Thank You Archives

Everstand Q2 2024 Core Values Award Winners

Posted on August 19, 2024 at 4:09 pm.

Shannon D —Safety

Here is what her nomination said:

"During a recent campus emergency, Ms. Shannon was the first responder when a staff member was injured. She took charge of the situation, leading the injured staff to safety and managing the environment by directing others to call 911 and gather necessary supplies. Using her first aid skills, Ms. Shannon stabilized the injured staff member until EMS arrived.

"Her commitment to safety is evident as she consistently takes the lead in crises, effectively utilizing her communication and TCI skills to deescalate situations. Ms. Shannon ensures the well-being of both staff and youth, proving to be an invaluable team member."

We are fortunate to have such a dedicated and capable individual on the ECDD team.

Toni H.—Empathy

Here is what her nomination said:

"Ms. Toni is an exceptional Youth Care Professional (YCP) who is highly valued in her unit. She is known for her kindness and dedication, building strong connections with the youth. When a youth began exhibiting concerning behavior, such as excessive cleaning, discarding usable items, and neglecting hygiene, Ms. Toni promptly reported these issues to the care team. Her deep empathy and daily presence allow her to offer valuable insights and support, effectively addressing the youth's concerns with understanding and compassion."

Devin M.—Impact

Here is what his nomination said:

"As a new Unit Supervisor, I was trained by Mr. Devin, who was also managing two units and training a new TTM at the time. He thoroughly reviewed all policies and procedures with me and demonstrated effective leadership at Everstand. Thanks to his guidance, I felt well-prepared to lead my team and have since achieved significant success. I’m grateful for Mr. Devin’s support and continued willingness to assist. I want to acknowledge him as an outstanding TTM and leader in our company."

Congratulations and thank you, Devin!

SAFETY as a mindset—We value life, spirit, and health above all else and take action to maintain the safety of our workplaces, programs, and services through a trauma responsive lens. We are personally accountable for our own safety and collectively responsible for the mental, emotional, and physical safety of our community.

Foster RELATIONSHIPS within our community—Openness and honesty with all stakeholders make for both the best program outcomes and team culture. Inclusive practices are the building blocks for trust. We create space for conversations that grow transparency about our decisions, promises, and understanding of one another.

Listen and respond with EMPATHY—Empathy will guide our programming and culture at all levels. A supportive work and program environment means valuing the voices of all people, ensuring equitable representation, and growing a desire to know and understand others. We recognize that with empathy we will better understand what type of care and encouragement to provide.

IMPACT drives lasting change—We seek to make lasting change in the lives of those we work with by providing services that are inclusive, measurable, and durable. We maximize our impact by investing in staff and board development. Feedback presents opportunity for action, which enhances and strengthens our programs and their outcomes.

Board of Child Care All Staff 8-23-2023 Core Value Award Winners

Posted on November 9, 2023 at 9:49 am.

Diana T —Safety
Health & Wellness Coordinator, PA

Here is what her nomination said:

“Diana Thomas has been extremely welcoming to new summer staff; friendly and helpful in many ways. She took time out of her day to help new hires (who were unable to attend original training) get CPR training completed to help accomplish our goal to be in ratio with the youth as soon as possible.

She always stopped in to ask if we needed anything and provided hot spots when the internet would not cooperate."

Thank you, Diana, and congratulations!

Hannah M—Relationships
Medical Coordinator, Caminos Baltimore

Here is what her nomination said:

"Hannah is a new member of the Caminos Maryland team - she joined the program in April, taking on the role of the Medical Coordinator. Since joining the Caminos team, Hannah has stepped right into her role on the Administrative team - she has worked to establish positive relationships with our external stakeholders, collaborated with LTFC parents to secure care for the youth in their homes, and has brought forward solutions to workflow challenges experienced by the program.

And even though her job requires her to spend a lot of time completing paperwork and communicating with external stakeholders, Hannah makes sure that she spends time with the kids.... sometimes even coloring on the walls while waiting for x-rays to be done (no worries, it was coloring paper)!"

Congratulations, Hannah, and thank you!

Jessica W.—Impact
Assistant Program Director, Baltimore

Here is what her nomination said:

"Jessica Weeg is the Assistant Program Director of Clinical Services for our Maryland Residential programs. She identified a problem in our Maryland Residential program that was negatively impacting our efficiency. Through her diligent and detailed efforts, she was able to ensure the needed corrections were made on all fronts."

Thank you Jess for making an impact behind the scenes to keep our systems running smoothly and correctly!

Teamwork Always:

Here at BCC, teamwork is a major contribution to the success of our organization. For our 'Teamwork Always' moment today, I would like to recognize the Program Team in Baltimore. Thank you to everyone who supported Kira’s first visit in two years with her mother. The staff in House 4 listened to Kira talk about her upcoming visit for several weeks and helped her to process her emotions. Campus Supervisor who found staff, (thank you to Ms. Crystal), to drive all the way to Cumberland to rescue us when the van broke down. Kira was able to spend 4 hours with her mother and they loved every minute. She reconnected with her great-grandmother via Facetime while visiting with her mother. Kira will be seeing her mother weekly with their plan being reunification now pending DSS approval.

Board of Child Care Q1 2023 Core Value Award Winners

Posted on March 14, 2023 at 1:05 pm.

Diane Baerga—Relationships
Administrative Assistant, Caminos West (PA)

Here is what her nomination said:

“Diane Baerga keeps good communication and relationship between Caminos Program and Residential. She is a liaison to help Caminos Staff incorporate with residential, using PA Regulations. Example: She was the guide during the DHS Inspection and, she helped to keep everything in compliance with PA Regulations. Caminos had a successful inspection.”

Congratulations, Diane, and thank you!

Sheena Santana—Impact
Youth Care Professional, Caminos West (PA)

Here is what her nomination said:

“Sheena is a go-getter and is always taking the time to complete tasks to help make the program run smoother for the youth and her co-workers. Sheena never stops working and taking on tasks even when she has a full plate herself.

When Sheena arrives on campus on Sunday mornings, she gets everything going for the week and gives the kitchen a thorough cleaning before the second staff member is set to arrive. Sheena also helps the youth feel more comfortable on campus, by branching out of her comfort zone and cooking and preparing meals to the youth’s liking and cultural background. She has spent much time improving her Spanish and can now hold productive conversations with the youth.

“Sheena has impacted the program positively in many ways and continues to each day.”

Congratulations and thank you, Sheena!

Rosh Hashanah

Posted on September 20, 2017 at 3:30 pm.

At sunset yesterday, Wednesday, September 20, our Jewish friends will begin the celebration of Rosh Hashanah (New Year) and conclude on the evening of Friday, September 22. The year will be 5778.

Here is a traditional greeting to offer: L’shana tovah u’metukah – “For a good and sweet year.”

This is pronounced l’shah-NAH toe-VAH ooh-meh-too-KAH (oo as in food).

Please join me in wishing everyone who is celebrating a very happy new year!

L’shana tovah u’metukah!

This is a great opportunity for all of us to celebrate the good things of the past year and look forward to a new beginning with God’s blessing.

I want to share with you a brief video for the celebration. Last year a group of people from different communities around the world recorded a special blessing song for Rosh Hashanah. The video was done by 92nd Street Y, a cultural and community center. This is the link to the video: I hope you enjoy it.

https://youtu.be/sHlLYhYNbc0

Hope and Peace to all – Rev. Stacey

Follow Me and I’ll Make You Fishers of Men

Posted on September 19, 2017 at 3:58 pm.

Scripture Reference: Matthew Chapter 4: Verses 18-20
One day as Jesus was walking along the shore of the Sea of galilee, he saw two brothers-Simon, also called Peter, and Andrew-throwing a net into the water, for they fished for a living. Jesus called out to them, “Come follow me, and I will show you how to be fishers of men.” And they left their nets at once and followed him.

Simon and Andrew probably thought this was where they were supposed to be in life. They probably thought this was what they were meant to do for a living. That maybe they reached their potential and this was all they would do and be in life. However, Jesus comes along with an offer they couldn’t refuse. He tells them to “follow me and I’ll make you fishers of men.” In other words, you think what you’re doing now is good, but if you follow me I can show you greatness. They were content catching fish. Jesus called them to change lives.

There are levels in our lives that God wants to take us too. Levels that include amazing opportunities and blessings. Levels that include helping others and having a positive impact in a negative world. Simon and Andrew would not have tapped into the greatness of God if they weren’t willing to follow Jesus. Jesus is telling us today that He can do great things in our lives and takes us to heights that we never imagined, if we’re willing to follow Him. If we’re willing to leave “our nets” and follow Him, He is able to do exceedingly, abundantly, more than we should ever ask or think, according to the power that lies in us!

Many Thanks to David Daughaday

Posted on June 30, 2017 at 3:50 pm.

David has concluded his term on BCC’s Board of Directors effective June 30, 2017. During his tenure he served as both chair of the finance and asset management committees as well as Treasurer. His leadership and thoughtful questions and suggestions will be sincerely missed, and we wish him well as he begins his next grand adventure – retirement!

From left to right: Laurie Anne Spagnola, David Daughaday, Guy Everhart

David receives a piggy bank as a small token of appreciation for his years of service as the Board treasurer.

David receives a piece of art made by one of the youth on campus.

Empathy

Posted on May 31, 2017 at 4:16 pm.

A message from Reverend Stacey, BCC Chaplain and Director of Church and Community Engagement.

Empathy is about finding echoes of another person in yourself. – Mohsin Hamid

“Empathy will guide our programming and culture at all levels. We recognize that without empathy we cannot understand what type of care and encouragement to provide. A supportive work and program environment means possessing a desire to know and understand others.” (BCC Core Value Statement)

Empathy is the ability to understand and share the feelings of another. It refers to the ability to relate to another person’s pain vicariously as if one has experienced that pain themselves. Empathy is different from sympathy because you put yourself in another person’s “shoes.”

Empathy is about standing in someone else’s shoes, feeling with his or her heart, seeing with his or her eyes. Not only is empathy hard to outsource and automate, but it makes the world a better place.
-Daniel H. Pink

You can only understand people if you feel them in yourself. -John Steinbeck

Could a greater miracle take place than for us to look through each other’s eyes for an instant? -Henry David Thoreau

While we are striving to respond with empathy to others around us, we must also be kind to ourselves and feed our own spirits.

I want to interject a bit of humor here with this anonymous quote on empathy: Before you criticize someone … you should walk a mile in their shoes. That way, when you criticize them, you’re a mile away and you have their shoes.

Scriptures in the Judeo-Christian tradition call us to love our neighbors as our selves. In the story of the Good Samaritan, Jesus taught that our neighbor is anyone in need.

We work together as a BCC team to make a positive impact in our communities on behalf of children, youth and families.

Here is an inspirational word from Christian scriptures: So continue encouraging each other and building each other up, just like you are doing already. -1 Thessalonians 5:11

Our small acts of positive living are making a difference! Always remember, you are not alone.

This was originally part of our 40 Days of Positive Actions activity, sponsored by BCC Spiritual Life Team.

Be Kind

Posted on May 31, 2017 at 3:52 pm.

A message from Reverend Stacey, BCC Chaplain and Director of Church and Community Engagement.

Kind hearts are the gardens,
Kind thoughts are the roots,
Kind words are the blossoms,
Kind deed are the fruits.
-19th century rhyme

Our focus this week is on being kind to ourselves as well as to others.

I am reminded of this quote from the Dalai Lama:
“Be kind whenever possible.
It is always possible.”

We need to practice being kind at all times. Small acts of kindness make all the difference in our lives and in the lives of others.

In one of our houses in Baltimore, the youth are writing in on their “40 Days of Positive Actions” calendar the specific actions that they are taking each day. One example was that a youth shared a snack with another. It is inspiring to learn how our young people are making this practice meaningful in their daily lives. Thank you to all of our staff who are encouraging positive actions and modeling them.

There are many scriptures that make clear God’s desire for us to be kind to one another. God’s own kindness is our example.

Here are some verses from the Bible to illustrate:

Since God chose you to be the holy people whom God loves, you must clothe yourselves with tenderhearted mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. You must make allowance for each other’s faults and forgive the person who offends you. Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others.
-Colossians 3:12-13 (New Living Translation)

Be kind and loving to each other.
-Ephesians 4:32

The Lord has told you what goodness is. This is what God wants from you: Be fair to other people. Love kindness and loyalty, and humbly obey your God.
-Micah 6:8

Let us encourage one another to be kind to ourselves and to be kind to one another. We all deserve more kindness in our lives as well as the joy of showing kindness!

Hope we have a great week!
Rev. Stacey

And always remember:

No act of kindness, no matter how small, is ever wasted.
-Aesop

This was originally part of our 40 Days of Positive Actions activity, sponsored by BCC Spiritual Life Team.

Unlikely Duo Raises Money for Board of Child Care

Posted on January 11, 2015 at 11:01 pm.

11 year old and 16 year old host video game tournament

It is not often you see a middle school student and a high school student join forces for charity (especially when they did not know each other beforehand). That is exactly what happened, however, when Ethan (age 11) told his mom he wanted to do something for “the kids in the group home.”

Ethan’s mom heard there was a video game club run out of the library, which is how the idea of a video game tournament was born. Dustin, age 16, and a student at North Caroline High School, was an active member of the video game club, and was happy to help recruit players for the event held at the end of October. The game of choice? Super Smash Brothers™!

With some help from the parents, the boys charged admission and a low $3 entry per game played. In total they raised over $400 for Board of Child Care’s Eastern Shore program! The money purchased new board and video games for the residences. Plans are already underway for a repeat tournament in the spring.

Many thanks Ethan and Dustin!

Ethan and Justin — Ethan, age 11, who is in sixth grade at Lockerman Middle School, and Dustin, age 16, who is attending North Caroline High School.

If you would be interested in learning how to set up a fundraiser like Ethan and Dustin did, please contact our development department at (410) 922-2100.

NOTE: Characters in header image are copyright their respective owners

Everstand Q2 2024 Core Values Award Winners