ArtReach and Excelsior Host Art Show

By Vicki Sicard, Recreation Coordinator

Over the past several years, Excelsior's recreation department has partnered with ArtReach's Arts Benefiting Kids Program. Excelsior's relationship with ArtReach stemmed from a shared set of beliefs, and over time has developed into a long-standing and successful partnership.

Over the course of the past three months, girls from across the campus had the opportunity to work with an amazing professional teaching artist, Laura. From the very beginning, Laura was a natural fit for the girls and staff at Excelsior. Her workshops created a fun, inspiring and stimulating experience. These workshops also encouraged confidence, team building and individual success for the girls. Through art, the girls had the opportunity to discover and develop personal talents that will last them a lifetime.

On May 20, the girls showcased their talents and hosted an art show entitled "Time Passes People Change." The paintings were displayed on black velvet backdrops with the artists in attendance to talk about their work and greet guests who were delighted with the girls' hard work and talent. The varied techniques, creativity and emotions displayed in the artwork were moving and inspiring.

In addition to the impressive artwork, Excelsior's Culinary Arts classes catered the event. Resplendent in their white chef hats and coats, the culinary students served delicious desserts including: brownies, cream puffs,strawberries dipped in chocolate, cheesecake and more.

To complete the evening, Excelsior music student Lauren played the keyboard. She has been taking lessons through Excelsior's music department. Thank you to ArtReach and our many talented young ladies.

Excelsior's Canine Healers Program

Funding for Excelsior’s Canine Healers therapy program comes from the generosity of the List Family Foundation.

By Amy Couchman

If you've visited our campus in recent months, you may have noticed dogs walking our halls. A little more than a year ago, Excelsior began a new therapy program, Canine Healers. After watching the incredible success of our other dog program, Paws4Trust, it was our hope and intent to extend Animal Assisted Therapy to more of the girls at Excelsior. Canine Healers is a trauma therapy group facilitated by Amy Couchman, an Excelsior therapist. However, what makes the therapy group unique is the participation of volunteer dog handlers and their beloved furry friends. Each of the dogs is an Animal Assisted-Therapy dog, certified to participate in therapy settings.

Canine Healers meets on Tuesday evenings for one-hour meetings. Eight to 10 Excelsior girls are recommended by their therapy team to participate in the 10-week session. These meetings are designed to help the girls gain a better understanding of trauma including: sexual abuse, physical abuse and/or mental abuse, abandonment and self-harm. With these issues in mind the group and therapist focus on helping girls explore their trauma, develop healthy coping skills for healing and begin establishing the building blocks for healthy relationships. The dogs present in the group are there to provide comfort and support while using their stories as reference for the topics of trauma, abuse, trust and companionship.

The dogs love petting and attention, and in return provide unconditional love to our girls. Canine Healers are proud to be at Excelsior. If you get the chance, take some time to get to know them and their amazing dogs.

The Exceptionally Defiant Teenager

By Michelle Cleckler, Psy.D.
Licensed Clinical Psychologist

Most teens have periods of defiance, resistance, arguing and refusing to accept responsibility for their actions. In severe cases, a teen may be diagnosed with Oppositional Defiant Disorder (ODD). This diagnosis is characterized by defiant behavior that is persistent across environments lasting at least six months. Such behavior includes losing one's temper often, arguing with adults, refusing to comply with rules or directives, and blaming others for their mistakes or misbehaviors.

As a psychologist, when I see that a client has been diagnosed with this disorder, what it tells me is that she will be difficult at times and may engage in power struggles. That is, if she does not want to do something she will be defiant. The key to treating these adolescents is to try to create an environment with the fewest number of power struggles possible.

A model I use when treating this population is called Collaborative Problem Solving by Ross Greene, PhD. Dr. Greene advises teachers, therapists, and parents to put behaviors into three different baskets: Basket A (safety concerns - non-negotiable), Basket B (things that can be negotiated - both parents/staff and adolescents have opinions about these things), and Basket C (adolescent chooses - adults do not care about this stuff (i.e. what color socks she wears, etc.). First, parents and staff members working with these adolescents should try to put as many things into Basket C as possible. Parents/staff need to try to let go of as many meaningless things as possible so that the adolescent feels empowered to make her own decisions. Basket A includes safety concerns and the adolescent needs to understand what is in this basket (i.e. physical aggression) and the consequences for this behavior. Staff and parents should be consistent with these consequences. The rest of the every day problems will fall into Basket B. This is where the work comes in. When problems come up that need to be addressed, the parent/staff should first use empathy and respect when discussing the problem. Then he/she should work with the adolescent to come up with a solution. It cannot be stressed enough how important it is to empathize with the adolescent (i.e. I bet that was really hard for you when you couldn't go on the outing with your friends, but we already had a plan to do the school project this afternoon) and to be respectful. Respect is often conveyed with words but also with your tone of voice. Staff and parent should then problem-solve with the adolescent until a mutual agreement has been reached.

It is also important to be proactive when dealing with someone with ODD. You need to see what the function of their defiant behavior is. Sometimes it is attention-seeking and, thus, parents/staff need to add in more positive attention so that the adolescent doesn't try to get her needs met in more maladaptive ways. Children and adolescents are resourceful and will find a way to get their attention needs met one way or another. Why not try to make it as positive as possible?

Another reason an adolescent may seem oppositional is because she is not processing information well. This is why psychological testing is important to determine how an adolescent processes information in her environment. For example, parents/staff may state that the adolescent does not listen and is defiant when in fact, her working memory is low and she cannot remember large amounts of information at one time. Thus, when the parents give multi-step directions (i.e. go to your room and get your blue book bag as well as your dirty laundry and don't forget to grab your towels from the bathroom) she cannot remember all of the directions and comes back having only done one or two of the directives. Once psychological testing is done, parents and staff can tailor their behavior and the environment to best help the adolescent and further reduce the number of power struggles as well as seemingly oppositional behavior.

In summary, a diagnosis of ODD should be treated with multi-faceted approach that includes: being proactive by determining how the adolescent processes information and making appropriate accommodations in the environment; removing as many power struggles as possible using the Collaborative Problem Solving model; being respectful when talking with your teenager; empathizing when they are in distress; and being consistent with consequences for unsafe behavior.

Tony Grampsas Grant Funds Three Year Bully Prevention Programming

The State of Colorado created the Tony Grampsas Youth Services Program (TGYS) to provide funding to community-based organizations that serve children, youth and their families with services designed to reduce youth crime and violence and to prevent child abuse and neglect. For three years, Excelsior has been awarded a TGYS grant to provide our girls with the critical skills necessary to reduce their involvement in crime, as well as victimization by others. The skills we are teaching include learning how to identify, respond to and eliminate bullying, intimidation and relational aggression. Gaining these skills allows our girls to enhance their self-concept, improve their social relationships and decrease delinquent acts, including acts of violence. To structure this program, Excelsior has implemented the Olweus Bullying Prevention Program, which was selected as a blueprint model by the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention. Coupled with the Strength Based Care model and our reality based residential treatment program, girls participate in a myriad of services designed to diminish the tragic affects of their history of violence, abuse and deprivation.

Our bully and relational aggression prevention program includes numerous counseling services and special activities:

• Specific training on identifying bullying, peer interventions, ways to support victims, leadership skills, socially acceptable ways to express frustration/anger, how self-esteem affects bullying behaviors, cultural awareness and relational aggression.
• Training focused on what is or has been successful for them, seeing realistic expectations, utilizing positive building blocks that already exist in the girl's environment that can serve as the foundation for growth and change.
• Teachers conduct weekly 50-minute classroom meetings, utilizing structured activities.
• Weekly one hour psycho-educational groups with counselors, focused on reducing aggression, healthy alternatives to violence, conflict resolution, responses to cyber bullying, improving self-esteem, cultural awareness and sensitivity, leadership, and the development of pro-social behaviors including friendships, compassion and empathy.
• Bully prevention groups alternate with Strength Based Care groups. Girls learn to define their strengths and focus on positive ways to give and receive feedback, methods for reframing daily challenges, and methods for identifying positive ways to control situations.
• Girls who engage in bullying behaviors will learn compassion for victims through restorative justice activities.
• Every week, our school's Student Leadership ROCKSTARS Program acknowledges and rewards girls who have been positive role models, supported victims and stood up to bullies. The ROCKSTARS program stands for Really Outrageous, Courageous Kids Starting to Act Responsibly.
• Each semester, we have a Bully Prevention and Awareness Week with guest speakers, fun activities, t-shirts for girls who make a commitment not to bully peers and organized discussions between girls to discuss the impact of bullying on the school atmosphere and cottage therapeutic milieu.
• Girls complete anonymous bully, victim questionnaires at regular intervals to assess program effectiveness

Excelsior Splashes into Summer
It's summertime and there is no better way to celebrate summer than a day of swimming at the pool. On June 7, the Excelsior Swimming Pool opened for its third session. We are very excited and looking forward to another great summer.

Over the summer, Excelsior Girls will enjoy countless splash-tactular hours in the water. The gym classes will be out to enjoy the pool on a daily basis. In addition to casual swimming, students will have a wide range of swimming experiences during the week, including: swimming lessons, aqua aerobics, water volleyball, lane swimming and Friday fun day.

Throughout the summer, cottages will have swim times after school and on the weekends. There will also be themed pool parties for the girls to enjoy. In addition to these fun summer swim times, we also will be hosting several swim contests and water Olympics between the cottages.

Along with all the summertime fun, the pool offers an opportunity to promote physical fitness and safety. By the end of the summer, it is our belief that many of the girls will develop a newly found confidence in themselves, a memorable summer and a healthy hobby that will last for many summers to come.

Daniel's Fund Grant Supports Excelsior Substance Abuse Prevention Program

Written by: Carol Beauchamp-Hunter, MA, LPC, CACIII

Excelsior Youth Center was fortunate to have been awarded a Daniel's Fund Grant for the 2009-2010 year for our Substance Abuse Programming. With their generous grant we have been able to provide many learning opportunities for the students and staff at Excelsior.

Excelsior, with the help of the Daniel's Fund, was able to send 10 staff to training in Sand Play Therapy and purchase a Sand Tray and miniatures to use in therapy. The staff returned renewed and ready to use this unique therapy to help girls focus on traumatic events that helped shape their early lives and make changes to eliminate negative behaviors and reduce substance abuse.

Resources, which have been purchased and used this year, include Recovery Wars Comic Books and a Adolescent Relapse Prevention Workbook that each student in specialized substance abuse groups have received and thoroughly reviewed. Keeping the girl's attention is extremely important at this age. Utilizing visual aids can create a better understanding of how drugs and alcohol affect the body and give our girls a better understanding of the dangers related to using substances. Other DVDs covered methamphetamine, inhalants and marijuana. The new flip charts are teaching not only the physiological responses to drugs, but also the emotional, familial, social, financial and legal consequences. Another great item Excelsior was able to purchase was a beverage set which included a serving tray with a glass of beer, a glass of wine and a mixed drink. All have a crashed car inside the glass. These visual aids helped in discussions on drinking and driving and parental abuse of alcohol. The Daniel's Fund Grant also allowed us to purchase a research based Drug and Alcohol Curriculum which included a pre/post test. This will be given to each cottage to be used during the 2010 year.

Excelsior has continued working with the Olweus Bullying Prevention Program and grant money was used to purchase videos on bullying especially as it relates to substance abuse and violence. Research has shown if you reduce aggression and anti-social behaviors, it will also reduce substance abuse.

Having the girls normalize their behaviors and activities by investing in healthy recreational activities without the use of substances has been a primary objective at Excelsior. Over the course of the past year our Recreation Department and wellness coordinator have placed an even greater emphasis on physical activity both on and off campus. With the addition of extra staff time devoted to activities, more of our girls are learning how to use their leisure time without the use of substances. These activities have improved self-confidence, leadership abilities and i life skills as noted by therapists, monthly reports and, girls' progress in Excelsior's phase and level program. Activities have included swimming, aerobics, Wii fitness, hip-hop dance classes, yoga, golf, snowboarding, gardening, kickboxing and many more. Not only are we focusing on recreation but also looking at total wellness to include nutrition, daily fitness classes, intramural sports and testing for Body Mass Index (BMI).

The Grant from the Daniel's Fund has given our staff the opportunity to take courses for their Certified Addiction Counselor certification instead of paying for it on their tight budgets. This has benefitted our students with even higher educated staff in specialized areas.

Excelsior cannot thank the Daniel's Fund enough for their continued support in helping us work with our students who desperately want to improve their quality of life.

Healthy Role Modeling for Your Teen
By John Christie, MA, LPC

When we role model for our teenager, we are communicating to them how we as adults manage our lives, emotions, interactions with others and society expectations. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy provides us with some terminology that can be adapted to examine how we communicate with behavior, emotions and thoughts.

First, we will look at behavior. It is no secret that this is the first way we learn how to communicate. When we were six months old, for example, we cried and we got fed. Or, we cried and we got changed. This is a very effective form of communication. However, for a teen or adult person it certainly is not seen as mature. If I were to hit someone, they would probably know I was upset, but probably not want to understand why. Most times when a teen or adult communicates with their behavior, it is the behavior that receives the focus, not the reason behind the behavior. We must remember that when we are under stress, the brain might revert to what we first learned. In the case of communication, this can be very destructive.

The next form of communication we learn is emotion. Instead of hitting someone, I could tell them they made me mad and that I hate them. This would be much better than hitting someone, but still not very effective. This sort of communication is learned around the age of six or seven. And if I were to use it, I most likely would also sound like a six or seven year old. Also, people tend to get defensive when told that they made someone mad. Therefore, although emotion is better than behavior, it is still not very mature.


Finally, we have thoughts. If I were to tell someone that I was upset that we had an argument last week and I was worried we were not friends anymore, that would communicate completely why I was upset. This works well for the communication leaving us. But what about the communication that confronts us? We as humans are wired to try and understand the meaning behind the communication, but all too often we assume another's meaning. Moreover, we put a negative connotation to it. But, if we were to use our thoughtful communication and ask what they meant by what they said or did, we could clear up the miscommunication right away and avoid hours or days of worry and consternation.

In looking at these forms of communication, we must realize that there is a considerable difference in the first two and the last. That difference is control. We don't have to be vulnerable or fear losing control of the situation when we communicate with the first two forms. But if we use our thoughts, then we must learn to be vulnerable while maintaining healthy boundaries. If we as parents and caregivers can learn to role model this most mature form of communication, our children and clients might learn to stay calm, and express their feelings and needs in a clear, non-confrontational manner so they will be heard and their needs will be met.

Excelsior's Short Term Intensive Program


In our current economic climate, fewer and fewer psychiatric hospital beds are available for adolescents. In the fall of 2008, Excelsior developed short-term intensive residential treatment services as an alternative to hospitalization for young women 11-18 years of age.

Our admissions department is available to accept young women in crisis 24 hours per day, seven days per week. Upon admission, an initial treatment plan is developed in concert with the placing doctor, agency, therapist, mental health agency staff and Excelsior clinical staff.

To effectively and quickly meet the needs of these young women, numerous treatment services are initiated immediately. A psychiatric evaluation is completed within 24 hours of admission. One of Excelsior's psychiatrists will evaluate the client in person, conduct a medication review and communicate, if applicable, with her community psychiatrist. Excelsior's psychologist will complete a psychological evaluation. A licensed, Master's level therapist will develop treatment planning and implementation. This therapist will contact the family within the first 24 hours and communicate with the family daily if this is therapeutically indicated. The young woman will receive daily individual therapy and family therapy. Additional therapy includes specialized therapy groups, Excelsior's Wellness programming, religious services (as requested) and recreational programming.

An educational diagnostician will contact the young woman's school for appropriate schoolwork. The student will attend school at Excelsior's middle/senior high school during weekdays.

Referrals will be accepted from county human services agencies, school districts, juvenile courts and families placing privately by contacting the Admissions Department at Excelsior.

Lannie Garrett's Great Women of Song

Lannie Garrett's opening night performance of her GREAT WOMEN OF SONG: FROM BILLIE TO BETTE will benefit the great girls of Excelsior Youth Center on Saturday, June 12th. The benefit will be held in downtown Denver at Lannie's Clocktower Cabaret. The pre-party starts at 6:30 p.m. with the show from 8:00 to 9:30 p.m. The tax-deductible cost is $100 and includes appetizers and a free glass of champagne during the pre-party (cash bar and food afterward). Buy your tickets through Lannie's Clocktower Cabaret box office (303) 293-0075 on 16th Street Mall or through Lannie's website: www.lannies.com. There is $5 parking in the Park Central Garage on Lawrence just past 15th as well as street parking. This event is partially underwritten by Denver Investments. For questions about Excelsior Youth Center: Carena Reber, 303-693-1550x 331 or Carenar@excelsioryc.org.

Excelsior Youth Center named Lannie Garrett a 2008 Triumphant Woman, one of five women honored for "beating the odds," becoming pillars of the community and displaying characteristics worthy of a role model to Excelsior girls. Annually at the Spring Passport Party, Excelsior honors women who have made the difficult journey of overcoming overwhelming adversity to achieve greatness in their chosen field or endeavor. Triumphant Women honorees may have had troubled backgrounds, dysfunctional families, experience with poverty, or another extreme challenge. Visit www.excelsioryc.org for forms to nominate candidates for the March 19, 2011 party.

Excelsior High School Graduation

Congratulations to the 13 students who will be graduating from Excelsior High School on Friday, May 21: Tiffany, Natalie Co, Natalie Ca, Shante, Ruby, Nicollette, Lillian, Shatawna, Kayla, Lauren, Hannah, Marquilla and Ivory. Congratulations, Graduates! We are so proud of you and your hard work. Our graduates and their families will enjoy a reception from 10 to 11 a.m. with therapists and school staff. Excelsior has a special graduation luncheon in the cafeteria for all of our girls, graduates and family members. For Spring 2010, we are honored to have Dr. Zelda DeBoyes, Court Administrator for the City of Aurora as our commencement speaker. In addition to Dr. DeBoyes, Excelsior graduation ceremonies include a slide show of photos of our grads, their friends, staff and teachers, a short speech from every grad, and a presentation of diplomas and songs from the Excelsior High School Choir.

Adopted Children and Reactive Attachment Disorder

For healthy cognitive, emotional, social and behavioral development, healthy attachment by a child to their primary caregiver in the first three years of life is critical. Learning to trust develops as the baby has a need that is met by the caregiver, usually the mother. A baby is hungry, cries and is fed by the mother. A toddler falls down, is frightened and her mother picks her up and comforts her. As the process is repeated over and over, the child learns that she can trust the caregiver and becomes attached. Her caregiver is a constant in her life and a source of comfort, safety, food, warmth and care. If the relationship is close and secure, then the child learns to trust and love.

Reactive Attachment Disorder (RAD) is the result of non-existent, inappropriate or negative responses to the child's needs. Her ability to trust and attach to other people is damaged. She learns that the world is an unsafe place, other people are not to be trusted and she feels alone in the world. An infant child with RAD may exhibit an indifference to others, resistance to physical contact, stiff response to cuddling, poor eye contact, lack of reciprocal smiles, and delays in developmental milestones. A child may demonstrate poor peer relationships, poor impulse control, depression, anger, lack of conscience, abnormal speech patterns and control issues.

Adopted children can have additional challenges during the first few months of life that can, in some cases, lead to RAD. Research shows that there is some pre-natal and post-natal attachment. At birth and for the initial minutes and days of life, the infant recognizes the birth mother's voice and smell. Adopted children are separated from their birth mother and then have a new caregiver. In some cases, the child moves from birth mother to foster mother to adoptive mother. These changes in the primary caregiver can cause significant disruptions to the child's attachment process. The infant experiences changes in the caregiver's look, smell and sound. There are also changes in the living environment's sounds and smells. The greater the number of changing caretakers and the older the child before adoption, the more difficult it becomes for the child to attach fully to the adoptive parents.

Excelsior Expands Day Treatment Programming

Day Treatment has been an important part of Excelsior's continuum of treatment services, supporting at-risk girls ages 11-18 and their families by providing a safe, structured environment as an alternative to removal from their families. These girls are behaviorally and emotionally stable enough to reside safely in the community but struggle to function effectively in the public school setting.

The goal is to provide a fully accredited school program with individual, group and family therapy. Upon admission, a Needs and Strengths Assessment will be completed using a variety of evidence based tests . A Psychiatric Evaluation is completed to determine the client's clinical diagnosis and to review medication history along with the development of a treatment plan with short-term and long-term goals and objectives. Additionally an Aftercare Plan will be developed by Excelsior's Aftercare Coordinator, the treatment team and family to help indentify transitional needs and resources.

While in Day Treatment, girls will work in weekly Individual Therapy to address diagnosed problems, teach new coping skills, promote effective choices, and promote healthy problem solving and goal setting. Girls and their families will have on-site Family Therapy sessions, telephone consultation, 24 hours crisis telephone support/intervention and on-site Impact Family
Girls participate in Specialized Group Therapy on site to address a multitude of treatment issues. Typical group topics may include: Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), Substance Abuse, Anger Management, Healthy Relationships, Survivors of Sexual Abuse, Relapse Prevention, Life Skills, and Family Dynamics. Medication Management is completed weekly by the therapist in consultation with the psychiatrist and medication management when appropriate.

Transportation is available to bring clients to the campus and return them after the school day; this promotes consistent attendance and improved school performance.

Programming During School Breaks is provided for clients on days that school is traditionally out (ie: holidays, no contact school days, etc.)

Structured Afternoon/Evening Care is available for parents who are in need of additional support prior to getting off work. Parents can pick up their child on the way home from work. During their time on campus, clients are involved in activities such as study hall, additional group time and recreational therapy opportunities.

Educational Services are provided by Excelsior's Junior/Senior High School which is accredited by the Colorado Department of Education and the North Central Association Commission on Accreditation and School Improvement. Each student has an (Individualized Education Plan) or PLP (Personal Learning Plan) which outlining the goals and objectives that help the student learn best. Students are able to work in core subject area classes (English, math, science, social studies), as well as art, music, physical education and variety of elective classes (i.e.; women's studies, computer applications, etc.), vocation training and General Educational Development (GED) preparation. Additional educational supports such as speech/language therapy are available.


Enhanced Day Treatment provides additional services to support clients and families to include the following at a supplemental rate. These services include:

• In-Home Impact Family Therapy and Behavior Coaching - In-Home Family Therapy and Behavior Coaching for up to 6 hours a week.
  

• Overnight Crisis Care and Hospital Diversion can be provided on campus in one of the residential units for 1-2 nights at the Day Treatment rate. Additional nights available at the residential rate on approval from the social worker, placing agency and/or courts.

• Additional Psychological Testing and Assessment - Excelsior's psychologist can complete additional mental health and/or educational needs/functioning.

• Parenting Group - Excelsior provides groups to parents that are supportive and psycho-educational.
  
  

Referrals and Admission:

Referrals will be accepted from county human services agencies, school districts, juvenile courts and families placing privately by contacting the admissions department at Excelsior:

Culinary Arts Students go to DCPA's Buell Theater

By Trisha Wilson, Culinary Arts


When a person thinks of Culinary Arts we think of teaching the art of food. For our students, it encompasses so much more. Etiquette, professionalism in and out of the work place, money management, teamwork, and opening a view on possibilities they never might know could be theirs.

For dinner we went to Red Robin before the theater and the girls were given a 12-dollar budget and told they could order anything their budget would allow. They were quite inventive splitting hamburger orders so they could have appetizers and a drink. Or, only having water and splitting a salad with a hamburger. All had napkins on their laps, big smiles and would have been at ease at any five star restaurant. They made me proud.

The students represented Excelsior with grace and class to make any school take notice. Dressed in their white jackets, black shoes and black dress pants they held their heads high. Throughout the night they were asked what school they were from. They very politely responded EYC Culinary Arts. I overheard Jessica telling an elderly couple about our Coffee Friday and what she had worked on. She was so excited when they said they wished they could have been there.

For dessert they were given $1.50 and upon examining the menu realized they could not afford it. As a team, they decided to go to Walgreens, pick a treat and take it to the theater for intermission. Imagine how it looked, 10 high school girls descending on Walgreens in white chef jackets giggling and finagling with one another on what was the best buy. What a sight!

The play was wonderful, funny and great from start to finish. What was so amazing to me were their faces, I was so distracted watching them. Belly laughs, and quiet remarks of "That is so cool," or "oh my gosh!" Caprice never sat back in her chair, so thoroughly engrossed that she stated out loud, "That's beautiful," and then said, "Did I say that out loud?" Nicolette, who was sitting next to her giggling quietly very kindly said "Yes, but that's ok."

On my drive home, my mind went over the night and my heart warmed. I know it meant something different to each student. Juliet said she never once felt like running and she felt happy, Kasey said the play showed her that she has to do it for herself and she will get respect for her hard work. Alyssa said, "There is so much out there I didn't know about. I have never been to a play."

I went to sleep that night tired but a very happy teacher.

Creative Education at Excelsior High School

By Darryll Brown

The Mystery Class, an Excelsior High School offering since the early nineties, is still going strong and turning out amateur sleuths. Conceived by Barry McDermott and Darrell Brown as a way to meet the needs of children unchallenged or unprepared for the transition to college, the class is a blend of critical thinking and advanced literature. It is part Criminology 101 and part whodunit. Girls who have taken the class in the past have written back, saying that it inspired them to choose a career in a criminology-related field, and that it helped them with the rigorous demands of higher education.

Says current teacher, Mr. Brown, "On any given day, the students can expect to juggle several cases-like a detective might have-observe any changes to the room-like examining a crime scene-and take notes on the appearance and behavior of any visitors-treating them as suspects or practice for sketch artists. The class is a mixture of the unexpected and the disciplined. The students always seem to be up for the challenge."

Students in the class study great mystery stories, real and fictional cases and detectives, reasoning, forensic science, history, and terminology. During the years the number of activities has grown considerably, but Mr. Brown now teaches it as a block class to allow in-depth coverage of the concepts. "It's a fun class to teach, but it's tough to stay ahead of the students. As the semester goes on, they become better observers, develop teamwork, keep better track of information, and really excel."

Yoga, the Art of Being

"The most beautiful people we have known are those who have known defeat, known suffering, known struggle, known loss, and have found their way out of the depths…"
-Elizabeth Kubler Ross

As part of the Wellness Program at Excelsior, the practice of Yoga is used to help guide our girls out of their own depths with tools of empowerment, life balance, and well being. The word Yoga, translates into the word "yoke" which means to bind/connect. Through Yoga, our clients are allowed the opportunity to connect their mind, body and spirit, as they have come to us broken, with a sense of defeat, suffering, and loss. The movement of Yoga gives permission to explore themes of body image, emotional regulation, relationships, self esteem, coping, mindfulness, accomplishment, as well as life celebration and self-creation. Yoga, though challenging, provides a safe environment to push limits, test boundaries, balance emotions and most of all, to build trust with oneself.

Shana Hood, M.A., L.P.C.

Art Therapy Helping Girls Work Through Issues

When faced with confronting distressing personal issues, young women in treatment can benefit from unique therapeutic tools. Excelsior Youth Center offers a variety of Art Therapy experiences to help young women express themselves and work through difficult issues they may not otherwise feel comfortable sharing. Art Therapy groups at Excelsior Youth Center offer a wide variety of artistic formats for clients to share feelings or to just feel relaxed through artistic expression. The young women at Excelsior are encouraged to utilize means of expressions they are familiar with and to explore new art forms. Girls are given the opportunity to participate in basic art activities such as painting, drawing, molding clay, coloring, and the not so basic art activities such as recording music, graphic design, creating snow sculptures, and photography. Also offered is a variety of more structured art therapy exercises where our girls are given a more specific theme or task to accomplish during the group with the intention of helping them develop a more enhanced sense of self awareness.

By introducing young women to new artistic experiences not only do they benefit by moving forward therapeutically, but it also gives them tools to be successful in the future. Young women who experience Art Therapy can not only use these experiences to cope with everyday stressors faced during their time in treatment, but they can also use these tools to face everyday challenges for the rest of their lives. Helping young women realize their talents or enhancing a talent which already exists allows them to express themselves in a new language, the language of Art.

Michael Pisney, M.A.

Art work by 2 Excelsior Students

Family Intervention:

Exploring Couples Therapy During Child's Placement

Written by: Richard A. Stapleton, M.C., N.C.C., L.P.C.

The decision to place a child in residential treatment can be difficult for everyone involved. Many of the clients who I work with have supportive family members who report years of seeking help for their child's emotional and behavioral problems. After years of crying out for help and exhausting all available resources, the family may find additional help through school districts, mental health agencies, or social services. Most of the families who I talk with state they are relieved knowing their child is in a safe place and is able to get the help that the child needs. I've talked to few parents who were given advice to take some time to focus on their marriage during their child's placement, and few family service plans have this as a service recommendation.

From the therapist's perspective, the child's emotional and behavioral problems are only one part of a much larger issue. Families have endured years of stress such as grief, loss, financial difficulties, job losses, and school issues. Most families can persevere when challenged with one or two major life events. Multiple problems make it difficult for parents to cope with stress resulting in a greater likelihood for marital problems (Walsh, 2003). Parents spend years focusing on the child's problems. Through years of focusing on the child's emotional and behavioral problems, parents sometimes lose sight of the common activities and events that brought them together resulting in them falling in love. The child becomes the focus and when the child goes to treatment, parents are often left feeling as if they no longer have anything in common resulting in further strain on the marriage (Hanna, 2007; Worden, 2003).

When placing a child into residential care, therapists and caseworkers should consider recommending couples therapy for the parents. This will help parents explore issues inappropriate to discuss with their children. It will also help parents reconnect with each other and strengthen their bond therefore allowing them to become a stronger unit to care for their child. In cases in which couples therapy is not an option, the caseworker therapist should explore one of the following:

• During family therapy construct the family timeline. Have the parents construct a timeline starting with their childhood leading up to the moment when they met and identify key milestone events in their lives. During the dating relationship, have the parents identify what attracted them to each other, common interests, and memorable activities while dating. While the parents are constructing their timeline, the child or children are also creating their own timeline. Have the family share their timelines and milestone events with each other. It is healthy for the children to hear the romantic tale of their parents meeting, and it will help the parents remember why they fell in love (Hanna, 2007).

• Make "date night" a therapeutic assignment. This will help parents maintain their unity and focus time on their relationship. Have the parents avoid activities such as going to the movies. Movies do not require interaction with each other. Maybe recommend that the family do something that they enjoyed while in the dating relationship before marriage or the formal partnership.

• Implement family game night. This is an inexpensive activity for the entire family allowing healthy stress relief, communication, and family team building.

Our goal in treatment is to provide the child with the help she needs and to provide support for the family system. By focusing some time on the parents' relationship, we are providing the parents with the tools needed to strengthen family bonds and unity. Parents may feel overwhelmed, and it is important to help them strengthen their relationship in order to provide the best possible support for the child.

Cutting and Treatment Strategies

Written by: John Christie MA, LPC

Cutting presents special and specific issues to understand. To begin with, cutting is a behavior and like other negative behaviors or coping skills, it is a symptom. If we address the cutting only, we will not be attending to the cause of the issue. In this way, we might temporarily stop the behavior, but it will resurface at some time in the future. However, we must be diligent in keeping the client safe. Therefore, treating a cutter requires a multi-faceted approach to not only keep the client safe, but address the negative and often irrational thought pattern that enforces the cutting.

First, we need to understand some of the reasons someone self-abuses in this manner. One reason I have seen is personality. Most of the cutters I have had the opportunity to work with are introverts or they at least lean to that side of the spectrum. Being this way, they tend to turn the hurt and anger inward rather than outward to others. Another reason includes a tangible expression of emotion, as we work with many girls that do not know how to appropriately express their emotions. It also provides a release of anger and other emotions. One girl told me that an extreme emotion requires an extreme reaction or behavior. Some have said that it provides a level of comfort. This may be due to the distraction that cutting provides. However, one of the most prevalent reasons for cutting is control. Cutting provides a measure of control over their lives and emotions. Additionally, it is very difficult to completely 'take away' this coping skill from a client. The following are additional reasons for cutting that need to be considered when developing a treatment plan:

• Boredom
• Negative attention seeking
• Distraction
• Self-Punishment
• Copy-Cat Behavior
• Reality - makes them feel something they know is real, something they can see
• Reputation - cutting is seen as more 'cool' than say, punching oneself in the face

Obviously, successful treatment necessitates keeping the client safe. Once safety can be maintained or controlled, we can begin to tackle the thought patterns that lead to the cutting. This work includes discovering the manner in which the past trauma was originally processed. If, for example, they were molested and the thought that developed was, 'that's all I'm good for', that will impact their emotional state in a very negative way, which will in turn affect behavior in a negative manner. These negative and irrational thoughts need to be processed in a more rational way that is external and positive. Along with behavior, work needs to focus on their communication. Communication work includes outgoing as well as incoming communication. Often, clients have a negative and irrational interpretation of the messages they receive from others. The client will often assume that other adults or authority figures in their lives will hurt them. Therefore, they need to learn how to be vulnerable without taking down all their boundaries. If they are able to process this information and re-program their brain to their new surroundings, they begin to gain skills to solve their own problems. That is when true healing begins.

Over the past six years, Excelsior girls have learned to snowboard and enjoyed Colorado's winter fun thanks to the Chill program. Burton Boards sponsors the Chill Program whose mission is to provide unique and positive experiences to underserved youth through snowboarding. With this program, Excelsior girls take the long bus ride up to the mountains each week, excited to continue learning to ride.

A lot of our girls have never seen snow, let alone been on a mountain and learning to snowboard. Many girls come to us from the streets and broken homes. Some are in gangs and addicted to drugs while others have experienced abuse and neglect that is hard to imagine. Other girls are filled with sadness and anger. Chill gives them something fun to look forward to every week while teaching them life lessons in patience, persistence, responsibility, respect, integrity and pride. Many of our girls continue to apply these lessons in their lives after Chill is over, and after they leave Excelsior.

After leaving Excelsior, one of our girls moved home to California, went to college, and started volunteering with the Chill program out there. Another has moved home to Boulder, continues to ride, and comes back to visit the girls at Excelsior, bringing them pizza and encouraging words, trying to pass on the same lessons she learned while in the Chill program.

This winter alone, Chill will work with over 2,200 youth across the globe. For more information about Chill, visit www.chill.org.

Five Young Women Celebrate Success at Excelsior

Working hard on their educational goals while residing at Excelsior Youth Center, five young women are graduating from Excelsior's High School. Excelsior's emotional graduation ceremonies always include filmed messages from each graduate who thank and acknowledge all the people in their life who have helped them accomplish their goals. We're proud of our graduates who include: Chandra, Cinnamon, Heather, and Brittany.

Effective Therapy for Clients With Borderline Personality Disorder
By Christy Pennington, MA, LPC, Admissions Manager

The title says it all, I Hate You, Don't Leave Me by Jerold J. Kreisman and Hal Strauss; It's an old book, but a good one in understanding borderline personality disorder. When you have a client that creates that push, pull in relationships, continues to think in black and white, and acts impulsively, dialectic behavior therapy (DBT) can help.

Originally, this was a therapy designed to address the specific needs of those struggling with borderline personality disorder (BPD) who experienced difficulty with treatment as usual in the past. Since this time, studies have shown DBT to be helpful not only with BPD, but with other issues such as eating disorders, bipolar disorders and substance abuse.

DBT is a behavioral system of both individual and group therapy, whereby the client is taught to identify thinking patterns and work through dialectical issues so as they can make more "effective" decisions for themselves.

DBT Group Skills Training is the therapy group portion of the therapy during which skills are taught in four areas that those with BPD specifically struggle with: distress tolerance, emotion regulation, interpersonal effectiveness and mindfulness.

Individual therapy - Those who struggle with BPD and like disorders see the world from extremes - black and white thinking. Individual therapy is used to help clients identify when they are employing black and white thinking, and how to challenge themselves to avoid this. For example, a client who has been a dangerous cutter for years may need to see that her family can love and miss her very much (with the daughter being in placement), and still feel great relief that she is not in the home. These feelings can and do coexist, and are not mutually exclusive. Dialectics such as acceptance vs. change, and willingness vs. willfulness are continually discussed.

The final arm of this therapy is having a support system for therapists and counselors who work with these difficult clients. BPD has been considered the most difficult disorder to work with due to the fact that clients struggle so much with sabotaging all relationships, including that with their therapist. Therapists and counselors must therefore approach these difficult clients with a very open and validating perspective. At Excelsior, our Treatment Team model provides the support needed to each other while continuing to provide nonjudgmental services to the client on a consistent basis.

Strength Based Care

For the past three years Excelsior has been training staff in the principles of a paradigm created by Charlie Applestein. No Such Thing as a Bad Kid has provided the foundation of the necessary positive relationship for working with our clients, and established a recurrent theme for strategizing, managing and supporting our clientele. Highlights of his Strength Based Care principles include:

We believe there is no such thing as a bad kid; just bad luck and bad choices.

We believe that all individuals possess core strengths that can be utilized to lead meaningful lives.

Our work involves mutually indentifying, developing, encouraging, practicing and maximizing the inherent strengths in every individual.

To accomplish our treatment goals, we establish a positive, upbeat, and safe environment that instills hope and provides multiple opportunities for success, and at all times adheres to the golden rule.

We believe a good life is all about making good choices. Although we have deep respect and empathy for where our kids have been, our major focus is on the present and the road ahead.

At Excelsior, staff use these principles in a variety of situations, from individual therapy to extreme crisis situations. Our clients respond well when there is a distinct and deliberate focus on their strengths and unconditional positive support for their attempts at making progress in their treatment. Staff have also been empowered through using more positive strategies for managing our very difficult clients.

Matt Louzon, MA, LPC
Team and Treatment Coordinator
Treatment and Learning Center
Excelsior Youth Center

Culinary Arts on TV cooking their signature dish SOPA

Our Culinary Arts program was on FOX 31 this Tuesday. Ms. Trish (instructor), Amanda (student) and Regina (student) all did a wonderful job cooking, talking and portraying a beautiful picture of the program. They taught us all about cooking on a budget and still making a gourmet delicious meal! Please click on the link below to see the 3 minute segment.

Click here to see the Culinary Arts link on FOX 31

Everyday with Libby and Natalie can be seen on FOX 31 Monday – Friday at 4 p.m. After nine years of reporting the news on Channel 31 for Libby and seven years in the Denver market for Natalie, the two were given a chance to headline their own show, taking an in-depth approach to everything from American Idol callbacks to ways depression can affect children.

Theatre for Excelsior

In partnership with the Denver Center for the Performing Arts (DCPA) Theatre Academy, Excelsior Youth Center is presenting a series of theatre arts workshops to enhance self-esteem, increase teamwork and improve self-expression.

Allison Watross, Professional Actress and Theatre Academy instructor, will conduct the after school workshops for 12 Excelsior girls who have been identified by their therapists as candidates for such a therapeutic program.

"Dramatic Learning incorporates problem solving and provides opportunities for critical and imaginative thinking, in addition to instilling an appreciation for the arts," explains Allison. "The workshops show the girls how art can express a wide range of human experiences in an original way."

Though initially donated by the DCPA Theatre Academy, the workshops will continue through May if Excelsior can raise $2,500. If you can help, please DONATE NOW.

Each workshop includes a physical warm up period to introduce the girls to Allison and provides an overview of the material to be covered that day. The workshop integrates the arts through active involvement of the girls allowing them to express themselves in a safe environment.

"Participants will engage in team building exercises used in acting training to enhance communication skills, presence, self expression, confidence, and inter-personal relationships," Allison says. "Through kinetic and hands-on ACTivities, this series of workshops is designed to spark creativity, lateral thinking, ignite possibility, and stir up a passion for the arts.

Excelsior wishes Terry well and welcomes Jim Uhernik

After 29 years Terry Hoffman is retiring from her position as the Admission Director at Excelsior Youth Center.

Jim Uhernik will be stepping into her position as the Director of Business Development and Admissions. Jim is a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) and holds a Bachelor's in Criminology from the Metropolitan State College of Denver and a Master's in Psychology from Regis University. He has worked at Excelsior for the last 10 years as a supervisor and therapist, and has also worked as an outpatient therapist at Arapahoe Douglas Mental Health and a group therapist at the Betty Marler Youth Services Center.

Working with residential treatment, community mental health and youth corrections, Jim has developed a good understanding of the various needs of referral agencies and the difficult framework they often operate in. In these tough financial times, providing treatment that is both cost-effective and conducive to supporting the stability of families can be very challenging. Jim understands that the treatment community is small and working cooperatively with agencies to provide quality care is essential.

More recently Jim has worked closely with county mental health and local human service agencies to address how Excelsior can meet their needs and provide quality treatment. Jim has been very involved in the development of new programming at Excelsior including: Short-Term Intensive Residential Treatment (Hospital Diversion); Assessment and Stabilization Program; and Day Treatment to include programming for school breaks, Structured Afternoon/Evening Care and an Enhance Day Treatment option to include In-Home Impact Family, Overnight Crisis Care and Hospital Diversion, Parenting Group, and Additional Psychological Testing and Assessment (upon request).

In 2010 Jim plans to promote Excelsior's program to both Colorado and out-of-state referral agencies and will be talking with individuals and teams about Excelsior's continuum of treatment and flexible lengths of stay.

It's a Wrap!

The Fresh Faces Denver Fashion Show on Saturday, July 18 was a night of excitement, trends and self esteem building. As part of Westwood College's fashion merchandising event production course, the evening served as a learning opportunity for both the students who planned it and the Excelsior Youth Center girls that modeled the fashions.

Sixteen students from Excelsior modeled the latest designs from the collection of Denver-based designer Francis Roces of Kimono Dragons. The fashion trends on the runway ranged from baby doll dresses to fierce kimono inspired pieces.

As the Excelsior girls walked down the runway with their hair styled in everything from spiky Mohawks to long-flowing waves and adorned with brightly colored eye shadow, they looked out to supporters from the local community and several of their classmates and peers.

It was an exhilarating night for the students, staff and supporters of Excelsior.

"We were happy to be part of this program allowing the girls to have attention on them for something positive," said Joan Gabrielson, executive director of Excelsior. "So often these young girls are in the spotlight for doing something wrong, but this night was about being the center of attention for a good reason. The models learned a lot about fashion, self confidence and a way to have fun in a positive manner."

The fashion merchandising students at Westwood College also gained valuable lessons. The students were tasked with planning all details of this evening from fundraising, design and production for their event planning course.

Excelsior thanks the Fashion Merchandising students at Westwood College, North Campus, for making it all happen.

Denver Post Features Excelsior's Wellness Project in a beautiful article

Paws 4 Trust Needs More Paws!

For girls at Excelsior Youth Center, there is one special activity that brings smiles, laughter and sometimes tears - Paws 4 Trust. The girls sprint down to the multi-purpose room anxious to see their new friends and confidantes. They are greeted by wagging tails, sloppy kisses and barks as they take their seats in a circle at Paws 4 Trust weekly session at Excelsior. The dogs climb into the girls' laps or curl up at their feet as the girls begin to share their struggles.

"I pet him, and I feel different," said Meagan, an Excelsior resident. "I talk to the dog about my family, about my life. And even though he doesn't talk back, I can tell he listens."

Paws 4 Trust is a unique program that allows Excelsior girls to experience the power of compassion, unconditional love and respect through the relationship of a human-animal bond. By socializing and interacting with companion therapy dogs and handlers, Paws 4 Trust promotes responsible caretaking of all animals and encourages healthy, positive human-canine interactions. Once a week the girls gather to learn about dog ownership, teach the dog's obedience and tricks and spend time petting the dogs. Ultimately the goal of this interaction is to experience empathy, positive learning (and teaching) techniques, personal awareness, team building, respect for individual differences and appreciation for our similarities. For many of these girls, Paws 4 Trust has helped them heal.

"Paws 4 Trust has allowed me to bond with the dogs, build trust and show love," said Michelle, a 20 year-old Excelsior resident. "I've gained the courage to try new things."

We have lots of girls who would like to be a part of this program but we don't have enough dogs and handlers to accommodate everyone. Are you and your dog interested in being a part of Excelsior's Paws 4 Trust program? If so, please call 303-680-1719 or email to jschoech@comcast.net.

School is Cool

Natalie C. is one of the many girls that participate in Excelsior's "School is Cool" program.

Natalie, from Union City, Calif., has battled depression, bullying and isolation issues throughout her young life. In fact, her fears of others not liking her eventually drove her to drop out of school.

"Isolation was a huge problem for me," Natalie said. "I was depressed a lot and was also getting bullied at school so I stopped going."

Natalie was placed in a day treatment program and then a residential treatment program in California, but once again stopped attending school because she didn't like being around people.

Excelsior Youth Center was her last hope.

At Excelsior, Natalie quickly learned that if she didn't attend school there would be consequences. Excelsior's unique school programs, her cottage residence and her therapists helped her accept that being around people is a part of life.

"Excelsior has lots of extra classes to make school cool," Natalie said. "I love being in my Life Skills, Student Leadership and Advanced Art classes. I especially like Student Leadership class because we do peer mediation, bake sales, adopt a family, food drives, the ROCKSTAR program (Really Outrageous Cool Kids Starting To Act Respectfully) and much more."

Currently, Natalie is enjoying her classes and has several friends in her classes. She is expected to graduate from Excelsior in May 2010.

Lace up your Converse or saddle shoes and join us for Excelsior's 4th annual Steppin' Up event on Sept. 23 at 7p.m. featuring the musical Grease at the Littleton Town Hall Arts Center. This year all proceeds will benefit Excelsior's "School is Cool" program to encourage at risk girls to stay in high school.

Tickets cost $40 for reserved VIP seating or $20 for open seating and wine, beer and light desserts are included. Advanced tickets sales are required by contacting Carena Reber at 303-693-1550 ext. 331 or carenar@excelsioryc.org. Parental guidance is suggested.

It’s All About the Girls

Ask any volunteer why they chose Excelsior and they’ll say: “It’s the girls. It’s all about the girls.”

Yes, our Excelsior girls capture your hearts, emotions, interest and trigger the ‘how can I help’ instinct.

While decorating center piece baskets for Excelsior’s gala recently along side several of our Excelsior girls, Anne Fanganello, laughed while burning her fingers with the glue guns. “I just love these girls … their energy, creativity, excitement for the project. I’m ready to volunteer with these girls on a regular basis.”

Originally from Denver, she studied in Italy and spent eighteen years in New York City in the fashion industry. As she pursued her dreams of being a fashion designer, she found a higher calling in technical design, management and operations. As Nanette Lepore’s “right hand man” and COO of Zac Posen, she collaborated to produce not only beautiful clothing but also over-the-top theatrical runway shows and glamorous retail stores. She has returned to her hometown to help manage the Denver division of WM Events. Anne is driven to take the event puzzle and snap each piece into its precise place. She has surrounded her life with color, texture, music, timing and schedules, striving for perfection to create a flawless event.

Once introduced to Excelsior’s mission last February, Fanganello volunteered with the committee as she added pizzaz, sparkle and a unique touch to our recent annual gala, Ever Upward: Love & Laughter. She’s the one who thought of asking the girls to decorate white baskets with gorgeous ribbon and decorative trims she generated donations from the NYC fashion houses such as Nannette Lapore. Working along side the girls while laughing and creating, Fanganello saw an opportunity to give back: volunteering with the girls on a regular schedule. Soon she will explore a variety of volunteer options by working with Excelsior’s Volunteer Coordinator, Marisa Escobedo. She’ll attend Volunteer Orientation sessions and then see where her skills fit in.

Hundreds of community volunteers serve Excelsior annually in a variety of unique and special ways. If you want to join them, please contact Marisa Escobedo at Marisae@excelsioryc.org or 303-693-1550x311.

Anne says: “Working with Excelsior girls was an experience that will be close to my heart forever. I was not aware of what they did and thought that I was entering their "brochure" world of smiling, happy girls who loved life. Instead, I was thrust into a world of girls who had struggled their whole lives and were trying to break through thick walls of trauma, depression, and a need for love. As I walked through the doors I took up my hammer and chisel and tentatively began to tap away at those walls.”

“When I was first introduced to the girls it was an assault to my senses. I was scared, impressed, confused and intrigued by these young girls' personalities and their power to push me away. We had come up with the idea to have the girls produce baskets with ribbons, flowers, and bows to be used as table centerpieces but suddenly, I was fearful as I envisioned these girls with scissors and pieces of rope and glue guns.

I walked into the classroom prepared to be teacher, leader, and a kind face. But, there was that wall. I was not going to be able to break through. As the girls arrived they were uncomfortable with the new face, a different project and knowledge of humanity that equals anger and unhappiness. I took my fear and turned it into strength and power while theirs came out as strength and resistance.”

“As we began our project they turned into young girls excited with the ribbons and bows and I softened to my typical happy, smiling demeanor. By the time we were done we were all friends. As I left they held up their beautiful baskets saying, "Look what I did!" They were proud of themselves and the final product was amazing. Our sledgehammers had made the final brick fall to the side as the girls and I met with no walls left between us.”

Honorary Graduate: Lannie Garrett

Principal, Jann Clevenger, left, and Executive Director, Joan Gabrielson, right, congratulate Lannie Garrett as an honorary graduate at the May Excelsior Youth Center graduation ceremonies.

Lannie Garrett, Denver iconic songstress, grabbed an honorary high school diploma with the other 9 graduates today at Excelsior Youth Center. As the inspirational guest speaker, she told the graduates and their families since she dropped out of high school, she never wore "one of those cute blue hats and gowns. But I went back and earned a GED but I've always missed participating in a high school graduation ceremony. May I?" she asked Principal, Jann Clevenger. After getting permission from the other graduates Garrett received her own cap and gown and quickly moved her chair to join the girls.

Lannie left home at 16 and lived with different friends to get away from the family violence in her own home. "Both my parents were deep into alcohol addiction and we lived on junk food, hostess cupcakes and tv dinners. I ALWAYS wanted to be an entertainer. It took me decades of work to turn my sadness and depression around but I did it."

Lannie's two messages to the 2009 Excelsior graduates: "Don't act like a victim like I did. It took me years to change. Start celebrating little things and send out good thoughts to everyone you meet and your life will instantly change for the better," she said. "Secondly, be true to your word. Become someone others can always count on. Things will really happen for you when others KNOW you can be trusted."

Lannie's natural ability to connect with her audience, her comedic instincts and her stage presence make her in demand as a singer/entertainer in clubs and for corporate events all over the nation. Three years ago she opened her own nightclub beneath the historic D&F tower, Lannie's Clocktower Cabaret.

"I think HAPPINESS is a goal, not something that just happens to you," said Lannie.
Lannie was named by Excelsior as a Triumphant Woman in 2008, as someone who has made the difficult journey of overcoming seemingly overwhelming adversity to achieve greatness in their chosen field or endeavor. Triumphant Women honorees may have had troubled backgrounds, dysfunctional families, experience with poverty, or another extreme challenge. Triumphant Women are honored for "beating the odds" and becoming pillars of the community, displaying characteristics worthy of a role model to Excelsior girls.

Carmelo Anthony provides Excelsior free hair cuts

PHOTO caption: Barb Barth (EYC cosmetology staff), Lewis Griffin (Studio 15 general manager), Jason Hart (#6 on the Denver Nuggets), Theresa (EYC cosmetology student) and Joanne Greenberg (EYC cosmetology staff)

"15 on the 15th"

The Carmelo Anthony Foundation treated girls from Excelsior Youth Center’s cosmetology school to free haircuts at Carmelo Anthony’s Studio 15 (www.Studio15Barbershop.com) recently as part of the organization’s monthly “15 on the 15th” program. The Denver Nuggets’ forward launched the initiative at the onset of 2009 as a way to utilize his barbershop to help disadvantaged children and underserved adults in programs throughout the Denver area.

The girls from Excelsior received free haircuts from the professional staff at Studio 15. Denver-based American Crew provided each girl with a personal care gift bag containing grooming products. Studio 15 is located at 1740 Blake Street in Denver’s LoDo District.

The “15 on the 15th” program is part of the Carmelo Anthony Foundation’s commitment to serving the communities that have impacted Melo’s life. On the 15th of each month, 15 children or adults from deserving community organizations throughout the Denver area will receive free haircuts at Studio 15. Each month, the Foundation selects a different organization as the beneficiary of the program.

About The Carmelo Anthony Foundation

In 2005, Carmelo Anthony established the Carmelo Anthony Foundation as the vehicle for which he and his family would give back to the community through a variety of outreach programs and donations. The Foundation’s mission is to invest in programs and community organizations that empower and provide opportunities for underserved children and families. Since joining the Nuggets in 2003, Melo has been an active member of the Colorado community. Among his many activities include purchasing tickets to Nuggets’ home games for less fortunate families and hosting an annual holiday event entitled “A Very Melo Christmas” in which he provides presents and a day of activities for disadvantaged children.

www.CarmeloCares.org

Burton Snowboarding CHILL Program

Starting this week, six hand-picked Excelsior girls will be hitting the slopes at Colorado's Echo Mountain every Thursday for six weeks. Thanks to Chill, Burton's nonprofit learn-to-ride program for at-risk youth, the girls will learn the ins and outs of snowboarding, while also learning important life lessons.

For the past five years, Burton has worked with Excelsior, and other area youth centers to take more than 500 at-risk youth from Denver to the slopes, providing them with everything they need to ride: lift tickets, lessons, transportation and head-to-toe gear.

This will be Carolina's second year with Chill. A native of California, Carolina came to Excelsior two years ago to treat the symptoms from living in a stressful home situation. As a return Chill participant, Carolina is now asked to be a peer leader, helping with instruction and leading by example.

"As many Coloradans know, snowboarding is fun for the kids, but it takes plenty of hard work to learn," said Joan Gabrielson, executive director of Excelsior Youth Center. "It is so wonderful how Chill can relate snowboarding instruction to some of life's most important lessons for our girls, like patience and responsibility."

Last year, Carolina described her trips to the mountains as "amazing." Every Chill day, Carolina experienced frustration, fear, exhaustion and joy. She also started to see changes in herself.

"Chill helped me believe in myself," Carolina said. "It also helped me to trust myself more. I'm starting to trust my judgment of right and wrong, something I just couldn't do before."

Five other Excelsior girls will join Carolina on her journey back to the mountains this season. For many, this will be their first trip to the high country and/or their first true outdoor experience.

"We try to give these kids a new experience, helping open their eyes to all the opportunities life has to offer," said Chill coordinator Lauren DiGeronimo. "Life is so much more than the your neighborhood in the city."

This winter alone, Chill will work with over 2,200 youth across the globe. For more information about Chill, visit www.chill.org.

Len Brass: Volunteer Extraordinaire

Volunteer Len Brass has collected more than 100 poems of hope, pain, worry, loneliness and joy from the young women at Excelsior. With Brass' encouragement, the Excelsior girls have learned that their feelings, courage and hope can touch others. This collection of poems has become a true gift to Brass because they continue to touch his heart daily.

For the past three years, Brass has visited Excelsior weekly to tell stories and encourage discussion around issues of concern to troubled young women. Through Brass' participation of Rotary International, he has also become an ambassador for Excelsior to the community.

"In many ways, I've become a voice for Excelsior and a strong advocate for those who work so hard to touch young hearts," Brass said.

Brass has spent most of his life working with young people. He was a teacher for 13 years, a principal for 13 years, and a college supervisor and professor for 7 years. He is also a father to five children and a grandfather to four children.

Now retired, Brass is a professional storyteller, an author to a book dealing with raising young children and serves as a Rotary Assistant Governor in Area 13. A longtime member of Rotary International, he is now responsible to the Governor for three clubs and is able to share the message of Excelsior to his community.

His Rotary Club of Smoky Hill has had lunch at Excelsior and has participated in the financial program at The University of Phoenix with the girls. The club also purchased $500 in kitchen supplies to the culinary program and this year his Youth Leadership Campers will visit and donate toiletries to the girls.

"I'm a proud Rotarian and believe in service above self," Brass said. "I thoroughly enjoy life and want to give something back."

By advocating for Excelsior in the Rotary community, many Rotary Clubs have also become involved. In September, the Englewood Rotary Club enjoyed a lunch and a visit with the Excelsior girls and hopes to adopt Centennial Cottage. The Commerce City Rotary Club donated $620 toward a new campus wide wellness program and is considering more ways to become involved.

Over the years, Brass has also donated many items and money to assist in Excelsior's work. He has attended numerous activities and fundraisers and his wife and friends have even made hand-sewn sweatpants for the Centennial girls.

Through his work, Brass has become known as Excelsior's Ambassador Extraordinaire. Last year, he was the guest speaker at the volunteer recognition celebration and his work continues to touch the hearts of many.

Wellness Project Gets Kickin'

"I'm down 93 pounds thanks to everyone at
Excelsior who helped me. THANK YOU!"

Heavy all her young life, 17-year-old Melissa arrived at Excelsior Youth Center nearly 200 pounds overweight. Angry, scared, hurtful, lonely and depressed, she lashed out at anyone who tried to help her. Obesity and inactivity were not WHY she came to Excelsior but they were symptoms of deeper problems she needed to address.

"Now I've lost 93 pounds … maybe more since some of it is now muscle," proudly says Melissa. She and Marty, her therapist who is also a certified personal trainer, enthusiastically dealt with Melissa's eating and exercise habits as a way for her to be in control of her own behaviors. She lost 13 pounds in the first two weeks at Excelsior.

"Besides having more energy, I have improved social skills,," says Melissa. "And the daily
morning exercise program helps me focus better all day long."

Melissa will tell you it's not easy and she continues as she struggles to make friends.
"But I act more mature now and it has allowed me to get to know other people. The program is GREAT!"

Her painful journey includes addiction to medication for back pain (due to extra weight) and lots of loss in her life, including deaths of close relatives (heart attacks at early age). Most of her family members also deal with obesity. "Now I've inspired my Mom to attend Overeaters Anonymous. She's really proud of my success and she's working hard, too," says Melissa.

Let us increase physical wellness, improve nutritional healthy eating and offer enticing exercise opportunities for all the girls at Excelsior Youth Center. What do you say???

Excelsior is implementing a campus-wide wellness initiative estimated to cost nearly $100,000. Childhood obesity, an alarmingly increasing phenomenon, is a major factor in a host of chronic, and costly, conditions from diabetes to heart disease to mental health issues (depression, suicide). Excelsior is developing strategies to help promote weight loss and increase physical activity to significantly lower risk factors for its students. Let's get our girls moving!

$8,000 will purchase fitness equipment- elliptical, treadmill, mats & weights

By emphasizing exercise, sports and nutrition to our girls, they are reaping the rewards of an active, healthy lifestyle. In addition to the fun, team-building benefits, physical activity aids in increased imagination and creativity, increased discovery and reasoning skills, thought development and improved problem solving.

$3,200 will provide a sound system, wall mounted tv's for physical fitness videos, dvd's, pamphlets, menu planning materials

In these activities our girls are challenging their bodies, while working through their emotions. Additionally, the physical benefits of exercise positively impact major health risk factors. Physical activity has been shown to decrease the risk of smoking, illicit drug use, sexual risk taking, depression and suicide factors that already threaten this unique population.

$1,500 will purchase 3 Wii Fitness machines to keep kids motivated and moving!

"It gives me motivation to continue to work on losing weight and exercising. It's great!
I really enjoy the praise from the staff because I exercise,," says Melissa.

"Besides having more energy, I have improved social skills,," Melissa says

$45 will outfit one girl with appropriate athletic clothing & exercise shoes

"The girls are truly motivated and working on these wellness concepts. A side effect has been the renewed camaraderie that's developed. Exercising and menu planning/eating together is a safe way to develop team work," says Marty. "And the girls are sleeping better and they are taking fewer medically prescribed drugs. We're VERY proud of their success."

Littleton Independent features Steppin' Up 2008

Wine Walk at The Landmark

Above: Mike Bristow, Kathy Graveley, Carena Reber, Fred Jauch and the boys hockey league that shot goals to make Excelsior's cosmetology program money! Thanks RBC Wealth Management for your continued support!

Live Auction Benefits Aftercare Program

Photo caption: Carena Reber and Kathy Graveley, Excelsior's Development Department, peruse the antique Irish Cupboard at the live auction.

Thanks to the generosity of Susan and David Kreisman of Chicago, Excelsior's Aftercare Program is benefiting from the proceeds of a live auction of furniture, antiques and accessories. Held recently on the Excelsior campus, the auction generated nearly $10,000 for our emancipating teen program. The Kreisman's sold their Cordillera (Vail) vacation home and donated many valuable items to Excelsior. Thank you, Susan and David! It is these generous donations that keep the important Aftercare Program alive at Excelsior. Click here to donate to the program.

Excelsior's Aftercare Program seeks to advance the status of emancipating young women in Colorado. The goals for these women are to increase their access to affordable housing, improve their ability to attain self-sufficiency, and obtain medical care and higher paying jobs with career mobility. Equally important is empowering the girls with the knowledge of how to avoid recreating their past history and abusive partners. We want to keep the girls invested in their own futures.

The Aftercare services will follow discharged metro-Denver students to prevent future homelessness- provide education for financial literacy, address continued counseling needs, provide referrals for job opportunities, teach life skills and assist with gaining access to health care. Financial contributions to Excelsior's Aftercare Program are QUITE AN INVESTMENT! Donations are welcome.

Grab your swim suit & towel and come help us celebrate

Excelsior’s New Teen Center & Swimming Pool

Friday, August 22, 2008

5-7 p.m.

Barbecue dinner, tours & entertainment

Program to honor all of you who made it happen begins at 6:30 p.m.

We will unveil plaques and imprinted bricks!

Reservations are Required by calling Carena Reber @ 303-693-1550x331

by August 15th.

15001 E. Oxford Ave., Aurora CO 80014 www.excelsioryc.org

Outfitting 180 girls with one-piece or tankini swim suits is challenging for Excelsior. Donations are welcome to assist in this endeavor. We anticipate each suit will cost $25 per girl (or more). Additionally, we're hoping to supply board shorts and t-shirts as cover ups at $25 per girl. Pool toys, kick boards, goggles and other aquatic items are also needed. Credit card donations are accepted on-line or by calling Kathy 303-693-1550x226. Thank you!

EVERYBODY INTO THE POOL!

Excelsior's long awaited swimming pool and teen center are now OPEN! Many thanks to everyone who made it possible.

Kathy Graveley's first swim! Staff and kids are enjoying Excelsior's new swimming hole.

Bill Gregory, Executive Director Emeritus, officially opens Excelsior's new Swimming Pool and Teen Center on July 3, 2008. Assisting him is EYC's Associate Director and Building Project Manager, Arnie Goldstein.

Teen Center Progress as of July 7, 2008.

What began as the dream of our former Executive Director, Bill Gregory, comes to fruition 35 years later. Mr. Bill was always a strong advocate for a campus swimming pool. We owe a debt of gratitude to:

Ware Malcomb -Leading Design for Commercial Real Estate. The folks at Ware Malcomb (led by Jim Williams) donated their architectural talents. They designed the actual building and pool.

Design Workshop - Making the Places that Bring People Together With Land. Of course, no project is complete without landscaping. Matt Landis and the team at Design Workshop are developing a plan to enhance the surroundings of the Recreation Center with beautiful trees and greenery.

Saddleback Design - Luke Waugh is lending interior design services for the Teen Center and soliciting vendors to donate flooring, counter tops, cabinets and tiling.

Thank you!

Kudos to the EYC Teen Center Committee: Arnie Goldstein, Vicki Sicard, Sheila Stanley, Elaine Atwater, Mike Walters, Brynn Robles and Vivian Zlobec.

Design Workshop Foundation Donates Landscape Architecture Services for Excelsior Youth Center

Aurora, CO – The Design Workshop Foundation has been busy facilitating donations and donating landscape architecture and installation services for the campus garden design of the Excelsior Youth Center in Aurora, CO. Design Workshop Foundation volunteers, with the help of many generous donors, have organized over $45,000 in donations of trees, shrubs, perennials, irrigation, benches, design services and manpower. The first round of landscaping was installed June 27-28, with over 30 Design Workshop employees and Excelsior Youth Center volunteers donating their time. The second and final installation will take place on August 16, with a grand opening ribbon cutting ceremony taking place on August 22.

The Foundation extends their greatest appreciation to the following material and service donors: Hydrosystems, GreenPrint Denver, City and County of Denver Parks and Recreation, Landscape Forms, Native Trees Service, Peak ‘n Prairie Landscape, Box Elder Creek, City of Aurora Parks and Open Space Department/Urban Forestry, O’Tooles Garden Center, Gulley Greenhouse and Mrs. Jenny McCoy. Project donations are still being accepted, details can be found at http://www.designworkshop.com/DWFoundation.aspx. Design Workshop president, Rebecca Zimmermann comments, "the benefit resulting from the new campus gardens and teen center will be priceless. Helping to provide a beautiful environment for the girls who work so hard to turn their lives around and the staff's dedication to that outcome is a real honor for us."

Excelsior Youth Center is a residential treatment center and facility serving girls ages 11-18 with emotional and behavior difficulties. Excelsior is home to about 180 girls who participate in a structured treatment and living program while receiving a certified education at Excelsior’s middle or high school.

If you'd like to help the Design Workshop Foundation continue their efforts to provide services to groups like Excelsior please visit our website: http://www.designworkshop.com/DWFoundation.aspx. and make a tax-deductible contribution online.

Founded in 1969, Design Workshop is an international landscape architecture, land planning, urban design and strategic services firm with seven offices in the U.S. and work spanning the globe. The firm has been recognized through the years with over 145 prestigious awards for their work in new communities, urban centers, resorts, public parks, golf courses and residences. The firm’s philosophy challenges staff and their clients to equally merge artistic vision, environmental sensitivity, community values and sound economics to create unique places that stand the test of time. They refer to this approach as DW Legacy Design®. For more information, please visit www.designworkshop.com.

Design Workshop Landscape Project Planting Days

Left picture: Five fabulous members of Design Workshop. Becky (President of the Firm), Scott, Tina, Amie and Robin

Right picture: ZhenZhou (design workshop), Ed (volunteer) and Brad (volunteer)

Left Picture: Scott (Design Workshop), Megann (student) Joan (Executive Director), Amie (Design Workshop)

Right Picture: Scott (Design Workshop),.. (Volunteer), .Marisa (EYC Volunteer Coordinator), Vicki (EYC Recreation Director)

Leave a Green Legacy

Leave a permanent legacy to Excelsior's new Teen Center and Swimming Pool by purchasing a GREEN SPACE in the accompanying gardens. Plaques engraved with your name and message will be installed to commemorate your lasting gift.

Specific sites for a naming opportunity (Engraved plaque with your name and message) with a tax deductible gift of $2,000 include:

Healing Spiritual Garden-
Xeric Planting Area-
Memorial Space-
Event Gathering Space-
Therapy Garden-
Seating Area adjacent to the Tree Lined Path

Trees: A very special Tree Lined Path is slated to allow for quiet, contemplative strolls for the girls and their therapists through a grove of 18 trees just behind the building. You may purchase an engraved plaque for one of these trees for a tax deductible gift of $500.

Engraved plaques for smaller trees throughout the landscaping plan can be purchased for $250 each.

The design plan for the contemplative vegetative area surrounding the Teen Center and Swimming Pool was donated by the landscape architects at Design Workshop. The plan took three months of dreaming, thinking, creating by a team of students, teachers and staff members working along side the Design Workshop staff. They said they intend to help us create more landscaping plans for the remainder of Excelsior's expansive campus! Heartfelt thanks to everyone at Design Workshop for pulling together a sensational plan!

Denver Post Article on Pool Party

Horses and kids … troubled kids

The Kingery Family

Michael Tempel, Dr. Lauren Kingery-Tempel, Morgan Tempel, Bill Kingery and Carol Kingery

Carole Adelstein attended our open house and then rode "Moose" just like our equine girls!

Story after story supports the success of horse therapy in helping troubled teens move toward appropriate social behaviors. Here at Excelsior Youth Center, we’ve got hundreds of anecdotes supporting our tremendously effective equine therapy program.

Excelsior re-named its program the Kingery Equine Therapy Program, in honor of long-time Board member, Bill Kingery. “There is something magical about the connection between girls and horses,” says Bill. “I hope equine therapy will always be available to help the girls become happy and productive citizens.”

After retiring from the cable television industry and buying a ranch as a real estate investment, Bill began riding trails with his daughter, Laurie. From there his interest grew into breeding and then racing (for 15 years he raced Paints and Quarter Horses successfully all over the southwest). “It convinced me that working with horses was therapeutic because patience was never my strong suit but I got a whole lot better when I started working with horses.”

With Bill’s vision, encouragement and enthusiasm, EYC’s equine therapy program has thrived since he and others first started it 13 years ago. Today 100 young girls participate in the wildly popular 10-week sessions conducted on near-by horse ranches at an annual cost of $20,000. Fees for service that cover most of the girls’ needs do not include equine therapy. But Excelsior values the program so much that it continues to provide the therapeutic program at $200 for each girl who participates.

The Kingery Equine Therapy Program is used to achieve physical, psychological and communication skills and it is educational, recreational and therapeutic. “The horses are a very good tool for reflection,” explains an Equine trainer. “I’ve seen these girls grow personally. They learn so much about team work, respect, communication and trust.”

One girl reflects, ”my experience at equine therapy was not great at first. I was scared and it brought up many of my past issues. As the trainer continued to work with me, I started feeling good and I started trusting my horse who helped me by having patience and feeling my fear. She made me feel wanted. The trainers also taught me that giving up is the worst thing that I can do, but for most of my life that’s all I could do. My horse gave me confidence.”

"Horses were something that I had only seen on TV so when I had to come face to face with one, I was so terrified. I couldn’t believe how big they were in person. If it were not for Equine therapy I would still have a fear of horses. I ride by myself now!”

“I’m so comfortable with the horses now,” she continues. “There are many girls who are scared like I was. I encourage them. Equine has helped me to communicate and be comfortable around others, which was a big step for me. It’s not just about the horses.”

See how important this program is for our troubled girls? Thank you for helping us enhance appropriate social behaviors for our troubled girls by funding our therapeutic riding program.

UPS Celebrates Melody Horton:

In memory of Melody Horton, former Foundation Board member and loyal community volunteer serving the girls in Excelsior’s Phoenix Cottage, the UPS Foundation awarded Excelsior Youth Center a $12,500 grant in July 2008. A former UPS employee, Melody died in February of this year and she is greatly missed.

Weekly, she taught money management classes, resume writing and conducted mock job interviews for the girls living in Phoenix Cottage. With these enhanced job skills tools, these girls can emancipate to self-sufficiency. The UPS grant funds will continue this effort. A team of UPS employees stayed for several more hours of community service to assist with the re-organization of Excelsior’s business office. Thank you, UPS!

Left picture: Check presentation ceremony to celebrate Melody Horton. Joan Gabrielson, Executive Director; Liz Hesting, UPS representative; Heather Hurd Johnson, Phoenix Cottage Treatment & Team Coordinator and Jodi Mashburn,UPS representative.

Right picture: David, Mary, Kristin, Liz, Marisa

Left picture: David and Kristin; Right picture: Kristin, Maria, Liz, Jodi and Mary

Former Student Revisits Excelsior Youth Center For An Inspirational Graduation Message

She comes bearing a message of hope to girls who wrongly believe they are hopeless. Karen Oschin will return to Excelsior Youth Center for graduation this Friday at 1:30 with a message that she has dreamt of delivering since she left Excelsior more than 20 years ago.

The girl who came to Excelsior is very different than the woman who left. Karen came to Excelsior as a teen with a heavy heart and low self-esteem. She had been caught in an undertow of abusive relationships leaving her with a rebellious attitude and little hope of a bright future. She describes herself as a wild teen with deep pain, and no focus.

The counselors and teachers at Excelsior helped her see otherwise. Karen remembers hearing for the first time, "I love you just the way you are" from her counselors, Laura Bahl and Becky Davis. At Excelsior she discovered a hidden talent for writing in a creative writing class. After struggling with herself and growing immensely Karen successfully graduated from Excelsior with a better understanding of her abilities, potential and self-worth.

Now, she is a successful professional actress in Los Angeles, with a list of accomplishments including appearances on The West Wing, The George Lopez Show, and Deadwood, as well as several theatrical productions and commercials. After leaving Excelsior she became serious about acting and made a commitment to personal and professional success. This attitude has allowed her to watch her dreams come true.

"Some people say acting is an all too popular profession with a small success rate but it's my passion and I find a challenge in someone telling me I can't do something" Karen says.

On Friday, Karen will speak to the Excelsior girls graduating about her struggles and triumphs. She hopes to instill motivation to keep them moving forward as they leave Excelsior Youth Center and continue on their path to self-discovery and accomplishment. Four girls have completed the program and will graduate on Friday at 1:30 pm at Excelsior.

Ron Bard (Chaplin), Karen Oschin (Alumni), Jann Clevenger (School Principal),

and Joan Gabrielson (Executive Director)

Melina (graduate and now alumni) and Carena (Development Assistant)

A Voluntary 'Splash' for Excelsior

Cathy Watson, Super-Donor-Shopper, scoured Denver stores in search of 100 bathing suits, shorts and flip flops for Excelsior's soon-to-be-swimmers-in-their-new-pool! Thanks to Cathy for her thoughtful and generous contribution!

Cathy Watson displays new swim items.

Making a 'Racquet' for Excelsior!

Thanks to Tennis Plus for coordinating a used tennis racquet drive for Excelsior's physical education classes. Mike and Patti Huddleston are collecting used racquets and slightly used tennis balls at their store at 537 W. Highlands Ranch Parkway, just west of South Broadway. Mike has offered to re-string racquets that need it! Thanks Patti and Mike! Donors will receive tax deductions for their donations. See www.tennisplusonline.com or call 303-470-7587.

Bully Proofing Excelsior

Bullies beware!!! As the first residential treatment center in the nation to institute a campus-wide anti-bullying campaign, Excelsior Youth Center is launching the Olweus Bully Prevention Program. Researchers from Colorado State University are eagerly conducting an outcome study to evaluate the effectiveness of this bully prevention program with troubled teenaged girls.

"Our girls, though toughened by the streets, are looking for structure and discipline in their lives just like all kids," explains Carol Beauchamp-Hunter, Excelsior's Associate Director and Director of Treatment. "I am very confident and hopeful the Olweus program will work with our difficult kids because everyone has an active role including the kids. We've trained student leaders who will help us introduce the strategies to the other girls. The more the girls are actively involved, the better our success."

Besides student involvement, another key to its success, according to Beauchamp-Hunter, is the consistency of messages from all staff members. Every employee at Excelsior is expected to confront bullying when observed and not only address the bully, but particularly let the person being bullied know it's not acceptable to be treated that way. "That's a crucial message for the victimized person," she says.

"Since Excelsior is always striving to provide a healthier, safer environment and peer culture, we were very excited when we discovered the Olweus program. We expect to reduce the opportunities for bullying and improve peer relationships, classroom behaviors and living conditions."

In addition to the kick-off with fun activities this week where each girl receives a hand painted anti-bullying t-shirt and other special events, the girls will continue to receive weekly school meetings and weekly groups in the cottages where they reside. More than 300 Excelsior employees have completed the 4-hour Olweus training sessions and this topic is now part of the on-going new staff orientation sessions. A committee of 10 staff members meets monthly to review progress. Partial funding for this program has come from Colorado's Tony Grampsas Youth Services Program to reduce teen violence. Continued community support will ensure its longevity.

Each girl completes initial questionnaires of their bullying attitudes and then a post survey will be conducted later to measure behavior changes. Kathy Rigsby and Jan Evenstadt of Colorado State University in conjunction with Dr. Marlene Snyder of Clemson University are conducting the outcome study of its effectiveness in an all girls residential setting. The Olweus program, developed over the past 30 years, has been implemented worldwide with good results in public schools.

"I remain hopeful since research has shown if you reduce aggression and anti-social behaviors, it will also reduce substance abuse," concludes Beauchamp-Hunter.

"The repeat survey is generally done after the program has been in place for a year. I would wait at least nine months before doing it again, as it does take time for the momentum to get going. I rather doubt that you will see any great changes for at least 4-5 months. We can certainly keep track of what is going on and then make the judgment as to when to survey again." Kathy Rigsby

Side bar: Signs posted around campus:
We will not bully others
We will try to help students who are bullied.
We will make it a point to include students who are easily left out.
When we know somebody is being bullied, we will tell any staff member.

CONGRATULATIONS

to Jim Winter and Centennial Cottage for receiving awards from CAFCA for outstanding achievement this year. Jim, Program Coordinator at Excelsior for nearly 35 years received the prestigious Individual Leadership Award. Centennial Cottage was named the outstanding Treatment Team this year from CAFCA, Colorado Association of Family and Children's Agencies. Way to go, guys!

left photo: Centennial Cottage Staff: left to right back: Sarah Rhodes, Amy Smith, Dicia Kemp, Carl Minard, Erin Shaw, Jim Uhernik. Front- Dan Flannigan.

right two: Jim Winter and Joan Gabrielson

EVERYONE IS NOW IN THE POOL!

After more than 35 years, girls at Excelsior Youth Center are swimming in their own backyard pool. The official Pool Opening Celebration will be held Wednesday August 27th, but for now the girls are swimming!

"The pool will open every day with structured activities and free time, too," explains Josh Martin, Aquatics Coordinator. "With two life guards on duty all the time, we will have swim lessons for all levels, water games and aquatic aerobic exercises throughout the week. The girls will demonstrate their swimming ability and personal safety requirements in a test prior to using the pool. Each Cottage will also have scheduled times to visit the pool. I'm very excited to launch this inaugural program."

Outfitting 180 girls with one-piece or tankini swim suits is challenging for Excelsior. Donations are welcome to assist in this endeavor. We anticipate each suit will cost $25 per girl (or more). Additionally, we're hoping to supply board shorts and t-shirts as cover ups at $25 per girl. Donations are accepted on-line or by calling Kathy 303-693-1550x226.

The 50'x75'pool is a dream of former Executive Director, Bill Gregory. "Gosh it's BIG," responds Gregory, now retired, upon seeing the massive structure now built north of the residential cottages on Excelsior's 33-acre campus. "It's certainly bigger than I'd ever expected after dreaming about it all these years. This is thrilling."

Due to tough backgrounds and substance abuse problems, most Excelsior girls never had the opportunity to participate in any type of regular physical activity, team sports or swimming. Additionally, many girls arrive on Excelsior's campus with very little knowledge of general wellness or healthy use of leisure time, including the importance of regular exercise. Excelsior's summer rec program and swimming pool will provide girls a new and fun way to learn about wellness, and help them stay active. These activities are vital to the success of Excelsior's overall program.

"When asked why she wanted to swim, one of the Excelsior girls said: 'it makes me feel free …' We're delighted to provide this additional recreational experience for the girls," said Josh.

"Kathy Buckley was not only hilarious, but was a terrific role-model for young women with life's barriers to hurdle."

"Speaking of Kathy Buckley, I thought she was wonderful, especially with her comments at the end of her performance. She fit into our theme of overcoming adversity extremely well and her encouragement and support of the Excelsior cause at the end seemed to be very heartfelt and genuine. This was an unexpected bonus which was very much appreciated and underlined what a good fit she was with the overall program."

"Kathy Buckley's comments about the Center and the girls were very touching and the crowd was listening carefully."

"Kathy Buckley gave an incredible personal testimonial!"

"Kathy Buckley was exceptional. People had fun and the laughter was great. Her serious message at the end was a great wrap up to the evening."

"Kathy Buckley was great- funny and heartwarming. Loved her!!!"

Last but certainly not least: Kathy Buckley voluntarily spent 3 hours Friday afternoon prior to her evening performance with a behaviorally difficult, hearing impaired Excelsior client. Together, they chatted, laughed, explored, toured and laughed some more. That's bonding!

Excelsior's New Uniforms

After 35 years, Excelsior Youth Center now expects each student to wear a uniform during school hours. The matching navy blue polo shirts and pants were purchased through the generosity of the List Family Foundation. The girls may wear their own clothes during evenings and weekends.

Excelsior students Brenna, Kaitlyn and Venessa model the new school uniforms.

"The process of incorporating uniforms for school is a challenging one with our clientele due to their mental health issues, rebelliousness and anti-social behaviors. We know that this will be a strong improvement for our program as it will address gang colors, girls who have fewer/less stylish clothes, revealing/provocative outfits, 'sagging and bagging' pants and graffiti/inappropriate phrases on clothing," says Joan Gabrielson, Excelsior's Executive Director.

"The vast majority of students have embraced the concept and accept wearing Excelsior's new school uniform," explains Jann Clevenger, Excelsior's School Principal. The teaching staff is equally excited about the new uniforms, Clevenger said. "It will increase instructional time in the classroom as it's one less thing the teachers will have to confront the kids about. The Student Government will willingly wear their new uniforms in support of the idea."

Students from Student Government Class responses:

T: "I think it's a great idea because I won't have to choose what to wear every morning. I'm worried that many of the girls will fight the idea and they'll keep fighting until they get tired of the consequences. But eventually they'll cooperate. Also I think some girls will make the uniform UNIQUE in some inappropriate ways. Get ready …"

D: "I had to wear them in elementary school and they're not that bad. It's not like it's a jail uniform! I think the girls can express themselves in other ways like through their jewelry. It won't be too much trouble."

D: "I won't be as late each morning! I just hope they're COMFORTABLE!"

C: "There will be less hassles in classrooms from the teachers having to correct girls' clothing. And I think it'll be good for many of the girls to follow directives."

T and D: "It gives us the opportunity to wear uniforms like you have to wear for many jobs on the out side" and "remember: you have to wear uniforms for most sports!"
"It'll take a while to get use to them but I think it'll be fine."

Excelsior Goes GREEN

Early May 1st (just before the May Day snowstorm!) Excelsior Youth Center's Centennial Cottage was the recipient of TV Channel 9's GO GREEN IS EASY MAKE OVER. Gregg Moss telecast LIVE for 5 segments starting at 5:40 a.m. through 7:40 a.m.
Surprises included the donation of a new energy efficient refrigerator donated by Gregg Colson and Appliance World, Inc. and a garden compost bin, tools and plants by Tagawa Gardens. Standard Renewable Energy donated an energy audit for the cottage and an anonymous donor contributed $500 to help implement some of their recommendations. Allied Waste delivered a recycling bin and donated 6-months of free recycling services to Excelsior.

Excelsior thanks Gregg Moss, Valentina Garcia, Rob Proctor and the wonderful Channel 9 cameramen and crew for this wonderful opportunity.

Thanks to the Centennial Cottage staff, Sarah Rhoads, for submitting Centennial's name to the contest and for 'greening' Excelsior!

EXCELSIOR STEP TEAM: SISTA' SOUL PRODUCTIONS

They chant "One pulse. One rhythm. One Team." Their feet and hands make a unfied rhythm that sounds like drum beats. A group of girls who are tyring to turn their lives around, pull together to form an award-winning step team.

Stepping is a traditional activity that started in the African-American community. Without any music, rhythms and beats are created with steel toe boots and the clapping of hands in a 10-12 minute routine. It is a recreational and competitive sport in schools and universities across the country. It is judged on originality, difficulty, audience appeal, uniformity and costumes.

The Excelsior step team began as a six-week pilot program and recreation activity. It quickly blossomed into an award winning team of courageous and committed young women, many of whom, had rarely ever expressed themselves in a positive way. Lives filled with anger, sadness and struggle began to feel renewed hope in their newly found abilities. Four years later, the step team continues to provide an opportunity for girls with heart, determination and a love of the art form, to see themselves in a new light while they work to create a new start.

Currently, the step team consists of several girls who come from all over the United States and range in age from 14 to 18. Because each girl's stay at Excelsior can vary, team members change frequently but one thing remains constant, every girl joins the team to carry on the legacy that has become so special at Excelsior. "One pulse. One rhythm. One team."

Excelsior's Kathy Graveley Honored By Aurora Chamber of Commerce

 

Executive Director Joan Gabrielson congratulates Kathy Graveley, Unsung Hero Award Nominee. More than 300 people attending the Women Making A Difference breakfast on March 3rd hosted by the Aurora Chamber of Commerce Women in Business Committee heard about Excelsior’s message because Kathy Graveley was one of 3 community finalists for their ‘unsung hero’ award for her development work with Excelsior. Our own Jeannie Davis was the chair of the successful breakfast. The Gateway Rotary Club (thanks to Jeannie) purchased a table and 12 Excelsior people, including 4 girls, attended to support Kathy. “I was humbled and honored to represent Excelsior in our Aurora community,” says Kathy. “Many thanks to Joan Gabrielson for her nomination.” The other finalist was Michelle Leslie for her work with the Lupus Foundation of Colorado. Congratulations to the winner of the Unsung Hero Award, Darla Stuart, for her work with intellectually and developmentally disabled people through The Arc of Aurora.

New William C. Gregory Scholarship Established

In December, anonymous donors created a large endowment from which the yearly interest earned will fund scholarships to be awarded in Bill's name. The William C. Gregory Scholarship program is expected to receive $10,000 per year from this endowment to be awarded to Excelsior's girls, past or present. What a tremendous way to honor Bill, who cared so deeply about our girls and their futures.

Excelsior Names New Executive Director

Joan Gabrielson has been named the new Executive Director of Excelsior Youth Center. She succeeds Bill Gregory who will retire December 31st after serving Excelsior for 32 years.

"I appreciate the responsibility the Board has entrusted to me and I will do everything I can to build on the tremendous program Bill (Gregory) created and developed," says Gabrielson, a 32-year Excelsior employee. "Bill's wisdom and leadership have been the foundation of Excelsior's success. But it has also been because of all of the talented and dedicated people here. I feel very fortunate to work with all of you," she told a crowded room of Excelsior staff members who jumped to a standing ovation following the announcement.

Gabrielson has served as Excelsior's Associate Director and Human Resources Director. She received her BA from Colorado State University and MBA from University of Colorado at Denver. She will assume her new role September 1st "but we still have four and a half months to learn from Bill."

"I will miss my relationships with the kids, staff and Boards. However, there's a great relief in stepping away from the tremendous responsibility of seeing to the welfare of these girls" says Gregory. "I'm extremely optimistic of Excelsior's future with the new leadership that will bring fresh ideas, energy and enthusiasm."

Gregory and his wife, Vonna, have been married for 47 years and have five children and seven grandchildren. They will soon move to a new home in Parker where "I want to enjoy country life, see more of my family, learn to fly fish and travel," says Gregory.

Charcie Russell, Board Chair, says "we are so fortunate to have had Bill Gregory leading Excelsior's efforts for the past 32 years. His impact on our organization, staff and students is greatly appreciated and literally beyond measure. With Joan Gabrielson's capable leadership we will now launch forward, continuing the positive direction that Bill established."

Excelsior Leadership Announcements

Congratulations to Arnie Goldstein and Carol Beauchamp-Hunter, Excelsior Youth Center's new Associate Directors. Arnie and Carol will be active in managing all aspects of Excelsior's daily operations to provide for the highest quality of service for the girls. Arnie will focus on the Center's financial concerns both internally and externally. As Excelsior's CFO for the past 18 years, Arnie has established Excelsior's solid accounting and financial management practices. As the current President of the Colorado Association of Family and Children's Agencies (CAFCA), Arnie is a leader in advocating for children and service providers.

Carol will focus on programming for clients. She is a leader on CAFCA's Training Committee, a committee she helped create. Carol has a wealth of knowledge about families, social service systems, COA, licensing regulations and treatment modalities, along with a true passion for providing the best possible care for our clients.

Congratulations to Vivian Zlobec who will be Excelsior's Director of Human Resources. Over her 22 years with Excelsior, Vivian has gained a wealth of information about Excelsior in her many positions with the organization. In the Human Resources Department, Vivian has worked continuously to improve the benefits provided to staff and the communication of those benefits. She is always eager to take a leadership role in saying 'thank you' to staff members for their hard work and dedication.

Excelsior's Bill Gregory Honored

Bill Gregory, Excelsior's Executive Director Emeritus was recently honored with a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Colorado Association of Family and Children’s Agencies, CAFCA. Congratulations, Bill!"

SCHOLARSHIPS!
The Daniels Fund distributed $1.4 million in scholarships in June to at-risk students who might not have been able to afford college. The scholarships are given to students from alternative schools, juvenile justice programs, GED recipients and from underserved schools in Colorado.

Two Excelsior students will be chosen to receive two of these Daniels Opportunity Scholarships in partnership with the Community College of Aurora. The Excelsior candidates will receive full scholarships as they study at CCA for their two-year Associates Degree.

"We should have our two worthy candidates by December," explained Joan Gabrielson, Excelsior's Associate Director. "We're thrilled to partner with both the Daniels Fund and Community College of Aurora as they are extrordinarily flexible in meeting the needs of our non-traditional at-risk students. This is a wonderful opportunity for our students. "

The Colorado Department of Human Services (CDHS), Division of Youth Corrections has selected a new provider for the privately operated secure treatment program for girls at the Betty K. Marler Youth Services Center in southwest Denver. A partnership of two private organizations; Rite of Passage Inc. and Excelsior Youth Center, has been notified of the State's intent to award the bid to operate this program.

"We are looking forward to working together with this partnership to bring the Marler Center up to its full potential," said CDHS Executive Director Marva Livingston Hammons.

This announcement follows the release of the request for proposals in December 2004, and a nationally competitive process. The Divison of Youth Corrections will enter into a new contract at the end of an appeals period. The State releases new Requests for Proposals for privately operated programs periodically to ensure that it contracts effectively for these services.

The program and its 14 current residents will be temporarily moved to the State-operated Marvin Foote Youth Services Center in Englewood pending reopening of new operations at the Marler Corporation, and the CDHS Division of Youth Corrections to maintain programming and best use existing resources and staff during the transition period.

The Marler Center is scheduled to reopen under a new State contract with Rite of Passage/Excelsior no later than July 1, 2005. The center, named for former DYC Director Betty Marler, opened in July 2002 and has a capacity of 40 residents.

Connecting Hearts and Hands for Excelsior Youth Center

Nearly 150 volunteers from the Arapahoe Stake of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints celebrated Colorado Cares Day on Saturday, July 30, 2005 in a day of service and volunteerism at Excelsior Youth Center. Joined by Governor Bill Owens and his staff, volunteers of all ages and abilities spent the day repairing walkways, landscaping, hanging ceiling tiles, painting and decorating nearly every facet of Excelsior's 33-acre campus.

Under this year's unifying theme "Communities Working Together," the Colorado Cares initiative encourages Coloradoans to make a difference in their communities through service projects to deserving non-profit organizations across the state. Steven Hess, a volunteer from the church says, "I was told there were up to 150 people participating at one time or another from ages 6 months to 70 plus years…it was a very pleasant and meaningful experience for everyone." He goes on to describe the satisfaction he feels in giving back: "Doing service like that for what I have come to appreciate as a truly benevolent institution is a gift to the giver that few can understand."

Joan Gabrielson, Associate Director of Excelsior Youth Center, was touched by the community support. "It meant a great deal to our girls to have all of these people from the community, strangers even, work so hard. The girls loved having their home spruced up and to know that these volunteers cared about them and wanted to do something so generous," she says.

Carol Gianfrancisco and Arnie Goldstein coordinated the effort with assistance from Mike Walters, Facilities Manager. Taneshia Nettingham conducted tours and recruited lots of new volunteers to help at Excelsior in the future.

TEEN CENTER: The Excelsior Youth Center Board and the Excelsior Youth Foundation Board are pleased to announce plans to build an exciting new addition to the Excelsior campus. In early 2007, we will begin construction on a year-round Teen Center for recreational, therapeutic and spiritual activities and an adjacent outdoor swimming pool for the girls. Jim Williams and others from Ware Malcolm have donated their architectural talents in designing the structures. Building funds will come from fundraising activities and a gift from the Excelsior Youth Foundation.

EXCELSIOR STEP TEAM: SISTA' SOUL PRODUCTIONS

They chant "One pulse. One rhythm. One Team." Their feet and hands make a unfied rhythm that sounds like drum beats. A group of girls who are tyring to turn their lives around, pull together to form an award-winning step team.

Stepping is a traditional activity that started in the African-American community. Without any music, rhythms and beats are created with steel toe boots and the clapping of hands in a 10-12 minute routine. It is a recreational and competitive sport in schools and universities across the country. It is judged on originality, difficulty, audience appeal, uniformity and costumes.

The Excelsior step team began as a six-week pilot program and recreation activity. It quickly blossomed into an award winning team of courageous and committed young women, many of whom, had rarely ever expressed themselves in a positive way. Lives filled with anger, sadness and struggle began to feel renewed hope in their newly found abilities. Four years later, the step team continues to provide an opportunity for girls with heart, determination and a love of the art form, to see themselves in a new light while they work to create a new start.

Currently, the step team consists of several girls who come from all over the United States and range in age from 14 to 18. Because each girl's stay at Excelsior can vary, team members change frequently but one thing remains constant, every girl joins the team to carry on the legacy that has become so special at Excelsior. "One pulse. One rhythm. One team."

LEADERSHIP AURORA:

Leadership Aurora is a program designed to meet the needs of the city of Aurora for promoting and fostering the development of leadership in our community. The program has been in existence since 1984 and it brings together diverse people to learn from each other, creates an expectation of servant leadership, produces a basic understanding of how people and groups function and builds in real opportunties to teach knowledge and skills.

Excelsior Youth Center is very fortunate to partner with the Leadership Aurora Class of 2007. The goal of this project is to refurbish Excelsior's auditorium and multi purpose room. These areas are in some need of updates and repairs to make them into places the girls can be proud of! Leadership Aurora is looking to raise $35,000 to complete this project for Excelsior.

What is the scope of this project?

• Upgrade Lighting System
• Upgrade Sound System
• Refurbish Operable Partition
• Refinish Stage Floor
• Replace Stage Curtain
• Replace Seating as Needed
• Refurbishing Multi-Purpose Room
  

On April 15, 2005 Excelsior Youth Center hosted a Career Fair on its campus featuring approximately twenty-five exhibitors from local community colleges, universities, and trade and vocational schools. Representatives from participating organizations will be available to answer questions and provide valuable information. This year Excelsior is incorporating a hair and fashion show into the event, as well as a culinary arts exhibition and women's advocate speaker. Last year's Career Fair was a great success and we expect this year's to be even better!

The National Association of Blacks in Criminal Justice honored Taneshia Nettingham with its "Outstanding Service Award" for her work with the Excelsior Youth Center Step Team at it's annual scholarship fund raiser on Saturday, February 5, 2005. The EYC Step Team also presented a brief performance at the event. Congratulations, Taneshia, Excelsior's Special Events Coordinator.

For the past several years Maggiano's Little Italy has generously hosted Thanksgiving dinner for all of the girls who are at Excelsior on Thanksgiving Day. This holiday can be a terribly difficult day for a child who is far from home or who has limited familial connections. Maggiano's truly cares about our girls and has done everything in their power to be sure that Thanksgiving is a truly special day. The restauraunt staff treat the kids with the same high level of professionalism and respect as their regular customers.

To quote a girl from this year's dinner: "I have never been to a place like this — it's the most beautiful room I have ever seen." This year Maggiano's hosted all of the children and staff on our campus as well as parents, volunteers and younger children from a partner agency. Maggiano‚s has also organized a Christmas gift program in the past which has generated literally truckloads of gifts for the girls at Excelsior and hundreds of children in placements throughout the metro area.

Thank you, Maggiano's! We sincerely appreciate all you do for kids in need in our community.

 

Rhonda and Tommy Vickers Honorary Chair Persons

EXCELSIOR YOUTH CENTER CELEBRATES
EXCELSIOR! EVER UPWARD
APRIL 16, 2004
WILDLIFE EXPERIENCE MUSEUM
 
Excelsior Youth Center announces Rhonda and Tommy Vickers will serve as HonoraryChairs of Excelsior! Ever Upward, the fundraising gala Friday, April 16, 2004 at the Wildlife Experience Museum. 

The Vickers hosted the Patron Party at their Castle Pines home on Friday, April 2nd for patron level guests to Ever Upward. Invitations to the event that costs $150 per person are available by calling Excelsior at 303-693-1550x226.

The hot air balloon theme represents the definition of excelsior which is ‘ever upward” and the goal of improving and empowering the lives of the troubled girls who reside at Excelsior. Excelsior! Ever Upward features a welcome reception, silent and live auctions with auctioneer, Gary Corbett, dinner and live entertainment by Excelsior girls. Funds will benefit activities for the girls residing at Excelsior. Reservations are required.

As a renowned sculptor, Rhonda Vickers says, “I was introduced to Excelsior when I was commissioned to create the bust of Excelsior’s Executive Director, Bill Gregory, to commemorate his 30 years of service. Tommy and I learned a great deal about the program and have become very supportive.”

Rhonda was born and raised in St. Louis and studied fine arts at Wichita State University. She and Tommy were married 35 years ago and have two grown children. Rhonda has volunteered teaching art to children with Cerebral Palsy and worked with homeless women and children at the Gathering Place and served as its Board Chair. In 1999 Rhonda began her full time bronze sculpting business.

Tommy, raised and educated in Wichita, KS, was in the securities business for 25 years before moving his family to Denver in 1984. While in Kansas he was involved in Catholic Charities, National Jewish Hospital Board, the Institute of Logopedics Board and the Crime Commission. “I’m a low key patron of charities and I prefer organizations dedicated to children and their future,” says Vickers.

 Ever Upward co-chairmen, Molly Ross and Bill Lane, are joined on the gala coordinating committee by: Anne Barrett, Deb Braun, Gary Corbett, Maggie Eichenlaub, Joan Gabrielson, Judy Girardot, Bill Graveley, Kathy Graveley, Bill Gregory, Lisa Houston, Hal Hultquist, Dick Jones, Andrea Kellough, Carol Kingery, John Kivimaki, Abbie Kozik, Jackie Lane, Taneshia Nettingham, Anne Prather, Matt Rivera, Arlene Wayland and Vivian Zlobec.
Corporate sponsors of Ever Upward include Comcast, Denver Nuggets- Kroenke Sports Enterprises, Wells Fargo Bank, Wagner Investments, Inc., Allegiance Benefit Plan Management, U. S. Bank, Hillyard Floor Care, Trugreen Land Care and Piper Jaffray.

For ticket information please call Excelsior, 303-693-1550 x 226.

Photo: Rhonda and Tommy Vickers, Honorary Chair Persons

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