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About Supporting Kidds (Staff,
Board and Mission ) Our
Staff Supporting Kidds’ staff consists of highly qualified professionals who are dedicated to helping grieving children and families. In addition, more than 60 volunteers are trained to facilitate our support groups. Our services are developed and directed by our program staff, who are licensed mental health professionals with extensive experience working with children and grief issues. Feel free to contact or email staff with any questions.
Executive Director ellenspoehr@supportingkidds.org
A native of the state and graduate of the University of Delaware, Ellen has held the position of Executive Director of Kidds since 1997. She has worked in the non-profit, human service sector in this community for over 20 years. She and her husband, John, have two children. . As Executive Director, Ellen has worked in collaboration with our Board of Directors towards our long-term vision to be the leading provider of children's grief support in Delaware, which has recently resulted in the purchase and relocation to our new facility in Hockessin. From 1991 to 1997, Ellen worked as Assistant Director for the Mental Health Association in Delaware. Ellen is also active in the local community and has served as an officer on numerous volunteer boards addressing the needs of schools, children, mothers, as well as individuals with disabilities and mental health needs. Andrea
Rotsch Development Director andrearotsch@supportingkidds.org
Andrea is a graduate of Penn State University and moved to Delaware in 1988 with her husband, George, when he began working at the duPont Company. In March of 2003, she was hired as the Development Director for Supporting Kidds and works to engage donors, individuals, corporations, foundations, and community groups on the Kidds' Mission. Andrea is the mother of 3 boys, and volunteers with their school, sports and church. A member of the Junior League of Delaware she became involved in fundraising working on the League's Signature Projects. Prior to Supporting Kidds, she worked as the Development Director for Make a Wish and the Delaware Adolescent Program.
Lynn Corbett Office Manager lynncorbett@supportingkidds.org
Lynn, who recently joined us in August, is originally from the United Kingdom and has resided in the United states for 7 years. She is married to John, who works as an IT Director for AstraZeneca and they have 2 sons.. Lynn has over 30 years experience in administration and office management, ranging from Personal Assistant to a Vice President in the insurance industry to School Secretary at a small village school in England. While in the US, Lynn has also been an active volunteer at Christiana Hospital and Kennett High School.
Jane Cislo Financial Manager
Jane holds a Master's Degree in Social Work from the University of North Carolina, and has worked with Supporting Kidds in many capacities since 1994 including support group facilitator, board member and as a member of the Executive Staff. She and her husband, Mike, have 3 children. Formerly Co-Executive Director of Kidds, Jane now works as the Financial Manager. She is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker ,and prior to joining the Supporting Kidds staff, she worked as both a Clinical Program Director and Executive Director for child-based non-profit organizations in Florida.
PROGRAM STAFF
Valarie Molaison, Ph.D. Licensed Psychologist Clinical Director valmolaison@supportingkidds.org
Dr. Molaison has held the position of Clinical Director of Kidds since 1997. She is a licensed psychologist and Fellow in Thanatology, certified by the Association for Death Education and Counseling (ADEC). She is Adjunct Clinical Associate Professor for Widener University’s doctoral program in Clinical Psychology. She speaks regionally and nationally on topics related to how people cope with untoward events, such as death, illness, and disability, both for consumer audiences and professional audiences. She has written two resource books: School Survival Kit: Helping Students Cope with Grief in the School Setting and Survival Kit for Families: Tools for Healthy Grieving
Kristin Van Doren, MA
Pre-Doctoral
The primary therapist for our Guiding Pathways program, Kristin Van Doren is a doctoral candidate at Widener University’s Institute for Clinical Psychology. She received her Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology from Penn State University and her Master’s Degree in Clinical Psychology from Widener University. She is BCIA certified in general biofeedback. Kristin’s areas of interest include health psychology, children with chronic illness, and coping with loss. She has spent the last three years working with children and families.
Megan MacDonnell, MA Pre-Doctoral Intern and Therapist megmacdonnell@supportingkidds.org
Megan provides consultations, evaluations and treatment through the Guiding Pathways psychotherapy service. She has a master’s degree in Clinical Psychology and is currently working towards her doctoral degree at Widener University’s Institute for Graduate Clinical Psychology. She received her bachelor’s degree in Psychology from Loyola College in Maryland. Megan’s areas of interest include bereavement, foster care and special-needs adoptions, and attachment-related issues. Megan enjoys working with both children and adults in psychotherapy.
Board of Directors Our current Board of Directors include: Lee Anderson , Ph.D. Licensed Psychologist President Private Practice
Dr. Anderson is a licensed psychologist in Delaware and Pennsylvania. She began her career at the Alfred I duPont Institute in 1978 and entered into private practice in 1985. Dr. Anderson devotes a large part of her practice to children and adults suffering from loss. She is a member of the American Psychological Association, the Delaware Psychological Association, the Association for Death, Education, and Counseling, and the Delaware End of Life Coalition. Dr. Anderson recently self-published the book, Riverview Cemetery: Reading the Stones – A Collection of Memories from the First State as a way for the public to remember their loved ones and preserve local history. She has referred families to Supporting Kidds since its inception in 1989 and now leads the board with her compassionate and professional energy
Bill
Bowlsbey
Senior Executive Vice-President Vice President Bank of America
Bill Bowlsbey is a Senior Vice President with Bank of America Card Services. He joined MBNA, now Bank of America, in 1988 and is currently responsible for New Account Optimization, Loyalty Marketing and Retention Strategies for U.S. Card. Bill is an active supporter of many community programs. He joined the Supporting Kidds board in 2000 and is currently serving as Vice President. He holds a Bachelor of Political Science degree from Villanova University. Bill and his wife Ann, have 2 children ages 3 and 7 and reside in Pennsylvania.
Brian Walsh
Senior
Vice-President Treasurer Bank of America
Brian is a graduate of the
Thomas
Mallon
Director of Development
Secretary Archmere Academy
Tom
currently serves as the Director of Development and Public Relations for
Jim Carringrton Senior Exec. VP retired Bank of America Jim Carrington is a Senior Marketing Executive with over 25 years experience in the financial services industry. He was a key long-term member of MBNA’s senior management Business Development team and recently retired from Bank of America in March 2006. Jim earned his BA in English from the University of Connecticut and his MBA in Marketing from Boston University. He has been a passionate voice for Supporting Kidds for over the last ten years; joining as a board member in 1996 and became its Board President in 1999. Under his leadership, Supporting Kidds transformed from a small grassroots agency to the comprehensive Children’s Grief Center that it is today. As President, he spearheaded multi-year fundraising efforts that gained over a million dollars of operating income during his tenure. As immediate past-president, Jim orchestrated capital campaign efforts to realize Kidd’s long term vision to be the leading provider of children grief support in Delaware. He and his wife, Angela, have three sons.
Ralph
Plumley, Th.M., CT
Bereavement Coordinator
Doherty Funeral Homes
Ralph is the Bereavement Coordinator for Doherty Funeral Homes in Wilmington and Pike Creek where he guides adults and children through the grief process. With a background in hospital chaplaincy, Ralph has over 20 years of experience assisting families when a death occurs. When he was 16 years old Ralph experienced the sudden death of his best friend due to a car accident. This event has shaped the direction of his life. He is a graduate of Philadelphia Biblical University and of Dallas Theological Seminary with a Master of Theology Degree. He is Certified in Thanatology: Dying, Death, and Bereavement by the Association for Death Education and Counseling (ADEC). He serves as a Committee Chair for ADEC and as Board President of the Delaware End-of-Life Coalition. Ralph has also authored three CareNotes published by Abbey Press; “ 6 Myths of Funerals and Funeral Homes”, the CareNote for Teens entitled “When a Classmate Dies”, and “Handling the Heartbreak of a Sudden Death” which is to in print by the Spring of 2007
Matt Schlitz Senior Vice-President Bank of America
Aaron Wheeler Bereavement/Volunteer Coordinator VITAS Hospice Our To provide a
compassionate pathway to healing for grieving children and their families,
and to empower the community to support them in the grieving process We Believe…
YWhen provided with support and information, grieving children and their families can mobilize their own capacities to heal.YA knowledgeable and caring community is an essential aid in this process.
History
Timeline:
In November 1989, the dream of offering children a safe place to express intense feelings related grief is realized through the establishment of Supporting Kidds, Inc. a non-profit organization dedicated to grieving children and families.
1993
Supporting Kidds becomes an Affiliate Agency of the United Way of
Delaware by meeting rigorous management and operational standards.
1998
The Board of Directors and Staff begin the process of developing a
three-year Strategic Plan. The
resulting plan includes a new mission and vision statement, as well as
strategic objectives for the years 1999-2002.
1999
Supporting Kidds is the recipient of a generous gift from the MBNA
Children’s Charity Golf Tournament.
The funds are invested for future growth and eventual
establishment of a new facility. Services are expanded and include
distribution of Family Survival Kits and development of a
new program to address the ongoing needs of grieving families.
2000
By the end of the it’s first decade of service, Supporting Kidds has
served over 3,100 grieving children and families in the Community
Support and Education Programs, trained 500 volunteer facilitators,
and responded to more than 8,000 requests for telephone assistance.
2001
Supporting Kidds initiates a capital campaign feasibility study to
evaluate current facility use and options for expansion.
2002
Supporting Kidds refocuses agency mission, philosophy and vision with
plans to lead the community in addressing the specific needs of bereaved
children, their families and the larger community in which they live.
A new fundraising model is successfully implemented.
A total of $300,000 in pledges to 2007 is raised.
2003
A Pathways through Life program is initiated to meet the
changing needs of grieving families. With a grant from Judi
Marvel Charities, a School Survival Kit addressing loss
in the school setting is developed and distributed to over 650 schools in
the state of Delaware.
2005 Phase I of the capital campaign is completed and with $600,000 raised, settlement is made on our new property and renovations begin. A new Guiding Pathways therapy program is offered in collaboration with Widener University. 2006 Phase II of the capital campaign continues. Supporting Kidds permanently moves into our new Center for Grieving Children and their Families.
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