March marks two exciting celebrations: Women's History Month and Social Work Month.

NYAP's social work employees are the backbone of this organization, working to directly enhance the lives of children, youth and families. The profession values the following six principles: service, social justice, dignity and worth of the person, importance of human relationships, integrity and competence. NYAP's own mission and values aligns very closely with these, especially individual advocacy. As we wrap up this month dedicated to honoring social workers all over the world, it is important to remember how our NYAP Social Workers live out this value every day by advocating, promoting and celebrating the needs and accomplishments of the children, youth and families we serve.

As a tribute to March being Women's History Month and Social Work Month, featured below are two exceptional female professionals who emulate the seven principles of social work as well as NYAP's mission, vision and values.

Executive Director David Siler nominated Mara Ritz as an outstanding social worker contributing to the Indiana team. She is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) currently functioning as the Clinical Supervisor for Columbus, Versailles and Scottsburg in Indiana. Mara has worked with Columbus for several years, and when the call was made, she graciously stepped up to support additional regions.

Mara's supervisor and Indiana's Director of Clinical Operations, Megan Murphy, says that Mara is a gifted clinician and has an admirable work ethic. "She is great at building connections with clients and helping them feel supported without feeling judged. She is a 'roll up your sleeves and get it done' supervisor, always asking how she can help even when her own load is heavy. The strong team she has built in Columbus is a testament to her leadership; they know she supports them so they work hard to deliver."

Amanda Davidson, Director of Program Administration for Indiana, oversees the three regions Mara works in. Amanda shares her experience working with Mara:

"I quickly learned that Mara has a way with people, especially kids. Many social workers have a 'tool box' equipped with gadgets, books, games, etc. Mara is no exception to this rule. She had the coolest office filled with puppets, a sand tray, books, games and hundreds of toy figurines. One afternoon, I witnessed Mara and a tiny human soaring around the office in play capes and masks. It was magical to see them both smiling and enjoying the moment. Mara has a mindful and light-hearted way about her which eases tension and allows her staff and clients to achieve their desired outcomes."

As Amanda said, "Being successful in social work requires lifelong learning." Thank you, Mara, for your strong professional commitment to social work values and being a lifelong learner!

Margo Mahony has been employed with NYAP for over 10 years, fulfilling critical roles in Ohio's Foster Care, Independent Living and Bridges programs. She was nominated by Corporate Vice President and Ohio Executive Director Sharon Marconi.

Even as a child herself, Margo was interested in working with children. When she got to college she learned about social work and became at intern at a juvenile court. After this experience, her desire to become a social worker was solidified. Margo earned her degree, went on to officially become a Licensed Social Worker (LSW) and has worked in the field ever since.

Margo feels at home at NYAP because she loves the people, leadership and support system. She knows she has voice here and has always felt backed up when advocating for a client or herself. She elaborates, "My work-life balance is really respected here, and I am treated really well."

Margo has become passionate about working with older youth. She explains, "While I was working in foster care I really enjoyed helping teenagers learn independent living skills. That is what led me to Bridges."

The Bridges Program is one of NYAP's Positive Youth and Family Development programs offered in Ohio. Available to young adults, Bridges provides transitional living services to prepare them for emancipation and independence. Services include case management, housing support, job skills, financial management and more.

Margo, NYAP is so grateful that you are such a positive example for the youth you work with in Ohio. Congratulations and thank you for your passionate advocacy!

We want to take the time to share our appreciation for various employees throughout the organization, knowing there is an abundance of passion and drive among our nationwide team. We are incredibly grateful for the following March nominees!

Noe Araiza, Clinician

South Carolina (La Jornada)

"Noe has demonstrated how he is a very compassionate advocate for the minors he works for as a clinician in our program. He also is a team worker, always willing to help others, has a good sense of humor and, at the same time, maintains a high ethical standard."



-Rildo Da Silva

Rebecca Guhl, STAR Clinical Supervisor

Ohio

"Rebecca has been at NYAP for a short period of time and has already strengthened the bond and morale on our school-based team. She is approachable, dependable and supportive; bringing a positive and empathetic energy everywhere she goes! We are so lucky to have her as a leader."

-Ellen Williams

Abby Nemec, Licensing Coordinator

Kentucky

"Abby began with NYAP as an intern during her undergraduate schooling. She was a hard worker and proactive in her efforts to learn and take on challenges. Upon graduation, she was offered a part-time position with the licensing team while she continued her Master's program in Social Work. Abby quickly became a key player on our team, with foster parents often sharing their high praises. Her organizational skills allow her to effectively manage foster parent training records. In addition, her teammates look to her for leadership and support. In a few short months, upon finishing her Master's, I am excited to have her continue working with licensing and take on a clinical role. Abby, thank you for your hard work and commitment."



-Niki Ledford

Susan Rogers, Office Specialist

Ohio

"Susan Rogers, our Office Specialist in Toledo, is nearing her one-year anniversary with us here in the Northwest Region. Susan jumped in immediately, ready to help in any way she could. She is always up for a challenge of learning something new or perfecting her current skills. She always has a smile on her face and invites others to share in her joy. Susan goes above and beyond and, at least weekly, she asks if there is anything new she can assist with or learn. Susan is an asset to this region, our staff, our foster parents, foster youth and outpatient clients. We have full confidence in her and hope that she is enjoying her time here in the Northwest Region as much as we enjoy her being here. Thank you, Susan, for all that you do. You are appreciated."

-Bridgett Storer

NYAP is incredibly grateful to these employees for sharing their unique skills and impressive talents to work toward our shared goal of caring for people, connecting communities and promoting peace. Thank you for your passion, efforts and commitment. Congratulations!

NYAP is excited to announce the following position changes within the organization:

Tatiana Burgos Zayas, Medical Case Aide I

Ronald Navarrete, Medical Coordinator I

CJ Martin, Therapist I

Adam Nolan, Team Leader I

Aretha Sands, Team Supervisor

Joanna Talbot, Team Leader I

Kelly Van Sickle, Director of Clinical Programs

Tinann Hudnall, Education Support Specialist

Amanda Carl, Program Director

Rachael Sigafoose, Program Director

Shantae Chavers, Treatment Advocate I_ANC

Marissa Rosen, Treatment Advocate I_ANC

Alexis Cuyler, Family Services Coordinator I

Alejandra Magana, PSA Compliance Manager

Christine Parker, Family Services Coordinator I

Emily Clitter, Program Manager

Gabriela Elbitar Alvarado, Educator

Ashley Hunt, Family Case Manager II

Emily Jones, Team Leader I

Britney Montgomery, Family Case Manager III

Francheska Reyes, Administrative Assistant

Stephen Self, Family Services Team Coordinator

Candace White, Revenue Cycle Foster Parent Specialist Team Lead

Congratulations!

NYAP in the News

Indiana

Mary Weisser, Home-Based Therapist in South Bend, was awarded with a gift card and plaque on March 15 "for the extraordinary difference she makes in her community." The honor came from Michiana Homes for Heroes, an organization dedicated to providing gifts and savings to people like Mary who provide services that make a difference in the Michiana community.

Mary spoke on her journey to becoming a social worker: "Growing up the way I did, it was difficult. And, had it not been for people that were in these positions, I would not be here today."

Congratulations to Mary for bringing NYAP's mission and vision to life! We recognize and greatly appreciate the work you do every day to make a positive change in the lives of youth and families.

Golden Anniversary: Illinois

25 years - March 25, 1997

The Illinois team celebrated 25 years with NYAP on Friday, March 25. Much like the other NYAP states across the country, the organization moved into Illinois to meet the pressing needs of local children, youth and families.

Viviane Ngwa, Corporate Vice President and Executive Director, leads the state with several office locations throughout Chicago, Matteson, Peoria and Sycamore. 

Teen REACH Spa Day

Illinois

Peoria's Teen REACH program celebrated Valentine's Day on Feb. 14 by having a spa day. Program Manager Marcola Owens, Administrative Assistant Fabiola Mendez, Student Mentor Marlon Wade and Housing Subsidy Administrator Jasmine Moore put lots of effort into making the day extra special for all of the children. Take a look at their hard work in the pictures below.

Thank you for all you do each day to support our local youth and families!

Get to Know Kentucky Licensing

Kentucky

The licensing team in Kentucky had a retreat led by Executive Director Michelle Sames. The group discussed workflow, upcoming events and onboarding processes for new staff.

Pictured from left to right are Licensing Coordinators Quinn Sames and Abby Nemec along with Manager of Program Development Niki Ledford.

During this gathering they also worked on foster parent appreciation plans. Stay tuned for a summer toolkit, including National Foster Care Month material, coming soon!

Mardi Gras with Women in Networking

Kentucky

Liana Gonzalez, Abby Nemec and Niki Ledford attended a Mardi Gras-themed Women in Networking (WIN) gathering with the Frankfort Area Chamber of Commerce on March 3.

The ladies enjoyed a nice breakfast with local business women and shared the need for culturally appropriate foster homes.

WIN is committed to providing opportunities for women to network, form new business relationships, share ideas and support one another. These breakfasts are held monthly, hosted by women-owned businesses.

Black History Month Raffle Winners

Last month NYAP Communications sent out three emails highlighting Archbishop Desmond Tutu, his relationship with NYAP and all he has taught the world. The emails included two surveys which any NYAP employee could fill out in order to be entered into a raffle to win one of Tutu's books and a NYAP poster (see designs above) inspired by his wisdom. Here are the four lucky winners:

Nabile Araque



Heather McGovern

Kelley Rose

Vunessa Allen-Martin

All winners will be receiving a follow-up email shortly in order to get necessary details on where you would like your prizes shipped. Thank you to everyone who participated and congratulations to our lucky winners!

Goals give us a long-term vision and short-term motivation. They help us remain focused while helping us prioritize our work. Without a goal, it can be very hard to make and execute a plan - imagine trying to put a puzzle together without seeing the finished image on the front of the box.

To accomplish your goals you need to know how to set them. This is a process that starts with careful consideration of what you want to achieve and ends with a lot of hard work to actually achieve it. In between, there are some very well-defined pieces that help define the specifics of a goal. Knowing these steps will allow you to find success in following through with what you set out to do. The following SMART process is the ultimate guide to attainable goal setting.

Specific

o Be as specific as possible in what you want to obtain

o Ask yourself: Who, what, when, where and why?

Measurable

o Include criteria to which you can measure progress

o Ask yourself: How many? How do I know when I have reached my goal? What are the indicators of progress?

Attainable

o Setting a challenging, but not impossible, goal will allow you to put in the highest amount of effort

o Ask yourself: What resources do I need to accomplish this? Have others done it successfully?

Realistic:

o A goal is generally realistic if you believe you can accomplish it with your available resources

o Ask yourself: Is this realistic and within reach? Am I able to commit to this goal at this time?

Time Bound:

o Goals must be able to be accomplished within a defined time period

o Without a timeframe, there is no sense of urgency

To stay motivated, it is good practice to write down your why. Ask yourself, “If I were to share my goal with others, what would I say to convince them it is a worthwhile goal?” Placing your why and your SMART goal in a prominent place can help you remain focused on the big picture and motivated to push forward during difficult times.

After you have your goal, you must begin to plan how to reach it. Join me on the Foster Care Marketing Team to discuss your best planning tips to reach your recruiting goals. Click the button below to join NYAP's Marketing Resources group and make sure to turn on your notifications! NYAP's summer toolkit is coming out very soon.

Happy Social Work Month! The National Association of Social Workers (NASW) has given 2022 the theme “The Time is Right for Social Work.” This is an opportunity to learn more about the many positive contributions of those in the profession, including so many of NYAP's wonderful employees!

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, social work is one of the quickest growing professions in the United States. Social workers have played a unique role in our nation’s history – aiding the beginnings of the Civil Rights and Women’s Rights Movements all the way to the current COVID-19 pandemic. These professionals consistently grapple with the toughest challenges facing our communities, which is why this year's theme beckons “The Time is Right.” The time is always right to enter the field of social work and pursue a rewarding career that positively impacts the lives of so many children, youth and families.

Throughout U.S. history, social workers have been seen:

• Fighting for equal rights
• Protesting American intervention in wars
• Advocating for minimum wage and safe workplaces
• Expanding employment opportunities and reproductive rights for women
• Supporting marriage and employment protections for members of the LGBTQ+ community
• Advocating for immigrants seeking asylum
• Pushing for sensible gun laws and anti-violence initiatives
• Raising awareness about HIV/AIDS prevention and treatment
• Fighting for access to behavioral health services and ensured client privacy
• Advocating for the rights and wellbeing of youth and families
• And so much more!

This is the time to reflect on all your amazing work and dedication to those you serve. NYAP is dedicated to improving the well-being of youth and families, especially the most vulnerable among us.

Thank you for helping those we serve to:

• Overcome substance use disorders and mental health issues
• Overcome issues such as death and grief
• Reunite with their families
• Receive safe, loving placements
• Go on to live successful, meaningful lives by giving them the tools needed to thrive
• Have equal rights by advocating for them regardless of race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, religion or ability
• Know their worth!

We are incredibly grateful for everything our social workers do. You tirelessly advocate for those we serve every day, and we are here to advocate for you. Be sure to honor and celebrate your fellow social workers this month and in those to come!

According to Master Gardener and Horticulture Expert Angelo Randaci, gardening can improve a heavy mood, dissipate feelings of anxiety, lift depression and reduce stress. As we spring into the new season, NYAP encourages you to take advantage of the warmer weather by exploring the practice of gardening. Even if you only have a single plant, your "garden" can function as a place of comfort and excitement as you witness these living organisms thrive, or maybe even struggle, as you learn how to tend to them. Here are some tips for getting into gardening, even if you do not have a green thumb:

Start small!

Who said you need to have a full garden in your yard to be an enthusiastic plant lover? If you have not gardened in a while or have had negative experiences with it in the past, just get one small house plant. Some great starter types include golden pothos, spider plants, snake plants, bromeliads and bamboo.

Do research

This part is important but not as scary as it sounds. Most plants available for purchase have simple guidelines attached to the pot or stuck in the soil so you can nail down the basics of how much water and light your new friend needs on a regular basis. If this is not available to you, a quick Google search will suffice to learn the quick bits of important information. If you are not quite sure what species of plant you have, there is an app for that!

Find a good home

If you want take care of your plant and enjoy all the new leaves, buds and flowers it brings, make sure to give it a good environment where you will be able to see it frequently. This could be a window sill, a balcony, the front porch or even on your desk in the office.

Accessorize as you please!

A great way to further enjoy tending to your greenery is to use a pot that matches your style. Other accessories you can explore include hanging rods, decorative macrame planters, stakes, planter sticks and more. Check out Pinterest and Etsy for creative ideas.

If you feel inspired to nurture a new plant or already have a few of your own, please send in pictures to [email protected] so we can learn and share in NYAP's collective gardening journey!

The NYAP Communications Department is ALWAYS looking to share inspiring and uplifting stories that happen within the workplace! We also welcome any news related to major life events among our teams such as marriages, births, graduations and more.

Submit your story and any unedited photos to the link below in order to be included in future editions of News & Views or any other communications.