Mount Rogers Community Services Board Serving Bland, Carroll, Grayson, Wythe, Smyth Counties

and the City of Galax, Virginia

MtRogersCSB.com

CREATE A FEELINGCREATE A FEELINGCREATE A FEELINGCREATE A FEELINGCREATE A FEELINGCREATE A FEELINGCREATE A FEELINGCREATE A FEELINGCREATE A FEELINGCREATE A FEELINGCREATE A FEELINGCREATE A FEELING Creative Healing NewsletterCreative Healing NewsletterCreative Healing NewsletterCreative Healing NewsletterCreative Healing NewsletterCreative Healing NewsletterCreative Healing NewsletterCreative Healing NewsletterCreative Healing NewsletterCreative Healing NewsletterCreative Healing NewsletterCreative Healing Newsletter

Issue Thirty-Nine: Jul-Aug-Sept 2014

Editors: Candace Coffin Nancy Munsey

Creative Healing Committee Members:

Charlot Berry - Administrative Services Amy Burns - Youth Services Candace Coffin - Administrative Services Chris Felts - CEC Janan Hurst - Smyth Counseling Center Cathy Melton - CEC Nancy Munsey - Administrative Services Kris Payne - Smyth Counseling Center Norma Phillippi - Administrative Services Aaron Sage - Youth Services Tracy Stuart - Turning Point Brandy Thomas—IDC

PERSON CENTERED

&

MANDATORY TRAINING

Register on SABA ___________________________

AGENCY RECEPTION

December 12th

Wytheville Meeting Center

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HEALINHEALINHEALINHEALIN GGGG

TRIUMPHS

BIG & SMALL

Recovery Stories & The Art of Recovery

November 6th: 11:30 - 2:00 Wytheville Meeting Center

FREE, but you MUST register:

276-223-3724

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Individuals from the Wythe/Bland

IDC had a blast at the Celebrating Our

Partnership picnic and softball game

September 26th. That’s a Gatorade

Dunk happening in the photo to the

right. That’s IDC Director Frank Dowell

being dunked and you can view more

antics from the day by viewing the

photo collage of the softball event.

At the June Youth & Family Services

retreat, the leadership team announced

the creation of the Anna Csaky-Chase

Going Above and Beyond Award. Going

above and beyond and thinking outside

the box are two of the criteria for

receiving the award. See the full article and learn more.

Community Extended Care’s retreat featured a variety of

presenters including those receiving services extending gratitude to staff. Read what all the fun and

laughter was about. There was also fun at the Program and Administrative Leadership strategic

planning meeting. It is quite a feat when folks enjoy these kinds of meetings!

The photo collage of the Smyth Talent Show conveys all the hard work and joy the

entertainers experienced. You will not be able to view these pictures without a big grin on

your face!

The popularity of the Make Your Own Terrarium workshops was seen at the August

presentation when many folks attended. See the comments from several employees regarding the

workshop. Another workshop in the Spring will be planned to meet the continued demand.

Rhea Lawrence, MRCSB Board Director, cut the ribbon at the Riverchase Open House. And what a

beautiful new building it is as the photos in this issue reflect. The August Board meeting was held at

the new building.

The person-centered Welcoming Environments program continues to be presented and enjoyed by

staff. This issue also highlights the Wythe County Giving Back Team. The team focused on Older

Virginians with September being Mental Health Awareness for Older Virginians.

Creative Healing Committee

Charlot Berry - Administrative Services Sandra Breeding - Lotusea Wellness Amy Burns - Youth & Family Services Candace Coffin - Administrative Services Bob DeSanto - Comm. Extended Care Marty Grizzle - Cornerstone Wendy Gullion - Administrative Services Mindy Lindamood - Comm. Extended Care Keren Lundy - Industrial Developmental Ctr. David Marshall - Sponsored Residential Cathy Melton - Comm. Extended Care Nancy Munsey - Administrative Services Norma Phillippi - Administrative Services David Sturgill - Youth & Family Services Heather Trail - Youth & Family Services Sandy Troth - MRCSB Board Director

HOLIDAY BAZZAR November 19th

11:00-1:00 E.W. CLINE, JR. BLDG.,WYTHEVILLE

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SMYTH IDC SHOW

December 11th

10:30 a.m. E.W. CLINE, JR. BLDG., WYTHEVILLE

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Calendar

Cheerfulness is the best promoter of health and is as friendly to the mind as to the body. — John Addison

YOUTH & FAMILY SERVICES

During the Youth & Family Services

Annual Retreat, the leadership team

announced the creation of the Anna

Csaky-Chase Going Above and Beyond

Award. The award is to be presented

every year to the staff person who goes

above and beyond, while striving to

think outside of the box - the two

qualities of Youth & Family Services

Director, Anna Csaky-Chase.

All Youth & Family Services staff were

thanked for all their hard work and

dedication to the youth of the

communities. Those nominated by the

leadership team for this year’s award were:

Angie Davis, Nancy Nelson, Nora Jones-

Cole, Jessie Whitaker, Teresa Crockett and Mandy Phipps. The first recipient

chosen for the Anna Chsaky-Chase

Going Above and Beyond Award is

Teresa Crockett!

Hired in 2006, Teresa has held multiple

positions in Youth & Family Services, each

more complex than the one before and

sometimes in uncharted territory. Her style

of serving each family with kindness,

levity, and sincere concern, is only

matched by her ability to juggle a hot mess

of schedules, locations, providers,

supervisors, needs, regulations, and time

constraints into a seamless experience for

the family and the staff involved. Teresa

received a plaque, and all of the nominees

were given a pin that said Above and

Beyond. Congratulations Teresa Crockett!

Held at Grayson Highlands State Park in

White Top, Virginia, June 13th, the theme

of the retreat was Highlander Games.

Teambuilding activities included kilt

making for supervising staff to wear,

enjoying a delicious barbecue lunch, egg

and ring toss games, and kickball.

Fernwood won the award for best spirit

and cheerleading the kickball game.

HAVING LOTS OF FUN!

The Welcoming Environments program is

being presented to all MRCSB staff. The

essence of the program, presented by

Candace Coffin, is the attributes of a

welcoming and comfortable workplace, such

as expressing appreciation, reviewing

accomplishments, and clear and caring

communications. Offered during regularly

scheduled meetings, the 45 minute class

highlights the contributions each person

makes in the workplace and how this

serves co-workers as well as those

receiving services.

Photos show some of the July, August,

September classes. More are being

planned.

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Execu�ve Director Lisa Moore brought the Program & Administra�ve Leadership team together for 2015

strategic planning on July 31st. Facilitated by Lisa, the team ( Sarah Beamer, Elaine Cantrell, Anna Chase,

Candace Coffin, Ruth Cox, Kathy Cressel, Max Dean, Frank Dowell, Wendy Gullion, Jo Viars, and office

manager, Rita Viars) began the mee�ng with a discussion of the first 50 pages of the book they are all

reading, Deepak Chopra’s, The Soul of Leadership.

Successes and accomplishments for 2014 were reviewed as goals for 2015 were presented. The team

also took �me to iden�fy internal strengths upon which to build as well as internal weaknesses requiring

remedy.

Before closing with a fun corn hole tournament, directors shared their personal/professional goals for the

coming year.

Fernwood Counseling Center

Smyth Counseling Center

Wythe/Bland Counseling Center

Smyth Youth & Family Services Wythe Youth & Family Services

Reviewing accomplishments. Teaming up for the corn hole tournament.

COMMUNITY EXTENDED CARE

HOLDS RETREAT FOR STAFF

On August 25th the staff of Community Extended Care (CEC) gathered at the

Wytheville Meeting Center for their annual retreat. The day featured a variety of

presentations.

Jo Viars, Director of CEC, welcomed everyone and reviewed FY2015 Goals

and Plans. The strategies were posted on the wall for staff to review. Staff were

asked to stand and be recognized as the FY2014 goal achievements were

presented for each program.

Keynote speaker for the retreat was life coach Patricia Farrell, MSN, RN. Her

topic was Your Purpose in Life.

After lunch a video of interviews from individuals receiving CEC services was

shown. The interviewees thanked staff for the services they are receiving and

spoke about how staff have helped them develop recovery tools and lives of

quality.

The day ended with laughter as staff viewed funny jib-jab videos at the

expense of the Leadership Team - Jo Viars, Debbie Burcham-Hodges, Nancy Glover, Carmen

DiGirolamo, Mindy Lindamood, Sherry Davis, John Lovill, Cathy Melton.

Jo Viars

Pat Farrell

Mental Health Skill Building

PACT

A few of the leaderhip staff.

ID Support Coordinators Carroll House

Wythe House

 

CELEBRATING OUR PARTNERSHIP

On September 26th the Wythe/Bland IDC (Industrial Developmental Center) Annual Picnic & Gatorade Partnership Celebration took place at Ager Park in Wytheville. Mount Rogers Community Services Board (MRCSB) and Gatorade celebrated the partnership we have enjoyed for over six years, hosting the second annual softball game for adults receiving services at the Wythe/Bland IDC. (The IDC provides a local site where some Gatorade products are packaged and inspected. This provides work for many individuals in the IDC Employment Services program.) The goal of this one-day event to celebrate our partnership was to enhance quality of life for individuals who rarely get an opportunity to participate in an event like softball. Gatorade and MRCSB provided lunch and equipment, and assisted each participant to experience being part of a softball game and having fun. Along with softball, there was face painting by MRCSB folks. Gatorade provided comic antics during the game and at lunch with water balloons, Gatorade dunks and whipped cream pies being tossed. The coaches, Frank Dowell, MRCSB, and Gatorade’s Dave Schappacher, were the ones receiving the Gatorade dunks. All of these antics brought cheers and laughter from the audience. Gatorade provided every individual with a softball that was signed by the Gatorade employees attending. They also received certificates from the IDC as well as goodie bags with a Gatorade water bottle and snacks. As Jamie Smith from Gatorade said, “Everyone leaves with a smile.”

Team Coaches: Frank Dowell, MRCSB, & Dave Schappacher, Gatorade, during a hot dog comic an c. 

Gatorade dunk. 

Lisa Moore, MRCSB, & Jamie Smith, Gatorade, gave opening remarks. 

 A whipped cream pie smile. 

 A er the Gatorade dunk.  

Hit by a water balloon. 

Face pain ng. 

Ice cream.. 

Paul Jones, announcer. 

Tunnel run. 

S IDC T S

A 28, 2014 ‐ M L

 

Smyth IDC Talent Show

August 28, 2014

Moose Lodge

I just wanted to thank you for the workshop! I

have found something that I can exercise my

crea�ve side with and I am excited to get

started! No stress for me with Christmas! I

am making these for my whole family-can’t

wait to get started! I had an awesome �me!

Thank you!

Anne"e Shuler, Case Manager

Wythe/Bland Counseling Center

MORE TERRARIUM WORKSHOPS

Back by popular demand, the Crea�ve Healing

Commi"ee offered the Make Your Own

Terrarium workshop on August 14th. The photo

does not show all the folks who were si/ng in

the back! Over 30 people a"ended the lunch

�me offering. Staff are already asking for another

workshop, which will be offered in the Spring of

2015.

Tapping into one’s crea�ve side has great appeal

and it appears to reduce stress. See the two

notes on the right.

I so enjoyed our (Terrarium) lunch!!! I was shocked there were so many there, as I am sure you were too, but that is great!!! It was exactly what we all needed this week. It has been a very stressful week and you just made it so much more pleasant! Thank you so much! You really do a great job at giving everyone something to get involved in! Dana Coleman, Application Specialist Data Resources

September Designated by the

Virginia General Assembly as

“Older Virginians Mental

Health Awareness Month”

Mental health issues pose a serious risk to the

health and well being of older adults, resul)ng in

risks of increased disability, reduced independence,

intensified caregiver stress, and risk of suicide. De-

pression, anxiety, and substance abuse should not be

dismissed as a part of normal aging.

O0en, the s)gma associated with mental health

issues prevents older adults from talking about their

problems and from seeking help.

Posters raising awareness about this were distribut-

ed to all MRCSB facili)es. Informa)on about MRCSB

services was included. To access services or for ques-

)ons contact: Wendy Gullion, 276-223-3217.

WYTHE COUNTY TEAM “GIVING BACK”

In recognition of the Virginia General Assembly

designating September “Older Virginians Mental

Health Awareness Month,” the Wythe County Giving

Back team invited all staff members to participate in

September activities that would benefit the residents

of Evansham Manor, an assisted living facility in

Wytheville.

Bins were placed at MRCSB facilities for the

collection of donations of personal hygiene items, such

as soap, shampoo, toothbrushes, tissues, etc.

Various activity items that residents would enjoy

were also collected: puzzle books, jigsaw puzzles, and

craft kits.

Those staff who were able donated time to do arts

and crafts projects.

Margie Stuart, Administrative Assistant for the

Industrial Developmental Centers has been

identifying needs and coordinating the team since

2012.

The feeling of being alone in your mental health struggles. Little hope. Helplessness. You’re not alone. You’re not the only person living through this. People in recovery can be a powerful source of inspiration and guidance.

Join us as Triumphs Big & Small Triumphs Big & Small Triumphs Big & Small Triumphs Big & Small presents live interviews from

those who will share their story, including family members. The conference is underwritten by Mount Rogers Community Services Board and Family Support Services of Southwest Virginia. A free lunch will be served at 11:30. Presentations begin at 12:15.

Open to all MRCSB staff, individuals served and the community-at

-large, the conference also includes an exhibit, The Art of The Art of The Art of The Art of RecoveryRecoveryRecoveryRecovery, which showcases the creative aspects of recovery.

The Recovery Conference

TriumphsTriumphsTriumphsTriumphs

Big & SmallBig & SmallBig & SmallBig & Small

Thursday, November 6, 2014

Wytheville Meeting Center

11:30 - 2:00 Open to All - No Charge

REGISTRATION REQUIRED

276-223-3724

On August 25th, an Open House and Board Mee�ng were held at the new Youth

& Family Services Riverchase offices in Marion. MRCSB purchased the old AEP

building, (Appalachian Electric Power), and it is hard to believe it is the same

building. As you can see from the photos here, the building has been totally

transformed. The photo on the le- is of a suntube. These are located in the

ceiling throughout the building and they bring in an enormous amount of light.

The offices and mee�ng rooms are invi�ng.

Shannon Delp in

her new office.

Stephanie Brooks in her

new recep�on office.

Board member, Rhea Lawrence

cuts the ribbon at the Open House.

More Photos from CELEBRATING OUR PARTNERSHIP