ACRPkids

August/September Newsletter
 

 

 

ACRP’s Pre-Doctoral Clinical Psychology internship program

 

The Alternative Community Resource Program is committed to offering professionally trained staff on all levels.  That is why ACRP is pleased to present a newly formed Pre-Doctoral Clinical Psychology Internship Program.  This specially designed program will allow Doctoral Level Interns to develop into professional psychologists through clinical experience combined with intensive supervision and training. Dr. Mary Berge, ACRP’s Clinical Director and full time licensed psychologist will serve as the training director. Because ACRP is a multi-faceted agency that provides a wide range of services, Doctoral Level Interns will receive a unique learning experience that incorporates mental health treatment in the home, community, school, outpatient and partial hospitalization settings. Doctoral Level Interns will work with our multidisciplinary team giving them exposure to the managed care systems as well as direct experience in psychological assessment, individual, group and family therapy, training and consultation. Interns will also have the opportunity to develop creative initiatives of their own, and some have already begun work on projects such as incorporating recyclables with art therapy and committing feelings to poetry for a published work.

  The ACRP Doctoral Level Interns spent the last year completing their academic coursework in clinical and counseling psychology doctoral programs across the United States and in the late fall and winter of 2006 they  prepared for the final internship phase of their education.  Any Doctoral Level Intern will agree that the Internship process is challenging mentally and physically. Student applicants complete a 30 page application which includes five essays and three letters of recommendation. Competition for an internship is intense, in the 2007 year there were 3,426 doctoral candidates who applied for various internships across the country. If a student is not selected by an internship site or if an internship site does not select any applicants during the initial application process then the students and sites participate in the Internship “Clearinghouse”.  The Clearinghouse is only offered for one day and the interview process is intense for students as well as Internship Directors. There were more than 200 internship sites advertised in the Clearinghouse this year including ACRP.  Over 60 students applied for the 4 internship positions at ACRP so the decision process was difficult; however, four fantastic students were selected and accepted offers to complete the year long Doctoral Level Internship at ACRP…. To learn more about the internship application process and our interns, read next months ACRP Newsletter.

 

AUTISM SPECTRUM DISORDER

ACRP has expanded its programming to provide services to children and adolescents with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD).  For more information, please call one of our offices or our toll free number at 1-888-308-6783.

 

 

ACRP 2007 SUMMER SOCCER LEAGUE

ACRP 2007 Coed Summer Soccer League once again ran smoothly and made for an exciting summer of fun for all of its participants.  This year we operated the league at a new location; ACRP Recreation Park in Tanneryville.  The league consisted of four JV teams (Holiday Inn Express, Somerset Trust, Johnstown Housing Authority and Ray Williams and Son) and four Varsity teams (Somerset Trust, Holiday Inn Express, The Russian Club, and 1st Summit Bank).  In the JV Division Holiday Inn Express defeated Johnstown Housing Authority 3-2 in a shootout to win top honors.  At the varsity level, Somerset Trust defeated Holiday Inn Express, 3-2 also in a shootout.  The season did not end there.  On Friday, August 3, ACRP Soccer League hosted its second annual All Star Games in both divisions and ACRP had their first ever Alumni Game, where the younger participants defeated the older group 8-5.  This was an eventful day with parents and grandparents bringing covered dishes and ACRP supplying the hotdogs and refreshments.  Also, the Federal Food Program served 120 lunches to children 18 and younger, and will continue to do so next year for our “hungry” soccer players.  ACRP, Mr. Love and Jesse Aultz  would like to thank the sponsors, parents, coaches, and most importantly the players for another great and exciting season!

 

 

A Note From the Executive Director

A special thank you to all the Summer Treatment Program’s clinical and support staff who provided services to over 300 children and adolescents this summer.  Special thanks to Greater Johnstown, Hollidaysburg, Rockwood, Tyrone, and Westmont Area School Districts who hosted programs at their sites.  ACRP provided (10) five-week programs in Cambria County, (2) five-week programs in Bedford, Blair and Somerset Counties and (1) five-week program in Clearfield County for a total of (17) different five-week programs for children with ADHD and similar disorders.  ACRP will be offering an After School Therapeutic Program (ASTP) that will be similar to the STP program.  See inside for more information and a registration form.

 

ACRP’s 6th Annual Charity Golf Tournament Seven Springs Mountain Resort—August 13th

 

2007 MAJOR SPONSORS

 

Hilltop Office Supply

 

Pasquerilla Enterprises

 

Somerset Trust Company

 

A special thanks to the following businesses and individuals who helped make our tournament a success!!

The Alternative Community Resource Program, Inc. (ACRP) Announces Staff

 Promotions…. 

Michele Custer has been promoted to Director of Partial Hospitalization & Therapeutic Classrooms.  She received her B.A. in Psychology from St. Vincent College in Latrobe, Pa and her Master’s degree from Indiana University in Bloomington Indiana.  Michele began her employment with ACRP in March, 2007.  She is married and resides in Johnstown.

 

 

Jamie Loncar has been promoted to Assistant Director of ACRP’s Children’s Partial Hospitalization Program and Therapeutic Classroom.  Jamie received her Master’s Degree from Indiana University of Pennsylvania and has been employed with ACRP since 2000.  She is married and has 2 children and resides in Johnstown.

 

 

Lynette Sottile has been promoted to Behavioral Health Rehabilitative Services Program Director for Cambria County.  She received a Bachelors of Science in Child Development and Family Relations from the Indiana University of Pennsylvania and began her employment with ACRP in 2002.

 

EARNED SUMMER FUN

By Bev Bender

    The ACRP Careworker, STP and other programs again utilized positive behavior, complying with established home and community rules, and completion of assigned chores to enable our clients to earn community involvement at local parks and swimming venues.  ACRP had three major events scheduled for our summer activities, which included trips to Kennywood Park, Sand Castle Park and Idlewild Park.  The trips to Kennywood and Sand Castle Park were taken in June and July respectfully.   
    Only clients that had ‘earned’ these trips were permitted to attend.  Through the generosity of the Corporation that owns all three parks, ACRP was the recipient of 60 tickets to each of these parks.  The trip to Idlewild Park was held on August 7, 2007. These trips enable ACRP staff to work in the community with their clients to improve group interactions, positive self esteem building and following rules in a community setting.  ACRP staff and clients continue to be able to utilize local venues such as the YMCA and Windber Recreation Park to reinforce weekly accomplishments for the clients who work on achieving their individual goals.

 

The  Incredible Years—Dina Dinosaur Program

 

    ACRP staff and Michele Custer will be offering The Incredible Years Dina Dinosaur Program to select students at East Side and West Side elementary schools as well as students participating in the After School Therapeutic Program.

 

    Incredible Years is a counseling curriculum used to strengthen children’s social and emotional competencies such as understanding and communicating skills, as well as appropriate classroom behaviors. 

 

Accountability Enhancement & Juvenile Court Recognized for Civic Work 

 

    The ACRP Accountability Enhancement Program and the Cambria County Juvenile Court Community Service Program recently received special recognition from Johnstown City Council.

 

At a city council meeting on Wednesday July 11, 2007, Johnstown city manager, Curt Davis presented letters of appreciation to ACRP and the Juvenile Court for their work in preparing for the 2007 Thunder in the Valley motorcycle event.  Work crews from these two programs spent several days assisting Johnstown city workers in cleaning the newly renovated Point Stadium and assisting with other preparations.  On hand to accept the letters of recognition were Dave Haschak (on behalf of Jim Buday) for ACRP and Jeff Grecek from Juvenile Probation

 

         The Accountability Enhancement Program and the Juvenile Court Community Service Program often work together on projects like theses to make our community a better place.  Another recent ACRP/Juvenile Court/City of Johnstown project was to remove a large amount of debris and stones from Millcreek Road, making the road safer for vehicles and pedestrians.

  Accountability Enhancement and the Juvenile Court are seeking other ways to help local communities and organizations in Cambria County.  If you know of a project that will benefit your community or a local non-profit, please contact Jim Buday (ACRP) at 536-6141 or Jeff Grecek  (Juvenile Court) 814-472-4700.