Starr News Spring 2011

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Starr News

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STARR

Officers

Board of Trustees

Martin L. Mitchell, Ed.D. President Chief Executive Officer

Kyle Caldwell, Chair President and CEO Michigan Nonprofit Association Lansing, MI

Wm. Chuck Jackson, MA Executive Vice President Chief Program Officer Christopher L. Smith, BBA., CPA Executive Vice President Chief Financial Officer Elizabeth A. Carey, MSW Executive Vice President Chief Strategy Officer Gary Q. Tester, MRC Executive Vice President Chief Development Officer

Michael Leach, Vice Chair Chief Financial Officer Nationwide Insurance Columbus, OH

Honorable John Hallacy District Court Judge 10th District Court Battle Creek, MI

Gary Taylor Owner Taylor Auto Sales Inc. Van Wert, OH

Lawrence Givens Blackmond and Givens, Inc. Southfield, MI

Bruce Vande Vusse Attorney Foster, Swift, Collins & Smith, P.C. Farmington Hills, MI

George A. Goodman Ypsilanti, MI

Tom Kolassa, Secretary Senior Vice President Hub International Battle Creek, MI

H. Ronald Griffith President (Retired) Baker College of Jackson Jackson, MI

Honorable Eugene A. Moore, Immediate Past Chair Chief Probate Judge (Retired) Oakland County Pontiac, MI

Jack Kresnak President and CEO Michigan’s Children Lansing, MI

Scott Bennett Vice President UBS Financial Services Birmingham, MI

Dr. Pamela Lemerand Professor Eastern Michigan University Ypsilanti, MI

George Wilson General Agent Wilson Insurance Services Gilbert Wiseman Agency Flint, MI

Trustees Emeritus Margaret Starr Leutheuser Daughter of Floyd Starr Haverford, PA Michael J. Gable Chief Operating Officer Howard and Howard Royal Oak, MI

Ralph J. Burrell President and CEO SymCon, Inc. Detroit, MI

Albert Little Vice President and Business Development Officer Greenleaf Trust Kalamazoo, MI

George D. Goodman Executive Director (Retired) Michigan Municipal League Ann Arbor, MI

Craig Carrel President and Partner Team 1 Plastics Albion, MI

William C. Rands Managing Partner Sagres Partners, L.P. Grosse Pointe, MI

Dr. Russell G. Mawby Chairman Emeritus W.K. Kellogg Foundation Battle Creek, MI

Dr. Velma Clay Director of Equal Employment Opportunity (Retired) Hart-Dole-Inouye Federal Center Battle Creek, MI

Jon A. Rhoades, Vice President (Retired) Central Mutual Insurance Van Wert, OH

William K. Stoffer Chairman and CEO Albion Machine & Tool Co. Albion, MI

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Honorary Trustees Anne Willson Dupré Granddaughter of Floyd Starr Toronto, Canada

Inside:

Diana Starr Langley Montecito, CA

A Walk Down Montcalm Lane

Sylvia Starr Richey Granddaughter of Floyd Starr Seal Beach, CA

Starr Detroit’s Alternatives Substance Abuse

President Emeritus Arlin E. Ness President Emeritus Anthem, AZ

Super Starrs

Locations Michigan: Albion, Battle Creek, Detroit, Clinton Township Ohio: Van Wert, Columbus South Dakota: Lennox

Donald J. Ribar Chief Operating Officer Haladon Technologies Upper Arlington, OH Erick Stewart President Stewart Industries LLC Battle Creek, MI

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Starr News Contents 3

President’s Message

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Growing Montcalm

Commonwealthalia

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Super Starrs

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Thank You

Martin L. Mitchell, Ed.D. President/ CEO

Greatness, it turns out, is largely a matter of conscious choice, and discipline.” – Jim Collins, Good to Great and the Social Sector

I wish you could feel the energy and excitement of the staff and students of Starr Commonwealth right now. There is so much to be thankful for and hopeful about, and that enthusiasm is rather infectious.

<

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“G

reatness is not a function of circumstance.

Starr Columbus: Foster Parents Needed See Page 10

Starr Commonwealth is at an important crossroads, one that requires us to think strategically about the future of our organization. We recently completed a strategic planning process that helped us assess Starr’s strengths and the areas we can improve upon. We also have identified areas of potential growth.

What we now have is a plan full of hope and promise. A plan that will carry Starr Commonwealth well into our 100th anniversary in 2013. Some of the initiatives and recommendations of the new strategic plan already are in place, and we are positively seeing the fruits of our labor.

A Walk Down Montcalm Lane See Page 4

13 Chaplain’s Message

We thank you for your ongoing love, faith, and support as we at Starr Commonwealth poise ourselves and the organization for excellence. Already Starr is an agency full of greatness, in large part because of the choices you have made in supporting us and the children and families we serve.

14 Featured Friends

With sincere appreciation,

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10 Foster Parents Needed 11 Gary Tester, New Officer 12 Trustee Transitions

15 Alternatives Substance Abuse 16 Honoring Our Staff Martin L. Mitchell, Ed.D., President/ CEO

17 Honor/Memorial Gifts

Mission: Create positive environments where children flourish.

Starr News

Spring, 2011 Volume 68, No. 1

Starr Commonwealth is accredited by the Council on Accreditation of Services for Families & Children. Starr Commonwealth is a non-profit organization serving children and families regardless of race, religion, color, or national origin. Founded in 1913, Starr is licensed by the states of Michigan and Ohio and serves children and families from locations in Albion, Battle Creek, Detroit, MI.; Van Wert, and Columbus, OH. The Albion campus is a Michigan Historic Site. Starr Commonwealth receives funds from social agencies, foundations, corporations, and individuals.

Kyle Caldwell, Chairman of the Board; Martin L. Mitchell, Ed. D., President and Chief Executive Officer; Wm. Chuck Jackson, MA, Executive Vice President and Chief Program Officer; Christopher L. Smith, B.B.A., C.P.A., Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer; Gary Q. Tester, MRC, Executive Vice President and Chief Development Officer; Elizabeth A. Carey, Executive Vice President and Chief Strategy & Administrative Services Officer.

13725 Starr Commonwealth Rd. Albion, MI 49224-9525 517.629.5591 info@starr.org Editorial Staff: Dana Jacob, Communications Director; Becky Domingo, Marketing Coordinator

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It’s been nearly a year since Montcalm School for Girls relocated from Van Wert, Ohio to Albion, Michigan.

And what an exciting year it has been!

The move was monumental in that it marked a first for Starr and Montcalm that girls would reside on the Albion residential campus. What’s more, is that Montcalm School for Boys and Girls saw tremendous growth in the past year. At the time of publication, there were 60 students enrolled at the therapeutic boarding school, almost double enrollment a year ago.

“We all are thrilled about having both boys and girls on our Michigan campus and the transition could not have been better,” said Kathy Hart, Associate Director of Montcalm School.

Just down the tree-lined road is Mendelssohn Cottage, built in 1935. Its spacious interior includes a large cement fireplace in the living room. Once remodeling is complete, Mendelssohn will be another top-notch living space for boys of Montcalm.

In our continued efforts to create positive environments where children flourish, improvements also are being made to the Klare Building, the school for Montcalm students. In addition, all classrooms in the Klare Building are now equipped with interactive whiteboards, a state-of-the-art assistive learning technology that helps students of all abilities and learning styles, and a Sensory Integration Room recently opened.

Sensory Integration Room

With the increased demand for our program came the need to renovate cottages that were outdated and sitting idle. Newton Cottage was beautifully updated to house the first girls on campus, and its neighbor Wilcox Cottage recently received some tender loving care, too. Seeing as each cottage was originally built in the early 1900s to house boys, remodeling was necessary to become proper residences for young women. Both cottages are beautifully decorated to provide warm, bright, lively, and comfortable environments for girls to focus on learning and healing.

A walk down Montcalm Lane

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With the new Sensory Integration Room, Montcalm School employs a full-time Occupational Therapist.

This room will assist students who are hyper- or hypo- responsive to environmental stimuli to benefit from therapies that enable them to self-regulate emotions and maintain a level of alertness when their brains do not receive the sensory information needed to do their jobs. The occupation, or “job,” is to function in school and achieve adequate social skills. Sensory integrative techniques are used in collaboration with the student to identify what activities they find alerting, relaxing, self-soothing and grounding. The room is designed to provide a variety of sensory experiences for all sensory systems.

“This has been an exciting year for Montcalm School. We have added two new cottages and a Sensory Integration Room. Plus, all of our staff are trained in trauma-informed practices. We can't wait to see the growth and changes in the next year,” Hart said.

CHANGING LIVES

Starr News

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by Amy Reimann, Director of Archives and Alumni Affairs

The Starr News began as a student publication

JOIN US FOR THE CHILDHOOD TRAUMA PRACTITIONER’S ASSEMBLY Obtain all Certification levels.

This four-day conference will include Level-1 and Level-2 TLC Certification courses. You may also attend a variety of trauma-informed and resiliencefocused 3-hour workshops for all certification levels.

Assembly 2011 Theme: Trauma-Informed, Resilience-Focused Practices Our keynote speaker, Jeff Georgi, will present on the Adolescent Brain. www.starrtraining.org/tlc 877.306.5256

Childhood Trauma Practitioner’s Assembly July 12 -15 July 12-15, 2011 – 8:30 am to 3:45 pm Macomb ISD Education Center Clinton Township, Michigan TLC Certified – $140/day Non-Certified – $165/day Continuing Education credits available. Free Parking.

titled The Static in March 1944. The objective of circulation was to get campus news out to former Starr boys serving in the armed forces during the war. The plan was to publish 250 copies per week of a one-page mimeographed newsletter. Costs for a one-year supply of paper, ink, and stencils totaled $43. Wiley Brownlee was editor, Earl Gobel the manager and Charles Papin the production supervisor.

The work was done in the Social Service office between the hours of one and three in the afternoon.

The following year the newsletter was expanded to a newspaper-type format with professional printing in order to hold all the news gathered on alumni. Still mainly a tool to keep alumni in touch with the campus and each other, the name was changed to Starr Commonwealth News. Wiley Brownlee had by this time moved to Ann Arbor and the editorship was handed over to Bill Pond. Earl Gobel remained the manager and cartoonist and Robert Failing was named the campus editor. Mrs. Brown remained on staff as the adviser. Publication became once a month.

The first issue was filled with articles about Pfc. Edward Gay being decorated for valor while serving in North Africa, Miss Staudt’s vacation, Uncle Floyd’s activities that week, a Rudyard Kipling poem, and snippets reported about alumni activities. Within a month the publication had expanded to include a cartoon feature drawn by Earl Gobel and was printed on two separate pages.

By the end of the year, Charles Papin was cranking out 8 pages an issue on the mimeograph machine.

The following decades show transitions to a quarterly newsletter that also changed names: Starr Boys, Starr Boys Digest, and finally to the current title Starr News.

Publication responsibilities transferred to a professional staff in the fall of 1952 when the format also became a popular smaller magazine style. This transitioned over the decades into what you are now reading. Starr News is still connecting alumni and people interested in the work and mission of Starr Commonwealth to the campus and each other.

If you have questions or comments about any Starr historical topics, please contact Amy Reimann, Director of Archives and Alumni Affairs, at 800.837.5591.

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Starr Commonwealth employees are instrumental in Starr’s ability to provide quality services to some of the most vulnerable children and families in Michigan, Ohio, the country and even internationally. In this feature, we recognize and thank Starr employees for their commitment, passion and belief in Starr’s youth, mission and values.

Super Starrs

“When I was in high school I had to volunteer as part of a class that I was taking. I chose to work the fun fair at the Doris Klaussen Developmental Center in Battle Creek, Michigan. At the time I thought I was pretty cool and did not display much empathy towards others. At the fair I was assigned to the face painting station. The students stopping to have their faces painted had severe disabilities, many in wheelchairs. I did not think I could complete such a task. However, three boys from Starr Commonwealth arrived to work the face painting station and convinced me that they would help me work through it. Being there for a service learning project, the boys from Starr had me painting faces by the end of the evening and really made a lasting impression on me.” ~ Kristi Wichmann, MA, Senior Clinician, Starr Albion Fortunately for Starr, after graduating college with a bachelor’s degree in telecommunications, Kristi Wichmann searched through the “help wanted” ads and discovered that Starr Commonwealth was hiring. For Kristi, “it triggered those memories from so many years before.”

In 1997, Wichmann began employment with Starr Commonwealth as a Youth Specialist. In six months she was promoted to a Family Worker, a position she held for two years before being promoted again to Senior Clinician, her current position. As Senior Clinician, Wichmann is responsible for writing treatment plans, group counseling sessions, co-therapy sessions, teamwork training, team meetings and coverage with the group. “There are many days that Kristi Wichmann with I am doing paperwork at home due to the fact that there are one of the many boys not enough hours in the day,” Wichmann said. she has impacted.

Having worked all but one of her 14 years at Starr in Herrick Cottage, Kristi has always worked with the Sexually Reactive Youth population and occasionally youth with Abuse/Neglect cases. According to her, “There are many challenges working with this population. I am not a firm believer that the Sex Offender Registry is for all juveniles;

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I have observed many children on the Registry who do not belong.”

What she enjoys most, Wichmann said, “is seeing a young man change who didn’t believe he had it in him to change. The change can be very gradual or it can hit like a truck. Either way it is one of the most rewarding things about the job. At this time, we have two young men that are students at Western Michigan University and others that are doing well in the community. Seeing a child doing great things in the community, that always makes you feel good at the end of the day when you think you don’t have the energy for another day.”

Herrick Cottage

Having worked in Herrick Cottage for 13 years, Wichmann says, “We function well as a team because we all work together to encourage and support our children. We bring many different treatment styles to the table, but they balance each other out.”

Wichmann enjoys watching the youth progress from beginning to end. “I want to see the positive attributes that a child develops while at Starr. This will look differently for many kids, yet I believe that all students benefit from being here,” she said.

Wichmann’s employment at Starr has impacted more than just our youth. Kristi shares, “Starr really taught me a lot about empathy when I first started working here.

This has served me well in my life.”

CHANGING LIVES

Thank You Dear Friends,

It is your generosity and kindness that help support our efforts here at Starr Commonwealth.

This agency, dedicated to creating an environment in which children can flourish, has been serving children and families for more than 97 years. I know that if you could visit our programs and campuses you would agree that children do indeed flourish.

Each day children and young adults in the programs at Starr Commonwealth experience a touch of spring. Many still remember the harsh winters of their young lives all too well and hope that spring truly does arrive and stay.

Because of you, our generous supporters, we received more than $7,000 in donations from the Spring Appeal.

We thank you for helping us create environments that nurture and support each child and their desire for warmth and light. Spring has arrived, indeed!

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Foster Care continued

It’s never too late to change a life.

Or too early.

In situations such as this, the courts must ensure proper care for children whose parents may be unable to care for them, who have suffered trauma, neglect or abuse within their home, or who have behavioral issues that may benefit from a change in environment.

Starr Columbus Hannah Neil Center is here to help.

Starr Columbus provides three levels of Treatment Foster Care to children from birth to 21 years of age: Traditional, Specialized, and Exceptional. The Exceptional level foster homes provide care to children with developmental delays and special needs.

A fragile 3-month-old baby, born prematurely and facing ongoing medical problems, is ready to be discharged from the hospital.

Unfortunately, the biological mother failed to attend the mandated classes to properly care for her newborn needing specialized care.

“ Fostering these children at their lowest point, providing a safe, stable home while meeting the regulatory requirements and often working with the biological parents, requires the commitment of exemplary individuals.”

Foster children are referred to Starr Columbus from throughout Ohio, while CHANGING Starr foster parents reside in Franklin County and contiguous counties. Foster LIVES parents typically have experience with special needs children, whether from their biological children, or from working within social work, mental health fields or daycares.

Starr Treatment Foster Care staff members discuss the level of commitment needed from potential parents as well as the challenges that will come from bringing someone else’s child into their home. continued on next page

Starr News

Starr’s foster parents receive training and group support in addition to weekly visits from a Foster Care Counselor, providing constant therapeutic support and care, with frequency based upon needs of the child and family.

Gary Q. Tester of Dundee, Michigan, now serves the organization as Executive Vice President and Chief Development Officer.

Tester most recently served as Chief Advocacy Officer at Holy Cross Children’s Services, where he was responsible for marketing, communications, government Starr’s new relations and fund development Chief Development Officer with a focus on government grants and contracts. He is fulfilling a similar role at Starr as Chief Development Officer.

Tester’s previous experience and qualifications include having served as Director and Chief of Prevention at the Ohio Department of Alcohol and Drug Addiction Services, Director of Advocacy and Development for St. Anthony Villa, and Executive Director of the Toledo Youth Commission.

According to Assistant Director Veronica Burroughs, “Starr Columbus’ Foster Care program is constantly in need of foster parents meeting the eligibility requirements. In 2009, seven Starr foster children were adopted by their foster parents.” While this provides the children with loving, stable homes, in these situations it also resulted in Starr Columbus losing seven great foster homes.

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“The motivation to be a foster parent is discussed as well as the fact that the ‘connection’ will not be the same as that with a biological child,” Burroughs said.

“Fostering these children at their lowest point, providing a safe, stable home while meeting the regulatory requirements and often working with the biological parents, requires the commitment of exemplary individuals,” Burroughs said. Foster parents boast of their foster children’s successes, proud of accomplishments like high school graduation and college.

Frequently, foster parents remain in contact with the child and biological family; sometimes providing further support after the child has technically left their care.

For more information on Starr Columbus’ Foster Care program, to provide support by donation or by becoming a foster parent, please visit www.starrfostercare.org or call 614.491.5784.

With a bachelor’s degree in psychology and a master’s degree in rehabilitation counseling, Gary began his career as a juvenile probation officer and later became an adolescent therapist at The Toledo Hospital Alcohol and Drug Treatment Center. He also served for more than five years as Executive Director of the Toledo/ Lucas County C.A.R.E.S. Tester also has extensive volunteer experience, having given his time and talents to numerous boards and committees since the early 1990s. He currently serves as President of the Board of Directors for the Michigan Federation for Children and Families, which unites private, nonprofit human service providers like Starr and influences funding, programs and operations to ensure the highest quality programs for children and families in the state.

“Gary Tester has an extensive background of working with youth and families and possesses the executive management and advocacy experience that fit perfectly with our organization’s strategic direction,” said Martin L. Mitchell, President and CEO of Starr Commonwealth. “We are thrilled to welcome Gary to Starr Commonwealth and look forward to his leadership and passion as Starr Commonwealth approaches its 100th anniversary.”

Tester and his wife, Lynn, reside in Dundee, Michigan and have six children at home as well as two adult sons and their families.

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C haplain’s M essage

Starr Commonwealth’s Board of Trustees met in April for the annual Board Retreat, during which several Trustees were recognized for their time and talent.

Over the past few weeks, during our campus Chapel Services, I have challenged the students in attendance with the following thought, “What we believe about God, is perhaps, more important than believing in God.”

Eugene “Bud” Moore concluded his service as Chairman of the Board, while Secretary Jennifer Lawter’s term of service ended.

Trustees Jim Pelt and Noble Billingsley also were recognized for their commitments as their terms ended.

Kyle Caldwell, President and CEO of Michigan Nonprofit Association, will assume the role of Chairman.

Former Starr Chairman of the Board Bud Moore (left) and new Chairman Kyle Caldwell (right)

“This is an exciting time for Starr Commonwealth,” said Martin L. Mitchell, President and CEO of Starr Commonwealth. “We’re very fortunate for the leadership provided by our visionary Board of Trustees who truly believes in this organization and our ability to successfully transform as Starr approaches its centennial anniversary.”

Now, before anyone gets upset let me explain. Of course belief in God is important, but our belief in God is shaped by what we believe about God. I would dare say that there is no belief in God, unless we first have some ideas about God. The ideas we have about God come from many and varied sources – to name a few: our families, nature, life experiences, personal observations, the shared wisdom of past generations, unexplainable phenomenon, love (in all of the varied and wonderful ways it is expressed), revelation and even death itself. All of these and more provide ideas about God which in turn create within each of us concepts, expectations and faith in and about God. I believe this is why the Scriptures The Scriptures are are full of descriptions of God – who God is, how God is known, how God full of descriptions works in our lives, what God’s attributes are, and God’s unconditional of God – who God is, love for all of us.

how God is known, how God works in our lives, what God’s attributes are, and God’s unconditional love for us.

For me, what I believe about God is that God is Creator, Savior and Lover.

God creates the world and all that is in it, including me. This Creation is ongoing, which requires me to make changes throughout my life. God saves me. God is willing to do for me, what I am unwilling to do for myself.

As someone who is a Christian, this means allowing God’s Son to take my place on a cross which I have built through the years with my own hands as I have hurt myself and others through my thoughts, words and actions.

God is Lover. God walks with me, talks with me, and tells me who I am each day of my life. God helps me to understand that there is a place in God’s heart that only I can fill. The same is true for all of us.

There is a place in God’s heart that can only be filled by you. When you are in love with someone you only feel complete when that person is with you. God is in love with us, and desires that we spend the rest of eternity with God. That makes me, and that makes each of you, indispensible not only for God’s sake, but for the sake of those around us, and for the sake of the world.

Pictured (l-r): Chief Development Officer Gary Tester, incoming Board Chairman Kyle Caldwell, Montcalm student Morgan, outgoing Board Chairman Bud Moore, Starr student Bryon and President and CEO Martin Mitchell.

The Board of Trustees sets the strategic direction and provides oversight leadership related to the property, affairs and business of Starr. These individuals are invaluable to the organization’s success as they lend their leadership, commitment to diversity and positive public image in helping Starr reach its goals.

I pray that in some small way our students who have found their way to Chapel over the past few weeks are coming to understand this – that they are indispensible to God, and therefore, to those around them and to the world.

Attention all Alumni: We want to hear what’s new with you! If you have an accomplishment, milestone or other occasion you would like to announce in our publications, please use the alumni update form that can be found on the alumni page at www.starr.org/alumni-update-form. If you don’t have access to the Internet, you can contact Amy Reimann, Director of Archives and Alumni Affairs, at 800-837-5591. We will post news and events each issue and look forward to hearing what’s going on with all of you!

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F eatured F riends As Montcalm School enrollment soared in the fall of 2010, it quickly became apparent that another cottage to house girls of the private therapeutic boarding school would soon be needed.

Newton Cottage, which was renovated and re-opened for the girls in June 2010, filled quickly and many new families were arriving to place their girls in the program. Built in 1918, Wilcox Cottage desperately needed remodeling and redecorating in order to bring it up to the standards we have as living quarters for our youth and to meet the needs of the families we serve.

Four visitors from The Andersons, Inc. (right) met with Montcalm girls in the newly renovated Wilcox Cottage.

Originally named for Caroline Wilcox, a generous donor and one of founder Floyd Starr’s closest friends, the cottage was the third to be built on campus.It can accommodate 22 students, and boasts large, bright living spaces on the main floor and bedrooms upstairs, some with a view of Montcalm Lake.

Through the generosity of The Andersons, Inc., Starr was able to recently renovate the cottage so that new youth could comfortably reside in a beautiful, healing environment while undergoing specialized therapeutic and educational services at Montcalm School. Renovations included a new bathroom with private stalls, a redecorated living room with new furnishings, and new carpet and paint throughout.

Starr has enjoyed a long relationship with The Andersons, Inc., the Ohio-based agribusiness that also operates an ethanol plant nearby Starr’s Albion, Michigan campus. Recently, representatives from the company traveled from Maumee, Ohio, and Michigan to visit Wilcox Cottage and meet the students living in the cottage.

Wilcox Cottage

ALTERNATIVES SUBSTANCE ABUSE

Starr Detroit’s Substance Abuse Counselors often find one of the most difficult aspects of the job is dispelling the myth that drug usage is “just something teenagers do.”

Alternatives Substance Abuse is a community-based 90-day program operated

by Starr Detroit. Young men, ages 12-18, are placed in the program by court order and often as a result of a delinquent charge. Their experience in Alternatives is preceded by residential placement, frequently at Starr’s Albion campus.

As a Substance Abuse Counselor, Eddie Miller, Jr. cites the underlying issues often causing the substance abuse as poor anger management, authority issues and poor family relationships. Miller states, “many times we work with the families, parents or guardians on how they relate to the kids. An integral aspect of what we do is work with the caregiver on how they relate to the youth as anxiety often stems here, leading to substance abuse.

The Substance Abuse program treats anywhere from 150-200 Detroit youth annually with the majority of cases specific to marijuana abuse and a few with alcohol abuse. Surprisingly for the majority of youth in treatment, many identified a family member as the person that introduced them to the drug.

“One of the biggest challenges we face is to make these kids see that drugs are illegal and have damaging effects,” Miller said.

During the visit, each of the girls shared a little about themselves, how Montcalm is changing their lives and then guided our guests on a tour of the cottage. They then had lunch together in the grand dining room.

Counselors, such as Miller, focus their twice weekly individual or group meetings on identifying the youth’s stressors, triggers and approach to anger management. Stressors often are relationships with parents, guardians or school. More often than not, the young men in the program are up to one grade level behind in school. Many youth do not believe that usage contributes to tardiness and skipping.

“This is so fantastic,” said Doug Deland, Plant Manager, Albion Ethanol. “Normally we get a ‘thank you’ note or something in the mail, but to be on campus, meet the students and see the beautiful campus and cottage, this is so rewarding.”

Youth in the program are encouraged to participate in a weekly Male Mentoring program to learn life skills. Activities also are planned that occupy their time, taking them away from negative peers and influences. A big challenge for the youth is to be out in the community and learn how to say “no.”

On behalf of The Andersons, Inc., visiting campus along with Deland were Julie Payeff, Cathy Redford, and Gary Wyman. They were presented with a photo album of before and after photos from the makeover and a plaque to thank them for assisting with the renovations.

A duplicate plaque is permanently installed in the cottage in their honor.

Nearing completion of the program, a relapse prevention plan is established and reviewed with each youth. Positive, drug-free community activities and establishments are provided along with a follow-up plan and an invitation to continue attending group meetings when they feel the need.

For Miller, working as a Substance Abuse Counselor is gratifying due to “the relationships developed with the teenagers. Seeing a kid that stays clean and even those that relapse and then manage to turn it around and stay clean, those are rewarding.”

For more information on programs offered through Starr Detroit or how to support these programs, please visit us at www.starr.org/detroit or call 313.794.4447.

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CHANGING LIVES Starr News

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H O N O R I N G O U R S TA F F The longevity of Starr Commonwealth employees and recent retirees listed below is remarkable.

We offer our sincere congratulations and thank the following individuals for their dedication, passion, and commitment to Starr’s mission and vision as well as the many youth we have served with their help: 20 Years Carolyn Amos Sue Rankin Harry Sykora

25 Years Doug Cooper Jeff Cornhill Mike Kitson Norm Ostrum

30 Years James Davis

35 Years Larry Hazel Rich Mattea Ken Ponds

40 Years Marty Mitchell

Gary Hammontree retired after 37 years of employment, from 9/27/1973 to 3/18/2011.

Linda Frederick retired after 33 years of employment, from 8/27/1979 to 1/8/2011.

She returned as temporary part-time employee on 5/4/2011.

Mike Woodruff retired after 37 years of employment, from 12/24/1973 to 1/22/2011.

Top: Marty Mitchell at his 40th anniversary celebration. Bottom: Starr employees honored for years of service.

We guard your privacy.

Starr Commonwealth does not sell or trade donor contact information.

We do recognize and celebrate our donors’ contributions by using their names in various publications.

If you would like your gift to remain anonymous, please let us know. If you have any questions or concerns, please contact the Development Office at 800.837.5591, ext. 2436 or info@starr.org.

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HONOR GIFTS are thoughtful ways to remember a special person and/or a special occasion, such as a new birth, birthday, anniversary, graduation, Mother’s Day or Father’s Day, while also helping Starr children. When sending an honor gift, please provide the address of the honoree. We will send an acknowledgement card to let them know of your thoughtfulness, but we won’t mention the gift amount. You may call in your honor gift for faster acknowledgement at: 800.837.5591. Honor gifts also may be made online at: www.starr.org.

SPECIAL REMEMBRANCES Honor and Memorial Gifts

MEMORIAL GIFTS offer an enduring tribute to the memory of a friend or loved one, while extending a helping hand to the children of Starr Commonwealth. When sending a memorial gift, please provide the address of a family member of the deceased to whom we can send an acknowledgement card.

We will let them know of your thoughtfulness, but won’t mention the gift amount. You may call in your memorial gift for faster acknowledgement at: 800.837.5591. Memorial donations also may be made online at: www.starr.org.

Here is a listing of Honor and Memorial gifts received from 09/22/2010 to 05/10/2011. Donors are listed below the name of the person in whose memory or honor they contributed. Gifts not listed here will appear in a future issue of Starr News.

If we missed your name or an error has occurred with your listing, please forgive us and contact us so we may correct it in the next issue.

IN HONOR OF: DANIEL AND SOFIA AGUILA Mr. and Mrs. George D. Angelidis DANIEL ARTMAN Mrs. Norma S. Artman SUSAN L. BEAZLEY Mrs. Sylvia S. Richey ALAN AND LINDA (MUUL) BERGER Mr. and Mrs. Dallas Seiler THOMAS AND SANDY BOWMAN Dr. and Mrs. Arlin E. Ness SANDRA BROADNAX Ms. Charlotte Glenn-Frey HELEN Z. BUNKER Dr. and Mrs. Arlin E. Ness DAVID AND EDIE COLE Mr. and Mrs. Harold L. Walters NATALIE R. COLES Dr. and Mrs. Neil Cole JENNA COPENHAVER Mr. and Mrs. Dennis Wilson GALINA DASSE Mr. and Mrs. Matthew Dasse KENNETH AND RUTH DAVIS Dr. and Mrs. Arlin E. Ness MONYGEYWA D. ELLIOT Ms. Elisa Elliot ROBERT M. FAILING Mr. and Mrs. Stephen Raber TOM FLEISCHMANN Mr. and Mrs. Delbert Benson

ROBERT AND DOROTHY GERHOLZ Dr. and Mrs. Arlin E. Ness GEORGE D. GOODMAN Ms. Jewell A. Taylor ROBERT A. GRADY Ms. Dora Grady HELEN J. GRINNELL Dr. and Mrs. Arlin E. Ness KIRK AND LINDA HARDREN Mr. Michael Bird MR. AND MRS. MILES JONES Mrs. Evelyn Jones MR. AND MRS. RONALD JONES Mrs. Evelyn Jones JACK LAUFF Dr. George H. Lauff GEN AND JOHN LYNCH Mr. and Mrs. Larry Snyder CHRISTOPHER S. MAYLE Mr. and Mrs. Donald L. Mayle MARCELLA MOOTZ Miss Sara Lou Teets ARLIN AND BARBARA NESS Mr. and Mrs. Dennis J. LaFleur TOM PUHL Mr. and Mrs. Ralph Kirch GENE PURDY Mr. and Mrs. R. J. Colter LIBBY QUAIL Mr. Thomas Quail, Jr. SYLVIA S. RICHEY Ms. Susan L. Beazley NICHOLAS ROHWETTER Mr. and Mrs. Robert Rohwetter

TIM SCHOESSEL Mr. and Mrs. Carl A. Schoessel DALLAS AND LEONA SEILER Dr. and Mrs. Arlin E. Ness LEONARD SHOULDERS Mrs. Diana Shoulders and Family PAUL AND LIBBY STEARNS Dr. and Mrs. Arlin E. Ness ELLA STOVER Dr. and Mrs. Arlin E. Ness MARY E. TATROE Dr. and Mrs. Arlin E. Ness GENEVA THOMPSON Mr. and Mrs. Jack Reed EDWIN A. WALKER, JR. Ms. Margaret W. Walker JEFFREY WEINTHAL Dr. Joel Weinthal

IN MEMORY OF: GERALD ADAMS Mrs. Carolyn Adams JAMES ANDERSON Mrs. Margaret N. Anderson LOVELLA BARHITE Mr. and Mrs. Kenneth Barhite ELLEN A. BARROWS Mr. Paul L. Barrows RICHARD BAUER Mrs. Sylvia Richey THEOFILIS A. BELDYGA Mrs. Mary Beldyga

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GLENN W. BEHLER Mrs. Virginia L. Behler RALPH W. BEHLER Mrs. Virginia L. Behler HELEN BERRY Mr. and Mrs. Walter Fisher SUZANNE J. BOSSERD Mr. Thomas L. Bosserd IRMA BRADLEY Mrs. Doris M. Bradley ETHEL L. BREWER Dr. and Mrs. Jeffrey C. Carrier Mr. and Mrs. Scott Jacob ROSALIND BRISCO Mr. and Mrs. Jesse Mason LUCILE H. BRUNER Mr. and Mrs. William J. Bruner BETTE BUSH Mr. Donald R. Bush ARTHUR W. BUTLER Mr. James Butler DOROTHY CABAY Hillside Middle School THOMAS CADWALLADER Mrs. Jane Cadwallader JEANETTE CAMPLESE Ms. Cynthia Chalmers HAROLD CARROW Mr. and Mrs. Paul Perosak ROBERTA B. CHANEY Mr. and Mrs. Richard P. Makley LESLIE CHILSON Ms. Roselle C. Havens EDWARD S. COE Mr. and Mrs. Robert S. Pettengill U. E. JOHN COLLINS Ms. Kay Collins TERESA COLTER Mr. and Mrs. R. J. Colter FORREST CREASON Mr. and Mrs. Walter E. Wille DONALD J. CUMMINGS Mr. and Mrs. Kenneth E. Cummings JOSEPH R. DALLEY Mr. and Mrs. Donald R. Shepard BRUCE WILSON DAVIS Mr. Robert C. Davis MAURICE N. DAVIS Mrs. Rebecca Davis QUEEN ESTHER DAVIS Giarmarco, Mullins & Horton, P.C. SARA L. DE LA VEGA Dr. Aurelio De La Vega HEINRICH AND MARTHA DIENER Mr. and Mrs. Matthew Dasse JULIA DUNN Mr. and Mrs. R. J. Colter DON EARLY Mrs. Marilynn G. Reiman LLOYD S. EDWARDS Mr. and Mrs. Paul Edwards

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PHYLLIS EDWARDS Mr. and Mrs. Paul Edwards VIRGINIA EDWARDS Mr. and Mrs. Paul Edwards DAVID B. FAIL Mrs. Mary L. Fail and Family LLOYD E. FINCH Dr. and Mrs. Martin L. Mitchell VIRGINIA STADLE FLOREZ Mr. and Mrs. Robert W. Graves FRANK FOOTE CPA Dr. and Mrs. Don Nelson JOHN GARY Mr. and Mrs. Harley Dodge Dr. and Mrs. Martin L. Mitchell Ms. Elsie Williamson RALPH GIEHLS Dr. and Mrs. Martin L. Mitchell MR. AND MRS. DALE GRANGER, SR. Miss Diane M. Granger RAFAIL GRAYFER Mr. and Mrs. William D. Kerns SARAH FAILING GRONNA Dr. and Mrs. Robert M. Failing JOSEPH GUASTELLA Mr. and Mrs. Frank Guastella HARVEY HALL Mr. and Mrs. Robert E. Hazel LETHA HARMAN Mr. Millard Harman, Jr. GRACE HARRIS Ms. Joanne Wolf SALLY HARRIS Mrs. Elizabeth C. Horne CATHERINE HEINLEN Dr. George H. Lauff HARRY HELWIG Mr. and Mrs. Paul Edwards JOHN D. HICKS Mr. Hervey R. Ehret MARGARET HIERMAN Mr. and Mrs. Paul Edwards ROY AND MARGARET L. HILL Drs. Richard W. and Susan Hill EDWARD G. HOWE Mr. and Mrs. Brian V. Howe FRANCES (CALDWELL) HUBBARD Mrs. Marilynn G. Reiman STUART M. HUGHES Dr. and Mrs. Arlin Ness MABEL AND LEW HUNT Mrs. Madeline G. Weidman HAROLD AND MARY HURDLEY Mr. and Mrs. John J. Dick HENRIETTA JANSSEN Mrs. Phyllis J. Grimm JOHN R. JANSSEN Mrs. Phyllis J. Grimm RANDY L. KEELER Mr. and Mrs. Kenneth E. Cummings ELLEN MULRY KEENAN Mr. and Mrs. Mark Kuban

HOWARD AND M. JOSEPHINE KERN Mr. and Mrs. Olivier Dulac VIRGINIA KLINE Mr. John H. Kline DR. GORDON G. KNAPP Mrs. Joan B. Knapp CHARLES W. AND ALMA M. LAFLEUR Mr. and Mrs. Dennis J. LaFleur DONALD LANCASTER Mrs. Kay Lancaster JOHN LANCE Dr. and Mrs. Martin L. Mitchell GEORGE J. LAUFF Dr. George H. Lauff JOHN G. LAUFF lll Dr. George H. Lauff MARY ANNA LAUFF Dr. George H. Lauff RAYMOND F. LAUFF Dr. George H. Lauff EMILY LEWIS Ms. Julie Davis DONALD H. LILJE Ms. Betty A. Lilje GUNNAR LINDAHL Mrs. Ruth Lindahl JANE LOGAN Mr. George A. Martin JESSIE LONGHURST Mrs. Evelyne Gay JAMES J. MALCHIODI Dr. Cathy Malchiodi JOHN MANIKOFF Mr. and Mrs. David R. Sheppard SYBLE LAVERNE MATTEA Mr. and Mrs. Simon Bisson Dr. and Mrs. Martin L. Mitchell JOHN MAC D. AND LOUISE W. MATTHEWS Mr. and Mrs. John M. Matthews WILL AND SENIA MCCLAIN Mr. and Mrs. Lawrence Givens MARY ANN MCCLURE Mr. Norvin D. McClure GLINDA MCCUNE Mr. James F. McCune R. BRADNER MEAD Ms. Pam Davis LUCILLE MERDGEN Ms. Sylvia Richey GLADYS AND GEORGE MESLER Dr. Linda M. Muul GEORGIA MESSERLEY Mr. and Mrs. Paul Edwards DIANE MICHELE Ms. Paulette Rancour ASA MILES, JR. Mrs. Linda Howard VIVIAN MILLER Mr. Edgar W. Miller

Watch your gift grow.

Do you work for a company that offers a matching gifts program?

Or, are you retired from a matching gifts company? If so, you could double – maybe even triple – your gifts to Starr Commonwealth children simply by letting us know. Just ask your employer or former employer to provide you with the paperwork you need.

Fill it out and send it to Attention: Development Office, Starr Commonwealth, 13725 Starr Commonwealth Road, Albion, MI 49224-9910

Thank you for caring!

MAX L. MITCHELL Mr. and Mrs. Kenneth Crandall Ms. Elsie Williamson PHYLLIS MITCHELL Mr. and Mrs. Paul Suprenant SYLVIA MORSE Mr. and Mrs. Bruce W. Morse HANNAH NEIL Ms. Mary Lou Bonner BENJAMIN M. NOWITZ Ms. Tracy Dimola MARION OCHS Mr. James W. Ochs JAMES OLIVER Mr. and Mrs. R. J. Colter ROY W. OLSON Mrs. Mary E. Olson CLARA MAXINE PATTERSON Mr. Richard. A. Patterson PETER N. PETERSON Mr. Paul E. P. Carlson MARGARET M. PETSCH Mrs. Marian M. Wood R. CRAIG PETTY Dr. and Mrs. Martin L. Mitchell Dr. and Mrs. Arlin Ness JAMES H. PHILLIPS Mrs. Ruth B. Phillips ELEANOR JEAN REED Mr. and Mrs. Simon Bisson Dr. and Mrs. Jeffrey C. Carrier Mr. and Mrs. Michael Domingo Dr. and Mrs. Andrew French Mr. and Mrs. Scott Jacob Mr. and Mrs. Mark Kuban Mr. and Mrs. Daniel K. Moore Dr. and Mrs. David Reimann Ms. Diane Shuster JON REUM Ms. Juanita Wojcik GERALD D. ROBINSON Mr. and Mrs. Bill Davis Mr. and Mrs. Donald E. Pierce Ms. Melma Rubel Mr. and Mrs. Steven Sieracke PAUL FRANKLIN ROBINSON Dr. and Mrs. Martin L. Mitchell

GWYNN ROBISON Mr. and Mrs. E. Wray Brooks LAUREN ROCHE Mrs. Geraldine Reyes WILLIAM SALLACE Mr. and Mrs. Peter J. Ryerson IRIS SHAW Dr. and Mrs. Brian Shaw DAVID SCHMIDT Mr. and Mrs. Robert J. Rups JOSEPHINE SHADE Mrs. Janice E. Ephron Mrs. Myrene Hardenbergh Mr. and Mrs. Dan R. McAfee Dr. and Mrs. Arlin Ness CHAD M. SHELTON Dr. and Mrs. Philip Mason L. D. SHOULDERS Mrs. Diana Shoulders and Family ROGER SITES Ms. Lori Degen FRANCYLLEN SMITH, SR. Mr. and Mrs. Jake Warren EDWARD J. SOMOSKI Mrs. Doris L. Somoski DR. EARLE W. SPOHN Mr. and Mrs. Fredric Kaehler ANTHONY H. STANDFAST Ms. Alice Marhevka "UNCLE" FLOYD STARR Mr. and Mrs. Leonard Beard "GRANDPA" FLOYD STARR Mrs. Sylvia S. Richey ELTA HELEN ARBER STARR Mrs. Sylvia S. Richey Mr. Michael R. Weaver DAVID STARR, JR. Mrs. Sylvia S. Richey DAVID STARR, SR. Mrs. Sylvia S. Richey WILLIAM C. STEWART Ms. Nancy Broadwell Ms. Sarah S. Leroy Mrs. Eleanor K. Stewart Mr. Gregg B. Bryant Ms. Susan Stewart HAROLD C. STOUT Dr. and Mrs. Martin L. Mitchell Mr. and Mrs. George Wilson

JOSHUA TAYLOR Mr. Adam Schwartz JOHN TUCKER Dr. and Mrs. Arlin Ness GORDON E. TURNER Mr. and Mrs. Bill Davis PHYLLIS TURNER Mr. and Mrs. Bill Davis EILEEN WALLING Mr. Robert T. Walling RANDY S. WALWORTH Mr. and Mrs. Tom M. Walworth, Jr. FRED WEBERLING Mrs. Fran Weberling LEONARD WEIDMAN Mrs. Madeline G. Weidman KENNETH J. WELTY Mr. and Mrs. John H. Welty Ms. Jane Wigfall VERDA M. WELTY Mr. and Mrs. John H. Welty Ms. Jane Wigfall OLIVE B. WHITE Mr. Robert G. White WILLIE MARVIN WHITEHEAD, JR. Mr. and Mrs. Christian Ferguson RICHARD F. WHITMORE Mr. and Mrs. Ralph Kirch BYRON J. WIGMAN Mr. and Mrs. Brian V. Howe DAVID WILLIAMS Dr. and Mrs. Martin L. Mitchell JANE ELEANOR WILLIAMSON Ms. Elsie Williamson RALPH WILLIAMSON Ms. Elsie Williamson HARRY S. WURTZ Mr. Robert E. Wurtz MURIEL ANNA YOUNGDAHL Dr. and Mrs. Martin L. Mitchell ANDREW ZANETTI Mr. Fankie A. Zanetti CAROL ZUVICH Mr. and Mrs. Mark Kuban Names appearing in brown denote gifts designated for Hannah Neil Center

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