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October Events at the Aberdeen PRP

18 Nov

Hayride – Happy Feet – and Halloween

By Liz Tutino

Early on October 20 clients went to Brad’s Produce in Churchville for a hayride.  It was a gorgeous fall day to pick pumpkins and everyone enjoyed the bumpy hayride through the fields.  For one client this was the first hayride she had ever been on and for another client being on the farm reminded him of happy memories of when he worked on a farm.  Everyone picked a small pumpkin and several clients decorated their pumpkins as centerpieces for our tables in the community room.

Our Advisory Board was very active planning the Halloween party and the monthly off-site trip calendar.  This committee typically involves ten or more clients.  Client participation is always encouraged and the PRP has quite a few clients with excellent communication and leadership skills which they utilize on this committee.  Many people wore costumes for the Halloween party including members of the ACHIEVE research study from Johns Hopkins – they were a hit as Batman and Robin.

On October 28th Dr. Lynn Yukofski, a local podiatrist, came to Key Point to offer on-site podiatry services.  7 clients met with Dr. Lynn and reported how great their feet felt after seeing her.  Dr. Lynn provided education on foot care, trimmed nails, addressed calluses, and offered education on diabetic foot care. She also wrote a prescription for one client and provided a brace for another.  The client who received the brace commented that “it is helping tremendously, especially when I exercise.”  The PRP is planning for Dr. Lynn to come on a regular basis.

The PRP welcomes Wanda Moore as our new Kitchen Manager.  Wanda has had many roles at Harford PRP including van driver and counselor and party planner.  In addition to overseeing the kitchen and serving breakfast and lunch Wanda supervises 15 Key Point clients who work at the PRP as dishwashers, servers, and cleaners.  Key Point offers these vocational opportunities to help clients build skills so they can work in the community.

 

Monika Butke participated in two seminars at Sheppard Pratt.  One lecture was on “How to Talk about Spirituality” with your clients and the second one was on nicotine addiction.  Monika shared the material in the nicotine addiction seminar with clients in her MISA class. They had an interesting conversation on the effects of nicotine on the prepubescent brain and how that may affect mental illness.

Happy Halloween

1 Nov

Happy Halloween from the more than slightly goofy staff at the Aberdeen PRP (some of us anyway) and our friends from the Johns Hopkins ACHIEVE exercise study!

 


Staffing Updates

1 Aug

We have several new staff members this summer at the Aberdeen PRP. 

Wanda Moore has completed transitioning into a part-time counselor position.  She started as a driver this spring and came to us with experience in counseling from the ARC and other employers as well as a passion for helping clients.  Wanda has been a fixture in the community room, helping with ACHIEVE classes when she did not have to, and volunteering to assist with the client-run Spanish club and Frisbee in the park with Chris.

Denton Asdourian is a student intern with our Aberdeen PRP on Fridays from James Madison University.   He is planning to become a clinical psychologist.

Chris Manzo is a student from Salisbury University with our Aberdeen PRP on Tuesdays and Wednesdays.   He has been here since early summer and is helping teach Psychology 101 and Emotional Management.

Darwayne Moran Sr. has joined the Aberdeen PRP staff as a part-time driver.  He has most recently been a delivery truck driver after a long career as a mechanic, fireman, and member of the military.

Melissa Potemra has switched to a job closer to home and we are all reluctant to see her go.  We wish her the best.  She has been a really good counselor!  Melissa is staying on with Key Point as a relief Residential counselor.

Staffing Update

10 Jun

Liz Tutino has been promoted to the position of residential manager for our Harford County residential program.  We look forward to working with her in her new role and are very glad she is still nearby!

Monika Butke has joined us as a new full-time rehabilitation counselor effective this week.  Monika brings with her some fantastic experience in behavioral and educational plan creation.  In addition to her mental health background, she packs strong capabilities in the MR, substance abuse, and forensics areas.  She has a master’s in forensic psychology with a concentration in substance abuse from John Jay College of Criminal Justice / CUNY.

Wanda Moore is gradually stepping into her new role as a part-time counselor with the PRP during late June.  Since her hire as a driver several weeks ago she has spent every spare moment when not driving helping out in the computer lab, in the community room, and with classes.  More on her background and experience here.

Staff Changes

19 Apr

There have been several staffing changes recently.  We have bid goodbye to long-time kitchen manager Kevin Barnette and lead driver Bill Doehing.  Both staff members served well and for years.  Kevin was always friendly and willing to help out.  Bill’s kind but no-nonsense leadership of the driving pool keep the van routes, maintenance, and appointment transportation flowing smoothly.  Kevin also taught a long-running nutrition class, helped with drug & alcohol (MISA) class, and ran numerous field trips with clients.   Bill put together a very well-received short-term class on the history of boxing last year.  They will be missed.

Our new kitchen manager Farrell Foy II joined us 3-29-11 most recently from Sodexo as a cook via stints as an ice cream shop owner and limo driver after a long career in law enforcement.  Wanda Moore has joined us as a part-time driver who also has significant experience as a café worker, residential counselor, and secretary.  Wanda is showing quite a bit of interest in client interaction beyond driving and we are starting to utilize her with the ACHIEVE class and as a computer lab monitor.

Negative Thought Patterns & their Association with Addictions

19 Apr

At the Harford PRP, Melissa Potemra is the instructor of the Mental Illness & Substance Abuse (M.I.S.A) class, which is held on Mondays. Alcoholism and Drug Addiction are major conditions that not only affect the abuser, but their entire family and friends as well. Addiction in and of itself has plagued our society and caused some major challenges.  When it comes to thinking and thought patterns, I have recognized just how powerful a persons thinking can be.  Positive thinking is empowering, motivating, and increases self-esteem, while negative thinking is distorted or black and white thinking. Changing your thoughts can  lead to  different emotions, which produces different outcomes.

Some helpful resources:

http://addictionrecoverybasics.com/how-to-change-negative-thinking-in-addiction-recovery/

http://www.edrugrehab.com/

Liz Passes CPRP

21 Jan

I neglected to post a month or so ago that Liz Tutino passed her CPRP (Certified Psychological Rehabilitation Practitioner) exam!  With flying colors no less.  Congratulations Liz!

CPRP certification is granted by the U.S. Psychiatric Rehabilitation Association (USPRA), the professional association for practitioners of the field of psychiatric rehabilitation and persons and families living with psychiatric disabilities.  The CPRP is a test-based certification that shows mastery of a wide range of subject matter relating to recovery from serious mental illness.  The certification also shows a commitment to an ethical code and requires both significant experience and ongoing professional training.

Liz joins Jeff and Michael as CPRP certified professionals at our PRP.

New Staff Members

23 Sep

The Aberdeen PRP has added two new staff members in the past several weeks.

Alisha Simmons has returned to Key Point after a stint at Baltimore County Crisis Response.  Alisha last worked as a rehabilitation counselor with our Dundalk PRP.  She is also enrolled as a graduate student in pastoral counseling at Loyola.

Bob Dempsey is highly experienced as both a professional driver and in positions requiring real people skills.  He has driven trucks, buses, owned a coffee shop, and assisted with the handicapped.

We are delighted to have both of these new employees join us!

Steve Earns CPRP Certification

3 Aug

Stephen Cannon has recently passed his examination to become a Certified Psychiatric Rehabilitation Practitioner (CPRP).  CPRP certification is granted by the U.S. Psychiatric Rehabilitation Association (USPRA), the professional association for practitioners of the field of psychiatric rehabilitation and persons and families living with psychiatric disabilities.

Stephen looks forward to continuing to work within the rehabilitation program setting and pursuing quality services for consumers’ needs.

The CPRP is a test-based certification that shows mastery of a wide range of subject matter relating to recovery from serious mental illness.  The certification also shows a commitment to an ethical code and requires both significant experience and ongoing professional training.  More information available here.

Congratulations to Steve on a job well done!

Repaired Picnic Tables

28 May

Thank you Roy, Michael, and maintenance team for the new picnic table and for quickly fixing our old one!  It’s nice weather and a good time to have a place outside to sit.

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