The CDAC Difference May, 2015 Vol. 3 Issue 5 Leashia’s message to staff . . . We recently received the following employee suggestion: “In the trauma stewardship book that Leashia bought for everyone, there was an idea that I liked. The idea was to create something by which employees could anonymously express their gratitude to their coworkers. I was thinking you could have a place in the newsletter where people could ANONYMOUSLY say nice things about coworkers.” I think this is a wonderful idea. Feeling gratitude for what's going well in life has a remarkable impact on how we feel about ourselves and the world around us. Positive psychology research demonstrates that gratitude is strongly associated with greater happiness and fulfillment. ͋͋ conversation is encouraged. Beginning this month we will accept expressions of gratitude for coworkers and highlight them in our newsletter. Please place your comments in Becky’s box if you wish to remain anonymous or email them to her if you like. All statements will be kept confidential and not identified in the newsletter. Let me be the first person to get the ball rolling and say thank you to the person who made the suggestion. We should all be grateful that you work to “Make a Difference” at CDAC. Leashia When Mark Twain said, "I can live two months on a good compliment," he only told half the story. While the person who receives the praise enjoys feeling noticed and valued (and is motivated to do more of the same), the giver can also bask in the connection. With every compliment given, a bond is strengthened, trust is built, and Board Spotlight Capt. Tom Lyter joined the CDAC Board in November, 2013. Pensacola Police Captain Tommi Lyter was born in Lewistown, PA. He has an older sister, Gina and a twin brother, Todd. His father served in the United States Navy so his family lived in Virginia Beach, Virginia; Thompson, Maine; Lakehurst, New Jersey; Atsugi, Japan; and Pensacola, Florida. Tommi attended three different high schools but graduated from Escambia High in 1987. He attended college at Pensacola State College and Troy State University earning a Bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice and a Master’s degree in Public Administration. He is also a graduate of the FBI National Academy in Quantico, VA. He was hired as a police officer in August 1990, and was promoted to sergeant and lieutenant prior to his most recent promotion to Captain on September 15, 2014. Among his assignments at the Pensacola Police Department have been Uniform Patrol, Investigations, TAC, SWAT, K-9, dive team, and field training officer. As the Administration Captain at the department, his hands are full overseeing daily operations. Among his responsibilities are updating and writing new general orders, Training and Personnel, Special Projects, Internal Affairs, cadets, grants, accreditation, media relations, budget and planning, and the recently implemented body camera system. Capt. Lyter and his wife Brenda, have been married 24 years and have three adult children. They enjoy hiking, camping and spending time with their three-month-old grandson, Marlin, and four-year-old granddaughter, Brooklynn. One of the not-too-well-known facts about Capt. Lyter is that he began playing golf approximately six months ago. “I’m terrible at it, but I am addicted,” he said. This means it’s now safe for people to return to miniature golf courses in the area. CDAC – Supporting Positive Lifestyles and Choices for Families and Communities through Prevention and Intervention The CDAC Difference Page 2 May, 2015 Vol. 3, Issue 5 Staff Spotlight I loved teaching, too, and may consider doing that again someday. My 11-year-old son, Jackson, keeps me busy at home. He’s quite a character and is certain he’s going to be a game show host one day! His preference would be Family Feud, although he has crafted his own game show that he is going to “pitch to a network” one day. He almost has me convinced that he doesn’t need to learn pre-algebra because of his game show career. Kathleen Guy joined the Santa Rosa RISE team in August, 2014, as the Preventionist at Avalon, Hobbs, and Sims Middle Schools. Hi everybody, I’m Kathleen Guy, and I’m thrilled to be part of Santa Rosa RISE’s first year! I am an only child, born and raised in Pensacola. I attended Catholic schools growing up. I received an AA in Criminal Justice from Pensacola State College and a BSW and MSW from UWF. During my last undergrad year, I had the pleasure of working at Currie House, a shelter for teens who have nowhere else to go, usually due to abuse in their homes. Working with those kids was a very rewarding experience. The resilience they showed in the face of really terrible circumstances was incredible. Partly inspired by my time at Currie House (and partly because I seriously considered becoming a perpetual student), I went right into the MSW program at UWF. I enjoyed grad school and actually got to teach three semesters of an undergrad substance abuse course. Jackson and I love to travel, and we are fortunate to have a lot of family in Newfoundland, Canada that we visit every few years. It’s fun to look for icebergs off the coast as we make the landing. Our family home is on the side of a mountain with incredible views of the North Atlantic Ocean right from the backyard! Last summer, we visited Dollywood and the Great Smoky Mountains. This year, we are going to Universal Studios. Jackson can’t wait to see the Harry Potter World of Wizardry! My spare time is spent reading, watching guiltypleasure TV, spending time with my boyfriend, John David, and attending Sacred Heart Cathedral. I have really enjoyed my first year at CDAC. Getting to know the students at each of my three schools has been the highlight. Just when I think I have them all figured out, they throw me a curveball! I’m also grateful to work with an awesome team here and I’m excited to see what’s next! Memorial Day, originally called Decoration Day, is a day of remembrance for those who have died in service of the United States of America. Memorial Day was borne out of the Civil War and a desire to honor our dead. It was officially proclaimed on May 5, 1868, by General John Logan, national commander of the Grand Army of the Republic, in his General Order No. 11. “The 30th of May, 1868, is designated for the purpose of strewing with flowers, or otherwise decorating the graves of comrades who died in defense of their country during the late rebellion, and whose bodies now lie in almost every city, village and hamlet churchyard in the land,” he proclaimed. The date of Decoration Day, as he called it, was chosen because it wasn’t the anniversary of any particular battle. Memorial Day Holiday – Monday, May 25 The CDAC Difference May, 2015 Page 3 Vol. 3, Issue 5 Staff Spotlight Tiffany Ferree began working at CDAC in December, 2014, as the RISE II-E Preventionist II at Oakcrest Elementary School. Tiffany Ferree, Preventionist II at Oakcrest Elementary School, has been a proud CDAC employee since December, 2014. Tiffany was born a Chicago Bears fan in Waukegan, Illinois. When she was 5 years old, her parents did the unthinkable and transplanted the family to Kenosha, Wisconsin. Tiffany spent her childhood defending her beloved Bears in the land of Cheeseheads, and the days of “The Super Bowl Shuffle” were replaced by days of listening to kids sing “The Bears Still Suck” each day on the school bus. Tiffany grew and eventually left her Wisconsin home to serve in the US Navy as an Aviation Electrician. She had one year of accounting school completed at the time. She also had experience in retail sales, sandwich artistry, and warehouse shipping and receiving. The military has been responsible for Tiffany living in Michigan, Washington, California, Florida, and Japan. The GI Bill is responsible for helping Tiffany become the first person in her family to graduate college. After the Navy, Tiffany went back to working retail management, and she returned to school. She had a seat in a physical therapist program when she found out she needed to move for her husband’s job. Tiffany was disappointed at first, but she soon realized it was more enjoyable to take pleasure in the journey. The move led to her earning a Bachelor’s in English and Sociology. Tiffany now aspires to teach sociology online when she retires. She values how sociology has shaped the lens through which she views the world, and she wants to share that with others…eventually. When Tiffany moved to Pensacola in 2010, the economy was not very good. She was at a career fair when she was offered a grant to get a Master of Social Work degree. Tiffany did not know how awesome social work was at the time. She was pretty sure social workers were the people who work at DCF or the Food Stamp office. Tiffany did some research, and she found out a social worker was exactly what she was supposed to be when she grew up. She just didn’t know the name for the job. Tiffany earned her MSW from UWF in 2013. She served as the Veterans Subcommittee Chair for the EscaRosa Coalition of the Homeless while she was working with the homeless Veteran population. Tiffany has been working with 5th graders at Oakcrest Elementary School since December 2014. She is very passionate about resiliency, and she really loves working at Oakcrest. Tiffany has been a member of NASW since 2011 and a member of the Pensacola Bears Fan Club since 2014. She is an outgoing introvert that prefers quiet at the end of the day. It takes her a little bit to get warmed up to people she does not know, but you would never guess that she is an introvert once she gets to know you. Program Highlight RISE I-E, Molino Park Elementary School One of the RISE 5th grade students (who was in the program last semester), was chosen as Student of the Year for Molino Park Elementary last month. Students in grades 3-5 are in the process of completing end-of-the-year testing. RISE students have begun working on their community service project, and are looking forward to the "Fun Day" that has been planned for them by RISE I-E staff. This event will take place on Tuesday, May 19, 2015, beginning at 10:30 a.m. Students will be able to enjoy a day of playing organized games (to promote teamwork and good sportsmanship), eating refreshments, and watching a school-approved movie. Parents have been invited to attend this event. The CDAC Difference Page 4 Vol. 3 Issue 5 May, 2015 Program Highlights Continuing Education Program The Continuing Education Program is about to close another successful year. Leann Knapp’s Cognitive Behavioral Techniques, Part II, closes out the year on Friday, May 22, with 19 registered so far. Completion of CBT Part I is required to attend Part II. During the year, CDAC offered 11 trainings providing a total of 31 CEUs. CDAC staff received a total of 366 CEUs/training hours through this program – saving the agency $3,660.00 in staff trainings. CDAC’s CE Program is partnering with Access Behavioral Health, Children’s Home Society, DCF, Lakeview Center, Criminal Justice Training Center, and Twelve Oaks for a Trauma Informed Care workshop, The Many Faces of Trauma: A Day of Hope and Healing. The keynote speaker will be Mr. Timothy Jones. At each workshop, three one-hour sessions will be presented for 1 CEU each for a total of 3 CEUs. National Prevention Week, May 17-23 All CDAC staff are (strongly) encouraged to take the Prevention Pledge on the SAMSHA website: http://www.samhsa.gov/prevention-week (If you are unable to log on, Linda will provide a hard copy of the pledge for you to complete.) National Prevention Week is a SAMHSA-supported annual health observance dedicated to increasing public awareness of, and action around, substance abuse and mental health issues. The theme this year is “The Voice of One, the Power of All.” Linda and Denise have scheduled ten Prevention events around the community during National Prevention Week that will educate the community and promote prevention efforts. For more information, contact Linda at [email protected]. Prevention Education and Awareness CDAC Helping to Ensure a Safe Graduation Night! Project Graduation 2015 is CDAC’s 30th year of supporting these celebrations. It is fast approaching with our first Project Graduation on May 16, 2015. These all-night drug and alcohol free celebrations are a way for our graduates to learn a lifelong lesson – that you can have fun with your friends without using drugs or alcohol. This year Project Graduations will be held at Sam’s Fun City, UWF, OOPs Alley, Corry Station and a few other venues. CDAC staff thanks our community sponsors, our board members, and each school’s chairperson for their support. WFIS – Women and Family Intervention Services The 22nd Annual “Celebration of Success” was a great success. It is so important that we acknowledge the efforts of our clients who work so hard to conquer the seemingly undefeatable foe called addiction. The event was well supported by the CDAC Staff, Community Partners, and Board Members. Most importantly the clients were given the opportunity to share their stories of struggle and hope. The WFIS Case Managers were afforded the opportunity to see the fruit of their labor and have their hard work and client support and advocacy publically recognized by their clients and in the company of their peers. The food was good, Deborah sang beautifully and… IT DID NOT STORM!! Whew, what a relief. And now, the WFIS staff would like to send a special “Thank You” to CDAC CEO, Leashia Scrivner, for allowing us to do what we do best and supporting us and the clients all the way. WFIS will be participating in the upcoming Healthy Start Baby Showers in Escambia, Santa Rosa and Okaloosa counties. Escambia County- May 16th at Legion Field from 9 am-12 pm; Okaloosa County- May 21st at the Emerald Coast Convention Center from 5:30 pm- 8:30 pm; October 10th at the Santa Rosa County Auditorium from 9 am- 12 pm. CDAC’s Workplace Wellness Program Pretty new fence at the CDAC Admin Building. More improvements to come! coming soon! Lots of opportunities to “Support Healthy Lifestyles” in our own lives and have fun while we’re doing it! The CDAC Difference Page 5 May, 2015 School Programs CDAC Making a Difference . . . One of Heather Moller’s students at Santa Rosa High School reported that she told a friend of hers who had an outburst in class, “I was about to get kicked out of the school and Mrs. Moller taught me how to handle my anger better. Now they told me I can come back next year. She helped me a lot and you should really talk to her.” Comments from ECHO Students at GBHS: “It helped me find friends and learn how to handle my problems better.” “I learned how to be less depressed and angry.” “I learned how my thoughts control everything and I control my thoughts!” “I have found my confidence and I feel better about myself. I don’t need to wear pounds of makeup anymore.” “I can actually calm myself down and I can talk to others without mumbling now.” “I learned how to find true friends, not to let everything hurt me, and I am more at ease and not angry as much.” “I learned that when you are struggling with things in your life and you talk about it to the group, it makes you feel good inside, plus the people in the group give good advice.” An ECHO student at Pace High School who has received services for the last three years has received an academic scholarship to USF. She is grateful for all the support and services through ECHO. Over the years she received individual & group support addressing grief issues, self-harm, and depression. She has come a long way and is thrilled to “Have made it” and on her way to a promising college career in science. ECHO – Education and Counseling for High School Opportunities Leann Knapp has been very busy at Gulf Breeze High School with three stress management groups and a Life Skills Training group meeting weekly. The group sessions are ending and students are completing group evaluations. Most are sad that group is ending and hope to participate in the ECHO program again next year. In the next few weeks, Leann will be meeting with the 23 Level II students for their final reviews of progress, post surveys, and client satisfaction surveys. Leann is still receiving new Level I student referrals and teaching them stress relieving skills and making necessary referrals for students needing services through the summer months. Vol. 3 Issue 5 School Programs (continued) At Navarre High School, fourteen female students have been actively engaged in stress management groups this semester. Both groups have focused extensively on the thought/feeling connection, improving communication skills, and building selfesteem. Students have learned how to identify their thoughts and change them to ones that are more helpful and true in an effort to improve their mood. They have also learned to use “I” statements in order to better address relational conflicts that they are experiencing. Finally, students have been actively working on improving their self-esteem by identifying positive qualities that they have as well as qualities that they would like to acquire. At the Learning Academy, Anna Fabris has officially moved in to a designated space for the ECHO program. There will be adequate space to start group sessions next fall. With the state testing, referrals have slowed down somewhat; however, 4 new students were referred at Central School and 1 new student was referred at Learning Academy. There is an increase in stress for students due to the testing and upcoming EOC exams, so reviewing stress management techniques has been very helpful for them and the majority of the focus for April. At Pace High School, Stephanie Peterson, has been busy wrapping up groups for the year. In addition, Stephanie was available for school wide grief counseling following the death of three Pace High “family” members over a one week period. Many students received general group grief education, while others came for some 1:1 support. The BAC also provided two school psychologists to service the school during this difficult time. At Milton High School, Ashley has received more new referrals and students requesting services. The 2nd semester Stress Management group just ended, and students reported they have successfully lowered their stress levels and learned how to better manage future stressors. Transitions group for 11th and 12th graders also ended recently, and group members stated they were excited to have learned so many helpful skills. Students even asked if they could continue meeting since the weekly groups were the highlight of their weeks. Individually, many students are reporting successes in their lives from The CDAC Difference Page 6 May, 2015 Vol. 3 Issue 5 Staff June Anniversaries Kristi Lewis June 1, 2012 3 years Staff June Birthdays Pensacola Happenings June 4 Radio Live – Commerce Museum June 2, 9, 16, 23, 30 Bands on the Beach, 7–9 pm June 4, 11, 18, 25 Evening in Olde Seville Square 6:30-9:00 p.m. Autumn Wingate June 04 Amberlyne Greco June 08 June 19 Brittany Horton June 08 Community Maritime Park Amphitheater events: Sandra Maupin June 08 Kristi Lewis June 10 Kathy Asbury June 23 June 7, 14, 21, 28 Blues Angel Music Blues on the Bay, 6 p.m. – 8 p.m. June 26, 7:30 p.m. Drive In Movie Series Lana Kaurman June 23 Denise Manassa June 26 Gallery Night June Health Observances June Month-Long Observances Cataract Awareness Month - Prevent Blindness America - www.preventblindness.org National Safety Month – National Safety Council – www.nsc.org National Great Outdoors Month - American Recreation Coalition – www.greatoutdoorsmonth.org June One-Week Observances National Men’s Health Week – June 15 - 21 – National Men’s Health Network.– www.menshealthweek.org June One-Day Observances World Environment Day – June 5 – United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) – www.unep.org/wed National Trails Day – June 6 - American Hiking Society – www.americanhiking.org National Cancer Survivors Day – June 7 - National Cancer Survivors Day Foundation – www.ncsdf.org World Blood Donor Day – June 14 – www.who.int/world-blood-donor-day National HIV Testing Day – June 27 – AIDS.gov – www.aids.gov CDAC is sponsored in part by Big Bend Community Based Care and the Florida Department of Children and Families and is a United Way Partner Agency.
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