The Wright Centers for Community Health and Graduate Medical Education Staffer Leaders Provide Workshop at National Conference

Two staff leaders at The Wright Centers for Community Health and Graduate Medical Education led a workshop during the Andrus Sanctuary Institute’s annual Network Days Conference in Armonk, New York.

Shannon Osborne, project manager at The Wright Center for Community Health, and Ann Hart, director of the graduate and undergraduate medical education experience at The Wright Center for Graduate Medical Education, presented, “Brave Spaces: Going Slow to Go Fast,” during the April 17-19 conference at the IBM Learning Center.

They joined presenters from around the country, promoting practices that aligned with this year’s conference theme: “Repairing Culture, Reimagining Trauma-Informed Care.” The event attracted hundreds of national and international attendees.

The Sanctuary Institute, of Yonkers, New York, offers training and consultation services to more than 275 organizations worldwide using its evidence-supported Sanctuary Model. Among its Pennsylvania clients are The Wright Center and the Pennsylvania Department of Public Welfare. The Sanctuary Model, which originated in the Philadelphia area in the 1980s through the pioneering work of Dr. Sandra Bloom and her colleagues, offers trauma-informed approaches to clinical and organizational development.

The model calls for acknowledging the impact of trauma on individuals, organizations, and systems and delivering services in a manner that does not re-traumatize individuals and treats the underlying trauma that prevents progress. Its guiding principles stem from four pillars, one of which consists of seven commitments: democracy, non-violence, social responsibility, open communication, social learning, growth and change, and emotional intelligence.

Organizations that successfully implement the Sanctuary Model can attain certification from the Sanctuary Institute, a process that can take three to five years. The Wright Center embarked on its journey to certification in August 2022 and would become the first certified organization in Northeast Pennsylvania, and one of just a few in the state.

“We’re committed to this model for the betterment of our workforce and the communities we serve,” said Osborne, a dual-certified mental health first aid instructor and integrative community therapy facilitator and trainer.

With more than half of The Wright Centers’ 650-plus employees working directly with patients, prioritizing patients’ needs over Sanctuary Model training remained imperative, Hart said. Taking a deliberate, slower pace to achieve certification ensures thorough training for all staff members without sacrificing patient care. This approach also allowed for the organic emergence of The Wright Center’s Whole-Person Wellness initiative, which includes Sanctuary, Mental Health First Aid, a thorough review of health benefits, environmental, social, and governance programming, and other actions that align with the Eight Dimensions of Wellness.

In their workshop, Osborne and Hart, who holds a master’s degree in rehabilitation counseling, shared insights into The Wright Center’s ongoing efforts to obtain Sanctuary Model certification.

Osborne emphasized the importance of patience, strategic pacing, and remembering that the model is a framework — all of which were highlighted during their presentation.

“By proceeding slowly and deliberately, leaders emerge, trust is cultivated, and engagement with staff deepens,” Osborne said.”It’s not a light switch or overnight process. You have to do what’s best for your organization, and that takes time.”

Steamtown National Historic Site Event “Railfest” Returns

Mark your calendars! Railfest returns to Steamtown National Historic Site (NHS) Labor Day weekend: Saturday, August 31, and Sunday, September 1, 2024.  This year’s celebration will be offered in partnership with the Iron Horse Society, Steamtown’s official philanthropic partner. Both organizations are excited to be collaborating to provide an interactive and immersive experience celebrating railroading’s past, present, and future.

Details are still being ironed out for the weekend-long event which is expected to include activities such as train rides, community partners, ranger-led programming, live entertainment, and more! Updates will be forthcoming. Stay informed by visiting www.nps.gov/steamtown or @SteamtownNHS on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter. Learn about the Iron Horse Society by visiting https://theironhorsesociety.com/ or @ironhorsesociety on Facebook and Instagram.

Located in downtown Scranton, Pennsylvania, Steamtown NHS is open 9:30am to 5:00pm, daily. From Interstate-81 follow exit 185 (President Biden Expressway, formerly known as Central Scranton Expressway); then follow the brown and white signs to the park entrance at Lackawanna Avenue and Cliff Street (GPS: N 41.41, W 75.67). General park information is available by visiting the park website anytime.

www.nps.gov/steamtown

The Wright Center for Community Health’s Healthy MOMS Program Benefitted by Local American Legion Fundraiser

The Wright Center for Community Health’s Healthy Maternal Opiate Medical Support (Healthy MOMS) program received dozens of baby items and a monetary donation, thanks to a bingo fundraiser organized by the Michael Steiner American Legion Jessup Post 411 Ladies Auxiliary.

Co-founded by The Wright Center five years ago, Healthy MOMS assists pregnant women and new mothers with substance use disorders and aims to lower the incidence of babies born with neonatal abstinence syndrome. Since October 2018, the program has helped more than 467 moms and 274 babies across nine counties in Northeast Pennsylvania: Lackawanna, Luzerne, Susquehanna, Wayne, Pike, Monroe, Carbon, Wyoming, and Schuylkill.

Accepting the donations, from left, are Healthy MOMS Case Manager Michele Coyle and Maria Kolcharno, MSW, LSW, director of addiction services at The Wright Center for Community Health and a key leader of the Healthy MOMS program. Donations included more than 30 packs of diapers, 50 packs of wipes, 30 packages of baby formula, four homemade blankets, and plenty of other baby supplies.

For more information about the Healthy MOMS program, visit www.healthymoms.org/.

Lackawanna County Judge Frank J. Ruggiero Address Keystone College Graduates 

Lackawanna County Court of Common Pleas Judge and Keystone College alumnus the Honorable Frank J. Ruggiero will address members of the Keystone College Class of 2024 during the college’s 153rd commencement ceremony on Saturday, May 18, at 11 a.m. in Gambal Athletic Center on campus.

Judge Ruggiero’s last visit to campus was in October, 2023 when he served as guest speaker during the college’s Constitution Day program.

We are delighted and honored to have Judge Ruggiero serve as our commencement speaker,” said Keystone College President John F. Pullo, Sr. ’69. “As a proud Keystone alumnus, his message will have special meaning to members of our graduating class.”

A native of Carbondale, Judge Ruggiero graduated from Sacred Heart High School and earned an associate of arts degree in human services from Keystone in 1991 and a bachelor of science degree in criminal justice from Penn State University in 1993.

He obtained his juris doctorate degree from City University of New York at Queens College and began his career in the Brooklyn and Queen’s District Attorney Offices. He then served as law clerk to the Honorable Chester T. Harhut of the Lackawanna County Court of Common Pleas and worked for the Lackawanna County Public Defender’s Office representing indigent criminal defendants in various matters ranging from summary offenses to the highest-grade felonies, including homicide.

While serving as a public defender, Judge Ruggiero entered private practice, concentrating on litigation pertaining to family, criminal, insurance, and municipal law. His client base was vastly diverse from representing individuals in their divorce and family-related matters to representing companies, corporations, and municipalities in complex civil litigation in various State, Federal, and Appellate Courts across the Commonwealth. He was also general counsel for a Reciprocal Insurance Exchange which insures hundreds of governmental entities across Pennsylvania and served as solicitor to numerous municipalities, including Carbondale and Lackawanna County.

On June 16, 2023, Gov. Josh Shapiro nominated him to fill a vacant seat on the Court of Common Pleas of Lackawanna County and on June 30, 2023, was unanimously confirmed by the State Senate by a 50-0 vote. He was elected to a full 10-year term in November 2023.  

Judge Ruggiero has served in the Pennsylvania Army National Guard and is active in national, statewide, and local associations and has earned national and state honors for his legal and public service. He is also active in several charitable organizations across the region. He is a former president of the Keystone College National Alumni Association and, from 1998 through 2004, served as an adjunct faculty member of political science, law, and criminal justice.

“I’m really looking forward to being back on campus as guest speaker during Keystone’s annual commencement,” Judge Ruggiero said. “Keystone is a wonderful college that has meant so much to me not only during my time as a student but also in the years since graduation. I can’t wait to meet members of Class of 2024 on this special day in their lives.”

Keystone College to Offer Servsafe Class

Keystone College will offer a ServSafe manager certification class on Wednesday, May 15, from 9 a.m. – 3:30 p.m. at 120 College Avenue, Factoryville. The training will cover topics involving food-borne illnesses and health risks that commercial food service establishments must learn in order to provide safe food for customers.

ServSafe, a nationally recognized certification program for safe food handling practices, meets Pennsylvania regulations and is accredited by the National Restaurant Association Education Foundation. For more information or to register, contact brenda.lidy@keystone.edu or call (570) 657-0248.

Penn State Football Head Coach to Visit Local Area

Nittany Lions Head Coach James Franklin will be coming to our hometown on Thursday June 6th at 2 locations… The Banks in Pittston and Fox Hill Country Club in Exeter.

Join Penn State football head coach James Franklin alongside current football student-athletes in the Northeastern Pennsylvania and learn all about NIL and what he needs in his toolbox to continue to build a strong team.

If you are interested in more information or sponsoring, please email info@limitless-nil.com or reereemt@gmail.com

For individual tickets click on the links below…

The Banks: https://www.limitlessnil.com/event-details-registration/we-are-nepa-the-banks

Fox Hill: https://www.limitlessnil.com/event-details-registration/we-are-nepa-fox-hill-country-club-1

Lackawanna College and University of Scranton Form 30+ Program Articulation Agreement

Lackawanna College and The University of Scranton collaborate to establish over 30 program articulation agreements, offering pathways for Lackawanna College graduates to transition to The University of Scranton to complete their bachelor’s degrees.

“The formation of more than 30 program articulation agreements between Lackawanna College and The University of Scranton stands as a groundbreaking initiative, reflecting our mission to offer affordable educational opportunities for our students,” Provost of Lackawanna College Erica Barone Pricci, Ph.D., said. “By streamlining credit transfers and offering diverse academic pathways, these agreements allow our students to engage with a large range of bachelor’s programs. This collaborative endeavor underscores our joint dedication to fostering educational accessibility and elevating the academic landscape for our student community.”

These agreements cover 33 bachelor’s degree programs, including majors like accounting, finance and operations management. To be eligible, Lackawanna College students must earn their associate’s degree with a minimum GPA of 2.75 and enroll at Scranton within a year of graduation.

Students who meet the criteria can complete their bachelor’s degree at the University within four regular semesters. They also have the opportunity to earn nine credits at Scranton while attending Lackawanna at half of the University of Scranton’s tuition rate.

Additionally, Lackawanna College graduates with a cumulative GPA of 3.00 or higher accepted into a degree program at Scranton through an articulation agreement qualify for a University of Scranton merit scholarship, starting at a minimum award of $20,000 per academic year for full-time students.

For more information about these articulation agreements, visit Lackawanna.edu or contact Lackawanna College at 570-961-7898 or The University of Scranton at 888-SCRANTON.

Keystone College Shares Statement on Status of College: President Remains Hopeful for the Future

On Friday, April 26, 2024, Keystone College President John F. Pullo, Sr. updated members of the college community on the status of the college.  

In letters to Keystone students and their parents and to faculty and staff, President Pullo emphasized that Keystone, as it has maintained in the past, is continuing to pursue discussions with an investment partner to secure an agreement which would be in the best interest of Keystone, its students, and the entire college community. While those talks are ongoing, President Pullo noted that he is “growing more confident in successfully concluding those discussions.”

While those discussions continue, President Pullo noted that Keystone continues to work with its accrediting organization, the Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE), on elements of a “teach out plan” to protect students. The need for such a plan arose because of an  MSCHE requirement as a result of a “complex substantive change” after a planned partnership with the Washington Institute for Education and Research (WIER) concluded unsuccessfully in March. As noted in the past, such a procedure is a typical measure taken by accreditors in response to such changes being withdrawn. MSCHE also requested that the College submit a “Substantive Change for Closure” which is a procedural step required to enact a teach out plan. The “Substantive Change for Closure” can be withdrawn by the college if not needed.

While acknowledging this can be a stressful time for everyone, President Pullo, a 1969 Keystone graduate, encouraged Keystonians to remain optimistic about the future. For example, in his letter to students, he said, “I am proud of you all and applaud your persistence in staying the course in spite of the visibility we’ve received in the press and in social media. In the words of freshman Brock Kreider, ‘Keep your head high and keep going….Keep driving and keep doing what we are doing.’” 

He concluded: “That’s the Giant spirit, and what energizes me every day to keep fighting for this College, so many years after I was a student here just like you. Thank you for everything you are doing and your loyalty to Keystone.”

Four Allied Services Clinicians Earn Specialist Certification in Treating Parkinson’s Disease

Four members of the therapy team at Allied Services Luger Scranton Rehab Center recently earned an advanced certification for the treatment of Parkinson’s Disease. Stacey Williams, PT, DPT, CNDT, Sondra Morgan, PT, DPT, MHA, Dawn Van Horn, PT, MS, and Laurie Griggs, PTA, all earned the PWR!Moves® Certification.

Parkinson’s disease is a progressive neurologic disorder. It affects motor planning and cognitive regions in the brain. Recent advances in basic and clinical science research suggest exercise and learning approaches may protect, repair, and optimize function in persons with Parkinson’s disease (PD).

Parkinson Wellness Recovery (PWR!) is an approach that targets the multiple motor, sensory, cognitive, and emotional symptoms of Parkinson’s Disease. The PWR!Moves® Certification teaches the theory and practice of utilizing dynamic moves during therapy to help patients with Parkinson’s improve fitness, counteract their PD symptoms, and increase their daily activity. PWR!Moves® is just one of the treatment protocols provided at Allied Services outpatient rehab centers in Northeastern Pennsylvania.

Wayne Bank Holds Annual Meeting of Shareholders

The 153rd Annual Meeting of Shareholders of Norwood Financial Corp, parent company of Wayne Bank, was held in person on Tuesday, April 23, 2024, at 6th & River, Honesdale, Pennsylvania.

Matters presented to, and approved by, stockholders were the re-election of company directors Lewis J. Critelli, James O. Donnelly, and Meg L. Hungerford, the ratification of S.R. Snodgrass, P.C., as the Company’s independent auditors for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2024, and the approval of the Norwood Financial Corp 2024 Equity Incentive Plan.

The Annual Meeting also included presentations to shareholders from President and Chief Executive Officer, James O. Donnelly and Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, William S. Lance.

Chairman Lewis J. Critelli welcomed shareholders and introduced the Directors present at the meeting. He then turned the meeting over to Mr. Donnelly, who conducted the formal business portion of the meeting.

Mr. Lance provided shareholders with a detailed report of the Company’s financial results for the 2023 fiscal year. Among the highlights of the Company’s performance in 2023 cited by Mr. Lance, was loan growth of 8.8%, deposit growth of 3.9%, and an increase in cash dividends paid to shareholders.

Mr. Donnelly’s address included the results for the first quarter of 2024 and a summary of the opportunities in many of the Company’s markets. Mr. Donnelly noted first quarter earnings were $4.4 million, earnings per share (diluted) were $0.55 per share, total loans increased 4.5% annualized, total deposits increased 9.8% annualized, and the net interest margin was 2.79%.

As of March 31, 2024, the Company had total assets of $2.3 billion, total loans outstanding of $1.6 billion, deposits of $1.8 billion, and stockholders’ equity of $181.2 million.