As 2007 began it had the appearance of being both an exciting and hectic year. Luckily, 2006 had been one of preparation. We’d had one of the most successful years in the history of The Rehab Center financially as the revenues exceeded the expenses by $101,000. During 2006, the Board of Trustees contracted with Ketchum a consulting group that specializes in nonprofit fundraising to perform a feasibility study which resulted in a decision to conduct a capital campaign for $3 million and to hire a Vice President of Development. In December, Amy Howe joined the staff of The Rehab Center in that capacity.

While other staff worked on special events including the Telethon, the North/South All Star game and the Chili Cook-off, Amy got to work on planning the kickoff of the Capital Campaign in the summer. It would be the first time we had a large community appeal in more than 30 years! Other members of our staff were developing new programs in parenting and anti-bullying and finding ways to serve more persons with addictions due to a special grant from the state that provided the funds to do so. We also had a little challenge of preparing for our CARF accreditation survey which occurred in August.

At this time I am proud to report that the fund raisers were successfully conducted, we served record numbers of family and children in our summer behavioral health groups as well as increased the number of clients served in New Beginnings. The CARF survey was completed and we received accreditation for another three years, as we have been for more than thirty years.

The capital campaign under the leadership of Chan Stevens and the Dream Team of Community Leaders had a public kick-off on July 16^th with nearly $800,000 pledged. We are pleased to boast a 100% participation of employees and board members. By the end of August, when solicitation was put on hold due to the United Way blackout period, campaign pledges had grown to over one million dollars. The solicitation will begin again in November with the goal of wrapping up the campaign in July 2008 with our $3 million raised.

The $3 million will be used to build a new halfway house for New Beginnings; refurbish the property at 270 Sterkel Blvd (which was built after the last capital campaign) and for new equipment both for the client specific programs and for the Progress Industry workshop.

I want to thank all of our employees and board members for their tremendous commitment of not only assuring that quality services are provided to those we serve, but also for stepping forward with 100% participation in their personal financial support the Rehab Renewal capital campaign.

Jim Schaum, President

The Dream Team (pictured above, l-r) includes:  David L. Carto, Chan Stevens, Mayor Lydia Reid, Rev.Cliff Schutjer, Rep. Jay Goyal, Gayle Gorman Freeman, Jon Taylor, Grant Milliron, and Dick Taylor.

 The Behavioral Health Division of the Rehab Center was founded over a decade ago to address the mental health needs of children, individuals and families. Founded after a request from the Mental Health Board – which recognized the need to incorporate mental health services into child development plans for children 3-12 – the Behavioral Health Division has been offering "bundled services" to families ever since. Today, the Division offers a full range of mental health services, with an emphasis on Reactive Attachment Disorder and abuse and trauma cases. Though mental health services are offered to adults, children remain the focus, accounting for as much as 75% of the client base.

The Gateway Program: A Holistic Approach to Early Intervention

Funded by the Family Council, the Gateway Program is a referral service which helps put families in contact with much-needed community services. The program is unique in that it performs holistic assessments for family issues and helps guide clients through the process of receiving assistance from existing agencies. With support from Rehab Resource Coordinators, many families are linked to area agencies providing much needed help that would have gone unused. As a rule, referrals are not made automatically for further Rehab Services, but rather, clients are made aware of all community agencies offering services.

Positive Parenting and Kinship Navigator Programs: Helping Good Parents Be Great

From young mothers, to parents of teens or special needs kids to grandparents who find themselves parenting for the second time around, the Rehab Center offers programs that help support parents in today’s world. The Positive Parenting Program (Triple P) has curriculum designed to meet the needs of specific populations – those raising children with special needs, young mothers or parents who are simply feeling overwhelmed. Triple P counselors help parents develop healthy strategies to deal with challenges specific to their situation, providing a more positive experience for the whole family.

Our newest parenting program, the Kinship Navigator Program, was developed in response to a situation becoming increasingly common: relatives or friends who are providing care for a child whose parents are unwilling or unable to do so. The largest percent of people seen are grandparents raising grandchildren. The program provides support, insight and training for grandparents who have recognized that parenting may be a little different the second time around.

Bullying Programs: The Next Step in Responding to Community Concerns

By the end of the year, the Behavioral Health Division anticipates offering anti-bullying programs to local schools. This comes in response to the obvious new concerns about the causes and effects of bullying and the encouragement (and funding) of the Richland County Board of Mental Health. It will help to support the schools’ mandate to implement bullying policies.

Currently, division counselors are exploring available curriculums that will be both effective without being cost-prohibitive. Successful programs are being evaluated for their potential to be implemented in Richland County. Several local schools have been targeted for pilot programs and the expectation is that they will be implemented by this calendar year. When in place, the program will offer strategies to help teachers and children overcome bullying problems – creating a safer and more productive classroom environment for all.

Behavioral Health Services Vice President Dr. Linda Kafer is pleased to offer programming that remains relevant to today’s children and families. Though not always as well known as the Rehab Center’s vocational services or physical therapy programs, mental health programming is vital to the Rehab Center and creates a unique impact on the community. With increased publicity, Dr. Kafer hopes to help impact the large waiting lists that exist at some area mental health facilities by enrolling new clients and helping them to negotiate Richland County’s mental health system with support. Children can generally be seen by counselors within a couple of weeks of their initial contact with the Rehab Center, and many can be assisted successfully in-house. For those requiring medication or more serious psychiatric care, counselors can create referrals which will help children and families receive the type of care most appropriate for them.  For more information contact Linda Kafer, PhD, RN - Vice President of Behavioral Health at (419) 756-1133 x268.

We'd like to thank Dasia Rambo, Christina Rambo and Patsy Rambo (l-r) for allowing us to use their picture in the Kinship Navigator Section

 July 16, 2007 dawned a beautiful summer day and marked an equally sunny beginning of the Rehab Center’s latest chapter. With many having worked behind the scenes for months, it was finally time to make our $3,000,000 appeal to the community public. Clients, volunteers, and staff joined community members, Capital Campaign Committee members and our "Dream Team" to announce our impressive goal.

The Rehab Center chose to launch a $3,000,000 capital campaign to support capital improvements to our facility, purchase necessary program equipment, and to construct or purchase a new facility for New Beginnings treatment and residential halfway house. From May, 2006 through August, 2006, executives of The Rehab Center and the trustees along with the Ketchum Consulting Group conducted an in-depth planning and study to determine both the necessity and feasibility of conducting a successful campaign.

We are proud to say that this campaign marks the FIRST MAJOR COMMUNITY APPEAL IN OVER 30 YEARS. The last one – conducted in 1973 – raised money to build the present facility. Through the years, money received through fundraising efforts and grants and allocations was re-invested into our clients and services and thus the building and equipment are now in need of an update.

With improvements to the facility and upgrades to our program equipment, we will be able to continue to meet the needs of clients and provide a facility that is both efficient and inviting to the thousands of individuals it currently serves as well as future clients. A successful campaign will ensure that we will be able to continue to fulfill our mission of providing high-quality medical, behavioral, vocational and addiction rehabilitation services to the North Central Ohio community.

To all who attended our kick-off and took part in the food and fellowship, we would like to say thank you. We were glad to have the opportunity to share our fundraising plans, and further explain the critical need that is faced by The Rehab Center. Initial fundraising efforts have produced over a million dollars toward our goal. September and October mark the United Way black-out period on fundraising, but we will resume again in force on November 1.

Please watch for more information on fundraising events and giving opportunities. It is our belief that the community will pull together to support improvements to a facility that is so important to the public. We look forward to convincing YOU of our need for support!  For additional information, please contact Amy Howe, VP of Fund Development at 419-756-1133, ext. 237

Yes your eyes don’t deceive you! The Town Roast will return this February to help raise funds for The Rehab Center. Watch for news about an updated encore presentation of the celebrated "Miss Dollarship" episode of the community production. The Renaissance Theater will host the event, scheduled for February 16, 2008. You don't want to miss this opportunity to see Mansfield’s leaders take a barb or two – some will even do it in heels! Be watching for your opportunity to buy a ticket. Please contact the Fund Development office at 417-756-1133, ext. 237 for additional information.

November 1, 2007 - Rehab Annual Meeting at Life Celebration Reception Center

5:30 p.m. - Cash Bar

6:00 p.m. - Buffet Dinner         

7:00 p.m. - Meeting

**The cost is $25 per person.  Please RSVP to Pam Jacobs at 419-756-1133 by October 25^th.

November 5, 2007 - 1^st Annual Richland County Kinship Rally at the Renaissance Theatre

12:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m.   

**For more information call Melodye James at 419-756-1133.  All are invited.

November 19, 20007 - Kinship Navigator Program Potluck Dinner

6:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.

**Richland County grandparents and other relatives raising children are invited. 

Entertainment & games.  Reservations are required. 

Please RSVP to Melodye James at 419-756-1133 by November 9^th.

February 9, 2008 - 2008 Rehab Telethon at Richland Mall

10:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m.

**Please contact Pam Jacobs at 419-756-1133 for information.

February 16, 2008 - Rehab Town Roast at the Renaissance Theatre

8:00 p.m. - watch for details about the patron party.

March (watch for the date) - North South Basketball Classic

May 16-17, 2008 - Rehab Chili Cook Off    

On-Going Events

Kinship Support Groups are held on the first and third Mondays of each month from 6:30 – 8:00 PM. Child care is provided.

Rehabilitation Service of North Central Ohio, Inc.

270 Sterkel Blvd., Mansfield Ohio 44907

(419) 756-1133
http://www.therehabcenter.org/