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Some November Happenings

16 Dec

On Wednesday’s in November you could find Aberdeen clients going on a road trip to the Key Image Salon located in the Key Point PRP in Dundalk.  Many clients have taken this opportunity to receive hair services for little or no cost.  Clients have had their hair dyed and styled and men have had their hair cut and beards trimmed.  Everyone comes back feeling great with their new look and they have all received positive feedback form the other clients.  Thank you to our Dundalk Key Point office for providing this valuable service to our clients!

In early November Brenda Merrill and Liz Tutino attended a lecture on Art and Addiction at the Maryland Institute College of Art in Baltimore.  The lecture was presented by Dr. Jack Henningfield, PhD, a professor at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, and Patricia B. Santora, PhD a Senior Public Health Advisor at the Center for Substance Abuse Treatment.  The presenters described their Innovators Program which was developed to educate, prevent, and control substance abuse through art. Many moving pieces of art were displayed and it was clear that using art in substance abuse education captures the intense emotions of those who have family members with substance abuse issues or are substance abusers. Key Point has purchased a copy of their book Art &Addiction for use in MISA classes.

Key Point had a community Thanksgiving on November 23rd.  Mountain Christian Church very generously donated funds so that a traditional Thanksgiving meal could be catered by Bob Evans.  All the clients had their fill of turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes, and gravy.  To contribute to this holiday meal clients went shopping on Tuesday and purchased cranberry sauce, apple cider, pies, and whipped topping.  During the month of November clients were daily encouraged to write down one thing they were thankful for.  The items were written on a piece of paper and a “Gratitude Chain” was hung for all to see.  Each day the chain grew a little longer and during the Thanksgiving celebration all the clients read one of the strips of paper.  Many clients then stood and expressed what they were thankful for.

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!

 


Class Schedule

1 Aug

I’m rather liking our current class schedule.

It has several advantages:

  • Several small Goal Time activities — many of them client-run — including Spanish club, women’s club, and men’s club
  • Qigong 2x per week through the end of August
  • 3 to 4 concurrent afternoon classes almost every day of the week
  • New “Life After Diagnosis”, “Crossword Crew”, and “Current Events” classes

It’s a happening schedule — lots of activity right now.

– Michael

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.

*New* Spanish Club at Harford PRP

26 Jul

During the summer months,  several consumers expressed interest in learning the Spanish language. A group of consumers gathered together and decided to form a Spanish Club, which is a peer-led group that gathers together for 45 mins. during goal time at the Harford PRP. Consumers are learning the basics of the Spanish language (i.e. days of the week, greetings, numbers, etc) and will advance as the meetings continue.

Stay tuned for more to come!!!!

Harford County Community College Art Exhibit to celebrate 21 years of the Americans with Disabilities Act

12 Jul


The consumers at Key Point Health Services (Harford PRP) had the opportunity to participate in this years HCC Art Exhibit to celebrate 21 years of the Americans with Disabilities Act. Under the direction of Liz Tutino, Consumers were able to submit their  personalized artwork and have it displayed at the Harford County Community College. The Harford County PRP of Key Point Health Services, along with other entries from The Arc Northern Chesapeake Region’s inclusive recreation program as well as by the Harford County Cultural Arts Board. Consumers were very excited to see their work displayed and this experience has not only increased their self-esteem and confidence, but it has allowed them to see that creativity is abundant in their lives.

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Applebee’s Flapjack Fundraiser Breakfast to support S.P.I.N. Inc.

20 Jun

     Please Support S.P.I.N. Inc, Applebee’s Flapjack Fundraiser Breakfast

S.P.I.N. Inc., commonly known as Support Peer Independence Now, located in Aberdeen, MD is a supportive group of peers that gather together to participate in a variety of activities, support groups with varied topics of interest, and programs that allow for consumers to hold one another accountable and to enrich their lives despite their illness, by providing an open door for recovery to take place and for Independence to become a reality in the lives of those who are active participants.

On Sunday, June 26th, 2011,  S.P.I.N. Inc. will be having a fundraiser from 8am-10am at the Applebee’s Neighborhood Grill & Bar at 991 Beards Hill Road, Aberdeen, MD 21001. This event is all you can eat, so please come with an appetite.

For more information, tickets can be purchased at the door or at the S.P.I.N. Inc office located at 19 Franklin Street, Aberdeen, MD 21001 (Across from Aberdeen library)

Contact Number for tickets:

Tickets are: $5.00

443-327-7810

Please support such a good cause. It is greatly appreciated! See you there!

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.

Thanks for the Tickets!

2 Jun

The City of Aberdeen occasionally helps out social service agencies with Ripken Stadium baseball tickets.

Several Key Point clients and employees are very happy right now that we will get to go to an Iron Birds baseball game one lovely Saturday evening this June.

We’d like to thank Scott Hunsinger and the city for making this a happy place to live and do business!

– Michael

New SP Crisis Walk-In Clinic

28 Apr

Anyone who has dealt with a difficult or somewhat clueless emergency room will be very happy to hear that the mental health experts at Sheppard Pratt are opening a Crisis Walk-In Clinic (CWIC) effective in early May.  Hours will be Monday through Friday 10:30am to 10:00pm with weekend hours promised.

More information available from Bonnie Katz at 410-938-3154 and bkatz@sheppardpratt.org

A rather bad scan of their flyer is attached — best we have at the moment.

Click on the image to enlarge.

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