Wedgwood's Coffee Break Conversation

Send us Fan Mail “It's not about us as individuals. It's not really, dare I say, it's not even about therapy. It's about relationships and growth.” Wedgwood’s Residential Program offers safety, stability, and care to kids who have experienced some form of trauma in their young lives – which is sometimes compounded by other challenges like developmental disabilities and cognitiv...

Send us Fan Mail “My best piece of advice for everyone in the audience is that when trauma and mental health, substance abuse, any of these aspects are on the table. The only way out is through, talk about it stop avoiding the situation.” Local teens and community experts shared candid insights and valuable expertise on Mental Health, Trauma, Substance Use, Life Online, and Healthy Relationships a...

Send us Fan Mail “A healthy relationship is not a one-and-done conversation. It’s about opening the space and having that ongoing conversation, and showing that you care.” Local teens and community experts shared candid insights and valuable expertise on Mental Health, Trauma, Substance Use, Life Online, and Healthy Relationships at Wedgwood’s State of the Child Panel Conversation.  In this Coffee...

Send us Fan Mail “I feel like social media is part of the reason why there's so much stress and anxiety.” Local teens and community experts shared candid insights and valuable expertise on Mental Health, Trauma, Substance Use, Life Online, and Healthy Relationships at Wedgwood’s State of the Child Panel Conversation.  In this Coffee Break Conversation, our fourth in the State of the Child ser...

Send us Fan Mail “I like to have the open and honest conversation with kids. Thank them for telling me, but then what can we do? Why are you vaping? Okay, so you're anxious, tell me a little bit more about that. And then how can I help you?” Local teens and community experts shared candid insights and valuable expertise on Mental Health, Trauma, Substance Use, Life Online, and Healthy Relatio...

Send us Fan Mail “I think it's really important for adults to be a safe place for kids, whether that's a teacher, whether that's a parent, whether that's a coach, we need to put our phones down, and we need to be making eye contact with our kids. They need to know that you're present and that you're there and that you're a safe space for them.” Local teens and co...

Send us Fan Mail “Childhood seems fun. But there are things that people are going through, and there are even times where like, we just put on a show. Most of us kids are really good actors, and you might not believe it.” Local teens and community experts shared candid insights and valuable expertise on Mental Health, Trauma, Substance Use, Life Online, and Healthy Relationships at Wedgwood’s Stat...

Send us Fan Mail “I would like to tell the kids to find your voice. You might think that it's over. And you think that there's no hope, but don’t think that way. Find your passion and drive yourself in it and turn your pain into your gain.” Jimaine Wilson understands the impact of Wedgwood’s grace-filled care. What he learned while in Wedgwood’s Residential Program has shaped him and hel...

Send us Fan Mail “There are so many different myths around human trafficking. When you hear the “human trafficking,” people often assume that it's a situation where someone's being kidnapped or forced into it. When, really, it's easier to get someone to do what you want them to do when you’ve made them feel comfortable.” Wedgwood’s Manasseh Project is an outreach, dedicated to endin...

Send us Fan Mail “When they know that they can trust me and they know that they're safe sharing things with me, then we can really start to touch on the important issues." Wedgwood’s Substance Use Disorder Treatment Services help teens, adults, and families overcome the challenges that addiction can bring. James Sherrill, a community-based clinician works primarily with teens in the Otta...

Send us Fan Mail “We just love these kids, we show kindness, but it doesn't have to be something that we actually speak about, we can show them in our actions.” Working in Wedgwood’s Positive Youth Development Program for the last 10 years has shown Gina Boscarino that being a teenager will always come with challenges, and their need for positive support and to be reminded that they are loved...

Send us Fan Mail “Kids are like little sponges; they soak up all the information they might need. But our kids don’t always get as much out of those learning opportunities. So we give them the extra help they need.” Wedgwood’s Autism Center for Child Development (ACCD) provides and fun, engaging environment for kids with autism spectrum disorder to receive therapy and learn crucial skills. Jennife...

Send us Fan Mail “I call working at Wedgwood ‘James 1:29 work’ It’s good work.” Steve Carigon has had his hand in a variety of Wedgwood’s programs. In each he has been able to do what he feels he has been called to do – love others. In this Coffee Break Conversation Steve shares his Wedgwood story, how he sees lives transformed through grace-filled care, and why he thinks Wedgwood’s work makes God...

Send us Fan Mail “Wedgwood is where I'm supposed to be, and this is what I'm supposed to be doing. It's exciting because I feel called to do it.” Over the last few years Jake Dunlop has been serving on Wedgwood’s Board of Directors, currently serving as Chairperson. During that time, he has learned a great deal about community needs and how Wedgwood has adapted to meet them over the...

Send us Fan Mail “God is definitely ever present in our department, and I've definitely seen his hand in all of it. We're still getting to do the good hard work with these people.” Addiction does not discriminate. It’s an issue wreaking havoc on our communities. But Kari Schulte, a clinical supervisor for Wedgwood’s Substance Use Disorder Treatment Services, sees hope for recovery and li...

Send us Fan Mail “It is in the small moments, over time, consistently, that we see God moving here at Wedgwood.” Dr. Dan Gowdy, Wedgwood's President/CEO is proud of the people who work at Wedgwood. He is proud of the work they do and their dedication to offering care that is both professionally excellent and full of grace and compassion. He’s proud of the organization’s calling and mission. A...

Send us Fan Mail “One of the coolest things is when a child gets to the point where they recognize that they can do more than just be a passive observer in their own life.” Wedgwood’s Outpatient Counseling and Community Care Management help kids and families get the support they need as they navigate life’s mental, emotional, and behavioral health challenges. Our therapists, with grace, patience,...

Send us Fan Mail “We kind of step in as that person for them that's giving them good information that's answering questions that they have.” Prevention and Positive Youth Development are a vital part of the comprehensive continuum of care that Wedgwood offers. Through these school and community-based services our team is able to be a source of reliable information, encouragement, and sup...

Send us Fan Mail “I love seeing the ‘Aha!’ moments, when they use skills we’ve been teaching them and helping them practice without reminding them.” Activity Therapy is a part of Wedgwood’s Recreation & Wellness Services – which is one of our 100% donor-funded Transforming Services. Aileen Fiest is the Activity Therapy Coordinator and Activity Therapist for one of our specialized residential t...

Send us Fan Mail “And that was that was something new to me that I did have, instead of running away from something, I had something I wanted to get to. This week’s Coffee Break Conversation is a very special conversation. Recorded at Wedgwood’s 61st Anniversary Celebration, Maranda of WOOD TV8 sits down with Dr. Wendi Miller, who spent a portion of her formative teenage years in Wedgwood’s Reside...

Send us Fan Mail “Impacting a child’s life is really valuable, but to be able to help the whole family, that is where the long-lasting impact is going to happen.” Dawn Harvey, Chief Program Officer, has been a part of Wedgwood’s team for over 30 years. She was initially drawn to Wedgwood because of the life-changing work being done and the dedication to providing that care with grace and excellenc...

Send us Fan Mail “We have to consider what they’ve been through and help them be the leaders of their own story.” Kali Jackson is the Therapist for one of Wedgwood’s specialized residential programs and helps kids navigate, process, and work through their trauma.  In this week’s Coffee Break Conversation Kali shares the impact trauma has on treatment approaches, what success look like for kids, an...

Send us Fan Mail “Whether we are the first step, big step, little step, or last step, we are planting seeds.” Manny Ortiz is the Home Supervisor of one of Wedgwood’s specialized residential programs. While he’s worked at Wedgwood for 3 years, he doesn’t view it as a career. To him, this work is his calling.  “God has been very good to me, he’s provided me with great people, and I want to do the sa...

Send us Fan Mail “That's something that's so special about the NextGen Board – everyone just has such a passion for Wedgwood, and we just want to do as much as we can.” Emily Quellet is the incoming co-chair for the NextGen Board at Wedgwood Christian Services, a group of rising community leaders who are dedicated to advancing the mission of Wedgwood Christian Services by increasing awar...

Send us Fan Mail “Being able to integrate those two things – work and faith together – I think, is tremendous.” Nathan Kline is the Director of Information Services here at Wedgwood. As the head of our IT team, Nathan was instrumental in getting the organization set up to continue offering vital mental and behavioral health services throughout the pandemic. All within his first couple of weeks at...