Youthville Expert Guide Corporate Headquarters 4505 E. 47th St. South Wichita, KS 67210 www.youthville.org 316.529.9100 Phone 316.529.9351 Fax 800.593.1950 Toll Free
Expert Guide This Expert Guide is intended for members of the media seeking expertise on a wide range of nonprofit and child welfare related topics. The Youthville employees listed in this guide are available to provide expert opinions and serve as a resource for news stories. To arrange an interview with any of these experts, please contact: Megan Smith, Public Relations Manager or Lynn Deckinger, Director of Communications. (Contact information provided on next page.)
About the Organization Youthville is one of the largest nonprofit, child welfare agencies in Kansas, specializing in foster care, adoption, psychiatric residential treatment and counseling. The agency s 600 employees are passionate about its mission of Giving Children Back Their Childhood to the 1,600 Kansas children who suffer from abuse, neglect, abandonment, and trauma everyday. The agency meets the needs of children and families by providing services throughout the state of Kansas. We currently have offices in Concordia, Dodge City, Garden City, Hays, Hutchinson, Newton, Olathe, Colby, Topeka and Wichita. In addition to our offices, we are able to provide services in Great Bend, Liberal, Pratt, Salina and Wellington.
316.529.9165 316.215.1070 (cell) ldeckinger@youthville.org Lynn Deckinger Director of Communications Before working at Youthville, Lynn worked as: Communications Manager at the Greater Wichita Convention and Visitors Bureau Director of Marketing and Sales at Exploration Place Public Relations and Marketing Coordinator at Sedgwick County Zoo Serves on the board of the Wichita American Marketing Association Megan Smith 316.529.9105 316.833.2049 (cell) msmith@youthville.org Public Relations Manager Before working at Youthville, Megan worked as: Communications Specialist at Red Cross Blood Services Communications Coordinator at Delta Dental of Kansas Member of Public Relations Society of America
Story Topic Page Adoption 9 At-risk children 3 Bankruptcy process 5 Branding 13 Budgeting training 5 Cash management and forecasting 5 Case management 8 Child abuse and neglect 10 Child trauma 9,10 Children s mental health 1,2 Community Based Services 12 Corporate and foundation relations 7 Crisis communications 13 Dealing with the death of a child 2 Diagnosis and treatment of emotionally disturbed children and adolescences 12 Domestic violence issues 8 Financial management 5 Health and wellness 4 Hiring child welfare employees 4 Story Topic Page Human Resource practices 4 Infant and toddler mental health 10 Information technology 6 Leadership 1 Mental health 11 Multimedia 6 Nonprofit fundraising 7 Nonprofit marketing 13 Outpatient, In-home and School-based therapy 2 Permanency issues 11 Play therapy 9 Positive parenting skills 2,8 Psychiatric residential treatment 3,12 Security management 6 Sexual abuse treatment 1 Sexual abuse trauma 9,10 Signs of child abuse and neglect 1,2 Special needs children 3,11 Social work 2 Suicide prevention 1 Therapeutic Animal Program 3
Shelley Duncan, LCP President and CEO Leadership Signs of Child Abuse and Neglect Children s Mental Health Suicide Prevention Sexual Abuse Treatment Education: M.A. in Clinical Psychology - Wichita State University B.A. in Liberal Arts (Major-Psychology/Minor- French) - Wichita State University Shelley is a Licensed Clinical Psychotherapist. She is responsible for the overall operations and financial management of Youthville, which presently employees more than 600 employees and serves more than 1,600 children per day. Before working at Youthville, she directed a children s mental health program. She also directed a large comprehensive sexual abuse treatment program for adult and adolescent sex offenders. Shelley worked closely with the Juvenile and Criminal Courts, District Attorney s office and other providers in the community. Shelley is a member of the Suicide Prevention Coalition, Leadership Wichita, American Psychological Association, Association of Professional Women, Eastside Rotary Club and Leadership Kansas class of 2008. 1
Gerald Snell, LSCSW Chief Clinical Services Officer Social Work Outpatient, In-home and School-based Therapy Children s Mental Health Dealing with the Death of a Child Signs of Child Abuse and Neglect Positive Parenting Education: M.A. in Social Work - Kansas University B.A. in Social Work - Wichita State University Gerald is a Licensed Specialist Clinical Social Worker in the state of Kansas. He manages Youthville s Clinical Services Department, which includes outpatient and in-home therapy, medication management services and chemical dependency services in multiple locations throughout the state. He has experience in providing mental health services to children, families, individual adults and couples. He has also facilitated parenting education groups and given community presentations on a variety of topics affecting children and families. Gerald is a liaison to internationally renowned child psychologist Dr. Bruce Perry and works with the ChildTrauma Academy to help Youthville achieve institutional certification. 2
Mike Hoar Chief Program Officer for Business Development Psychiatric Residential Treatment At-risk Children Therapeutic Animal Program Special Needs Children Education: M.S. in Child Care Administration - Nova University B.S. in Psychology - Fort Hays State University 1200 credit hours - conferences, workshops, and special certifications Mike has over 35 years of experience in Residential Treatment and Psychiatric Residential Treatment. He is responsible for the administrative leadership of the Dodge City and Newton residential programs and campuses. He oversees the supervision of the campus directors in both locations. In 2000, Mike received the Governors Award for Exemplary Service to Children and Families. He has also presented at SRS Roundtable discussion on Severe Emotionally Disturbed clients with sexual inappropriate or sexual offender behavior. 3
Nickaila Sandate, PHR Chief Administrative Officer Human Resource Practices Hiring Child Welfare Employees Health and Wellness Education: M.B.A. - Newman University B.S. in Sociology - Kansas State University Nickaila is a certified Professional in Human Resources. She is responsible for the strategic use of human resources for more than 600 employees. She oversees human resource management, training, quality management, and communication activities of Youthville. Nickaila played an integral role in launching Youthville s health and wellness initiative and employee orientation program. She also has experience in professional and managerial recruitment, benefits administration and compensation. Nickaila is a member of the Society for Human Resources Management (SHRM). 4
Toyia A. Bulla, CPA Chief Financial Officer Budgeting Training Financial Management Cash Management and Forecasting Bankruptcy Process Education: Masters in Professional Accountancy - Wichita State University B.S. in Business - Emporia State University Toyia is a Certified Public Accountant in the state of Kansas. She is responsible for the oversight of the Accounting Department, agency finance goals and strategies, budgeting, internal audit and financial accreditation compliance functions. Toyia has presented at two seminars for Lorman Educational Services titled Finance: The Basics and Financial Statement Analysis: Understand and Interpret Financial Results for Better Management, Investment and Credit Decisions. She has also spoken at the National Conference of Construction Financial Management Association in Atlanta, Georgia on cash management techniques. 5
Tony Brooks Chief Operations Officer Information Technology Management Security Management Multimedia Education: Master of Management Information Systems - Friends University B.S. in Management Information Systems - Wichita State University Tony has more than ten years of proven business management experience with success at managing complex Information Technology infrastructures. He has a proven ability of designing and implementing new systems. As the Chief Information and Operations Officer, Tony provides strategic and tactical planning, development, evaluation and coordination of the information and technology systems for the company. Tony is a member of the Association of Information Technology Professionals and has presented to new college graduates on the essentials for breaking into the IT job market. He has also given community presentations on a variety of topics affecting children and families. 6
LeAnne Miller Chief Advancement Officer Nonprofit Fundraising Corporate and Foundation Relations Education: B.S. in Business Administration- Wichita State University LeAnne has over 10 years of development experience serving multiple nonprofit agencies, from social services to higher education. She is directly responsible for the comprehensive Youthville development program, which includes annual and major fundraising activities, capital campaigns, corporate and foundation relations initiatives as well as planned giving efforts. In addition, she plans to expand Youthville s constituency base across the state to increase funding resources for the agency s programs and services. She directs and monitors activities associated with the agency s gift-in-kind donations. LeAnne also identifies cooperative opportunities to provide resources to clients and families. She is a member of the Association of Fundraising Professionals and the Leadership Wichita class of 2008. 7
Donna Rozell, LMSW Interim Chief Program Officer of Permanency Services Case Management Domestic Violence Issues Positive Parenting Skills Education: M.A. in Social Work - University of Kansas B.S. in Social Work - Southwestern College Donna is a Licensed Masters Level Social Worker. She has more than eighteen years of practical experience working with individuals and their families. She has implemented behavior management programs, assessed and monitored family systems and provided individual and group support to people of various ages. As Director of Family Based Services, Donna is responsible for directing and supporting the Case Management Team supervisors to ensure they meet projected contract expectations and outcomes. She also oversees services provided by the Case Plan Case Administrator Unit, Visitation Support Worker Unit and Adoption Unit who work to provide support services for the children in our care. Donna works to ensure program compliance with state and federal mandates and serves as a liaison between internal departments and external stakeholders. 8
Michelle Scheu, LSCSW Youthville Family Consultation Service Clinical Director Play Therapy Adoption Child Trauma Sexual Abuse Trauma Education: Master of Social Work - University of Kansas B.A. in Social Work - Wichita State University Michelle is a Licensed Specialist Clinical Social Worker. She currently oversees the day-to-day operations of Youthville s Family Consultation Service outpatient counseling program as well as providing clinical supervision and outpatient therapy. As a clinician, she provides psychotherapy to individuals, families and groups and specializes in treatment of sexual abuse, grief/ loss issues and play therapy. Michelle has also worked as a social worker in several areas including; adoption, foster care, family services and the Federal Correctional System. 9
Pamela Cornwell, MS, LCMFT Director of Trauma Recovery Center Infant and Toddler Mental Health Child Trauma Child Abuse and Neglect Prevention Sexual Abuse Trauma Education: M.S. in Family Therapy - Friends University B.A. in Psychology - Wichita State University Pamela is a Licensed Clinical Marriage and Family Therapist. She will supervise and oversee operations of the Trauma Recovery Center (Estimated completion date: February 2009) and provide both clinical and administrative supervision to program therapists. Pamela will also develop and implement a program intervention model for the Trauma Recovery Center. She has presented at the Governor s Annual Conference on the Prevention of Child Abuse and Neglect, Grandparents As Parents Conference, South Central Kansas Mental Health Association Workshop, National Parents as Teachers and Prevent Child Abuse America National Conference. Pamela serves on the Executive Board for the Kansas Association for Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health and is a member of the American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy and Kansas Association for Marriage and Family Therapy. 10
Lori Gonzales, LCMFT Director of Clinical Services Special Needs Children Permanency Issues Mental Health Education: M.S. in Marriage and Family Therapy - Friends University B.A. in Psychology - Wichita State University Lori is a Licensed Clinical Marriage and Family Therapist. She currently supervises the Youthville Clinical Services staff and Special Needs Permanency Teams. She acts as a liaison with the professional community that provide services to the special needs populations. She has experience facilitating mental health services, providing in-home family therapy and executing crisis interventions. She has presented on domestic violence and the foster care system, and conducted Preferred Futures Placement Training. She has also conducted training on mental health and the privatized child welfare system. 11
Kent Noble Campus Director Dodge City, Kan. Diagnosis and Treatment of Emotionally Disturbed Children and Adolescences Psychiatric Residential Services Community Based Services Education: Master of Social Work - Kansas University Masters in Public Administration - Kansas University B.S. in Social Work - Pittsburg State University Kent is a Licensed Specialist in Clinical Social Work. He has extensive knowledge and expertise in Supervision Administration and Leadership. Kent has experience as a family therapist and has worked with schools in providing Psychoeducational Day Treatment. Kent is responsible for the administrative leadership of the Dodge City residential program along with the oversight of the residential treatment program, integration of educational services and development of community-based services program. 12
Lynn Deckinger Director of Communications Crisis Communications Nonprofit Marketing Branding Education: B.A. in Communication, Minors in Marketing and Computer Science - Friends University Lynn has 16 years of nonprofit communication and marketing experience. She is responsible for the operations and leadership of the Communications Department. She oversees the agency s branding, promotion of services and the development of organizational marketing plans. Lynn has given several presentations including: Building an Effective Brand, How to Get your Nonprofit Stories Noticed by Media, Marketing Wichita, Crisis Communications, Developing a Successful Advertising Campaign, and Proven Public Relations Techniques That Reach Audiences. 13
Children s Welfare Related Months April Child Abuse and Prevention Month May National Foster Care Month National Trauma Awareness Month September Suicide Prevention Awareness Month November National Adoption Month