"Hope is the thing with feathers, that perches in the soul, and sings the tune without words, and never stops at all."

—Emily Dickinson

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Dear Friends:

Vantage operates under a philosophy and belief that wellness and recovery are possible for the individuals and families we serve who have mental illness, addictions, developmental or eldercare challenges. We give individuals the tools for that recovery and deliver hope.

While some of the tools we provide relate to external sources, e.g. vocational training and employment assistance, the "work" that is done in our business is more internal, e.g. identifying each individual's inner strengths and building on those for success.

So too as an organization we are looking internally to help us recover from the current forces that are impacting us. This year is particularly challenging. The economic climate has produced a perfect storm of reduction in funding from our governmental sources, foundations and donors as our costs increase.

Conversely, there has been an increase in service requests as individuals who have lost their jobs experience depression, anxiety or family conflict.

While we cannot fix the external economic situation we have a responsibility to do whatever we can to continue to serve 3,000 individuals and families a year. We are continually examining internal processes to maximize our resources, assessing our strengths and cutting costs where we can without compromising our mission. This annual report speaks to our accomplishments.

We know that our success is partially achieved through external sources and we are hopeful that the economy will improve sooner rather than later. You are an important part of our success and I hope that you can give what you can as often as you can.

Sincerely

Victoria L. Sidrow
President and CEO
vsidrow@vantagenj.org

Thank You UNICO Foundation!

Vantage Health System's Life Enrichment and Achievement Program (LEAP) received a $3,000 literacy grant from the UNICO Foundation. Located in Englewood, LEAP is a day treatment program for adults who are diagnosed with both a psychiatric disorder and a developmental disability, along with loss of impulse control.

Pictured on top (l to r): Andre Dimino, UNICO's Executive Vice President, Kathleen Strozza, UNICO's National President, Nancy Deren, Director of LEAP, Vicki Sidrow, President and CEO, Vantage, Barbara Laborim, Chair, UNICO's National Mental Health Committee, and Deanna Dawicki, Director of Development, Vantage.

Bottom (l to r): Joan Tidona, UNICO's National Scholarship, Geraldine Lipari, UNICO's National Mental Health Committee, and Celeste Pandolfi, UNICO's National Mental Health Committee.

VHS Receives State Training Grant

The New Jersey Department of Children and Families' (DCF) Division of Child Behavioral Health Services (DCBHS) through the County Inter-Agency Coordinating Council (CIACC) has awarded Vantage Health System an Evidence Based Practice Training Grant. Three of Vantage's clinicians will be trained in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy with the focus on children and adolescents.

At the end of the training, all three clinicians will train eight additional Vantage clinicians. Research has shown that medication in conjunction with Cognitive Behavioral Therapy produces the most effective outcomes. This grant is truly a win-win situation for Vantage and the community!

During our fiscal year July 1, 2008—June 30, 2009, 100 children/adolescents were evaluated by our child psychiatrist and 161 by our licensed social workers. 1445 services were delivered to these individuals in individual, group or family therapy sessions.

Yoga Classes Continue

Christine Lidestri, LCSW, RYT, (Registered Yoga Teacher), continues to share the benefits of Yoga with her students. Lidestri is a certified 200 hour level Yoga teacher who graduated from the Stone Center for Health and Wellness.

Classes are held on Thursday evenings at 2 Park Avenue, Dumont. There is an $8 fee per class. For more information, please call Lidestri, who is also the Director of Vantage's Dumont Recovery Center, at (201) 385-4400 ex. 3036. Thank you and my best for a healthy and happy holiday season.

Federal Stimulus Money Helps Vantage Create AFFORDABLE HOUSING!

Vantage competed for, and was awarded, a grant to purchase a home in foreclosure to be used as permanent supportive housing for adults with a mental illness.

A part of the federal American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA), this stimulus money is being administered by Bergen County's Division of Community Development. The grant award allowed us to purchase and rehabilitate a four bedroom home. Individuals currently living in a group home will have the opportunity to live independently in permanent housing. This allows us to offer an additional four individuals in need a place to live in our group home.

The clients are thrilled about this opportunity to move—it's a sign of their continued recovery and personal success.

If you would like to donate any new or gently used kitchenware, please contact Carolyn Jaime, Director of Residential Services at 201-567-0500 ext. 3256.

Your donation is tax deductible as permitted by IRS regulations. Financial contributions to our Housing Development initiative are also welcomed!

Vantage's 11th Annual Golf Outing

Special Thanks To All Of Our Golfers, Sponsors & Guests Who Made Vantage's 11th Annual Golf Outing & Dinner Reception At White Beeches Golf & Country Club A Big Success! We Appreciate Your Support!

Pictured (l to r): Michael Morreale, Dave Griffith, Vantage's Vice President of Operations, Bruce Berliner, and Rafael Negron.

Pictured (l to r): Fran Parker, and Tom Colwell, Board Member

To see more photos from the 11th Annual Golf Outing, check out our News and Events page.

PayPal Up On VANTAGE Website!

Donate with a Click of a Button!

Would you like to make an online donation to Vantage Health System? Simply go to our Donate page. Donors now have the opportunity to make a donation by using PayPal, which is a fast, secure, and convenient way of sending money.

For more than 50 years, Vantage Health System has provided affordable quality care for our neighbors in Bergen County and beyond. Please consider sending us a gift so that we may continue to serve those in need. No matter the size of your donation, we are sincerely grateful for your support. Thank you.

THANK YOU NEW JERSEY KIWANIS FOUNDATION!

Vantage Health System's Touchstone Hall program received a $2,500 grant from the NJ Kiwanis Foundation. Located in Rockleigh, Touchstone Hall is a 50-bed adolescent residential treatment facility serving chemically dependent males ages 13-17 years of age, from Bergen County and throughout the State of New Jersey. The grant will be applied to "wish list" items to supplement the educational, clinical, and recreational needs of the boys.

E-mail Addresses Wanted

Would you like to be added to our "Friends of Vantage" e-mail list? Just enter your e-mail address below and click Submit.

Join Friends of Vantage

You will recieve periodic updates from Vantage, sharing new services or events. Your e-mail will not be shared. Thank you!

Notecards for Sale!

Notecards designed from artwork by members in our Northern Valley Medical Adult Day Center are now on sale! Art is one of the therapeutic activities in this program for the elderly and they love it. We hope you like their work and will purchase the cards for yourself or as gifts. This is a great new way to support Vantage while making sure you always have a card on hand!

Each pack contains 10 colorful cards and envelopes, with two each of five designs, for $15.

How to Order:

Contact Fran Parker at 201-385-4400 x 3012 or fparker@vantagenj.org to arrange for pick-up at Vantage's Dumont office.

Thank you for your support!

 

Meet Our New Doc, Dr. Shani Stein

Dr. Shani Stein joined Vantage Health System in August. She comes to Vantage with a strong background in Adult General Psychiatry. Dr. Stein attended Sakler Medical School in Israel and completed her residency at Downstate University in New York. She has office hours on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays at Vantage's Englewood facility.

"I would like to develop therapeutic relationships to help our clients get back on their feet," said Dr. Stein. "Our clients are pleasant and seem happy to have someone listen to them. It is my pleasure to be that listening ear and be helpful to them in their recovery."

—Dr. Shani Stein

Vantage Health System Donor Honor Roll 2008 — 2009

In addition to our public sector funding sources, we are fortunate to have been the recipient of the generosity of many individuals, companies, organizations, foundations, and others over the years and during this past year. The changes and challenges occurring in the healthcare field signal an even greater need to rely upon private support. We are grateful for your responsive, caring spirit and encouraged by your confidence in us.

The following acknowledges those who contributed during our fiscal year July 1, 2008 through June 30, 2009.

 

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Client Corner

This summer, Lois Corwin, LCSW, and Tom Drexler, BA, Mental Health Counselor, from the Dumont Recovery Center, escorted eight clients to Ellis Island. Operating under grant money earmarked for the trip, clients were immersed in the history of immigration to America to enhance their experience for the "Understanding Diversity" Group they have been attending. Our own multi-cultural group consisted of first, second, and third generation Chinese, Italian, Irish, German, French, Hungarian and Romanian Americans. Some clients found their ancestor's names on the "Wall of Honor." Everyone experienced a connection with the hardships and struggles seen on Ellis Island and courage and energy the immigrant generations put into building new lives. The trip greatly enhanced the ability of trip members to discuss and convey to other group members this deeply felt experience.

The Dumont Recovery Center is a day treatment program for chronically mentally ill adults. The program aims to prevent hospitalization, assist in transition to the community, preserve functioning, prevent relapse, and maximize the individual's potential.

Members of Adult Day Center Play Games for Health

Current scientific trends are reporting that games used with electronic systems are stimulating for individuals, including the elderly, with cognitive limitations. Through generous donations, we were able to purchase a "Wii" electronic system for our Northern Valley Adult Day Health Center. Many of the participants at the center suffer from physical and/or cognitive problems with many having Alzheimer's disease. The "Wii" is a new system that has a variety of games to use with participants such as brain games, simulated baseball, golf, bowling, etc. The members are having fun and getting both physical and mental exercise.

JobTracks Helps the Homeless

JobTracks is a program designed to assist homeless individuals who have a mental illness, and are unemployed. The money awarded was used to purchase materials to help clients prepare for job searches. The goal of the award-winning program is to help clients acquire and maintain gainful employment, as well as assist them in finding a stable living situation.

 

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