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A New School Year Is Upon Us!
To the excitement of some children and the disappointment of others, regardless of how we feel about it--a new school year is now upon us! This year, Southmountain has 37 children enrolled in Burke County Public Schools. Twenty of our children are attending Glen Alpine Elementary, 9 students are attending Table Rock Middle School and 8 children are enrolled at Freedom High School. We want to wish each and every child a successful and fun school year and wish our foster parents the best of luck in supporting each of their young learners!
Back to School Picnic
Every year, prior to the beginning of a new school year, Southmountain Children and Family Services hosts a back to school picnic for our children, parents, staff, and school teachers and principals. This year, we welcomed a great turnout from the schools, and it was a perfect opportunity for our children and their teachers to meet prior to the beginning of school. To show appreciation to our schools, Southmountain gave a gift basket full of goodies to each school. We served delicious picnic food with a big shout out to Skip Haynes who did a wonderful job preparing the food and Claudia Klahre who organized the event. It was a quite enjoyable time for all who attended!
Summer Adventure for Southmountain!
The children and staff of the Foster Community have had a very exciting summer. They spent the first summer outing zip lining on the Beanstalk Journey course, thanks to the generosity of Mike Fischesser and our generous host Jo Alberts. For the next trip, they went to Hidden Creek Park, where they rode the water slide, swam in the pool, canoed, played shuffleboard and were treated to free slushies during the afternoon thunderstorm. Next, they went to Kool Park in Hickory, where everyone found challenges to meet their thrill-seeking needs and face their personal fears. Some kids splashed down the water slide, others learned to dive off the side of the pool, and our bravest youth (and staff) launched fifteen-plus feet off the high dive tower!
Children and staff also enjoyed swimming, playing putt-putt, and tubing at Steele Creek Park. For another trip, they attended Defy Hickory's Trampoline Park, where they bounced, sweated, and pretended they were Olympians for a couple of hours. Other trips included Mountain Paradise in Marion, then a Southmountain-wide excursion to the Doe River Gorge in Tennessee.
Our kids have had so much fun this summer, experiencing new adventures, growing in their own personal competencies and interests, and building lifelong friendships with other kids and our fun-loving Southmountain staff. These trips sure make our community feel like family. Thanks to all who make it possible!
Southmountain agency grows again to establish better advocacy in the Toe River area
We are so pleased that Kayla Norville has recently joined our agency family in July as the Carolina Girl that has risen to shine. Born and raised in Mount Airy, “Mayberry”, she is the first in her biological family to complete an undergraduate college degree. It was during her Lenoir-Rhyne University internship experience with Catawba DSS that awakened and first fueled her compassion toward the need to intervene against perpetrators and advocate for victims. Having the heart of a Social Worker and a mindset to leapfrog the obstacles that drain resources in the public sector, she is now poised and excited to begin providing undivided attention to families spiraling from abuse or neglect. A newly created position in the Fall of 2017, Kayla’s positive attitude and light-hearted disposition is a natural fit with the Family Advocate role to serve. We welcome her and have high confidence that she will both bring and sustain the hope and resources that families and folks in the Toe River area need during traumatic life events.
Catholic Heart Work Camp Helps Southmountain!
In mid-July, volunteers from Catholic Heart Work Camp arrived at Southmountain Estates for the third year in a row, to lend a hand. About 200 children and adult leaders from Catholic Heart Work Camp volunteered in Morganton that week, helping at a variety of organizations. Seventeen children and 3 adults worked for four days at Southmountain Estates, and helped by pressure washing and staining decks, staining the Team Development Course and Alpine Tower equipment, pruning hedges, spreading mulch, and clearing a huge section of new trails. They are a spirited, polite and very hardworking group and it was a joy to see so many youth eager to practice their Christian faith in loving service. We are very grateful!
Southmountain Receives Unifour Foundation Grant
Southmountain Children and Family Services would like to thank the Unifour Foundation for a recent grant of $3,800. The Unifour Foundation is administered through the North Carolina Community Foundation, and this grant will be the third received from this Foundation. The grant will be used for renovations to group homes at the Foster Community and will go towards replacing kitchen countertops in one of our group homes. Southmountain very much appreciates the continued support and generosity of the Unifour Foundation and the North Carolina Community Foundation. The North Carolina Community Foundation is the single statewide community foundation serving North Carolina and has made $116 million in grants since its inception in 1988.
Camp Lake James Hosts 2nd Annual School’s Out Celebration!
On June 8, 2018, the members and staff of Camp Lake James hosted the 2nd Annual School's Out Celebration for Southmountain’s Foster Community. The event was held at Camp Lake James and about 60 children, parents, and staff from Southmountain Estate’s attended the event. A buffet lunch was served for the children, while the foster parents enjoyed relaxing at the Camp's Social Hall and were treated to lunch, courtesy of the members. It was a super fun day for the children, who kayaked, paddle boarded, swam in the lake, played in the pool and went on a nature hike led by a Park Ranger from Mount Mitchell. Southmountain would like to send a huge Thank You to the members and staff of Camp Lake James, 1780 and the Old Wildlife Club for hosting this wonderful event!
BYOP Awards Grant for Foster Community
The Burke Youth Organized Philanthropists, or BYOP recently awarded a grant to Southmountain Children and Family Services on behalf of the Foster Community. The $1,000 grant will be used to purchase bicycles and roller skates for our children. BYOP is made up of high school students who are focused on developing philanthropy skills as well as gaining a better understanding of the needs in Burke County. This is the second grant that Southmountain has received from the BYOP and we are so grateful to these students for supporting our Foster Community!
Shop Amazon!
To Support Southmountain Children and Family Services
Southmountain Children and Family Services is now participating in the Amazon Smile Foundation program! You can support Southmountain by shopping at Amazon Smile!
Amazon will donate 0.5% of the price of your eligible AmazonSmile purchases to Southmountain Children and Family Services.
How it works: Shop at smile.amazon.com instead of amazon.com. Amazon Smile is the same Amazon you know. They have the same products, the same prices and the same service as Amazon.
Go to: http://smile.amazon.com/ch/56-0672457
Sign up and bookmark in your browser for easy shopping anytime!!
Southmountain Staff Present at Local Forum
Five staff from Southmountain Children and Family Services contributed to the State of the Child/State of the Community Forum held in Boone, NC on April 17, 2018. These staff gave three presentations including “Trauma-Informed Advocacy for Foster, Adoptive, and Kinship Parents” by Dr. Holli Sink; a presentation entitled “PTSD and Caring for Traumatized Children” by Christina Holley and Robin Spicer; and “Response to Allegations of Child Abuse” presented by Selena Moretz and Stephanie Thomas. The forum was designed to help community members address the need to prevent trauma and build resilience by hosting speakers and workshops. Southmountain staff were part of over 60 presenters that led the forum; and it was a great success with over 300 people in attendance.
New Children’s Advocacy Center to Open This Summer!
Southmountain Children and Family Services will soon be expanding services and opening a new Children’s Advocacy Center! Southmountain’s fifth Children’s Advocacy Center will be located in Brevard, provide services to Transylvania County, and is scheduled to open late Summer in 2018. Southmountain will be further expanding to Eastern North Carolina in Fall 2018 with plans to open three new Children’s Advocacy Centers.
Welcome New Staff!
Over the past several months, Southmountain Children and Family Services has hired several new staff. New Clinicians at the Children’s Advocacy Centers (CAC) include Robin Todd-Hall at the Blue Ridge CAC, and Jennifer Gold who is now working as a Clinician at the Burke CAC.
New staff at the Foster Community includes Alexandra Yancey, who is a Clinician at the Estates. Laurie Boyles will be moving soon from the Toe River CAC where she worked as a Clinician to Southmountain Estates. Lynnae Hensley, formerly a Clinician at the Burke CAC has been promoted to Foster Parent Supervisor.
Please welcome these professionals and new faces to Southmountain Children and Family Services!
Southmountain Children and Family Services Add New Position
Southmountain Children and Family Services has created a new Professional Parent Supervisor position and Ms. Lynnae Hensley has been promoted to take on this role. The Professional Parent Supervisor will provide supervision to the Professional Parents employed at Southmountain Estates, our Foster Community located in Nebo, North Carolina. The Supervisor position will also allow Southmountain to add additional in-home coaching and intensive training for parents, in addition to the weekly Parent Training that already takes place. Lynnae has a Masters of Social Work and has been an employee of Southmountain since 2014. Congratulations Lynnae for this much deserved promotion!
Children's Advocacy Center of Burke County to Host Open House
Burke County Child Advocacy Center
Open House Friday, April 20, 2018 12:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. Contact Beth Cali or Kimbra Pendley at the Burke County Child Advocacy Center with any questions. Please share this open invitation with anyone in our community who may be interested. Burke County Child Advocacy Center 408 South Green Street Morganton, NC 28655 ~ (828) 430-9949
Children's Advocacy Center of McDowell County to Host Open House
Lily's Place
Children's Advocacy Center of McDowell County to Host Open House
Please join us for our Annual Open House
Wednesday, April 18, 2018
11:30 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.
378 South Main Street
Marion, NC 28752
For Food, Drinks, Awards, and Appreciation for Everyone that Supports Lily's Place and our Fight to Prevent Child Abuse
Lily's Place is a Proud Program of
Southmountain Children and Family Services
Children, Parents, and Staff Finish Strong in 5K!
On Saturday, March 10th, 15 children, foster parents and staff of Southmountain Children and Family Services participated in a 5K at Catawba Meadows Park and finished with great success! Of these 15 runners, 10 won medals in their class, including Taylor Parsons, Lynnae Hensley, and several of our children. One of our teenage boys finished very strong and came in fourth overall in the 5K. A few of our children with asthma ran their first 5K ever, and Southmountain’s 9 year old with cerebral palsy also ran and finished her first 1 mile race! Proceeds from the race went to support South Mountain Baptist Camp who provides scholarships for underprivileged children so they can attend a week of summer camp.
Children's Advocacy Center of the Toe River to Host Open House
Children's Advocacy Center of Toe River
Ally's House
Please join us for our Annual Open House
Thursday, April 19, 2018
3 P.M. to 5 P.M.
49 Rock Wall Lane
Burnsville, NC 28714
We'll being having a cook out so bring your appetite!
Ally's House is a proud program of
Southmountain Children and Family Services
Children's Advocacy Center of the Blue Ridge to Host Open House
Please come honor us with your presence!!
Monday, April 16, 2018
4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.
The Children's Advocacy Center of the Blue Ridge
8076 Hwy 105 South, Boone, NC 28607
(828) 963-9777
Please contact the CAC office or visit our website for more information www.cacbr.org
This is a not for profit organization designed to help streamline child abuse cases, prosecute the offender and provider treatment for the victim child.
** Refreshments will be served **
~ A Program of Southmountain Children and Family Services ~
Southmountain staff strengthens its' service with superior training
One of the goals of Southmountain Children and Family Services is to provide evidence-based treatment for children and families to help them heal from the trauma caused by abuse, neglect, family/community violence, or other traumatic loss. It is important that the treatment we provide is “evidence-based”, meaning that research has been done to demonstrate that the treatment will produce the desired outcome. In order to accomplish this, the staff from the Center of Excellence, the Children’s Advocacy Centers and the Foster Community must receive on-going training in treatment models so we can provide best practices treatment for children and families.
Many of our staff are currently participating in training in evidence-based treatment models. Two staff from Southmountain Estates recently began the intensive Training in Adoption Competency (TAC) provided through the Catawba County Department of Social Services. TAC is a post-Master’s curriculum designed by national adoption experts whereby TAC students master 18 areas of knowledge, values and skills that are critical to providing adoption-competent mental health services.
In March, two newly hired therapists began their training in Trauma Focused-Cognitive Behavior Therapy (TF-CBT). All children served at the Children’s Advocacy Centers and the Foster Community who experienced a traumatic event are offered a comprehensive trauma assessment to determine if a Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) diagnosis or trauma symptoms are present. If the trauma assessment yields evidence of significant trauma symptoms or a PTSD diagnosis, then the child is offered TF-CBT. TF-CBT is considered the “gold standard” in evidence-based treatment for children who have experienced a traumatic event. TF-CBT uses a psychoeducational model and the Clinician guides the victim through the therapy process. Also in March, the Family Advocates assigned to each of our Children’s Advocacy Centers participated in a week long Victim Advocacy Academy.
In addition, Southmountain administrators provide training for other professionals in the foster care and mental health fields. Dr. Holli Sink, Clinical Director and Program Administrator of Southmountain Children's Advocacy Centers and Center of Excellence in Evidence-Based Treatment worked with Duke University/Center for Child and Family Health as a faculty member to train a new cohort of trainers in the Resource Parenting Curriculum. This three day face-to-face training was held in Raleigh, earlier this month.
Silver Fork Winery to Host Southmountain Capital Improvement Fundraiser
Won't you join us for a great cause? Silver Fork Winery will be hosting a capital improvement fundraiser for Southmountain Children and Family Services on Friday, April 6, 2018 from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. $50 cost per person includes two adult beverages, heavy appetizers, and live music. The Pavilion at Silver Fork Winery is located at 5000 Patton Road, Morganton, NC 28655. Contact the agency at 828-584-1105 or email cklahre@southmountain.org to obtain tickets. Come have a fun time, provide hope, and build opportunity for children and families to successfully accomplish and fulfill their dreams!
