Archived News & Events - May 2016

Beaver County Travels to Phoenix, Arizona to Visit Recovery Innovations

Kelly Nardone, NHS program coordinator, represented NHS Beaver County on a trip to Recovery Innovations (RI) in Phoenix, Arizona in early May. Through the Project Recovery grant, ten Beaver County stakeholders had the privilege of exploring RI through classroom training and a tour of various programs that are led by Certified Peer Specialists. This adventure promoted team building for the stakeholders, created new professional relationships, and provided new tools to enhance our recovery focus in the services provided throughout NHS and within Beaver County.

NHS Sponsors Event that Raises Thousands for Suicide Prevention

Hundreds of people braved the rainy weather in Delaware County, Pennsylvania on Saturday, May 7 to walk, run and raise money for suicide awareness. The NHS Quality and Compliance Organization (QCO) sponsored the annual event that was held at Ridley Creek State Park in Media, and was organized by the all-volunteer Delaware County Suicide Prevention Task Force. The event is one of the primary fundraisers for the Task Force that works throughout Delaware County to educate the community about suicide prevention and post-vention. In 2014, there were 92 deaths by suicide in Delaware County, an increase from 64 suicides in 2013. QCO Intern and Task Force member, Erin Youngman, was present at the event to hand out NHS brochures. According to Task Force Co-Chair Ellen Chung, the event had 181 pre-registered, and despite the rain there were quite a few walk-ins. More than $6,000 was raised to fund their continued efforts in that county.

May is National Foster Care Month

May is National Foster Care Month, a time for people nationwide to get involved as foster parents, volunteers, mentors, employers, or in other ways. It's also an opportunity to show our appreciation for the dedication of the foster families who care for these children and youth, and the social workers who support them.

Every day, almost 513,000 children and youth are living in foster care because they are not able to live with their biological families. We must address the needs of these children who require a stable and secure home until they can either return to their parents or establish a lifelong connection to a nurturing adult. NHS thanks all the Foster Care families and the dedicated staff that work with them to ensure that children in our care are safe and secure! For more information on how to get involved in National Foster Care Month activities, visit www.childwelfare.gov/fostercaremonth.

If you are interested in becoming a foster parent at NHS, please contact 1-877-832-2210.

Congratulations Greater Pittsburgh Nonprofit Partnership and Member Organizations!

Samantha Balbier, Executive Director for the Greater Pittsburgh Nonprofit Partnership (GPNP), congratulates several of their members for winning an important victory contained in the enacted 2015-2016 fiscal code (HB 1589). This provision assures that fourth quarter county child welfare payments from the previous fiscal year will be paid in the event of another PA budget impasse that lasts beyond September 1. All in all, this provision releases approximately $275 million across the state so providers can continue serving abused and neglected children.

By regularly attending GPNP's legislative visits to educate legislators about the financial pressures facing publicly funded nonprofits as a result of the budget impasse, GPNP members helped bring about this policy change by raising awareness of potential payment delays of already approved funds in the event of another budget impasse. Among those members, our very own Kim Sonafelt, Regional Executive Director in the IDD Division, was featured in a communication from GPNP for her support and role in raising awareness of this important policy.

Pennsylvania House Minority Appropriations Chair Joe Markosek recently stated, "I applaud the Greater Pittsburgh Nonprofit Partnership for all of their efforts in support of human services, specifically their advocacy on behalf of critical child welfare initiatives." As a member organization, NHS works with GPNP to build and promote advocacy for human service initiatives. Success is contingent on the ongoing and active participation of member organizations and individuals, including Tinnesia Snyder, regional executive director in the Behavioral Health Division and Dorothy Hunter Gordon, Chief Development Officer at NHS/AVS.

Yvonne Rivera Celebrates 30 Years at NHS

The NHS corporate office celebrated the anniversary of Yvonne Rivera, senior accounts payable supervisor, on May 12. Yvonne has been with NHS for a remarkable 30 years and has no intentions of leaving any time soon! Yvonne’s colleagues in the Purchasing and Accounts Payable Departments organized a delicious lunch to include her favorite foods and then everyone in the building convened to congratulate her and enjoy some cake.

Happy Anniversary, Yvonne!

L-R: Mike Rakus, Joanne Dunn, Roenna Glass, Yvonne Rivera, Tara Turner-Scott, Barb Kelly, Kevin Youse, Linda Messa, Terry Juhas

Congratulations to Regis Champ, Named to ANCOR Foundation's Legacy Leaders Circle

Former NHS Allegheny Valley School (NHS/AVS) President & CEO Regis G. Champ was inducted into the ANCOR Foundation’s Legacy Leaders Circle on May 1, at the 2016 ANCOR Conference in Chicago. This event is held to honor the finest and most influential leaders in the intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) field. Regis was nominated by Terry McNelis, executive vice president of the IDD Division for his leadership at AVS and also for his impact on the field. Regis led AVS from 1972 until his retirement in 2010. During those years, the organization had a longstanding membership with ANCOR. During the 1980s, Regis served as Director and as Vice President Governmental Concerns on the ANCOR Board of Directors. During this time, he was appointed by President Ronald Reagan to a task force for the Department of Labor regarding sheltered workshops.

Regis’s impact on the IDD field is significant. While leading AVS he helped to grow the organization from one location into a state-wide agency providing homes and vital services to 900 individuals throughout more than 125 programs and facilities. Regis’ commitment to quality was critical to the organization’s growth and success, with the state of Pennsylvania relying on AVS to bring hundreds of individuals from state centers and other agencies into its care. Regis’s exceptional leadership led to the development of the partnership between NHS and AVS, resulting in the acquisition in 2008. We are delighted that ANCOR Foundation selected Regis to become a member of the Legacy Leaders Circle for his role in and commitment to ensuring that those with IDD live to their fullest potential and as independently as possible.