Emma Lenski, M.S., LGBTQIA+ Services Coordinator Submitted by Emma Lenski, M.S., LGBTQIA Services Coordinator Family Resource Center at 18 Degrees As Pride Month comes to a close, I wanted to make a statement about its ongoing significance. LGBTQ rights in this country have a long history, with the well-known Stonewall Riots being a catalyst for …
Author Archives: Sarah Frederick
Staff Spotlight, June 2022: Emily Stein
By: Alison Mengel, Director of Permanency Healing Homes, 18 Degrees’ foster care program, provides children a welcoming home to heal in a culture of love, acceptance, and consistency. As a social worker for Healing Homes, Emily approaches each case by learning all she can to establish that vital relationship of trust with a child and …
Staff Spotlight, May 2022: Andrea Bateman
By: Alison Mengel, Director of Permanency At a recent monthly Comprehensive Foster Care meeting, the DCF Regional Placement Coordinator began by asking the large group, “What is Andrea Bateman doing that has workers and kids asking for her BY NAME?” Andrea was equally surprised and amused by this story. However, this accolade came as no …
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Staff Spotlight, March 2022: Nancy Gomez
By: Sarah Kelley, Director of Community Support Programs Let’s hear it for Nancy! Nancy Gomez is an EMPath Peer Specialist, a position she’s held since 2019 – shortly after she completed the program. The Economic Mobility Pathways model (EMPath) is an evidence-based model to help coach families to move out of poverty and toward self-sufficiency. In her …
What’s Happening at Kids 4 Harmony – March 2022
What's Happening at Kids 4 Harmony From special collaborations to where you can catch the next performance and everything in between, this issue is overflowing with all the exciting things happening at Kids 4 Harmony. Eleanor Rigby The Kids 4 Harmony string quartet and the vocal trio from Darrow demonstrated what …
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Staff Spotlight, February 2022: Aaron Piziali
By: Danielle DeBerry, Program Director, Greenfield Family Networks Aaron Piziali is an Education Coordinator with Greenfield Family Networks. He returned to this position at 18 Degrees in 2017, and since that time, it is clear that Family Networks has been fortunate to have him back. His passion to serve the youth and families within the …
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Celebrating Black History
By Sarah Cook, President and CEO At 18 Degrees, we celebrate Black History Month by acknowledging that Black history is American history, and its celebration cannot, and should not, be confined to just one month. We hope that the wealth of information and activities available throughout the month sparks conversations, enriches experiences, and ignites a curiosity …
Winter 2022 Newsletter
A Message from our President and CEO At 18 Degrees, we are motivated by the belief that even when things seem dark, there is a new beginning over the horizon. Our goals are to provide services and supports that transform the lives of children, families, and communities by creating opportunities that inspire hope, promote possibilities, …
Celebrating Mentoring Month at 18 Degrees
By Sarah Cook, President, and CEO of 18 Degrees We’re reaching the end of the twentieth National Mentor Month, launched in 2002 to “recruit new mentors, advance the mentoring field’s legislative priorities, and drive meaningful change for young people.” We are proud of our mentoring program here at 18 Degrees, through which we currently serve …
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Mentoring Creates Meaningful Connections
In honor of National Mentoring Month, we celebrate the countless contributions and lifelong positive impact our mentors have on area youth. These powerful relationships have the ability to improve academic, social, and economic prospects and make youth more likely to have safer, healthier, and more prosperous lives. Mentor Reflections Seeing Life Through Fresh Eyes My own children are adults now. …