So Many Holiday Thank Yous!

January 24th, 2011 by admin | No Comments | Filed in Uncategorized

           We don’t want January to slip away before we get a chance to thank all the many, many businesses and individuals (otherwise know as Christmas angels and miracle workers)  who helped Old Mill put the Ho Ho Ho back into the holidays for many, many families in December.   Despite the poor economic picture painted for non-profits in our community, community support for Old Mill Center for Children and Families enabled us to brighten the holidays for over 130 children—the most ever!  Our heartfelt thanks and appreciation go out to the following list of business and individual sponsors who helped make the days merry and bright:

Zooey’s, Susan Klinkhammer and family; Kristen Hiner and Paragon Realty; the staff at PH Tech; Kayla and Frank Heresco; Linda La Fleur and the OSU College of Oceanic & Atmospheric Sciences; Julee Tierce and Aspire Design Salon; Kayla Stratton and the OSU Phi Delta Chi Pharmaceutical Fraternity; Jo and Fred Price and family; Kelly Guenther; Stacy Ramirez and Family; Mary Alice Seville, Pat and Jay Dixon,  Jack Drexler and Ilene Kleinsorge; Dale and Fran Ramsay; Dr. Jayne Ackerman and Mary Jane Gray; PEO members Judy Hedges, Sue Merrill, Carole Boersma, Susan Schmidt, Debbie McCubbin, Gloria Chaves, Ann Marek, Carol Farnes, Rhonda, Stansell, Patty Dale, sue Cook, Shirley Wirth, Carol Huntington, Emily Miller, Barb Locey, Judy Krueger, Meredith Baughman; Diane Bateman; Good Earth Pest Co.; Dee  Mooney; Donovan’s Tree Farm; Chuck Theodore & K-Mart; The Toy Factory; Holiday Inn Express; Hilton Garden Inn; Mardele Wolf; Mark & Jeannie Lasley; Shannon Starwalt; Mary Theresa Rybel; and, of course Town & Country’s Touchdowns for Toys and cosponsors OSU Federal Credit Union, Gazette Times/Democrat Herald, Samaritan Health Services, Fidelity National Title, Timberhill Athletic Club and State Farm Insurance.

We would also like express our heartfelt thanks to the Willamette Association of Realtors for their selection of the Relief Nurseries in Linn and Benton Counties as recipients of the proceeds from their 2010 Holiday Social.  The silent auction and raffle raised over $2,000 that went directly to support the work done by our two non-profit organizations striving to help strengthen families and keep children safe through a myriad of programs. These two nurseries are part of a state-wide system designed to prevent child abuse and neglect.  Participating realtors also brought diapers, wipes, paper products and cleaning supplies that will help stock the resource closets at both nurseries.  Their generosity, in the spirit of holiday giving,  is helping  many of our families in need.

We truly could not do what we do without the community support that we receive from you on a daily basis.  May 2011 bring us all the daily blessings of joy and gratitude.

 

 

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Neat video overview

March 4th, 2010 by admin | 2 Comments | Filed in Uncategorized

You should check out our video on our home page – http://oldmillcenter.org/ it provides a good overview of what we do.

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A New Year, a New Beginning…

January 12th, 2010 by admin | 4 Comments | Filed in Uncategorized

If you’re like a lot of people, the start of a new year brings a lot of thought about where you are, where you’ve been and where you are going this new year. 

• Are you a parent of a difficult child? Do you want to bring peace back into your home? 

• Maybe you are a teen who wants to connect with others teens? Maybe your parents “don’t  have a clue about _____”. 

• Do you have stress in your home because of a divorce, unemployment, drug use or domestic violence (past or present)? 

 Have you decided that this the year, NOW is the time that you are ready to do something different to make a positive change in your family? 

Old Mill can help! 

If you’re looking for a place that will treat you with respect and give you and your children the support and education to make changes, you have FOUND IT!!! We can offer ideas about what does and doesn’t work to you get on a path to a life with less strife and more happiness. 

Old Mill offers therapeutic support groups and counseling for kids and families just like yours. 

Groups that are happening in 2010 include:

CPS bookCollaborative Problem Solving (CPS) Parent Education Group:

 A 10 week group for parents and caregivers to gain understanding and support from other parents and a therapist. You will learn to resolve disagreements and disputes in a collaborative, mutually satisfying manner.  

kneesThe Teens Group: For teens ages 15-17, topics may include: 

  • Anxiety
  • Peer influence
  • Depression
  • Family issues
  • Values
  • Identity
  • Self-esteem
  • Parent conflict
  • Developing independence
  

 Eagle-AF-1

The Eagles: A group for children ages 9-12 who been affected by the incarceration of a parent.

 

 

 

CB034814Social Skills Group: This group helps children 8-12 learn and practice positive, age appropriate peer interactions in a fun, hands-on way.      

Divorce Group: Helping children and families cope with divorce. Child and parents are in separate groups.

 

 untitledSafe Touch Group: To teach and support children at age-appropriate levels awareness of safe touch vs. inappropriate  touch.

 

 

All groups are facilitated by Master’s Level therapists

Call us at 541-757-8068 for more information on these and other groups available.

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Winter Greetings !!!

December 15th, 2009 by admin | No Comments | Filed in Uncategorized

Helping Build Bright Tomorrows….Today!   

 I love the holiday season for all the reasons that you do. The lights, colors and the sweet smell of pine and pumpkin pies. And, of course, the gifts I feel so blessed to receive from family and friends. At Old Mill Center we experience the joy of ‘unwrapping’ gifts year round. They don’t come wrapped in pretty ribbons and bows. Nor do they sit waiting under the tree. Our gifts wiggle and cry, shout and laugh, try our patience and challenge our guidance. Forget the pretty wrappings, and think dirty tennies and t-shirts too big or too small depending on where you are in the ‘hand-me-down’ chain.

 Our gifts are the glimmers of growth and progress that keep us doing what we do. The ‘aha’ moment when we realize that it has worked to repeatedly say, “I like the way you are using your words” to the four year old who usually uses his fists, when a grieving child can giggle at funny memories of his deceased parent, or when an angry teen talks to and scratches, Kaya, the therapy dog, and declares he’d like a friend just like this one. These are the gifts that keep us inspired and motivated to welcome the next child because we know there’s a ‘gift’ waiting to be unwrapped in every life.      

Last year a two year old boy was found living with his older siblings and infant sister in the dark and muddy backyard shed of a known drug house! He was placed in relative foster care. His DHS case worker described his behavior as feral and referred him to the Old Mill Intensive Treatment Services program, which he began at age three. He was a feral child – he had limited language and communication skills, he didn’t like to be touched and would kick and bite.  He tried to hide and run away…he was fearful and scared. Now, he enjoys coming to the Intensive Treatment classroom every day where he receives daily therapy to learn how to appropriately identify and express his feelings, interpret social cues, learn social skills, and personal safety strategies. He loves to ride bikes, play cars, and create imagination games with peers as he practices his new skills. The Child and Family Therapist also supports the foster family as they meet the challenge of suddenly raising four of their relative’s children.

This child’s progress is one of many ‘gifts’ from this past year, thanks in great part to the generosity of donors like you. Your generous response last year helped Old Mill Center provide critical services to over 1,500 children and families in 2009. Please help Old Mill ‘unwrap’ more of these special gifts in the coming year.

 Happy Holidays 

Bev Larson, PhD

Executive Director

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First Things First

October 14th, 2009 by admin | 5 Comments | Filed in Uncategorized

Annmarie O’Daniel, MS, LPC

Old Mill Center offers a number of outreach programs in our community. One such program, offered in schools is First Steps to Success: Helping Young Children Overcome Anti-Social Behavior. This is a research-based curriculum originating from the University of Oregon’s College of Education. Studies have indicated that early intervention is the most promising technique for redirecting young children toward positive, self-actualizing social behavior. This program is specifically designed for children Pre-k through 2nd grade as a best practices early intervention tool to teach parents and teachers skills for managing child behavior and social interactions at home and in the classroom. Behaviors and social interactions that typically occur for First Steps to Success candidates, include:
• Physical aggression toward peers or school staff
• Severe tantrumming
• Hostile reactions to social bids by peers
• Vandalism
• Disturbing or disrupting others
• Pestering
• Ignoring corrective attempts by adults
• Overactivity

This curriculum uses both individual (teacher and First Steps coach) and group guidance (the class) and problem-solving techniques to develop positive and supportive relationships with children, to:
• Encourage and teach positive social skills and interactions among children
• Promote positive strategies of conflict resolution
• Develop personal self-control, self-motivation, and self-esteem

In addition, this program works with children who have been identified with special needs to provide a range of strategies from less directive and structured to more directive and structured to support that child’s success in the classroom. First Steps to Success also supports and facilitates family and child interactions as primary for learning and development. First Steps to Success has proven to be a practical, effective tool for educational practitioners and parents alike in helping young children gain the adaptive pro-social and self-management skills they need to succeed in school.
The First Steps to Success Program at Old Mill Center serves children throughout Linn and Benton counties. If you would like to know more information about this program, please contact Annmarie O’Daniel, MS, LPC, Strong Families Program Coordinator at (541) 757-8068 ex. 222.