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(((BACK TO TOP))) Dinosaur School Returns to Woodland Again this year students in Kindergarten, First, and Second grades are participating in Dinosaur School. During the first few lessons, children have been learning, reviewing and discussing rules and consequences. They also enjoyed playing “School Rules Bingo” to reinforce the rules discussed. Pictured is Mrs. Baker’s First grade homeroom “Showing Five”. “Show me Five” is a rule the children were introduced to through the curriculum. Each finger on the student’s hand reminds them to follow a particular rule: The thumb reminds students to sit “crisscross applesauce” on the rug, the pointer finger reminds students to keep their “hands in lap”, student’s middle finger reminds them to keep their “eyes on teacher”, the ring finger is a reminder to keep their “mouth closed”, and, finally the pinky finger represents “ears open”. In turn, the teacher can simply say, “Show me Five” and the students remember to do all five behaviors mentioned above. The children greatly enjoy trying to recall, “Show me Five” without looking at the rule. Dina Dinosaur’s Social Skills and Problem-Solving Curriculum is being offered to students in grades K-2 by Dickinson Mental Health Center Children’s Prevention Services. This curriculum has been extensively evaluated and has been shown to promote positive social interactions between students, to increase cooperation with teachers, and to reduce verbal and physical aggression in the classroom. Dinosaur School takes place once a month in the students’ classroom. Tana Funair, with DMHC’s Children’s Prevention Services, facilitates Dinosaur School in conjunction with the LIFE Program. If you have any questions or concerns regarding these programs or your child feel free to contact Tana at the Woodland Elementary School at 486-4000. (((BACK TO TOP)))
DMHC Welcomes Professional Counselor to Helpwise
Ed received an Associate Degree in the Behavioral Sciences from Allegheny Community College in 1975, a Bachelor’s Degree from Duquesne University in Existential Phenomenological Psychology in 1977 and a Master’s Degree in Agency Counseling from the University of Northern Colorado in 1992. His resume details over 890 hours of continuing education enhancing specific therapeutic skill sets. Ed has been working in addictions since 1989 and mental health since 1993. During that time he has developed skills for Solution Focused Therapy that included Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), Guided Imagery and Hypnosis. He also uses numerous therapeutic processes to help clients work through adjustment problems, home, family and/or work situations that may be challenging. His specialty areas include treatment for numerous forms of trauma, including rape, incest, car accidents, returning veterans, anger management, and dual diagnosis; i.e. people who have a mental health problem and a co-occurring addiction problem. In recent years, he has been focusing on mind/body medicine further enhancing his skills to help with stress and chronic pain management and the way inflammation contributes to myriad forms of mental health problems including depression, anxiety and mood disorders. (((BACK TO TOP))) /09 Read with Clifford the Big Red Dog
The goal is to get children excited about reading and to stress the importance of reading to parents. At least 10% of all children have great difficulty with one or more of the steps involved in decoding written symbols into sounds, words and meaning. It is recognized that the common factor in the lives of children who come to school and learn to read easily is that they were read to frequently. The ‘Clifford’ program is supported by a generous grant from the Harrison and Muriel Dauer Stackpole Family Fund. The grant makes it possible to distribute books to every family that participates in the program. This literacy event is available to any Elk County program serving children through kindergarten age. For more information about the program contact DMHC Children’s Prevention Services at 834-2602. (((BACK TO TOP)))
(((BACK TO TOP))) DMHC's Autism Program Accepts Donation from Local Business
Beck’s Bar and Grill will be hosting a Pumpkin Carving Contest fundraising event this month as their second fundraiser to support local autism programming and awareness. To participate in this event anyone can submit their carved pumpkin to Beck’s Bar and Grill by October 18, 2009, and then for one dollar you can vote for your favorite pumpkin. The owners, Wayne and Becky, will then announce the pumpkin carving winners October 31, 2009 at their Halloween Night event. This event, with music provided by a DJ, is open to the general public (must be 21 to attend) at Beck’s Bar and Grill. If you have more questions about this fundraiser, or would like to make a donation, please call Wayne or Becky Tomaski at 965-5503. (((BACK TO TOP))) DMHC Welcomes New Psychiatrist
Dr. Pathak is returning to a familiar venue as he previously served as a Psychiatric Consultant for DMHC from 2004 through 2006. He is board certified in Adult Psychiatry and holds licensure in not only Pennsylvania but Florida and Virginia as well. He is a member of American Psychiatric Association and the Pennsylvania Psychiatric Association. Dr. Pathak is the Chief of Psychiatry at Warren State Hospital, a position he has held since 1993. He received his formal medical training in Kanpur, India. His practice has served individuals with psychiatric conditions along the continuum of adjustment disorders, personality disorders, childhood and adolescent conditions, major mood disorders, forensics, depression and anxiety, and serious and persistent mental health conditions. He completed residencies at Warren State Hospital and Mt. Sinai Hospital in Chicago, Illinois, in 1983 and 1986, respectively. His present affiliations include Warren State Hospital and Lake Shore Community Services, Erie, Pennsylvania. Dr. Pathak is now accepting new and current DMHC patients at the DMHC-Helpwise location 220 Parade Street, St. Marys, Pennsylvania at 814-834-9722 and DMHC main office location at 110 Lincoln Street, Ridgway, Pennsylvania at 814-776-2145. (((BACK TO TOP))) Emporium Outpatient Office Closing Effective November 13, 2009 Dickinson Mental Health Center announces the closure of its Outpatient Counseling Services at 27 East Fourth Street, Emporium, effective November 13, 2009. Continued psychiatric services which include prescription and medication support may be scheduled at either Dickinson’s main office at 110 Lincoln Street, Ridgway or at Dickinson-Helpwise, at 220 Parade Street, St. Marys. Mental health counseling support will continue to be offered through a new service delivery model in Emporium. Counseling is also available at Helpwise in St. Marys or through a provider of the client’s choice. Dickinson-Helpwise will participate in Pennsylvania’s Medical Assistance program and will offer Saturday hours. Ed Badeau and Leah Dippold will continue to provide clinical services at some or all of these sites with Dickinson Mental Health Center. Dickinson continues to provide many other services in Emporium. Blended case management, family based, forensics, recovery, and home and community habilitation will continue to be based out of 27 E Fourth Street in Emporium without change or interruption. Dickinson school-based services that continue to be provided are the student assistance, LIFE/incredible years and signs of suicide. Dickinson looks forward to continuing to provide behavioral health services to the residents of Emporium, Cameron County and surrounding communities. For more details on access to these services, please contact 814.486.0554 or 814.834.9722. (((BACK TO TOP)))
Dickinson striving for autism treatment By Brent Addleman, Editor The Ridgway Record  Members
of Dickinson Mental Health Center met with Congressman Glenn
Thompson yesterday afternoon at the organization’s
headquarters to discuss a myriad of topics that the
longstanding healthcare provider is facing in the current
economy.Amid budget concerns, Dickinson is striving to create a program to diagnose and treat autism. Linda White, Program Specialist for Dickinson’s Autism Program, presented a short talk to the rookie congressman in regards to autism and how the organization plans to diagnose and treat the disorder. “Our project is to design an autism diagnostic and treatment center that is going to have a six-county reach,” White said. “We hope to provide services through out Cameron, McKean, Potter, Jefferson, Clearfield and Elk counties. “Our goal is to make accessible to families in our rural area a really gold-standard assessment process. What we also want to do is increase the availability of services, coordinate the existing services for families and make sure children are receiving an earlier diagnosis.” Planning for the project is an ongoing process and Dickinson is pooling a panel of experts in the disorder to formulate plans. “We are putting together a team which will will consist of psychologists, a licensed clinical social worker, occupational therapists, speech pathologists, ADA specialists,” White said. “These people will be involved in that assessment process. They will develop the treatment plans and implement some of those treatments.” The difficulty Dickinson is facing is that autism is unlike other disorders in that each person is different. “There is an old adage in the autism world that says, and I’m paraphrasing this, “if you’ve met one child with autism, you’ve met one child with autism,” White said. “So therein lies the challenge – creating a treatment plan for a child with autism is very complex. Every child has different needs. You have to take into consideration priorities and needs of the family, you have to look at the strengths of the child and you have to look at the child’s behavior.” With each autism child demonstrating different behavior, Dickinson is tackling the treatment process in a broad spectrum manner. “What we are trying to incorporate into our project is a wide range of treatment,” White said. “We are going to be sensory integration therapy, speech pathology, we have applied behavior analysis and we will also use Stanley Greenspan’s approach. It is a development, individualized relationship approach. All of those will be available to families.” One aspect of the program White spoke passionately about was sensory integration. “The very exciting piece about the sensory integration part of the project is that we have also received some funding through Milestones Behavioral Health,” White said. “They received an appropriation for the development of a multi-sensory environment. They made that funding available to us, so we will have a state-of-the-art sensory environment. It will be a play environment. That will be a great use to our occupational therapists, who will be doing that sensory integration therapy.” The sensory environment is only one aspect of the scope of the program. “More than that, it will really help increase the functional assessment of these children,” White said. “It will be used by other therapists as well. We’ve also included P.L.A.Y. Project. It will be our outreach component. It will occur in the homes. At that time, we will be providing play-based interventions that we are training the parents to implement. “To my mind, that is a very exciting part of that. I think if you are looking at the holistic approach to treating an individual with autism you have to recognize how heavily it impacts the family, not just that particular child. The studies are telling us that parents of children with autism have the highest stress level of any parent of any child in any facility.” The program not only focuses on the autistic child, but targets the family unit as well. “I think that this type of approach is going to give parents what they need in terms of being able to function on a day-to-day basis, and it will increase their relationship with their child, which to my mind is significant. It’s the strength of our relationships that essentially gives us satisfaction in all aspects of our lives.” White hopes to have the program up and running very soon. “Our timeline is to have everything functional by late November,” White said. “Some pieces of the project will occur  earlier.
The P.L.A.Y. Project and the sensory integration piece will
probably be the earliest pieces we are putting together.“We are very excited about the project. We are excited about the possibility of being able to do this. I think if you look at the prevalence map for autism in Pennsylvania and recognize that we are up there in the numbers. We probably aren’t the areas with the highest autism rate, but we are pretty close. They think this is going to be something that is very significant for families in this area. It’s been my experience in working with families the difficulties involved in traveling a long distance for a diagnosis and come back to this area for services that sometimes aren’t available. If they are available, they are not available to the extent the family is trying to use them. I think this is going to be very, very significant. It is a very exciting project. We are truly grateful for the opportunity. If everything occurs as it should, our goal is that we will have created a model that can then be replicated and used in other parts of the state in rural areas.” Congressman Thompson, who has a lengthy career in a healthcare field, was quite interested in the program after hearing the presentation. “That is great, very exciting,” Thompson said. Thompson also asked the number of families that will benefit from the program. “The client-base will be in Ridgway,” White told the congressman. “It’s on Gillis Avenue. It is off-street. It is quiet. I think it is going to benefit our needs. Our projection was to serve 40 families in that first year. I guess time will tell.” Jack Goga, Chief Executive Officer and Coordinator of Behavioral Health for Dickinson, spoke of a recent partnership that will not only benefit Dickinson but will provide service to patients. “We have a partnership with DuBois Regional to use their facility in some in-kind space for a diagnostic center,” Goga said. “When you are covering a six-county area it makes it geographically kind of unwielding. We hope people in the Clearfield-Jefferson area would be able to access that more easily rather than coming up here. We also maybe have the opportunity to work with a Centre County psychologist.” White also spoke of how collaboration is a key to the program. “One of the things we have collaborated on is contacting local physicians and stressing the importance of different screenings they could be administering. Many of them are not. Also to really help them to understand we are not asking them to make a diagnosis. Sometimes the feedback you get from physicians, we want them to see the red flags, you do the testings, then you send them on to early intervention and early intervention will send them to us. Hopefully, it is going to be a very nice partnership and puts us all on the same page in how we are approaching (autism.)” For Thompson, the emphasis on children was very important. “It’s an exciting opportunity to see these children in a functional location,” Thompson said. (((BACK TO TOP)))
The Elk County Wellness Express has arrived! The Express is a mobile wellness van that was purchased as a result of the Health Resources & Services Administration (HRSA) grant. The award of the HRSA grant allowed Children’s Prevention Services to expand their current Wellness Program that was piloted by the Stackpole-Hall Foundation. The priority of the HRSA grant in the first year is to target childhood obesity and provide prevention programming to children ages birth to five. The Wellness Express does not provide any form of critical care. It will be a mobile unit to primarily travel to 50 families in Elk County. The priority will be given to families who fall below the federal poverty guidelines to receive wellness support. We will provide in-home nutritional education and collaborate with Elk Regional Health System’s dietician's to develop care plans. The Wellness nurses will also assure that families are receiving annual well child checks and scheduled immunizations from their primary care physicians. Pictured above are Adair Rohr, RN and Tricia Brendel, RN attending the Wellness Express’s first health fair at Adagio Health. (((BACK TO TOP)))
AN INTRODUCTION TO AUTISM SPECTRUM DISORDER Autism Series Part 1 of 5
Program Specialist for Dickinson Mental Health Center's Autism Program
Autism, it’s a word we are hearing with more and more frequency as the number of children diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder increases. The 2007 report of the Center for Disease Control (CDC) shows 1 in 150 individuals are affected. It occurs in all social, racial and ethnic groups with boys being four times more likely than girls to be affected.
Autism is defined as a brain development disorder characterized by impaired social interaction and communication and by restricted and repetitive behaviors, interests, and activities. Symptoms can range from very mild to severe. Evidence is indicating that autism is a genetic disorder, although environmental factors may contribute to its cause.
Unfortunately, there is no known cure for autism. There is also no way of preventing it or fully effective treatments. However, there are treatment options for children who receive a diagnosis. Early interventions are critical to gain maximum benefit from these therapies. Research shows that intensive and early interventions can bring about significant improvements for children living with autism.
Autism Speaks is the nation’s largest science and advocacy organization, dedicated to funding research into the causes, prevention, treatments and a cure for autism; increasing awareness of autism spectrum disorders; and advocating for the needs of individuals with autism and their families. Their findings report: “that autism spectrum disorders can usually be reliably diagnosed by age 3, although new research is pushing back the age of diagnosis to as early as 6 months. Parents are usually the first to notice unusual behaviors in their child or their child's failure to reach appropriate developmental milestones. Some parents describe a child that seemed different from birth, while others describe a child who was developing normally and then lost skills. Pediatricians may initially dismiss signs of autism, thinking a child will “catch up,” and may advise parents to “wait and see.” New research shows that when parents suspect something is wrong with their child, they are usually correct. If you have concerns about your child's development, don't wait: speak to your pediatrician about getting your child screened for autism.”
week of 8/23/09
Autism --- A Parent’s Perspective Autism Series Part 2 of 5 By Mary Lee Uber
Whenever I am asked what it is like to be the parent of a child with autism, I take a deep breath and say it is bittersweet. Bitter: because I see the tremendous struggles that my 5 year old son has each and every day. Sweet: because at the end of the long, arduous day, I can make a mental list of all his new words and accomplishments.
My son is 5 years old and is just beginning to speak. I did not hear the word mama until he was 3 years old. I did not hear I love you until this past year. He is developmentally delayed in some areas as much as 18 months. He will turn 6 next week and has the language of a 12 month old. Don’t get me wrong, I wouldn’t trade him for the world. I want him to be cured of his autism, not for me but for him. I want him to have a happy healthy life just like his typical peers. I want him to not have to work twice as hard for what comes naturally for typically developing children.My husband and I have worked very hard to get Isaac all the help that he needs. He will be entering mainstream kindergarten this month and I am very excited for this journey he is about to embark upon.
I have a child with autism not an autistic child. His autism does not define who he is. He is Isaac first, autistic last. I am grateful for all the people that Isaac has helping him navigate the rough waters of this thing called life. I do not know what I would do without them. I want a world without autism, what kind of world do you want?
week of 8/30/09
The P.L.A.Y. Project®
Autism Series Part 3 of 5
In 2001, Dr.
Richard Soloman, MD, a developmental and behavioral
pediatrician, decided to create an affordable early
intervention program for young children with autism
spectrum disorder in Ann Arbor, MI. The result was
The P.L.A.Y. Project®
(Play and Language for Autistic Youngsters). The
P.L.A.Y. Project has grown into a project that is
being replicated nationally with 40 agencies in 22
states providing this intensive programming to
families. The P.L.A.Y. Project ® Home Consultant Program provides training and support for families of young children (18 months to 6 years) with autism. Trained consultants teach parents play-based techniques that are effective, fun and useful in day-to-day interactions with their child with autism. By providing training in the home, consultants see the family in an environment where the child feels comfortable, rather than in a setting unfamiliar and possibly intimidating to the child. The program emphasizes the importance of helping parents become their child’s best play partner.The intervention is based on the Developmental, Individualized, Relationship-based (DIR®) approach of Dr. Stanley Greenspan, popularly known as Floortime. The methods and techniques are designed to help children resolve the three core deficits of autism: 1) self-isolation and impaired social skills; 2) language delay and impaired communication; and 3) stereotyped or repetitive behaviors.
Results of the research on the model are encouraging, with results published in the peer-reviewed journal, Autism: The International Journal of Research and Practice. A controlled study of the project is currently being conducted, in partnership with Easter Seals and with the help of a grant from the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH).
Dickinson Mental Health Center is pleased to announce that The P.L.A.Y. Project ® model will be an intervention made available through their Autism Diagnostic and Treatment Center, currently in development. For more information about the program contact Linda White at 772-2005 #454.
week of 9/6/09
Importance of Early Diagnosis/Seeking a Diagnosis The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that pediatricians routinely evaluate children for developmental problems such as autism, starting in infancy, and begin testing at 9 months of age. Some critics think this will lead to needless diagnoses in children with normal variations in behavior, but early diagnosis does not mean slapping a label on babies and giving them medications. Awareness to early warning signs increases the chances that children can develop normally. Dr. Stanley Greenspan, in his book Engaging Autism states, “Parents wondering if their child is on the autism spectrum or not need to remember that it’s not an all or nothing decision. If a child has delays, parents need to ask “How do I make sure my child is moving ahead in a healthy way?” that outlook will keep all doors open for the child’s emotional and intellectual growth.” “Unlike many medical syndromes, Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) are not diseases. They are not contagious and are not yet treatable through medication (though medication can help some symptoms). They are developmental disorders that reflect the way that children develop from very early on (from infancy and toddlerhood) and that usually continue to affect development into adulthood. Because we do not know the causes, ASD diagnoses are based on observations or reports of behaviors. The primary treatments are educational (e.g. teaching individuals with ASDs ways to do things that might not come so easily for them) and compensatory (e.g. helping individuals learn to use their strengths to make up for areas that are more difficult), as well as behavioral (e.g. helping individuals and families minimize behaviors that interfere with daily living, such as tantrums or self-injury.” -Catherine Lord, Director University of Michigan Autism and Communication Disorders Center With proper intervention, a child can overcome a wide range of developmental problems, but identification is essential for intervention. If you have concerns about your child’s development, speak with your pediatrician or contact Early Intervention (772-8016) for a developmental evaluation. They will help you complete the necessary steps to seek an autism diagnosis, if deemed necessary, by connecting you with an autism diagnostic center. Even children with autism, once thought to be virtually untreatable, can make progress with effective intervention. The earlier the diagnosis, the better the prognosis. With autism, this is especially important.
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The Highmark
Lifestyle Returns Bus is a newer option offered by Highmark to
encourage employees to participate in the Lifestyle Returns
Program and reap the benefits of better personal health and life
satisfaction. It is offered throughout the year to all agencies
who want an extra support program for their employees who may
not have computer access or feel comfortable maneuvering the web
site by themselves as they begin their wellness program.
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A look inside Dickinson Mental Health Center’s
The Student Assistance Program (SAP) is a program that is available in all middle and high schools (both private and public) in Elk, Cameron and Potter Counties (in fact, SAP is a program that is available in schools throughout Pennsylvania). This program is designed to help any student who is experiencing any crisis or event that is making it difficult for them to succeed in school. SAP is a referral and recommendation program; it is not a program that provides a diagnosis or treatment. Each school has a SAP team whose members include school faculty and administration along with a liaison from Dickinson Mental Health Center's Children's Prevention Services and Alcohol and Drug Abuse Services; depending on the area, there may be more community service representation on a SAP team. It is important to point out that anyone who is concerned about a student can refer them to SAP – a student can refer themselves to SAP if they are looking for help. When a referral comes to the team they will work to find out what the best option for help will be; whether it’s within the school or in the community. The Student Assistance Program is a voluntary program so parents have to give their permission for the process to begin and for their child to participate. If you have any concerns about your child or questions about the Student Assistance Program, contact your child’s guidance counselor or call DMHC’s Children’s Prevention Services at 834-2602. The Student Assistance Program is under the supervision of the following staff: Tana Funair – Cameron County; Shelly Meier – Elk County and Deb Hamilton – Potter County. You can also learn more about Dickinson Mental Health Center and Children’s Prevention Services by visiting www.dmhc.org. (((BACK TO TOP)))
Children Prepare for Kindergarten
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PAT Children's Center Participates in Letters From Home Program
Letters From Home Program was founded by Christine Jovenitti. It is a 501 c3 corporation dedicated to supporting our Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines and Coast Guard. If you would like more information regarding Letters From Home, please visit: www.lettersfromhome.org. (((BACK TO TOP)))
PROMOTING HEALTHY LIFESTYLES IN ELK COUNTY
The DMHC Wellness Program is funded by The Stackpole-Hall Foundation and The Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA). In September 2008, Stackpole-Hall provided funding to DMHC to pilot a Wellness Program; this was the result of the Foundation’s Community Assessment in which wellness was identified as a priority for Elk County Youth according to 49% of the survey’s participants. The original model of the Wellness Program was to support the wellness needs of families in Elk County through personal visits. DMHC will provide a registered nurse to provide these personal visits to families or students currently enrolled in services with Children’s Prevention Services. This nurse will also assist the family or student develops a care plan that will address their wellness needs. Additionally, the Wellness Program will support child in school by providing a nurse to support school’s wellness needs in an effort to help them achieve “Healthy People 2010 and 2020” goals. On April 27, 2009, Dickinson Mental Health Center received notification that they were the recipient of the Health Resources & Services Administration’s Rural Outreach Grant (HRSA). This grant was written with the intent to provide a new and innovative method of supporting wellness needs in Elk County as well as building upon the already existing program piloted in September. The amount awarded for this program was $375,000 over 3 years. Funding from the grant has allowed DMHC to contract for specialized services with Elk Regional Health Center (ERHC), purchase the “Wellness Express” (a mobile health unit), contract with Paulette Schreiber, Certified Registered Nurse Practitioner and hire Dr. Greg Page, Program Evaluator. The priority risk factor being addressed will be childhood obesity. In addition to the contract with ERHC, many community partners will also be involved; Elk County Family Resource Network, Elk County private and public schools, local State Health Improvement Partnership (SHIP), Cameron/Elk Mental Health/Mental Retardation, Elk County Children & Youth and many more. The goals for the HRSA grant for the first years are to decrease obesity levels in children, reduce the number of expectant mothers who gain more weight than recommended during pregnancy and improve health care access for children. This funding allowed for the hiring of Ms. Brendel , will bring the mobile “Wellness Express” to Elk County, allowed DMHC to establish various contracts with Elk Regional Health System and a contract with Ms. Paulette Schreiber, CRNP who will implement programming and provide support to Elk Regional’s prenatal classes to arm women with the skills that will help them maintain a healthy weight during pregnancy. Additionally, women will be provided with the skills needed to successfully breastfeed their child as five nurses will be trained as lactation specialists and support will be provided to the Maternity Ward with Elk Regional Health Center. The Mobile Health Unit (Wellness Express) will not be utilized for any critical care; it will be a mobile unit that will travel to 50 families in Elk County, who fall below the federal poverty guidelines, to receive wellness support. For example, the nurse will visit a family and provide nutrition education; the nurse will collaborate with an ERHC registered dietician to develop a care plan; They will assure that families are receiving annual well child visits or immunizations from their primary care physician or local pediatrician. The nurse will also plot height and weight percentiles, and assess feeding methods.
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ANNOUNCEMENT.... Future of Pennsylvania Autism Services Presentation ST. MARYS – Dickinson Mental Health Center, Inc. (DMHC) and Elk County are pleased to announce that they will be hosting a collaborative presentation by the Bureau of Autism Services and the Department of Public Welfare on Thursday, July 30, 2009 at the Elk County Courthouse Annex. The presentation is scheduled between 9:00 a.m. and 12:00 noon. Nina Wall Cote, Director of the Bureau of Autism and Erica Wexler—also from the Bureau of Autism Services (B.A.S.), will be the feature speakers. B.A.S. will be in Ridgway to discuss the current and future planning and policy direction for children, adolescents, and adults with an autism spectrum disorder. It is the intent of B.A.S. to seek out feedback from the community at large, its stakeholders, and as importantly, families with members who hold this diagnosis. Your input into this process is vital and you are invited to attend this unprecedented opportunity! To pre-register for this event, please email cramerrd@upmc.edu or phone 412-235-5407. For more information about this scheduled meeting visit www.autisminpa.org. The meeting will be open to the public and is free of charge. DMHC is funded in part by the Elk-Cameron MH/MR Administration and Potter County Human Services. (((BACK TO TOP)))
DMHC's Children's Prevention
Services offers
The LIFE/Incredible Years Program, with Dickinson Mental Health Center’s Children’s Prevention Services, annually offers a Kindergarten Readiness Program in conjunction with the Johnsonburg Elementary School. This year they are excited to be incorporating Handwriting without Tears, an award-winning Pre-K curriculum which teaches children how to write their letters using a multisensory approach. Lynn Floravit of DMHC’s Children’s Prevention Services Parents as Teachers (PAT) Program facilitates the curriculum. One method used to reinforce the lines and curves necessary for printing letters is to have the children construct the letters with wood pieces shaped liked the lines and curves. DMHC’s own Elkwood Arts made the wood pieces being used at the Kindergarten Readiness program. The program is available to all incoming Kindergarten students and is designed to prepare children for their entrance to Kindergarten. The students gain an awareness and sense of familiarity of the building in which they will be attending school. A daily routine including snack and bathroom break is followed in order to prepare the children for the routine of school. Physical fitness, music and art are all incorporated into the daily schedule. The program promotes recognition of colors, shapes, letters, numbers, etc. Students learn letter sounds as well as proper printing strategies.
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DMHC Welcomes Physicians to its Medical Staff Dickinson Mental Health Center, Inc. (DMHC) welcomes Dr. Luisito S. Dingcong, MD and Hridayesh K. Pathak MD to its medical staff beginning July 2009. Dr. Dingcong is a board certified adult psychiatrist who resides in St. Mary’s Pennsylvania. His current practice includes serving as the Medical Director for Elk Regional Medical Center’s Generations Program; Clearfield Hospital’s in-patient psychiatric unit; the Alzheimer’s Units at Mt. Laurel Nursing Home, Clearfield-----and Ridgeview Elder Care in Curwensville; and psychiatric support for Cen-Clear in Philipsburg, Pennsylvania. Dr. Dingcong received his formal medical training in the Philippines before completing his residency program at Beth Israel Medical Center, New York City. He has resided in the St. Mary’s area along with his wife and children since the completion of his residency in 1994. Dr. Dingcong is very familiar to the DMHC staff and governing board as he provided an array of out-patient services at Dickinson for nearly seven years from 1994 through 2001. In his new role with DMHC, Dr. Dingcong will serve as its Medical Director and will be available for appointments beginning July 14, 2009. The scope of his services will include children, adolescents, and adults. Also joining the DMHC staff in July 2009 is Dr. Hridayesh K. Pathak. Like Dr. Dingcong, Dr. Pathak is returning to a familiar venue as he previously served as a psychiatric consultant for DMHC from 2004 through 2006. He is board certified in Adult Psychiatry and holds licensure in not only Pennsylvania but Florida and Virginia as well. He is a member of American Psychiatric Association as well as the Pennsylvania Psychiatric Association. Dr. Pathak is the Chief of Psychiatry at Warren State Hospital, a position he has held since 1993. He received his formal medical training in Kanpur, India. He completed residencies at Warren State Hospital as well as Mt. Sinai Hospital in Chicago, Illinois, in 1983 and 1986, respectively. His present affiliations include Warren State Hospital and Lake Shore Community Services, Erie, Pennsylvania. Dr. Pathak will be available for psychiatric consultation services effective July 10, 2009 in Ridgway. His psychiatric practice will serve a full age spectrum in the DMHC main office location at 110 Lincoln Street, Ridgway, Pennsylvania. Drs. Dingcong and Pathak are now accepting new and current DMHC patients at the DMHC main office location at 110 Lincoln Street, Ridgway, Pennsylvania at 814-776-2145. DMHC extends a warm welcome to both physicians.
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DMHC Welcomes New Chief Executive Officer
To complement this announcement, Heidi Thomas, Chief Financial Officer, was named as the DMHC’s Chief Operations Officer (COO) effective June 4, 2009. Thomas has served as Dickinson’s CFO for over five (5) years. In addition to continuing in this key fiscal leadership post, Thomas will assume operational oversight of the organization’s business components including billing, human resources, information technology, and public-community relations. Thomas had recently served as acting CEO while the search for a new executive was underway. Thomas received a Bachelor’s degree in accounting from the Pennsylvania State University in 1999 and then earned her CPA license in 2003. She is presently working towards a Master’s degree in business administration at Clarion University. Thomas resides in Ridgway with her husband, Andy, and two children Drew and Carli. DMHC has served as a behavioral health provider since 1958 and last year celebrated its 50th Anniversary, as it has grown to become a regionally recognized behavioral health provider. DMHC employs 210+ people who provide mental health, mental retardation, children’s prevention, and forensic services to the residents of Elk, Cameron, McKean, Potter, Clearfield and Jefferson Counties. Its principle office locations include the main office in Ridgway in addition to offices in St. Marys, Emporium, and Coudersport. The organization recently announced plans for expanding services through grant monies. These developments include: providing a Wellness Program for Children, developing a regional Autism Diagnostic Center to be located in Ridgway with an anticipated start date this fall, implementing its Peer Specialist Program, and expanding its mental health services into key school districts in the Elk-Cameron County area throughout the past year. DMHC also contracts for telemedicine services through Dubois Regional Medical Center at select sites. (((BACK TO TOP)))
More info on the Wellness Program HRSA funding.
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DMHC Board Member Recognized for 12 Years of Service
At her final board meeting on May 21, 2009, Dr. Bill Conrad, Chairperson noted with the Board that Ms. Pontzer’s support, commitment and friendship have been tremendous assets and a powerful help to him. He added that his years on the Board were better because of her commitment and leadership. Pictured left (left to right): Jessica Songster, Bill Conrad, Deborah Pontzer, Jesse Ditson, Jean Hvizdzak, Bruce Burkness, and Julia Reitz. (((BACK TO TOP))) Koss Child Care Center Completes Incredible Years Training
The purpose of The Incredible Years training series for parents and teachers is to promote children’s use of appropriate conflict management skills, to strengthen social skills, emotional regulation and academic success, to increase self-esteem and to reduce aggressive behavior problems. “We were so fortunate to have had this opportunity,” stated Christine Koss, Director of Koss Child Care “It was a wonderful and beneficial training that really placed all the staff on the same page. Through the training we were able to brainstorm ideas that would best serve our children and be sure we were consistent in our actions. I truly hope that anyone who cares about/for children is able to participate in this program.” (((BACK TO TOP)))
The Elk County Family Resource Network honored Chief Todd Caltagarone at their annual Communities That Care (CTC) banquet which was held on May 13, 2009 at the Holiday Inn in Clarion.
Chief Caltagarone is pictured receiving his award from Elk County Commissioner June Sorg; Michael Pennington, Pennsylvania Commission on Crime & Delinquency Executive Director; Lenore Wyant, Program Director, Center for Juvenile Justice Training & Research; and Kim Nelson, Program Analyst, Pennsylvania Commission on Crime & Delinquency. Chief Caltagarone was nominated for this award by the Elk County Family Resource Network for his ongoing commitment and efforts to prevent delinquency and other community risk factors in Elk County.
The Elk County Family Resource Network (FRN) is the Communities That Care prevention board recognized by the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency (PCCD) as an evidence based board process proven to improve community risk factors. Risk factors are conditions that increase the likelihood of young people becoming involved in substance abuse, delinquency, teen pregnancy, school drop out/or violence. The FRN board, which consists of over 50 board members representing many sectors, is at the authority of the Elk County Commissioners and coordinated by staff from Dickinson Mental Health Center.
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Signs of Suicide Program offers support for area students From The Daily Press - St. Marys, PA By Becky Polaski Staff Writer Two years ago the Signs of Suicide Program was started in area schools in an effort to provide better aid to area students.  Student
Assistance Program Mental Health Liaison Jill Struble, who
works for Dickinson Mental Health Center’s Division of
Children’s Prevention Services, explained that the Signs of
Suicide Program was started by Dickinson based on responses
received from the Pennsylvania Youth Survey. “They do the PA Youth Survey at all the schools and one of the high numbers was kids stating that they just do not feel life is worth living,” Struble said. Research was conducted to determine what type of program would most benefit area students. The Palumbo Foundation was also contacted and, with assistance from Elk County Catholic High School Headmaster John Kowach, was able to aid in getting the program off of the ground and into all of the area schools. The Signs of Suicide Program targets students in grades seven through 10 and each school determines which grade level participates in the program. According to Struble, the St. Mary Catholic Middle School offers the program to seventh-graders while St. Marys Area Middle School targets eighth-graders. Elk County Catholic High School holds the program for ninth-graders, and it is offered for tenth-graders at St. Marys Area High School, Johnsonburg Area High School, Ridgway Area High School, and Cameron County Junior/Senior High School. “We have people trained, myself being one of them, that go in and teach this class,” Struble said. “Sometimes it can be one class period. Sometimes it can be two class periods. We teach this class to the kids and explain to them the dangers of depression and suicide.” She added that the students are taught the acronym A.C.T., which stands for Acknowledge, Care enough to Tell someone. “They use those acronyms and it is to teach them not only for themselves but for their peer group and how to go about telling someone that someone they know may possibly have a problem and what’s the next step,” Struble said. During each presentation the students are also given a response card where they can indicate whether they need to talk to someone about problems that they or a friend may be experiencing. All referrals are confidential. If a student indicates that they would like to talk to someone, then either someone from the Signs of Suicide Program or the school’s guidance department will speak to the student within 24 to 48 hours. Parental consent is needed before the students take part in the Signs of Suicide Program and must also be given before Program workers or guidance counselors can speak to the student regarding any issues. “Through the Student Assistance Program and the Signs of Suicide Program a parent has to know to some degree that their student is being seen,” Struble said. “They have to sign that consent as a parent. Beyond that, if they are 14 or older the child can say ‘I don’t want to sign for my parent to know anything more.’” Struble added the program has helped to identify students that need assistance that may not have otherwise been identified. “Some kids are high risk kids and it shows in the school day or teachers are able to identify that there’s a problem going on. It could be because of grades slipping or behavior in the classroom. Those kids are easily identified that there could be something wrong. Not necessarily is it suicide, but there is a problem that would go through the Student Assistance Program,” Struble said. “With this program, sometimes kids are under the radar and we don’t identify them because they don’t show those signs in school.” The Signs of Suicide Program also aids with providing funding for the Student Assistance Program. While Struble noted that the amount of state funding for the Student Assistance Program does not increase, the Signs of Suicide Program can bring in additional money that can also benefit the Student Assistance Program. Struble explained that one of the things they have been able to do with this funding is hire another individual to administer the Signs of Suicide Program and Student Assistance Program at two of the area schools. This has helped to ensure that Program workers are able to devote more time to the students and allowed students to become more familiar with them so the students know that they can talk to them if there is a problem. Struble also explained that both the Signs of Suicide Program and the Student Assistance Program are prevention based programs, not treatment programs. “The reasoning behind it is with every program you need to start with prevention,” Struble said. “If you’re not educating these kids about the problems you’re not going to be able to identify the problems.” While the Signs of Suicide Program is geared toward students exhibiting signs of depression and suicide, the Student Assistance Program is geared more for students who are struggling with family or relationship issues, peer pressure or bullying.
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In September 2008, Dickinson Mental Health Center Children’s Prevention Services piloted a Wellness Program in Elk County. This program was the result of the most recent Stackpole Hall Foundation’s Community Assessment (which identified 49% of the participants stating wellness was a priority), and the Healthy People 2010 (priority needs with our local school systems). Because of the Stackpole Hall Foundation’s investment with Dickinson Mental Health Center (DMHC) one full-time registered nurse (Adair Rohr) was hired to support families already enrolled with DMHC Children’s Prevention Services, provide community outreach and provide school support. Since September approximately 1,500 children have received support from this program either through home visits, school classroom education or other community programs. Adair has supported wellness needs such as nutrition, obesity, eating disorders, diabetes education, sex education, and heart health. On April 27, 2009, Dickinson Mental Health Center received notification that they were the recipient of the Health Resources & Services Administration’s Rural Outreach Grant (HRSA). This grant was written with the intent to provide a new and innovative method of supporting wellness needs in Elk County as well as building upon the already existing program piloted in September. The amount awarded for this program was $375,000 over 3 years. The funding with the grant has allowed DMHC to contract for specialized services with Elk Regional Health Center (ERHC), purchase the “Wellness Express” (a mobile health unit), contract with a local Certified Registered Nurse Practitioner and hire a program evaluator. The priority risk factor being addressed will be childhood obesity. In addition to the contract with ERHC, many community partners will also be involved; Elk County Family Resource Network, Elk County schools, local State Health Improvement Partnership, Cameron/Elk Mental Health/Mental Retardation, Elk County Children & Youth and many more. Year 1 of HRSA Grant
Goal 1: The Wellness Nurse will provide education to 110 at-risk children, between ages birth to 5, and educate 602 people within the general public on proper wellness habits. This will occur through programs with DMHC Children’s Prevention Services, preschools, daycares, etc. Goal 2: The contracted CRNP will revamp current prenatal classes at Elk Regional Health System to arm women with the skills needed to maintain healthy weight during pregnancy. Additionally, women will be provided with the skills needed to successfully breastfeed their child. This funding will allow five registered nurses to be trained as lactation specialists and support the maternity ward with ERHC. Goal 3: The funding will purchase and equip a mobile health unit (Wellness Express). This cargo van will not be utilized for any critical care; it will be a mobile unit that will travel to 50 families in Elk County who fall below the federal poverty guidelines to receive wellness support. For example, the nurse will visit the family and provide nutrition education. The nurse will collaborate with an ERHC registered dietician to develop a care plan. They will assure that families are receiving annual well child visits or immunizations from their primary care physician or local pediatrician. The nurse will also plot height and weight percentiles, and asses feeding methods.
Wellness Express Mobile Unit Demo Design Years 2 and 3 will build upon the foundation created in the first year. However, during the second and third year, the Wellness Team will expand the age groups they target with wellness needs through various school programs and activities. The Wellness Express will keep the mission to support ages birth to five, however will increase the total number served. Years 2 and 3 are contingent pending performance measures from Year 1. (((BACK TO TOP)))
Adair
Rohr, RN
The Impact of Economic Stress on the Family Unit The correlation between economic hardship and stress has been realized by much of society. The current economic conditions of our county, state, and nation often result in challenges, making it difficult for parents to make ends meet. The impact of daily life stressors related to job loss, a reduction of or loss of medical benefits and declining home values have a profound impact on the entire family. Economic troubles can lead to feelings of anger, depression, fear, anxiety, fatigue, and helplessness. Difficult times coupled with stress may lead to inadvertently taking frustrations out on each other as well as your children. Children may not understand the specifics or details of the situation but they can realize from a very young age when something is wrong. Every situation is different and every child is different; therefore, I am offering a few general stress relief strategies that work well: Surround yourself with positive support systems. Get outside for some family fun – take a walk or go for a bike ride. Make family dinner a priority. Participate in a family game night. Focus on improving the health of your family as well as yourself – try to exercise at least thirty minutes a day and eat a well balanced diet. Try to avoid or limit alcohol, caffeine, and nicotine. Remain positive when managing family conflict and crisis situations. Get adequate sleep. Turn the television off – avoid further negative news on the economy; it is depressing, REALLY!
Know when to
get professional help. Strengthening families requires spending time together as a family – make it a priority! Turning to your family and loved ones for support and strength during these tough economic times may bring you closer together. (((BACK TO TOP))) Dickinson wants to help with volunteer, community projects Article from
The Endeavor Polly Lannager, program director, said the agency is eager to hear ideas for volunteer projects with which the developmentally challenged could assist. Some of the individuals served by Dickinson displayed examples of floral designs they're working on in preparation for the June 13 Woodland Hobbit & Fairy Festival at Hemlock Springs in Keating Summit.
"They love to volunteer - that's what they do," said Lannager.
The group has also assisted at the Coudersport Arboretum and Sweden Valley Manor. "I want to thank these folks who help me do my job," said Mary Jones from Sweden Valley Manor. "They're really a joy and delight." Rose Carpenter, program director for Dickinson's transitional work services, said many of the consumers move on from the day program to employment in the community, with the help of job coaches. One of those consumers discussed his job as a janitor at Truck-Lite. McDonald's Maple Tree Restaurant and Dave's Diner in Ceres are among others who employ Dickinson consumers. "We assess their skills so we can tell employers this is someone who can be responsible and dependable," Carpenter said. "They have the skills, and the time management skills." Paul Snyder, mental retardation services coordinator for Dickinson, said the agency's Elkwood Arts program in Ridgway is starting a greeting card program using art and greetings created by the consumers, who will be paid minimum wage. "If it takes off, we'll have a nice little company," Snyder noted. Elkwood Arts is also a sheltered workshop for woodworking. Snyder added that efforts are underway to enable consumers who are served in Coudersport to participate.
It was also noted that the group is practicing for the Special Olympics track and field event, slated for May 1 at CARP. Details were also provided on Dickinson's group home, located in Coudersport, which is licensed to house three individuals who are "encouraged to be as independent as possible to improve their skills," according to Freya Miller, program specialist. She discussed Dickinson's nine Lifestyle Homes, in which consumers are housed with families. Emphasis is on independence, learning new skills and maintaining existing skills. Lannager said local individuals and businesses who may be able to offer ideas on volunteer opportunities for Dickinson consumers should call (814) 260-0125. (((BACK TO TOP))) Local Day Care Receives Incredible Years Training
The purpose of The Incredible Years training series for parents and teachers is to promote children’s use of appropriate conflict management skills, to strengthen social skills, emotional regulation and academic success, to increase self-esteem and to reduce aggressive behavior problems. “I enjoyed the Incredible Years Program,” stated Lisa Smith, Director of Always Bettering Children Daycare, “I learned many new skills and techniques which I can apply to work and home on a daily basis. I would recommend this program to all parents in the area."
(((BACK TO TOP))) Not Worth the
Risk Photo and Article
By Heidi Zemach (((BACK TO TOP)))
PA Rep. Matt Gabler
Visits DMHC
He met with
several staff regarding trends and needs with DMHC, such as
funding cuts and how the poor economy is affecting the families
they support.
(See more photos below.)
"Read with Clifford the Big Red Dog" Promotes Literacy ST. MARYS --When Clifford the Big Red Dog says that reading is fun children listen! Children enrolled in the YMCA Day Care recently had the opportunity to read with Clifford. The Read with Clifford the Big Red Dog program was developed by DMHC Children’s Prevention Services Parents as Teachers program to promote literacy.
The ‘Clifford’ program is supported by a generous grant from the Harrison and Muriel Dauer Stackpole Family Fund. The grant makes it possible to distribute books and educational materials to every family that participates in the program. To date 321 children have read with Clifford. This literacy event is available to any Elk County program serving children through kindergarten age. For more information about the program contact DMHC Children’s Prevention Services at 834-2602. (((BACK TO TOP))) DICKINSON STAFF MEMBER ATTAINS CERTIFICATION
Currently, Lynn is the facilitator for DMHC Parents as Teachers Children Center located at 4 Erie Avenue in St. Marys. She is also the coordinator for the Elk County Cares program which is funded through a grant from the Pennsylvania Children’s Trust Fund. The Elk County Cares initiative offers training in the Incredible Years program to staff and parents of children enrolled in child care programs in Elk County. The Incredible Years is widely recognized as a model program by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) and was selected by the U.S. Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention as an exemplary best practice and blueprints program.
A goal of the
Incredible Years program is to increase positive and nurturing
parenting and teaching styles, thus decreasing negative or harsh
parenting and teaching styles. The program helps to decrease
aggressive and oppositional behaviors in children when they
first start and strengthens a child’s social competence and self
regulation, thus promoting the child’s academic competence,
school engagement and school readiness. (((BACK TO TOP))) MONTHLY MEETING ADDRESSES HEALTH CONCERNS IN ELK COUNTY
Representatives from Penn State College of Medicine, Brenda Kluhsman and Marcy Bencivenga presented. Dr. Kluhsman presented information on a current pilot study being conducted in Elk County in partnership with Penn State. The major goal of the study is to test acceptability and feasibility of a colon cancer screening intervention using two evidence-based strategies, provider recommendation and telephone barriers counseling. This spring, local study coordinator, Paulette Schreiber, CRNP, will offer her patients over the age of 50 the opportunity receive a new colon cancer screening test, the Fecal Immunochemical Test (FIT), at no charge. Patients who do not return the completed test will receive follow-up phone calls to answer questions, explain the test and to encourage completion of the test. Marcy Bencivenga asked the committee members about their interest and preferences for a web-based training on topics related to improving health communication. One member suggested the program may be helpful in communicating risk factor to the public about problems identified in a recent PA Youth Survey about attitudes towards alcohol, tobacco and other drugs. Further information about the training will follow this spring. Merry Stokes, PA Department of Health presented a proposal to the committee requesting a commitment from the group to target the excessive use of alcohol and drugs that result in risky behaviors attributable to the deterioration of health, family and community within Elk County. With the guidance of the Community-as Partners model and the identified community cultural norms established by the Stackpole-Hall Foundation Community Planning Process (2006), action steps to analyze current community resources and identify gaps in services can be initiated. Merry shared data with the group that reflected that 42% of individuals in A&D treatment for opiates or heroin were from Elk County and DUI for drinking and driving ages 16-21 are considered a target group. Additionally, the cases of Hepatitis C are alarming in Elk County. Merry Stokes, Elk County’s PA Department of Health nurse sought support from the community to organizes a group to identify needs and gaps in services to help fight Elk County’s drug and alcohol problems. Robbin Cessna, EMS Program Specialist with EMMCO East presented grant information for Elk County. She reports that there is funding available to purchase AED (Automated External Defibrillator) machines for locations in Elk County. The meeting ended with Adair Rohr providing the group with an update for the Wellness Program with Dickinson Mental Health Center’s Children’s Prevention Services and Paulette Schreiber’ update regarding the Food Pantry and Mammography project.
(((BACK TO TOP))) DICKINSON STAFF MEMBER ATTAINS LICENSE IN CLINICAL SOCIAL WORK
Eastman has been with DMHC for over two years. She currently holds a position as Unit Supervisor at DMHC’s Adult Partial Hospitalization Program in Coudersport. “I am so happy to have finally received my Clinical License,” says Eastman. “I have learned a lot during the supervision process and testing process.” Eastman’s career has so far spanned to over a decade. In 1994, she was employed for the Allegany County Employment and Training Center, working in their Summer Youth Employment Program. Within the next several years, she took on positions such as Assistant House Manager at the Heritage Christian Home, Inc., Employment Consultant at Vadis, and Mental Health Social Worker at Rose House Clubhouse. Eastman was then employed as a Clinical Therapist at Allegany Rehabilitation Associates from 2005-2006. Eastman completed her BA in Sociology/Psychology at St. John Fisher College in Rochester, NY. She holds a Masters Degree in Social Work for Children, Youth and Families. (((BACK TO TOP))) DICKINSON EMPLOYEE EARNS LICENSE IN CLINICAL SOCIAL WORK
Sherry has been working for DMHC at his current position since April 2008. From July 2003 to September 2005, he was part of DMHC as a Mental Health Worker, then becoming a Mental Health Professional for Coudersport’s Family Based Program. “I know Joe is very proud of this professional accomplishment as he should be,” Jack Goga, DMHC’s Behavioral Health Coordinator said. “I believe he knows that his co-workers are similarly excited and proud of him also.” In a period of almost a decade, Sherry’s career path has given him abundant experience. He started at Beacon Light Behavioral Health Systems in Dec. 1999 taking on positions throughout the years such as Therapeutic Staff Support, Mobile Therapist, and Therapist. He had also been a part of Charles Cole Memorial Hospital in Coudersport, providing care to patients as a Family Based Case Manager. Sherry completed his Bachelors Degree in Psychology from Edinboro University. He then went on to achieve a Masters Degree in Social Work from the University of Buffalo. (((BACK TO TOP)))
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Dickinson
Mental Health Center, Inc. welcomes Walter (Ed) Badeau,
Board Certified Licensed Professional Counselor to their
Helpwise division located on 220 Parade Street in St. Marys.
ST.
MARYS --When Clifford the Big Red Dog says that reading is
fun children listen! Children enrolled in the FUMC Preschool
recently had the opportunity to read with Clifford.
The Read with Clifford the Big Red Dog program
was developed by DMHC Children’s Prevention Services
Parents as Teachers program to promote literacy. 
Linda
White, Dickinson Mental Health Center’s Autism Coordinator,
accepts a generous donation from Beck’s Bar and Grill owners
Becky and Wayne Tomaski. Beck’s is located at 305 West
Center Street in Johnsonburg. This donation was the owner’s
attempt to make a difference in their community, as autism
awareness and support has become their current fundraising
initiative. Dickinson Mental Health Center (DMHC) is
currently piloting an Autism Program that will provide an
in-home program called the P.L.A.Y. Project.
Additionally, DMHC has plans to house a Regional Autism
Diagnostic and Treatment Center. The original funding for
this Autism Program is as a result of appropriations from
former and current Congressmen John Peterson and Glen
Thompson. Becky and Wayne, along with other employees of
Beck’s Bar and Grill, saw this development in the newspaper
and thought this was a great match for their donation to
support local families with children with autism. 
Dickinson
Are
you a parent of a teen or “tween” who is showing some of the
following behaviors: withdrawing from family, friends
and/or school, changing friends/no longer spending time with old
friends, unexplained physical injuries, talking about suicide,
depression, defying authority at school and home, acting
aggressively, lying, needing money without explanation, sudden
drop in grades or experimenting with alcohol? Have you
become concerned about the way your child is reacting to a
recent death of a loved one, divorce of parents, family
relocation, relationship problem or other traumatic event?
If you answered yes to any of these, rest assured you are not
alone and rest assured there is help available to you and your
child. 
Dickinson
Dickinson Mental
Health Center’s (DMHC) Children’s Prevention Services welcomes
Ms. Tricia Brendel, RN, to their Wellness Team. Ms Brendel joins
Adair Rohr, RN, and Jennifer Dippold, Children’s Prevention
Services Program Director, to support wellness initiatives in
Elk County. Ms. Brendel is a graduate of University of
Pittsburgh where she obtained an Associate of Science in
Nursing. She brings several years experience to the team with
her nursing background and early childhood development
knowledge.
RIDGWAY --- Dickinson Mental
Health Center, Inc. (DMHC) is pleased to announce the
appointment of Jack Goga as its new Chief Executive
Officer. Goga, a licensed psychologist, brings 35 years of
clinical and behavioral health management experience to this
leadership post. His appointment was announced to the DMHC
organization on June 5, 2009. Goga, a native of the
Pittsburgh area, received his Bachelor’s degree in psychology
from the Pennsylvania State University. He then went on to
earn his Master’s in clinical psychology from the Indiana
University of Pennsylvania and was conferred licensure as a
professional psychologist in 1980. He is also certified in
mediation services. Goga’s professional career began at DMHC
while it originally was known as the Ridgway Psychiatric Center.
He held psychological associate positions at Allegany General
Hospital and later at Woodville State Hospital in Pittsburgh.
He then went on to serve as the Director of Behavioral Health
Services at Charles Cole Memorial Hospital for over 20 years,
where he provided both clinical and management support for the
hospital’s out-patient service line. In September 2006, he
was named as the Director of Human Resources at Bradford
Regional Medical Center. Goga returned to DMHC in April
2008 to accept the position of Mental Health Coordinator where
he has remained until his recent appointment as CEO. 
Dickinson
Mental Health Center’s Board of Governors recognized Ms. Deborah
Dick Pontzer for her 12 years of dedication and service to the
board. Ms. Pontzer was presented with a clock from the agency,
hand-crafted at Elkwood Arts.
ST. MARYS – Staff at Koss Child Care Center recently completed The
Incredible Years training series. The training was made possible
as part of the Elk County Cares initiative, a program funded by
Pennsylvania’s Children’s Trust Fund through the Department of
Public Welfare. Offered through DMHC Children’s Prevention
Services, the training is facilitated by Lynn Floravit and
offers PQAS credit to Keystone STARS childcare facilities.
Dickinson
Mental Health outlined volunteer community service projects and
employment skills during an open house this week in Coudersport.
Christie
Sherwood, acting program specialist, provided details of a bocce
tournament and family picnic tentatively scheduled for July.
Items are being sought for an auction, with proceeds to go
toward the purchase of a Nintendo Wii. Sherwood said
gaming will help consumers with fine motor skills and hand-eye
contact.
Staff
at Always Bettering Children (ABC) Day Care recently completed
The Incredible Years training series. The training was made
possible as part of the Elk County Cares initiative, a program
funded by Pennsylvania’s Children’s Trust Fund through the
Department of Public Welfare.
JOHNSONBURG
– Students at Johnsonburg Area High School in grades 
The goal is to get children excited
about reading and to stress the importance of reading to
parents. At least 10% of all children have great
difficulty with one or more of the steps involved in decoding
written symbols into sounds, words and meaning. It is recognized
that the common factor in the lives of children who come to
school and learn to read easily is that they were read to
frequently.
ST. MARYS – Lynn Floravit of DMHC
Children’s Prevention Services was recently certified by
Pennsylvania Keys to Professional Development as a Pennsylvania
Quality Assurance System (PQAS) instructor. This certification
allows Lynn to offer trainings to child care programs seeking
Keystone STAR certification.
The
State Health Improvement Planning Committee and Elk County
Cancer and Tobacco coalition met February 4, 2009 for their
monthly meeting to address methods to promote healthy
lifestyles, prevent injury and disease, and to assure the safe
delivery of quality health care for all Elk County citizens.
Several attended the meeting and there were several items to be
addressed on the agenda. 
COUDERSPORT – Dickinson Mental Health
Center, Inc. is proud to announce the achievement of staff
member Heidi Eastman on recently becoming a Licensed Clinical
Social Worker (LCSW) in November 2008.
COUDERSPORT
– Dickinson Mental Health Center, Inc. is pleased to announce
the recent accomplishment of staff member Joe Sherry on recently
becoming a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) in Jan. 2009.
He is currently a Therapist at DMHC’s Outpatient Clinic in
Coudersport.