MARATHON YOUTH SERVICES

NEWSLETTER

October 1, 2001

Volume 1, Issue 5

            It’s hard to believe that school has again been in session for a month already!  All the guys are in the full swing of their academic and sport programs, and fall is upon us.  While some of the recreational functions have cut back, you’ll see that the volunteer/community service activities continue at a steady pace.  In fact, they continue throughout the year as an expected element of the programming at MYS.
            As reported previously, we continue to work toward enhancing our program options at MYS.  We are now ready to begin offering our services beyond the confines of Marathon County.  While Wings Group Home has accepted placements from outside the county in the past, for the first time in it’s long history Reynolds Group Home will also be available to other counties and State agencies as well.  We welcome your inquiries. 

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CONTENTS

1. Current Group Home Census/Out-of-County Referrals
   
    
2. The month’s Community Service and Recreational Activities
   
    
3. School Liaison
   
    
4. This Month’s Bio:  Jodi Casellas
   
    
5. Racing Season Wrap-up

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1. October 1^st finds 11 boys in placement between Wings and Reynolds Group Homes.  We are beginning to get more inquiries about placements, but are able to give prompt consideration to your placement needs.  Feel free to contact Doug Adams at 842-3240 to arrange a pre-placement interview, or to simply discuss how MYS might help meet the treatment and/or placement needs of you clients.
   
   Beginning this month, Marathon Youth Services will be accepting referrals from beyond Marathon County.  Doug will be happy to arrange a time to come to your agency to discuss how MYS may help meet your placement/treatment needs.  A presentation about the services available through MYS can be arranged also.  Again, feel free to contact Doug at the above number to arrange such a presentation, or fax your referral information to 715-848-3640.
   
   
    
2. The past month has once again been filled with volunteer activities, arranged to help the boys fulfill any community service responsibilities they may have ordered by a Court, or simply to comply with the program expectation of MYS to learn about giving back to the community.  In addition to their regular Adopt a Highway responsibility, the boys at Wings have been occasionally been helping out a neighborhood farmer with his chores and field work.       
   
   The boys at RGH assisted in the setup, clean up and tear down for Art In The Park again this year.  This is yet one more activity that the community calls on our boys for each year.  The following weekend, on September 15, the boys again helped with bingo at the Kennedy Park Rehabilitation Center.  September 29 was the day for clean up at Riverside Park.
   The residents of both houses were scheduled to participate in cleaning, painting, and other remodeling activities at the newly purchased property of MYS on Hamilton Street.
   
   With school once again in full swing and summer a fond memory, time for recreational activity is somewhat limited.  However, both group homes spent a fun day at Mission Lake getting in some end of summer swimming and picnicking.  Now the boys and staff will again turn to using the YMCA and Boys and Girls Club as primary activity outlets.  As the weather still allows, boys and staff will also continue using local schoolyards for basketball and football.  The Wings boys and staff are still focused on their YMCA work out routine, and continue that at least twice a week.
   
   
    
3. This is the first year that Marathon Youth Services has the luxury of a full time school liaison.  In the past, the respective group home managers have been responsible for coordinating academic issues in addition to their already heavy responsibilities.  In that position, Jodi Casellas finds herself quite busy this year.  While the residents at Wings all attend Rosholt High School at this time, Reynolds Group Home has residents at 4 area schools!  We have students at Wausau East, Wausau West, Horace Mann Middle School, and DCEverest High School.  Jodi finds herself attending many meetings at the schools, and assisting the boys in any and all problems they may be experiencing in school.  This includes everything from occasional tutoring to checking and following up on attendance problems.  This close and supportive contact with the schools helps us head off or resolve problems as they arise. 
   
   
    
4. Given the previous news item, it only seems fitting that This Month’s Bio be Jodi Casellas.  Jodi joined the MYS staff last spring specifically to fill the role of School Liaison.  She also carries some case management responsibility.  We are all quite pleased to have her on staff, and the staffs of the area schools are beginning to find her a valuable asset as well.
   
   Jodi comes to MYS with a background of varied and interesting experience.  She is a recent graduate of the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point where she received a degree in Sociology with a minor in Native American Rural Social Work.  While still in school, Jodi completed two internships to fulfill the social work certification requirements for the State of Wisconsin.  Her first internship was with Children’s Service Society of Wisconsin and her most recent with the Marathon County Department of Social Services.  Jodi was well regarded by both her field placements. 
   
   Previous work experience for Jodi includes being a Children’s Advocate for The Women’s Community, and most recently as a Youth Worker at the Marathon County Shelter Home.  Prior to returning to school, Jodi served two years active duty with the US Army.  She was stationed primarily in Hawaii, but also served time in Germany.  She continues in the Army Reserves (inactive at the time of this writing!), serving with the 376^th Finance Battalion stationed in Wausau.  This past summer she once again participated in two weeks active duty at Fort McCoy. 
   
   Jodi has many and varied interests, but of greatest importance in her life is her 8 year old son Julian.  The two of them enjoy playing sports together, camping and fishing, and just spending time together.  Ever the devoted mother, Jodi still finds time to enjoy reading and hunting, as well as her dog and cat.
   
   Our good fortune in acquiring Jodi to serve as School Liaison is serving our clients and the community well.  We all enjoy Jodi and find that everyone who works with her has a high regard for her as well.
   
   
    
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   The 2001 Racing Season has finally come to an end.  Doug and the team had a very successful year, with only relatively minor mishaps along the way.  The cars can now be put in storage to await another season.  Doug finished out the season at State Park Speedway in second place in the Cenex Mini-Stock Class with 767 points!  A very impressive showing, and a move up from 10^th place for last year.  Also, he won the Division Championship in the same class.  This is made up of combined standings from State Park Speedway, Golden Sands Speedway, and Marshfield Speedway.
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   As a finale to the season, Doug arranged for interested staff members to come out to the track and try their hand at driving a racecar.  After several attempts to agree on a suitable time, he was able to secure track time at Golden Sands Speedway in Plover, and Sue and Jodi tried to set a new track record.  Well, at least they had a good time………
   
                                  Sue                                                                              Jodi
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   Once again, it’s important to recognize the sponsors who made the MYS Racing Team possible.  Without their generous support this opportunity may not have been possible.  They are:  Brickner Motors, Wimmer Construction, 2510 Family Restaurant, Green Valley Septic, Wausau Imports, Walters Buildings and Wausau Steel Corp.  And of course, thanks to our drivers who made this an exciting and successful season:  Doug Adams, Deven Adams and Bill Kolb.
   
   
    

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Property of Marathon Youth Services, Inc.  2001
Produced by Jim Prozinski
jimpro@bigfoot.com