The Crossnore School Celebrates National RE Day

The Crossnore School Prayer Circle, National RE Day Program

The Crossnore School Celebration

Greg Gould, Alumnus, The Crossnore School and Student

CORE Executive Director, Nicholette K. Smith Bligen Speaks on RE

The SEED School of Maryland Students, Staff, and Guests

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
May 4, 2012

Baltimore, MD – The Coalition for Residential Education (CORE) Executive Director, Nicholette K. Smith-Bligen, MSW, LCSW celebrates today the Fourth Annual National Residential Education Day on the campus of Maryland’s only public boarding school, The SEED School of Maryland in Baltimore, Maryland, 10:00 am – 12:00 pm. Joining the nearly 40 CORE members’ programs and schools across the U.S., CORE commemorates this day by highlighting the faces of Residential Education (RE), the children and youth from disadvantaged backgrounds, who continue to succeed through various RE programs. Unlike traditional schools, RE programs and schools provide services to help the “whole” child, addressing everything from educational disparities, trauma and poverty to social and mental challenges.

“With increasing challenges facing children, youth, and families today coupled with the need for aggressive education reform, CORE is calling upon leaders in child welfare, policymakers, and advocates to come together around a common interest…quality education for all children and youth. Residential Education should be considered as a viable resource to address gaps in the system, education, and in child welfare,” said Smith-Bligen. “National RE Day is a time for us to recognize residential education as a path to a better future for all kids who are often left behind in the system.”

What most find surprising about RE is that it provides access to top boarding schools, residential charter schools, and children’s homes for children and youth who suffered from poverty, homelessness, impact of foster care or past trauma. It is also among the “least restrictive” form of care provided for children and youth compared to other approaches. RE provides a nurturing living and learning community, where the focus is centered on academic achievement.

“Educating the larger community on the local and national level of the benefits of RE, continues to be a priority for CORE. We are excited about the strides being made in child welfare, although there is still much work to be done to address misconceptions and increase awareness of the positive impact that RE programs and schools around the country offer,” said Smith-Bligen.

The history of RE dates back to the nineteenth century, once known as orphanages, has been transformed into college, family-style settings supported by comprehensive academic component. Since 1994, CORE and its members have:

• Inserted language into 2006 federal foster care legislation, Public Law No. 109-288, Child and Family Services Improvement Act, adding RE as a valid option for children in the child welfare system
• Secured a written statement in 2004 from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) stating children can be placed immediately in a residential school or children’s home upon removal from their family home
• Secured clarification from HHS in 2004 that federal foster care funds (Title IV-E) can follow the child to their residential school ($8,000 – $40,000 per student per year)
• Eased significant financial concerns of children’s homes and residential schools by securing clarification and favorable interpretations of exemptions in 2005 from the U.S. Department of Labor regarding wage and labor disputes for residential staff (White Paper available to members)

An example of the impact of RE is The SEED School Maryland, a statewide, college-preparatory, public boarding school, featured on 60 Minutes. SEED students will be leading presentations that will showcase “a day in the life” of a student and discuss the impact of RE. The National RE Day celebrations will take place on the campus of The SEED School of Maryland, 200 Font Hill Avenue, Baltimore, MD 21223. The event is from 10:00 am – 12:00 pm EST.

To get more information, please email: mkoroma@residentialeducation.org.

About CORE:
Founded in 1994 and based in the Washington, DC area, Coalition for Residential Education (CORE) is the national nonprofit organization that serves economically and socially disadvantaged children through residential education programs. CORE passionately believes high-quality residential education should be added to the scarce options available to these children, their families, and our communities.

Peter Shoemaker, Chairman, Board of Managers, Girard College

The legacy of Stephen Girard, who was among the world’s wealthiest men, lives on through his philanthropy, most notably the construction of Girard College which opened in 1848, an independent boarding school for students with one or no parents and who come from families with limited resources. The work ethic of the school’s namesake made an impact on alumnus, Peter Shoemaker, retired Executive Vice President of Global Imaging Systems, a division of Xerox Corporation and current chairman of the school’s board of managers.

“I learned numerous values from Girard College. Stephen Girard’s credo, ‘my deeds must be my life, when I am dead my actions must speak for me,’ said Shoemaker, who coined his own abridged version of the quote, “work hard, give back.”

Shoemaker’s deeds will be celebrated at Girard College’s “Good Friends” Gala on Friday, April 13th, where he will be bestowed with the school’s prestigious, Corinthian Award, making him the fourth alumnus to receive this tribute.

A self-proclaimed A-type, Shoemaker recalled his humble beginnings, steeped in determination to be successful, despite family hardship during his seminal years. “My father was killed in an automobile accident in 1945. We lived in Southern New Jersey. My mother had no source of income; my father was a farmer and had no social security,” said Shoemaker. “In 1949, my mother placed my brother and myself in the school. She signed us over and we became wards of the state.”

At the age of seven, Shoemaker began his scholarship at Girard, where he joined a brotherhood of youth from similar backgrounds, white orphan males, prior to the school’s integration in 1968. He grew accustomed to many of the school’s traditions and values, especially, a respect for others and self sufficiency.

“I taught myself how to sew, iron, and my mother taught me how to cook. There was never a time that I did not work and earn money,” said Shoemaker. He remembered asking the owner of a drug store to work for three hours to earn spending money at the age of 14 and asking to wash dishes at a restaurant, earning his largest payday as a teen.

After graduation, Shoemaker’s mother signed him and his bother into her custody. Shoemaker explained, “Back then you weren’t considered an adult until age 21. Giving up me and my brother to the state was extremely difficult for my mother; I became sensitive to her plight. We became very close and afterwards I supported her.”
The connections Shoemaker made at Girard stood the test of time. When he sees classmates after 25 years or more they still converse like it was yesterday.

“We had a quality education. I met friends who are friends for life. We view each other as brothers, who showered, dressed, went to school, slept, and did everything together for 11 years, you tend to be close.”

The education he received from Girard led him to earn a B.A. in economics from Rutgers University and an M.B.A. from Rutgers Graduate School of Management. He has more than 30 years of experience in the office products distribution and service industry combined with savoir faire, serving as a paragon of the types of alumni who matriculate from Girard College.

“Had we not been in school and provided these opportunities, we would not have achieved what we achieved,” said Shoemaker. He added that Girard provided him protection, shelter, opportunities, a drive for learning and still helps children who are at-risk.

On Residential Education (RE), Shoemaker emphasized that “education is so crucial in determining a child’s outcome and gives opportunities for youth; Girard has a child for 24 hours/5 days a week, without distractions.”

Even in retirement, Shoemaker continues to work with limited time in a day, which is divided by his work with Girard, involvement with additional charities, spending time with his family and devising time to garden at his home Connecticut.

A couple months later in 1995 after receiving confirmation from Andrew’s mother, Riddick came back to Uganda, traveling with Andrew who was able to get a visa and financial support to travel to Boys’ Home.

“I have to pinch myself to see how lucky I am to be in this position,” said Andrew. “Ms. Riddick believed that if I’m able to manage at Boys’ home, then I could do better than living in Uganda. She is truly an inspiration for me.” The social and economic climate in Uganda were tenuous and did not support Andrew’s development at the time. “The thing I remember about my experience leaving Uganda was at the U.S. Embassy being asked what I wanted to do in America and I said ‘I want to get as much knowledge as I can in the U.S. to go back and help my country,’ recalled Andrew.

His stint at Boys’ Home left an indelible memory and improved his career trajectory. He went on to earn his BA in Sociology from the University of Nevada, worked for Big Brothers Big Sisters, and is now in a dual program studying to earn a Master of Public Health (MPH) and Master of Business (MBA) from Benedict University, a distance learning program.

“People say that the best years of your life are in college, but for me the best years of my life was at Boys’ Home,” said Andrew. He fondly remembers the staff as family-oriented, caring, and truly loving people. He stressed that all the training the staff gets benefits children and youth in many ways.

Looking to give back to the school that gave so much to him, Andrew decided to move from Nevada to Covington, Virginia to join the Boys’ Home staff with the help of Wheatley. When he’s not recruiting children, studying for school, and working to help African families in the U.S. who are in dire need, Andrew travels to Africa to volunteer and work on his plan to form a primary school in his homeland. He hopes to name the school after Ms. Riddick, now in her 80′s. Andrew wants to build the school quickly so that Riddick can see how much she inspired him to give back to others and show his appreciation for helping him change his life.

Milton Hershey School® is a home and school for 1,800 children from financial and social need. Located in Hershey, PA, the School has been quietly making a difference in the lives of children for over 100 years, thanks to the generosity and foresight of Milton and Catherine Hershey.

Free of charge, Milton Hershey School’s residential, coeducational facility provides the advantages of a positive, structured home life and an outstanding pre-kindergarten through 12th-grade education. The School is founded on Judeo-Christian principles and is committed to ensuring students graduate with the knowledge and skills they need to be successful and responsible in life.

Together with their spouses, Houseparents are caregivers in residence with the students, role models and mentors. They nurture a structured yet family-like atmosphere in a School home and foster quality one-on-one and group time with the students to help each fulfill their potential. This includes overseeing the basics of the students’ daily living, including physical, mental, emotional and spiritual care, as well as daily guidance and mentoring. Houseparents collaborate with teachers, administrators and sponsors to facilitate student success.

Requirements include:
• Committed to and skilled in positively influencing children and youth.
• Experience working with students from poverty preferred.
• Couple must meet age and family status requirements.
• Must have valid driver’s licenses in good standing.

To learn more and apply online: http://miltonhershey.attnhr.com/houseparents/

Milton Hershey School values diversity. Equal opportunity employer.

Tanya Hales, CORE team member and Phyllis Salamy, OBHC

Tonny Kennedy, President of OBHC, Nicholette K. Smith-Bligen, Executive Director of CORE, Oklahoma State Sen. Anthony Sykes

Oklahoma State Sen. Anthony Sykes gives the welcoming address.

CORE Board Member, Dr. Ron Haskins, Senior Fellow, Economic Studies, The Brookings Institution, Co-Director of Center on Children and Families

Moe Dozier, Vice President of Residential Services, Methodist Children's Home and Don Forrester, Vice President of Programs and Services, Children At Heart Ministries prepare to lead a workshop

Moe Dozier and Don Forrester lead workshop

Elizabeth (Liz) VanAcker, CEO of Five Points leads workshop on outcomes

Elizabeth (Liz) VanAcker leading workshop on outcomes

Jim Harlow, MA, LPC Intern, Child Development Fellow and Henry Milton, MS, Child Development Fellow at TCU Institute of Child Development leads workshop on creative solutions to problem solving behaviors

Jim Harlow Lectures on TCU Trust-Based Relational Interventions

Diane K. Teske, M.S., Psychologist gives presentation with Bob R. Van Divner, Psy.D., Certified Psychologist, Senior Division, Milton Hershey School

Catherine Hershey Dinner

Annette Cole-Gill, Head of School, Elementary Division, Milton Hershey School speaks about Catherine Hershey.

Dinner table settings by Phyllis Salamy, OBHC

Oklahoma State Superintendent of Public Instruction, Dr. Janet Barresi give keynote at dinner.

Student of the Year Award: Abenezer Kassa, Methodist Children’s Home

Florida Sheriffs Youth Ranches, Inc. honored with Educator of the Year, Spirit Award, Trustee of the Year, Alumnus of the Year, and Administrator of the Year Awards

CORE Executive Director, Nicholette K. Smith-Bligen awards Bill Frye, Vice President of Program, Florida Sheriffs Youth Ranches, Inc.

Bill Frye, Vice President of Programs, Florida Sheriff Youth Ranches, Inc. gives a thank you speech.

Innovative Program of the Year Award: “Classroom Without Walls, The Crossnore School

Nicholette K. Smith-Bligen awards Executive Director, The Crossnore School, Dr. Phyllis Crain

Dr. Phyllis Crain gives at thank you speech.

CORE Chairman awards Rod Phillips, Vice President of Program, Oklahoma Baptist Homes for Children and CORE board member for his years of service.

Moe Dozier, CORE Board Chair awards Rod Phillips.

Rod Phillips, Vice President of Program, OBHC and CORE board member give thank you speech.

CAN YOU IMAGINE?
By Jamie

Can you imagine being 14 months old and instead of experiencing the love that most toddlers get from adoring parents, experiencing what being sold for drugs was like; what being abandoned and neglected for days at a time felt like; and knowing all too well what it was like to be kept a secret from the outside world. A time in your childhood when most children are getting familiar with colors, shapes, and learning basic motor skills…you were getting familiar with what it felt like to ride in the back of a police car while being taken from your home…more than once; learning how to stay warm when you had to sleep under a bridge; and adapting to not eating or being taken care of at all for days.

These were some of the first things you learned about life; about the world and the people in it; and about love. Surely not all things and people were this bad?

At age 4 a way out appears in the form of new parents. But as years passed abuse began again and the end results were the same…More moving, more new homes, more instability, and all changes brought with them a continuous lack of love, but presence of abuse. To get out of this constant chain of harm and hurt you move to your grandparents and become 1 or 6 kids they are taking care of. Too much of a burden for them, another move must be made. This is the point in your life when a change comes about that you never expect. You find the Oklahoma Baptist Homes for Girls on the internet, turn in your application, interview, and move in on July 7, 2009.

Can you imagine moving to a new, unfamiliar place after all that you experienced? It would be scary not knowing who you can trust if you can event trust anyone. But you are truly given a glimpse of what REAL hope is from the very beginning. You have a passion and desire for a change in your life and it seems like you have come to the right place for that. You start school and decide that you are going to make the necessary decisions to become who you want to be. You learn from these people what LOVE really is! How God intended it to be and what an awesome love God has for you. You are in a place where you are SHOWN daily that you have a hope, that you are loved and accepted, and you are supported. As you learn these new lessons about life and how wonderful it can really be, you begin to build a relationship with your houseparents, who become your mom and dad. The parents you never had and always wanted. They love, support, and take care of you. There is no need to worry about abuse or if you are going to be hurt. No need to question where your next meal is coming from or if you will sleep in your bed tonight or outside…You. Are. Safe. As time continues you get a drive to be involved and be successful. You find that in school and being involved in the Ag program. Where there used to be a dreading of school and education, there is now a passion to learn and go above expectations. You have opportunities here you never dreamed of. You are a part of Triple C…the campus leadership group and get to help at events like the Presidential Leadership Conference and Style Show. Your new family is at all your school functions and they cheer you on. Your relationship with the Lord is growing and you experience His love, grace, and hope in such a way that it’s moving. So thankful that He has completely changed your life.

What a blessing.

Can you imagine going from seeing no hope and having a false understanding of what love was, to knowing exactly what a “hope and home” is and experiencing a love so great that your very soul is moved by it?! You have a new found passion for life and a desire to be the best you that is possible. You are becoming the capable, caring Christian adult you always wanted to be. You have made plans to attend college and major in Ag. The Baptist Home for Girls is committed to helping you get through college and even providing you with a place to stay during. You have a conviction in your heart to do overseas missions in Africa. A conviction that is supported and encouraged by your family here. Your education and drive for success, backed up by a whole organization of people! Holding onto the truth that God is bigger than anything that you have gone through, and there IS victory in Jesus!

Going from never dreaming or seeing that life could be different; to knowing for a fact that the sky is the limit, you are becoming a golden link on a new chain you can do all things through Christ. Being able to look at your life and where you are and who you have become and at the end of the day being able to say with a thankful heart, “Lord. It is well with my soul.”

Can you imagine?

I am that life.

I am that girl.