Family Connections


Counseling resources with family in mind
 

Dedicated to the care, welfare, and respect of families and the individuals who comprise them

Our Staff

 Vicki Williams and Jean Bartholow, both members of the Fund Development Auxiliary attending the United Way Tailgating party.




Barb and Batman Barb and Batman is showing Barb Jones and Batman at the West Virginia Child Care Association Awards in which the Theme was "Superheroes" October 2013







Marisa Shreve and Arleta Ogden Marisa Shreve and Arleta Ogden ham it up at the 20ll WVCCA Conference. The subject of this year's conference was There's No Such Thing as a Bad Kid. This terrific presentation included practical and positive strategies for working with discouraged kids.



Staff     


Michael Smith, MSW, LGSW
Executive Director


Melissa Barlow, BA
Brooke Place Site Director


Barb Jones
Fiscal Director


Samantha Riska
Brooke Place Therapist


Tina Stewart, LPC
Clinic Therapist


Dave Huggins
Clinic Therapist


Linda Pratt
Linda Pratt, our terrific administrative assistant, received the 2010 WVCCA Support Worker Award.









Child care workers Deborah Brush and Arleta Ogden take time out to pose for pictures at the West Virginia Child Care Association's 2009 Fall Conference.  This annual conference is an opportunity for child care workers to not only receive valuable training, but to network with direct service staff from similar agencies across the state.  The theme of the 2009 conference was Sex, Drugs, and Rock-n-Roll: Managing Teens' Troubles in Today's World.



Jean Bartholow accepts her award as Community Service Worker of the year 2009 from Kathy Szafran, President of the West Virginia Child Care Association.  This award is given annually to an individual who exemplifies the spirit of helping others in the community.  Jean was nominated by Family Connections for her many contributions to the agency, most notably, the construction of a picnic shelter, involving the residents in a quilting club, and doing the lion's share of the cooking for the annual open house.



Girls Rule!

Brooke Place residents are all dressed up with no place to go.  Firefighter Amy Burdick of the Oakland Volunteer Fire Station hangs out with the girls after showing them how to get into fire fighting gear. 



In September 2008, Family Connections dedicated the Evelyn Rapp pavilion at the annual open house held at Brooke Place.  The open house is a way for Family Connections to thank the community for their support throughout the year.  Guests can tour the house and learn about the agency's programs and feast on terrific assortment of picnic foods.



Shift leader Krystal McNutt critiques the transport technique of Deborah Brush and Ashley Boyce.  They're demonstrating how to safely escort fellow staff member Chad McKeever (playing the role of a resident).  Family Connections trains all direct care staff every six months in non-violent crisis intervention to honor our commitment to the care, welfare, safety and security of everyone in the agency.  



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