Director's Corner

COOLER DAYS
As fall is coming and the days are getting shorter and cooler, we begin to think of the holiday season. This is a time of getting together with family and friends and celebrating many fun traditions. Please remember that for many of our clients this is a very stressful season that can evoke powerful memories. Some stress- related behaviors which you have not seen previously may develop. It is good to remind ourselves that not everyone enjoys this season in the same way.

I am pleased to introduce the newest member of our Board of Directors, Ms. Monty Leitch, who joined the Board in September. She will be serving a three year term. Monty grew up in Botetourt County and currently lives in Floyd County. She is a regular columnist for the Roanoke Times. A warm welcome to DePaul Family Services, Monty!

Our Independent Living Program provides housing and support for young adults as they learn skills they will need for living on their own when they reach age 21. We have apartments for the young people in Charlottesville, Lynchburg and Roanoke. One of the skills they learn is maintaining their households. The Independent Living clients in Roanoke recently decided on a beautification project around their apartments. They picked up trash and planted flowers at their apartment complex. The planting was a first experience for some of them.

Our MR clients have fun times as well. The participants in the Waynesboro OPTIONS program had a great time at their Halloween potluck lunch on October 31st. At the party, they hosted friends from other from other area community programs. All of our OPTIONS participants have opportunities to do both community and center-based activities on a daily basis. They enjoy a wide range of arts and crafts and frequently have community visitors come to the center. Their community service projects include “Meals on Wheels,” visiting the elderly at nursing homes, and helping at elementary schools.

DePaul’s Child Development Center is beginning its third year of operation. We serve children from both Roanoke City and Roanoke County schools for after school care. During the summer months we provide a full day program. This program is especially helpful for families with children who have special needs.

The Adoption Program has begun the new Adoptive Family Preservation program. The primary focus of this service is to provide support to families whose adoptions have been finalized by the court. Families with older children frequently benefit from this level of support. The program will have one full time social worker, Kelly Bennett and two part time workers Beth Cassell and Karen Sexton, both of whom have other adoption responsibilities as well.

One of our Adoption Specialists, Meg Cosby, has accepted a new position within the agency. Meg became the Lynchburg Branch Director on October 1, 2006. We are happy to have Meg continue to work with DePaul and to take on new responsibilities.

We say goodbye and thanks to Youth Counselors Tomeka Gilbert and SheRonda Coles; Mentors Paul Fowler, Felicia Jackson, and Leanne McDaniel; Clinicians Judy Richmond, Judy Burkel, and Cornelia Hall; and Finance Assistant Rhonda Hurley.

Sue Bentley
Executive Director
DePaul Family Services