As Nexus redefines its purpose, we are also hoping to help our employees and supporters find their purpose and how it relates to the organization's mission. Read about our latest work and how you can work, share, and connect with purpose.

1. A NEXUS NEWSLETTER
MAY/JUNE 2018
cornerst ne
IN THIS ISSUE
Life on Purpose 1
What is a Balance Sheet? 3
Working onWellbeing 4
Your“Why” 5
Using the Practice Model 7
7th
Annual Conference 8
Connecting with Purpose 9
Mind your Mental Health 10
Mille Lacs’Active Campus 11
Gerard’s HistoricTies 13
Beyond the Job at Onarga 15
Indian Oaks’GivingTree 17
Woodbourne Celebrates
Foster Care Month 19
KFF Starts HTHP 21
Glen LakeTries Errorless
Learning 23
PATH SFC Revamped 25
purposeFINDING

2. field and stay, do it because the work fits with their
personal purpose.
So what does it mean to live a life of purpose, or in other
words, to live life ON PURPOSE? I found a quote from
Jene Kapela that said people who live life on purpose,
“set priorities that align with what’s most important
to them and make progress each day. They also live a
balanced life, meaning the time and energy they invest
is spent proportionally on the things that matter most to
them... people who live with purpose live with passion.”
Frank Sonnenberg identifies 7 actions to live your life on
purpose:
1. Live by your beliefs and values. People who live a life
of purpose have core beliefs and values that influence
their decisions, shape their day-to-day actions, and
determine their short- and long-term priorities.
2. Set priorities. People who live a life of purpose
identify those activities that matter most to them and
spend the majority of their time and effort in those
areas.
3. Follow your passion. People who live a life of purpose
wake up each morning eager to face the new day. They
pursue their dreams with fervor, put their heart into
1 | MAY/JUNE 2018
Life on Purpose
Dr. Michelle K. Murray
Interim CEO
Over this past Memorial Day weekend, I was fortunate to
be able to put my Nexus work aside and spend some quality
time catching up on my gardening. I find great pleasure
in creating my plant gardens; trying new combinations,
moving plants around, adding more variety, and cleaning
out the weeds and debris.
Gardening allows me to express my creativity, and when
I am being creative, I realign to my center. When I am
aligned with my center, I am reminded of all the things that
I am grateful for. One of the top things is my gratitude for
all of the staff that work directly with our youth. As I reflect
on the challenges that many of our staff face on a daily
basis, I cannot help but think about what makes all of our
great staff so successful. What I kept coming back to was
the idea of PURPOSE.
In the last Cornerstone issue, I challenged us to think about
our “why,” specifically as it relates to why we do the work
that we do with the clients that we serve. Our purpose is
closely related to our why.
The work that we do to help youth and families with
complex needs can be demanding and emotionally
challenging. Yet, staff continue to do it; they show up day
after day and devote their time and energy to helping
others despite the low recognition and praise. It is my
strong belief that the long-term staff that come into the
Life on Purpose

3. MAY/JUNE 2018 | 2
Life on Purpose
everything they do, and feel that they’re personally
making a difference.
4. Achieve balance. People who live a life of purpose
put their heart into their career and into building
relationships with friends and family. They also
reserve adequate time to satisfy their personal needs.
5. Feel content. People who live a life of purpose have
an inner peace. They’re satisfied with what they have
and who they are. To them, the grass is greener on
their own side of the fence.
6. Make a difference. People who live a life of purpose
make a meaningful difference in someone else’s life.
They do things for others without expectation of
personal gain, serve as exemplary role models, and
gain as much satisfaction witnessing the success of
others as witnessing their own.
7. Live in the moment. People who live a life of
purpose cherish every moment and seek to live life
without regret. They take joy in the experiences that
life gives and don’t worry about keeping score.
Despite the challenges in our work, I have observed
countless staff who engage in their work with a strong
purpose, and I believe that their purpose shows because
they have conviction; they have incorporated the 7
elements in some form or fashion.
These are the same people that are generally happy
individuals and do not get easily frustrated or rattled by
the choices of others. They know how to keep things in
perspective and are strong leaders among their peers.
These are the same people who cheer others up. They
maintain a positive attitude even when things are
difficult. They avoid gossiping and putting others down,
and they know the importance of giving others the
benefit of the doubt.
When people live with a strong purpose, they also
work with a strong purpose. It is those staff that have
discovered how to live and work based on purpose that
make all of the difference in the world, particularly for
the life of those served by Nexus and its programs.
I am so very grateful for the work that all of our staff do.
Show your PURPOSE in all that you do; expose it, share
it with others, and don’t ever turn it off. A sincere thank
you for all that you do to make a difference.
“The meaning of life is to find your gift.
The purpose of life is to give it away.”
Pablo Picasso

4. 3 | MAY/JUNE 2018
Financial Force
Hilke Riechardt-
Martinez
CFO
What is a Balance Sheet?
And Why Do We Care?
In my last article, we learned
about the concept of revenue,
expenses, net income, and
what these financial words
mean and how you should
interpret the numbers they
represent.
In a nutshell, we receive contract revenues for our services,
along with other revenues that help pay for our monthly
expenses. When you subtract the expenses from the
revenue, the leftover number is called net income, or more
commonly for nonprofits, excess revenue over expenses.
This excess revenue over expenses is used to build up a
reserve of funds so that we have money to fix a leaking roof
or replace an old vehicle. This reserve is very important for
an organization so that we know we can continue to serve
our mission for many years to come.
So what happens to the reserves we get to keep?
The reserves add up year over year in the balance sheet.
A balance sheet is essentially a tally of our assets which
is everything we own that has value (such as furniture,
buildings, money we expect to collect for our services, etc.)
less our liabilities which is anything we owe to our bank,
vendors, or others (loans, unpaid bills, etc.).
Unlike the income statement that is closed out every year-
end and then starts counting all over again in January of
the next year, the balance sheet never gets closed out as
long as our organization keeps going. It shows the value
that has built up since the very beginning of Nexus. This
value is the difference between the assets we own and the
liabilities we owe which is called net assets, or “reserves”
in non-financial words.
Think of your own personal finances. Let’s say you buy a
new car and you take out a car loan to pay for it. The new
car is your asset because it has value. But you also have
a liability because now you have to make monthly car
payments.
Over time, as you pay off your car, you owe less to the bank
and own more of your car until the loan is paid off. The
difference between the value of your car (your asset) and
your car loan (your liability) is called net asset. A net asset
is the value you own after subtracting your liability.
Our net assets, or reserves, are really important because
they allow us to replace old equipment, restore our
buildings, or invest in a new program. It is like a savings
account that you build up over time so that you have
funds for emergencies, a down payment on a house, or a
vacation.
Our reserves ensure that we will be able to weather
changes in our funding streams, allow us to get a mortgage
from our bank when we need it, and make sure that we
are a financially stable organization. In fact, our bank is
requiring us to have a minimum of $40 million in net
assets to guarantee the debt that we took out when we
built a campus for Mille Lacs Academy and expanded the
campuses of Indian Oaks Academy and Gerard Academy.
Without the ability to get debt financing for our campuses,
our organization would not be able to grow and prosper.
So, reserves are a good thing, and we definitely care about
them because they help us stay a strong organization.
Building up a reserve takes a lot of planning and good
management, and in the next newsletter I will share with
you how Nexus plans its services and operations via the
annual budget process. There’s also going to be some tips
on how you can set up your own personal budget. Stay
tuned!

5. MAY/JUNE 2018 2018 | 4
HR Report
Working on Wellbeing
Jennifer McIntosh
VP of Human Resources
First, a big THANK YOU from the HR team to the
496 participants that responded to the 2018 Nexus
Wellbeing Interest Survey! I’d especially like to thank
the participants at PATH as they made up over 22% of the
contributor, with Onarga Academy coming in second at
just over 17%.
Your feedback is very important to the process of us
selecting the wellbeing priorities for the organization. We
know your time is valuable and recognize that the feedback
you provided means that wellbeing is important to you,
your co-workers, the youth in our care, and your families.
Since January 1, we have been working with C-BIZ, our
benefits and wellbeing broker to explore our wellbeing
options. In the month of June, we will be setting up our
first ever Nexus-wide wellbeing committee. We had 124
volunteers for the committee and will work with HR and
Executive leadership to determine committee membership.
Those selected will receive an invite soon. Below are some
of the results from the survey:
Nexus employees selected three areas of wellbeing they are
most interested in:
1. Physical Wellbeing (70%)
2. Financial Wellbeing (66%)
3. Nutrition (55%)
The top two screening tests or services that staff at Nexus
are interested in:
1. Seated Massage
2. Blood Pressure Screening
Top two on-site activity interests for Nexus employees:
1. Meditation sessions or stress relief breaks
2. One-on-one consultation with an expert
We discovered that over 83% of participants felt their
supervisors were likely to promote employee wellbeing and
would be supportive of company
wellness initiatives.
So, why the focus on wellbeing
and no longer wellness?
It may seem like semantics,
but we have decided that we
want to take a very concerted
approach to rebranding our employee wellbeing efforts. The
justification for shifting the terminology from wellness to
wellbeing is to help doctors, health plans, and employers
like us more accurately describe the value of a whole person
approach and develop interventions around the specific
components of wellbeing that are key to improving health.
Healthy employees are more satisfied, safer and engaged in
our mission.
The roots of “wellbeing” actually go way back. In 1946,
“health” was defined by WHO as: “a state of complete
physical, mental and social wellbeing and not merely the
absence of disease or infirmity.”
This definition remains unchanged today. The intention was
to recognize that many factors contribute to good health
or poor health, and that we need to pay attention to our
wellbeing prior to the onset of poor health or disease.
One of the many reasons we are exploring and
reintroducing our wellbeing priorities at Nexus is because
only 72% of the participants of the survey believe Nexus
truly cares about the wellbeing of its employees. We
need to change that score! Therefore, we are making a
commitment to you, your co-workers, the youth in our care
and your families to educate our staff about their wellbeing
options, use our resources more efficiently, and explore
creative wellbeing opportunities to help you improve your
WELLBEING at Nexus.

6. 5 | MAY/JUNE 2018
“Donors don’t give to
institutions. They invest in
ideas and people in whom
they believe.”
-G.T. Smith
“Why” has been a great
conversation starter around
Nexus in recent months.
In the last Cornerstone
Newsletter and on our social
media channels, staff have
highlighted their personal
“why” statements related to
working at Nexus.
These have included:
“Helping others is my life’s calling!”
“To make a change (and be a real life super hero)!”
“It’s extremely rewarding.”
“Because I want families to stop hurting.”
These are powerful statements that, when shared, leave the
recipient with a clear understanding that amazing things
are happening at Nexus. The work that each of you do is
providing youth and their families with tools that positively
impact their lives. You are at the core of what is being
accomplished across all of our sites.
Many of your “why” statements focus on helping others and
about the great feeling that comes from making a difference
in someone’s life.
Transfer these thoughts to philanthropy.
Philanthropy is defined as “the desire to promote the welfare
of others, expressed especially by the generous donation of
money to good causes.”
See the similarity? People who give money to organizations
do so for the same reasons our employees love their work at
Nexus.
We as employees, therefore, are in an excellent position to
invite our friends, families, and other contacts to learn more
about Nexus and how they can be part of the work we are
doing to help youth and families make transformational
change.
By inviting others to join us and support us, we are not
“begging for money,” we are giving them the opportunity
to help others and be part of making the world a better
place.
So what can we do?
Learn more
Find out more about how philanthropy–fundraising–
helps at your location. Talk with your executive director,
communications/development coordinator, or colleagues
to learn about ways you and others can help–Youth without
Resources, special events, donations of items needed by
youth, and other opportunities abound!
Get Involved
As you learn about the ways in which philanthropy supports
the youth and families we serve, consider how you might
want to be involved and let others know how you are
making a difference! Volunteering to help at an event,
sharing social media posts about your site or Nexus overall,
or making a gift to Youth without Resources - these are just
a few of the ways you can make a difference!
Development: Funding our Future
Your “Why”
Makes a Difference
Joelene Evenson
Director of Development
Bill Mojica
Director of Development, MD
By Joelene Evenson

7. Development: Funding our Future
Connect Friends and Family
When you find yourself talking about your work to friends
and family who seem genuinely interested in what you do:
• Invite them to tour your location
• Invite them to join you at one of our special events
• Direct them to www.changingonelife.org, a special
Nexus website geared toward the community and how
they can support our work
• Invite them to make a gift
Talk with your communications/development coordinator
or executive director about these and other ways to invite
new connections to get involved with Nexus. You can
also contact Bill Mojica (Woodbourne Center) or Joelene
Evenson (Nexus Corporate) directly with questions or ideas.
In the coming years, philanthropy will continue to grow
throughout Nexus, playing an important role in bringing to
life strategic priorities, new innovations and programs that
can have profound impacts on youth and families.
To accomplish this, we need to continually expand the
number of individuals involved with our organization.
Don’t be shy! Tell the world your “why” and invite them
to be part of our mission!
100%
of Nexus board members, senior leaders,
and development representatives
supported Nexus development activities in
some way in 2017.
Employee Connections
Making a Difference!
Herearejustafewexamplesofhowemployeeshavemade
connectionstobenefittheyouthandfamiliesweserve:
MilleLacsAcademyemployeesharedtheMLAyearend
appealletterinherholidaycardstofriendsandfamily
members,resultinginnewdonationstoMLA!
OnargaAcademyreceived$10,000towardthe
CornerstoneCafékitchenadditionfromfriendsofthe
CornerstoneCafémanagerwhohadsharedherpassion
fortheimpacttheCaféhasontheyouthinvolvedwiththe
program!
TheCrisisNurseryservingWrightCounty,partof
KindredFamilyFocus,received$10,000fromafamily
foundation.Thedevelopmentcoordinatorhadapersonal
connectionwithoneofthefamilymembers,arelationship
thatwaskeytosecuringthiscontribution!
AWoodbourneCenteremployeeengagedherbrother,
aprofessionalcomedian,astheheadlineperformerata
comedyshowtoraisefundsforWoodbourne’ssummer
program!
APATHemployeeenlistedthehelpofherhusbandto
deliverarequestforsupporttoleadersofhiscompany.A
fewweekslater,thecompanyawardedPATHa$2,500grant!
JamesHormel,whoseformerchildhoodhomeisnow
GerardAcademy,andmembersofhisfamilytouredGerard
lastyear.Severalmonthslater,GerardAcademyreceiveda
verygenerousgiftinappreciationofthehospitalityshown
tohimandhisfamily!
MAY/JUNE 2018 | 6

8. 7 | MAY/JUNE 2018
Paula Minske
Director of Clinical Services
Practice Model
Let’s review the
purpose behind the
Nexus Practice Model.
The practice model is
driven by the Nexus
mission, guiding principles, and cornerstone values, and
aligns our desired outcomes for safety, permanency, and
well-being with specific practices to help achieve those
outcomes. The Nexus Practice Model is an organizing
framework that defines our beliefs and practices in
a clear and concise way through ten principles. Each
practice principles has five specific activities that we
integrate into our work to ensure we are practicing what
we preach.
Our programs and sites have creatively integrated these
practices into their programming and services. Here are
just a few examples:
Family-Driven Care
• The Parent Partner position was added to increase
family-driven care and family engagement.
• During a recent internal audit, we asked for input
form a client’s mother and her partner to help assess
the facility by doing a walk through with staff.
Youth-Guided Care
• Youth partner with their primary care staff to
develop a skills group they can teach to their peers.
These have included unique coping skills such as
folding origami projects and restoration skills. The
impact of learning from a peer and being able to
teach a peer has had a positive impact on both the
youth involved. The student is more receptive to the
new skills, while the youth teacher feels a sense of
accomplishment and investment in community.
• During new hire orientation, four youth attend the
How are we using our practice principles to guide
what we do on a day-to-day basis?
training to provide feedback
and information to new staff
regarding trauma-informed and
relationship-based strategies of
engagement.
• Youth participate in a Wellness
Committee. Recently, they
completed a campus survey
on what recreational activities youth would like to add
to campus programming and worked with the Dietary
Department to have more input on menu development.
Culturally Responsive
• A “True Colors” group highlights both youth-driven
and culturally-competent principles. The group meets
every other Wednesday and is open to LGBTQ youth
and allies. The group incorporates movies, activities,
and discussions, and is very important to the youth who
choose to attend.
Trauma-Informed
• Holistic Life Foundations staff are infused in the school
and help youth who are referred to the mindfulness
room during the school day. Youth engage in deep
breathing and mediation exercises, and also core and
flexibility work on yoga mats.
• Direct care staff implemented Trauma-Informed Coping
Plans for each youth. Primary staff meet regularly with
youth to go over their individualized coping plans to
update and adjust as necessary. Staff work with kids
to identify specific external and internal triggers and
devise strengths-based coping responses unique to each
youth’s needs. This practice also highlights relationship-
based practice principle as youth begin to develop trust
through these discussions with primary staff.
Let’s push ourselves to fully embrace our Nexus Practice
Model continue to unleash our creative side!
Clinical View

9. MAY/JUNE 2018 | 8
Nexus’ 7th Annual Conference is scheduled to start on
Tuesday, September 25, in Plymouth, Minnesota at the
Crowne Plaza-Minneapolis West. The conference will
run through the afternoon of Thursday, September 27.
Tuesday night will open the conference with a welcome
social where traveling attendees can kick up their feet
and mingle with other Nexus staff. Wednesday will be
the first full day of trainings, including a guest keynote
speaker and a message from the Nexus CEO. Different
from other years, Thursday will also be a full day of
training, so plan to leave after 5:00 p.m.
This year’s theme is Powered by Purpose! If you’ve
been reading the last few issues of the Cornerstone,
you’ll know that this is a hot topic around Nexus. We’re
working on redefining our “why” as an organization
and using our purpose to drive our work with clients,
referrals, community partners, and staff, and ultimately
apply this purpose to our outcomes.
Nexus
7th
Annual
Conference
We also want to inspire you to find purpose in the
work you do every day. We all know that Nexus does
important work, but how can you personally connect to
that work to make an even bigger impact in the lives of
the youth and families that we serve.
In fact, the entire conference is designed to be a more
purposeful experience. We are bringing in a number of
speakers who can address different areas of our work,
whether that’s self-care, youth developmental assets,
family engagement, etc.
More details will be sent out as the conference nears.
We hope to see you there. Stay tuned!

10. 9 | MAY/JUNE 2018
You may not realize it, but with the click of a button, you
can help Nexus be stronger as a recruiter, advocate, and
thought leader.
Actively engaging with the Nexus and our site social media
pages shows the world your dedication to your work, the
passion you have for serving children and families, and
connects you to an outstanding organization that you
can be proud to be a part of. Get active by sharing posts,
positively commenting on posts, following our pages,
linking to the organization in your occupation listings, or
even tagging a page in a encouraging shout out.
Nexus and the individual sites all have an active
presence on social media. You can find your
individual site and Nexus on Facebook, where
we share information about upcoming events,
site news, mental health articles, employee
recognition, and opportunities to get involved
with our organization. A few sites also have
Twitter, Instagram, and LinkedIn pages.
No matter where your site has a presence, it’s
valuable to like and follow our pages so you can
be in the know about events and news throughout Nexus.
Plus, we’re running more and more staff recruitment
and fundraising posts. With your help, we can share this
information with more individuals who may want to
join our team, be a volunteer, attend an event, or make a
Connecting with Purpose
Using Social Media to Share our Mission
contribution to our awesome mission! Following your site’s
social media pages will allow for Nexus to continue to grow
support and create an even greater online community.
Just be aware that HIPAA regulations and Personal Health
Information confidentiality rules apply to social media
content. No current or former client information can be
shared online, whether it’s their story, photo, name, or
diagnoses. If you have a story that you think should be shared,
you can contact the Nexus Marketing and Communications
Department to make sure we have the proper approvals in
place for use.
As an employee and representative of Nexus, please
remember to demonstrate best practices and a sense of
etiquette in the use of social media by following these
guidelines:
• Act responsibly and ethically
• Honor differences
• State that it’s your opinion and not the organization’s view
• Be helpful, not hurtful
• Share and engage with posts in a positive way
• Protect yourself and the organization by staying away
from confidential information
If you have any questions or comments about our
organization’s social media presence, contact
Nexus Marketing and Communications
(nexuscomm@nexus-yfs.org).
Searchthebelowhandlestofindusonyourfavoriteplatform!
Facebook:@NexusYFS,@IndianOaksAcademy,@WoodbourneCenter,@PATHInc.org,@CrisisNurseryServingWrightCounty,@GerardAcademy,
@OnargaAcademy,@CornerstoneCafe.Gallery,@MilleLacsAcademy,@NexusGlenLake,@nexusKFF
LinkedIn:Fororganizationalnews,followNexus:YouthandFamilySolutions.Forindividualsitecareerinformation,youcanfollowWoodbourneCenter,
GerardAcademy,IndianOaksAcademy,andPATH.
Twitter:@NexusYFS,@PATH_Inc,@WoodbourneCtr,@IndianOaksAcad,@CrisisNurseryWC
Instagram:@nexusyfs,@pathinc

11. Mind Your Mental Health
In light of Mental Health Awareness Month, consider
practicing some mental hygiene with these emotional
tune-up tips.
• Schedule regular mindful pauses throughout your
day to push the reset button. Sit quietly, tune into
the present moment, notice your emotions without
judgment, focus on your breath for several cycles, and
then tune back in.
• Make time for positive relationships. Invest your social
time with those who are positive and make you feel
good when you are around them. Try to stay away
from those who have a negative presence.
• Show yourself some compassion as you would a friend
or loved one. We are our harshest critics, but it is truly
difficult to be happy when your internal dialogue is
consistently self-critical.
• Reflect regularly. It’s difficult to recognize negative
or self-destructive patterns without periods of self-
reflection. Consider a journaling practice or look into
finding workbooks or apps that cater to self-reflection.
• Treat yourself as a whole being. The mind and the
body must work together to thrive as a whole being.
Continue physical self-care with proper nutrition,
exercise, and sleep. How’s your mindset around
these things? Is exercise a chore? Is eating a healthy
meal a serious feat of willpower? Try to change your
thoughts around these behaviors to be acts of self-love,
practicing them because you know they make you feel
more energized and able to show up for life each day.
Wellbeing
Sources:
The Wellbeing Insights Newsletter is prepared for you by CBIZ ESO. The contributions included in this newsletter do not
specifically reflect your employer’s opinions. Consult your health care provider before making any lifestyle changes.
© Copyright 2018. CBIZ, Inc. NYSE Listed: CBIZ. All rights reserved. CBIZ-228, Rev. 34 MAY/JUNE 2018 | 10
Fast Stats for Mental
Health Awareness
• 1 in 6 American adults is living with mental illness.
• Half of all lifetime mental health conditions
begin by age 14 and 75% by age 24, but early
intervention programs can help.
• 90% of those who die by suicide have an
underlying mental illness.
• Treatment can be highly effective: 70 to 90%
of individuals have significant reduction of
symptoms with the right treatments and support.
• African-Americans and Hispanic-Americans used
mental health services at about half the rate of
Caucasians in the past year, and Asian-Americans
one third the rate.
If you believe that you or a loved one may be
struggling with mental illness, please reach out for
help. Speak with your healthcare provider, counselor,
or someone with whom you have an existing
relationship. Or, you may call an anonymous hotline.
National Helpline: 800-662-4357
National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 800-273-8255
Sources:nimh.nih.gov,nami.org,samhsa.gov

12. 11 | MAY/JUNE 2018
Our Active Campus
Students in the MLA School were given
topics concerning the planet’s health
(air quality, water quality, climate
change, recycling, plastic in the ocean/
our drinking water, landfills) and had
to choose a topic for their Earth Day
art collages. The goal of this project
was to challenge the youth to make a
thought-provoking statement that could
get people to stop and think about their
contribution to a healthier planet.
The young artists at MLA really applied
themselves and it showed in the finished
projects. The end result was so creative
and well put together that many of them
were chosen to be framed and displayed
in our Corporate Office!
ADOPT A HIGHWAY
ROCKSTAR DAY
MLAiscurrentlyresponsibleforthestretchof
Highway27thatrunsdirectlybyourcampus.
InearlyMay,multipleteamsofyouthand
staffvolunteerssetofftoseewhatoursection
ofhighwayheldinstoreforus. Thanksto
everyonewhoparticipated!
AtMLA,weseektoshowstaffthattheyare
trulyourmostvaluableassets. TheEmployee
LeadershipCommitteeandBernick’sprovided
awidevarietyofrefreshingbeveragesaspart
ofourRockstarDayhonoringstaff.
Supporting Our Community
MLA has partnered with Onamia Pathways (Onamia’s food shelf)
since 2009. The need in Mille Lacs County has always been great,
but unfortunately, in recent years, the need has become staggering.
Minnesota Food Share estimates that nearly 25% of the Onamia
population was in need of help in 2016.
In response to this startling
situation, MLA staff once again
filled the food drive table to
help put food on the table of
local families. They generously
donated $133, 242 pounds of
food, and 53 pounds of non-food
items to the food shelf.
OUT TO THE BALL GAME
MLArecentlywasabletoattendthefirst
gameofthe“borderbattle”betweenthe
MinnesotaTwinsandtheMilwaukeeBrewers.
Thisopportunitywasmadepossiblethrough
aticketgrantfromtheTwinsCareprogram.
Thisprogramwillprovideouryouthwiththe
opportunitytoattendMajorLeagueBaseball
gamesthissummer.
Earth Day Collages

13. MAY/JUNE 2018 | 12
Director’s Report
ProblemsAreNotStopSigns,They
AreGuidelines
ThelateRobertSchullerwouldpreach
tohiscongregationthatwegrow
themost throughtimesofstruggle.
Problemsrepresentopportunities
tomakebreakthroughsthatwe
previouslythoughtwereimprobable
orpossiblyevenimpossible.Whilewemaybetemptedto
quitwhenfacedwithaproblem,wealsohavetheability
toachievesuccessthatcanhaveatremendousimpacton
ourselvesandothers.
Iholdtheideathataveragepeoplehaveaverageproblems
andthatordinarypeoplehaveordinaryproblems. Ialso
believethis–thatweasteammembersofNexusarenot
averagenorareweordinary. Wecreateanimpactthrough
themissionthatweserveeachandeveryday.
Youknowthatproblemwiththeyouththatjustdoesn’t
wanttolisten? Thatyouthwillonedaytellsomeoneelse
thesamemessageyouweretryingtoconvincethemto
listento.
Rememberthatchallengewithafamilythatseemslike
theyaremoreinterestedinbeingrightthanlisteningto
eachother? Thatwillbethefamilythatfindsthestrength
andcouragetonotonlymastertheirempathywitheach
other,butalsowillbeabletohelpotherfamiliesfindtheir
ownstrengthsandcompassion.
Thoseproblemsaren’tstopsigns. Theyareguidelinesfor
youandtheyouthandfamiliesweservetogrowtoachieve
successinthefuture.
Eachandeverydayistheopportunityforthisgrowthin
ourselvesandothers. Ibelievethatwearebetterthan
averageandordinary,andregardlessifwewantitornot,
changeandproblemswilloccur.
Thecorequestionthenisthis–willwechoosetogrowwith
thesechangesinournewguidelines?
Jason Donahue
Executive Director
Clothing Swap Meet
One distinct advantage of having a campus located in a serene
wooded setting is the access to forests, lakes, streams, and rivers.
Our kids love the chance to be outside and take in all nature has to
offer. As such, the Recreation Department built a rustic campfire
area with log seating and a campfire ring in our woods. This area
hosts campfires for youth to enjoy throughout the year.
As the MLA campus is set on 40 acres of woods just outside the
town of Onamia, we have no shortage of fallen trees needed to
make firewood. Recently, the MLA Student Council geared up to
help Derek Kightlinger, our Facilities Technician, make firewood
for the upcoming season. In doing so, our Student Council
representatives were able to model servant leadership and learn
how to complete the task while emphasizing safety.
The guys in the Student Council will soon learn that hot dogs
and s’mores taste so much better when you are responsible for
providing the roasting logs!
Our generous staff are
remarkable in donating items
to help fill the clothing gap
many of our youth experience.
They’ve given so much that our
designated “Donor Corner”
began to overflow! As a solution,
an MLA staff member came
up with the idea of having a
“Clothing Swap Meet” for the youth.
With the help of Colleen
Kightlinger, Lisa Gingery, Stacey
Carlson, and Nate Gammon,
the gymnasium was turned into
a large clothing free-for-all.
Kids walked away smiling with
multiple bags off free clothing
that fit their individual taste.
Thanks to our donors and the wonderful volunteers that helped
make this event happen!
Gathering Firewood

14. 13 | MAY/JUNE 2018
Gerard Academy and the Hormel Historic Home held their First Annual King’s
Wood Dinner on May 19, 2018, at the Hormel Historic Home in Austin, MN.
The dinner was a joint fundraiser to showcase the historic ties between Gerard
and the Hormel Home and to raise funds to support both entities. The theme
of the evening was representative of the time period during which Geordie
Hormel turned his boyhood home, the Gerard Mansion, into the King’s Wood
Hotel and Restaurant.
The Hormel Historic Home was
home to George A. Hormel and his
wife Lillian, and their only son, Jay.
Jay began working at his father’s
company (Hormel) at the tender
age of 14. He joined the service
and was stationed in France during
World War I, where he met his wife
Germaine. They were married in
Liverpool, England in 1922.
After the war, he came back to Austin
to live with his wife and continued
working for Hormel. In 1924, Jay & Germaine Hormel purchased a 200-acre
farm outside of the Austin, MN, city limits.
Construction began on their mansion in 1925; additions were made to the
home several times. It was here that Jay and Germaine raised their three sons:
Thomas, Geordie, and James.
After Jay’s death in 1954, the title of the property was purchased by his son
Geordie. For the next two years, Geordie remodeled and planned the opening
of the King’s Wood Hotel and Restaurant.
The name King’s Wood was chosen because of the beautiful trees surrounding
the site and to honor the Hormel Arboretum, which was also located on the
property.
The restaurant featured the finest French cuisine and employed 50 people.
It could accommodate up to 300 guests nightly in the three dining rooms.
Historic TiesA NIGHT TO REMEMBER
GerardAcademy’sfirstKing’sWoodDinner
soldoutinearlyMay.Thedinnerwasheldat
theHormelHistoricHomeinAustin,MN.
Guestsarrivedattheeventandwere
serenadedbythemusicalstylingofGerard
staff,DanUlland,onthepiano.Supportersof
theeventdinedonfiletmignonpreparedby
ChefWadeKolander.
Aspecialthankyoutothemembersofthe
AustinHighSchoolNationalHonorSociety
whohelpedservetheguests.Followingthe
meal,guestsenjoyedatwirlonthedance
floortomusicbyReminisce.
HollyJohnson,theExecutiveDirectorof
HormelHistoricHome,andElaineHansen,the
SeniorDevelopmentCoordinatorforGerard
Academy,presentedabriefinformation
sessionoftheservicestheirnon-profits
provide.
TheKing’sWoodDinnerwillreturnin2019.
MarkyourcalendarsforSaturday,May18,
2019,andwewillseeyouthen!
HormelHistoricHome-Circa1970

15. MAY/JUNE 2018 | 14
KarenWolf
Executive Director
Director’s Report
Overthepastcoupleyears,Gerardhas
experiencedstaffshortage.During
thistime,wehavehadalotofstaff
pickingupextrahours,therapists
pickingupextracases,andanoverall
willingnesstopulltogethertohelp
eachotherout. Thisstaffshortagehas
takenatolloneveryone;peoplehaveexpressedbeingtired
andoverwhelmed. Despitefeelingdepleted,ourstaffhave
steppeduptocontinuelivingourmissionandmakingsure
theyoutharewelltakencareof.
Itfeelslikeourstaffshortageisgettingbetter,wehavehired
alotofgreatpeopleinclinicalpositions,directcarepositions,
teachingassistants,andmanymorepositionsaround
campus. Thefeelingofreliefisnoticedandwelcomed.
Withthatsaid,Iwanttoexpressmydeepgratitudeforthe
staffatGerard. Iamfortunatetoseesomanystaffwhoare
passionateabouttheirjobs,gotheextramiletomakethisa
safe,home-likeenvironment,andcreateafunplacetolive
andwork.
Itcanbesoeasytobecomewrappedupinwhatisgoing
wrong,whereweareexperiencingproblems,andworking
onhowtofixsomething,itiseasytoforgettheimpactof
gratitudeinourdailylives. AccordingtoRobertA.Emmons,
authorofGratitudeWorks,“gratitudeisimportantnotonly
becauseithelpsusfeelgoodbutalsobecauseitinspiresus
todogood.Gratitudeheals,energizes,andtransformslives
inmyriadwaysconsistentwiththenotionthatvirtueisits
ownrewardandproducesotherrewards.” Makingthechoice
eachdaytothinkaboutwhatwearegratefulforcreates
anopportunitytosetinmotionagreatday,week,andcan
positivelyimpactothersweinteractwith.
Beinginastateofgratitudeisachoice. Itiseasytofeel
gratefulwheneverythinginlifeisgoingwell. Thereal
challengeistochoosegratitudewhenlifeistough. Weas
humanbeingsarewiredtobecriticaland“fix”whatiswrong.
However,accordingtoRobertA.Emmons,“Experiencing
gratitudeleadstoincreasedfeelingsofconnectedness,
improvedrelationships,andevenaltruism.”
Notonlyisitatitleofabook,butitistrue–GratitudeWorks!
Geordie was a talented singer and pianist and he would often
entertain guests at King’s Wood. The life of King’s Wood was
short-lived, however. It was only open for three years.
In July of 1969, the Hormel Mansion and its ten acres in
Austin, MN, was purchased by Gerard founders, V. Joseph
Endres and his wife, Patricia, and turned into a residential
treatment center for emotionally disturbed children.
Mr. Endres loved that the mansion lacked the institutional
feeling and felt more like a home. Although Gerard has no
religious affiliation, he named the facility after St. Gerard,
Patron Saint of Children. Today, Gerard, as part of the Nexus
family, continues the legacy began by Mr. Endres all those
years ago.
GerardMansion-PresentDay
GerardMansion-Circa1920’s

16. 15 | MAY/JUNE 2018
Beyond the Job
Our staff make an impact on our youth each day through their work at
Onarga Academy. What we may not always recognize is our staffs’ profound
impact on the community as well. On May 9, Onarga’s neighboring town of
Gilman, IL, experienced a structure fire that displaced a family and destroyed a
collection of model trains and classic motorcycles. The Onarga Fire Protection
District (OFPD) responded with all 21 full-time volunteer members, three
cadet members, and two OFPD trustees. Three of those volunteer members
also happen to be Onarga Academy employees: Aftercare Coordinator Kevin
Barnett, Youth Care Professional Ray Ramos, and Senior Therapist Bob Poole.
“We appreciate the fact that Onarga Academy allows us
to leave (when it’s feasible and appropriate to do so) to
respond to community emergencies, such as the Gilman
fire,” said Bob Poole, Assistant Chief of the OFPD and
Senior Therapist at Onarga Academy. “It was an ‘all hands
on deck’ moment for sure…we are proud to serve Onarga
and our area communities!”
SAVE THE DATES
KevinBarnett,AftercareCoordinator
RayRamos,on-callYouthCareProfessional
BobPoole,SeniorTherapist
Photos courtesy of the Daily Journal, Kankakee, IL
Original article here: http://www.daily-journal.com/news/local/fire-destroys-gilman-home-model-trains-and-classic-mo-
torcycles/collection_c865a44c-542f-11e8-822b-032bbb3fb388.html
Save the date!
Golf Outing
25 Annualth
PartnerwithOnargaAcademyandinvestinour
youths’futures!
Joinusforadayoffun,food,andgolfatthe
25th
AnnualOnargaAcademyGolfOuting.
Friday,August10,2018
1:00p.m.ShotgunStart
OakSpringsGolfCourse,St.Anne,IL
CONGRATS, GRADS!
GrandPrairieSchoolheldhighschool
graduationand8th
gradepromotionon
Thursday,May31.Congratulationstoour
studentsonthissignificantmilestone!
The2nd
AnnualGreatSteakOutwillbeheldon
Friday,June29,2018.Foodwillbeservedfrom
5:00-7:00p.m.attheOnargaAcademyAthletic
Field(311S.Poplar,Onarga,IL).
Ticketsare$30eachandcanbepurchasedat
OnargaAcademy,attheCornerstoneCafe,or
onlineatwww.onargaacademyevents.org.

17. MAY/JUNE 2018 | 16
DennisWiley
Executive Director
Scholarship Winners
Director’s Report
ItisonlyMay,butOnarga
Academyislookingforwardto
whattherestoftheyearhasto
bring.Ourstaffarepreparingfor
back-to-backevents,fromthe
Health&WellnessExpoearlier
thismonthtotheupcoming
GreatSteakOut,andfinallythe
25th
AnnualGolfOutinginAugust.
Thistimeofyearisalsoatimeforacademic
milestones.Wewereexcitedtoawardsixlocalhigh
schoolseniorswithscholarshipsfortheirhigher
education.Closertohome,wealsocelebratedthe
highschoolgraduationand8th
gradepromotionof
ourstudentsatGrandPrairieSchool.Wewishall
studentsthebestastheycontinuetheireducation!
Theseeventsandmilestoneswouldnotbepossible
withoutthehardworkofourstaff.Between
demandingcommitmentsathome,ourstafffind
timetobeleadersinthecommunityandstillserve
OnargaAcademybeyondtheirjobroles.Thesestaff
aretrulyservingasrolemodelsforouryouth.
Thankyoutothestaffwhovolunteerinthe
community,helpwithOnargaAcademyevents,and
helpouryouthontheprogramseachandeveryday.
Onarga Academy is excited to announce the winners of our 2018
scholarship! Each student received $500 to be used for their college
or university education. A committee of Grand Prairie School
administrators selected the recipients based on an essay regarding
their future careers, two letters of recommendation, and a copy of
their high school transcripts. Special consideration was given to
students pursuing degrees in mental health and education fields.
“We look forward to awarding these scholarships each year, as it
is one of our small ways of giving back to the community,” said
Dennis Wiley, Executive Director. “It is inspiring to see young
people pursuing careers that will help change lives.”
Picturefromlefttoright:TaraLemenager(Principal,GrandPrairieSchool),HunterCluver(WatsekaHighSchool),Hannah
Askew(DonovanHighSchool),RhiannaCyr(CliftonCentralHighSchool),CailynAdams(IroquoisWestHighSchool),Jasmine
Stock(CissnaParkHighSchool),AustinSanders(Paxton-Buckley-Loda),andJessieMarquis(AssistantPrincipal,Grand
PrairieSchool).
Health and Wellness Expo
Onarga Academy partnered with Iroquois Memorial Hospital
to host a movie-theme Health & Wellness Expo on May 17. The
theme of “Lights…Camera…Take Action!” prompted attendees
to make their health
award-winning!
Local businesses and
organizations offered
their resources to
employees and the
community. Topics
ranged from safety
and mental health to
nutrition and beauty. Mr.ButtonsfromGatewayFamilyServices
wasamongthevisitors.

18. 17 | MAY/JUNE 2018
Brainchild of the Empowering Youth Committee (EYC), the Giving Tree is a
project that helped the group raise funds to produce their annual all-agency
talent show. The Giving Tree offers inspirational messages for every single
youth on our campus.
It started in April, with Umbrella
Affirmations, to help protect one
another from April’s showers.
Everyone was invited to write their
name on an umbrella cut-out, to
show support for youth who might
be struggling with the change of
seasons. Those were placed at the top
of the tree.
Showers, in the form of cut-out
raindrops, represented things that
could affect the journey through
treatment, like hospitalizations
or victimization. April showers
bring May flowers, or in this case,
May Flower Power. Staff were
asked to help create May flowers,
with messages of support and
encouragement for the youth.
All flowers – 120 in total – were
graciously purchased by an anonymous
donor, so every youth had a personal
message in the display!
Kudos to the EYC, their staff sponsors,
and our generous donor for coming
up with a unique way to support our
youth.
Giving Tree Grows
Eachyear,IndianOaksawardsa$1,000
scholarshiptoagraduatingMantenoHigh
Schoolseniorwhowillattendafour-year
college/universityorjuniorcollege,and
majoringinsocialservice,psychology,or
specialeducation.
ExecutiveDirectorMaryAnnBergpresented
the2018CornerstoneScholarshiptoKiley
BarratMantenoHighSchool’sseniorawards
night. KileywillbeenteringOlivetNazarene
UniversityinBourbonnaisthisfalltobegin
studiesinPsychology.
“CoponaRooftop”isanannualfundraiserin
whichareapolicedepartmentsclimbontopof
localstorestogeneratedonationsforSpecial
Olympics-Illinois.MembersoftheManteno
PoliceDepartmentwereperchedatDunkin’
DonutsonMay18,andreceivedagenerous
donationfromtheyoungmeninourIOU
program.ClinicalSupervisorJenThomassaid
itwasawonderfulopportunitytopractice
charitablegiving.“I’msoproudofourboys
whodonatedtheirownmoneytoothersin
need.”
CORNERSTONE
SCHOLARSHIP WINNER
ROOFTOP FUNDRAISER
Scholarshipwinner,KileyBarr

19. MAY/JUNE 2018 | 18
Mary Ann Berg
Executive Director
Director’s Report
Our WallofFameisdedicatedto
employeeswhohaveworkedhere
for20yearsormore.Werecently
celebratedtwoindividualswho
markedtheir20-yearanniversaries.
SeniorCounselorKarenBartruff
startedwithIOAonApril6,1998,
workinginourkitchen.Fromthere,shebecameaCounselor
ontheboys’IOUprogram.Afteralongstintonthatprogram,
KarenmovedtotheNCAAprogram,servingolderboys.She
attainedthetitleofSeniorCounselor,andwasexcitedtohelp
opentheCrossroadsboys’diagnosticunitin2016.Workingat
IOAhasbeenafamilyaffairforKaren;hersister,LeslieOlson,
marked20yearsatIOAin1995.And,oneofourcottagesis
namedforKarenandLeslie’smother,BettyCrayton,who
beganhercareeratIOAin1999. Sheworkedwithouryouth
untilherhealthnolongerallowedit.
VocationalTrainerMichelleLeonardstartedwithIOAonApril
27,1998,asacounselorontheSoundwavesgirls’program.
Fromthere,shewaspromotedtoRecreationCoordinatorfor
theprogram,andeventuallybecameoneoftworecreation
coordinatorsfortheentirecampus.Next,Michellebecame
aCaseManagerbackontheSoundwavesprogram,andwas
eventuallypromotedtohercurrentpositionofVocational
Trainerinourschool. Inthisposition,sheworkswithboth
boysandgirls,helpingthemdevelopskillsneededinaless
restrictiveenvironmentafterIOA.Michelleexplainedwhy
she’sbeenatIOAthislong.“Ienjoyworkingwithkids,seeing
themprogressintreatment.Therearealotofgoodpeople
here,andI’veformedalotofgreatfriendshipsaswell.”
Thankyou,KarenandMichelle,foryourdedicationtoour
youth!
KarenBartruffandMichelleLeonard
May is prom season and it’s an important time to a lot of young
people. It’s a fancy dress, dancing, the crowning of a king and
queen, a rite of passage. It’s significant to many people for many
reasons. Most don’t have much experience with the “outside world,”
so high school is pretty much all they know. So everything related
to it seems extremely important. And it’s no different for our kids.
Each spring, the staff of our two intellectually delayed programs
plan and host a prom for the boys and girls from these programs.
There are fancy dresses, dancing and the crowning of a king and
queen. It’s become our tradition, and it provides a chance for our
youth to practice social skills they’ll need in life after IOA.
Our prom is also a recognition
program of sorts, too. Awards are
part of the program, and youth
are honored with awards for best
dressed, best sense of humor and
more, before the king and queen
are crowned. Once the DJ starts,
the boy who’s normally quiet and
shy may be wowing the crowd
with his dance moves. Or, the girl
who normally doesn’t look anyone
in the eye is having an animated
conversation with a boy during
dinner. That is what makes our
prom so important.
Dancing the Night Away
IndianOaksAcademystaffwhoarrangedprom.

20. 19 | MAY/JUNE 2018
Celebrating Foster Care Month
Recently, Katherine Heinz, Foster Care Coordinator, and Yvette Hawkins,
Foster Care Parent, interviewed on Fox 45 TV as part of National Foster
Care month. This is the second consecutive year that Fox TV provided
Woodbourne valuable airtime to talk about treatment foster care.
Ms. Heinz discussed the training and support provided to our foster care
parents, and discussed the type of youth Woodbourne serves and our overall
mission. Ms. Hawkins stated about being a foster care parent, “You make
lifelong connections with the children. You are a parent for life.”
Ms. Hawkins’ story is one of faith, endurance,
and love. In an interview with the Baltimore
Times, she stated, “I became a foster parent in
2008 when my daughter went away to college
and my husband was traveling. I needed
someone to cook and care for.” Ms. Hawkins,
has helped raise 20 children— mostly females. “I
called the Woodbourne Center and I took their
classes and it was so rewarding.”
Ms. Hawkins’ commitment is unwavering. She
is extremely devoted to the kids she nurtures.
She states, “When you take on so many kids
and they may be with you for maybe two years
and you’re constantly caring for them, even
after they’ve aged-out of the program. The thing you have to remember is that
they didn’t have the resources when you got them, and you are their primary
resource when they leave. They become family, so you continue to help.”
Hawkins explained the hardships of caring for a child to later find out they
became part of the criminal justice system. She states, “You just don’t have a
lot of time to work with them,” she said. “But, Woodbourne is awesome. The
way they train you...Woodbourne is available to you 24-hours a day, seven
days a week.”
An addiction specialist by trade, Ms. Hawkins has spent her career devoted to
helping those who have fallen victim to abusive situations. She is the author
of the book titled, Encased in Ice: Pain and Plaudits of Foster Care Parenting.
She embodies the Nexus mission of strengthening lives, families, and
communities. Her book provides a variety of foster parenting strategies and
tools to mentor mistreated and abused women. Woodbourne Foster Care uses
it as a resource when training parents.
WACKY FRIDAYS
TheEmployeeAppreciationCommitteehastaken
overthemonthofMaywith“WackyFridays.”Inan
ongoingefforttocontinuetomakeWoodbourne
theplacetobe,eachFridaycelebratesaunique
eventtofostersomegood-naturedjocularity.The
firstFriday,dubbed“InsideOut,” allowedmany
ofustogobacktoourcollegedaysandwearour
shirtsinsideout.ThesecondFriday,weproudly
displayedoursitecolorsandpaintedtheday
brightorange.ThethirdFridaywasSillySockDay,
forsomeemployeesjustanormalday.Aspart
oftheculminatingevent,thecommitteehasa
scavengerhuntplanned.Ahugeshoutouttoall
themembersofthecommitteeformakingthis
suchaspiritedmonth.
YvetteHawkins,WoodbourneTreatment
FosterCareparentspoketoFoxTVabout
beingafosterparent.
A NIGHT OF LAUGHS
The2nd
AnnualComedyFundraiserwasahit
onSunday,April29,2018.Aspecialthankyou
toBaltimoreComedyFactoryforhosting.The
fundsraisedwillgotohelpfundoursummer
programming.

21. MAY/JUNE 2018 | 20
AnthonyWilson
Executive Director
Director’s Report
Everymonth,Ihaveanopportunityto
meetwithnewhiresandveteranstaff
inorientation.Theylearnaboutour
mission,wediscussfutureandcurrent
initiatives,andoutlineageneralvision
ofWoodbourneandtherolesthatstaff
playinthisprocess.Inthisdiscussion,
Ispendsignificanttimetalkingabout
whatweexpectfromthemregardingtheirinteractionswith
clients,families,etc.OnephrasethatIemphasizethatwe
utilizefrequentlyis,“ThankYou!” Unfortunately,inthehectic
environmentthatisResidentialTreatment,theuseofthis
phrasedoesnothappenenough.Ithinkmostofusassume
thattheotherpersonknowshowwefeel. However,saying
thewords“thankyou”verbally,written,inaheadnod,or
smilegoesalongwaytolettheotherpersonknowhow
muchyouappreciatethem.
Weworkinadifficultanddrainingenvironment.Itis
essentialtoourownwellbeingthatwemakesignificant
effortstosaythankyoueverytimewehaveapositive
interaction.Iwouldsaythatthemoraleamongemployeesat
everylevelwouldincreasewithmorethanks.
Inaddition,sayingthankyouwillhelptoengageagency
workersresultinginincreasedconfidenceoftheplansand/or
processesthattheteamisputtinginplacetohelptheirclient
intreatment.Onestudy(Gino,2015)discussedtheimpact
ofasincerethankyoushowedfindingsofa50%increase
foradditionalhelpofferedbecauseoftheappreciation.
Imaginehowthatincreaseinadditionalhelpwouldaffect
ourenvironment.Ifourkidsheardussayingthankyouto
themandothers,howwouldthataffectourmilieuonthe
units,inschool,andintreatmentfostercare? Howaboutour
employeerelations? Wouldthoserelationshipsimproveand
inturnimprovemorale?
Icouldgoontalkingabouttheneedforeveryonetoshow
appreciation.Overall,Ithinkwethankeachotheralot,but
itissomethingthatwehavetomakeapurposefuleffort
todoevenmore,includingme. Therefore,Iwanttosay
thankyouforallthatyoudotoeverysinglestaffmemberat
WoodbourneCenter! Youarethebest!
Under Armour Give Back Day
Under Armour employees selected Woodbourne as part of
their “Armour Day” give back campaign. The global company
headquartered in Baltimore City, dedicates this day each year to
volunteering in the community in a variety of ways.
The Corporate Real Estate department at Under Armour and
other selected employees chose to give back to Woodbourne in
honor of a former colleague, David Scruggs. Scruggs passed away
this past year.
Scruggs spent much of his time mentoring troubled youth,
providing them with career advice, doing activities, and being a
positive influence in their lives. Erilisa Moore, Office Coordinator,
Corporate Real Estate at Under Armour, initially contacted
Woodbourne about volunteering. They chose us because they felt
Scruggs would have loved working with our youth. The day was
a success as the youth and employees engaged in spirited games
of dodge ball, completed arts and crafts activities, and played
assorted table games. Afterwards, everyone attended a cookout.
The Scruggs family, including Scruggs’ mother, sister, and wife,
all attended. They were overwhelmed with the level of service and
efforts of our staff and were thankful to have the opportunity to
connect with our youth.
Neil Jurgens, Senior Vice President, stated, “This was a great
opportunity for all of us and a wonderful way to honor David.”
Woodbourne looks forward to having the staff from Under
Armour back on our campus again.
UnderArmourCorporateRealEstateTeamatWoodbourne.

22. The Healthy Transitions and Homeless Prevention (HTHP) has added
Kindred Family Focus as a new provider! Youth in foster care and youth
who left foster care at age 18 can be at greater risk of homelessness than
other youth. The HTHP program aims to help these youth, ages 14 to 21,
transition from foster care to adulthood and prevent homelessness.
Kindred Family Focus will be providing HTHP services to youth living in
Becker, Big Stone, Clay, Douglas, Grant, Otter Tail, Pope, Stevens, Traverse
and Wilkin counties of Minnesota.
All of the 17 grantees providing these services in Minnesota are non-profit,
community-based agencies. Youth can utilize this program to receive help
with the following:
• Completing an independent living plan
• Getting vital documents, such as birth certificates and social security
cards
• Checking eligibility for extended foster care benefits to age 21
• Finding affordable housing and, if needed, up to $2,000 for a deposit
on an apartment, first and last month’s rent, utilities, and household
furnishings
• Receiving money management training
• Identifying and developing at least one permanent connection to a
caring adult
• Completing a high school diploma or GED
• Completing driver’s education and/or learning how to use public
transportation
• Researching post-secondary education options and receiving help
applying to schools and applying for financial aid
• Getting and keeping a job
• Getting health care coverage and selecting a primary care provider and
other needed providers
• Completing a screening for trauma to determine if additional services
are needed.
What is HTHP?
21 | MAY/JUNE 2018
MAGIC OF GIVING
KIDS HELPING KIDS
The20th
AnnualSpringFundraiserwasheld
onApril20,2018,atRiverCityExtremein
Monticello,MN.
Theeventhostedover250guestswho
enjoyedaneveningfilledwithdinner,
raffles,auctions,andamagician!Matt
Dunnwasourfeaturedentertainerand
hecertainlybroughttheWOWfactor! He
captivatedouraudiencefromstarttofinish
andhadthemaskingformore!
Intotal,theeventraisedover$36,000that
willhelpsupportprogramservicesthrough
theCrisisNurseryservingWrightCounty!
KINDRED FAMILY FOCUS
The4th
gradeclassatKaleidoscopeCharter
Schoolworkedhardtomakeadifferencein
thelivesofotherkidsintheircommunity!The
classmadefleeceblanketstodonatetothe
CrisisNurseryservingWrightCounty.Ahuge
thankyoutotheclassfortheirsupportofour
programandlocalfamilies!

23. Director’s Report
Celebratinggoodnewsisamust;
meetingtheneedsofourclients
andcommunitiesisapriority!
Kindredhasbeenbusydoingboth.
Ipreviouslyreportedthe
impressivedatarelatedto
Kindred’sworkinadoption,findingpermanency
options,andsupportingmatches. Ourworkisrelated
totheWendy’sWonderfulKidsFoundationandtheMN
PublicPrivateAdoptionInitiative(PPAI)grant. ThePPAI
grantisonafouryearcycle,ending6/30/18.Kindred
preparedaproposaltocontinueourparticipationfor
thenextfouryears. Wewereselectedfromamong
manyqualityagencies,manymorethanhadpreviously
beeninvolved. Thelegislaturedidnotapprove
additionalfundssoreceivingnorevenuereduction
wasoutstanding. InwritingthegrantIwasreminded
andimpressedofthemanyprogramandclinical
improvementsattainedsince2014.
TheKindredFergusFallsofficewasselectedby
DepartmentofHumanServices(DHS)toprovidegrant
servicestooptimizetransitionoutcomesforyouthin
out-of-homeplacement,andtopreventhomelessness
foryouthwhohaveexperiencedout-of-home
placement. Wearepleasedtodeveloptheservice.
KindredrecentlymetwithDHStoexplorethefeasibility
ofKindredgainingcertificationtoprovideIntensive
TreatmentFosterCareservices,anewDHSprogram.
Theprogramhasspecifictrainingrequirementsfor
theclinicians,andwouldoffertherapeuticservicesfor
twohours,atleastthreetimesaweek,inthefoster
home. Webelievethemodelwouldimproveteam
communicationandbringthecommunitytherapy
in-housetobettersupportthefosterparentsandcase
managementwork.
Thesepastmonthshavebeenbusy,Iammostpleased
thatDHSisrecognizingthequalityofourwork. Thanks
toouremployeesandfosterparentsfortheoutstanding
work.
George Hendrickson
Executive Director
MAY/JUNE 2018 | 22
Christmas in July
HealthSource of Buffalo and Albertville and the Crisis Nursery
serving Wright County will be teaming up to help local children in
need. The groups will be asking local businesses to collect diapers
and pajamas for the Crisis Nursery’s holiday giving event.
Pajamas and diapers are distributed to Wright County families
each December through the annual Pajama Drive. Families
sometimes use the donated pajamas as gifts to their children so
they have something to open during the holiday season.
The diaper and pajama drive will run from June 27 through July
25. HealthSource and the Crisis Nursery will provide participating
businesses with decorated donation boxes and posters for their
locations.
There is a constant need for diapers and other items in our
community. This summertime drive allows the Crisis Nursery
to continue the season of giving outside of the holiday season to
meet the ongoing need. The Crisis Nursery is so grateful for the
partnership with the local HealthSource Organizations and their
constant dedication to families in our community.
Pajamasanddiapersdonatedduringapreviousdrive.

24. 23 | MAY/JUNE 2018
Introduction to Errorless Learning
NEXUS GLEN LAKE
For many of us, we grew up learning from our caregivers
to not focus on our failures, but instead focus on trying
again and trying harder until we achieved our set goal,
whether it was simply tying our shoes, learning to
prepare foods, or taking on a new skill. We learned to
manage to tolerate our aversion to the failures of our
initial attempts, and instead, leaned in on our efforts
to try again to achieve some degree of success. Thus,
allowing us to move forward and eventually move on to
something else.
However, for some people, more commonly youth,
the experience of failure during the initial attempts of
learning something new, can present a significant degree
of interference with their learning, creating a “back-log
of failures.”
When anyone is trying to teach someone something, the
generic goal is for the teacher to get things to stick in
their student’s mind. The problem for some individuals is
that the failures and/or mistakes tend to stick more than
anything else in the learning process.
What is Errorless Learning?
Errorless Learning is a technique that strives to reduce
the learner’s possibilities of error as much as possible.
This technique utilizes easy to understand prompts that
ensure the student’s success. As the student learns the
target behavior, prompting fades out until it is no longer
needed. Prompts might include gestural, visual, and
verbal support cues, like pointing a finger (gestural),
modeling an action or behavior (visual), or giving a
directive (verbal).
The prompts help the student skip past the usual failures
that accompany the process of learning anything new,
and streamlines the skill acquisition by facilitating, step-
by-step, how to engage in any given ask successfully, the
first time!
By Jordan Leuthold, MS
Decreasing a student’s chances
at failure can make learning more
enjoyable and motivating.

25. Who is it good for?
Although similar to Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)
in its therapeutic generalizability, Errorless Learning
can also be applied to nearly any imaginable population.
However, Errorless Learning is specifically helpful to use
with kids who have a traumatic brain injury, Autism, are
significantly anxious, depressed, or have memory deficits.
Another key element of Errorless Learning that makes it
so desirable, is that it does NOT replace the traditional
theory/practice behind teaching. Even though Errorless
Learning is intended for the beginning stages of talent
acquisition, it still allows for traditional methods of
gauging information retention after the immediate
supports have fully faded away.
How can Nexus use it?
The populations served by Nexus programs likely meet at
least one criteria, from traumatic brain injuries to memory
deficits. The potential for gains from negating “failure
back-logs” is significant and sustainable. The ability to
avoid additional experiences of failure in a youth’s back-
log is extremely motivating and inspiring.
This tool can be a de-escalation technique and is a
powerful dysregulation-avoidance and rapport-building
tool.
MAY/JUNE 2018 | 24
Director’s Report
Thisquarterhasbeenaneventful,
exciting,andhopefultimeforGlen
Lake!WestartedAprilwiththefirst
everGlenLakemusicrecitalforour
youth.Thegirlshavebeenpracticing
withtheirmusictherapistforthe
pastfourmonths.Itwaswonderful
towatchthemshowcommitment,
discipline,andteamwork,astheypracticedtheirsolos,
groupcovers,ukuleles,andbongodrums. Theycheered
oneanotheron,encouragedeachotherifonecaught
sudden“stagefright,”andbroughteachotherwater,to
helpkeeptheirvocalcordshydrated!Staffandfamilies
wereabletoseepasttheirchildbeingintreatment,and
participateinsomethingthatseemedtobringthemjoy,at
leastjustforamoment. Afterward,theyouthservedfood
andbeveragestoeachother’sfamilies.Itwasabeautiful
respiteforall.
Ourmonthprogressedwithmorepositiveandexciting
news.Afteraverylonghiatus,ourGlenLaketeachersare
returningtotheclassroomthisfall!Whenspeakingtothe
administrativeteamofourschooldistrict,theywereproud
andencouragedbyallofthegrowththattheyhaveseen
withourprogramandourstaffoverthelasttenmonths.
Theyareconfidentwewillmoveforwardinthefall,safely,
andwithanopenandstrongerrelationshiptokeepthings
movingforward.
ThiswasaBIGVICTORY,andtestamenttoourstaffthat
havebeenworkingsohardtobeapartofpositivechange.I
amsoveryproud.
Inthecomingmonths,wewillcontinuetoimplement
trainingsthatallowourteamtofeelmoreskilledand
confidentinworkingwithouryouth.Weplantocollaborate
withtheteachersinthenextcoupleofweekswithtraining
anddialoguetofosteracontinuedsenseoftrustand
assuranceforwhenschoolrollsaroundthisfall.Weagain
areproudofallthatisbeingdoneandistocome!
ElizabethWilliams
Associate Director

26. 25 | MAY/JUNE 2018
Specialized Family Care (SFC) is a specialized small
treatment foster care program for youth adjudicated
delinquent. It was originally designed to be an aftercare
program for delinquent youth with mental health diagnoses
under the custody of the Division of Juvenile Services
needing to transition out of the Youth Correctional Center
(YCC) to a treatment family foster care setting.
The program transitioned to PATH from the Casey Family
Program in October 2013. Since then, SFC has changed
and evolved, but has remained a valuable service within the
PATH array of services.
A renewed energy hit SFC in June 2016, addressing the
higher need of this population with commitment to
transitioning youth out of YCC into a family setting sooner
with added supports. SFC remains exclusive to youth under
the custody of the Division of Juvenile Services.
The SFC program operates similar to the PATH Treatment
Foster Care program with added responsibilities and
commitments for the PATH worker and foster parents.
PATH SFC workers and foster parents receive similar
training as the staff at YCC in order to provide consistent
messaging and programming for the youth. Connections are
made earlier between the youth, the PATH worker, foster
parents interviewing the youth, and the YCC staff prior to
placement. This allows time to assess the needs of the youth
and services required for the youth to be successful in the
community.
When a youth transitions into a PATH placement out of
YCC, there is an agreement for programming to continue at
the facility, if necessary. This may include continued therapy
and on-site education. The ultimate goal is to eventually
transition all of the youth’s services out of the facility and into
the community.
SFC Revamped
PATH
In addition to the PATH treatment foster parent
obligations, SFC foster parents are required to attend
weekly group staff meetings alongside the PATH worker
and other SFC foster parents, with DJS and YCC staff
in attendance whenever possible. The purpose of the
weekly meetings is to provide treatment consultation and
behavioral management support among PATH families
providing care.
In April 2018, the North
Dakota Family Based
Services Conference
awarded PATH SFC
“Program of the Year.”
The Program of the Year
Award is given out for
outstanding or innovative
family services or for a
program that fills a gap in
the existing services.
Since June 2016, PATH
SFC has been able to
provide appropriate
services and a home in
the community for 13
youth under the custody of the Division of Juvenile
Services. Eight came directly from YCC and five of
them transitioned from a residential setting. Because of
the availability of this program, youth with behavioral
and emotional challenges are able to be served in the
community.
PATHSFCworker,HeatherSkogen,
acceptedtheProgramoftheYearaward
forPATH.

27. MAY/JUNE 2018 | 26
Nancy McKenzie
Executive Director
Director’s Report
ThePATH/NEXUSaffiliationrecently
passedtheone-yearmark,withmost
transitionalactivitiescompleted
bythispoint.PATHadministrative
staffareworkingactivelywiththeir
Nexuspeersinvariousworkgroups/
committees,andarenowembarking
uponpreparationfortheCOA
accreditationvisitthisfall.
AttheendofJune,BillMetcalfewillcompletehisworkas
CEOofPATH,andwillworkonvariousNexusprojectsin
JulyandAugustbeforehisretirement. Itishardtoimagine
PATHwithoutBillatthehelm,ashehasbeentheleader
since1994.
BillwasaskedbytheDirectorofChildrenandFamily
ServicesinNorthDakotatotakeoverthetherapeuticfoster
careprogramthathadbeenstartedbythestate. Billcame
tothejobwithstrongexperienceinfamily-basedservices
inIowaandMinnesota,andhitthegroundrunningto
developthisorganization.
GreatstoriesaboundaboutthenumberofmilesBillput
onhiscar,drivingacrossthestateregularlytomeetwith
potentialstakeholders,workwithnewlyhiredstaff,and
meetwithfosterparentgroups. Underhisleadership,PATH
grewtoservinghundredsofyoutheachyearinmultiple
programs,addingaprograminIdaho,andbringingthe
numberofstafftowellover100.
OfutmostimportancetoBillwasthatPATH’sservices
reflectthehigheststandardsofquality. Tothatend,PATH
wasanintegralpartofFFTA,thenationalfostertreatment
association,andhehascontinuedtomaintainstaffand
fosterparentinvolvementinthisandotherrelevant
organizations.
AsBilltransitionsfromhiscurrentrole,heleavesanagency
thatiswell-establishedandfinanciallystrong,withavery
positivereputationamongclientsandstakeholders. Aswe
continuetogrowanddiversifyinourprogramofferings,we
aregratefulforthefoundationhehaslaid. Thankyou,Bill,
andcongratulationsonyouraccomplishments. Wewish
youtheverybestasyougoforward!
30 Years of Leadership
Coworkers, family, and
friends gathered in
Bismarck on May 16 to
recognize a true PATH
leader. Janice Tishmack
began her work with
treatment foster care
in 1988, when the
program was operated
by the North Dakota
Department of Human
Services. She came to
PATH in April of 1994
when the program
became a contracted
service, and has helped to
grow and develop PATH services ever since.
As a Regional Director, Janice currently has responsibility
for the Bismarck, Dickinson, and Williston regions of North
Dakota. At previous points in her career, she also managed
the Minot and Jamestown offices. There are few areas of North
Dakota that haven’t been touched by her efforts and dedication!
Janice has led various levels of foster care services, as well as
Independent Living and Family Support services. Her work
also extends to developing and maintaining good relationships
with the Standing Rock and MHA tribal programs, and she has
assisted counties by providing contracted case management
services when needed.
It would be impossible to list all of the many things Janice has
brought to PATH during these years, but it should be noted that
she has touched the lives of so many children, their families,
and foster families in North Dakota. In addition, many young
social workers have been trained and mentored by Janice, who
conveys strong values and professionalism.
We are grateful for Janice’s work, and look forward to more
years together!
JaniceTishmackcelebrated30yearsofservice!

28. Have an idea for a story?
Contact Amy Leach,
Cornerstone editor
aleach@nexus-yfs.org
763-551-8666
Employee Anniversaries
Nexus is a national nonprofit, 501(c)(3) organization and provider
of youth and family solutions. Our continuum of care includes
community-based family services, assessment programs, residential
treatment programs, foster care and adoption programs, and on-site
education programs.
Nexus, Gerard, Kindred Family Focus, and Woodbourne Center are
legal entities. They are all nonprofit corporations under their respective
state’s law and are qualified for state and federal tax-exemption under
Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. Mille Lacs Academy,
Indian Oaks Academy, Onarga Academy, Nexus Glen Lake, Gerard
Academy, and Kindred Family Focus programs are not themselves
entities; they are part of the entity that operates them. All of these
programs share an underlying adherence to the Nexus Cornerstone
Values and Guiding Principles.
Cornerstone is published bi-monthly by Nexus. All articles are
copyrighted by Nexus. Reproduction of any part of this publication is
prohibited without prior written consent.
505 Highway 169 North, Suite 500
Plymouth, MN 55441-6447
Corporate: 763-551-8640
www.nexus-yfs.org
Follow “Nexus: Youth and Family Solutions”
on Facebook, LinkedIn, Google+, and Twitter!
3 YEARS
Corporate
Kenneth Olutatwa
Gerard Academy
Chelsea Adams
Darcy Heimermann
Jodi Olsen
Kayla Rodgers
Niki Rosenberg
Indian Oaks Academy
E’Vontei Brooks
Corsica Campbell
Victoria Geitche
April Dover
Sierra Hanners
Quinisha Lee-Vaughn
Ariel Ruttenberg
Eva Smith
Tifani Stewart
Matthew Williams
Canience Willians
Salome Yancy
Mille Lacs Academy
Kyle Kreger
Onarga Academy
Rheann Adams
Jill Cultra
Karen Grant
Sarah Gruber
Brandon Mann
Heather Meents
Woodbourne Center
Jude Boyer-Patrick
Jennifer Kolze
Michael Simmons
Path
Heather Simonich
April Roberge
Tracey Johnson
Jodi Haugland
5 YEARS
Corporate
Patricia Hoben
Gerard Academy
Sarah Sprau-McKay
Indian Oaks Academy
Ajhera Martin
Michele Senesac
Kindred Family Focus
Amy Johnston-Hylton
Mille Lacs Academy
Ryan Bremer
Stephen Johnson
Onarga Academy
Marisol Melgoza
Andrew Miller
Gerald Rieken
Elizabeth Shantz-Ruel
Khari Storey
Woodbourne Center
Donald Barrett
Lamont Smith
10 YEARS
Gerard Academy
Tiffany Ellinghuysen
Indian Oaks Academy
Christoper Bintz
Mille Lacs Academy
Rebecca Crain
Michael Ellis