The
individuals who attend the Adult Habilitation Center, a
program of Dickinson Center, Inc., recently hosted a
food drive to help supplement the Good Samaritan Food
Bank for the holidays. The AHC is a licensed
center-based day program for adults with intellectual
and developmental disabilities and for adults over 60
years of age with functional impairments. Money,
collected at Dickinson’s annual employee picnic, was
also donated along with the food items. Additional
donations to the AHC food drive were
collected during a
recent joint advisory council Christmas party hosted by
the Elk, Cameron and McKean County RSVP. The RSVP is
sponsored by the Office of Human Services, Inc. Area
Agency on Aging and hosts or participates in several
community outreaches throughout the year in an effort to
advance volunteerism in the three counties. Reusable
grocery bags, supplied by Northwest Health Connections
were also given to the food bank. Pictured above are
consumers and employees of the Adult Habilitation Center
and a representative from RSVP presenting the collected
items to Mr. John Smith of the Good Samaritan Food Bank.
For additional information on the AHC contact Missy
Shirey at (814)772-0091 or
missy.shirey@dickinsoncenter.org
and for additional information on RSVP contact Kellie
Rusciolelli at (814) 776-0428 or
elkcameronrsvp@ohsaging.com.
Mr. McFeely
from the Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood Television show
visited Dickinson’s Children’s Prevention Services at
the Children’s Center in St. Marys, local preschools and
the St. Marys Ambulance to kick of the Mister Rogers
Neighborhood Sweater drive for Elk County. The goal of
the project is to collect new sweaters, hats and mittens
to give to children and families in need.
Drop off boxes
are available at locations from 11/11-12/9.
Locations:
Giant Eagle • Marienstadt Center • Apollo Theatre •
Mountain Laurel Credit Union • St. Marys Public Library
• Boys & Girls Club
• Dickinson Center- 110 Lincoln Street
The event was hosted by Dickinson Center, Inc. and
sponsored by St. Marys Insurance Agency.
A special thank you to the project coordinators Nikki
Cashmer and Deanna Meyer.
Also, thank you to the St. Marys Ambulance staff for
hosting the sweater drive kick-off at the ambulance
garage.
DICKINSON
CENTER, INC. PRESENTS ANNUAL
ELIZABETH “SIS” SIMONS MEMORIAL AWARD
Dickinson’s
Board of Governors has honored Tammy Perkins of Ridgway
as the recipient of this year’s annual Elizabeth “Sis”
Simons Memorial Award.
The award, presented at the board’s annual meeting at
the Diamond View on September 15, 2011, recognizes a
Dickinson direct service employee who consistently goes
above and beyond in the performance of his/her duties.
Ms. Perkins performance has met and exceeded this
standard and made her an outstanding candidate for this
award.
Ms. Perkins has been employed as a residential program
worker since 1992.
“Tammy is one of those exceptional employees who possess
a genuine compassion and respect for individuals with
developmental disabilities. She has demonstrated herself
to be an outstanding advocate for the intellectually
disabled and has encouraged and welcomed consumer
participation in many of her own personal and family
activities beyond the group home setting,” stated Jack
Goga, Dickinson Chief Executive Officer. “Tammy
exemplifies all of the qualities of what this award
represents and is a truly deserving nominee selection”.
Other employees recognized for their contribution to
Dickinson and nominated for this year’s Sis Simons
Memorial Award included: Tonya Wolfe, Michelle Straub,
Kevin Leahy, and Leah Dippold. Each nominee was
recognized for having displayed the qualities of
exceptional dedication, performance, and
professionalism.
Ms. Perkins received a monetary gift and will have her
name engraved on the Elizabeth “Sis” Simons Memorial
Award plaque displayed at the Dickinson main office at
110 Lincoln St. in Ridgway. Previous award recipients
have included Heidi Eastman, Ed Badeau, Barb Cole, John
Ogden, Dr. Paul Francis, Michael DeStefano, Jennifer
Dippold, Dawn Dovensky, Tana Funair and Pat Work.
Elizabeth “Sis” Simons, was a founding member of the
original Dickinson Board of Governors and served for
over four decades demonstrating exemplary leadership,
public relations, caring and dedication to Dickinson’s
mission. She achieved an honorary “life” membership on
the Board of Governors until her death on July 18, 2001.
The board established the Sis Simons Award to honor her
memory and recognize her significant dedication to
Dickinson.
Dickinson
Center, Inc sponsored an employee picnic on Friday,
September 16, 2011 at the Bucktail Rod and Gun Club in
Emporium. A little over 100 employees enjoyed an
afternoon of friendship, food and games.
Congratulations to Heidi Thomas and Irene Davido for
winning the cinch tournament. Bobbianne O’Dell was the
winner of the horseshoe tournament with West Leithner
coming in as Most Improved Player. Josh Himes and Laura
Sypien came out on top of the Trivial Pursuit 80”s
version game. Door prizes were won by too many people to
mention. DCI is planning on hosting this event every
summer. Thanks again to Missy Shirey and Bobby Jo Hepler
for organizing the picnic! See more
photos from the picnic
here
AHC and Elkwood
Arts Participate in 9/11 Community Service Project
In
conjunction with 9/11 National Day of Service and
Remembrance, Elk Cameron & McKean County RSVP (Retired
Senior Volunteer Program) partnered with AHC (Adult
Habilitation Center) and Elkwood Arts, divisions of
Dickinson Center, Inc to complete community service
projects. Pre-prepared flyers were printed from the
FEMA website
www.ready.gov then readied for distribution. The
flyers were folded; slip sheeted, taped and separated by
volunteers at AHC and Elkwood Arts. The finished flyers
were distributed to Senior Centers and other care
facilities throughout the three counties. The flyers
offer step by step instructions and reminders for
seniors and other vulnerable citizens to be ready in the
event of a national or local disaster. The printing and
postage costs for this project were generously donated
by the Office of Human Services Inc, Area Agency on
Aging and the AHC.
Furthermore, in an effort
to acknowledge and thank the first responders in our
area, Thank You cards were handmade by the volunteers
and delivered to representatives from Police, Fire and
Ambulance departments, recognizing their daily
commitment to the safety and protection of the people in
our community.
George A. & Margaret
Mee Charitable Foundation Board
Visits Dickinson
(Please give photos a minute to load)
On August
23rd trustees from the Mee Foundation
visited Dickinson Center, Inc. as an effort to see
program sites that they have funded over the years.
The Mee Foundation funded our telepsychiatry
project, Autism Program, Elkwood Arts and
Dickinson’s Strategic Planning process.
Since
Elkwood Arts and the Autism Program were their two
largest funding projects; they visited these two
sites. The board started at Elkwood Arts where Missy
Shirey and Janet Leahy presented information about
the current and future developments with the
program. Jack also briefed the group about the new
facility plans, and how this will increase space for
operations at Elkwood Arts. Missy provided a tour of
the facility with the dust collector system being
the primary focus, as this was funded by the Mee
Foundation. The board ended their visit in the
Elkwood Arts display room.
They then
traveled to Possibilities to see the Autism
Center. Dr. Hunter and Linda White shared the
center’s environment explaining the features of the
center and benefits for children diagnosed with
autism. The board had several questions and seemed
very intrigued by the Calming Room. In 2007,
the Mee Foundation financially supported the
development and implementation of a Sensory
Integration Program with a $50,000 grant to serve
autistic children up to the age of 21. This venture
was the first provision of services, by then,
Dickinson Mental Health Center, to support children
on the autism spectrum.
DICKINSON
CENTER, INC. AWARDED $2,500 FROM STOLTZ TOYOTA-SCION
Toyota to Provide a Matching Grant of $2,500, for a
Total of $5,000
[RIDGWAY,PA]
– [AUGUST 12, 2011] – Dickinson Center, Inc. announced
it received a $2,500 donation from Stoltz Toyota Scion,
and an additional contribution of $2,500 from Toyota
Motor Sales, U.S.A., Inc.
“Dickinson Center, Inc. is honored to receive a $2,500
donation from Stoltz Toyota-Scion, said Jack Goga , CEO
of Dickinson Center, Inc. “This generous grant will
support our autism diagnostic and treatment program—Possibilities
with offices in both Ridgway and Clearfield.”
Possibilities Autism Center opened its doors in January of 2010 and provides comprehensive autism
diagnostic evaluations and treatment for children thru
18 years of age. Since the program’s inception, well
over 100 children and adolescents have been served,
providing timely services to individuals who might
otherwise experience significant delays in gaining
access to diagnostic evaluations at tertiary care
facilities.
The
Toyota Dealer Match Program enables dealer contributions
to make a greater impact on the community. Since 1991,
Toyota has contributed more than $500 million to
non-profit organizations, and has always been guided by
a strong belief in serving the communities where it does
business. To learn more, please visit
http://www.toyota.com/about/philanthropy/.
About
Dickinson Center, Inc. Dickinson
Center, Inc. was formed in 1958 and named to honor the
founder Dr. Robert J. Dickinson. Dickinson Center, Inc.
(D.C.I) is recognized as the regional behavioral health
provider in northwestern Pennsylvania employing over 220
employees. DCI is a regional provider of mental health,
intellectual disabilities and children’s prevention
services operating in Elk, Cameron, Potter, McKean,
Forest, Warren, Jefferson and Clearfield Counties. The
Autism Program is one of the newest program developments
with Dickinson. Dickinson Center, Inc. is a P.A.N.O
certified organization. Dickinson was awarded
certification under the Standards for Excellence
program, which is bestowed only to the most well-managed
and responsibly governed nonprofit organizations that
have demonstrated compliance with 55 specific Standards
for Excellence based on honesty, integrity, fairness,
respect, trust, responsibility and accountability.
About Toyota.
Toyota Motor Sales (TMS), U.S.A., Inc. is the marketing,
sales, distribution and customer service arm of Toyota,
Lexus and Scion. Established in 1957, TMS markets
products and services through a network of nearly 1,500
Toyota, Lexus and Scion dealers which sold more than
1.77 million vehicles in 2009. Toyota directly employs
nearly 30,000 people in the U.S. and its investment here
is currently valued at more than $18 billion. Toyota is
committed to being a good corporate citizen and focuses
its support in the areas of education, the environment
and safety. Since 1991, Toyota has contributed more than
$500 million to philanthropic programs in the U.S. For
more information visit
www.toyota.com,
www.lexus.com,
www.scion.com
or
www.toyotanewsroom.com.
Recently the
LIFE/Incredible Years Program with Dickinson Center,
Inc. Children’s Prevention Services, in conjunction with
Johnsonburg Elementary School, held its annual
Kindergarten Readiness “Moving On” Ceremony. The
Kindergarten Readiness Program is offered annually to
all incoming Kindergarten students and is designed to
prepare children for their entrance to Kindergarten.
The ceremony is a celebration of the children’s hard
work over the summer and provides an opportunity to wish
them well as they’re off to Kindergarten. This
Kindergarten Readiness Program is made possible by the
generous support of the Johnsonburg Area School
District, the Johnsonburg-Wilcox Community Fund and the
dedicated parents of the children who attended the
program.
On
June 13th, 2011 the Dickinson PAT Children’s Center
welcomed an infant massage class for parents and infants
of Elk County. This class, free for Elk county families
with children from birth to 12 months, is beneficial not
only emotionally, but also physically. Through these
classes, parents will learn how different massage
techniques benefit their children by easing discomfort,
releasing tension and strengthening the parent – child
relationship during these special times. There are also
specific exercises to help relief colic, fever, chest
and nasal congestion, constipation, poor circulation and
reflux. Modified instructions for premature infants and
babies with special needs are available, as well as
hints to deal with crying and babies with eating
concerns. Infant Massage offers something for every
family due to the bond that is formed between the parent
and child as they interact together. This program is
taught by Deanna Meyer, PAT’s Certified Educator of
Infant Massage. To learn about infant massage, contact
Deanna Meyer at 834-2602.
Click to view flyer
With
the ever-growing use of digital technology and the
advancements of this technology in our society, it is
important to prepare and protect our youth against the
dangers of the cyber world. On May 17th, a presentation
given by the Saint Marys Police Department in
conjunction with Dickinson Center, Inc. LIFE/Incredible
Years sought to inform the students of the Saint Marys
Catholic Elementary School of these dangers. These
students, grades three to five, were exposed to the
threat of social networking, dangerous links on the
internet and releasing private information while also
being taught how to properly handle these situations,
whether by avoiding them altogether or seeking adult
guidance. This program, titled “I M Safe Online”, is
part of an ongoing attempt to encourage children to
exercise caution when using digital technology. Through
these preventative programs, children of future
generations will be educated and aware of both the
dangers and the positive uses of digital technology in
everyday life. If parents would like more information
about protecting their children while using digital
technology, they can contact the St. Marys Police
Department or Dickinson Center, Inc. Children’s
Prevention Services.
Suicide Prevention
Program delivers curriculum to students at Johnsonburg
Area High School
Tracey
Myers, staff of Dickinson Center, Inc.'s Signs of
Suicide Prevention Program, is shown delivering the
program's curriculum to students at Johnsonburg Area
High School. The Signs of Suicide Prevention Program
teaches area middle and high school students the warning
signs and symptoms of depression and suicide and how
students should react if a friend tells them they may be
feeling depressed or suicidal. Students are taught the
acronym ACT which stands for Acknowledge, Care and Tell;
students should acknowledge their friend has a problem,
respond with care and tell a trusted adult. The Signs of
Suicide Prevention Program is funded by generosity of
the A.J. and Sigismunda Palumbo Foundation and will be
completing its fourth year of implementation. If you
would like more information about this program, please
contact Children's Prevention Services at 834-2602.
Children's Prevention
Services Staff updates St. Leo's Elementary PTO of
Programs
Recently,
staff from Dickinson Center, Inc.'s Children's
Prevention Services provided an update of programs
to the PTO at St. Leo's Elementary School. Staff
included Lianna Schneider, supervisor of the Parents
as Teachers, Incredible Years, and Staying Connected
with Your Teen Programs; along with the Children's
Center, Tricia Brendel, R.N. from the Wellness
Program, Kristen Williams supervisor of the Family
Group Decision Making Program, and Shelly Meier, Elk
County supervisor of Student Assistance and Signs of
Suicide Prevention Programs. Shown in the photo to
the right are Lianne Schneider, Tricia Brendel and
Kristen Williams.
Parent-Child
Yoga Class a hit at Dickinson Center, Inc.'s Children's
Center
Katie
Weidenboerner of Soul-full Yoga recently visited
Dickinson Center Inc.’s Children’s Center‘s Friday group
for Parent-Child Yoga. For children, the practice of
yoga develops body awareness, language, good listening
skills, cooperation and powers of observation. Yoga also
teaches the children about nature, their environment,
and inspires the imagination. Physically, children
benefit by increasing their strength, flexibility,
coordination, and sense of calm. As a bonus, all of
these lessons are learned while the children are having
fun singing, playing, moving and imitating!
ST.
MARYS (February 21, 2011) Dickinson Center, Inc.
recently established an endowment fund with the Elk
County Community Foundation. The Autism Program
for Children with Dickinson Center, Inc. Fund
was established to provide for the program’s future
financial security.
Currently 1 in 150 children is diagnosed with autism.
While there is no known cure or one single effective
treatment, autism is treatable. People with autism are
capable of making significant progress through
individualized interventions and therapy. With these
services in place, many can and do lead meaningful and
productivelives. Dickinson’s
Possibilities Autism Center was established in
2010 to assure that families in our service region have
ready access to diagnostic and treatment services to
support their children living with autism.
Possibilities has already gained significant
prominence as a regional autism provider unparalleled in
rural Pennsylvania. As a result, the center has
received referrals from throughout Western and Central
Pennsylvania.
Donations are a valuable resource to the Autism Center,
and an investment in its program and services will
guarantee its future success. Gifts to the Autism
Program Fund, held at the Elk County Community
Foundation, can be made in any number of ways:
· Make a direct financial contribution in any amount.
· Make a planned gift, such as naming the Autism Program
for Children with Dickinson Center, Inc. in your
will.
· Make a donation to the fund, held at the Elk County
Community Foundation in memory or in honor of someone.
(An acknowledgement will be sent to a designated recipient)
· Name the Autism Program for Children with Dickinson
Center, Inc., held at the Elk County Community
Foundation, as a
beneficiary of a life insurance policy.
All contributions to the Fund have the maximum tax
deductibility. To learn about Possiblities Autism Center phone 814.772.2005 x 1. For
more information about making contributions to the
Autism Fund contact the Elk County Community Foundation
at 814.834.2125.
The mission of the Elk County Community Foundation is to
strengthen our region through development, stewardship
and grant making as donors achieve their philanthropic
goals. Its vision is to connect people who care with
causes that matter.
Congratulations!!- Dickinson Wellness Committee was
recently awarded a grant from the
Pennsylvania Department of Health called
“Get Active.”
This grants overall objective is to provide all
employees access to additional
educational and physical training to improve their
overall fitness and health.
This grant will allow employees to have access to a
lending library and exercise equipment.
The Get Active project when combined with the Lifestyle
Returns program enables
employees to focus on needs accessed to improve their
overall well being.
The total grant award was about $3,000.00.
Cashmer teaches sign
language to aid development
By Amy Cherry
The Ridgway Record
ST.
MARYS – As a Parents as Teacher Educator (PAT) through
Dickinson Mental Health Center, Nicky Cashmer works with
babies, toddlers and their families in teaching a unique
sign language program which has been proven to speed up
the time babies begin speaking by up to one full year.
Approximately a year ago, Cashmer became a Certified
Baby Signs Training Center Instructor and a Certified
Baby Signs Early Childhood Educator Trainer, and since
then has been busy conducting numerous classes for both
parents and babies.
"Many of the children that we work with have speech
delays, and contrary to what some people may think,
learning sign
language actually helps develop language skills.
Sometimes parents think if you use sign language, then
children will use that instead of spoken words, but it's
actually contrary because you're going to use the sign
along with the word, you're continually saying the
word," Cashmer emphasized. "Once they (children) realize
they can communicate a certain way, it just enhances
more communication and language skills."
Cashmer explained that Baby Signs classes are geared
toward hearing babies; however, parents with
special-needs children, including those with autism or
those who do not have verbal skills, are also encouraged
to attend the classes.
Several times throughout the year Cashmer conducts
"Sign, Say and Play" classes. These classes are geared
toward parents and children ages six months to three
years. Each week, a different genre of signs is taught,
including those encompassing mealtime, bedtime, animals,
getting dressed and parks.
Music, books and dramatic play are also utilized in
teaching about the various signs.
As part of the class, Cashmer introduces "Bebo the
Bear", a puppet which she uses to help teach specific
signs. Together they sing the "Old MacDonald" song,
incorporating Bebo into it.
"On average they will learn between 50-60 signs during
the six-week long class. Each class lasts 45-60
minutes," Cashmer said.
She added the classes are free of charge, open to the
public and are held inside the PAT Children's Center,
located inside the Community Education Council Building
on Erie Avenue in St. Marys.
collected during a
recent joint advisory council Christmas party hosted by
the Elk, Cameron and McKean County RSVP. The RSVP is
sponsored by the Office of Human Services, Inc. Area
Agency on Aging and hosts or participates in several
community outreaches throughout the year in an effort to
advance volunteerism in the three counties. Reusable
grocery bags, supplied by Northwest Health Connections
were also given to the food bank. Pictured above are
consumers and employees of the Adult Habilitation Center
and a representative from RSVP presenting the collected
items to Mr. John Smith of the Good Samaritan Food Bank.
For additional information on the AHC contact Missy
Shirey at (814)772-0091 or
On
June 13th, 2011 the Dickinson PAT Children’s Center
welcomed an infant massage class for parents and infants
of Elk County. This class, free for Elk county families
with children from birth to 12 months, is beneficial not
only emotionally, but also physically. Through these
classes, parents will learn how different massage
techniques benefit their children by easing discomfort,
releasing tension and strengthening the parent – child
relationship during these special times. There are also
specific exercises to help relief colic, fever, chest
and nasal congestion, constipation, poor circulation and
reflux. Modified instructions for premature infants and
babies with special needs are available, as well as
hints to deal with crying and babies with eating
concerns. Infant Massage offers something for every
family due to the bond that is formed between the parent
and child as they interact together. This program is
taught by Deanna Meyer, PAT’s Certified Educator of
Infant Massage. To learn about infant massage, contact
Deanna Meyer at 834-2602.
With
the ever-growing use of digital technology and the
advancements of this technology in our society, it is
important to prepare and protect our youth against the
dangers of the cyber world. On May 17th, a presentation
given by the Saint Marys Police Department in
conjunction with Dickinson Center, Inc. LIFE/Incredible
Years sought to inform the students of the Saint Marys
Catholic Elementary School of these dangers. These
students, grades three to five, were exposed to the
threat of social networking, dangerous links on the
internet and releasing private information while also
being taught how to properly handle these situations,
whether by avoiding them altogether or seeking adult
guidance. This program, titled “I M Safe Online”, is
part of an ongoing attempt to encourage children to
exercise caution when using digital technology. Through
these preventative programs, children of future
generations will be educated and aware of both the
dangers and the positive uses of digital technology in
everyday life. If parents would like more information
about protecting their children while using digital
technology, they can contact the St. Marys Police 
Tracey
Myers, staff of Dickinson Center, Inc.'s Signs of
Suicide Prevention Program, is shown delivering the
program's curriculum to students at Johnsonburg Area
High School. The Signs of Suicide Prevention Program
teaches area middle and high school students the warning
signs and symptoms of depression and suicide and how
students should react if a friend tells them they may be
feeling depressed or suicidal. Students are taught the
acronym ACT which stands for Acknowledge, Care and Tell;
students should acknowledge their friend has a problem,
respond with care and tell a trusted adult. The Signs of
Suicide Prevention Program is funded by generosity of
the A.J. and Sigismunda Palumbo Foundation and will be
completing its fourth year of implementation. If you
would like more information about this program, please
contact Children's Prevention Services at 834-2602.
Parent-Child
Yoga Class a hit at Dickinson Center, Inc.'s Children's
Center
ST.
MARYS (February 21, 2011) Dickinson Center, Inc.
recently established an endowment fund with the Elk
County Community Foundation. The Autism Program
for Children with Dickinson Center, Inc. Fund
was established to provide for the program’s future
financial security. 
Dickinson Wellness
Committee 
ST.
MARYS – As a Parents as Teacher Educator (PAT) through
Dickinson Mental Health Center, Nicky Cashmer works with
babies, toddlers and their families in teaching a unique
sign language program which has been proven to speed up
the time babies begin speaking by up to one full year.