August 2010 Newsletter

Contents...

1.
1-2-3 Magic Parenting

2.
Certified Batterer's Intervention Programming

3.
Life After Trauma

4.
Keeping you satisfied

5.
Seminar Series

6.
Domestic Violence Fatality Group

7.
Symposium on Human Nature and Early Experience: Addressing the Environment of Evolutionary Adaptedness

 Certified Batterer's Intervention Programming...

Contents...

1.
1-2-3 Magic Parenting

2.
Certified Batterer's Intervention Programming

3.
Life After Trauma

4.
Keeping you satisfied

5.
Seminar Series

6.
Domestic Violence Fatality Group

7.
Symposium on Human Nature and Early Experience: Addressing the Environment of Evolutionary Adaptedness

 Life after trauma...



Three-year-old Taylor sat hungry in a dark house covered in filth and surrounded by neglect. When the Department of Child Services arrived to remove her from the home, they also found a fully operational meth lab. Tests would later show Taylor had high levels of meth in her system. At her young age, Taylor missed some vital years to develop appropriate behaviors, skills and control over her emotions. All of this, on top of medical neglect, Taylor’s foster family had their work cut out for them.

“Therapy was very trying at first,” explains Family & Children’s Center therapist Brianna Yoder. “Taylor had sexualized behaviors, poor social skills for her age, aggression, anxiety, tantrums and mood swings. She had speech delays, tooth decay and severe emotional dysregulation. Her problems with transitions were such that initially we could only spend 10 minutes in play therapy because we spent the remaining time preparing to transition out of the session; she would hide, throw things, scream and cry. We diagnosed her with Depressive Disorder NOS and Neglect of a Child--Victim Focus.”

Therapists worked with Taylor to develop an ability to identify and express appropriately basic feelings and develop an ability to provide real life examples of when she experienced these feelings to assist with managing feelings and increase appropriate communication with others. They utilized Picture Exchange Communication System (PECS) Books (the joining of a picture with the word as in a picture of someone with a sad face with the word sad underneath) to facilitate her emotional regulation work. PECS flash cards and books also assisted with work on regulating Taylor’s behavior management.

“There was also a lot of work to be done at home to increase Taylor’s sense of safety,” continues Yoder. “We used calming music, tactile objects such as squishy balls, sand, a stuffed animal, breathing, calming stories, drawing and coloring to give Taylor a sense of safety. Combined with work at home, Taylor’s foster mother added a night-light to her room and allowed the family’s black lab to sleep in her room at night.”

Medical and educational issues also needed to be addressed. Yoder continues, “Taylor received extensive dental surgery to deal with severe dental decay, likely caused by the neglect and high meth levels in her system. For education and socialization she participated in the CAPS Building Blocks Pre-School.”

A year later, at the age of four, Taylor is much improved. Her foster mother explains, “Physically she has rebounded like a champ! He behaviors took on a dramatic transformation; she is less moody, she smiles a lot and has a lot less anxiety. They told me this is probably the first time in her life that she has experienced a life without pain and discomfort. Can you imagine, at four years old? But now she sleeps through the night and even takes Tae-Kwon-Do and swimming lessons. Her social skills are right where they should be for a four year old. We plan on adopting Taylor, and we couldn’t have done that without the help at Family & Children’s Center, CASA and DCS.”

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Contents...

1.
1-2-3 Magic Parenting

2.
Certified Batterer's Intervention Programming

3.
Life After Trauma

4.
Keeping you satisfied

5.
Seminar Series

6.
Domestic Violence Fatality Group

7.
Symposium on Human Nature and Early Experience: Addressing the Environment of Evolutionary Adaptedness

 Keeping you satisfied...



In our continuing effort to provide the best services to the community, each year we conduct satisfaction surveys with both our clients and those who refer them. Our results this year are an affirmation of the quality of our programming.

From our clients, we received 240 completed surveys. Nine questions ranged from customer service to how the client feels about their life since receiving counseling. We received a 90% or greater satisfaction rating in six areas.

We are most thrilled with a 90% satisfaction rating to the question, “Do you feel better about yourself/situation since being in services here?” 88% went on to say they would refer others for services at Family & Children’s Center Counseling and Development Services.

Some highlights:

· 96% of those who responded to the survey felt their therapist treated them with respect

· 95% of respondents felt they were included in the development of their treatment plan

· 93% rated our therapists as helpful in their approach to their needs

· 93% of the children under the age of ten felt safe with their therapist

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 Seminar Series...



Addictions:
A Continuum of Intervention

August 20, 2010
3 Free CEUs

On August 20 at 8:00 am at the Morris Park Country Club, Family & Children’s Center Counseling and Development Services will present the fifth seminar in our 2010 Series.
Addictions: A Continuum of Intervention will assist in the understanding of the disease model of addiction by introducing the person behind the addiction. Several recovering addicts will participate in this seminar, sharing their stories of how addiction damaged their lives, what brought them to treatment and what they encountered once in treatment.

Between these stories, Kathy Wenger and Michelle Olson will discuss the treatment of addiction: understanding the definition, disease model and a comprehensive treatment approach.

To register for the August 20 seminar, click here.

3 Category I continuing education credits for
LSW, LCSW, LMFT and LMHT.

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Contents...

1.
1-2-3 Magic Parenting

2.
Certified Batterer's Intervention Programming

3.
Life After Trauma

4.
Keeping you satisfied

5.
Seminar Series

6.
Domestic Violence Fatality Group

7.
Symposium on Human Nature and Early Experience: Addressing the Environment of Evolutionary Adaptedness

 Domestic Violence Fatality Review Team...



In June, the St. Joseph County Indiana Common Council appointed 15 professionals to the Domestic Violence Fatality Review Team. The team will review cases of domestic violence in the county resulting in death and then recommend changes to improve the local response to such violence.

Members of the team include:

• Linda S. Baechle, Executive Director, YWCA, domestic violence direct service provider
• Mary Butiste-Jones, Attorney, IN Legal Services
• Virginia Calvin, Ph.D., Chancellor, IVY Tech
• Linda L. Cioch, Regional Director, IN Department of Child Services
• Michael A. Dvorak, St. Joseph County Prosecutor
• Hon. Michael G. Gotsch, Judge - Circuit Court
• Patricia Hancock, Clinical Director, Family and Children’s Center
• Brent R. Hemmerlein, Commander, Special Victims Unit, law enforcement
• Charles Hurley, Deputy Coroner
• Judy Jankowski, survivor of domestic violence
• Jerry L. Johnson, Chief Probation Officer, St. Joseph County Adult Probation
• Corey D. Noland, County Government
• Joseph Prahlow, M.D.
• Perry Watson III, President, Lexus of Michiana
• Victoria R. Wolf, Attorney, St. Joseph County Bar Association

We are honored to have our clinical director, Patricia Hancock, as a member of this team.


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Contents...

1.
1-2-3 Magic Parenting

2.
Certified Batterer's Intervention Programming

3.
Life After Trauma

4.
Keeping you satisfied

5.
Seminar Series

6.
Domestic Violence Fatality Group

7.
Symposium on Human Nature and Early Experience: Addressing the Environment of Evolutionary Adaptedness

Symposium on Human Nature and Early Experience: Addressing the Environment of Evolutionary Adaptedness

It is becoming increasingly clear that the ways we are rearing our children today are not the ways humans are designed to thrive. The ill effects of these missing ancestral practices are becoming evident as children’s well being in the USA is worse than 50 years ago (Heckman, 2008) and is among the worst in the industrialized world (20th in family and peer relationships and 21st in health and safety; UNICEF, 2007). We have epidemics of ADHD, anxiety and depression among the young, indeed all age groups (USDHHS, 1999). Too many children are arriving at school with poor social skills, poor emotion regulation, and habits that do not promote prosocial behaviors. Rates of young children whose behavior displays aggression, delinquency, or hyperactivity are estimated to be as high as 25% (Raver, & Knitze, 2002). The expulsion rate of prekindergarten children (Gilliam, 2005) and the number of children under age 5 with psychosocial problems (Powell et al., 2003) or on psychotropic medications have increased dramatically (Zito et al., 2000).

Registration fees (include all meeting materials, refreshments, reception and lunches)
- Physicians: $250
- Other health care professionals/educators/researchers: $150
- Students, underemployed and unemployed: $90
- All fees will increase by $25 after September 10

University of Notre Dame
Center for Continuing Education
115 McKenna Hall
Notre Dame, IN 46556

Click here for more information or to register

Contents...

1.
1-2-3 Magic Parenting

2.
Certified Batterer's Intervention Programming

3.
Life After Trauma

4.
Keeping you satisfied

5.
Seminar Series

6.
Domestic Violence Fatality Group

7.
Symposium on Human Nature and Early Experience: Addressing the Environment of Evolutionary Adaptedness