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Hope Herald
news from Twin Cedars Youth & Family Services, Inc. May 2012 |
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From L-R Mike Gaymon/President of the Greater Columbus Chamber of Commerce, Elaine Gillespie/ Field Representative for US Congressman Sanford Bishop, Senator Ed Harbison, Mike Angstadt/TCYFS Executive Director, Margie Richardson/ Niece of Dorothy Wells Knight, Arthur "Skin" Edge/ TCYFS Foundation, Clifton Fay/ TCYFS Foundation, Arthur Bickerstaff /TCYFS Board & Lynne Taylor/ AESH Program Director |
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Dear Friends,
At a special ribbon cutting ceremony we recently opened the doors for the new Dorothy Wells Knight Community Counseling Center. Located at 1025 First Avenue, the facility will house Twin Cedars' Columbus area mental health services. Major funding for the project was secured from the Dorothy Wells Knight UniTrust in 2010. This centrally located facility in Uptown Columbus will serve children and adolescents through individual or group therapy to overcome an array of problems. Niece of the late Dorothy Wells Knight, Margie Richardson, as well as other friends and family members were present for the ceremony. Margie shared, "She was a person of tremendous courage, and a person who put the interest of others ahead of her own." Through her UniTrust, we will be able to continue offering quality services for child victims of abuse and neglect.
Other recent events featured in this month's Hope Herald include the Georgia Industrial Children's Home's Dinner in the Orchard and our local area Child Abuse Awareness & Prevention Month Events in both Columbus & LaGrange. Also, make sure to mark your calendars for "Shaggin' at Sunset" with the Swingin' Medallions to benefit our Columbus area programs on Friday, August 24th. We hope to see you there!
For the children,
Mike Angstadt, Executive Director |
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Scenes from the Georgia Industrial Children's Home's
Dinner in the Orchard
This unique farm-to-table event utilizing
featuring an organic menu was a tremendous success. The funds raised will be used to help revitalize the pecan orchard by installing and maintaining an irrigation system. This will result in an enhanced annual pecan crop as well as allow youth to become inovled in a working farm model.
To our presenting sponsor GEICO and the following sponsors, a special thank you is extended:
Bawbee Films Robins Federal Credit Union
Macon Occupational Medicine Macon Lions Club
Four Seasons of Georgia Ace Hardware (Riverside Dr.)
American Services Industries Cleveland Organics
Agape Nursery Studio 331 Photography
The Saucy Shallot Personal Chef Horse Creek Vineyards
Cane River Vineyards The GICH Foundation
The Perfect Pear Catering Imedia Group
Mike Ketterbaugh Events Made Special
Larry Kemper & Betty Lhotka
in memory of Mr. & Mrs. Marvin Kemper
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Mike Angstadt
Executive Director | |
Columbus
Anne Elizabeth Shepherd Home
Reality House
Children's Tree House
Chattahoochee CASA
Truancy Intervention Project
Dorothy Wells Knight Community Counseling Center
Weracoba Second Chance Home
Therapeutic Foster
Care
Ault Academy
Challenge Ropes Course
LaGrange
Bradfield Center
Connections
Ault Academy
Indoor Ropes Course Coleman Community Center in LaGrange Community Mental Health
Children's Advocacy Center of Troup Co.
Supervised Visitation Magnolias Campus in LaGrange
Annette Boyd Group Home
Adult Parenting Circle of Care Comprehensive Awareness Program Georgia Farm Bureau Second Chance Home Troup County Prevention Coalition
Poplar Circle in LaGrange
Moore Therapeutic Foster Care
Mountville
Camp Viola
Macon
Georgia Industrial Children's Home,
A campus of TCYFS
Alabama
Lee Co. CASA |
| Our Leadership |
TCYFS Board Kenneth Gordon Board President
Frank Newman Vice President
Arthur Bickerstaff Board Secretary
Cathy Smith Board Treasurer
Jerry Fulks Liaison to the Foundation
Patrick Crews Past President
Markette Baker Greg Brown Rep. Debbie Buckner Henry Holt Linda McMullen
Barbara Miller
George Moore
Cheryl Myers
Alice Owens
Stacey Poydasheff
Greg Tapley
Alton West Al Zachry |
Our TCYFS
Foundation |
Arthur "Skin" Edge, III Vice President
Gene Kemp Secretary/ Treasurer
Jerry Fulks Liaison to the Board
Clifton Fay Nancy Durand Susan Prather
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| Pictured Above | |
Dinner in the Orchard,
A commemorative plate was given to each guest, Shrimp & Grits by the Saucy Shallot, Betty Lhotka, & Larry Kemper. Betty & Larry grew up at the GICH. Their parents were Mr. & Mrs. Marvin Kemper who ran the home for decades.
Photo Credit:
D. Calandra Bailey |
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CBAY Services Help Katie find Permanency | |
CBAY, or Community Based Alternatives for Youth, have proven to be a vital part of recovery as many children exit residential care and transition back into their communities. Local support services are put into place or "wrapped around" children to help them succeed in their new environments. Katie, who has participated in CBAY Services, is pictured above with her new family celebrating her birthday. Read Katie's Success Story HERE .
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What They Are
Saying About Us.... | |
"To be a part of such a new experience was amazing. I enjoyed shadowing Miss Dedtria and helping the girls try to understand how important relationships with their children are. I'm truly thankful for the opportunity to work in an environment full of such love and support for those in need."
~Sara Carter, Circle of Care Intern
READ Sara Carter's entire Reflective Essay about her Internship with CIRCLE OF CARE prevention program.
"The leadership and dedication you have demonstrated to receive this honor serves as a fine example to your peers, and I commend you on your hard work and effort."
Congressman Lynn Westmoreland,
Third District of Georgia
Read His Letter congratulating Twin Cedars on being named Large Business of The Year by
The LaGrange Troup County Chamber of Commerce.
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Anne Elizabeth Shepherd Home Auxiliary Supports Summer Activities |
As the school year ends, our girls at the AESH are eager to participate in an array of summer activities. With the help of our Auxiliary volunteers, we will have funds to help pay for unique field trips and outings. We are so thankful for their continued support! Pictured above is Co-President Amanda Lister and Program Director Lynne Taylor.
Wendi Jenkins and Meredith King attend the Spring Luncheon on behalf of the Junior League of Columbus to learn more about the AESH Auxiliary. |
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Chattahoochee CASA's
Rosalind Alston Receives
UNSUNG HERO
Award | 
The Columbus Area AARP recently awarded Rosalind Alston of Chattahoochee CASA the Unsung Hero Award. Since launching the program in 2009, Chattahoochee CASA has served countless numbers of children in deprivation proceedings helping many find permanency. The backbone of program are the volunteers who serve. Congratulations to CASA for this special recognition. Pictured above are Agnes Shelton (volunteer), Rosalind Alston (Program Coordinator) & Alicia Alston (Rosalind's daughter.)
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Volunteers help with
Extreme Makeover at Children's Tree House Advocacy Center | | We've gone Social!
Children's Tree House Advocacy Center in Columbus recently received an Extreme Makeover. With the help of volunteers from Fort Benning we were able to transform our downtown office space into a vibrant child friendly environment. Soldiers from the 3rd Battalion 81st Armor Regiment 194th Armor Brigade helped with sanding, priming and painting the downtown office space. We would like to extend a special thank you to LTC William T. Nuckols, Jr. at Fort Benning for his support of this project.
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TCYFS' Supervised Visitation Program
Offers Enriching Family Activities | |
Many times families are able to reunite, but first they must participate in supervised visitation while permanency plans are pursued. Last month, Twin Cedar's Supervised Visitation program in LaGrange
launched a gardening program to serve as a family enrichment activity. The gardening is designed for children and youth to provide an opportunity to participate in a constructive, age-appropriate group experiences under adult supervision. "Everything from the planting of the garden, to painting the decorative veggie stakes, to nurturing the plants through daily watering provides a constructive social experience for the parent and children participating in supervised visitation," commented Kim Adams who serves as the Program Coordinator of the Center. The children planted a variety of vegetables and herbs including squash, tomatoes, cucumbers, sweet potatoes, bell peppers, basil, cilantro, and lavender. The staff has thoroughly enjoyed interacting with the children and parents as we prepared "our garden." Team members continue to enjoy the everyday nurtuing component as well. |
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Longtime Ault Academy Principal Etta Billingslea
A Tribute to Her Profession |
 
 
As many of you have read in previous editions of our Hope Herald, Etta Billingslea will soon retire. As the longtime principal of Ault Academy, Etta has raised the bar for learning for our students at the Bradfield Center. Through her oversight, Ault Academy met all standards to become accredited by the Council on Accreditation and approved by the Georgia Department of Education. During her 10 years with Twin Cedars Etta promoted Character Education, implemented the Partners In Education Program, Honor's Day and Career Day. Dr. Kim Bond, Program Director of the Bradfield Center shared, "Etta could write the book on teamwork-she is always driven by what is best for students." So many of Etta's accolades could be shared but the one thing everyone will remember is her motto. "Kids don't care how much you know, till they know how much you care." Etta certainly cared for her students and staff all these years. She is so highly regarded the we wont' be able to completely let her leave as she will be serving as an Advisory Council Member of Ault Academy. From the entire Twin Cedars team, we wish you the very best for your retirement.
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TCYFS Admissions Director
Assists West Point Learning Centers |
For the past ten months, Ada Cornwell, has had the privilege of participating in the Troup County Chamber of Commerce's "Leadership Troup" Class of 2012. It was an in-depth introduction to all of the facets of Troup County, and an incredible time of learning and networking. Her class bonded from the start, and committed to completing a project that would have a positive impact on the local community. The class sponsored three separate projects, the largest of which was the Learning Centers service project. In an effort to increase educational support for at-risk/disadvantaged youth in our communities, the class raised funds and purchased items to put learning centers in three locations: the activity room at Lucy Morgan Homes/Housing Authority in LaGrange; the Boys and Girls Club in Hogansville; and the Youth Services Center in West Point. Through supporting community programs who serve at-risk/disadvantaged youth, her hope is that these learning centers will increase the academic learning among the youth who participate, and help them meet the learning goals that are established through our local school system and the State of Georgia. Service doesn't have to end here for her team or for any other person interested in making a positive impact in their community or in someone's life. Opportunities to volunteer are limitless, and the rewards are immeasurable. Ada is pictured at the far left. |
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Bradfield Center Paints The Town |
It is amazing how a coat of paint can transform a home. It can offer an updated and crisp look yielding vibrant neighborhoods. For many years, Bradfield residents have given back to their local community through the Paint the Town Project coordinated by DASH. This project will help them learn to prepare for a project, promote teamwork, and help them establish a positive sense of self. In addition, once completed, their work will help leave a lasting impression on local homeowners and the community at large. We look forward to sharing the final photographs in next month's Hope Herald. |
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Child Abuse Awareness Month Activities-Columbus, Georgia |
On, Friday, April 20, Twin Cedars' Columbus area programs hosted the Ribbon Cutting for the new Dorothy Wells Knight Community Counseling Center in conjunction with April Child Abuse Awareness and Prevention Month. District Attorney Julia Slater delivered the keynote speech and local stakeholders participated in the Annual Signing of the Interagency Agreement & Child Abuse Protocol. Together, we provide a coordinated response to child abuse in our community. |
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Child Abuse Awareness Month Activities-LaGrange, Georgia | |
Members of the LaGrange community showed tremendous support of Child Abuse Awareness & Prevention Month and Twin Cedars as they welcomed keynote speaker, Jeff Minor on April 25th. Minor who serves as the Assistant Commissioner for Georgia's Department of Juvenile Justice, was awed by how the LaGrange/ Troup County Community has come together to combat and eradicate abuse. Also a part of the program were Shay Thornton/Director of the Troup County Division of Family & Children Services, Sandra Heath Taylor/Secretary of the DJJ Board and local attorney and Representative Randy Nix. Most touching were the testimonials delivered by two Ault Academy students during the ceremony. READ their Testimonials here.
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