Ensuring Quality Programs & Services for Oregon's Children
Awards and Recognition
Sen. Tim Knopp & J Bar J
Jasper Mountain showcased in the Australian documentary "Once upon a Mountain"
'Once Upon a Mountain' is a documentary that delves into the complex problem of how best to help maltreated children. The work of Melbourne based documentary producers Blueprint Studios, 'Once Upon a Mountain' takes us inside the acclaimed Jasper Mountain Residential Treatment Program to find the dedicated people, and the magical setting, that have helped to make a difference for countless children over the past 30 years. Jasper Mountain http://jaspermountain.org/ is a program founded in 1982, in Oregon USA, for some of the most severely abused and disturbed young children in the country. The children live in a castle-like residence surrounded by 80 acres of forested land, a river and hiking trails. The directors and the therapeutic staff create a highly structured and positive treatment setting, where children are able to begin the process of healing. At the centre of the program, and the documentary, is Dr David Ziegler, co-founder, Executive Director of Jasper Mountain and author. Dr Ziegler successfully turns the children's negative past into a positive future. Described as the "horse whisperer" for maltreated children, Dr Ziegler's inspirational and celebrated methodology proves that there is no such thing as a lost cause. 'Once Upon a Mountain' is an insightful, captivating, moving and above all, educational experience. You will learn what makes a difference in what some experts consider the most effective treatment program for abused children in the world. The documentary provides an inside look at the unique Jasper Mountain program due to the intimate access granted to the film crew. 'Once Upon a Mountain' aims to increase awareness about child maltreatment, and will forever change how you see and understand these children." (*information by the 'Documentary Australia Foundation')
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Providence Health & Services presents the "Compassion and Wisdom Award" to Kay Toran, Volunteers of America, at the All Saints Day recognition ceremony
Kay Toran, president and CEO of Volunteers of America Oregon, received the 2012 Compassion and Wisdom Community Award for her dedication to social services in Oregon. Portland Mayor Sam Adams recently proclaimed Aug. 19 as a "Day of Appreciation for Kay Toran." She is currently serving on Providence's Portland Service Area Advisory Council. "Kay exemplifies 'compassion and wisdom,' and she is truly deserving of the 2012 Compassion and Wisdom Community Award," said Shelly Handkins, chief financial officer for Providence in Oregon, at the event.
Please click the link below and read the article starting on page 10.
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Portland Monthly recognizes Dennis Morrow, Janus Youth Programs: November, 2012
If growth is the merit badge of an effective nonprofit executive director, consider Dennis Morrow an Eagle Scout. In Morrow's 32 years at the helm of Janus Youth Programs, the nonprofit has grown from a school and five safe houses for troubled, addicted, and runaway youth to a network of more than 40 programs in Oregon and Southwest Washington. Today, Janus does everything from creating community vegetable gardens in public housing complexes to running homeless youth shelters and, most recently, helping young women entrapped by sex traffickers. Its budget has grown, too from $500,000 in 1980 to more than $9 million today. But what makes Morrow not just effective, but truly extraordinary, are his compassion, empathy, and advocacy for both the tough cases his agency serves drug-addicted youth, juvenile sex offenders, teen mothers, runaways and for his 250-some staff members. More than 30 percent of his employees, who could be making more money elsewhere, have been with Janus for more than five years. "I want to create a place where people feel valued, supported, and cared about," says Morrow, who also refuses to let his staff label any young person as "resistant" or "unmotivated." ("If they were motivated or compliant, they wouldn't need us," he notes.) That environment isn't going away anytime soon, either: Morrow, who is 64, has no plans to retire in the immediate future, in part because he has eight children, ages 15 to 47 - six of them adopted from extremely challenging situations. That means he's been a consumer of many social services himself and has experienced firsthand how many agencies can exclude the toughest kids from help, a reality that has fueled his own determination. "It's our job to keep them alive and keep them connected to our services," he says.
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OACP Children's Champion Luncheon 2012
Honoring Rep. Nancy Nathanson, Rep. John Huffman, & Rep. Michael Dembrow
Photos of the luncheon
Rose Otte Award -
In Oregon, there live children who, even as they face challenging circumstances that threaten to prevent them from obtaining a quality life and a level of contribution to their communities, are nonetheless essential to Oregon's future. Rose Otte Award nominees recognize the challenges these children face and prioritize their needs in the competing interests of Oregon, and are committed to a courageous battle. Recipients have demonstrated such a commitment -- through leadership, innovation, and long-standing efforts -- that acknowledges and provides for the needs of these children.
Winners:
2008 - Chris Folkestad
2007 - Pam Patton
2006 - Robert Roy
2005 - Craig Campbell, Bill Thorndike,
Commissioner Dan Saltzman, Dr. John Deeney
2004 - Gun Denhart, Al Jubitz
2003 - David Sarasohn
2002 - Duncan Campbell, Sen. Lenn Hannon
2001 - John Emrick
2000 - Arnie Green
1999 - Kay Toran
1998 - Sen. Kate Brown, Rep. Kitty Piercy
Children's Champion Award -
Each year, the Alliance recognizes one or more public officials who have done an outstanding deed benefiting children. The children whom Alliance members care for have faced tough times and challenges most adults will never experience in their lives. These children are resilient, and with help from programs and services like those that Alliance members provide, will finish school, will flourish, will join the workforce and will contribute to Oregon's future.
Children's Champions have worked on behalf of children and families in lots of ways, including -
...a legislator who pushed for a policy that streamlines paperwork requirements so staff in programs for children can spend more time on our number one priority - the children;
...a legislator who pressed colleagues to make sure rehabilitation services were available for youth transitioning out of juvenile justice and into school and jobs; and
...a local Commissioner for Children and Families director who worked to ensure that all children, regardless of race or ethnicity, had equal access to services.
Winners:
2011 - Rep. Nancy Nathanson, Rep. John Huffman, Rep. Michael Dembrow
2009 - Rep. Bill Kennemer, Sen. Joanne Verger, Sen. Chip Shields
2008 - Judge Rebecca Orf
2007 - Rep. Tina Kotek, Rodney Cook (Director, Clackamas County Commission on Children and Families)
2006 - Bob Jester (Director, Oregon Youth Authority)
2005 - Sen. Betsy Johnson, Rep. Linda Flores
2004 - Rep. Billy Dalto, Sen. Avel Gordly, Sen. Margaret Carter
Diamond Award -
Each year, the Alliance looks to its membership, to recognize those individuals who have been both outstanding leaders in Oregon for children, and also an outstanding leader in the Alliance.The Alliance membership is representative of the incredible dedication and leadership a handful of Oregonians have, each of whom has committed their professional lives to the wellbeing of children in Oregon. The children they care for have faced tough times, and challenges most adults will never experience in their lives.
This is the Alliance's most meaningful award because it comes from peers who want to recognize colleagues within the Alliance who have made extraordinary contributions towards our shared goals for children and families.
The award plaque reads, "The Diamond Award is given to a person who has demonstrated consistent and outstanding leadership to Oregon's children and families, and to the Oregon Alliance of Children's Programs."
Winners:
2012: Deborah Cathers-Seymour
2011: Tom Mitchell
2010: Mike Ware
2009: Craig Opperman
2008: Kim Scott
2007: Bob Johnson
2006: Mike Balter
2005: Arnie Green
2004: Jim Forbes
2003: Chris Krenk
2002: Emma Dennis
2001: Benson Meyers
2000: Dennis Morrow
1999: Sylvia Roehnelt
1998: John DeMay
1997: Richard Smith
1996: Rose Otte
1995: Doug Poppen
1994: Ruth Brodeur
1993: Pam Patton
1992: Richard Patton
1991: Kathy Seymour
1990: Jess Armas
1989: Jim Seymour