Financing strategies for adaptation. Presentation for CANCC
January-February 2018 Cornerstone Newsletter
1. impactRealizing our
A NEXUS NEWSLETTER
JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2018
cornerst ne
IN THIS ISSUE
Strategic Planning 1
Red Flag Reporting 3
Making an Impact 4
Nutrient Rich Lifestyle 6
MLA Cooks Up Fun 7
Gerard Says Goodbye 9
Onarga Gets Cooking 11
IOA Gives Back 13
Yoga atWoodbourne 15
KFF Supports Parents 17
Sensory IntegrationTherapy at
Nexus Glen Lake 19
PATH Clinic Opens 21
2. 1 | JAN/FEB 2018
Strategic Planning
Dr. Michelle K. Murray
Interim CEO
We recently completed
our strategic plan at
Corporate, and this
year, we took a new
approach. We started
by listening to the sites
about their greatest
needs and assisting in
outlining site strategic
plans. We then analyzed site focus against what the
organization needs to remain competitive in the market.
Through the alignment between site and corporate vision,
we created strategic categories that will now become our
primary foci for long-term growth and sustainability.
Those categories include:
1. Employee Engagement & Retention
• Demonstrate improved employee engagement and
retention by creating a culture of workplace excellence
and recruiting and retaining high-value staff.
2. Integration of the Nexus Practice Model
• Demonstrate service consistency and effectiveness by
implementing the Nexus Practice Model principles
and practices.
3. Organizational Identity/Efficient Processes
• Establish service alignment and efficient processes
to strengthen organizational identity and long-term
growth as demonstrated through the use of impact
messaging and changed program and operational
practices.
4. Outcomes
• Demonstrate organizational excellence as compared
to market benchmarks through the establishment,
achievement, and reporting of successful outcomes.
5. Staff Development & Training
• Improve staff and leadership expertise by
implementing employee development opportunities
and enhanced training as demonstrated through
increased performance evaluations and employee
satisfaction data.
6. Sustainability
• Develop long-term sustainability by demonstrating
financial margins, increased fundraising dollars,
legislative changes to support our work, and the
ongoing expansion of services that demonstrate our
impact.
This new approach to strategic planning allows each
department to select goals that are in alignment with our
overarching vision, keeping us all focused and moving in
the same direction. It’s been very effective in directing our
collective attention to the things that really matter.
Within those six focus areas, there is one that I want to
discuss in more depth — Organizational Identity/Efficient
Processes.
You recently received an email link to an information-
gathering survey on the impact of Nexus services. That
survey is part of a larger focus on the lasting impact of our
services – or rather the WHY behind what we do. In the
past six years, Nexus has undergone tremendous growth
in services and geographic service areas.
Due to our expansion into new states and our increasing
diversity of services, it is time to refine our common
understanding about what Nexus is trying to achieve and
become as an organization. It is time for Nexus to focus
on why we do what we do. We need to be clear about
organizational impact and the outcomes that we achieve,
rather than on the services that we provide, so that we may
continue to be a powerful force in the child mental health
market and remain positioned to be competitive now and
in the future. We need to clearly understand, define, and
strengthen our impact. Then we use our services to make
that impact, and in the process, create a high-performing
Sharpening our Focus:
Impact, Vision, Strategy
3. JAN/FEB 2018 | 2
system that demonstrates the outcomes we are paid to
achieve.
Stated another way, as an organization we need to know:
• WHY we do what we do – our purpose; footprint; what
drives us; our emotional connection to the work; it is
what we are aspiring to do
• WHO is our client – the population we work with, to
include age/gender/race/ethnicity/needs/groups
• WHEN do we work with our clients – when do our
clients become our clients; when do they stop being our
clients; who do we include in our “client” realm
• WHERE do we work with our clients – this can include
geographic reach or specifics like schools, at home, in an
office, in a live-in congregate care placement, in a foster
family, hospital, community center
• WHAT we achieve – this is our exact impact; the
outcomes that we can prove
• HOW we achieve our outcomes – this is our outputs; it
is the services we utilize, the specific interventions and
activities we do to achieve our outcomes
As we move through this process, we must ask ourselves
some important questions, some of which were alluded to
in the information-gathering survey:
• What are the beliefs and values that are important to us
as an organization?
• What do we do better than anyone else?
• How would our referral sources, youth, families, and
communities describe us?
• What is our competitive advantage in the market place?
• What is the organization’s competencies?
• Where do we want our organization to be in 10 years?
20 years?
• What are the outcomes we are trying to achieve?
• What are the service and competency gaps that we need
in order to make an impact?
• How do we align our impact and services with funding
and market need?
There are some things we fundamentally know. For
instance, we know that our primary services are foster care
and residential treatment, and we know that the youth who
come to us have already been removed from their families
and are at high-risk of never returning home. High-risk
youth have difficulty completing school, may experience
long-term poverty, are not able to live independently as
adults, are likely to engage in substance abuse, do not know
how to manage their mental health symptoms, and can
become involved in criminal or unsafe behavior. Without
effective intervention, such youth are at risk to becoming
high-risk adults. We provide services in order to change
a child’s trajectory of continuing high-risk behavior into
adulthood.
We also know that our current service models focus on
youth primarily during their placement with us, whether
that be in congregate care or in a foster home. We need to
do more. We must ensure that the youth we serve return
to a safe, permanent family network or that they have the
skills to be successful adults on their own and know how
to manage their behaviors and symptoms effectively. An
analysis of our organizational impact will likely reveal
service gaps and competencies that must be filled to realize
this lasting impact. We will have challenging discussions
about what services to keep, refine, expand, add, or
eliminate to maximize that impact.
As we move through this process, we will approach our
information-gathering on many levels:
• Continue discussions at all levels of the organization
around at-risk youth, what they need, and how to work
with their families.
• Conduct a gap analysis of Nexus services for at-risk
youth.
• Conduct a competitor/market analysis in the five states
in which Nexus operates to examine line(s) of service,
capacity in those services, program structure, outcomes,
political arena, and funding.
• Settle on a unified WHY and impact.
• Determine what we need to make our intended impact.
• Examine and refine the Nexus mission statement, vision
statement, guiding principles, and practice model.
• Examine and refine the Nexus external branding
(descriptor line, manifesto, tagline, website, marketing
materials).
• Discuss a fundraising message and financial strategies so
that we can support our program needs.
This is an exciting process and an important discussion.
Just as our strategic plan helps us all focus on shared goals,
clarifying the impact we want to have on the youth and
families we serve will direct our collective attention to work
on the things that really matter.
4. 3 | JAN/FEB 2018
HR Report
Jennifer McIntosh
VP of Human Resources
Red Flag Reporting
As a premier provider
of over 30 diverse
services for youth
and families in five
different states, we
take our commitment
to the Nexus mission
seriously. In the 2017 Nexus Engagement Survey, 86%
of our employees who participated agree that the work
we do positively impacts people’s lives. It is no mystery
that we are only able to carry out our mission through
the dedication and hard work of all of our employees.
Without them, we wouldn’t be able to serve the over
2,600 youth and families in our care each year.
As part of the 2018 Human Resources Strategic Plan,
we are taking on a few different retention initiatives by
building on our commitment to sustain a safe and ethical
work environment.
Nexus currently has several different routes for an
employee to express concerns in the workplace. We have
policies that guide us like our Code of Conduct, Anti-
Harassment, Employee Grievance/Problem Resolution,
etc., which support an open door commitment and
communication with supervisors and Human Resources
to resolve workplace issues.
Even with an extensive policy library like ours, we have
decided to extend another option for staff to inform us
of concerns related to improper or unethical activity
at work. With the support of our Board of Directors,
Senior Leadership, and our site leaders, we are excited
to introduce an ethics and compliance hotline effective
March 5, 2018, called Red Flag Reporting.
Red Flag Reporting is an
independent organization
that is dedicated to protecting
organizations and their
employees, clients, assets,
and reputations. Simply
put, this service allows people to report concerns
regarding improper activity within the workplace. This
could range from financial concerns, such as theft or
misstated financial statements, to other concerns, such as
harassment, boundary concerns, discrimination, safety
issues, substance abuse, compliance issues, etc. Red Flag
Reporting is independent from Nexus, allowing reporters
to remain completely anonymous if they choose.
Even though adoption of a formalized reporting process
is not required nor related to a particular event, it is
nonetheless important in supporting our ongoing effort
to ensure strong internal controls and a positive “tone
at the top.” This type of service has been touted as a best
practice by the Society for Human Resource Management
and the American Institute of Certified Public
Accountants, among others. Red Flag Reporting has an
easy to use platform with a positive tone that supports
working for the common good.
Our intent is to protect our staff, youth, assets, and
reputation. We are not looking to utilize this process
for normal conflicts that can be handled through site
grievance processes; we are looking to create safety in
reporting ethical and/or potentially legal issues before
they affect the organization negatively. It is also important
to know that doors remain open. We do encourage you
to speak directly with a supervisor when you identify
direct concerns; however, you will have a new option to
report more complex issues via Red Flag Reporting. More
information to be released upon the formal roll out.
5. JAN/FEB 2018 | 4
Nexus fund development efforts continued to grow in
2017, resulting in an overall 21% increase in the number
of donors and 31% increase in cash, in-kind gifts, and
pledges contributed across Nexus sites.
Most notable was Woodbourne’s capital campaign that
secured $1.5 million in cash gifts and multi-year pledges in
2016-2017 from individuals, corporations, foundations, and
the State of Maryland. These funds will be used to build a
new Vocational Building at Woodbourne Center (expected
to break ground this spring).
An additional $704,000 in cash and in-kind gifts was raised
for general operating needs and special projects. Here are
some examples of how these gifts make a difference:
• Providing children facing abuse, neglect, or mental
health concerns with more safe places to sleep at night
(funded new foster home recruiter/licensors to make
more foster homes available)
• Providing youth with new vocational opportunities
in food service/culinary fields (supported the start of
a kitchen addition at Onarga Academy’s Cornerstone
Café).
• Teaching youth at Mille Lacs Academy healthy
nutrition and valuable cooking skills (purchased a
“Charlie Cart” mobile kitchen).
• Helping prevent child abuse and neglect by providing
gas cards, clothing, supplies, counseling, and short-term
child care for families in crisis (Crisis Nursery serving
Wright County).
Nexus leaders and staff played an important role in this
success.
The entire Nexus Board of
Directors made financial gifts
to Nexus and/or helped our
development efforts in some
way. This included attending
events, introducing new
donors, and requesting gifts
on behalf of our youth and
families. Nexus employees
from all sites also provided
in-kind and cash gifts, and
assisted with many different
events throughout the year.
175 of Nexus employees
contributed over $11,677 to
Youth Without Resources
and Kindred Cares
through payroll deductions
throughout the year. We are excited to update Youth
Without Resources this year to increase the impact those
funds can have on the youth we serve.
Philanthropy means “the love of humanity.” We are grateful
for the many ways we see love at work when caring for the
youth and families who count on us every day!
Development: Funding our Future
Making An Impact!
Joelene Evenson
Director of Development
Bill Mojica
Director of Development, MD
By Joelene Evenson
6. 5 | JAN/FEB 2018
For the second year in a row, Lifetouch, a company
known across the country for creating memories through
photography, fulfilled the holiday gift wishes of our
youth at Nexus Glen Lake.
Lifetouch employees included Nexus in their “Giving
Tree,” with individuals purchasing gifts for each
youth. The Lifetouch elves at the Eden Prairie, MN,
headquarters also engaged colleagues at another location
to launch a drive for personal care items, jackets, hats,
gloves, and more for youth in other Nexus services.
Culture of Philanthropy in Action!
Lifetouch“Elves”posewithahugeassortmentofgiftsselectedforyouthat
NexusGlenLake.
AsamplingofthecolorfulthankyoucardscreatedbyNGLyouthandstaff.
NGLthankyounotesondisplayatLifetouchheadquartersinEdenPrairie,MN.
There were smiles all around as a pick-up truck filled
to the brim with gifts headed back to Nexus after the
Lifetouch holiday celebration.
Nexus Glen Lake youth and staff later made a point
of creating colorful thank you notes to express their
gratitude for the gifts they received from these generous
individuals.
Lifetouch representative, Aaron Schulze, contacted us
immediately after receiving the notes, letting us know
his colleagues would be thrilled to see them. They are
prominently displayed on their employee bulletin board
for everyone at Lifetouch to see.
THANK YOU to the youth and staff at Nexus Glen
Lake for letting Lifetouch employees know how much
their generosity means to you! It makes a huge impact!
7. JAN/FEB 2018 | 6
A Nutrient-Rich Lifestyle
Changing the way you think about food is fundamental to
managing your body’s nutritional needs. Maintaining a
healthy weight can lower the risk of developing diabetes,
heart disease, hypertension, sleep apnea, and some types of
cancer. Most of all, nutrition can play a significant role in a
person’s mental and emotional wellness, affecting appetite,
energy, and physical wellness. Consider these seven tips for
choosing a nutrient-rich lifestyle.
1. Think of this as a lifestyle change. Don’t “diet.” Instead,
make simple changes to your daily routine and grocery
purchases that will improve your strength, energy, and
fitness long-term.
2. Snack smart. Raw and unprocessed foods have more
nutrients, like vitamins, minerals, and fiber, than
processed foods. During processing, sodium, sugars,
and saturated fats may be added for taste, appearance,
or preservation, and while some products are fortified
or enriched, fiber and other nutrients lost during
processing are not always replaced.
Keep healthy snacks stocked at home and at the office.
Instead of chips, candy, and salted nuts, stock up on
healthy grazing foods such as fruits, vegetables, whole
grains, brown rice, low-fat dairy, and raw nuts.
3. Eat more plants. A plant-based lifestyle can slow the
progression of aging, help maintain brain mass, help
lower cholesterol, and reduce the risk of diabetes,
cardiovascular disease, and some cancers.
Focus on “good” complex carbohydrates. Carbs are
essential for energy and building muscle, but try to
avoid processed carbs and refined sugars. Whenever
possible, cook from scratch using whole grains and
fresh, canned, or frozen produce.
4. Don’t overdo protein. If you want to build muscle,
focus on strength training and a balance of protein
and complex carbs. Protein satiates hunger better
than carbohydrates, and feeling full makes it easier
to cut back on portions, but red meats and excessive
animal protein can cause weight gain and increase the
risk of developing cancer. Lean chicken, turkey, fish,
eggs, beans, and even some grains and vegetables have
protein. Don’t bother with enriched protein powder; a
balanced diet rich with whole, raw foods will supply all
the protein you need.
5. Eat breakfast. A morning meal helps jump-start your
body’s metabolism for the day.
6. Reduce portion sizes. Cut back on protein portions,
especially when dining out. Add more veggies to your
meal if you are worried about getting enough to eat.
7. Pay attention to your hunger. Eat when you are hungry,
and stop when you feel satiated. It is better to save
leftovers for later than to clean your plate and over-eat.
The next time you go to the grocery store, look for plants
and lean proteins to replace processed foods, unhealthy
snacks, and pre-cooked meals. Your brain and body will
thank you for it!
Life & Work Skills
Sources:
CBIZ. (2014, June). Why should you avoid processed foods? CBIZ Wellbeing Insights, 6, 10.
Division of Nutrition, Physical Activity, and Obesity, National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion. (2016, September 8.)
Healthy Eating for a Healthy Weight. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Retrieved from https://www.cdc.gov/healthyweight/healthy_eating/
index.html
Cassidy A, De Vivo I, Liu Y, Prescott J, Hunter DJ, Rimm EB. (2010, May.) Associations between diet, lifestyle factors, and telomere length in women.
American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 91(5), 1273-80. Retrieved from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20219960
Korn, L. (2016, January 11.) Nutrition Essentials for Mental Health: A Complete Guide to the Food-Mood Connection. New York: W.W. Norton &
Company. Retrieved from https://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/rhythms-recovery/201801/the-most-important-missing-link-mental-health-today
8. 7 | JAN/FEB 2018
HOT DOG!
CELEBRATING STAFF
TheEmployeeLeadershipCommitteeputs
onsmalleventstothankandappreciatethe
talentedandhardworkingstaffatMilleLacs
Academy.Oneverypopulareventisourhot
dogbar.Besidesanassortmentofcondiments
andfix-ins,thebar
alsobringsaspecial
appearancefromHot
DogMan(orwoman)!
Thisyear,MLAHuman
ResourcesManager,
RobStiles,donnedthe
costumeandbrought
someextracheertoourstaff.Thankyouto
Rob,thecommittee,andourfantasticstaff!
Cooking Up Fun
MLAyouthpreparedbananasfoster.
TheCharlieCartcontainsallthetoolsyouthneedtoprepareandcookmeals.
Mille Lacs Academy youth are enjoying the
new Charlie Cart, a mobile kitchen to help
youth learn basic culinary skills. The Charlie
Cart was funded primarily by the proceeds
from the 2017 Annual Golf Tournament, and
we are already hoping to raise money for a
second cart!
As part of the vocational program, youth
follow a lesson structure that incorporates
principles from math, science, and English.
Thus far, youth have completed multiple
lessons on table manners and place settings.
Youth recently enjoyed a dessert lesson where
they learned how to prepare bananas foster.
They shared their creations with Community
Advisory Committee members. Everyone
appreciated the boys’ efforts and the delicious
treat.
Besides learning basic skills, the long-term goal of the Charlie
Cart project is to help youth become ServSafe certified. Many of
our youth express a strong interest in careers in food service and
this certification would give them a great advantage over other
applicants.
Tothankemployeesfortheirlong-term
dedication,theEmployeeLeadership
Committeegivesgiftstostaffwhoarecrossing
amilestone.Atfiveyearsofemployment,the
committeegivesoutbrandedjackets,and
thisyear,theyrolledoutanewdesign.Jenny
Wagner,NavigatorsUnitCoordinator,and
JackieDeMars,NavigatorsClinicalSupervisor,
weretheveryfirststafftoreceivethenew
jackets.Thankyou,JennyandJackie,foryour
dedication!
9. JAN/FEB 2018 | 8
Director’s Report
Attheendofeachyear,many
peopleprepareforthenew
yearbyexaminingtheirlives–
personalandprofessional–and
developinggoalsforwhatthey
wouldliketoachieve.Teams
andorganizationsdothesame.
Theysearchforthebig,hairy,
audaciousgoalsandthewildlyimportantgoalsthat
canhelpthemgrowandenhancetheirpractices.
Sometimes,thiscausesustolosesightofthelittle
things–thesmallitemsthatarejustas,orevenmore,
importantthanthebiggoals.
Whenwetakethetimetoexaminethebigthings,
wecanseethelittlestepsthatmakeourlargergoal
areality.Thiscouldmeanthatwhilewearegetting
projectsdone,weforgettosaythankyoutoothersfor
theirefforts,energy,andtime.Wemightbesobusy
puttingoutdailyfiresthatwemissbuildingasystem
thatcouldpreventthefiresbeforetheybegin.
Smallthingsmatter.
Ourabilitytostayfocusedonthedailysmallsuccesses
ofouryouth,families,andteammatesistruly
important.Weneedtocelebratethesesuccesses,as
eachmovesusclosertowardthebig,hairy,audacious
goalwearestrivingtoachieve.It’simportanttokeep
commitments,demonstratetrustbehaviors,stay
focusedonthecollectivemission,partnersuccessfully
witheachother,andappreciateandaffirmsuccess.
Eachoftheseactionscanhelpusmovepebbleby
pebbleandcreatelargerchangesaswetrytomove
mountains.
Ilookforwardtofacingthepebbles,boulders,hills,
andmountainsof2018withtheMLAteam.Our
work,ineverydepartment,hasapositiveimpacton
ouryouth.I’mexcitedtowatchourteamsgrowand
experiencethechangesthattheymakeinouryouth
andfamilies.Iwishyouallsuccessinthejourneysthat
2018willbring.
Jason Donahue
Executive Director
During the holiday season, Mille
Lacs Academy (MLA) places Giving
Trees around Onamia as a way for
community members to easily make
an impact in a child’s life at Christmas
time. The Giving Trees are made of
bulbs that hold a youth’s name and a
desired toy.
This year, over 80 gifts were donated to
youth, making for a joyous Christmas
morning on the MLA campus!
Without the help from the community,
the holidays wouldn’t be the same
for youth in our care. Thanks to the
Onamia Senior Center, Mille Lacs Health System, and Crosier
Center for hosting trees for the fifth consecutive year, and to the
community members who purchased gifts for the MLA youth.
One youth wrote a thoughtful thank you letter for the gifts received
on Christmas Day.
“Thank you for buying us presents for Program 3. I had a lot of fun
with my stuff. I’m so so so grateful for the stuff I got out of MLA’s
money. I’m really happy you guys are really nice and you guys try to
make it like home when we spent time with our family and thank you
for all of the presents. Merry Christmas. Thank you.”
Building a Culture of Philanthropy
Recently, one MLA staff member found a new way to
help our youth during the holiday season. Pet Sasso,
a Case Manager on the Safari Program, included the
MLA Holiday Appeal letter inside her own holiday
cards to friends and family. The idea was inspired
by her parents’ generosity; they donate to a local
treatment facility in Pet’s name, and she thought
others might like the opportunity to do the same.
In her own unique way, Pet is helping to establish
a culture of philanthropy at MLA. She believes that creating
this culture is everyone’s responsibility. Pet said, “It is all about
relationships and time, and not just monetary donations.”
Community Support Brightens the Holiday
PetSassoholdinga
donationreceived
throughherefforts.
MLAGivingTreesbroughtinover80
giftsforyouth!
10. 9 | JAN/FEB 2018
“It’s hard to leave something you love” says Brent Henry,
Executive Director for Gerard Academy. Brent will be
retiring in March 2018, after 42 years with Gerard.
Brent often jokes that he has been with Gerard since
before most of the staff were in diapers. His story began
in 1973, and he remembers clearly how fate led him to
Gerard.
“I was just out of basic training, and you know, my dad
was on my case to get a job. I saw the ad for Gerard in
our local paper. There was a recruiting meeting at our
local Holiday Inn, so I went, applied, and got hired.”
He was the third person hired for the Mason City Gerard
Academy.
Despite “knowing nothing” about residential treatment
programs, Brent was hired as an overnight child care
worker, within a few months, he moved to the 3:00 -
11:00 p.m. shift. In 1989, he became the Director of
Group Living, overseeing both the Mason City, IA, and
Austin, MN, locations.
Just two years later, Brent, along with Kay Stiles (another
long-time Gerard employee) and five other members of
the management team, was presented the opportunity
to purchase the Gerard programs. With a mission and
commitment to make a difference in the lives of children
Goodbyes are Never Easy
and families, this seven-member team purchased the
program. It was this same commitment that led the team
to join Nexus eight years later. With his passion and
clear leadership qualities, Henry was named Gerard’s
Executive Director.
“Our product is growth, and at the end of the day, that is
why I’ve stayed at Gerard for so long,” states Brent.
When asked what he thinks sets Gerard apart from other
residential treatment facilities, Brent quickly answers,
“Culture.”
The culture that Brent has worked to create is rooted
in love and compassion. “I believe that the workplace
should be fun and a safe place for employees to be
themselves and to grow. When people enjoy their job,
they are more productive. They should love coming to
work,” he states. This, he believes, will create a better
environment for the kids.
He states, “I’ve always believed that leadership is not
about pushing people from behind, it’s about trying to be
the person that others strive to be like.”
“My number one strength has always been to surround
myself with people who compliment my strengths and
compensate for my weaknesses.”
With this ability, Brent has crafted a team that lives the
mission and exemplifies the Cornerstone Values. His
intentional and life-long study of human behavior allows
him to bring out the best in the people he supervises,
and his mentorship inspires others to grow and achieve
excellence at Gerard.
“It’s hard to leave
something you love.”
11. JAN/FEB 2018 | 10
Brent Henry
Executive Director
Director’s Report
Whatdoyoufocusoninyourlife?Do
youfocusonwhatyouhaveorwhatyou
don’thave?Doyoufocusonthepositive
orthenegative?Whatyoucancontrol
orwhatyoucan’t?Doyoufocusonthe
futureorthepastorthepresent?Doyou
focusonaproblemwithoutresolving
it?Ifwedon’ttrainourselves,ourbrain
justfallintohabitandgoesonautomaticpilot.Weallhave
patternsofwhatwefocuson;becomeawareofyourpattern.
Wherefocusgoes,energyflows.Whatwefocusonnotonly
getsbigger,ittendstoshowupinourlives.
Ourfocusissoimportant,infact,thatwhatwetendto
focusonandourpatternfordoingsoshapesourwholelife.
AbrahamLincolnsaid,“Wecancomplainbecauserosebushes
havethornsorrejoicebecausethornbusheshaveroses.”The
choiceisyours.
Themostpowerfulwaytocontrolyourfocusisthrough
questions.Ratherthanasking,“Whyme?”,askthefollowing:
• Whatisgreataboutthis?
• What’scrazyaboutthis?
• What’sfunnyaboutthis?
• Whatisnotperfectyet?
• HowcanIenjoytheprocess?
Yourfocusbecomesyourexperience,whetherit’srightor
wrong.Plus,weonlystayinouremotionalpainwhenweare
focusedonourselves.
Changeyourfocusandyouwillchangeyourlife.
Focusonwhatyouwanttoshowupinyourlifeandyouwill
starttomoveinthatdirection.Focusonthingsthatmakeyou
happyandempoweryou.
Haveyoueverbeenatafuneralandwhileeveryoneis
inasadstate,someonesharesastoryabouttheperson,
andsuddenlyeveryonegoesfromtearstolaughter.Inan
instant,ourstatecanchangesimplybywhatwefocuson.
Remember,what’swrongisalwaysavailable,butsoiswhat’s
right.
In his time with Gerard, Brent has developed several
trainings that have extended past the Gerard campus
to other residential facilities and even to community
members. These include,“Growth from the Inside Out,”
“Shame,” “Facilitating Change in Ourselves and Others,”
“Therapeutic Milieu,” and “The 7 L’s of Leadership.”
He plans on continuing to help others grow by offering
his trainings through the Austin Community Education
program.
Gerard’s success can be largely attributed to Brent, who
has worked his way through every aspect of the program,
learning what works and what doesn’t, making sure
employees feel valued and heard, and telling a few jokes
along the way.
In 1999, Gerard was a 30-bed program, and the school was
housed in a garage-like building. Under Brent’s direction,
Gerard has made many additions and improvements,
including three new dorms that bring the campus capacity
up to 93-beds, a new school, and a new gymnasium and
recreation center. Many services have been added over the
years like the bridging program and community mental
health services to reach more youth and families in need.
Brent’s passion for helping others shows in the success of
Gerard. Even though his dedication can never be replaced,
Gerard staff look forward to building on the strong
foundation Brent set in front of them.
12. 11 | JAN/FEB 2018
Let’s Get Cooking!
The Cooking 102 class received a grant through Illinois Pork Producers
Association to supply pork for their cooking class. As their end-of-
semester project, students were divided into two teams to compete in a
“Survivor”-style cook-off. In order to make their dishes, students had to
earn each ingredient by answering questions from the textbooks, previous
lessons, and skills learned in class.
One team prepared Country-Fried
Ribeye Pork Chops, and the other
prepared Honey BBQ Pulled Pork
Burgers. The boys worked together to
determine which role they would play
in creating the recipes. They delegated
responsibilities so they could be
efficient, worked to help each other if
they fell behind, and practiced time-
management so their dishes were
completed within the challenge limit.
The dishes were assessed by a panel
of judges made up of teachers,
teaching assistants, the school
counselor, and two other students.
The judges evaluated how well each team worked together, if questions
were answered correctly to obtain the needed ingredients, and how the
teams utilized their cooking skills like proper knife use, cleanliness, and
preparation techniques.
Overall, it was a fun and tasty learning activity for the students!
SCHOLARSHIP APPLICATION
NOW AVAILABLE
SAVE THE DATE
OnargaAcademyisonceagainofferingsix$500
scholarshipstoIroquoisCountyhighschool
seniors.Theapplicationisavailableonthe
OnargaAcademysectionofwww.nexus-yfs.org.
SubmitapplicationsbyApril27,2018.
TheOnargaAcademyClassicwillbeheld
March23and24,2018.Teamregistrationand
sponsorshipopportunitiesareavailableon
www.OnargaAcademyEvents.org.
JoinusbeforethetournamentonSaturday,
March24,from7-11a.m.fortheOnargaLions
andOnargaAcademyPancakeandSausage
Breakfast.
13. JAN/FEB 2018 | 12
DennisWiley
Executive Director
Heroes Rising
Starting a new program
is not always easy. Heroes
Rising, our newest residential
program for young boys with
emotional disorders, began
in September 2017. This was
a big change, putting stress
on everyone involved as they
worked together to find a
routine that met the needs of
our newest kids.
Nevertheless, all Onarga
Academy staff act as heroes as
they offer support to staff and
youth alike. To show their
appreciation, the Heroes Rising program staff hosted a “Heroes
to You” party to thank staff for all their help with program
management and development over the past few months!
HeroesRisingprogramstaffhostedasuperhero-themedpartytothankeveryonewhohelped
gettheprogramonitsfeet.Attendeesenjoyedherocupcakesandfungameslikepinthestaron
theshield.
Director’s Report
Overthelastfewmonths,the
processofmergingprograms
andcreatinganewprogram
hasbroughtchallengeson
manylevels.
Historically,weareaccustomed
toorganicchange–starting
outwithjustresidentialprogramming,andgrowing
toincludeaTransitionLivingProgram,GroupHome,
GrandPrairieSchool,thenFosterCare.Because
we’veexperiencedthesedifficulttransitionsdoesn’t
makeiteasiertonavigatethenextventure.
Why?Changeinvolvesfeelingsoflossandletting
go,aswellasdoubt,fear,andanxietyforstaff.
Fearofchangecanalsoparalyzeanorganization
–sustainingandreinforcingbehaviorsthatare
comfortabledoesnotfacilitategrowthorfuture
viability.Collectively,weneedtodealwiththe
realitiesofhowachangeprocessimpactsallof
us,whileacknowledgingthatwithoutchallenges,
personalandprogrammaticgrowthcanresultin
stagnation.
Allofusareveryproudoftherecentprogressthis
sitehasmade,takingonthedifficult,yetnecessary,
transitionsofdiversifyingourprograms.Stafffrom
allprogramshavecometogethertosupportOnarga
Academy’slatestchallengesinmultipleways!
14. 13 | JAN/FEB 2018
Giving Back
The Empowering Youth Committee (EYC) at Indian Oaks is made up of
youth representatives from across campus. They are involved with the
training for new hires, mentorship of newly admitted youth, and several
give-back efforts. Service projects have included work for Feed My
Starving Children and most recently, the American Red Cross.
Committee members
produced the first-ever,
campus-wide talent show,
and donated proceeds
from the concession sales
to the American Red
Cross. A check for $100
was directed to disaster
relief services for those
affected by hurricanes in
2017.
Youth in our vocational
program also gave back
to our community when they helped the local Salvation Army hand out
over 700 turkeys to needy families this past holiday season. Indian Oaks
Academy has partnered with the Salvation Army in Kankakee to provide
manpower at this event for almost ten years.
The day was a huge success, and our kids enjoyed making sure area
families had a good meal over the holidays!
HOBBY & CRAFT SALE
IOAwillholditsfirst-evercraftand
hobbyshowApril14-15,attheKankakee
FairgroundsExpoCenter. Spearheadedby
SafeHarborSchoolteacherDJPapineau,
thecraftfairwillraisemoneyforarts
programmingbothintheschool,andon
theresidentialprograms.
EYCsponsorsTimAscher(l.)andLaVellaDarby(r.)helpedtheEYCmaketheir
donationtotheAmericanRedCross.
TOOL BASH FUNDRAISER
The16th
AnnualToolBashwilltakeplace
Saturday,April21,attheIOAgym. Tickets
are$30andincludelunchfortwo,aTool
Basht-shirt,andachancetowingreattools
fromDewalt,Craftsman,Bosch,Milwaukee,
Porter-Cable,Ryobi,SkillPowerTools,
andmore.Proceedssupportvocational
programmingatIOA.
YouthintheIOAvocationalprogramhandedoutover700turkeystofamiliesthis
holidayseason.
15. JAN/FEB 2018 | 14
Mary Ann Berg
Executive Director
Director’s Report
IOAwillseesignificantchangesin
2018fortwoofourgirls’programs.
ThePhoenixprogramservesgirls,
age12-21,withsevereemotional
andbehavioraldisorders.TheStudio
7programservessimilargirlswho
alsohaveintellectualdisabilities(IQs
of55-70.)Theseprogramsarebeing
redesignedtobettermanagetheintensityandcomplexity
ofthispopulation,and,ultimately,increaseeachyouth’s
successupondischarge.
Theyouthontheseprogramshaveexperiencedchronic
trauma,humantrafficking,multiplefailedplacements,
andmore.Manyareunabletoregulatetheiremotionsand
haveattachmentissuesandseriousmentalhealthneeds.
Directcarestaffwillnowreceiveenhancedtrainingto
betteraddressthosespecificneeds.
Theuseofneurobiologicalinterventionswillbeenhanced,
withadditionaltrainingandsensoryitems,sandtrayand
dancetherapy,yoga(providedbyacertifiedinstructor),
musictherapy,andEyeMovementDesensitizationand
Reprocessing(EMDR)therapy.EMDRiseffectivefor
post-traumaticstressandhasalsobeensuccessfulin
treatingconditionsincludingsexualand/orphysical
abuse,personalitydisorders,panicattacks,anddisturbing
memories.Thegirlswillalsobeinvolvedinequinetherapy.
BothprogramswillshareanAppliedBehaviorAnalystto
directlyworkwiththeyouthandcareteamondeveloping
specificbehavioralinterventionplans.TherapeuticMilieu
Managerswillalsobeaddedtoassistinmoreintensive
supportforyouthandstaff.Theywillhaveagreater
knowledgeofeachyouth’sindividualneeds,effectively
assistingincrisisandrelationshipbuildingwhenayouthis
struggling.
Andfinally,wewillenhanceopportunitiesfortheseyouth
toincreasetheirlifeskills(likebudgeting,mealplanning,
usingpublictransportation,navigatingthemedical
system,etc.)beforetheyreturntotheircommunities.
Aswecelebrateour25th
yearofservice,we’reconfident
thesechanges,andtheworkonallofourprograms,will
continuetochangethelivesoftheyouthweserve.
Victory Reins offers Equine Therapy
“Walk on,” and a tap of the horn with your hand is how a
horseback ride begins in the arena at Victory Reins Therapeutic
Riding Center. IOA plans to work with Victory Reins to provide
equine therapy for girls on our two redesigned programs, and
eventually for all youth at IOA.
Sandy Michalewicz,
founder and director of
Victory Reins, is already
familiar with IOA and our
mission as a member of
the Peoples Church – they
provide Thanksgiving
meals and more for
our kids. The riding
center offers therapeutic
horseback riding to
children and adults with disabilities; the non-profit has many
success stories that are shared through word-of-mouth.
“Getting on a horse
empowers our
kids,” Michalewicz
said. “To be able
to go wherever
they want to in this
arena, it gives them
a sense of freedom.”
IOA youth will learn not only to ride, but groom, turn out, clean
stalls, feed, and even bathe the horses. Horses have long been
employed to help with physical, occupational, and speech therapy.
Equine-assisted therapy has recently been used to treat numerous
mental health issues, including depression, ADHS, and PTSD.
This therapy can help build self-esteem, concentration, and
relaxation, among other things. “I think the horses are so
important, and they just give unconditional love, absolutely
unconditional love,” Michalewicz said.
LtoR:Buddy,Cisco,andBodhi
Youthlearntoride,groom,feed,andbathethehorses.
16. 15 | JAN/FEB 2018
Yoga Mindfulness
Training
For the second straight year, The Charles Crane Family Foundation
awarded Woodbourne a $20,000 grant to provide Yoga Mindfulness
Training. In conjunction with the Holistic Life Foundation, the program
was implemented in the residential setting last year.
Holistic Life is an organization that specializes in serving youth from
underserved communities with trauma-informed yoga and mindfulness
work. Woodbourne’s youth are now among the thousands of youth who
enjoy the benefits of their work.
The program was successful not only among our students, but staff as
well. Clinical Director, Dr. Donna Beck, reports, “I have overheard a
staff discussing how the “flexibility” he gains in yoga/stretching actually
translates to life and how he works with the youth in finding ways to be
more creative and flexible in responding to negative behaviors.”
Dr. Beck selected Holistic Life specifically because it was trauma-
informed, central to the Woodbourne’s clinical work on campus and a
Nexus practice principle.
According to their website, Holistic Life Foundation (HLF) helps
“children develop their inner lives through yoga, mindfulness, and self-
care. HLF demonstrates deep commitment to learning, community, and
stewardship of the environment.” The organization focuses on poses,
breathing and meditation. Currently, HLF assists over 4,500 youth in
public schools.
HLF works with Woodbourne staff to maintain the practice so it can be
a consistent tool even after HLF’s time on campus has passed.
“They facilitate programming by training the staff on breathing and
mindfulness and stretching and posturing, and teach the kids to infuse it
into our programming,” says Dr. Beck.
Last year, staff members trained with HLF to learn the biology,
movements, breaths, and postures. Our focus this year will be to install
WELCOME INGRID GORMAN
TheWoodbourneFinanceDepartmentkickedoff
2018byaddinganewmembertotheirteam.
PleasewelcomeIngridGorman!
IngridwillserveasStaffAccountant,specializing
inaccountsreceivableandcollections.
Mostrecently,IngridwastheBillingManagerfor
anotherBaltimore-basedresidentialtreatment
center,GoodShepherdServices,whereshe
developedandimprovedstandardoperating
procedurestoensuretimelyreimbursementof
accounts.Shehasvastexperienceinaccounting,
medicalbillingandcoding,insuranceclaims
processingforgovernmentandthirdparty
payers.Welcomeaboard,Ingrid!
JUSTIN GRIER AT NYSE
MultifacetedITManager,
JustinGrier,cannowaddWall
StreetWizardtohisresume.He
recentlyhadtheopportunityto
experiencetheNewYorkStock
Exchangefirsthand.Justinhad
apriorrelationshipwithXerox,
whereheassistedtheirbusinessendeavors.Xerox
representativesinvitedJustintobeapartofan
honorary“thankyou”astheyrungthebellonthe
floor.
Thismomentousoccasioncelebratedthe
anniversaryofXeroxgoingpublic.Grierstates,
“Thiswasdefinitelyaonce-in-a-lifetime
experience.”
Justinalsoattendedasecuritysummitduring
histrip.CEOsandCIOsfromMcAfee,Cisco,and
otherfirmslecturedonITsecurity.Grierfurther
explains,“Theydemonstratedonhowessential
front-endusertrainingiswhenitcomestosmart
tacticswhenstayingsafeandsecure.”
JustinGrier
17. JAN/FEB 2018 | 16
AnthonyWilson
Executive Director
Director’s Report
Hello,2018,wearegladtoseeyou!
Woodbournedidsomegreatthingsin
2017,includinglearninghowwecould
improveourservicemodelandcontinue
tobeagreatteam.
Weexpecttomeetandexceedourgoals,
andarehopingtoengageeverystaff
membertomakeithappen.Iamexcitedabout2018and
lookforwardtocelebratingsuccesseswithstaffthroughout
theyear.
Nowthatweareamonthinto2018,letustakesometimeto
lookaheadatwhatthisyearmightbringus.
Ourvocationalprojectcontinuestogainmomentum.We
expecttobreakgroundonthenewfacilityinMarch,andit
willbecompletedandreadyforadmissionsbyOctoberofthis
year.Weareveryexcitedtobeabletoofferouryoungmen
intheRTCandthecommunityachancetoearncertifications
fromanaccreditedautomotiveorcarpentryprogram.In
addition,wewillbeabletoexpandourtechnologyclass
andalignitwiththeAdvancedTechnologycurriculum
implementedthroughoutthestate.
Programmatically,wehopetoexpandourcontinuumto
includeanOutpatientProgram,GroupHome,and90-Day
DiagnosticProgram,alllocatedonourcampus.Itisabusy
time.
Ourteam,alongwithNexusleadership’sfeedbackand
assistance,havedoneanawesomejobofrespondingto
thestate’srequeststomeetsomeoftheirprogramming
needs.Alloftheseopportunitiesalignwithourmissionand
complementeachother.
Successin2018willonlybepossiblewiththefocusand
dedicationofourteam.“FocusontheRoad”isthethemethat
wewillbepushingthisyear.Therearemanyobstaclesthat
arepresentineverythingthatwedo,butifwe“Focusonthe
Road”ahead,ourabilitytomeetandexceedourexpectations
improvesgreatly!
the program throughout the school. Woodbourne plans to
offer this program to our families so it can benefit youth even
after they discharge.
The results over the past year have been very positive. After
the inclusion of the Yoga Mindfulness program in the 2017
Summer Program, our serious behavioral incidents at
Woodbourne decreased by 11% from 2016’s rate. Anecdotally,
staff routinely state that our residents appear calmer from
practicing yoga during the school day and on the weekends.
Dr. Beck recalled, “One youth recounted how learning how to
focus on his breathing helped him manage his anger better.”
Yoga Mindfulness is now part of the fabric of the treatment
regimen for our youth. Both staff and students look forward
to the time spent practicing their skills.
Dr. Beck states, “Some units give youth the option to ‘go to
their mats to meditate’ versus ‘go take a time out.” Dr. Beck
further explains another positive result of the program is
staff “encouraging youth to take space and learn how to
emotionally regulate.”
An added benefit of the program is that all kids and new
admissions get a yoga mat as an intake gift at Woodbourne.
We look forward to another successful year.
18. BEVSOURCE BLANKETS
KIDS CARING FOR KIDS
The Circle of Parents Support Group started in January of 2015, as a
collaborative effort between ECFE and the Crisis Nursery serving Wright
County to focus on providing support for parents in Buffalo, MN. In the
beginning of February 2018, the second Circle of Parents group started up
in Monticello to further the reach of these free support classes.
Groups meet weekly for two hours at a local school or education center.
Families are welcome to bring their children and enjoy a provided family
meal. Free childcare is provided during the meeting so parents can step
away and fully engage in the support group. The group is for parents of
children of all ages.
While the parents meet, the children, newborns to age 13, get to enjoy
some playtime and even work on their social skills while being supervised
by childcare workers.
Families often come and go as their needs change. Parents are very
supportive of each other and their children, and are very accepting of new
members. They offer non-judgmental support and have turned this group
into extended family.
Circle of Parents is led by speakers, Crisis Nursery staff, and ECFE group
facilitators who help address questions and moderate the discussion
topics chosen by parents. The group covers numerous topics, including
parenting, nutrition and grocery store tours, sibling rivalry, yoga and stress
management, crafts, and step-parenting.
To find the Circle of Parents Groups in Buffalo or Monticello, go to
www.crisisnurserykff.org.
Circle of Parents
17 | JAN/FEB 2018
BevSource,aSt.Paul-basedcompany,
donatedhome-madetieblanketsto
KindredFamilyFocusyouthaspartoftheir
ShowYouCareDay!
Thankyou,BevSource,forthisawesome
donation!
Alocalclassof8thgradersworkedwith
theirteachertoputtogetherselfcaretotes
forfamiliescomingtotheCrisisNursery
servingWrightCounty.Thegroupalso
donatedgiftcardsfordiapers.
KINDRED FAMILY FOCUS
20. 19 | JAN/FEB 2018
Youth who enter into residential treatment have
often experienced difficult pasts and are struggling to
manage past traumas, navigate strained or conflicted
relationships, overcome disrupted placements, and
manage their own mental health, amongst other very
significant challenges.
Meet Josie*, a 12-year-old girl placed in residential
treatment after enduring a life of neglect and abuse. Josie
had been physically and sexually abused from age two
to age seven. Now, Josie functions at the age of a two to
four year old, in terms of her verbal skills, ability to eat
or appropriately use the bathroom, and her emotional/
behavioral regulation. Her family has voluntarily
terminated rights, and due to her behaviors, Josie has
had four failed foster home placements.
So, what can we do now? Who will be able to manage a
child like this? What will help?
These questions are common amongst the team of
professionals who take on coordinating the care for
youth like Josie. Our hearts break for them, and we are
sometimes at a loss when trying to help.
When youth enter residential treatment, they often
need a multitude of therapeutic approaches to assist in
regulating behaviors, developing skills, and engaging in
therapy. Occupational therapy and sensory integration
have become common interventions that help create
success for youth.
Josie’s case is one such example. She struggled to express
her needs to others, lacked the capacity to trust adults,
and was unable to regulate her thoughts, emotions, and
body on her own. These issues led to frequent aggression
when Josie was upset, didn’t understand something,
Sensory Integration Therapy
or was dysregulated. Physical intervention became
necessary to keep Josie safe and prevent her from pulling
her hair out. Her team of professionals were at a loss,
they were compassionate and supportive, but nothing
was helping her regulate.
The answer came when her Therapist and Child
Psychiatrist partnered together and engaged Josie
in occupational therapy. Through working with an
Occupational Therapist and beginning a sensory diet,
Josie was able to begin working on regulating her body.
Staff members were given tools and interventions to
utilize when supportive or therapeutic words were not
working.
AtherapistatNexusGlenLakedemonstratesdifferenttoolsintheSensoryRoom.
*Certain details of this client’s story have been changed for confidentiality purposes.
NEXUS GLEN LAKE
21. Josie began to stabilize and develop skills to manage her
emotions and behaviors. For the first time in her life, she
was developing supportive, trusting, and safe relationships.
For Josie, much like many youth served in residential
treatment, the work had to start inside the body.
Utilizing sensory items engages youth in creative, effective,
and fun ways to manage and regulate themselves. When
they feel these positive results, they begin to engage with
the adults helping them in a new and positive way. These
youth have high needs and need collaborative services
amongst providers for change to occur within their
lives. We continue to learn about what is most effective
and continually try new approaches and therapeutic
interventions.
At Nexus Glen Lake, we are very excited about a recent
facility improvement of our Sensory Room. In this room,
youth have access to a wide variety of sensory-related items
that they can use to calm and regulate their emotions and
behaviors. The Sensory Room has items that help stimulate
and expend excess energy when a youth is struggling to
focus, and some that help calm and soothe the system when
youth is having trouble managing stressors.
Staff members can creatively use the Sensory Room as a
new tool to assist youth with expressing feelings, managing
anxiety, and regulating behaviors.
We have learned from our consulting Occupational
Therapists that, due to the developmental issues and
the complex trauma the youth have experienced, they
often need three or more sensory inputs simultaneously
occurring in order to regulate to a state where therapeutic
work and conversations can be effective. So, a youth
utilizing the sensory room may be using the color changing
marble panel, listening to the sound machine, and holding
Theraputty or a weighted animal all at the same time. When
these interventions are linked together with supportive
therapeutic services, the possibilities for growth increase
immensely.
Michael Franke
Associate Director
Director’s Report
Theholidayshavecomeandgoneandwe
areallwalkingwiththe“Minnesotahunch”
todealwithwinter’scold!Ithasn’tslowedus
downmuch;wehaveshiftedtoafewmore
insideactivitiesandshoppingtripstofillour
days.Ourrecent12”snowfallresultedina
dayofffromschool,andouryouthhelped
shovelsnowtoclearparkingspotsand
pushedafewstaffcarsoutofthesnow.Italsoledtolotsoftime
onthesleddinghill,leadingtomanywetmittens,tiredyouthand
staff,andhotchocolate!
Theholidayswerefilledwithdecorations,cookies,treats,and
gifts.AspecialthankyoutoLifetouchphotographyforsponsoring
ourprogramthroughtheirGivingTreeprogram!Ouryouth
receivedlotsofartsandcraftsupplies,makeupsupplies,clothing,
andevenbeddingtomaketheirroomsfeelalittlehomier.Mostof
ouryouthspenttimewithfamilythroughvisitsorhomepasses,
andourstaffdidafantasticjobofmakingtheholidayseason
specialforall!
WealsohadaverysuccessfulStaffAppreciationWeek,that
includedfooddeliveries(pizza,sandwiches,andAsianfood)chair
massages,andgiftsbagsfilledwithsweettreats,agiftcard,and
self-careitems.Theseareonlysmalltokensofappreciationforthe
longhoursandhardworkthatourstaffgivetoNGLandouryouth!
Wemadeasignificantinvestmentinimprovingourmilieuand
programtomakeourenvironmentalittlemorecomfortablefor
ouryouth.Newfurnitureforourmainloungeandfamilyvisiting
areawasdeliveredjustbeforetheNewYear.Wedecoratedthe
wallswithinspirationalsayingsanddecalstobringanewfeel
tothemilieu.OurSensoryRoomalsoreceivedmanyupgrades,
rangingfrominteractivelightandmarblepanels,acrashpadand
bouncediscforjumping,lightandaromatherapyitems,weighted
blankets,andmanyothersensoryitems.Wealsopurchased
drums,ukuleles,tambourines,maracas,andothermusical
instrumentstosupportourmusictherapyprogram.Wehavehad
positivereviewsonalloftheseupgrades.
NexusGlenLakemadesteadygainsthroughout2017,andwe
hopetokeepprogressingthroughout2018.Ourstaffcontinueto
bethebackboneofwhatwedoandwewillfocusondeveloping
andsupportingourstaffthroughtraining,supervision,and
opportunitiesforself-care!Iamgratefulfortheeffortsofour
teaminthisongoingjourney!
JAN/FEB 2018 | 20
22. 21 | JAN/FEB 2018
The PATH Trauma & Stress Clinic, a long wished for program,
opened in November 2017. The clinic provides therapy services
for children, ages 3-21, and their caregivers, who have experienced
stressful or traumatic life events. It is a specialized clinic that focuses
on the symptoms impacting the child’s functioning at home, school,
or community. Experiences that may cause traumatic stress are:
• Medical procedures
• Moves, divorce, or other adjustments
• Accidents
• Parental illness
• Grief and loss
• Abuse and neglect
• Witnessing violence
• Bullying
• Natural disasters
While many children are resilient after a traumatic experience,
research repeatedly shows that childhood trauma, without
intervention, is associated with a wide range of negative outcomes
in adulthood, including increased physical and mental health issues,
substance use, and involvement in the criminal justice system. Not
all children will have long-term difficulties, but many will experience
on-going traumatic stress symptoms, like:
• conflict at home or school
• defiance
• anxiety
• aggression
• depression
• impulsivity
• isolation
• substance abuse
• sexual behavior problems
• sleep disturbance
The average length of treatment is approximately 12-25 sessions, with
the child and caregiver learning skills to practice outside of therapy.
Currently, the clinic employs two experienced, licensed clinicians
who are trained in Trauma Focused-Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
New Clinic Opens
CLINIC STAFF
SHAWNA CROAKER,LICSW
ShawnaCroakeristheClinical
ProgramSupervisorand
Therapistfortheclinic.She
receivedherBAfromMNState
University-Moorhead,and
herMaster’sdegreeinClinical
SocialWorkfromtheUniversityofMN.Priorto
PATH,ShawnawastheDirectoroftheChildren’s
ConsultationNetworkfor10years.Shehas18
yearsoflocalexperienceworkingwithchildren
andfamiliesinavarietyofsettings.
AMANDA LOGAN,LICSW
AmandaLoganjoinedPATH
inSeptemberof2015,asa
Therapist,following12years
oflocalexperienceinchildren’s
mentalhealthandtherapeutic
support,pairedwithfiveyears
asaCrisisServicesMentalHealthPractitioner.She
receivedherBAfromtheCollegeofSaintBenedict
andherMaster’sdegreefromtheUniversityofSt.
Thomas-St.CatherineUniversityMSWprogram.
HEATHER SIMONICH,MA,LPC
HeatherSimonichjoinedPATH
inMay2015astheOperations
Director,afterserving14years
withtheNeuropsychiatric
ResearchInstituteinFargo,
andworkingastheProgram
CoordinatorandTrainerfortheTreatment
CollaborativeforTraumatizedYouth.Sheearnedher
Master’sdegreeinCounselingPsychologyfromBall
StateUniversity.Sheroutinelyprovidestrauma-
informedcaretrainingandconsultationtochild-
servingorganizationsinNorthDakota.Recently,
HeathercollaboratedwiththeNDDepartmentof
PublicInstructiononaprofessionaldevelopment
curriculumforelementaryeducators.Sheisa2012
BushLeadershipFellowandaLicensedProfessional
Counselor.
PATH
23. JAN/FEB 2018 | 22
Nancy McKenzie
PATH CEO
(TF-CBT), an evidence-based, therapeutic approach for
children who have experienced traumatic stress. This model
emphasizes the importance of caregiver involvement, with
families and foster parents playing a vital role in their child’s
therapy and ongoing support.
TF-CBT has the strongest research evidence of any treatment
model for traumatized children. Multiple trials and replication
studies, including international studies, document the
effectiveness of TF-CBT for improving symptoms related to
traumatic stress in children. The majority of the clinic’s clients
are appropriate for TF-CBT, but for those who are not, both
therapists are trained in other therapeutic approaches to meet
varying needs.
Clients are first clinically assessed through diagnostic
interviewing and the Child and Adolescent Needs and
Strengths Assessment (CANS). Other screening tools are
routinely utilized, as indicated by the initial diagnostic
assessment (e.g., Trauma Symptom Checklist for Children,
Columbia Suicide Severity Rating Scale).
It is the mission of the clinic to be individualized and
collaborative, supporting the child in their home and school
environments, knowing these partnerships will improve their
outcomes. The Clinicians work closely with legal guardians,
teachers, special education, foster parents, case managers, and
other professionals to increase consistency in responses and
interventions for that child.
The PATH Trauma & Stress Clinic plans on expanding
services, clinicians, and sites, as the need and resources are
identified and available. Clinic leadership is creatively working
to identify and secure new funding sources that will support
our ability to provide the inclusive programming that we know
is necessary to best meet the needs of children and families..
If you have questions about clinic services or would like to
make a referral, please contact Shawna at 701-551-6313 or at
scroaker@pathinc.org
Director’s Report
Thestartofanewyearalways
bringsanaturalreflectiononthe
accomplishmentsoftheyearjust
completed,andthoughtsandhopes
fortheyearahead.Sometimesweget
sobusyinourday-to-dayworkthat
wedon’ttaketheopportunitytostep
backandrecognizethegrowththatis
takingplace.
In2017,PATHadvancedourservicestochildrenand
familiesinanumberofareas:openingthePATHTrauma&
StressClinicinFargo;creatingadepartmentofCommunity
Relationsasachangeinourmodelofdevelopmenttofocus
onrecruitmentofadditionalfosterhomes;workingwith
NDDHSstafftodevelopaplanforapilotprojecttooffer
“PATHRegular”fostercareintwoareasofthestate(tobe
rolledoutthiswinter);furtherexpandedourabilitytouse
EVOLVdataforbothprogramandaccountabilitymeasures;
andbegandevelopingsometrainingmodulesinGrovo.
Aswecontinuethoseefforts,we’realsoanticipatingthe
goalsonourthree-yearstrategicplanandthe2018Annual
Plan.Someofourprimaryareasoffocuswillbecontinued
growthofclinicservices,implementationandevaluations
oftheregularfostercarepilotprogram,increasingthe
overallnumberoffosterhomes,buildingIdaho’scensus
totargetedlevels,expandingtheuseofGrovotrainingas
wellasFranklinCoveyleadershiptraining,andexploring
potentialneworexpandedservicesinschoolsandNative
Americancommunities.
AsBillMetcalfe,PATHCEO,transitionsfromhisprevious
role,Iamhonoredtobeabletohelpleadthisorganization.
Thereisarichhistoryandaverypositivereputation
surroundingPATHservicesandstaff,anditiswonderfulto
beapartofdevelopingwhatmaybeaheadinthefuture.
IlikethisquotefromDr.JoeVitale,internetmarketerand
author:“Agoalshouldscareyoualittleandexciteyoualot.”
Thereweresome2017goalsthatprobablyseemedalittle
scaryatfirst,andI’mproudofthewayourBoardandstaff
movedaheadtogetthingsdone.Weareexcitedandlook
forwardtoseeingournewgoalstakeshapein2018.
24. 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, Kindred Family Focus, and Woodbourne Center are legal
entities. They are all nonprofit corporations under their respective state’s
law and are qualified for state and federal tax-exemption under Section
501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. Mille Lacs Academy, Indian Oaks
Academy, Onarga Academy, Nexus Glen Lake, Gerard Academy, and
Kindred Family Focus programs are not themselves entities; they are part
of the entity that operates them. All of these programs share 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.
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3 YEARS
Gerard Academy
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Indian Oaks Academy
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LaToya Glees
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Anthony Kleinert
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hammad
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Bridget Leonard
Onarga Academy
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Woodbourne Center
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Mille Lacs Academy
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Demetrius Page
