Starr News Spring 2013

SPRING 2013 I VOLUME 70 NO. 2

STARR NEWS

R E S I D E N T I A L – C O M M U N I T Y- B A S E D – P R O F E S S I O N A L T R A I N I N G – E D U C AT I O N

Inside: PsychSystems Joins Starr Starr Detroit Academy: Focus on the Future Autism in Education

STARR NEWS Starr Detroit Academy See Page 6

IMPACTING 1.5 MILLION CHILDREN AND FAMILIES WORLDWIDE

CREATE POSITIVE ENVIRONMENTS WHERE CHILDREN FLOURISH

Contents 3

President’s Message

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Autism in Education

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Starr Detroit Academy Focus on the Future

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PsychSystems Joins Starr

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Preparing the 21st Century Student

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Alumni Spotlight

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Starr Commonwealth is accredited by the Council on Accreditation of Services for Families & Children.

Starr Commonwealth is a non-profit organization serving children and families regardless of race, religion, color, or national origin. Founded in 1913, Starr is licensed by the states of Michigan and Ohio and serves children and families from locations in Albion, Battle Creek, Clinton Township, Detroit and Harper Woods , MI.; Columbus and Van Wert, OH; and Lennox, S.D. The Albion campus is a Michigan Historic Site.

Starr Commonwealth receives funds from social agencies, foundations, corporations, and individuals.

Unpacking the Emotional Backpack

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Spring Appeal Thank You

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Honor and Memorial Gifts

Kyle Caldwell, Chairman of the Board; Martin L. Mitchell, Ed. D., President and Chief Executive Officer; Christopher L. Smith, B.B.A., C.P.A., Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer; Wm. Chuck Jackson, MA, Executive Vice President and Chief Clinical Officer; Elizabeth A. Carey, MSW, Executive Vice President and Chief Strategy & Administrative Services Officer; Gary Q. Tester, MRC, Executive Vice President and Chief Development Officer

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Chaplain’s Message

Autism in Education See Page 4

Starr News Spring, 2013 Volume 70, No. 2

13725 Starr Commonwealth Rd. Albion, MI 49224-9525 800.837.5591 info@starr.org

As we approach the completion of Starr Detroit Academy’s first year of operation, it is worth reminding ourselves of why the educational side of Starr’s work is so important to children, families and communities.

It is an unfortunate reality that in many of our communities there are shortcomings in the provision of educational services. But in many cases, there is also a lack of services that can address other challenges a child may be facing which can hinder their learning.

At Starr we constantly strive to ensure that children learning in our education settings have their physical, emotional and social needs met. We know how difficult it is for students to focus on their learning and development when they are living with trauma, anxiety, a lack of belonging or hunger.

From our academy in Detroit to Montcalm School, our therapeutic boarding school in Albion, and in our developmental programs throughout our sites, Starr employees look out for the “emotional backpack” that can weigh a child down.

In addition to Starr’s strength-based approach, one of the keys to successfully addressing such needs is having a broad range of experts on your staff.

Starr has long benefitted from well-qualified, experienced and passionate professionals dedicating themselves to its cause.

Building on this strength, our recent acquisition of PsychSystems brings the expertise of Alison Donigan and Gary Carone, who in 12 years built the company into a highly respected provider of behavioral health and developmental disabilities services, specializing in the delivery of home-based support.

The PsychSystems model of care holds enormous potential, and, as part of Starr’s strategic plan to grow community-based services, this acquisition is a significant leap forward for our organization.

We warmly welcome Gary and Alison to Starr and look forward to working with them to increase the number of families who can benefit from high-quality, tailored support, which is already valued by over 1,300 clients across Michigan and Ohio.

In Starr’s 100th year of helping children and families flourish, we are not only celebrating significant outcomes for those we have served over the years, we are actively embracing new opportunities and responding to change. This is essential as we aim to demonstrate the importance of Starr’s core themes of resilience, trauma-informed care, racial healing and education to more people and communities.

Thank you for your continued support.

Martin L. Mitchell, Ed.D., President/CEO

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AUTISM IN EDUCATION

School is a safe environment where children have the opportunity to learn, are encouraged to explore and are supported in their interests, while at the same time connecting with peers, making friends and becoming social outside of their family unit.

For children with autism spectrum disorders (ASD), now estimated by Autism Speaks, an autism advocacy organization, to affect 1 in 88 children and 1 in 54 boys, the traditional school environment is all too often not the supportive, academically challenging or socially accepting atmosphere these children need. As the population of children with ASD grows, the challenges and opportunities facing educators are greater than ever.

In a recent interview with SEEN Magazine, Dr. Temple Grandin, a world-renowned author, professor and autism advocate who was diagnosed with autism as a child, stresses the importance of focusing on children’s strengths. For a child who struggles in reading and excels in math or art, Grandin suggests giving that child the tools to pursue his or her advanced studies in math or art while working to maintain or improve reading provides the child with the flexibility and creativity to continually feel challenged.

Supporting and expanding on the interests of a child with ASD is crucial as well.

Children with ASD often fixate on things, whether it be trains, planes, or, like in Grandin’s case, animals. A child may repeatedly draw, talk or play with the same item. Expanding a child’s fixation, encouraging them to draw other animals that

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Montcalm School’s Outside In program features small sensory areas in classrooms for students who feel the need to calm or relax themselves.

would live in the same habitat or including train tracks and a landscape in their drawing, for example, will develop their abilities and focus.

Increasingly classrooms are being designed to support children with ASD. Montcalm School, a private therapeutic residential program of Starr Commonwealth, features small sensory areas in the classrooms for students with ASD in its Outside In program to utilize when they feel the need to calm, relax or alert themselves. Providing students the ability to identify their sensory needs and address them can prevent behavior from escalating.

Public schools are realizing the need and in some cases responding with early elementary programs for ASD students. Gary Carone, MS, LLP, LMSW, BCBA – one of the co-founders of PsychSystems, a new department of Starr – who is Board Certified in Applied Behavior Analysis, has contracted with school districts, which includes working with teachers to identify activities for this population of students and designing classrooms conducive to learning.

As the prevalence of youth diagnosed with ASD continues to rise, the need for services, programs and professionals to support them is evident.

“Students with autism spectrum disorders can absolutely be successful in traditional classroom settings,” Carone said. “But teachers need to be aware of how to respond to these students who may require a different kind of attention. Through gaining knowledge of this growing population, educators can help these students get on the path to reaching their potential.”

For more information on autism spectrum disorders, visit www.starr.org/autism.

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STARR DETROIT ACADEMY STUDENTS ARE FOCUSED ON THE FUTURE

The educational system in the United States has been struggling to accomplish quality outcomes for many years, particularly in large metropolitan areas like Detroit.

Parents and caregivers have a seemingly countless number of schools available, but many struggle with where to send their children due to poor statistics surrounding graduation rates and college readiness.

According to Detroit Public Schools, its graduation rate has hovered around 60 percent for the last few years.

Other cities in Michigan and across the U.S. have similarly low rates of graduation, causing parents to seek alternatives to traditional public schools.

Victoria Thomas, who has four grandchildren attending Starr Detroit Academy, has been unsatisfied by her experience with public schools in Detroit of late.

“Education in Detroit is not where it used to be,” Thomas said. “I came from Detroit Public Schools and I sent my kids there, but it’s just a different world than it used to be.”

This frustration led her to learning more about Starr Detroit Academy, which is in its first year of operation, at a kindergarten roundup.

She said the focus on college preparation and the highly accessible staff have renewed her faith in Detroit schools.

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“My experience with Starr Detroit Academy has been great,” Thomas said. “The staff is always willing to help because education is the No. 1 priority at the school. They greet the students with a handshake every morning, so the structure is there. It’s just a great environment all around.”

The academy is dedicated to the mission of preparing students for academic mastery, college, work and life.

Thomas believes this is what makes Starr Detroit Academy a special place.

College banners are displayed in the Starr Detroit Academy cafeteria, promoting the

“A lot of kids in the inner city don’t school’s mission to prepare all of its students for post-secondary education. know much if anything about college,” Thomas said. “These kids aren’t thinking past 12th grade. In today’s world kids need to be preparing for college early and striving to be the best they can be. It’s really important for kids to learn about college at a young age and learn that this should be a goal, a goal they can achieve if they’re willing to work at it.”

From staying after school and helping students who need more attention to calling each child’s parents for updates on student progress, Thomas said Starr Detroit Academy teachers go above and beyond. This, along with the focus on college, has made her a strong advocate for the school.

“My grandchildren come home all the time talking about college and singing school fight songs because of the college-themed classrooms at the school,” Thomas said. “They are already thinking about college and what they want to do with their lives. That’s a special thing to hear as parent or grandparent. You always want what’s best for your kids, and the academy reinforces all of the goals I talk to my grandchildren about every day.”

“My grandchildren come home all the time talking about college and singing school fight songs because of the college-themed classrooms at the school.”

- Victoria Thomas, grandmother of four SDA students

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PSYCHSYSTEMS JOINS STARR

One of the most pronounced trends in the human services field is the shift toward community-based services, which respect the fact that treating children and families in their familiar surroundings is generally preferred to taking them into residential care.

Starr’s acquisition of PsychSystems, a highly respected provider of in-home behavioral and mental health services, is a major advancement of the organization’s strategy to grow its community-based services. This also means that Starr is able to take its strength-based approaches to more people in need of developmental support.

“ PsychSystems brings rich experience, fresh expertise and access to new client groups to Starr.”

- Dr. Martin Mitchell, President and CEO of Starr

Since being founded in 2001 by Alison Donigan and Gary Carone, PsychSystems has provided in-home psychological assessments, testing and therapy for individuals and groups, serving both children and adults in Michigan and northern Ohio.

PsychSystems specializes in helping people with developmental disabilities and mental illness.

PsychSystems office is located at 35640 Michigan Ave. Dr. Martin L. Mitchell, president and CEO of Starr, said: “We are West in Wayne, Mich delighted to have PsychSystems join Starr. This move will enable Starr to help many more children and families flourish. PsychSystems has had great success in working with contracted professionals to reach its current case load of nearly 1,300 clients across several counties in Michigan and Ohio, and brings rich experience, fresh expertise and access to new client groups to Starr. We now look forward to building on this to reach many more people in need of quality, person-centered services.”

Gary Carone, co-founder of PsychSytems, said: “Joining Starr will mean we can continue to grow the reach of PsychSystems’ services while maintaining the excellent standards our current clients have come to expect.

We know there is much demand for in-home and community-based services in areas such as mental health, behavioral health, autism and other neurological conditions. Our model has delivered excellent results for our clients, and we see Starr’s extensive experience in meeting the developmental needs of children and families as exactly what we need to help us reach even more people who currently don’t have access to such high-quality services.”

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For Starr this represents a response to changes in how people want to receive services, changes in how human services are funded and the need for Starr to operate in new ways as a leader in its field.

The services provided by PsychSystems are often covered by private healthcare plans or Medicaid, while Starr’s longstanding programs are not covered by such funding in Michigan.

While PsychSystems is now a division of Starr, the people it serves will see no change to the high-quality experience they’ve come to know. Therefore PsychSystems will retain its current identity and continue to serve its clients just as it has for the last 12 years.

Starr welcomes Gary and Alison of PsychSystems to the organization, which continues its mission of creating positive environments where children and families flourish.

Looking back on where we have been and what we have accomplished over these past 11 years brings back many memories of where we were and how we got to be a division within Starr Commonwealth.

My career has always been in the area of providing help to those people who I believe need it most. People with developmental disabilities, chronic mental illness or serious emotional disturbances are frequently underserved by professionals in the system. I have always felt that these people deserve the best treatment the system has to offer, and this is what led me to work in this field.

Approximately 12 years ago, Alison Donigan and I started PsychSystems Gary Carone and Alison Donigan of PsychSystems to allow us to provide a range of services to people with developmental disabilities who were served in the Community Mental Health system. We were the first company of our type to do this – in the past the agencies themselves hired and maintained a staff of professionals to help.

We quickly saw that our methods could not only provide the publicly funded agencies with the financial flexibility they needed, but we could provide services that could help our community-based clients lead better lives in their community-based placements. We grew from one contract and 10 total therapists in a converted storage room office to nine contracts and 30 contractors in our own building in Wayne. Looking back it is hard to see where the time went, but we are proud of what we have accomplished in a relatively short time.

Joining forces with Starr Commonwealth was the logical next step in our efforts to provide our service model to more people. Starr’s commitment to people, the organization’s desire to do the right thing and help those who are less fortunate was a perfect match.

In our model we provide outreach, home-based services to adults, children and families who have behavioral concerns. Working with Starr will allow us to provide the same type of outreach services to many more people in many more places. I can’t think of a better future – two groups of caring, competent staff now joined together to create better lives for the people we serve.

We could not have been more fortunate than to join Starr Commonwealth, and we expect that we will have a productive future. – Gary Carone, co-founder of PsychSystems C E L E B RAT I N G 1 0 0 Y E A R S

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When our support dwindles, so do her chances.

Since 1913, Starr has relied on supporters like you to help children reach their potential.

Today, we still need your help. More children and families are requiring more intensive support. This, coupled with a decrease in government funding, is putting a significant strain on Starr’s resources. At Starr, we’re committed to securing brighter futures for children and families for the next 100 years.

That’s why we’re looking for 2113 donations

by December. With your help, Starr can provide services for another 100 years to the children and families who need it most.

Please give today.

starr.org

December 2013 Goal to receive 2113 donations in honor of serving children, families and communities for another 100 years

Our goal is to receive 450 donations

by July 2013

As of March, we’ve received 120 donations for this campaign

PREPARING THE 21ST CENTURY STUDENT We are living in a world where more things than ever are possible and fewer things than ever are guaranteed.

As educators and service providers, we need to ask ourselves what we need to do to ensure that the students who are entrusted to our care have the greatest chance of success.

Dr. Terance Lunger, Superintendent of the Calhoun Intermediate School District

One of the most promising opportunities is competition afforded us by the globalization of our economy. We can no longer, as individuals or as a society, operate in isolation. We are a nation known for rising to any challenge set before us. To best compete in a global economy, we need to better understand 21st century students and the world in which they operate, as well as the adult’s role in helping them be most successful.

A key characteristic of a strong and vibrant society is the ability to adapt to the fast-paced changes around us.

Our students will live and work in a world that is fundamentally different than that of their parents, teachers and mentors. They will thrive on change whereas adults tend to resist change.

Our youth can expect to have multiple careers in their lifetime in contrast to having dedicated a lifetime of work in a particular job.

In our global economy, youth will need post-high school education or training. They will need to be in a state of constant preparation as new trends and opportunities arise. Along with this they will need to be knowledgeable and curious about our world regions and global issues. To be successful our students will need to be able to communicate across various cultures and even, possibly, in other languages.

In 1965 Intel Founder Robert Moore coined the phrase, “technology (chip) speed would double every 18 months and cost half as much.” A key characteristic of a strong and vibrant society is the ability to adapt to the fastpaced changes around us. It is crystal clear with many unfortunate examples, “that when the rate of change on the outside exceeds the rate of change on the inside, the end is clearly in sight.”

How do we as educators, mentors, leaders and parents adjust our thinking to meet the needs of our students?

By acknowledging that we do need to make changes in our thinking and embrace it, and work to understand the ever-evolving students we serve. We will then know that we are on the path of true educational reform and offering the best educational opportunity for our students. Our goal should be to always monitor and to assure that the rate of change on the inside always outpaces the rate of change on the outside. continued on page 14

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ALUMNI SPOTLIGHT

Senior Clinician Kristi Wichmann is pictured here with Starr alumnus James Kelly.

At 6-foot-8 and 245 pounds, James Kelly has an intimidating physical presence and possesses supreme athletic ability. Couple that with an opportunity to play Division I college basketball at the University of Miami, and you have a young man with every reason to be arrogant and boastful.

But the 19-year-old Starr Commonwealth alumnus is anything but conceited.

“I’m just really happy to be in the position I am,” Kelly said. “I’m grateful to everyone who has helped me get to where I am today.”

The themes of humility and hard work are what have led Kelly to his present-day situation. But his road to success has been difficult, with some bumps along the way. Growing up in Ann Arbor, Mich., Kelly had to overcome several obstacles.

“I learned a lot at Starr, but one of the most important things was learning how to ask for help.”

- James Kelly

“Life was hard growing up,” Kelly said. “I struggled, and I hung out with a lot of negative people.

It just wasn’t a very good spot to be in.”

Upon coming to Starr, Kelly’s outlook changed dramatically. He began to learn life skills, such as responsibility, maturity and the ability to effectively communicate.

“I learned a lot at Starr, but one of the most important things was learning how to ask for help,” Kelly said.

“So many staff impacted me and helped me while I was there.”

Kelly developed a special connection with one staff member in particular, Senior Clinician Kristi Wichmann.

“She helped me so much as the group leader,” Kelly said. “She put her foot down when she needed to, helping to keep me straight, and she taught me to be more responsible. I learned to believe in myself at Starr, which has helped me a lot since leaving the program.”

Wichmann pushed Kelly to work harder, promoting accountability in and out of the classroom, potential she said he has always possessed but not necessarily harnessed.

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“James has always had leadership potential, but he had to be taught how to utilize it,” Wichmann said.

“At Starr he developed into one of our group leaders and was very well liked by the other students.”

When Kelly exited Starr’s program in 2008, he returned to Ann Arbor and attended Ann Arbor Pioneer High School. With a renewed dedication to academics, Kelly made graduating and moving on to college his No. 1 priority, while his basketball career began with little fanfare.

“James has always had leadership potential, but he had to be taught how to utilize it.”

“I didn’t start playing basketball until my junior year in high school,” Kelly said.

“I never really played before that, but I realized I liked playing and it proved to be a good outlet when I was stressed out. I just went in the gym and took some shots, tried to relax a little bit.”

- Kristi Wichmann

But his basketball career didn’t remain unassuming for long. In his first game, Kelly scored 24 points and grabbed 12 rebounds, ending any hope he had to remain anonymous.

The spectacular play continued -- as did his focus on education -- and after graduating from high school in 2011, Kelly enrolled at Owens Community College near Toledo, Ohio and joined the basketball team.

In his freshman season at Owens, Kelly averaged 17.5 points and 9.8 rebounds per game, garnering Second Team All-Conference honors. This season, as a sophomore, Kelly improved even further, boosting his scoring and rebounding totals to 18.3 points and 10.1 rebounds per game. He was named to the National Junior College Athletic Association Division II All-American Second Team, the first player from Owens to achieve the feat in 13 years.

“I’ve worked really hard on basketball, hoping to get offers to play at larger schools,” Kelly said. “It’s been fun seeing all of my hard work pay off.”

Receiving numerous offers to play Division 1 basketball, Kelly ultimately chose the University of Miami, where he will be coached by Jim Larranaga, named The Associated Press Coach of the Year for 2012-13.

Kelly has worked diligently in the classroom as well and will graduate with his associate degree this year.

To help pay for school at Miami, Kelly will be receiving scholarships, including support from Starr.

“It was a hard decision to make (where he will attend college next year),” Kelly said. “But the coaches from Miami were really concerned with academics, and I liked that they were focused on school.”

Criminal justice will be Kelly’s area of study at Miami, something with which he has always had an interest.

But he will ride the wave of basketball for as long as it takes him.

“I’ve always wanted to be a cop,” Kelly said. “I’m focused on getting better at basketball, so I’ll have to see where that goes. But I want to help people.”

For Kelly paying it forward is extremely important. Many others, like Wichmann, have helped Kelly achieve some of his goals, and he wants to return the favor.

“His future is so bright if he can stay on this path,” Wichmann said. “I am so proud of what he has accomplished.

I get very emotional about it as this is what you dream of for each child who enters the program. I plan on attending some of his games in Miami or one closer (to Michigan) if possible.”

With Kelly’s positive attitude and excellent work ethic, he has a great chance to create a long-term success story. Just don’t expect him to do much bragging when he does.

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continued from page 11

The Calhoun Intermediate School District is an Educational Service Agency serving over 25,000 students in Calhoun County, Mich., including the students of Starr Commonwealth’s Albion campus. We are a proud partner with Starr and look forward to serving our students there, preparing them for a 21st century global economy.

Dr. Terance Lunger is the superintendent of the Calhoun Intermediate School District. He has held several administrative positions throughout the state of Michigan, including in the Jonesville, Western, New Lothrop and Greenville School Districts. He is a passionate advocate on behalf of the students, teachers and families he serves in Calhoun County and throughout the region.

SAVE THE DATE! CELEBRATE STARR’S

100 YEARS OF SERVING CHILDREN, FAMILIES AND COMMUNITIES BY JOINING US ON FOUNDER’S

DAY, OCTOBER 6, 2013, ON THE ALBION CAMPUS.

Go to www.starr.org for more information.

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Help them take their learning to a higher level.

Starr Commonwealth Scholarship Program Since 1978, we’ve provided 938 Starr graduates the opportunity to pursue higher education through the Starr Commonwealth Scholarship Program.

Created in 1977 with the estate of former trustee Thomas Lloyd, the scholarship program provides financial assistance for those students in “good academic standing” who want to take their education to the next level. Last year, 57 students were awarded over $250,000 in fund assistance, however, total requests averaged over $370,000. Your generous donation will help us continue to provide scholarships to students who want to reach even higher.

Please donate today.

To learn more about how you can contribute to the Starr Commonwealth Scholarship Program, please contact Sherie Veramay, Director of Development, at 800.837.5591 or veramays@starr.org.

UNPACKING THE EMOTIONAL BACKPACK

For Hetty Colver, this is the first step to students prospering in the classroom. She believes addressing the emotional challenges students face and providing them with opportunities to increase their academic confidence is what makes Starr Commonwealth’s educational services different from a traditional public or private school experience.

Colver, who is employed by Calhoun Intermediate School District (CISD), serves as principal and special education supervisor for Starr’s public residential program in Albion, Mich.

Students arriving at Starr’s residential campus have faced many significant challenges in their lives, often resulting in poor academic performance.

Starr’s residential program allows students to transfer credits back to their home school when they leave.

“Many of the kids who come to Starr are disenfranchised with the idea of school,” Colver said. “Our goal is to work with the co-occurring challenges surrounding school, like the issues students may have been dealing with at home. Our teachers become important members of the treatment team, working directly with the clinicians and other staff members.”

Colver said the teachers are exceptional at working with Starr’s population of youth because they are passionate advocates for student success and have a broad range of expertise.

“All of our teachers are highly qualified in all core subject areas,” Colver said. “They are also certified to work with students with emotional impairments. This becomes crucial to the treatment process, and it allows the teachers to better understand how education can fit under the treatment umbrella.”

The CISD operates Starr’s school program, which functions as closely to a public school as possible. The school is aligned with and follows the Michigan Department of Education regulations, meeting the same requirements of a regular school. This allows students to transfer credits back to their home school when they leave the program.

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Students are also afforded the opportunity to take appropriate grade-level tests, like the Michigan Educational Assessment Program (MEAP) test, the Michigan Merit Exam and the American College Testing (ACT) standardized test.

While the educational aspect of Starr’s program operates like a traditional public school, students may have a difficult time applying the skills they learn at school outside of the classroom. For this reason, the CISD, in conjunction with the teachers and administration, pursued a grant through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) to develop and provide authentic learning experiences embedded in the curriculum. The grant initially funded photography, culinary and gardening programs.

“These programs allow our kids to apply their new skills in practical ways,” Colver said. “For example, a student might be using culinary skills in a science or math class. I heard one student taking photos say, ‘Wow, maybe I could do this as a job when I leave Starr.’ It’s fun to hear things like that, things that get these kids excited about school and what education can do for their futures.”

“I heard one student taking photos say, ‘Wow, maybe I could do this as a job when I leave Starr.’”

- Hetty Colver

The programs are currently sustained through Title 1, Part D grants that must be applied for each year through the state of Michigan.

Seeing academic improvement is wonderful, Colver said, but it is only one piece of creating a brighter future for Starr students. When students leave with their own goal to learn and pursue their education, she believes that is true success.

“I love that our program addresses the educational side of things, of course,” Colver said. “But it’s so important to be involved in the treatment process. In a residential facility, we have a really unique opportunity to connect with these children on a deeper level than in a normal school setting.

When students gain confidence and truly begin to see that they can achieve greatness, that’s the most rewarding thing for anyone who works in education.”

THANK YOU

to supporters of Starr Commonwealth’s March appeal. Your generosity enables Starr to help children and families reach their potential.

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HONOR/MEMORIAL GIFTS HONOR GIFTS are thoughtful ways to remember a special person and/or a special occasion, such as a birth, birthday, anniversary, graduation, Mother’s Day or Father’s Day, while also helping Starr children. When sending an honor gift, please provide the address of the honoree. We will send an acknowledgment card to let them know of your thoughtfulness, but we won’t mention the gift amount. You may call in your honor gift for faster acknowledgment at: 800.837.5591. Honor gifts also may be made online at: www.starr.org.

MEMORIAL GIFTS offer an enduring tribute to the memory of a friend or loved one, while extending a helping hand to the children of Starr Commonwealth. When sending a memorial gift, please provide the address of a family member of the deceased to whom we can send an acknowledgment card. We will let them know of your thoughtfulness but won’t mention the gift amount. You may call in your memorial gift for faster acknowledgment at: 800.837.5591.

Memorial donations also may be made online at: www.starr.org.

Here is a listing of Honor and Memorial gifts received from 1-19-13 to 4-9-13. Donors are listed below the name of the person in whose memory or honor they contributed. Gifts not listed here will appear in a future issue of Starr News. If we missed your name or an error has occurred with your listing, please forgive us and contact us so we may correct it in the next issue.

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IN HONOR OF: JACK KEENAN Ms. Caelan Kuban MR. AND MRS. MICHAEL MANN Mr. Craig Lapine WILLIAM STEELE Mr. and Mrs. Benjamin G. Chapman

IN MEMORY OF: MILDRED ANDERSON Dr. and Mrs. Arlin E. Ness PATRICIA L. ANDERSON Dr. and Mrs. Martin L. Mitchell Dr. and Mrs. Arlin E. Ness ROBERT C. ARMSTRONG Mr. and Mrs. Michael Domingo Dr. and Mrs. Martin L. Mitchell Dr. and Mrs. Arlin E. Ness LOVELLA BARHITE Mr. and Mrs. Kenneth Barhite MARGARET S. BASSAGE Mr. and Mrs. Charles Cook Mr. and Mrs. Dennis Rewa Mrs. Fran Weberling ERMA BULGRIN Dr. and Mrs. Arlin E. Ness MARVIN L. COLNESS Mrs. LaVerne I. Colness VINCENTE DE OLIVEIRA Dr. and Mrs. Martin L. Mitchell THOMAS DOBBINS Mr. and Mrs. Michael Domingo Dr. and Mrs. Martin L. Mitchell FREDERIC J. DRISCOLL JR. Dr. and Mrs. Martin L. Mitchell PATRICIA L. ENDRESS Mr. Richard B. Endress CONCETTA FALCONE Mr. John Falcone CATHERINE HEINLEN Dr. George H. Lauff

ALBERTA HENDERSON Dr. and Mrs. Martin L. Mitchell JUSTIN JACKOWICZ Mr. and Mrs. Marion J. Jackowicz GEORGE J. LAUFF Dr. George H. Lauff MARY ANNA LAUFF Dr. George H. Lauff JESSIE LONGHURST Mrs. Evelyn Gay PATTI PAKNEY Mrs. Jean Pakney CLARA MAXINE PATTERSON Mr. Richard A. Patterson HAROLD AND ARLENE SEIFERT Mr. and Mrs. Mike Mulnix HELEN SMITH Mrs. Arleen H. Sattler MARY KAY SMITH Dr. George H. Lauff E. KATHLEEN “KAY” WEYERS Dr. and Mrs. Martin L. Mitchell GREG WILKINSON Mr. and Mrs. Michael Domingo

The theme for this Starr News is a familiar one – education. While not stated specifically in the Starr Commonwealth Creed, or later in Starr’s Core Values, education has played, and continues to play, a pivotal role in the work of Starr Commonwealth.

Floyd Starr’s strong faith allowed the saying found in the book of Proverbs 22:6 to serve as a guideline for this new thing he was creating outside of the town of Albion, “Raise up a child in the way (s)he should go; even when (s)he is old (s)he will not depart from it.” As a person reads either the Creed or the Core Values, some of the educational ideas expressed are the following: • When provided an environment of love and activity, a child will be good

Chaplain Ken Ponds

• Given suitable work, a child can be taught the value of labor • Self-expression can be learned through play

• A young person’s ambition must be stimulated and developed • Problems are opportunities to grow and develop • Emphasizing the dignity of all people through the “oneness of humankind” • Helping children and their families develop positive relationships • Incorporating the principles of “servant leadership” in what we do at Starr • Providing opportunities for children and families to reach their full potential through spiritual growth As we move into the future, not only will Starr continue to follow these ideas, but Starr will continue to seek other ideas in which to provide the best possible education for the young people and families we serve.

The IRA Charitable Rollover Is Back for 2013!

The charitable IRA rollover legislation allows you to transfer lifetime gifts up to $100,000 using funds from your individual retirement account (IRA) without undesirable tax effects. Call Sherie Veramay, Director of Development, at 800.837.5591, email veramays@starr.org or visit www.starr.org/givingtostarr.

CHAPLAIN’S MESSAGE

• Physical, mental, moral and spiritual development when combined together allows a child to grow

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Officers Martin L. Mitchell, Ed.D. President Chief Executive Officer Wm. Chuck Jackson, MA Executive Vice President Chief Program Officer Christopher L. Smith, BBA., CPA Executive Vice President Chief Financial Officer Elizabeth A. Carey, MSW Executive Vice President Chief Strategy Officer Gary Q. Tester, MRC Executive Vice President Chief Development Officer

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Board of Trustees Kyle Caldwell, Chair Program Director Charles Stewart Mott Foundation Flint, MI Honorable John Hallacy, Vice Chair District Court Judge 10th District Court Battle Creek, MI Tom Kolassa, Secretary Senior Vice President Hub International Battle Creek, MI Wally Bakare Vice President, Operations Time Warner Cable Mid Ohio Division Columbus, OH Scott Bennett Vice President UBS Financial Services Birmingham, MI Craig Carrel President and Partner Team 1 Plastics Albion, MI Doug Clark Senior Vice President Masterworks Poulsbo, WA Dr. Velma Clay Director of Equal Employment Opportunity (Retired) Hart-Dole-Inouye Federal Center Battle Creek, MI

Joseph Gesmundo Co-Founder AVB, Inc. Kalamazoo, MI

Erick Stewart President Stewart Industries LLC Battle Creek, MI

Honorable Eugene A. Moore Chief Probate Judge (Retired) Oakland County Pontiac, MI

Lawrence Givens Blackmond and Givens, Inc. Southfield, MI

Gary Taylor Owner Taylor Auto Sales Inc. Van Wert, OH

William K. Stoffer Chairman and CEO Albion Machine & Tool Co. Albion, MI

Bruce Vande Vusse Attorney Foster, Swift, Collins & Smith, P.C. Farmington Hills, MI

Honorary Trustees

George A. Goodman Ypsilanti, MI Jack Kresnak Journalist / Child Advocate Livonia, MI Michael Leach Chief Financial Officer Nationwide Insurance Columbus, OH Dr. Pamela Lemerand Professor Eastern Michigan University Ypsilanti, MI Kenneth Miller Chief Executive Officer Principal Partner Millennium Restaurant Group Kalamazoo, MI Randy Neumann Vice President J.F. Daley, Inc. San Antonio, TX William C. Rands Managing Partner Sagres Partners, L.P. Grosse Pointe, MI Cornelia Romanowski Educator Shavertown, PA Mary E. Rutan Human Resources Director (Retired) Grosse Pointe Woods, MI

George Wilson General Agent Wilson Insurance Services Gilbert Wiseman Agency Flint, MI

Anne Willson DuprĂŠ Granddaughter of Floyd Starr Toronto, Canada Diana Starr Langley Montecito, CA

Trustees Emeritus

Sylvia Starr Richey Granddaughter of Floyd Starr Seal Beach, CA

Margaret Starr Leutheuser Daughter of Floyd Starr Haverford, PA

President Emeritus

Michael J. Gable Human Resources Executive Orlans Associates, PC Troy, MI George D. Goodman Executive Director (Retired) Michigan Municipal League Ann Arbor, MI Dr. Russell G. Mawby Chairman Emeritus W.K. Kellogg Foundation Battle Creek, MI

Arlin E. Ness President Emeritus Anthem, AZ

Locations Michigan: Albion, Battle Creek, Clinton Township, Detroit, Harper Woods Ohio: Columbus, Van Wert South Dakota: Lennox