Recovery & Suicide Awareness Month, Wk. 1

Posted on by Annabelle Coffman

Did you know?

Individuals with substance use disorders are particularly susceptible to suicide and suicide attempts. Indeed, suicide is a leading cause of death among people who misuse alcohol and drugs. Substance misuse significantly increases the risk of suicide. Approximately 22 percent of deaths by suicide involved alcohol intoxication. (SAMHSA)

Catalyst Life Services specializes in dual-diagnosis treatment.

If you can benefit from this treatment call our 24/7 Helpline at 419-522-HELP.

Agents of Change: Virtual Recovery Run

September is Recovery Month! 

Be one of our “Agents of Change” by participating in our Virtual Recovery Run, happening all month long! You can be the difference that makes recovery possible.

Click here to learn more!

Peer Recovery Supporters are individuals who have been in recovery for a number of years and have been certified to help support others who struggle with addiction.Our amazing Peer Supporters share what helped them the most in the early stages of their own recovery.

Click here to see what they shared!

Q&A with Stacy Shoup


Q1: What is your title and how long have you worked at Catalyst? 

I am an AOD Counselor (LCDC II) at the Men’s Residential facility. I have worked at New Beginnings/The Rehab Center/Catalyst Life Services for 29 years full time on Oct. 3rd.
I started as a case manager in our all female residential facility (at the time was adult and adolescent females) and then worked to obtain my LCDC II.

Q2: In a few sentences, can you explain what your role at Catalyst consists of?

Currently I am the Male Counselor. I do everything from Intensive Outpatient Treatment (IOP) 5 days weekly, to individual sessions, some case management and all clinical documentation to include completing and submitting ASAM levels of care (LOC) to insurance companies for approval. I work closely with the house manager to address any presenting issues as it pertains to the consumers along with review of admissions, discharges and transfers in LOC.    

Q3: What do you like the most about your job?

What I like most about my job is seeing our consumers make lifestyle changes, getting to know them as they learn about themselves and understanding them and their needs and how I can help them help themselves, everyday is different.

Q4: What does the word, ‘Recovery’, mean to you?

The word recovery to me means empowerment, growth, and change.

Q5: What do you think stops people from getting the services they need for addiction?

The stigma regarding Addiction/Mental Health can be a barrier to treatment. I also think family members and their lack of knowledge and or compassion, as well as the person themselves. I also believe that a lack of resources for the consumers stops them. I am hopeful that with telehealth more consumers are able to seek services and or stay engaged in services 

Q6: What positive changes do you hope to see in the future for those who struggle with substance use?

Positive changes I hope to see is the consumer being able to get the services they need for as long as they need them without Managed Care Companies dictating what they need and for how long.

Suicide Prevention Awareness

Community Support

We are so grateful to Joe Jakubick with First Energy Foundation for presenting us with financial support for Progress Industries / Catalyst Life Services.

The money will go to fill in funding gaps for clients with barriers to employment. 

Click to learn more about the AOD (alcohol and other drug) Services that we provide.

Signs of Suicide Prevention Program

Posted on by Annabelle Coffman

The adolescent years can be some of the most challenging years in an individual’s life. It is a time of hormonal changes, figuring out identity, making future plans and becoming independent. Mental health is always important to maintain; however, at a time with so many drastic changes, the need for good mental health becomes more obvious. With suicide being the second-leading cause of death for high school students, suicide and mental health awareness is essential.

Catalyst Life Services is committed to providing excellent mental health support and to raise awareness to the importance of good mental health. One of the ways we create this awareness is through the S.O.S. Program. This program is geared toward high school students and equips them with the knowledge they need to know about suicide including the warning signs and what to do if a friend is exhibiting those signs. Students are provided with resources and shown the importance of taking signs of suicide seriously and how to get help from a trusted adult.

 Kristi Crabb, Child & Adolescent Therapist, is one of the instrumental individuals who makes the S.O.S Program possible. In the past 3 years, she has helped to bring this program to local schools such as Lexington and Clear Fork High Schools. This program has helped countless freshmen students and has a unique structure.

“There is a video that’s shown which is about 25 minutes, then we review with the student, and have a discussion.” Kristi shares. “We have also begun having the students write down any questions they may have and turn them in without their name on them. We feel this allows students to ask their questions more openly without the fear of being judged. We have found this to be very productive.”

If you walk through the halls of Lexington or Clear Fork, you may notice some students wearing purple and green bracelets with the acronym: “B.I.O.N.I.C”. These are the students who have gone through the S.O.S program and desire to share their knowledge with anyone who needs help. This acronym stands for, ‘Believe it or Not I Care’. On the other side of the bracelet is the Catalyst 24/7 HelpLine that can help support anyone is crisis.

This program combats the stigma that is commonly attached to: mental health, self-harm and suicide. Many students feel they are alone and do not share their struggles because of the fear of judgment and being labeled a certain way. However, Kristi Crabb shares that she has seen first-hand how this curriculum has helped to open doors, break down stigma and equip these students on what to do if they themselves or a friend is struggling with thoughts of suicide.

Kristi hopes to continue the program this fall. However, with ongoing changes in protocols and classes at local high schools due to COVID-19, further planning is needed to map out how this program can continue. Stay tuned to see how we will continue to raise awareness for suicide prevention and good mental health.

Peer Recovery Supporters

Posted on by Annabelle Coffman

Peer Recovery Supporters are individuals who have been in recovery for a number of years and have been certified to help support others who struggle with addiction.

Their perspective and support is so unique because they have all personally struggled with substance use and have found freedom, healing and strength on their road to recovery. Our amazing Peer Supporters share what helped them the most in the early stages of their own recovery.

“Discovering sober hobbies was super important early in recovery for me. I honestly had nothing I liked to do aside from getting high. I had to let go of all of my friends because they were still using so I had a ton of free time. I found that I had a huge interest for art and painting (and was actually pretty decent at it). Painting became my escape when I felt triggered or stuck in my own head. I think it is all about stepping out of yourself and your comfort zone to find ones true potential.”

-Olivia Pidgeon

“At that time many things in my life were in disarray. My faith in Jesus Christ gave me the strength to make it through those hard times. Following Christ means humbling yourself, KNOWING His word and trusting that all things work for good for those who love and follow Him. For me, Christ is still a constant in a world filled with uncertainty. This life is a journey, not a destination. To be healthy it is necessary to continue to learn and grow as you pass through the different seasons of your life.”

-Stanley Rust

“What was important to me in early recovery was my on-going and deepening relationship with God.  I had many around me offer me tools to help with my recovery but without a firm foundation on which to stand, I could not have used those tools effectively. God’s complete and absolute love for me and the knowledge of His grace gave me that foundation.”

-Valerie Rust

“In early recovery when I attended AA meetings, I felt as if the leads would jump from their addiction stories to their life now. I remember sitting there thinking (but how did you get from there to here). I really wanted someone to talk about how to get through what I was going through at the time. It was crucial to me to hear words of hope that I could get better if I followed through with the program. Bonding with people in my recovery group was helpful, because it kinda became our struggle, and not just mine. We actually started to care about each other’s recovery as well as our own. Another important piece was staying away from using friends. I tried for awhile to keep the same friends, go the same places, and do the same things, without getting drunk. Well that didn’t last long. All of that had to change as well. As my anxiety increased I really felt the need to reach out to a God I had known about my whole life, but never surrendered to. As my relationship with My God began to grow, I began to have more hope. Finally, I was not alone, but had someone bigger than me who could handle all my struggles much better than I could.”

-Lisa Thornton

“I had tried many times to stop using my way and within 2 to 6 months I would say something like “If this is my life sober, I might as well get high” 

Looking back, in the first 2 years of my recovery I:

  • Changed my way of thinking to improve the quality of my life.
    • I knew I had a problem, however, I had to accept that my way did not work and I would have to find a new way to live.
    • I found people that had been successful in changing their life, that were willing to help me.
    • I had to remember that years of reacting to life by getting high would take years to change. I was in no hurry to fix my life, progress in the right direction was good enough.
  • Developed a new routine that enabled a new way to live
    • My daily routine included hanging out with people that were in recovery, I attended IOP and or 12-step meetings every day. 
    • My routine was focused on adding new people, places and things.  By adding new, the old just fell out of my life.
  • Became aware of what I was thinking about and took action
    • The hardest time for me was the time from when I got off work till I went to bed so I went to meetings and took long walks to keep me from feeling sorry for myself. 
    • I became aware of when I was dwelling on something in the past or the future and learned to accept what I could not change.  I also learned the only thing I could change was how I reacted to life.” -Andrew Martenet

“Having the peers join our SUD team has made such a positive impact for our clients. We all have or will struggle at some point in life, and we all can find strength in the support of others and through positive connection. Peer recovery supporters being able to share their personal lived experience is key in their job and something I am not able to do as a clinician. To me the peer recovery supporters offer hope and guidance for clients. I work with many clients who have no sense of hope or self-esteem when initially coming into treatment. They feel lost and like recovery isn’t a realistic option for them. Peer recovery supporters offer the hope that recovery is possible and share how they personally have experienced the healing process and recovery from addiction. The peers offer motivation and support during trying times and celebrate the successes with clients as they come. Thank you for all that you do for clients and our agency!”

-Deanna Roberts, LSW, Supervisor of Peer Recovery Support

August Newsletter

Posted on by Annabelle Coffman

Did you know?

Did you know that American Sign Language grammar is more similar to French than English?

Tanya shares what Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing Services is all about and the many services that are provided! 
She also shares how Catalyst Life Services combats the stigma associated with an individual’s hearing ability.

Click the image above to watch!

Q1: What is your title and how long have you worked at Catalyst? 

My title is Deaf Services Coordinator/Interpreter. And Sept 15th will be 12 years.   

Q2: Can you tell us a little bit about the services you provide to clients? 

Deaf services has always provided interpreting, Advocacy/Education, Leadership, Support Services and Summer Youth programming (until this year we took a break due to the lack of kiddos in our area).  

Honestly we do just about everything we can to assist our clients.  Sometimes that doesn’t fall under any of the categories that I mentioned. For example, a client, that has since passed; brought his entire fax machine into the office one day for me to fix it.  If anyone knows me I am not the person to ask to fix anything electronic. All I did was plug it in and turned it on and it seemed to work and he was pleased. He took it home and that was that. 

Deaf Services now offers a few extra programs such as WIP, Case Management & Pre-ETS.   

Q3: What might a ‘typical’ day look like to you as an interpreter? 

There truly is no “normal” day for interpreters. My day can be set when I leave for the day and by the time I wake up my entire day could be different. Maybe I had some office time and then a few medical appointments and some more office time scheduled.  Then I could have gotten a call that was we need an interpreter all day for a work training, or an emergency surgery. Or I could have gotten called out in the middle of the night. I’ve left work literally pulled in my drive and received a call to go back out. I later arrived home from that call and got another call less than 1 hour later and had to go out again. Arrived home AGAIN (lol) slept few a few hours and got up for my normal day.     

Q4: What is one of the most unique interpreting experience you’ve had? 

One of the most unique experiences I’ve had was when I first started interpreting and interpreted my first C-section. As an interpreter, you really have to have the stomach for anything and everything.  It was me having to relay every moment that was happening.  From the first time the doctor was making his incision, to what I was seeing and what the nurses and doctor were saying. Letting her know that they were pulling her child out and what that looked like. Sewing her up and keeping her updated with her child’s status as they cleaned and checked the baby. Imagine being strapped down to a table and not being able to hear a sound, or see what’s happening because there is a sheet up in front of you. Weird, right? That’s the exciting part for me. Knowing we as interpreters give them the experience they should have. The communication.   

Q5: What do you think is something most people do not know about Deaf Services? 

People truly have no clue how much work goes into scheduling for 9 counties.  The coordination of which interpreter can go to what assignment. Navigating time frames of the appointment and travel time. What if the appointment goes longer than expected? What if an emergency gets called in? What if one of the interpreters has to leave because they are sick? So many factors can change our day in a second. I know I constantly inform entities that we cover a large area and we are not always available last minute. However, over the years there has not been much we have not covered. We work hard to accommodate all the assignments we can.  

Meet the ASL Interpreters!

ASL Interpreters share their favorite part of their job at Catalyst Life Services!

“My favorite part of being an interpreter at Catalyst is that every day is different so I never get bored and I can always improve.”
-Tanya Haga

“My favorite part of being an interpreter is working in a variety of settings with people of all ages.”   
– Ruthie Good

 “The best part of being an interpreter for me is the way we can bring light to a situation whether it be a medical issue or mental health issue by finding conceptual ways of bringing that ‘aha moment’.”   
-Kori Serrano

“One of my favorite parts of being an interpreter is the variety of assignments, it keeps me on my toes.”    
-Carleigh Ison

“My favorite part of interpreting is getting to work in a variety of different settings and with different people every day.”   
-Whitney Rotter

 “My favorite part of being an interpreter is that I am always learning new things.”   
-Shelby Mills

  “My favorite part is getting to meet and help communicate with a variety of different people in a variety of different circumstances.”
-Molly Blackford

“My favorite part of being an interpreter is knowing that I’ve turned confusion into understanding by using a person’s preferred language so they don’t have to work as hard to communicate.” 
–Diane Schmidt

“My favorite part about being an interpreter is experiencing all of the diverse and unique situations that I encounter and expanding my horizons by learning a little bit about all of the different things that I can.” 
-Rebekkah Broughton

Language Access: COVID-19 Impact

Stay in touch with the Community Center for the Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing!

Click to join The Community Center for the Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing Facebook page!
Click to sign up for the Deaf Services Quarterly Newsletter!

News for Recovery & Addiction Services

Addiction Physiology, Facts, and Future Hope

Posted on by Annabelle Coffman

The New Beginnings Alcohol and Drug Treatment Services Team participated in a training titled “Addiction Physiology, Facts, and Future Hope,” by Dr. Joseph Bocka MD, Catalyst Life Services Withdrawal Management Medical Director.   Information regarding how opiates and other substances affect the brain, updates on medication assisted treatment, how to support those who are in early recovery, and new projects on the horizon including his new role providing addiction consult services for hospital employees. 

The event also provided staff with training on how to respond to an overdose.  Dr. Bocka secured NARCAN for each staff member to have for their own personal use.  Guy Daly, licensed social worker at New Beginning’s residential facilities provided information on his past experiences providing NARCAN as a firefighter and outreach coordinator.  Paige Rhodes, Withdrawal Management Nursing Director provided information on the process to provide NARCAN to clients leaving the withdrawal management center, residential facilities, and those in outpatient services.  This training comes at a critical time as information provided by the Richland County Opiate Review Board indicates that from 1/1/20 – 7/31/20 overdoses have increased by 32.12% and overdose deaths have increased by 43.48%.

Naloxone, sold under the brand name Narcan, is one tool to assist with combating the epidemic of opioid use—including prescription painkillers and, increasingly, heroin.  The complex issues surrounding addiction require a multi-pronged approach that involves reducing drug diversion, expanding delivery of existing treatments (including medication-assisted treatments), and development of new medications for pain that can augment our existing treatment arsenal. But another crucial component we must not forget is that people who abuse or are addicted to opioids need to be kept alive long enough that they can be treated successfully. In this, the drug naloxone has a large potential role to play.  It’s only meant to be a first line of defense during an overdose, because its antidote effect will wear off in 20–90 minutes. So naloxone really just buys time for the victim until they can be treated more thoroughly by licensed medical professionals. It may even need to be administered a second time if the victim stops breathing again. 

Some people have suggested that if naloxone were viewed as a safety net, it would encourage people to use more opioids. Several studies have demonstrated that this is simply not true — increased naloxone access has shown no increase in behaviors associated with opioid ingestion.   Even in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, we are seeing the overdose crisis still impacting lives.  We know that nationwide both overdoses and overdose deaths are on the rise again.  People have lost their jobs and their health insurance leaving more people vulnerable.  On July 23rd, the FDA announced that it will require drug manufacturers to include information about naloxone on the labels of opioid painkillers.  Raising awareness for not only those who are addicted to opioids, but helping the public understand the lifesaving potential Narcan can provide, is a worthwhile venture. Addiction is treatable. But not if you’re dead.

Catalyst and many of our community partners, such as the Richland County Mental Health & Recovery Services Board, help to ensure that residents of Richland County have access to quality care and services. 

As we continue to deal with the opioid epidemic, it is critical that we use all the tools available to save lives.  We know that with understanding and compassion, hope can grow. Ongoing training and education will let those who struggle with substance use know –  they are not alone and help is available.  Catalyst offers detox/withdrawal management services, residential gender specific services, outpatient groups, individual counseling, case management, peer support services, mental health and psychiatric services.  Send a question through our website or call our 24 hour Helpline at 419-522 HELP (4357).

Elaine Surber has served as Catalyst Life Services Executive Vice President, and Director of New Beginnings Alcohol and Drug Treatment Services since 2010.  As the Director of New Beginnings Alcohol and Drug Treatment Services, she provides administrative and clinical supervision, as well as program development and oversight. She currently serves as a member of the Richland County Opiate Board and the Ohio Alliance for Recovery Providers. .  Elaine has a bachelor’s degree in Substance Abuse Counseling from the University of Cincinnati.  She is a Licensed Independent Chemical Dependency Counselor (LICDC-CS) with clinical supervision endorsement.  She has over thirty years of experience working in the behavioral health field. 

Language Access: COVID-19 Impact

Posted on by Annabelle Coffman

In the middle of March 2020, when the COVID-19 pandemic hit Ohio, one barrier that became glaringly apparent was the lack of accessible language in many areas of society. This was shown through:

  • Masks blocking people’s faces so lip reading couldn’t happen and voices were muffled
  • Interpreters were limited from being brought into appointments when needed
  • Remote appointments were not always accessible due to a lack of interpreter or the platform not being user friendly

Now that we are four months down the road, here are a few tips to improve language access during the COVID-19 pandemic and any other time.

1. Being able to see the entire face is necessary for the grammar of American Sign Language. This means that a Deaf or Hard-of-Hearing individual who uses American Sign Language to communicate will need to have their face seen by the interpreter and be able to see the face of the interpreter in order to have full language access. Access to and ability to use clear face masks or shields is necessary in order to make sure the language is accessible.

2. Face masks muffle the voice of the speaker. This means that the speaker may need to repeat themselves often and/or speaker louder in order to be heard by a hard-of-hearing individual who uses their residual hearing/hearing aids/cochlear implants for language access. These same individuals often read lips as well. Having access to be able to do this by having the speaker use a clear face mask or shields is necessary in order to make sure the language is accessible.

3. Families and friends are not appropriate interpreters for a Deaf or Hard-of-Hearing individual who uses American Sign Language. Interpreters are required to follow the Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf Code of Professional Conduct, receive education on American Sign Language and the interpreting process and laws, and trainings focused on interpreting. Professional American Sign Language interpreters are required to remain unbiased, interpret fully, and maintain confidentiality. Family and friends cannot fit all of these requirements, even if they can sign.

4. Video remote interpreters may not be the best choice for appointments. Deaf and hard-of-Hearing individuals who communicate using American Sign Language may not be able to see the video remote interpreter on the screen, may not understand the video remote interpreter, or may prefer a live in-person interpreter for many reasons. Another issue is that locations that choose to use video remote interpreters often don’t know how to use the equipment effectively, which can be very frustrating to the Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing individual. When determining language access, these concerns need to be taken into consideration.

Contact us!

Catalyst Life Services Community Center for the Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing provides 24/7 American Sign Language interpreting in the counties of Ashland, Crawford, Huron, Knox, Marion, Morrow, Richland, Seneca, and Wyandot. For more information, please call (419) 774-2232.

Tanya Haga is the Director of Deaf Services and has worked at Catalyst Life Services since 2014 in this role. She has a Bachelor’s of Arts in American Sign Language Interpreting, a Master’s of Education and Master’s in Business Administration. She is also nationally certified by the Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf. Tanya’s responsibilities include management and oversight of interpreting, captioning, case management for clients with a hearing loss, sign language classes, summer youth program, and contract and grant projects.

July Newsletter

Posted on by Annabelle Coffman

July is National Minority Mental Health Month, created to bring awareness to the unique struggles that underrepresented groups face in regard to mental health in the United States. We strive to ensure Catalyst is an agent of change in our community for the health and well-being of ALL those we serve! 

Click below to view our video promoting Minority Mental Health Month!

Did You Know?

Our Employment Specialist assist individuals with barriers to employment by assisting with creating resumes, facilitating career exploration, providing interview preparation, computer training, job support, and many other skills to achieve competitive job placement?

Do you think you could benefit from meeting with an Employment Specialist? Call Progress Industries at 419-774-2248. 

Q&A with Mitch Jacobsen

1. What is your title and how long have you worked at Catalyst?    

Director of Vocational Services and I’ve worked at Catalyst for a little over 6 years.            

2. Can you share about some of the services and programs Progress Industries provides?    

Progress Industries is our industrial division of Catalyst Life Services.   

We offer low cost manufacturing solutions to other manufacturers in the Mansfield and Richland County area. Some of the things you might see an employee at Progress Industries (PI) doing might be, assembling flap valves for Gorman Rupp pumps, converting blown film bags for Next Generation Films, performing Quality Control or Inspection on parts produced at Rable Machine, or packaging and kitting components for Warren Rupp.   

A secondary, but equally important component to PI would be our embroidery and print division, which services customers all over the state with embroidered or printed apparel products, as well as vinyl signs and banner products. We have a highly trained team in this division and generally attempt to recruit employees with a high degree of attention to detail and ability to follow instructions from the PI manufacturing floor.

3: How does Progress Industries help clients attain employment?

By giving them the skills needed for success in the workplace. We are not “simulated employment” in the shops, we are the real deal. We teach the hard skills like assembly, quality control and inspection, basic machine operation, knowledge of PPE and safety, shipping and receiving – and we require some of the softer skills like ability to follow instructions and work independently, attention to detail, communication and teamwork. These are the skills that are needed for community employment. These are the skills that are needed for almost any position and our clients can gain them at PI.

4. What do you think is something most people don’t know about Vocational Services?

Our programs have more than doubled in size in the past five years, so it can be hard to keep up with some of the growth and new programs we’re offering.   

Our vocational services are integrated within many other components of Catalyst as an organization. This is a necessity, as we need to be responsive both to the needs of Catalyst as an organization and we need to be responsive to the local labor market and the businesses with open positions. 

We have vocational representatives in other treatment team meetings, providing groups to the unit, meeting with clients who are in the recovery process and seeking employment for long-term stability, as well as a team that is specifically geared toward transitional age youth (ages 14-24). We work with this population to navigate the complexities of the working world and offer some exciting ancillary services such as paid work experiences and driver’s education training. 

5. What do you like most about working at Catalyst?

I love how dynamic Catalyst is as an organization! We are at the forefront of solving major issues on a micro and macroscopic scale. We are constantly developing new programming to meet the needs of the persons served and the needs of the community at large. Working here is one of the most rewarding things, as you have a chance to celebrate the successes of your clients almost every single day. 

6. Is there anything else you would like to share?

Yeah! We are always hiring for the vocational workshop. We have first and second shift positions (8-12, 12-4) and are generally open Monday through Friday. While we cannot accept individuals with a history of violent or sexual offenses, we are generally flexible with other legal barriers to employment and would be happy to discuss an individual on your caseload with you on a more personal basis.

Staff Appreciation

     “Major shout out to our industrial workshop and embroidery and print staff! The past few months have been filled with a lot of uncertainty. However, these staff members have continued to come to work and focus on the needs at hand.  Our customers produce products for the automotive, agricultural, and medical industries, requiring us to stay open and keep up with production to continue keeping shelves stocked and the world moving forward. 

     These staff and clients have put forth tremendous effort in adapting to new safety procedures.Thank you to the production staff and clients, we truly could not do it without you!”

– Mitch Jacobsen, Director of Vocational Services

Community Support

We are so grateful to ‘The Women’s Fund of The Shelby Foundation’!

We are one of the 3 local nonprofits they awarded grants to during the COVID-19 pandemic.

WIOA: Fighting the barriers that impede success

Posted on by Annabelle Coffman

The Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) is a federal law providing funding to 14-24 year old youth to assist job-seekers with finding employment, help businesses find qualified workers, and to strengthen local workforce development.

The Comprehensive Case Management Employment Program (CCMEP) is an innovative program that can help low-income young adults build career paths, find employment and break the cycle of poverty.

CCMEP integrates funding from the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) program and the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) program to offer more coordinated, individualized services. CCMEP offers a wide range of services specifically tailored to each individual.

Ohio was one of the first states in the nation to attempt this degree of cross program integration.

Here at Catalyst, our CCMEP Team works to assist transitional age youth with barriers to their employment and educational goals. The employment specialists working on this team serve in school and out of school youth with things such as paid work experience, job coaching, job placement, assistance with secondary and post-secondary education, and more.

A photo of Amber Browning, a WIOA success story.

In 2018, 22 year old Amber Browning was referred to the WIOA program at Catalyst Life Services as a single mother of two who had dropped out of high school and was receiving public assistance. Amber’s potential was apparent early on, as she received her GED within one month of entering the program and soon afterward began taking classes at North Central State College. Shortly after the semester began, childcare issues and medical appointments took over Amber’s schedule and she started to fall behind in her classes, eventually dropping out altogether.

That’s when Amber’s employment specialist, Casey Gowitzka, took it upon herself to help Amber achieve her goals. “She would probably say I was very hard on her” says Gowitzka, “but it was because I saw so much potential inside of her that she didn’t see inside herself.”

Amber enrolled back into North Central State College, graduating in 2019 and finding full time employment at OhioHealth as a Radiology Technician earning over $16 an hour. Amber is now free from public assistance and is in the process of buying her first home. We couldn’t be more proud of Amber’s successes and expect many great things from her moving forward.

June Newsletter

Posted on by Annabelle Coffman

Did you know?

Approximately 48 million Americans have some degree of hearing loss but only 1 in 5 people who would benefit from a hearing aid actually uses one!

Do you think you could benefit from a hearing test? Call Audiology Services at 419-756-1133.

Q&A with Dr. Wendy Page

1. What is your title and how long have you worked at Catalyst? 

I am a Doctor of Audiology, this is a clinical doctorate.  I have worked for The Rehab Center/Catalyst for 33 years.   

2. Can you share about some of the services that your department provides?    

We serve people of all ages.  My youngest was a premature infant, age -4 days and my oldest was 101 years of age. I provide hearing testing to determine the type and degree of hearing loss. Once the hearing loss is defined, I am able to give options for patients such as hearing aids or assistive listening devices to help them hear better and communicate more effectively.

  Technology recommended is specific to individual’s needs and lifestyle.  We offer the latest technology for hearing aids, including Bluetooth direct connectivity and rechargeable for sale. We also service many hearing aid manufacturer’s not sold through Catalyst.  We offer options for possible solutions and include family as often as possible so that patients can make informed decisions about their hearing.  We also work with local industries providing hearing testing that meets OSHA guidelines as well as in the schools.  Services are provided as a fee for service.  We accept many private insurances, self-pay, Medicare and Medicaid and Medicaid HMO’s.  

3. What do you think is something most people don’t know about Audiology Services or hearing loss in general?

Audiology Services are available to anyone; we are not county bound, we are not just for those who cannot pay or have Medicaid.  Hearing loss can occur at any age, but the incidence (percentage) of people that have hearing loss increases with age.  Only 1 in 5 people who needs  hearing aids wears them and people generally wait 7 years from the time that they think they have a hearing loss until they purchase hearing aids.  Hearing loss is a hidden limitation.  Hearing to listen is one of the most difficult skills we have, it is exhausting for those with hearing loss due to the extra effort.   

4. What do you like most about working at Catalyst?

I enjoy the people, patients and families I work with here.  I am shown how grateful they are in their smiles and (until recently) hugs.  There is this magical smile of peace and relief that the patients show when they hear again or for the first time; or the face of a baby when they hear their parent’s voices for the first time. I never tire of seeing these things happen.    

5. Is there anything else you would like to share?

Many people who are deaf and hard of hearing rely on lip/speech reading and facial expressions to help understand what the speaker is saying; when we wear masks it makes it so much harder for them to communicate effectively.  Patience and kindness would be welcomed and appreciated.  

Did you know?

Precise Services is a vocational program located at the Rehab Center for individuals with disabilities who are provided intensive training to perform quality work to ensure customer satisfaction.

Call  419-774-2201 to learn more!

Q&A with Barb Moore


Q1: What is your title and how long have you worked at 
Catalyst?

My title is Precise Services/Facilities maintenance – Director . I’m working on my 40th year.

Q2: What is Precise Services and what do they offer?

Precise Services is another one of our vocational programs serving the commercial customer for custodial and lawn care as well as residential customers with lawn care services. A number of our client employees have come through our workshops and have successfully attained and maintained employment with Precise Services. One of the things that I think makes Precise a unique employer is the fact that we focus on an individual’s capabilities, not disabilities. 

Q3: How many individuals work for Precise and how many locations do they cover?

We have 53 employees in Precise and 4 in Facilities Maintenance. We have almost 100 contracts between custodial and lawn care. The maintenance crew takes care of both of our main sites, the New Beginning’s campus and numerous apartments. 

Q4: What do you enjoy most about your job and Precise Services? 

The individuals I work with and making a difference in peoples lives.

Q5: How would one get involved with Precise as a potential worker? Or a potential customer? 

We can be reached at 419-774-2201, for someone having question about our services or looking for employment 

Q6: Is there anything else you would like to share about Precise? 

Precise is all about someone’s ability not disability.

Q7: When was Precise established?

  Precise started back in the mid to late 80’s with 1 custodial and 1 contract that we serviced twice a week. Now we have over 50 employees and nearly 100 contracts, some we maintain 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 356 days a year.

Community Support

Thank you to the support of United Way of Richland County! 

Through United Way funding, we can help guide our youth and are able to provide the L.I.F.E (Learning Information For Empowerment) Initiative for children. L.I.F.E is a summer youth program that promotes a healthy, informed, active lifestyle and aims to increase prosocial skills through teaching new perspectives on mental/physical health and wellness. Catalyst will provide regular weekly recreational activities, learning environments, multi-cultural games, arts and crafts, and health education paired with the Skillstreaming curriculum. The L.I.F.E initiative assists youth with special needs and mental health diagnoses to identify social ques, obtain appropriate peer interactions, receive psych education of their diagnoses, and increase their self- awareness. Through the L.I.F.E program, children of our community are given the opportunity to feel empowered, gain self-awareness, develop coping strategies, improve problem-solving skills, and learn to make healthy decisions. These healthy decisions will improve their development both physically and mentally. L.I.F.E. aims to promote literacy, health, and wellness.

Hear from our Executive Director, Erin Schaefer

Richland Source in partnership with Ohio Health has designated this week as “Wellness Week” in order to promote mental health and share tools and exercises on how to decrease stress and anxiety.

We think thousands of thoughts every day. When we start to feel worried or sad, it often helps to change our thinking. 

Watch this Wellness Week video to learn some tips on how to get started, courtesy of Erin Schaefer, executive director and executive vice president of Catalyst Life Services.

Click here to hear about our ACT Team!
Click here to meet all our therapists!

Thank you to our Therapists!

Posted on by Annabelle Coffman

As we wrap up the last day of Mental Health Month, we wanted to say how grateful we are to our wonderful therapists!

“Even in the midst of this pandemic, whether working from the office or from home, the therapists are still providing the their services and support to the clients to help manage the crisis and symptoms that Covid-19 may be causing for those that we serve. The therapists here at Catalyst provide great client care. I am very grateful to be working with such great staff!”

Nicole Kimble,

Adult Mental Health Program Director

“Working on the front lines, our therapists remain resilient in the face of the unknown.  They recognize mental health can’t be an afterthought for people. They work tirelessly to help people cope with their mental health and substance use issues.  They have utilized numerous telehealth options in order to stay connected with their clients who’s social support systems have been crippled by the pandemic.  For people in crisis, or those who need detox services and residential care, our therapists don a mask and provide services to our most vulnerable.  We are grateful for their compassion and commitment to quality care.” 

Elaine Surber,

Executive Vice President, New Beginnings Alcohol and Drug Treatment Services Director

 “I am so proud of the children’s therapists for their dedication and bravery in supporting their clients and families through such a difficult time!  I have seen no one flinch, and have been amazed at the ideas, creativity and energy shown in working with the children and families of this community!” 

Paul Hasenauer, Child & Adolescent Team Leader