Starr News - Summer 2019

NEWS SUMMER 20 19

VOL. 84 NO. 2

MEET DR. CAELAN SOMA

ONLINE LEARNING THROUGH STARR BEHAVIORAL HEALTH REFLECTING ON 106 YEARS WITH ARLIN NESS

Our Mission Starr Commonwealth leads with courage to create positive experiences so that all children, families, and communities flourish.

Vision

Universal hope, boundless love, and limitless success for all children.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

President’s Letter 4 Meet Dr. Caelan Soma

5

eLearning Comes to Life

6

Starr Behavioral Health

8

Night of Starrs

10

Honor and Memorial Gifts

11

Reflecting on 106 Years with Arlin Ness

12

PRESIDENT’S LETTER

Driven to Heal. Can you feel the energy in that statement? It’s that energy that brings me to the beautiful campus of Starr Commonwealth each morning with a smile on my face, ready to make a difference. Those three simple words are serving as our new tagline, and I feel it so perfectly captures who we have always been, and will be moving forward. How do we define healing? It’s all in our vision of providing universal hope, boundless love, and limitless success for all children.

Driven to Heal

There is no finer example of someone who is driven to heal than our very own Dr. Cae Soma. In this issue, you will hear directly from Dr. Soma about how traumainformed care is evolving, what she is looking forward to in the coming months, and what fuels her drive.

In our continuing effort to innovate, expand our reach, and increase our impact across the world, I am thrilled to announce our all-new eLearning platform launched just a few short weeks ago. Our platform features videos shot in a user-friendly way that directly connects with the audience.

This year, we will have a total of seven new courses posted online, with three others soon to follow. I am extremely proud of these courses and the vast impact they will make, as they serve as a catalyst to bring what we have offered on campus for 106 years to communities throughout the world.

This issue of Starr News also highlights the opening of the Starr Southeast

4

STARR NEWSLETTER

Behavioral Health Center in Harper Woods, with plans to expand in Battle Creek as well. The opening of these centers fills a great need in each of the communities, and provides services that are already having remarkable outcomes.

The direct service to children they offer is yet another example of our expanding reach to foster healing in all children.

Lastly, you will hear from a familiar friend who remains an integral part of the Mission, former President Arlin Ness. He shares his thoughts on our storied past, what he sees for Starr moving into the future, and why he remains passionate about Starr Commonwealth.

To be driven to heal locally, nationally, and globally is both exciting and humbling. From direct care to eLearning, we are developing new, strategic ways to create positive experiences for children, families, and communities to flourish—all built on the foundation of 106 years of success. In that spirit, I hope you see our responsibility to foster health to the fullest extent of our reach as your opportunity to further champion Starr Commonwealth as the leader in trauma-informed and resilience-focused care.

Sincerely,

Elizabeth Carey, President & CEO

SPOTLIGHT

Meet Dr. Caelan Soma

As Starr Commonwealth continues to foster healing in 2019 through trauma-informed and resilience-focused care, the organization would like to celebrate the professionals who make its groundbreaking work possible, and who are driven to heal through their dedication in the field. The first to be highlighted is Dr. Caelan Soma, PsyD, LMSW, and Chief Clinical Officer of Starr Commonwealth.

Dr. Soma provides trauma assessment and trauma-informed, resilience-focused intervention for youth utilizing evidencebased practices, including Starr’s SITCAP® model programs. Her dedication as a trauma practitioner, author, speaker, and trainer has earned her national recognition as a leader in her field. Below is an excerpt of her spotlight.

What have been the most important developments in trauma-informed care recently?

The research to support what we have suspected about trauma for many years is now abundant. And, this research spans across ALL disciplines (healthcare, education, psychology, social work, occupational therapy, etc.) When I began working in this field, we focused mostly on social workers and counselors. Today, trauma-informed care matters to everyone!

Neuroscientists have clearly shown through PET scans and MRIs, various portions of the brain becoming activated such as the deepest part of the brain (i.e., difficulty with selfregulation) or other brain structures becoming compromised such as the pre-frontal cortex (i.e., difficulty with decision making, problem solving) as a result of prolonged and exaggerated stress. This aligns with what we observe in children and adults with toxic stress exposure in all settings and how it impacts their physical health, behavior, emotions, ability to learn, socialize, and be an active participant in life.

The field of epigenetics has also evolved significantly which helps provide hope to practitioners for even the most at-risk and traumatized children and adults. Why? Resilience!

Even in the most extreme cases, we have an opportunity to provide new experiences which can help change the actual physiology of a person’s body.

In addition, I would add discoveries in mind-body connections and the polyvagal theory. In other words, the focus on how trauma, stress, AND resilience live in our bodies, inside our central nervous systems, and that we have an opportunity, through various experiences and strategies, to not only process and heal trauma but restore and nurture resilience. We’ve found success implementing these theories through movement activities, yoga, mindfulness exercises, expressive arts, breath work, play, etc.

To read Dr. Soma’s full spotlight, please visit starr.org/soma-spotlight.

5

eLEARNING

Online Learning through Starr

Starr Commonwealth is committed to increasing the accessibility of evidencebased, trauma-informed, and resiliencefocused intervention tools and services for children and families in schools, agencies, and community settings.

Since 1990, thousands of professionals and organizations across the country have been trained to see and build new pathways toward resilience. When Starr first began sharing its tools directly in clinical and educational settings, we quickly experienced just how powerful even one day of coaching and training can be. Demand grew rapidly, and new solutions were needed in order to reach more professionals. The result was Starr’s eLearning platform.

Hosting over 25 online courses and numerous books and resources, this platform is available 24 hours a day from the comfort of the user’s home, making it convenient for any busy schedule. To ensure that the content remained the industry-leading curriculum on traumainformed approaches, the organization has

6

STARR NEWSLETTER

solicited feedback to better understand how the system was working for their audience, what additional needs could be met through their courses, and how the overall platform could be improved. What recently resulted from this feedback was a full overhaul of the online store and eLearning platform, in addition to the launch of new content – with a whole new look and feel.

New courses such as Children of Trauma and Resilience, Trauma-Informed Resilient Schools, and Resetting for Resilience are now available at starr.org/new, where users can watch an introductory video to learn more about the learning objectives of the course, “meet” their instructor, and get a feel for what the learning experience would be like. Throughout the year, Starr will continue to update courses, film new courses, and share new, powerful tips for professionals to employ on a daily basis in their place of work or even in their home.

Visit starr.org/courses to learn more.

“The perspective gained from Starr’s conferences is unparalleled.”

–Julie McDaniel-Muldoon, Michigan Educator

TRAUMA & RESILIENCE CONFERENCES starr.org/conferences

Starr is excited to share our 2019 conference schedule, providing opportunities for educators and clinicians to become more trauma-informed and learn new ways to build resilience in children. Learn more at starr.org/conferences

STARR BEHAVIOR AL HEALTH

Rooted in Experience As Starr Commonwealth rapidly expands its reach through a new eLearning platform, national conferences, and its personalized on-site support, the basis for all of Starr’s trauma-informed and resilience-focused professional training and coaching is rooted in 106 years of residential treatment and direct behavioral health experience with children. Recognizing trauma in negative peer interactions, social issues, family issues, and unhealthy environments informs behavioral outcomes such as teenage pregnancy, substance abuse, truancy from school and/or home, domestic violence, and other violent behaviors. For Starr, being “Driven to Heal” begins with recognizing these issues and outcomes, and that can only come from experience providing direct behavioral health support to children.

8

STARR NEWSLETTER

In 2019, Starr Behavioral Health is expanding trauma-informed outpatient assessment and intervention for children ages 0-18 across southern Michigan. Starr will also be working with individual schools and clinical partners in Michigan to provide direct behavioral health assessment and intervention services through integrated partnerships that will help to reduce barriers for children and care providers. Starr is unique in that all of its behavioral health staff, from front office customer support to therapists and administrators, are trained in trauma-informed and resilience-focused care. This means that every step of working with Starr, from contracting to referrals and integrated services, leads to a comprehensive approach to behavioral health.

Starr Commonwealth has opened the Starr Southeast Behavioral Health Center, providing outpatient services for children and families in southeast Michigan. With this clinic, as well as with future sites, Starr will be able to ensure that its outpatient trauma assessment and intervention services are accessible in more Michigan communities.

Through strategic partnerships with healthcare organizations and school systems, Starr will also be able to expand its behavioral health services to those who need it most, where they need it most, by integrating care within these organizations. The services provided by Starr Behavioral Health build upon a foundation of resilience-focused and strength-based research, reinforcing Starr’s commitment to providing services for those who need it most and strengthening our position on the vanguard of trauma-informed practices for all children, families, and communities.

9

NIGHT OF STARRS 2019

Illuminating Greatness various opportunities for attendees’ generosity to make a direct impact on the children Starr serves.

Introduced with high praise from former Stand Tall recipients, each award winner was quick to turn the attention to the success and potential of the children they served. It was evident that the transformational initiatives each recipient has made possible in their respective towns was not thanks to their work alone, but rather due to the ability of the community to empower all children to succeed.

In that spirit, each inspirational acceptance speech also served as a challenge to join with Starr to continue creating positive experiences for children to flourish. Those in attendance were quick to act and make an impact of their own.

This past April, nearly 300 friends of Starr Commonwealth gathered on its historic campus for the 3rd annual Night of Starrs to illuminate the greatness in our youth, families, and communities while also celebrating three champions for children who are driven to heal. Those who were awarded the Stand Tall Award, which is given to community leaders who have proven their drive to heal through intentional actions dedicated to creating positive experiences for children to flourish, were Kim Carter, Battle Creek Public Schools superintendent, Dr. Harry Bonner, Albion youth advocate and community leader, and Tom Franke, Marshall youth advocate and community leader. The night included receptions, presentations and speeches, as well as

10

STARR NEWSLETTER

Upon completion of the program, President and CEO Elizabeth Carey conducted a reverse auction, which gave attendees the opportunity to invest their gifts in the Mission, rather than material goods. The audience’s passion ignited and hands flew up in support. Each hand raised gave a clear signal that the work of Starr Commonwealth cannot be done alone, as well as the importance of creating positive experiences for children being as relevant as ever. From speeches to auctions, generosity and the passion to heal children remained the focal point of the entire evening. In total, more than $80,000 was raised to continue to create universal hope, boundless love, and limitless success for all children. We look forward to seeing you at the 4th annual Night of Starrs in 2020!

Special thanks to our Night of Starr’s sponsors!

Honor/Memorial Gifts February 1, 2019 to June 13, 2019

IN HONOR OF:

IN MEMORY OF:

ALL CHILDREN Mr. & Mrs. Ted Johnson

CORA STARR LITTLE Mrs. Mary L. Tyler

ELIZABETH A. CAREY Ms. Martha E. Dobbins

SHARON ROITER Ms. Annette Andrews

CARIN GRZELAK Dr. & Mrs. Arlin E. Ness

“UNCLE” FLOYD STARR Mr. & Mrs. Ted F. Johnson

CARLA HARKER Dr. & Mrs. Arlin E. Ness

HARRIETT J. WAK Mr. Joseph Wak

DR. & MRS. ARLIN E. NESS Mr. & Mrs. Robert Harker

MR. & MRS. SYDNEY H. WARDELL Mr. & Mrs. Ronald S. Wardell

PHYLLIS NESS Mr. Raymond Opezzo JIM SECRETO Mr. Raymond Opezzo AL TROMBETTA Mr. Raymond Opezzo KONNER & GARRETT VOIGT Mr. & Mrs. Robert Voigt

INTRODUCING THE ALL-NEW STARR.ORG! Visit today to read the latest news from Starr Commonwealth.

visit starr.org

11

reflecting on

106 Years with Arlin Ness

President Emeritus Arlin Ness reflects on Starr’s legacy, and why he remains in service to Starr Commonwealth today.

When you think of the legacy of Starr Commonwealth, and the legacy of Floyd Starr, how do you see this reflected in the Starr of 2019?

ARLIN NESS

I see it written on the walls and throughout Starr’s residential campus, where 106 years of history has turned into an amazing story, and a depth of credibility that few organizations have today. I am amazed, but not really surprised, to see that legacy spreading around the world through Starr’s training programs and its holistic, evidence-based models that have been adopted and adapted by millions of people. So much of that work grew from Floyd Starr and the thoughtful leaders that followed him, and I see that torch carried on today by Elizabeth Carey and a very talented team. Starr’s storied past is a culmination, and every child, every employee, every president, really everyone who believes in Starr has contributed to that legacy. And I don’t limit those contributions to intellect, or time, or talent, or the financial contributions that make Starr’s work possible. I think Starr’s legacy, to borrow some words, is “faith made visible,” and it is the result of servant leadership.

What do you mean by “servant leadership”?

Uncle Floyd was my mentor for many years, well before I became the third president of Starr. He instilled in me, and in so many others, a sense of service that drives me to this day. “Arlin, if you serve to promote the work of Starr Commonwealth, you will certainly succeed, and so will the children.” Uncle Floyd would say this to me, he just had this methodic way of speaking, and then he would finish with, “but if you work to promote yourself, you will most certainly fail.”

12

STARR NEWSLETTER

One of the most satisfying roles I had at Starr was as V.P. of programs, a position I held just prior to becoming president. It was the late 70s, and this was an exciting time as the fields of psychology, social work, and education were intersecting.

You devoted 37 years of service to Starr Commonwealth, and almost 24 of those years as president. What are you most proud of, and how do you see that work impacting Starr today and in the future?

One of the most satisfying roles I had at Starr was as V.P. of programs, a position I held just prior to becoming president. It was the late 70s, and this was an exciting time as the fields of psychology, social work, and education were intersecting. Working with Dr. Larry Brendtro, who was president at the time, we were refining a psychoeducational approach known as the “educateur,” which was a role that dates back to the years following World War II when there were large numbers of children throughout Europe and the world suffering from the post-traumatic stress of war. At one point we even developed a master’s degree and educateur program with Western Michigan University and The Ohio State University. The educateur was effectively a child advocate role that goes beyond a traditional focus on learning and socialization, and instead the educateur approached trauma and healing from an interdisciplinary perspective that combines the professional skills of teaching, social work, psychology, and recreation. We would completely restructure the environment in which learning takes place, what people today might refer to as a “safe space” or a “reset room,” but in this case it was Starr’s residential campus. The educateur would guide the interactions that a child had with his or her environment in a way that allowed for structured intervention, as well as the introduction of natural support networks of friends, family, community, and even spirituality, all of which lead to resiliency. Like any injury, trauma is both a physical and emotional experience, and to this day Starr Commonwealth and our professional training relies on this educateur approach to healing, albeit in some new and innovative ways that can be used in schools, healthcare, in homes, and in communities. I’m proud to have played a role in bringing this model to Starr and more broadly to this country.

What are your thoughts on Starr’s expanding professional training network, including the new online learning platform, and our work with schools, communities, and healthcare organizations beyond the Great Lakes?

It is proof that Starr has an important story to tell. I’ll say this, and it is inspired by the lessons of Floyd Starr: As long as Starr Commonwealth maintains its core values and its roots in direct behavioral health, where we continue to define trauma-informed care and child advocacy, as long as our professional training and coaching is always informed by the Mission of Starr Commonwealth, Starr as an organization will certainly succeed, and so will children.

It has been 15 years since you retired.

What makes you continue to support Starr Commonwealth in the ways that you do?

First, let me say that I believe Elizabeth Carey defines servant leadership and serves with a heart committed to the Mission. The strategic partnerships and the expanding network of trained practitioners that she has formed allow for Starr to continue to impact children throughout the nation and the world, as well as on Starr’s campus. At the same time, Elizabeth stays rooted in the Mission of Starr and the vision Floyd Starr had when he founded Starr Commonwealth in Albion, Michigan in 1913. As for my continued role, joined by my wife, Barb, we can only say that we were called to serve Starr Commonwealth. I don’t know that this is something that happens too often in today’s world, and I don’t know that it is something we can ever truly leave behind. We feel blessed for everything Starr has given us and the children we serve, so with that same gratitude we continue to give back. This might be Elizabeth, me, and Barb traveling together around the country to visit donors, but it is just as often visiting campus to spend time with the kids and the staff who support the Mission of Starr.

Honestly, the work is just too important, so as long as we are able to serve, we’ll consider it an honor.

13

Behavioral Health Starr Behavioral Health is driven to heal children 0-18 throughout southern Michigan by providing trauma-informed outpatient assessment and intervention. From front office staff to therapists and managers, our fully trauma-informed clinics are passionate about fostering healing. Through working with all stakeholders, including parents, school staff, and other healthcare providers, we bring understanding to a child’s experiences, and empower all to do just that—heal. Many of our children who need services lack access to adequate healthcare to cover their cost. Through your support, we can cover the cost and deliver treatment to the children who need us most.

Your generosity can change a life at starr.org/givetosbh or by calling 800.837.5591 today.

14

STARR NEWSLETTER

BOARD OF TRUSTEES

OFFICERS

Erick Stewart, Chair

Elizabeth A. Carey

(2009 – 2023) President Stewart Industries LLC Battle Creek, MI

Craig Carrel, Immediate Past Chair

President and Chief Executive Officer

Derek S. Allen

Chief Operating Officer

Dr. Caelan Soma

(2008 – 2021) President and Partner Team 1 Plastics Albion, MI

Chief Clinical Officer

Stanley Allen, Vice Chair

John M. Thompson II

(2014 – 2023) Configuration Engineering Wells Fargo & Company Des Moines, IA

Lisa Miller, Treasurer (2018 – 2027) President MMK Consulting Group Coldwater, MI

Milton Barnes

(2019 – 2028) CEO & Founder Play Right Basketball Academy Albion, MI

Simon P. Bisson

(2018 -2027) Vice President, Institutional Relations and Development University Hospitals Health System Cleveland, OH

Gary Crist

Chief Financial Officer Chief Advancement Officer

TRUSTEES EMERITUS Michael J. Gable

Human Resources Executive (Retired) Orlans Associates, PC Troy, MI

George D. Goodman

Executive Director (Retired) Michigan Municipal League Ann Arbor, MI

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

William K. Stoffer

Chairman and CEO (Retired) Albion Machine & Tool Co. Albion, MI

Huilan Krenn

(2017 – 2026) Director of Learning & Impact W.K. Kellogg Foundation Battle Creek, MI

Sheryl Mitchell

HONORARY TRUSTEES Anne Willson Dupré

Granddaughter of Floyd Starr Toronto, Canada

(2019 – 2028) City Administrator City of Lathrup Village Lathrup Village, MI

Diana Starr Langley

Randy Neumann

President Emeritus Coldwater, MI

(2013 – 2022) Vice President J.F. Daley, Inc. San Antonio, TX

Montecito, CA President Emeritus

“It is an honor to begin my service as your board chair. Thanks to the selfless guidance of Elizabeth Carey and other leaders at Starr, as well as my predecessor Craig Carrel, I take great pride in the state of the organization in my inaugural year, and I look forward to working with all stakeholders, driven to heal and grow throughout my tenure.”

Erick Stewart

Martin L. Mitchell

Arlin E. Ness

President Emeritus Phoenix, AZ

Sean Silver

(2019 – 2028) Senior Vice President Bank of America Merrill Lynch Troy, MI

Keena Williams

(2019 – 2028) Assoc. Dean of Students President’s Special Advisor for Global Diversity Albion College Albion, MI

13725 Starr Commonwealth Rd., Albion, MI 49224 800.837.5591 | info@starr.org | www.starr.org Starr Commonwealth is a nonprofit organization serving children and families regardless of race, religion, color, national origin, or sexuality. Starr Commonwealth is accredited by the Council on Accreditation. Founded in 1913, Star Commonwealth is licensed by the state of Michigan. Starr Commonwealth’s Albion campus is a Michigan Historic Site. Starr Commonwealth receives funds from social agencies, foundations, corporations, and individuals.

ACCREDITED CHARITY bbb.org

15

13725 Starr Commonwealth Rd. Albion, Michigan 49224 www.starr.org

Duplicate mailing? Call 800-837-5591 Change service requested

DRIVEN TO HEAL

STARR REBRAND AND TAGLINE Informed by the strategic plan process, Starr Commonwealth has a new look and feel, featuring its new tagline: Driven to Heal. Put simply, Starr is empowering professionals to build resilience in children, families, and communities across the world through online education, in-person training and coaching, and direct behavioral health services, all through a new streamlined look and feel across all platforms.

Follow us on social! starr1913 starrcommonwealth starrcommon