulations and great work, Amanda!
ONAMIA DAYS
MLAyouth workedtheRootBeerFloatStand
atourtown’sannualOnamiaDayscelebration.
Theyenjoyedinteractingwithcustomersas
theyprovidedthemwitharefreshingtreat.
Fishing Clinic — Landing the “Big One”
MLAyouthpracticetheircastingskills.
KampaacceptingtheEmployeeoftheYearaward.

Director’s Report
InaJune2017articleinFortune
magazine,MicahSolomon
wrotethatgreatcustomer
serviceculturesshareeight
characteristicsthatcanbeseen
incompaniesthatarewell
regardedfortheirservice,such
asZappos,Nordstrom,Apple,
Disney,andSouthwestAirlines. Hereisalistofthe
eightthatheoutlinedinthearticle:
1. Humility–servicetoothersfortheirbenefitis
avirtueworthstrivingfor.
2. Pride–yourworkisasignatureofyour
personaldedicationtoexcellence.
3. No“notmyjob”thinking–excellenceis
everyone’sjob.
4. Culturally-consonantHRpractices–great
servicehastostartwithgreatcharacter.
5. Trainingandre-training–excellenceisn’ta
luckymistake,ittakeslearningandpractice.
6. Acommonlanguage–asetoflanguagethatis
coretotheteamanddrivesthem.
7. Legendarystories–greatserviceresultsin
greatstoriesthatsetthebarforothers!
8. Empowerment–letpeoplepracticegreat
servicewithothers!
Thisfocusonservicecanremindusofhowweliketo
betreatedourselveswhendealingwithbusinesses.
Itremindsusofthevalueoftreatingothershow
wewouldliketobetreatedandhelpingothersget
theirneedsmetaswewouldwishtohaveourneeds
met.Mostofall,itallowsustorealizethatservice
excellenceisn’tsomethingthatjustafewgreat
organizationshavethesecretto;itissomethingthat
reallyisn’tasecretatall–rollupyoursleevesand
gettoworktomakeadifferenceforothers!
Thankyoutoourstaffforyourhardworkandservice
totheyouthandfamiliesweserve. Youallmakea
differenceeachandeveryday.
Jason Donahue
Executive Director
Sailing the Open Seas
Mille Lacs Academy’s student
council earned a trip to Kathio State
Park as a reward for the hard work
they put in over the course of this
last school year. The boys enjoyed
a grilled feast, and despite the rain,
had fun throwing the football and
fishing.
The Ship Program, our youngest group, recently held their annual
Boat Race at Kathio State Park. Each year, youth are given the task to
create a wind-propelled vessel to compete in the race. Boats must be
100% comprised of discarded materials, such as recyclables and other
refuse.
The race is one of MLA’s longest
standing traditions. The Boat
Race has been occurring just
about every year since the Ship
“set sail” in 1992.
The race takes place at the
swimming pond located within
Kathio State Park. All boats are
launched simultaneously and
the first to cross the pond is the
winner.
Student Council Celebrates a Good Year
Wildlife Presentation
Volunteers from the Garrison
Animal Hospital came to campus
to share their work in rehabilitating
local wildlife. The Wild and Free
group role modeled care and
compassion for all things, large and
small. It was a great lesson for our
boys.
Astudentcouncilyouthenjoyedcatchingfish.
TheWildandFreeGroupdiscussedcaringfor
animalsofallsizes.
Strongwindspropelledboatsacrossthepondinthis
year’srace.

Namaste
HOLE IN ONE!
Monday, July 23, saw 87 golfers
congregate for a great day of fun
at the Austin Country Club for
Gerard Academy’s 18th
Annual
Golf Fundraiser.
The weather made for ideal golf
conditions and provided plenty
of low scores. The event raised
money for Gerard Academy’s
Community Mental Health
Services, which provides much
needed mental health services to
over 250 individuals from Austin
and its surrounding communities,
annually.
Thanks in great part to the lead
sponsors Bremer Bank, AmTrust,
and Assured Partners, this year’s
fundraiser raised approximately
$11,000!
Mark your calendars for Monday,
July 22, 2019, for the 19th
Annual
Golf Fundraiser. It will no doubt
be even bigger and better!
I have been practicing meditation consistently for three years. Initially, my
capacity for “quiet time” extending longer than 10 minutes was frankly
painful. My mind raced, my thoughts were scattered, and I would hone in
on my never ending list of tasks, issues from the past, and contemplations
about the future. I remember thinking, “People told me this was going to
be helpful?”
It was only through practice and an innate curiosity about meditation that
it became clear that thoughts are natural and they will present themselves.
The goal is not to eliminate those thoughts entirely, but to observe them
and release them. According to the Dalai Lama, meditation is about
seeing your “natural state of consciousness.” The key is all about observing
the mind.
I like to think of it as noticing. Noticing allows us to not cast judgment on
our thoughts, or even believe them to be true, but to observe them almost
as though we were outside of ourselves.
I heard a wise person once say, “Don’t always believe what you think.”
In a culture that is constantly on the go, the benefits of slowing down are
scientifically proven to influence our mind, body, and spirit in the most
beneficial way.
The word meditation derives from a Latin word that means, “to ponder.”
To begin a journey with meditation, try some of these tips:
• Begin by sitting quietly or tuning into a guided meditation.
• Center your thoughts or focus on a word or mantra to ease your
mind’s chatter. The breath is the central focus and brings a natural
state of calm to the body. Breathe in for three seconds and out for
three seconds.
I would encourage taking off your shoes and slowly walking barefoot in
the grass, taking notice of the sensations and observing nature. Thich
Nhat Hahn practices a walking meditation that is one of my favorites.
The advantages of meditation are vast, and over the last two decades, have
been significantly measured and proven to offer extended benefits.
By Jenni Linnett, Clinical Director for Gerard’s Girl’s Units
Gerardstaffenjoyedtheopportunitytogetoutside
andgolfwithcoworkers.

KarenWolf
Executive Director
Director’s Report
AngelaDuckworthhasstudiedthedifferences
betweensuccessfulandunsuccessfulpeople.
AccordingtoDuckworth,anecessaryingredient
inhighachievementis“grit.” Shedefinesgritas
passionandperseverance,tenacity,knowingwhat
youwantandgoingforit.Gritistheabilitytosee
thatfailureisnotpermanent,butthewillingnessto
fallandgetbackup.Thisperseverancecanbetaught,andputtingineffort
countsmoretowardssuccessthannaturaltalent.
Wearefortunatetoseegriteverysingledayinoursetting.Youthwho
comeinfortreatment,havingbeenthroughcomplextrauma,inconsistent
livingenvironments,multipleschoolsettings,showthecouragetorise
abovetheirsituation.Theirgritmaycomeacrossasoppositional,defiant,
disrespectful,orevenout-of-controlbehaviors.Canwechangeour
paradigmofhowwelookatthisbehaviortoinstillandplantseedsfor
success?
AccordingtoDuckworth,gritisacharacteristicthatcangrowandbe
cultivated.Fourstepstocultivategritare:
1. GetClarity–knowwhatyouwantandbeclear.
2. Purpose–themeaningbehindwhatyoudoorareinvolvedin
somethingbiggerthanyourself.
3. BlockTime–scheduletimedailytopractice,gainskills,andimprove.
4. Hope–resolutecommitmenttomakelifebetteror“falldownseven
times,getupeight.”
Weseegritinthepeoplewhohavechosentoworkwithyouthand
families.Thereisclarityinknowingthatthroughtheirefforts,theycan
makeadifferenceinotherpeople’slives.Themeaningbehindwhatwedo
isdirectlyrelatedtoourmission.Wearemission-drivenandpurposeful
inouractionsanddecisions.Wescheduletimetotrain,learn,andgain
newskills.Ourexperiencedstaffmentorandofferfeedbacktonewer
staff.Weinstillhopeinthelivesofthepeopleweworkwithandwedon’t
giveup.Ourstaffmodelthischaracteristiconadailybasis;evenifthe
nightbeforewasaroughshift,theycomebackthenextdaytotryagain.
Ourstaffencouragekidstohavegoalsandtoidentifytheirpassion.The
realchallengeishelpingtheyouthlearnthatfailureisnotapermanent
situation,butanopportunitytogrow.
AtGerard,we’reaskingourselveshowdowehelpkidshaveagrowth
mindsetandknowthatallthatmattersistokeeplearningand
developing?Lastly,howdoweallowourselvestofalldown,getbackup,
andrealizethatfailureistrulyanopportunity?Asanorganization,howdo
wesupportandinstillthedevelopmentofgritinourstaff?
According to Mayo Clinic, the emotional benefits of
meditation include the following:
• gaining a new perspective on stressful situations,
• building skills to manage stress,
• increasing self-awareness,
• focusing on the present,
• reducing negative emotions,
• increasing imagination and creativity, and
• increasing patience and tolerance.
Improvements in mood, anxiety, and sleep quality are
also noted in research conducted by the American
Heart Association.
Taking time in the morning to center your thoughts,
set an intention for the day, and focus on what you are
grateful for can be meditative. In the evening, before
bed listening to a full body guided meditation can
assist you in having a full night of restful sleep.
I offer three meditation groups on the Gerard campus
throughout the week. Mondays and Thursday from
8:30-9:00 a.m. and 3:30-4:00 p.m. at New Dominion
School. Some participants shared how this time has
influenced them with words like reflective, resetting,
humbling, relaxing, inspiring, rewarding, helpful,
worthwhile, contemplative, prayerful, serene, clarity,
calming, and self-care.

Heroes Rising
to the Occasion
As staff and visitors arrived on the Heroes Rising program on June 22 for an Open
House, they were immediately greeted by a well-integrated superhero theme,
soothing scents, and enthusiastic staff. Heroes Rising staff were proud to showcase
the progress they had made since establishing the program in September 2017.
As our youngest clients, Heroes Rising youth have presented new challenges for
staff due to their diagnostic complexity and their young age. Our newest clients
have presented a new challenge for staff due to their diagnostic complexity and
young age (the youngest clients at Onarga Academy). The program staff have
worked hard over the past year to overhaul the programming, both in routine and
the milieu’s physical appearance, to best fit the clients’ needs.
A key component of Heroes Risings’ success has
been their integration of sensory interventions.
Brain-based interventions, including sensory
activities, help youth regulate emotions, solve
problems, manage day-to-day tasks, learn positive
social behaviors, and cope with mental health
symptoms.
A former conference room and a quad bedroom
have been transformed into sensory rooms for the
youth, creating immersive, therapeutic spaces that
appeal to all of the senses through these brain-
based activities.
The active sensory room includes a walking path,
swing, and other activities that teach balance and
coordination.
The passive sensory room will have a new theme
each quarter. For the summer, staff have created a
“winter wonderland” theme that helps youth focus
on being calm–the cozy textures, soft lighting, and
comfortable hammock bring it all together. The
program plans on adding even more therapeutic
equipment to benefit the youth through sensory
interventions.
25 YEARS AND COUNTING!
ONARGA GOES GOLFING.
TheOnargaAcademyGolfOutingreturnedforits
25th
yearonAugust10,atOakSpringsGolfCourse
inSt.Anne,IL.
ThankyouespeciallytoAssuredPartnersof
MinnesotaandAmTrustNorthAmericafor
beingourleadsponsorsandmakingoureventa
success!
25TH
ANNUAL
TREATMENT GRADUATION
August2markedthe25thAnnualOnarga
AcademyTreatmentGraduation.Twenty-five
clientswerehonoredatthistreatmentmilestone,
signifyingthattheyhavesuccessfullycompleted
sixmonthsofAftercarefollowingdischarge.
Youthsharedstoriesandwordsofwisdom
tocurrentclients,aswellasexpressedtheir
gratitudetospecificstaffwhohelpedthem
throughtreatment.Manyofthegraduatesspoke
ontheimportanceofrelationships,second
chances,andlearningtobuildtrust.
Sensoryroomshavebeenabigpartof
HeroesRising’ssuccess.

DennisWiley
Executive Director
Great Steak Out Benefits Cornerstone Café
Director’s Report
OnargaAcademy’sTreatment
GraduationwasheldonThursday,
August2,2018. Thetimingfor
Academystaffisgood,andneeded.
Thoughweareaccustomedto
theday-to-daychallengesof
maintainingstable,structured,and
saferesidentialunits,weappeartohaveexceededthe
normin2018,stretchingourprogramandstaffresources.
Perhapsattimesweareaskingourselves,“Isthisrightfor
me?”
Youthconstantlyreminduswhytheywereplaced
hereandrequirethehighlevelofcareweprovide:
intensivetraumasymptoms,attachmentissues,poor
impulsecontrol,unhealthysexualbehaviors,emotional
dysregulation,pooracademicperformance,depression,
familydysfunction,andthelistgoeson. Whencombined,
theseissuesandsubsequentstressorstaketheirtoll,both
onouryouthandstaff.
ThoughOnargaAcademyhasaprovenhistoryof
innovation,strongmilieumanagement,andactive
problem-solvingprocesses,itmayneverseemlike
enough.Residentialworkisdynamicinnatureand
requiresconstantadjustmentsthatcanchallengeeventhe
mosthighlyeffectiveteams.
However,despitechallenges,changehappens.Ourstaff
andprogramsdomakeadifference. Mostkidswillnot
respondquicklyorpositivelyrightaway,orreinforceour
effortsonaday-to-daybasis. But,asourveteranstaff
know,changeisgradual,andintheend,perseverance
paysoff. OurannualritualofprovidingaTreatment
Graduationremindsofthis. Itisvalidating,needed,and
thetimingisgood.
Great food with great friends—that wraps up the 2nd
Annual Great
Steak Out!
The Cornerstone Café hosted attendees at the Onarga Academy
Athletic Field for a delicious
steak dinner on June 29. The
heat was high, but a lovely
breeze kept guests around to
show their support.
Two Adirondack chairs, built
by Onarga Academy youth,
were raffled off to two lucky
winners!
The Cornerstone Café is a vocational program that teaches youth
real-life work skills in a small business setting. The program is in
the process of expanding by building a commercial-grade kitchen
to create lunch specialties in addition to the beverage menu. Stay
tuned for exciting updates!
TwoAdirondackchairswereraffledoffattheevent.
Guestsenjoyedsteaksonthegrillonthebeautiful,sunnyevening.

25th
Anniversary Celebrations
AssociateExecutiveDirectorRebeccaNestorhonoredPat
MallaneyatSafeHarborSchool’sgraduationforhissupport
ofIndianOaksAcademy.
CaseManagerDominicCatalanoreceivedtheHigh
FrequencyAwardattheAviatorAwards.
Ourdevelopmentally-delayedboys’andgirls’programs
heldacombinedtalentshow.
IndianOaksAcademykids’artworkthatwillbedisplayedaroundcampusandinconferencerooms.
Indian Oaks Academy is celebrating 25 years of changing lives! As part of this celebration, we’ve had a
fun-packed summer of events. See the Director’s Report for full descriptions of what our staff and youth
have been up to!
SafeHarborSchoolgraduatesshowofftheirgraduationcaps TheEmpoweringYouthCommittee(EYC)tooktreatstothe
MantenoPoliceDepartmenttosay
“takefiveforallyoudew!”

Mary Ann Berg
Executive Director
Director’s Report
Thissummerhasbeenafilledwith
amazingeventsandopportunitiesfor
ouryouthandstaff!
A“CornerstoneWeek”highlighted
activitiestomarkour25th
anniversary,
andincludedacampus-wideCanvas
Showcase.Interestedstaffandyouth
paintedcanvasesthatvisuallyrepresentourCornerstone
values.Theshowingresembledaprofessionalgallery,
completewiththedisplays,music,andappetizers.Wewillbe
showcasingthisartworkinpermanentdisplaysthroughout
ourconferenceroomsandpublicareas. Theweekalso
includedapeprallyandmortarboarddecoratingcontest,in
advanceofschoolgraduation.
SafeHarborSchoolgraduationwasheldinJune,with
thepromotionofnineeighth-graders,andgraduationof
ninehighschoolseniors.Inrecognitionofouranniversary,
MantenoSchoolBoardmemberPatrickMallaneywas
honoredattheceremony,forhisworktohelpIOA’sschool
becomeprivatized.
Summeralsobringsawardsprogramsfortheyouthandour
annualstaffpicnic.Thisyear’spicnicwasmodeledaftera
carnival,withgames,raffles,andtreatsyou’dfindatacounty
fair.Weathercooperated,andwehadalargeturnout!
Ourintellectually-delayedboys’andgirls’programshelda
combinedtalentshow,theNCAAboys’programheldtheir
ESPYAwards,andtheFlightSchoolboys’programpresented
theirAviatorAwards.
CaseManagerMattHedding-Hesswaselectedpresident
oftheKankakeeCommunityMentalHealthCouncil,and
spearheadedtheir“Sip.Share.Self-Care.”networkingevent
atGrapes&HopsinKankakee;aportionofthesaleswere
donatedbacktothecouncil.YouthonourEmpowering
YouthCommittee(EYC)tooktreatstotheMantenoPolice
Department,andwashedanddetailedourprogramvehicles.
Ourstaffandyouthtrulydoshine.
Staffenjoyedafuncarnival-themedpicnicwithgames,treats,andraffles!

Tara Williams Says Farewell
TAKE WHAT YOU NEED.
LEAVE WHAT YOU CAN.
A company’s success can usually be tied back to committed personnel. At
Woodbourne, this is no different.
Over the last four years, Tara Williams has been the glue of
the Human Resources (HR) Department. She exemplified
the mission of changing lives. Her effervescent personality,
can-do spirit, and willingness to make our campus a better
place will not be forgotten.
Tara came to Woodbourne unfamiliar with residential care,
but she accepted the challenge and dove in. She quickly
became an asset to our team. She was adept in multiple
systems, which were implemented during her tenure, including our applicant
tracking system, online training system, and multiple HR databases.
About her time at Woodbourne, Tara said, “I gained a variety of skills here,
especially how to structure my time. I improved in so many different areas.”
She not only shined in her role, but all around campus; she participated in
numerous committees, including wellness, events and fundraising.
Tara facilitated various HR tasks from interviews, new-hire orientation,
ongoing trainings, and recruitment, among many other important functions.
She remarked, “I valued the opportunity to grow on so many levels. I had
great experiences in my role, including getting to know the staff.”
Operations Director, Steven Schreiber, stated, “She has been a stellar
representative of our organization and always embraced new and challenging
work. I know I echo the rest of our employees when I say she will truly be
missed.”
When asked what she is most proud of, Tara responded, “The Employee
Appreciation Committee. We were able to be creative. It was so much fun to
make a difference.” Aside from the fun activities and employee-of-the-month
awards the committee created, Tara had an enormous impact on campus
morale on her own. Schreiber noted, “Tara has a positive outlook and displays
excellent customer service skills. She is always mindful about the way she
represents the organization.”
To further demonstrate her commitment to Woodbourne, Tara will assist on a
limited part-time basis in HR as we look to fill her vacancy. Thank you, Tara,
for your dedication and service to Woodbourne. We wish you well in your
new endeavor.
TaraWilliams
TheWoodbourneVocationalProgramisonce
againmakingadifferenceintheBaltimore
community.InJune,Carpentryteacher
BartholomewJacksonandseveralofhisstudents
putupaLittleFreePantryontheWoodbourne
Centercampus.Theyreceivedfreeze-driedbeans
andricemeals,waterbottles,andsnackcrackers
tofillthepantry.Inlessthan24hours,items
hadalreadybeentakentohelpmembersofthe
community.
ThecarpentryclassiscontinuingtomakeLittle
FreePantriestoplacearoundthecommunity.
Theyarehopingtoworkwithmorelocal
businessestohelpreplenishthesuppliesinthe
pantriesandmaybeevenaddin-seasonfruitsand
vegetables.
ThisprojectallowstheboysatWoodbourne
Centeranopportunitytogivebacktotheir
communityanddirectlyseethepositiveimpact.

AnthonyWilson
Executive Director
Director’s Report
Sixmonthsdownandsixmonthsto
goin2018! WeatWoodbourneCenter
continuetopushforward.Everyday
isanotherdayforustolearnandget
better;ourstaff,kids,andfamilies
deservethatfromus.Itishowwedeal
withdiversitythatdefinesusasleaders
andtheteamsthatweworkwith.
Ifwearenotpushingeachotherandconfrontingissues,
ouroutcomeswithourkidsandfamilieswillbenegatively
affected.
Weareworkingtowardsaculturethatisopen,transparent,
andtrusting.Myhopeisthatstaffatalllevelsgaintrustwith
theco-workersthattheyworkwithdaily,aswellastheir
supervisorthathelpsguidethemintherightdirection.We
justhavetotrustandknowthatweareallworkingtowards
thesamegoalandmissiontostrengthenlives,families,and
communities.
Iwanttohighlightacoupleofoursupervisorsthathavedone
agreatjobintheirrespectiveroles.First,Iwanttorecognize
Ms.JoyceJones!JoycerecentlycameonasourFinanceand
AccountingManager,andhashitthegroundrunning.Joyce
isaveryintelligentpersonandnoticedwhatneededtobe
donerightaway,andworkedwiththeentirefinanceteamto
makethechangesandtakeaction.
TheothersupervisorthatIwanttorecognizeisMr.Bill
Mojica.Billrecentlygaveusnoticethathehadreceivedajob
offerforalocalhospitalfoundationthathecouldnotpassup.
BillhasbeenanexcellentrepresentativefortheWoodbourne
Centerbothlocallyandatthestatelevelsincehewas
hiredfouryearsago.Hehasallofthequalitiesnecessary
forasuccessfulDirectorofDevelopment.Heispersonable,
persistent,organized,andmissiondriven.Inhistenure,we
haveraisedover$2million,includingourcurrentCapital
Campaignof$1.5millionforourVocationalProgram.Wewill
missBillonourteam,butwehopetocontinuearelationship
insomewayinthenearfuture.
“Workhard.BePatient.Therestwillfollow.”-Unknown
Vocational Center Update
The Vocational Center project is well under way. After two
weeks of heavy lifting, clearing of trees and debris, and reshaping
the land, the demolition phase is complete. It was exciting to
watch the project begin and to feel the buildings shake with the
rumbling of the backhoes.
The foundation is taking shape and thanks to some great weather,
the Whiting Turner Company continues to make huge strides in
making this dream a reality. The 5,000-square foot facility remains
on schedule for completion by late October.
With all of the lumber for framing arriving in July, the frame of
the building is expected to be completed by mid-August.
We reached our $1.5 million dollar fundraising goal for the
building of the program. Now, the campaign will continue to
solicit for a variety of items, including supplies and equipment
for both the carpentry and automotive programs. Our leadership
team is currently looking to add community members to the
advisory committees so the program can make a splash right out
of the gate.

CrossFit Una Stamus prides itself on being more than a gym.
That couldn’t be more evident than on Sunday, June 10, when dozens of members
showed up for a fitness challenge that included some of its traditional exercises
and a competition to see which team could assemble three bikes the fastest.
The Huffy bikes — 25 in total —
were purchased with the help of an
organization called Together We Rise
and were donated to Kindred Family
Focus, the largest foster care and
adoption agency in Minnesota, to be
distributed to children in foster care
across the state. The fitness club raised
about $2,300 for the bikes to prime its
penchant for community service.
Already different the your typical gym,
CrossFit at 13469 Business Center
Drive in Elk River bases its workouts on the concept that the body is a machine.
Instead weight systems and cardiovascular workout equipment you might find at
other gyms, members must rely on their bodies to do all the work.
Una Stamus is Latin for “Together We Stand,” and is the underlying principle
of the gym, according to owner Matthew Petz, who previously worked in law
enforcement.
The gym does a lot of community service pertaining to police, fire and military
services, according to Kelly Swanson, a gym member and coordinator of the latest
charity event. Swanson said the Elk River gym has classes for teens, so providing
charity for foster children was “right in its wheelhouse.”
For this charitable contest, eight groups had to do specific workouts to earn part
of the bicycle being built. Once all of the parts were earned, the teams needed to
finish assembling the bicycles and then ride them successfully across a finish line.
CrossFit Challenge provides
Workout & Charity at Same Time
OUT TO THE BALL GAME
CHRISTMAS IN JULY
ThankyoutoJulieLedyandtheAdoption
isLoveFundforhostingagreatdayatthe
St.PaulSaintsbaseballgame!SeveralKFF
familiesjoinedthefunandenjoyedapicnic
underthescoreboardwithotherfosterand
adoptivefamiliesfromacrossMinnesota.
Afterthegame,thekidshadanopportunity
torunthebasesandmeettheplayers.
KINDRED FAMILY FOCUS
Togarnerdonationsforfamiliesinneedin
WrightCounty,HealthSourceChiropracticof
BuffalohostedaChristmasinJulydonation
driveinhonorofCrisisNurseryservingWright
County.
Kid’sHaven,WrightCountyHumanServices,
Kleinbank,LittleExplorers,andJohnJoseph
SalonofAlbertvillehosteddonationdropoffs
attheiroffices. TheCrisisNurseryreceived
diapers,wipes,andclothingamongthemany
donationsthecommunitybroughtin.Thank
youtoalloftheindividualsandcompaniesfor
thewonderfulsupport!
by Jim Boyle, Editor, Star News
Teamsworkedtoassemblebikesaspartofthecompetition.
Source:StarNews,June20,2018.https://www.hometownsource.com/elk_river_star_news/community/elk_river/crossfit-challenge-provides-
workout-charity-at-same-time/article_730f2cbe-73fd-11e8-b716-3bf9ba48d4d0.html

Director’s Report
Kindred’sAnnualFoster/Adoptive
ParentPicnicwasheldonJuly
27,atValleyfair. Morethan400
fosterparentsandchildren,both
biologicalandfoster,attendedthe
event,ourlargestturnouttodate.
Tosaytheeventwasasuccessisan
understatement.
Whatdidwelearn?
1. Teamworkallowsforanorganizedevent.
2. Theadditionofvolunteers(Nexus,MattressFirm,
Enterprise,PlymouthLions,MerylandDavid
McGauvran,andKindredstaff)allowedfosterparents
torelaxandenjoythecomradery.
3. NexusDevelopmentstaff(JoeleneEvensonand
AlisonSherman)enhancedeveryone’sexperience
byobtainingdonationsforschoolsupplies,ice
creamtreats,additionalfoodandbeverages.Most
importantly,communityinvolvementmadeall
thedifferenceforourfamilies.ThePlymouthLions
donated$5,000andEnterprisedonated20admission
tickets. Allfosterfamiliesreceivedfreeadmission
ticketstoValleyfair.Ienjoyedwatchingthereactions
asparentspreparedtopayfortickets,learningthey
werefreeandexpressingtheirappreciation.
4. Inspiteofourdifficultwork,thelaughter,smiles,and
senseoffamilywaseverywhere.
Whyisthisimportant? ThelargerKindredgrows,the
easieritistolosesightofwhatwedo–creatingnormalcy
fortheyouthweserve.Ibelievethegoodwillthatresults
fromtheeventpaysbackinmanyways. Fosterparents
feelappreciated.Theyhavetheopportunitytomeetother
fosterparents,employees,feelthesupportfromNexus,
andrecognizethatwhendealingwithdifficultsituations,
theyarenotalone.
Moreimportantly,ourfosteryouthexperiencethemselves
asoneofmany,andenjoytheday. I’vesaidbefore,events
likethisreiteratethatfosteryouthlookthesame,oftenact
thesame,andcansmileandlaughlikeeveryotherchild.
George Hendrickson
Executive Director
Petz knew it would be competitive because the gym members who
signed up are competitive by nature. That’s one of the reasons he
assigned a safety officer and made it a requirement that the bikes
had to be successfully ridden in order to be considered for prizes.
Alison Sherman, community development coordinator for
Kindred Family Focus, was at the event Sunday to watch the
contest. Petz introduced Sherman before the contest got started.
She explained that the nonprofit foster care and adoption agency
serves about 930 children a year and works with about 200 foster
families in Minnesota.
Kindred’s clients are kids who have experienced trauma and loss in
their families. Sixty percent of the children are reunified with their
family, but it can take a long time.
“They have some emotional and behavioral issues because of it,”
she said. “And they often have really limited chances to enjoy
things many kids take for granted.
“This is a wonderful thing for them. This gives them an
opportunity to have something their peers enjoy and allows them
to know they are valued and cared for.”
Sherman said to make it fair, the kids in the program will have a
chance to get a bike through a lottery system.
Kindred Family Focus is always looking for more foster families.
The need for them is on the rise, especially because of the opioid
epidemic.
Shermanacceptedthebikes,excitedtodistributethemtokidsinKindredFamilyFocusfostercare.

PATH
Humanizing Borderline
Personality Disorder
NEXUS GLEN LAKE
BPD in Adolescence
Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD) is not commonly
diagnosed in adolescence, as many perceive that BPD
behaviors are similar to typical teenage behaviors.
Individuals with BPD exhibit impulsivity, difficulty with
interpersonal relationships, intense mood swings, and
self-harm. Therefore, BPD clients often find themselves
in situations where healthy communication, appropriate
boundaries, and maintaining sense of self are minimal.
It is common for individuals with this disorder to have
several crises and hospitalizations.
When I first started in the mental health field, I was
exposed to the running joke that working with a client
who has BPD can cause the therapist to either have to go
to therapy or re-evaluate their career choice. Because of
this, I found myself avoiding taking on clients diagnosed
with BPD or transferring those who had strong BPD
traits to another therapist comfortable working with this
diagnosis.
I had to take a step back and ask myself if I wanted to be
the therapist that stayed safe and stuck, or the therapist
that wanted to grow and expand my horizons in the
mental health field; after all, helping those who struggle
the most is why I entered into this field.
Treating BPD
Individuals with this disorder often have childhood
trauma that may have involved neglect, abuse, and loss
or separation from a caregiver. Understanding this
trauma history can allow us to see why these individuals
have poor boundaries, lack of self-control, and difficulty
maintaining emotional regulation.
In therapeutic settings, we will hear these individuals
share feelings of abandonment and misunderstanding
from everyone. They can be observed having internal
conflicts of seeking and demanding attachment and
attention, while at the same time self-sabotaging these
connections due to the lack of trust they have in others.
It is absolutely necessary to set boundaries of
appointments, appropriate times to contact you, and
what your professional role is. Dialectical Behavioral
Therapy (DBT) approach is very effective in treating BPD
by replacing maladaptive behavior patterns, modifying
cognitions, and developing healthy skills (i.e. emotional
regulation, distress tolerance, and mindfulness).
As a therapist or caregiver, it is easy to catch yourself
feeling personally attacked by BPD clients, as many
of their behaviors can become extremely aggressive,
emotionally turbulent, and accusatory. When I recognize
that I am making negative judgments, I have to pinpoint
the behavior and ask myself the following questions
to increase my own self-awareness and maintain a
therapeutic approach:
• How am I interpreting this behavior?
• What is an empathetic understanding of this client’s
behavior?
• What are alternative, healthy behaviors I want the
client to develop instead?
By Jami “Alex” Coulter, Therapist

These questions allow me to remove my bias, refocus on
the treatment plan, and re-enter compassion for the client.
Individuals with BPD often display intense amounts
of hopelessness, shame of their behaviors, and low
self-esteem. Being aware of the vulnerability of these
individuals, can prevent us from stigmatizing them as
dramatic, annoying, or selfish.
Ensuring Your Own Self-Care
When working with this population of clients, self-
preservation is necessary to prevent burnout and
compassion fatigue. I have to remind myself that I can’t
wave a magic wand and take all their pain away; I can’t
teach them healthy, alternative behaviors overnight; I am
not to blame if they do end up self-harming.
Taking that burden off my shoulders is the only way that I
can stay sane and keep doing the work I love.
During the work day, I give it all I’ve got. With my
BPD client, I set boundaries, validate, safety plan, and
work on developing coping skills. Utilizing supervision
and consultation allows for an appropriate way to vent
frustrations and find solutions. At the end of the day, I
have to leave my therapist hat in my office. I give myself
time to spend with my family, enjoy my hobbies, and
relax. As the professional helpers, we aren’t able to help
others if we aren’t taking care of ourselves.
Director’s Report
ThesepastfewmonthsatGlenLake
havebeenmonthsoftransitionand
preparation.Whilesadtoseesome
oldfacesleaveourteam,weare
thrilledtohavesmart,talented,and
dedicatedindividualstotaketheir
place.
InMay,wehiredandon-boardedanewResidential
ProgramManager.HerpresenceatGlenLakeisalready
makingadifferenceinourteam.Hervisionandpassionfor
ouryouthandgrowingprogramiscontagious.
InearlyJuly,wewelcomedanothertherapisttoGlenLake.
Shehashitthegroundrunningwiththeyouth.Sheis
supportiveandhelpful,andisgoingtonotonlybeagreat
therapisttoourkids,butalsoacoachandmentortoour
staffastheyservetheyouthtogether.
Mostrecently,wewelcomedanewnurse.Inonlyashort
time,sheiscontributingtomakingastreamlinednursing
department.
Finally,wehavehadtheopportunitytoretainandpromote
some“GlenLakeveterans.”Learningnewroles,and
transitioncansometimesbechallenging,buttheyare
excitedaboutgrowthandaremakingtheirnewposition
theirveryown.
GlenLakecontinuestoprepfortheupcomingschoolyear
withtheteachersbackintheclassroom!Wearemeeting
andcollaboratingwithteachersandstafftogether,sothat
thecommunicationandpartnershipthatgotustothis
pointkeepsmovingforward.
WeareallexcitedforanendofthesummerBBQbetween
youthandteachers,withthehopesofkickingofftheirnew
relationshipandnewschoolyear.
ElizabethWilliams
Associate Director
We aren’t able to help others,
if we aren’t taking care of
ourselves.

Camp Connect 2018
Camp Connect 2018 was a wonderful success! Our mission was to allow
adoptive families to network with one another, have ample amounts
of time to relax and rejuvenate, and enable adoptive families to receive
meaningful advice and encouragement. As we look back at the weekend,
we can undoubtedly say that we accomplished our mission.
At Camp Connect, both adoptive and biological children are able
to connect with other children who have both similar and different
experiences. Often times, we hear them telling each other their stories
and giving little words of advice or counsel; it’s beautiful to see the kids
become friends over the course of the weekend!
Along with these childhood relationships, adoptive parents are also able
to network and connect with other parents. Through support groups,
recreational time, and discussion stones (conversation prompts that
enable families to talk with each other) families get to know each other
and develop friendships. By building these friendships, families feel
supported and are reminded that they are not alone. It is important for
these families to know that there are people out there who get it and who
would love to share in their struggles.
To promote teamwork, communication, and personal development,
families are encouraged to participate in camp’s Low Ropes Course.
This course consists of diverse obstacles that require the families to talk
with one another, listen to everybody’s ideas, work together as a team to
complete the obstacle, and eventually celebrate in their accomplishment
as a family!
PATH
PATH TRAVELS TO D.C.
AstheIndependentLivingCoordinatorforRegion
3inNorthDakota,Ihadtheprivilegetoattend
theChildren’sBureauAnnualChafeeGranteein
WashingtonD.C.withayouthboardmember
andmysupervisorfromthestateoffice.Thetrip
waseyeopening.Learningwhatotherstatesdo
encouragedmetoworkharderwithouryouth
boardandyouthonmycaseload.
Ibelieveouryouthboardcanchangelives.When
theyspeak,otherslisten.Itdoesnotmatterifit
isafosterparent,worker,oryouth.Theyhavethe
passiontogetthingsmovinginNorthDakota.
Iamveryproudoftheyouththatattendedthe
meetingswithme.Wewereabletospeakona
panelrepresentingNorthDakotaandshedida
greatjob!Itwasanhonortoshareallthethings
theyouthboardisworkingon.Theyaretrulyan
inspiration.
WhileinD.C.,wemetmanypassionateyouth
whowereeagertohavetheirvoiceheard.Our
NorthDakotayouthplanstostayconnectedwith
theyouthshemetatthemeetingtoteamupon
projects.Itisaveryexcitingtimetobeworking
withtheseyouth!Theyarethekeytoimproving
ourwork.Welearnedhowimportantitistohave
youthinvolvedindataandhavetheirvoicepresent
whenwearemakingimprovementplans.
Besuretolistentotheyouthyouareworkingwith,
itcouldchangetheoutcomeoftheirlifeandthe
outcomeofyourwork!
ByLizKemp,IndependentLivingCoordinator
LizKempandfellowstaffattendingtheChildren’sBureau
AnnualChafeeGrantee.
Adoptivefamiliesenjoyedconnectingandbuildingrelationshipsatthe2018CampConnect.

Nancy McKenzie
Executive Director
Director’s Report
Thereareanumberofexcitingeffortsgoingonat
PATHthatarekeepingusbusyandlookingforward
totheoutcomesoftheseefforts.
We’vepreviouslysharedthatearlierthisyearwe
beganpilotingprovisionofregularfostercarein
twoofoureightregions,inadditiontoourlargest
statewideservice,treatmentfostercare.Atthis
time,wearefinalizingaproposalwiththeStateofNorthDakotatoadd
anadditionalleveloffostercareservice,IntensiveTreatmentFosterCare,
inthreeregions.
IntensiveTFCisdesignedforyouthwhoneedafull-timecaregiverat
home,ratherthantwoworkingfosterparents,andwillprovideahigher
perdiemtomakethatpossible.Requirementsforfosterparenttraining
arealsohigher,andcasemanagementcaseloadswillbelower. Wewill
beginidentifyinghomessoonandhopetobeginplacingafewyouth
bythisfall. Addingthislevelofcarewillassistthestateinpreparingfor
changesexpectedwithimplementationoftheFamilyFirstPrevention
ServicesAct.
Ouroutpatientclinic,whichopenedinNovember,hasgrowntoitscurrent
capacitywithapproximately50clientsfromages3to20.Weareseeking
anothertherapisttofurtherexpand.Clearly,thisismeetinganeedinthe
Fargocommunity,andwelookforwardtofutureexpansionintoother
communities.
TheIndependentLivingprogramwasinvitedtoparticipateinapanelat
theChafeeconferenceinWashingtonD.C.recently,oneofthreestates
chosentoshowcasethegreatworkbeingdonewithyouth. Wewereable
tohaveoneoftheyouthfromourIndependentLivingLeadershipCouncil,
astaffmember,andourstatecontractofficerattend. NorthDakotaand
PATHareproudtobesowell-representedatthenationallevel!
TheIdahoAnnualConferenceisAugust3-4,withavarietyoftraining
offeringsforstaffandfosterparents.BrookeBiederstedtisournewIdaho
RegionalDirectorandstartsherpositiononAugust1.Welookforwardto
herleadership.
Meetinganothergoal,NorthDakotastafffullyimplementedtheCANS
assessmentonJuly1,andhavedoneasuperjobwiththetraining.They
jumpedrightintousingthetooltodeveloptreatmentplansbasedonthe
assessment.Thisisasizableundertakinganditisgoingverywell;staff
haveshownflexibilityinlearningandadaptingtothenewassessment.
WelookforwardtotheupcomingNexusAnnualConferenceandseeing
manyofyouthere!
In 2017, we had the honor of having Mike Berry speak
at our camp. Mike had such a wonderful time that he
wanted his whole family to come to Camp Connect
2018!
Mike and Kristen Berry are authors, speakers, adoptive
parents, and creators of the blog Confessions of an
Adoptive Parent. They were an instrumental part of
Camp Connect.
By speaking with parents and families as a whole, Mike
and Kristen brought a whole new life and perspective
to the challenges and triumphs that occur within
the family system. Families walked away feeling
encouraged, appreciated, and excited to continue on
their adoptive journey knowing they are not alone!
We had so much fun this year at Camp Connect and
cannot wait to start planning for next year! Stay tuned
for application dates and details.
Familiesbondedovermanydifferentactivities,fromroastings’morestoswimming.

Have an idea for a story?
Contact Amy Leach,
Cornerstone editor
aleach@nexus-yfs.org
763-551-8666
Employee Anniversaries
Nexus is a national nonprofit, 501(c)(3) organization and provider
of youth and family solutions. Our continuum of care includes
community-based family services, assessment programs, residential
treatment programs, foster care and adoption programs, and on-site
education programs.
Nexus, Gerard Treatment Programs, LLC, Kindred Family Focus, and
Woodbourne Center, Inc., and PATH North Dakota, Inc. are each
separate legal entities, organized or treated as nonprofit organizations
under their respective State’s law, and qualified for state and federal
tax exemption under Section 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status of the
Internal Revenue Code. Mille Lacs Academy, Indian Oaks Academy,
Onarga Academy, Nexus Glen Lake programs are not separate entities,
but rather programs operated directly by Nexus with an underlying
adherence to the Nexus Cornerstone Values and Guiding Principles.
Cornerstone is published bi-monthly by Nexus. All articles are
copyrighted by Nexus. Reproduction of any part of this publication is
prohibited without prior written consent.
505 Highway 169 North, Suite 500
Plymouth, MN 55441-6447
Corporate: 763-551-8640
www.nexus-yfs.org
Follow “Nexus: Youth and Family Solutions”
on Facebook, LinkedIn, Google+, and Twitter!
3 YEARS
Gerard Academy
Nicole Viehauser
Jordan Leonhardt
Jesse Bergland
Indian Oaks Academy
Somone Agers
Victoria Piotrowiak
Maria Rutter
Taneisha Langer
Kimberly Konodi
Jasmyne Humble
Wendy Gorges
Tamika Givens
Emily Decker
Gabriel Ojeda
Timothy Gray
Kindred Family Focus
Karen Berglund
Cassi Buchite
Reginald Hannah
TaNesha Saxon
Mille Lacs Academy
Rebecca Cherne-Knutson
Sarah Paulsen
Leah Ball
Onarga Academy
Richard Decorie
Yesenia Hernandez
Mark Grey
Woodbourne Center
Katherine Arend
PATH
Brooke Biederstedt
Bailey Harris
Lynn Frothinger
5 YEARS
Gerard Academy
Alesia Hofschulte
Tara Johnson
Lindzee Chicas
Anna Cawley
Justin Trom
Indian Oaks Academy
Nicholas Lawson-Wright
Paige Villalobos
Scott McKenith
Sheri Ritchie
Robert Dillon
Zachary Barnes
Onarga Academy
Tidjani Maouloud
Woodbourne Center
Catherine Nwah
PATH
Sherry Stark-Uselman
Kellyn Morlock
10 YEARS
Indian Oaks Academy
Rebecca Nestor
Jack Barton
Kindred Family Focus
Mary Hofmann

2018 July-August Cornerstone Newsletter

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2018 July-August Cornerstone Newsletter