March 2022 Staff News & Updates

Dear Team,

A huge Thank You to everyone who participated in the Employee Benefits Satisfaction Survey. Your health and well-being are of utmost importance to Springboard. In response to your honest feedback through the survey, we have begun to review Benefit Packages that will include Wellness Programs in the hopes it will support and boost your mental, physical, social, and financial well-being.

In the upcoming weeks, please be on the lookout for health and financial-related emails that require your attention. The emails include requests to:

Complete/return your Health Enrollment Packets by tomorrow, 3/22.

Review/update your beneficiaries in the Life insurance plan.

Enroll in the 403b employer-matched plan and review/update your 403b plan beneficiaries.

Use Employee Assistance Program (EAP) to access counseling, child/elder care referrals, financial/legal advice. Information on FLOW!

Lastly, based on the survey, 73% of participants stated they would be interested in enrolling and/or learning about supplemental insurance offered through Aflac. As a result of your interest, we are now offering Aflac supplemental insurance. Our agent, Ariel Stillman [email protected] will be presenting at each of the offices on the various plans they offer.

It is important that you access and fully understand your health and wellness benefits. Please stay tuned for more information on the new and improved Springboard Benefits Package.

Be well,

Surbhi Seth,

Chief Financial Officer

Open enrollment for medical_ dental and vision begins in March _1_.png

This Tuesday, 3/22, ALL Springboard employees must return the Medical/Dental/Vision insurance enrollment forms.

Please complete and return enrollment forms by 3/22.

Thank you!

QUESTIONS? Email Patricia Green, Human Resources and

Volunteer Coordinator

Springboard's Shanda Brown, MSS wins award from

U of MD School of Social Work

Congratulations to Springboard's Shanda L. Brown, LMSW for receiving the Field Instructor of the Year Award from the University of MD SSW. Shanda is a clinician for Springboard's Youth Homelessness Demonstration Project (YHDP) in Baltimore.

Attend Community Lecture Series on GOOGLE Meets -

Link works for all lectures

https://meet.google.com/rie-ptyc-hpx

March Lecture

Link between Adverse Childhood Experiences substance use and mental health

Discover how childhood trauma can affect adult substance use disorders and other mental health conditions.

Wednesday, March 23 - 6 pm -7 pm

April Lecture

Impact of substance use in the escalation of intimate partner violence

Incidents of intimate partner violence are on the rise in Maryland and in the U.S. Many incidents involve alcohol and other substances. The presentation addresses the correlation between the severity of physical violence and substance use.

Wednesday, April 21 - 6 pm -7 pm

May Lecture

Punishment vs Rehabilitation --

The benefit of offering social services in prison to reduce recidivism

On-going substance use and untreated mental health symptoms are known to increase the likelihood of re-arrest and incarceration. Learn how prison rehabilitation services reduce the risk of recidivism and improve the quality of life when released.

Wednesday, May 19 - 6 pm -7 pm

How much do you know about social work?

Take the quiz

March is Social Work and Women's History Month! It is a fitting combination considering that women constitute 81.6% of social workers, 69.9% of counselors, and 82.4% of social and human service assistants?

Springboard celebrates the valued contributions of all staff to transform the lives of children and adults. In recognition of Social Work Month, check your knowledge of social work history by clicking SOCIAL WORK TRIVIA.

#Socialworkers, helping their clients one day at a time! #SWMonth2022 #RightTimeforSocialWork

Welcome - New Staff Members

Tia Debrick, Howard County Case Manager, Violence Intervention Program

After serving 27 years as a Connecticut Probation Agent and as a Probation Unit Supervisor for Connecticut's domestic violence cases, Tia decided it was time for a change.

She recently relocated to Maryland to be closer to family and joined Springboard to serve in the Violence Intervention Program for Howard County. She is excited to help reduce the negative impact of domestic violence in the communities we serve.

Tia earned her Bachelor's degree in Criminal Justice from Howard University and a Master's Degree in Sociology.

Folasade Owolabi, LMSW Howard County Therapist

From the moment Sade' saw social workers at the National Children's Hospital calm the nerves of anxious families, she knew that this was the profession for her.

Sade' has an extensive background in counseling at hospitals and she is driven to help others find a solution to their problems.

She earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Social Work from Howard University, a Master’s Degree in Social Work from the University of Maryland’s School of Social Work, and a second Master’s Degree in Health Systems. Sade' will work part-time as a Therapist in Howard County.

Haley Dorsey

Carroll County's Domestic Violence Case Manager and Lethality Assessment Program Coordinator

Uplifting others and advocating for people who are in adverse circumstances are Haley's passions.

Haley finds purpose from instilling hope, empowering the most vulnerable, and seeing others restored. For seven years Haley worked throughout the country on mission projects.

She earned her Bachelor's Degree from Lee University in Tennessee and plans to continue her studies in Clinical Social Work.

Returning home is a happy new chapter for Haley who is glad to be near family.

Becca Mann, Baltimore,

Case Manager,

Family Violence Project

Before joining Springboard, Becca worked in Dundalk assisting foster youth and survivors of violence in the court setting.

She earned her Bachelor's degree from the University of Maryland Baltimore County (UMBC) in Social Work.

A native of Frederick, MD., Becca enjoys exploring Baltimore with her husband and friends, trying new food, reading, and staying active.

Guy Matthews, Harford County,

Case Manager, Law Enforcement Assisted

Guy brings a wealth of experience to Springboard. For years, he handled child abuse and neglect cases as a paralegal for the Legal Aid Bureau. He also worked with the Maryland State Division of Rehabilitation (DORS) and the House of Ruth as a Group Facilitator for domestic violence offenders.

Guy grew up in East Baltimore where he witnessed a lot of pain and misery, "I want to be that person that puts a smile on someone’s face, no matter who they are.”

Guy likes taking long drives to unwind with the radio on.

Victim Advocate uses miniature courtroom

to prepare abused children for trial

CCAIC with Lisa Donovan and Missy Cougnet 2022.JPG

Springboard's Behavioral Health Clinician,, Missy Cougnet, LCPC. (L) with Springboard Victim Advocate, Lisa Donovan.

Testifying in a courtroom is scary for anyone and particularly frightening for abused children who have to testify against their abuser, the defendant, in court.

Understanding the need to be emotionally prepared and better understand the courtroom proceedings, Lisa Donovan, Springboard's Victim Advocate in the Carroll County's Child Advocacy and Investigation Center (CCAIC), contacted a craftsman, Josef Soper, who builds courtrooms and dollhouses to be used by Child Advocacy Center and non-profits that counsel abused children.

Thanks to Lisa's initiative and the Imagination Dollhouses for Children craftsmanship, Springboard now has a play scale replicas of the Westminster, Maryland courtroom to better prepare children and families for trial.