mcocy: 2006 OCY News

Montgomery County, PA

P.O. Box 311, Norristown, PA 19404-0311
Courthouse Hours: 8:30a.m. to 4:15p.m.
Phone: 610-278-3000
Website: www.montcopa.org

2006 OCY Newsroom

December, 2006 – The Montgomery County Office of Children & Youth would like to thank all the local businesses, schools, groups, organizations and individuals who supported our annual holiday gift giving program during October, November and December 2006!  With your help and support, we collected hundreds of new toys, games, gifts and clothing items for distribution to our OCY families who are struggling with issues of child abuse, neglect and dependency.  Office of Children & Youth staff delivered your donations and contributions to local children and families here in Montgomery County helping to make the holidays a little brighter for many deserving children.  Special thanks to Children & Youth Supervisor, Kathy Sullivan, and the OCY Foster Home Unit for coordinating this very successful gift program.

December 15, 2006 - Five Montgomery County Office of Children & Youth employees received special recognition at the agency’s Holiday Lunch Social.  Staff members are recognized on an annual basis for outstanding achievement in five categories.  The 2006 winners are as follows:


      Commitment to Excellence                 Dana Meyer
      Most Valuable Person                         Mark Hansen
      Distinguished New Employee              Lori Chafin
      Distinguished Veteran Employee        Stephanie Battallio
      Commitment to Volunteerism             Andrew Orr


December 1, 2006 – Superkids of Montgomery County, Inc. sponsored the 7th Annual Hershey Park Candy Lane Trip for OCY Children.  The children were accompanied by their caseworkers and spent a magical evening enjoying holiday lights and festivities, reindeer, amusement park rides, souvenirs, and of course, chocolate!  The event was coordinated by OCY Staff Member, Pamela Hartman, and is a fun-filled holiday activity for children and adults alike.  Thank you to Superkids for providing this exciting holiday event!


November 28, 2006 - The Montgomery County Office of Children & Youth hosted its 2nd Annual Adoption Match Event in the Community Room of the Human Services Center to celebrate National Adoption Month.  The Match Event was coordinated by OCY Staff Member, Pamela Hartman, and is held as an opportunity for adoptive families to learn more about children in the area who are awaiting adoption, to speak to the caseworkers of the children, and to obtain information about the adoption process.  It is also an opportunity for caseworkers to learn more about perspective adoptive families.  In addition to Montgomery County Children & Youth staff, representatives from Chester, Philadelphia, Bucks, and Lehigh Counties were present along with representatives from over 25 vendor agencies.  The response to the event was excellent.  Many agencies are following up on prospective adoptive placements.  Entertainment was provided by OCY Staff Member, Fred Blankenburg.


October 27, 2006 – The Montgomery County Office of Children & Youth honored foster parents at a banquet at Westover Country Club.  Montgomery County Commissioner Ruth S. Damsker was on hand to recognize our many foster parents for numerous achievements including years of service, significant achievement and resourcefulness, and outstanding care and nurturance of abused and neglected children in Montgomery County.  The event was coordinated by Children & Youth Foster Parent Unit Supervisor, Kathleen C. Sullivan, and included a talent contest entitled "So You Think You Have Talent".  The talent show spotlighted many memorable acts from our own foster parent and agency staff.   Over 100 foster parents and Children & Youth staff attended the event.                                


October 24, 2006 – The Spelling Bee for Literacy was held at the Plymouth Meeting Mall.  Proceeds benefited the Montgomery County Literacy Council.  The Office of Children and Youth’s team included Cathy Fulmer, Kathy Sullivan, and Fred Blankenburg.  Our team came in third place this year!  Congratulations spellers!


October 23, 2006 - The Montgomery County Foster Parent Association and the Montgomery County Office of Children & Youth held the Third Annual “Teeing Up for Foster Kids” Gold Outing at North Hills Country Club.   The course was exciting and challenging to the many golfers who came out that day to benefit foster children in Montgomery County.  Thank you to the numerous sponsors, contributors and volunteers who made the day a success.  The golf outing was coordinated by OCY Family to Family Specialist, Fred Blankenburg.

 

October 21, 2006 – Biker’s Against Child Abuse (BACA) held their 3rd Annual Holiday Toy Run to benefit abused and neglected children in Montgomery County.  The event was organized by BACA Montgomery County Chapter President, Keith “Orangeman” Dungan, along with additional BACA representatives and Children & Youth staff.  Over 100 motorcyclists gathered in Colmar and rode together to the Montgomery County Office of Children & Youth in Norristown, PA to deliver gifts for children served by the Office of Children & Youth.  Caseworkers from Children & Youth will distribute these gifts along with hundreds of other donated items to children and families who need them during the month of December.  Thanks BACA! Click here for photos.

 

October 11, 2006 – Eight (8) Montgomery County Office of Children & Youth employees were among the two hundred employees recognized by the Montgomery County Commissioners for their years of service to the County at a luncheon held at Presidential Caterers.  Commissioner, Thomas Jay Ellis, Esq., Chairman; Commissioner James R. Matthews, and Commissioner Ruth S. Damsker were on hand to honor employees and to hand out service pins to employees who have served the County for ten, fifteen, twenty, twenty-five, thirty and thirty-five years.  The following Children & Youth employees were recognized:


    10 Years     
    15 Years 
      20 Years      
 25 Years
Mark Hansen    Marian DeFoe     Arthur Reid Peter Syre, Ed. D.
Holly Judge    Tracy Kyttle*    
Jerrold Summers    Peter Spengeman    
     Lawrence Weitzel    

*Tracy Kyttle is an employee of the Domestic Relations Office who is located within the Office of Children & Youth and serves as the Office of Children & Youth Support Conciliator.

 

September 24, 2006 - Montgomery County Office of Children & Youth staff held a post-adoption picnic at Souderton Borough Community Park.  Adoptive parents and their adopted children were invited to a fun-filled day of music, games, fun, laughter and support.  The picnic provided the opportunity for adopted children and their parents to gather with other families who are sharing similar experiences.  Live music and entertainment was provided by the kid-friendly Penny & the Pinecone People.  Event coordination was provided by Children & Youth Post-Adoption Worker, Carol Godshall.

 

September 11-13, 2006 - The Montgomery County Office of Children & Youth hosted a delegation of Korean Child Welfare Professionals for an international training seminar.  The 3-day event included attendance at the County’s 9/11 Ceremony followed by an audience with our County Commissioners, Chairman Thomas J. Ellis, Esq., and Commissioners James R. Matthews and Ruth S. Damsker.  The majority of the 3-day event was spent with Montgomery County Child Welfare Professionals for information sharing and training.  Following a similar training opportunity provided in 1999, Korea revised and updated their Child Protection Law, established six regional child protection agencies, and promoted reporting policies, shelter services and counseling services.   “It is our privilege to share our child welfare philosophies, skills, and knowledge on a global scale in the best interest of children worldwide” stated OCY Community Relations Specialist, Michele Kristofco.

August 25, 2006 – Haircuttery donated 500 certificates for free haircuts to special needs children known to the Montgomery County Office of Children & Youth as part of their 8th Annual Share A Haircut program.  The free haircut program sponsored by Haircuttery is a great way to help OCY children at home and in foster care prepare for going back-to-school.  Haircuttery sponsors this nation-wide program annually.  The program originally provided 15,000 free haircuts nationally and has grown to over 65,000 free haircuts provided nationally by Haircuttery in 2006.
    

August 9, 2006 – Superkids of Montgomery County, Inc., a small, non-profit, volunteer organization dedicated to providing the financial resources for educational and enrichment needs of abused, neglected or dependent children known to the Montgomery County Office of Children & Youth, provided Montgomery County foster children and their families “A Night With The Reading Phillies”.  100 tickets were provided by Superkids to OCY children and families to attend the Reading Phillies Game.  This has been an annual event enjoyed by children and families with OCY for nearly a decade.  The event was a great evening of fun and baseball for all.  Thanks Superkids!

August 4, 2006 – Montgomery County Children & Youth Director, Laurie O’Connor; Chief Juvenile Probation Officer, Steve Custer; and Youth Center Director, Maureen Raquet presented the Child Welfare Needs Based Plan and Budget for Montgomery County at the Public Hearing held today at 10:00 am at the Montgomery County Human Services Center.  The Needs Based Plan and Budget sets forth Child Welfare programs and related expenditures and revenues for fiscal year 2006-2007 and 2007-2008.  The Public Hearing is the public’s opportunity for input into the budget planning process and provides opportunity for explanation of services and questions and answers about Child Welfare Services in Montgomery County.

July 27, 2006 - The Second Mile (a non-profit organization) provided an evening at Water World in Phoenixville, PA for Montgomery County foster families.  All totaled, 75 tickets were distributed to foster children and families to spend the evening, free of charge, at the Water World Park.   Water World Park specializes in swimming, slides, picnicking and interactive water activities for the whole family.  Special thanks to the staff at The Second Mile for all their help and support in organizing this worthwhile event for our OCY kids.

 

June 9, 2006 – The 5th Annual Open House and Job Fair was held at the Montgomery County Human Services Center.  13 county departments and the Pennsylvania State Civil Service Commission came together today to provide the general public with department information and job seekers the opportunity to apply for vacancies within those departments.  “It is the one time of year when the Health and Human Service Departments of the County come together in an attempt to attract qualified applicants to existing vacancies” stated Michele Kristofco, Job Fair Coordinator.  To learn more about employment with Montgomery County go to www.montcopa.org and click on Human Resources or feel free to contact individual departments directly.
  

June 4, 2006 – Superkids of Montgomery County, Inc (a non-profit, 501 © 3 organization of volunteers) recognized the achievements of children known to the Montgomery County Office of Children & Youth at a banquet luncheon held at Westover Country Club this date.  State Representative Kate Harper, Montgomery County Chairman Commissioner Thomas Ellis, and the Honorable W. Paul Tressler were among the crowd of 200+ people in attendance as Superkids provided achievement awards to 85 children and art awards to 24 children.  “This day is all about the children” stated Children & Youth Director, Laurie O’Connor.  “It is a day for our children to be recognized for individual achievement and artistic expression and to just have fun.”  The room was filled with games and activities and every child received numerous prizes in addition to their recognition certificates.

May 3, 2006 – Children & Youth employee, Dana Meyer, was presented the Child and Adolescent Service System Program (CASSP) Award by the Montgomery County Mental Health Committee at a banquet luncheon held today at Westover Country Club.  The honor was bestowed to Ms. Meyer, “In appreciation for the manner in which she has exemplified the Child and Adolescent Service System Principles in her efforts to help children & families dealing with mental illness.”   Ms Meyer is the Cross-Systems Program Specialist for the Office of Children & Youth who handles service review and coordination for children with complex needs, assuring they receive  appropriate physical and behavioral health care services.  Congratulations Dana!

 

April 3, 2006 – Montgomery County Commissioners, Thomas Jay Ellis, Esq. Chairman, James R. Matthews and Ruth S. Damsker proclaimed April as Child Abuse Prevention Month in Montgomery County.   In a proclamation presented to the Citizens Advisory Committee of the Office of Children & Youth, the Commissioners asked all Montgomery County residents to join in the effort of protecting children from harm, increasing child safety and supporting the Child Welfare Professionals who have dedicated themselves to the safety and well being of our children.  Following the proclamation, OCY Community Relations Specialist, Michele Kristofco, presented the agency’s 2005 Annual Report.  The report reviews the activities of the Montgomery County Office of Children & Youth for calendar year 2005 and includes statistical data dating back to 1993.

March 24, 2006 – Officials of the PA South East Regional Office of Children, Youth & Families completed their annual inspection of the Montgomery County Office of Children & Youth.  The agency was found to be in full compliance with Department of Public Welfare regulations.  No citations or concerns were noted by the Inspection Team.  Earlier this year, the Montgomery County Office of Children & Youth was found to be in compliance with applicable Federal and State Civil Rights regulations in regard to the delivery of human services.  “Staff work very hard not just at inspection time, but all year long, to ensure that appropriate child abuse and neglect services are being provided to Montgomery County residents and that case record documentation of services is thorough and accurate” stated OCY Director, Laurie O’Connor.  “I am proud of the work being done here.”

January 9, 2006 – The Montgomery County Solicitor’s Office appointed two new solicitors to the Office of Children & Youth.  George Ditter, Esq. and Maria Etzrodt Gibbons, Esq. will join Karen Coletta DeGennaro, Esq. and Robert Gerhard, Jr., Esq. in representing the Office of Children & Youth in legal matters and at formal proceedings requiring legal representation.  All four attorneys have specific duties and responsibilities with the Office of Children & Youth utilizing their individual areas of expertise to support the agency and the children and families served by the agency.  The Office of Children & Youth employs 139 full-time staff and responds to reports of child abuse, neglect and dependency throughout the county 365 days a year.  Montgomery County has over 750,000 residents and is the third largest county in Pennsylvania behind Philadelphia and Allegheny Counties.