September is always a busy month at Reynolds Group Home. Usually there have been discharges before school starts, and new clients come into placement as the school year "heats up". This year is no exception. Referrals are coming in, and we’re all looking forward to meeting new kids and families.

There have been a couple of changes at RGH this month too! With the opening of Hamilton House (see following article), Sue has turned responsibility for the daily care and management of RGH over to Rick Ferree. Rick has been with MYS for some time now and become a respected and trusted member of the staff. Many of you already are acquainted with Rick. He will now be the Program Coordinator at RGH. If you have any questions, comments or referrals, Rick can be reached at 842-1154.

In addition to maintaining the normal high level of activity at RGH, Rick has looked for new ways to engage the boys in productive physical pursuits. Staff member Joe Koenig files the following report on one such new initiative:

While in placement, many young men find that a way to improve on their treatment success is to become involved in sports activities and other positive programs. The young men often make the trip to the local YMCA or Boys and Girls Club. Sometimes events conspire to make that impossible, and they look for something around the group home to substitute.

Rick has now taken a long look at the recreation area available in the basement of the group home. That area is currently used for TV viewing, pool, and general relaxing. The plan is to convert the area to a "fitness gym" with weight and card training equipment. The boys will then have the benefit of getting plenty of proper training and exercise during any free time they may have. Each resident will be given proper instruction on weight training exercises they can complete, as well as proper nutrition. Recent studies have shown that proper nutrition and exercise assist individuals to achieve greater results in their treatment programs.

We are fortunate to have weekend staff Darwin Myles on our staff. Darwin’s degree in Exercise and Recreation make him a believer in the benefits to be gained from proper daily exercise. Darwin is not only a man who makes exercise a regular part of his own life, but sees to it that the guys at RGH get plenty as well. Darwin has found exercise helps young men build self confidence and helps residents develop a healthy life style. Darwin will be an important element in this new weight and nutrition training program.
Joe Koenig
Youth Worker/MYS

Reynolds Group Home will continue to grow and enhance programming to meet the needs of the boys placed. That will continue to mean maintaining flexibility in adjusting to the needs of the agencies and clients referred to us. If you represent clients with special needs, by all means feel free to consult with us on how we might help meet those needs.

September saw the opening of Hamilton House at 617 Hamilton Street in Wausau. This marks the start of a new and exciting venture for Marathon Youth Services, Inc. In the past, MYS has provided services exclusively to adolescents and their families, "passing the baton" when youth reached the age of majority. Generally, that will continue to be the case. However, our experience has showed us that certain young men require ongoing residential services well beyond their 18^th birthdays. Sometimes indefinitely. Because of our unique experience with this age group, we felt it incumbent on us to expand our service paradigm to include these young adults, recognizing that this could be a very long term commitment to these clients and their families. Our staff has enthusiastically embraced that challenge!

Our first two residents at Hamilton House have quickly made it their home and already made their mark on the hearts of our staff. Here Mark and Sam are enjoying a day at the farm of a staff member.
We consider ourselves extremely fortunate to have someone like Sue Midlikowski on our staff that was willing to take over the responsibility of this new endeavor. Most readers will know Sue from her leadership role at Reynolds Group Home. Prior to that, however, Sue gained experience as an adult residential care worker for North Central Health Care, working at one of their group home facilities. With that background and her natural leadership abilities, she proves a perfect choice to head up this home.

Hamilton House will maintain a structured program with recognition to individuality and the need for a stable "home-like" environment. Qualified, mature staff will be available for guidance twenty four hours a day. The staff at Hamilton House look forward to working closely with the professionals from NCHCF, our local schools, families and all community agencies, to provide the best possible care and support as our young adults enter a new phase in their lives.
Sue Midlikowski
Program Coordinator
Hamilton House /MYS

Please check out our web site at www.marathonyouthservices.org for more information (and pictures) about Hamilton House. News from HH will become a regular addition to this monthly newsletter. Your questions and comments are welcome.

Marathon Youth Services is happy to announce that Michael T McCabe has joined our staff this past month. Mike comes to us with 10 years of prior experience working with troubled kids. After working two years with Sunburst Youth Homes at Neillsville, WI., Mike spent the following 8 years at Homme Youth and Family Program in Wittenberg. He will now be working for MYS at both of our current residences.

I am married for 13 years to my wife Tammy and I have two daughters. Cailin is 8 years old and in third grade, and Autumn will be six in November and just started kindergarten this year. We also have a love of animals in our family; therefore we have two cats and a recently acquired puppy.

I have some outside interests that include camping, hiking, fishing, reading, and doing home improvement projects. I also like to cook and bake, especially in the outdoors. Our family likes to do a lot of traveling and visiting around the state as well.

I am involved with volunteering for our church camp and with the Green Bay Catholic Diocese with Engaged Encounter. This is an encounter weekend in where we help couples build communication tools in the relationship during a weekend retreat.

Marathon Youth Services, Inc. sounds like a great place to work. I look forward to meeting everyone and working with you.
Mike McCabe

The entire staff of Marathon Youth Services extends our welcome to Mike and his family. We look forward to a bright future together, and are confident our residents and their families will find Mike to be friendly and helpful. Please stop by and meet him.

The Web Site of the Month for September is www.rawhide.org. Rawhide Boys Ranch has been in operation as a Residential Treatment Facility for adolescent boys since 1965. Rawhide was founded by John and Jan Gillespie, and has long been supported by NFL great Bart Starr. They have grown their non-profit program to a well respected treatment program, often setting trends as a leader in the field. You’ll enjoy a visit to their site, and would be welcome to visit their facility as well. Marathon Youth Services would like to wish continued success to Rawhide Boys Ranch!