Council also heard from Mary Birks, executive director of Outreach Teen and Family Services. Outreach operates a counseling center in Mt. Lebanon and offers other counseling services in the surrounding communities. Birks asked council to consider partnering with her organization to provide help to young people in Bethel Park struggling with drug addiction or other issues. Police in Mt. Lebanon sometimes refer youths to the program as a way to get the teens help without involving the criminal justice system, Birks said.
Friday, July 28, 2017
Birks Reaching Out from Outreach
Ban on front lawn parking in Bethel Park to be considered
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84 comments:
Outreach doesn't necessarily need to locate its offices in Mr. Lebanon does it? They could go anywhere where the rent is cheaper and devote all their financial resources on things to help the kids.
I know, I know, why suggest Outreach look for office space outside of Mt. Lebanon.
First is its prime service paying rent or is it to help kids and families in Mt. Lebanon and surrounding communities.
Second, an office where parking is free could be more convenient for everyone involved with it.
This is the perfect segue to Jason Margolis' August Behind The Bubble feature coming August 1.
Elaine
Outreach isn't the only game in town when it comes to counseling. Does the school district or PD offer list of service providers or is Outreach their only recommendation?
Looking at the list of Board of Directors, Aaron Lauth and Steve McLean are directors (ex officio), just because of the office they hold. The municipal assistant PIO is married to the treasurer of Outreach. They get free advertising in mtl Magazine. "These articles are made possible through the generosity of Mt. Lebanon Magazine and a grant from the Mt. Lebanon Police Association. " It would be counterproductive for the PD to list any other provider, I would think.
Isn't it wonderful that Outreach has eliminated all the "common struggles" in the Mt. Lebanon School District and that Mary Birks has to solicit business outside of Mt. Lebanon?
Elaine
So our expensive "official" community magazine gives out free advertising to one specific counseling service while others would have to pay??? Hmmmmmm!
"Isn't it wonderful that Outreach has eliminated all the 'common struggles' in the Mt. Lebanon School District and that Mary Birks has to solicit business outside of Mt. Lebanon?"
Good God, this is so petty and mean. I mean, approaching evil. It's a charity helping kids.
8:21am, "mean" is relative and subjective. If you want to experience real "MTL mean," I should take you along as families and parents talk to me about the abuse they experience here for being "different."
What's the expression, 8:21 AM? Charity begins at home. In other words, is all well in Mt. Lebanon? Please tell me how this is evil.
Elaine
If you're not able to find the cruelty and pettiness in your words Elaine, I can't imagine that I could say anything to explain it to you. God bless.
Thank you, 10:52 AM.
Elaine
Let me see if I'm following the conversation here. We're discussing 'The' Outreach non-profit that for at least a decade has existed in offices on Washington Road and has served the community and other with a part-time executive director making under $30k a year, but now has an executive director full-time and making close to $70k, correct?
And that new executive director also just happens to be a school board president that votes on the school district distributing money to that same Outreach that receives free ad space in the municipal magazine who's employee just happens to be related to the Outreach treasurer.
And then 8:21 is going to feign principles.
Please!
I always find it curious when "nonprofits" beat the bushes for business. Very curious.
11:51 AM, don't forget about the part that the executive director/school board president is also under investigation. Always a plus when running for reelection.
Elaine
I like 11:52's thinking!
I'm with 8:21.. It's pretty sick.. You're attacking a charity that helps kids with counseling and drug and alcohol problems.. Because of a personal vendetta... We should be so lucky to have such a wonderful program in our community. God forbid she tries to help teens in other communities. Just step back for a second and think.. Really try to think about it.. You don't like a woman in the community, so you constantly try to bring down the youth counseling nonprofit that she works for. Think about that.
OK, I'm thinking. Do you mean that all the attacks on Trump are because of personal vendettas? That if the people don't like Trump, they are really trying to bring down the country that he is leading? Is that it? Does the PA Ethics Commission have a personal vendetta against her? Just trying to understand. I wish I had seen this comment last night before I went to bed, so that I could really try to think about it.
Elaine
11:05, I'm thinking.
Answer this question- did Outreach help kids before the executives directors position went full time and the salary more than double
Second question- just what in the new director's resume justifies her roll and especially her jump in salary. Has she ever run a business?
Please don't cite her position as a school director, because as we've already seen the people actually doing the grunt work push some papers in front of her and say- "approve this." She admitted to not knowing what she voted for!
Furthermore, director's run a "business" where they almost have an endless supply of money to operate because they can always raise taxes.
Is it her experience in fund raising that makes her so qualified?
Show me the numbers on the Capital Campaign.
Ok, maybe she has a lot of degrees or training in child psychology?
Why would that be important?
"A person's childhood is often a very simple yet complicated time. It is also a very influential time in a person's life, and most people's childhoods will have a big impact on the type of adult they turn out to be later in life.
Childhood psychology is a specialized branch of traditional psychology that focuses on children, mainly their development and behavior. It is one of the most commonly studied types of psychology today. This type of psychology typically covers every child, from birth to adolescence. Some areas covered under childhood psychology include milestones, behavior problems, social skills, mental and emotional well being and development."
So 11:05, convince me why she's the best person for the job and why Outreach is better than any of the other social services available in the community?
See 11:05, we are trying to think here.
Since Outreach is being supported by our tax dollars via the school district, our "official" community magazine in free advertising, and grants from the PD (where do PDs get grant money from exactly), we have a right to question its operation.
So put on your thinking cap and please convince us why we're wrong to pay attention?
I asked politely!
Look, you'll likely just spin what I write into the narrative that you're a victim. And you've heard this all before. Nevertheless, here goes.
You seem to have no concept of scale. The people with whom you have beef are just little local suburban people. They're not important, but frequently they honestly want to make a difference in their community. But instead of looking the other way when simple people make simple mistakes or get a bit too big for their britches, you portray these people as villains. And it fucking sucks.
Case in point, this Birks thing. You are so assured that you got her dead to rights, that you're going to rip the lid of this whole thing!
And if the Ethics committee comes back with a stern "don't do it again," you'll claim lifelong vindication. And if they come back with bupkis, you'll quit the blog for ten minutes or ban anonymous comments. So much drama, so little perspective.
And people can't get understand why you get worked up about this bullshit. So people presume it's personal vendetta, because otherwise it's just loonie.
Trump has real power with real consequence. That you'd compare a local school board member and the president is perfectly symptomatic of your terrific lack of perspective.
9:06 a.m.:
Funding Sources http://www.outreachteen.org/about-us/funding-sources/
School contracts (22.3%)
Allegheny County (14%, restricted to juvenile probationers)
Mt. Lebanon Municipality (17%)
Foundation grants (11.7%) (Mt. Lebanon Community Endowment - http://www.lebofoundation.org/about-us/board-of-directors/ + Mt. Lebanon Police Association)
Fee-based income (12%, includes insurance coverage and client payments on a sliding scale)
Fundraisers (16.5%)
Individual gifts (4%)
Program revenue (2.5%)
9:55 whaaaaaat?!
You start off talking about scale, little people and local issues and finish talking about Trump and how he has the real power. Are you kidding?
What in the world does Trump have to do with our little Outreach non-profit and it's Director.
We'll give you that little local suburban people may be trying to make a difference, BUT this isn't about those little local people...... it's about helping kids work through issues and problems.
Look at the job requirements for the Outreach assistant the director is looking for. The person with those credentials should be the director, not the assistant.
Is the new director and their suddenly increased salary what's best for those kids? It's not about Trump, power or anything else.
Thanks 9:57 for the numbers, looks like a lot of public money funneling into Outreach.
9:55am - You say:
"The people with whom you have beef are just little local suburban people. They're not important..."
That's an interesting, insightful, and mostly accurate observation... The one thing you are missing is that their "little local" actions can have real, severe consequences for people underneath the same little, local bubble. In that sense, scale is irrelevant.
Wow, 9:55 AM. You sound really stressed out. Take a deep breath. Go outside for a while and get some vitamin D. Or you can take my former commissioner's advice and go see John in the paint department of Rolliers and pick out some soothing paint colors. Maybe 10:52 AM can pray for you too.
Just an FYI, those little local suburban people have the power to place liens on your house; the power of eminent domain allows the government to take private land for public purposes; and the little suburban people can raise your property taxes every year.
Anyway, try to enjoy this beautiful day. This too shall pass.
Elaine
Nice language 9:55.
Teach your children well.
9:55, you write: "You seem to have no concept of scale. The people with whom you have beef are just little local suburban people. They're not important..."
The Outreach director's position was part-time and the salary was peanuts.
Suddenly, it's become full-time and far above the median income of around $57,000/year.
Seems like a lot of money suddenly going to someone that isn't important. I guess according to you, we have no right to question things about those little local suburban people.
That's a median $57,000 full time income, is it?
Question the government, school system, police etc all you want! Is it any of your business to question the business moves and decisions of Outreach? Who gave you that right? It comes from your own sense of superiority and self righteousness that you are the heros of Mt. Lebanon.
12:31pm, that is quite ignorant. Questions are the root of all learning -- much more so than answers.
12:31, the fact that our tax dollars (see 9:57's comment) gives us every right to question the moves and decisions of Outreach!
Now if Outreach wants to operate strictly on:
Fee-based income (12%, includes insurance coverage and client payments on a sliding scale)
Fundraisers (16.5%)
Individual gifts (4%)
Program revenue (2.5%)
I'd agree with you, it's none of our business how they operate, but they don't.
This additional income gives us every right to raise concerns:
School contracts (22.3%)
Allegheny County (14%, restricted to juvenile probationers)
Mt. Lebanon Municipality (17%)
Foundation grants (11.7%) (Mt. Lebanon Community Endowment - http://www.lebofoundation.org/about-us/board-of-directors/ + Mt. Lebanon Police Association)
Nearly 40% of their revenue comes from school districts and Mt. Lebanon municipality. That's our money that comes from our local, state and federal taxes.
Ben Franklin, one of this nations founding fathers wrote: "It is the first responsibility of every citizen to question authority."
Unless you are saying we are suppose to give up our inalienable rights, you are wrong!
Furthermore, I believe you wrote at 9:55: " The people with whom you have beef are just little local suburban people."
Isn't Elaine Gillen just a little local suburban person too. She may not agree with you, you may not like her blog (don't read it then), but she and her little suburban readers have their opinions as to how our community and how their money gets spent.
I don't see you standing up for them and as for your comments about Trump's America... you sound like the real tyrant.
I'm not the one who commented at 9:55... and I see your point there 1:07. I think you can debate how much money the government should be giving to outreach.. but once the money is there.. I think the private business decisions really belong to them. They're not a government operation, they just get the funding. And Mr. Margolis, try to add something to the debate instead of your condescending comments authored in that disgusting tone to just make yourself feel better than everyone else here. It really just sucks.
Amen 1:13. Amen.
And the next time Elaine and her bloggers "win" on any issue in Lebo will be the first.
1:13, two points I think you are missing.
How much government money is going to Outreach is controlled or influenced by... ta da... our school board president. Gee, if that isn't a conflict of interest (and why the focus on Ms. Birks) I don't know what is!
Second, are you claiming once we give our tax dollars to Outreach we have no say in how it is used? What if the Executive Director used it for say a working vacation in Aruba? Would we still be locked out?
Just had a good chuckle over 1:07's comment.
While they find that we that help fund Outreach have no right to be opinionated about it once we've given the money, 1:07 seems to be able to form opinions ("itreally just sucks") about Mr. Margolis' comments even though Jason gets no public money.
What gave you that right, 1:07?
We shall see, 1:21.
Ooop meant 1:13, not 1:07 in the 1:31 comment.
1:31, what a dumb comment. I don't think I need to address that. and 1:24, I'm sure there are contracts and regulations making sure that the money truly goes to Outreach. Sure, if you found out money was being wasted on things unrelated to Outreach, you could go to the government and say "They're wasting this money on x, we shouldn't be giving it anymore." But as long as the money is used on things related to the goals and motives of Outreach, you have no say in the personal business decisions of that company. If you want to have a say, get a job there. Until then, you're no one to tell them who/how much they should pay for salaries. You're no one to tell them what kind of coffee they should serve in the waiting room. You have no say on how they spend that money unless, like you said, there are reports of corruption.
Thank you, 1:13pm! Every time you all try and quiet me, my voice gets stronger! And as for condescending... that all depends on perspective. So, while Mr. Margolis or Jason works for most ... it's Dr. Margolis for you!
1:39, you're right, I don't have any right to determine what kind of coffee they serve, whether they decorate their offices in $4,000 Restoration Hardware leather couches or crown the Executive Director, Supreme Ruler and Grand Poohbah Potentate.
But, as a citizen and a taxpayer, I and every resident have a right to voice our opinion on whether our money that is going to Outreach is being used judiciously.
That is the conversation/debate going on here as to whether we as a community should be OK with the Outreach Executive Director and School Board president being one and the same.
You see that Outreach Executive determines what kind of coffee they serve and that School Board President gets to lobby the school board for the money used to buy that coffee.
Maybe I don't want them buying Maxwell House instead Starbucks coffee and using the savings on the kids.
Paying attention is not evil and it doesn't F-in suck. If Outreach wants to go private, more power to them.
Can't answer 1:31 can you? What gives you the right to say Jason's opinion sucks. You have no right to decide what kind of coffee he drinks or judge the quality of his opinions according to your logic. You don't give him any money!
1:39, no one here is TELLING Outreach to do or not do anything!
We're having for the most part, a civil conversation (except for one person that injected F bombs) on whether we as a community are OK with an expensive and apparently conflicted Executive Director.
We will see what the community thinks come election time.
1:39, you're equating the position of Executive Director to what kind of coffee they serve in the waiting room. That's a hoot!
1:39 is right. You people want to stick your noses in the business of others trying to make a difference. No appreciation for the volunteers that keep this community together. Just petty sniping from the sidelines. Nothing is every good enough. Nobody is ever a good enough public servant or volunteer. Portraying those who try as elitists or "in the bubble." Shame.
Jason, you try to command respect with your Dr title and then actively contribute to a blog that only refers to our superintendent as "Timmy." I respect those who give out and deserve respect.. so until that happens with you, you're Mr to me!
Sticking our noses into a business that is using our money. Don't forget that!
And no, never said Jason's opinions suck. The way he goes about expressing them does suck, though. That sucks a lot.
I'm a little confused by 3:24 PM's comment. Not sure who is doing the sniping from the sidelines.
Which volunteers that keep this community together are you talking about?
Elaine
3:40 PM, you actively contribute to a blog that refers to our superintendent as Timmy. I'm confused by your comment too.
Elaine
The IRS, in "I. REASONABLE COMPENSATION by Jean Wright and Jay H. Rotz," states that "In closely held corporations, the possibility that the [Internal Revenue] Service might recharacterize excessive compensation as a dividend (which is non-deductible, of course) operates as a deterrent. But in a tax exempt organization, neither of these checks exists. Instead, the public must rely on often inadequate oversight by volunteer boards of directors, the occasional media inquiry (as in the United Way situation), some activist state attorneys general, and the vague threat that the Service might question the compensation to encourage proper use of charitable donations." The preceding IRS topic, "H. PRIVATE BENEFIT UNDER IRC 501(c)(3) by Andrew Megosh, Lary Scollick, Mary Jo Salins and Cheryl Chasin," is worth a read as well.
Both sides in the arguments adduced in this thread will find something to take away in these documents, but one overriding point that cannot be disputed is that the IRS deems 501(c)(3) entities worthy of public scrutiny. If it did not then the IRS would not require a 501(c)(3) to file yearly public financial disclosures.
I, for one, do not doubt for a moment that Outreach does good work. So does Light of Life Rescue Mission, the Washington Area Humane Society, the Institute for Justice, and the Reason Foundation, just to name a few. But they are all subject to public criticism simply because they all enjoy a kind of "public subsidy" in that they do not pay taxes on their positive "Net assets or fund balances," the rational for non-payment of taxes being that the good they provide the community more than offsets the taxes that would be collected on a positive year-end balance.
Thanks, RG! I know that Outreach published their annual reports for 2014 and 2015. I'm not sure why 2016 hasn't been published since we are in the second half of 2017. Here is the link to those reports. http://www.outreachteen.org/about-us/annual-reports/
Elaine
I, as well as you, have a right to express my opinions in any way that I wish. As I have said before, I do not agree with everything Elaine or contributors to this blog say nor always how they say it, but I appreciate the honest dialogue stirred here--and the journalistic dimension of Lebo Citizens trounces all of the local papers.
Also, I am one of the few people willing to unmask myself. You, and your municipal minions, continue to attack from anonymity.
And finally... I did not create the term 'MTL bubble', I just borrowed it.
More than my own opinions, however, I have become more interested in the 'just under the surface' opinions bubbling in the bubble ... The working mothers (definitely a minority but a sizable one) had a lot of opinions to share that needed to be heard. In about 32 hours, we will hear more from the previously unheard... will you listen? Probably not. To paraphrase The Bible, Do Ye Even Have Ears to Hear?
"“The Mt. Lebanon School District has
developed an extraordinary partnership
with Outreach Teen & Family Services.
Their partnership is a vital support
service for the health and well-being
of our children.”
- Timothy J. Steinhauer, Ed.D.
Mt. Lebanon School Superintendent"
Extraordinary partnership ? More like PRICELESS ! Thanks for the link Elaine !
"I, as well as you, have a right to express my opinions in any way that I wish."
Kinda. Unlike others, I suspect your sycophantic comments are consistently approved by this site's webmistress. But you are a doctor and that degree from Hollywood Upstairs Medical College wasn't obtained without effort.
There's that great condescending tone again, Jason! Love it! Also love how any dissent is considered to automatically come from some brainwashed worshiper of the municipality, or a commissioner even! Maybe you should consider that some of the negative comments might just come from people sick and tired of seeing our community volunteers and a non-profit teen mental health/drug & alcohol abuse charity trashed. Ah yes, 32 hours until we watch you pretend to be a journalist again... pretending as if YOU, DR. Margolis are the Robinhood of our community. But maybe something else to consider.. To paraphrase the bible, before finding the splinter in the eyes of our community volunteers, find the log in ye own!
Still waiting to hear who those community volunteers are.
Also, I learned a new word today, thanks to 4:39 PM. Thanks for that backhanded compliment, 4:39 PM. I don't consider myself as powerful.
Elaine
4:42pm, why don't you tell us who you really are? Is it because then we will know that you as the source might be a source of the problem?
4:39pm - As always, start your own blog, and you then can casting couch your way to stardom as well.
While Elaine may be publishing your anonymous comments, I won't respond again to your anonymous nonsense. Time to put the final touches on August's BtB ...
No one has trashed the work of Outreach 4:42 and people drawing a salary are not volunteers.
Anonymous, this post is about Mary Birks and Outreach. It is not about Jason. You can keep submitting comments, but I am not publishing them. Sorry to disappoint you. Let's try to stay on topic.
Elaine
An article on Outreach in the Post Gazette has come to my attention that I'd enjoy reading others opinion on.
First mine. It reads that Outreach was created 41 years ago by “A group of people founded a drop-in office and scheduled outdoor activities."
"The center was created when one of the founders, Marshall Gordon, noticed children in local parks “making poor choices,” Mrs. Birks said."
"That was the beginning,” she said."
Now Outreach seems to be overreaching from its original purpose.
"“One goal is to help to remove the stigma from mental health [issues] and focus on mental wellness. I tell parents that if your child cannot see the whiteboard, you take him/her to see the eye doctor. Well, if your child is having issues with studying, friends, etc., it is more than acceptable to make an appointment to see a counselor,” she said.
Mrs. Birks said the agency also will begin to look into diversifying its funding sources."
Several things bother me with Ms. Birks' comment.
Eye problems are fairly easy to fix for the most part-- you see a highly trained physician and they usually prescribe glasses.
Kids with studying problems, social problems, etc., isn't the first line of defense the school district and its trained counselors? What about churches, and youth organizations?
Seems to me if your kids are having "issues" parents shouldn't immediately make a beeline for Outreach.
Second, her focus on diversifying funding sources. For 41 years Outreach seems to have operated just fine. Is Ms. Birks too interested in expansion just for the prestige of expansion itself?
I'd love to hear others views. Am I being too critical?
To supplement my thoughts about Mary's agenda for Outreach this article is relative.
"Stop Fixing Things: Why Children Should Be Allowed to Make Mistakes"
"We are all familiar with the experience of good intentions having negative consequences. In my work as a therapist, I often encounter this phenomenon when I work with parentswho, in their desire to make things better, easier, or less painful for their children, interfere with their child’s ability to develop the capacity to do for themselves. These are parents who feel an urgent need to fix their child’s problems. For the purpose of this discussion, “fixing” will refer to the intervening and usurping of problem-solving when one’s child experiences difficulty."
https://www.google.com/amp/www.goodtherapy.org/blog/parents-children-fix-problems-0813124/amp/
"Mary Birks had never worked as an executive director at a nonprofit prior to accepting her job at Outreach Teen & Family Services early last year."
Over 12% of Outreach's budget goes to the new full time Executive Director's salary.
With a staff of 5 and 19 counselors and not counting rent, equipment, insurance and "waiting room coffee" that leave much meat on the bone for essential people that directly help the kids.
"Outreach has an annual budget of about $600,000. Ms. Birks oversees a staff of four and the agency’s clinical director, Christina Hostutler, oversees 19 counselors who work with teens and families on mental health and emotional issues."
https://jeffersonrf.org/2016/11/03/executives-in-residence-lend-a-hand-to-pittsburgh-nonprofits/
Maybe we need less outreach (small q), not more!
"Why are our kids so miserable? — Quartz"
"Twenge has observed a notable shift away from internal, or intrinsic goals, which one can control, toward extrinsic ones, which are set by the world, and which are increasingly unforgiving.
Gray has another theory: kids aren’t learning critical life-coping skills because they never get to play anymore.
“Children today are less free than they have ever been,” he told Quartz. And that lack of freedom has exacted a dramatic toll, he says."
https://qz.com/642351/is-the-way-we-parent-causing-a-mental-health-crisis-in-our-kids/
*With a staff of 5 and 19 counselors and not counting rent, equipment, insurance and "waiting room coffee" that *doesn't* leave much meat on the bone for essential people that directly help the kids.
It is just like Mary to feather her own nest. Wonder how her siblings liked being thrown under the bus?
“It is a place that is near and dear to my heart because two of my siblings were clients here,” she said."
http://www.post-gazette.com/news/health/2015/04/24/Mt-Lebanon-nonprofit-s-leader-wants-to-end-stigma-of-mental-health-issues/stories/201504240002
About the coffee, I saw that Coffee Tree Roasters has made in kind donations. At least it was that way in the 2015 Annual Report. I have never been to Outreach, so I'm hoping that it is true that there is coffee offered in the waiting room.
Elaine
Remember 1:39 admonished us all that "You're no one to tell them what kind of coffee they should serve in the waiting room" so we better not waste time on coffee.
That's great that Birks has a personal affinity for Outreach and hope her siblings got whatever help they needed from it.
What might be bothersome though is Birks philosophy that "Well, if your child is having issues with studying, friends, etc., it is more than acceptable to make an appointment to see a counselor,” she said."
Acceptable would be first, maybe spend a little more time with your kids helping them with homework. Then talk to their teachers or school counselors. On friends, usually kids will work things out for themselves. It isn't quite as simple as seeing an optometrist and trying out a new lens or contacts.
http://m.kidshealth.org/en/kids/school-counselors.html?WT.ac=
"School counselors are people you can turn to when you need help. They are good listeners, and they want to help you get the most out of school. School counselors help students handle all types of problems. For example, they can help if a kid is:
• being bullied at school
• struggling in math and needs extra help
• new to the school and doesn't have friends yet
• upset about a family problem, such as divorce or death of a loved one
• having trouble concentrating on homework
• having friendship troubles
• feeling nervous about what to expect next year at middle school
If you're going through any type of problem, a great person to share your thoughts and feelings with is your school counselor."
Gee, that list of things that supposedly school counselors can help kids handle sounds a helluva a lot like what Outreach.
So why the duplication of effort? Why is the school district sending money to an organization when they already have the same services?
Why help pay $70,000 for an Executive Director to an outside organization when they already have counselors? If they're overburden keep the money in the district and hire more!
Why should the district contribute money for an organizations offices, phones, office equipment, and so on when the school district already has that stuff?
Why would School Board President Birks approve money for an outside organization that duplicates services that school counselors are suppose to provide?
Doesn't Birks continually cry that the district needs more money? So why is she distributing what it has elsewhere?
The fact that you're critizing Ms. Birks' comments where she tries to say that it should be acceptable and easy to make an appointment for social problems, mental issues, etc are exactly why she needed to make that comment in the first place. There is such a stigma around mental illness. She is correct. Seeking help for these troubles should be as easy as seeking help for eye problems. The stigma behind these problems comes from that fact that they aren't as physical as eye problems or a broken arm, but they're even more important. Shame on the commenter who said that Outreach is overreaching their original purpose. Outreach provides a valuable service to our community, helping children who need more help than just school counselors. I'm sorry to see that now, the actual mission is being critiqued and not just funds. Sad! Some people will just never actually understand mental health.
Hmmm, so here we have two duplication of efforts by the school district and municipality.
The school district has counselors to help kids with problems and now we have Outreach that does apparently the same thing.
Then we have two public information offices. (USC seems to get by with the two combined and working together)
So couldn't we save a helluva a lot of money that could be better spent directly on the kids?
Just to correct you since you all are starting to go completely off the reservation, the "grant" from the Mt. Lebanon Police Association is not part of "your tax dollars" -- it comes from the money from the police officers themselves who pay a portion of their salary every month to the union, which is the Mt. Lebanon Police Association. And the union decides to give money to various causes that they deem worthy.
Thanks for that clarification, because there are Federal grants given to police departments for uses such as Outreach at the departments discretion.
Applause to the Association for their contribution.
1:35, just be clear "before anyone goes off the reservation" (I didn't know we residents were livining on a reservation that we could go off) no one is criticizing the work Outreach does. For sure their are kids that need help beyond what the school district, pastors can provide.
1:12, aren't there plenty of social services that care for the problems that the school district isn't equipped to handle? And aren't many of those service providers covered under healthcare insurance?
The fact that there may be a stigma to using a service like the school counselors or outside professionals can't be wished or legislated away and I'm not sure it should be.
You don't help an alcoholic by saying that's OK everybody has a drinking problem.
ECON 101: The police are paid by the municipality out of a pool of money the municipality collects, most of which is in the form of taxes. The police in turn pay union dues out of their tax-funded salaries. The union decides to give money to various causes that they deem worthy; money they received indirectly from taxpayers. Federal grants come money the federal government collects in the form of taxes. None of this is a slam against the police department, the union that represents policemen, Outreach, or even the feds. I just get tired of the economic illiteracy demonstrated by some of the stiff-necked people on this blog.
Elaine.. you should hear what Ms. Birks has been saying about you !! Not characteristic of a Schoolboard member or the head of Outreach !! The first line of defense needs to be with the School Counselor. My child had a positive experience with her Counselor. Ms. Birks.. or any Schoolboard Member should be recommending the District and not HER agency !
You're not the first person to tell me that, 3:50 PM. She and her minions can be interesting to deal with. I'm glad you had a positive experience with your child. When my husband died, I met with all my son's teachers and guidance counselor. Outreach isn't the only show in town. I was working at the Caring Place at the time and I know that they had a wonderful program for grieving kids.
Unfortunately, not everyone has had a positive experience at MTLSD. You can read more about that after Jason's Behind The Bubble article goes live tonight. Jason told me that he heard many sad stories that couldn't be shared because the identity of the children would have been revealed. The district is filled with bullies and Mary is the biggest one. Now THAT is sad, 1:12 PM!
Elaine
1:12 did you read the kids health article provided by 11:34?
The district most economically efficient first line of help for kids and parents in my opinion.
This taxpayer believes adding a counselor at the school district level or initiating a campaign to get kids to accept counseling if they're having problems would be a better use of funds than paying an Executive Director double what the previous director made.
As far as the stigma issue. If you're calling out -- or should we say bullying -- someone that is having a problem and going for counseling you are the stigma problem.
It's kind of like this blog. People enter into opinionated discussions about pertinent issues in the community that they feel strongly about and some can discuss it intelligently.
Then there are those that want to F people, tell them to move, and stigmatize their opinions.
Let's see in Mt. Lebanon we have:
Child, Family & Community Inc. at Mt. Lebanon Shops
and this list:
Mount Lebanon Child or Adolescent Therapist - Child or Adolescent Therapist Mount Lebanon, Allegheny County, Pennsylvania - Child or Adolescent Counseling Mount Lebanon, Allegheny County, Pennsylvania
https://therapists.psychologytoday.com/rms/prof_results.php?city=Mount+Lebanon&state=PA&spec=5
Does the school district give funds and make referrals to all of them or just Outreach?
No doubt, there is a little - you rub this, I'll rub that. It's embedded in the MTL culture.
2:32 pm. I can't imagine how there is less of a stigma associated with going to Outreach versus going to a licensed private practitioner locally. Both settings are required to protect health information and provide confidentiality. I'm getting multiple conflict of interest vibes from this discussion. How can the police rely on referring to only one agency locally to provide mental health services for youth they detain? What does the referral list for youth mental health counseling from the district look like? Do the guidance counselors only refer to Outreach? Do some guidance counselors keep the pipeline alive while others refer more broadly?
Mary E
Mrs. Birks will be busy with a wedding in Lake Tahoe this month. http://www.thealmanac.net/20161018/birks_-_harry
I debated about approving this, but it IS from The Almanac. Coincidently, what makes it interesting is that a "friend" of Mary's shared with me that Blaise is officiating the wedding.
From the 2015 Annual Report:
Choices - Drug & Alcohol Education
Program for Teens A group program for
teens who have appeared before a magistrate
for underage drinking or drug use, or any
teen in need of education on how to make
better decisions with the pressures of
alcohol/other drug use.
“The best resource for families in the
Pittsburgh area.”
- Blaise Larotonda
Magisterial District Judge
********
Elaine
Mary E, Google Outreach Mt. Lebanon and the first listing warns this site may be hacked.
Hey 2:40 -- let me take a wild guess, when you get pulled over by the police, you are one of those people yelling "I pay your salary!" I LOVE those people. Not.
Aug 1, 2:40
They probably don't say that to police because they can comprehend that the sign that reads 35 mph means 35 mph and the stop sign means stop.
Unlike some special people that think the rules are for other people and not them.
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