Johnson College Earns Designation by Pennsylvania Department of Education

The Pennsylvania Department of Education has designated Johnson College as a “Hunger-Free Campus.” This pilot program, spearheaded by Pennsylvania First Lady, Frances Wolf, aims to build a coalition of colleges and universities focused on addressing hunger and other basic needs for their students.

Johnson College received the designation in October before becoming eligible to apply for grant funding through the Department of Education to support student initiatives to address food security.

“We know that food and other basic need insecurities act as barriers that hamper our students’ abilities to focus on their education,” Amy Driscoll McNulty said. Amy is currently the Associate Director of Student Success at Johnson College and will lead the campus-wide initiative. “With this designation and related efforts moving forward, our goal is to lessen or remove those barriers, increase awareness of resources, and provide healthy food options so that students spend less time worrying about their next meal and more time pursuing their educational goals.”

According to national studies, over one-third of students know someone who dropped out of college due to food insecurity during the pandemic, and roughly 52 percent of students who faced food or housing insecurity in 2020 did not apply for support because they did not know how. Colleges and universities across the country are taking steps to address these issues.

Students who may need assistance at Johnson College may stop into the Office of Counseling and Disability Services in the Moffat Student Center on campus to access the student food pantry and to discuss other options and resources such as local food banks and the State’s Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP).

For more information about this initiative, visit www.education.pa.gov/Postsecondary-Adult/PAHungerFreeCampus.

The Wright Center, Kolcharno Presents at Meeting

Maria Kolcharno, LSW, director of addiction services and leader of the Healthy Maternal Opiate Medical Support (MOMS) program at The Wright Center for Community Health, recently outlined the novel program to participants at the Pennsylvania Perinatal Quality Collaborative Virtual Meeting.

Kolcharno addressed the importance of collaborative relationships for making referrals and establishing communication pathways between OB/GYN and medication-assisted treatment providers to coordinate patient care for mothers with substance use disorder.

“In 2016, The Wright Center began a journey to offer opiate use disorder treatment. When it started, there was a large influx of pregnant women with substance use disorder coming into the program,” Kolcharno said. “Our leadership team looked at how we can better serve people who have so many needs. They were not coming in just for counseling. They were experiencing food insecurity, lack of safe housing, and they weren’t receiving the medical care they needed. Our Healthy MOMS program grew from the needs of the women in our community.”

During the event’s breakout session, Kolcharno provided workflow charts to assist organizations looking to replicate the relationships and processes the Healthy MOMS program has established with maternity care times and medical Centers of Excellence.

Part of that process involved visiting birth hospitals to meet with labor and delivery nurses and doctors to introduce them to the Healthy MOMS program. “The biggest part was talking about the stigma of being a mother with a substance use disorder and being pregnant. It’s two things people never want to hear together – pregnant and addicted to a substance,” said Kolcharno.

The labor and delivery staffs were open about their feelings for treating the patient population and the ways in which they can offer support to the new mothers. Out of these conversations, a small, but effective tool, was designed by providers: A Healthy MOMS pin. According to Kolcharno, when mothers in the program see the pin, they know the nurses are an extension of the Healthy MOMS program that has become an integral part of their lives.

Part of The Wright Center’s Opioid Use Disorder Center of Excellence, the Healthy MOMS program was co-founded with multiple agencies to assist women who are pregnant and have a substance use disorder. Healthy MOMS provides prenatal, perinatal, and postpartum care, including medication-assisted treatment to women coping with a substance use disorder, and strives to break the stigma associated with the disorder while building their self-esteem during and after their pregnancies, ideally engaging them in recovery support services. Currently there are 142 mothers active in the program, with 206 babies born through the program. Since its founding, more than 300 mothers have participated in the program.

The Pennsylvania Perinatal Quality Collaborative includes more than 60 birthing hospitals and newborn intensive care units and over 10 health plans across the state. Overall, the organization works to reduce maternal mortality and improve care for pregnant and postpartum women and newborns affected by opioids.

For more information about the Healthy MOMS program, call 570-995-7821 or text healthymoms to 555888. Information about the program and its partners is also available at healthymoms.org. Go to thewrightcenter.org/services for information about the Opioid Use Disorder Center of Excellence.

Allied Services Welcomes New Employees

Brenda Reibson, MDiv: Allied Services Integrated Health System proudly announced Brenda Reibson, MDiv, as the new Bereavement Coordinator for their Hospice program. Reibson holds a Master of Divinity and a Certificate in Counseling from Missio Seminary (formerly Biblical Theological Seminary). In her role, Brenda will provide support services and spiritual care to bereaved families and individuals after the passing of a loved one. She brings more than 6 years of pastoral experience to her new role at Allied Services. 

Alysha Suley, MM, MT-BC: Allied Services Integrated Health System welcomed Alysha Suley, MM, MT-BC, as a new Music Therapist for their Wilkes-Barre Hospice Center. Suley holds a Bachelor of Music in Music Therapy and a minor in Psychology from Berklee College of Music and a Master of Music Therapy from Colorado State University. In her role, Alysha will provide music support services to patients and families receiving care at the inpatient center in Luzerne County. She brings more than 10 years of music therapy experience to her new role at Allied Services.

Johnson College Announces Fall President’s List

Dr. Katie Leonard, President & CEO of Johnson College, has announced the President’s List of students who have completed the 2022 Fall Semester with a grade point average of 3.90 or higher.

Jacob Banta, Automotive Technology, Trucksville, PA

Dominic Bulzoni, Architectural Drafting & Design Technology, Scranton, PA

Rachel Butler, Architectural Drafting & Design Technology, Lake Ariel, PA

Richard Christianson, Heating Ventilation and Air Conditioning Technology, Susquehanna, PA

Briana  Curtis, Electronic Engineering Technology, Blakely, PA

Colton Esslinger, Advanced Manufacturing Technology, Susquehanna, PA

Brandon Grandinetti, Computer Information Technology, Olyphant, PA

Hope Hoanzl, Electronic Engineering Technology, Forest City, PA

Jared Hodorawis, Architectural Drafting & Design Technology, Honesdale, PA

Anthony Kutchmanich, Physical Therapist Assistant, Greenfield Twp., PA

Andrea Marques, Carpentry and Cabinetmaking Technology, Sybertsville, PA

Dustin McAllister, Heating Ventilation and Air Conditioning Technology, Scranton, PA

Chase Notz, Computer Information Technology, Scranton, PA

Devin Nowicky, Radiologic Technology, Drums, PA

Ryan Phillips, Heating Ventilation and Air Conditioning Technology, Dallas, PA

Carley Riefler, Physical Therapist Assistant, Honesdale, PA

Julie Ristics, Computer Information Technology, Dunmore, PA

Thayer Rogers, Veterinary Nursing, Hershey, PA

Devin Walsh, Heating Ventilation and Air Conditioning Technology, Olyphant, PA

Karl Weninger, Diesel Truck Technology, Kingston, PA

Kevin Williams, Heating Ventilation and Air Conditioning Technology, Eynon, PA

Kyle Williams, Electronic Engineering Technology, Greentown, PA

Outreach Center Coordinates Toyland Workshop

Outreach – Center for Community Resources is currently coordinated its annual Toyland Workshop to provide pajamas, socks, books, educational toys, and grocery gift cards for children and families in our shared community.

Through an incredible outpouring of support, numerous contributions, grants, and in-kind donations by several foundations, corporations, local businesses, charitable organizations, and individuals were made to Outreach for its annual Toyland Workshop.

This year, Outreach is providing gift packages to over 200 participant families. Outreach Family
Development Specialists are delivering gifts to more than 330 children for the holiday season. Many
toys were purchased online through our Amazon Wish List. Contributors that were logged into Amazon Smile had an additional percentage of their purchase donated to Outreach by Amazon in support of the numerous programs provided to our shared community. Students from the University of Scranton and Holy Cross High School also shared their goodwill by collecting toys and adopting Outreach participant families this season.

For more information, please call Lori Ryan at (570)-558-7565. Outreach Center for Community Resources delivers parent/child and workforce development services and programs to the regional community to promote family stability and economic self-sufficiency. Outreach provides evidence-based early childhood programs that help families and children gain the skills needed to be healthy and productive members of the community. Outreach improves the lives of over 4,000 individuals each year with programs that support people as they navigate life’s challenges.

Marywood Associate Professor Publishes Research on Race, Drugs, Violence, and Criminal Justice

Patrick Seffrin, Ph.D., associate professor of social science, along with his graduate research assistant, Joseph Teeple, recently had an article, titled “Making Drug Use Dangerous for Black Men: Race, Drugs, Violence, and Criminal Justice,” accepted for publication in the journal, Race and Justice. Dr. Seffrin teaches courses in the areas of sociology, criminology, and criminal justice at Marywood University.

This study examined links between drug use, violence, and criminal justice involvement among Black and White men. Differential treatment under the law has historically been the case for African Americans. According to the article abstract, “This study theorized that the War on Drugs, which was waged disproportionately in majority Black communities, had the unintended effect of making drug use riskier for Black men by limiting the supply of drugs to high-risk populations who commit far more serious and violent criminal offenses.”

The study revealed that drug use was found to be less prevalent, overall, for Black men, but its association with violence was greater for Black men than White men. Differential legal treatment for violence and drugs was found to be greater for Black men than White men and had diminishing returns for deterring violence and negative returns for drugs by predicting greater use. Accounting for differential legal treatment did not significantly reduce predicted racial disparities in violence or drug use, and implications of these findings are discussed in the study.

The Dime Bank Announces “These Are My People” Contest Winner

The Dime Bank and Kasasa, an award-winning financial technology and marketing provider, announced the winner of the local “These Are My People” contest. Beth McElroy of Carbondale won $1,000.00 to help support human connection with her favorite people.

Kasasa’s “These Are My People” contest took place from November 7th through December 7th and provided entrants with the opportunity to share personal stories and how the prize money would help them connect with their loved ones.

Inspirational stories flooded in from entrants across the local area on how winning would impact their lives this holiday season. The Dime Bank’s local contest was part of a nationwide contest that included more than 150 community financial institutions across the country, with some offering cash prizes to their local community members. Additionally, Kasasa is awarding one grand prize winner with $25,000 and two runner ups with $10,000. In total, Kasasa and participating community banks and credit unions awarded over $150,000 in cash prizes.

“The holiday season is about love and sharing it with those we call our people,” said Gabe Krajicek, CEO of Kasasa. “This contest celebrated the incredible, loving individuals that create the fabric of their community. It’s this same network that our community financial institution partners across the country play such a vital part in – helping people stand strong in their financial world so they can stand strong for those they love the most.”

“It has been a long road this year and we are so excited that we will be getting my granddaughter and my daughter back home for Christmas, which is our Christmas miracle. Being chosen as the winner is such a blessing to my family and such a huge help. Thank you so much again,” said Beth McElroy.

President and Chief Executive Officer Pete Bochnovich stated, “Beth’s granddaughter is recovering from grade 4 medulloblastoma and their family’s story of strength and courage serves as an inspiration to many. The Dime Bank is happy to be part of helping to bring this family closer together this holiday season.”

Kasasa partners exclusively with community financial institutions – the only place consumers can find their innovative banking solutions. Kasasa serves hundreds of community financial institutions nationwide, representing over 3 million consumer bank accounts across 3,400+ branches in all 50 states. Since 2003, Kasasa financial institutions have given back nearly $3 billion in rewards to Kasasa account holders.