FALL 2015 NEWSLETTER
Celebrating National Adoption Month
CUA's 1 and 7 celebrated National Adoption Month by partnering with the Philadelphia 76ers at the November 7th basketball game. The CUA's used the event as an opportunity to bring awareness to the city's need for foster and adoptive parents as well as to acknowledge and celebrate foster parents who do an exceptional job caring for children in their care. 

Prior to the start of the game, NET foster and adoptive parents Paul Yorgey and Greg Girdy (below, left) were honored on center court for their dedication to providing a loving home to children in Philadelphia for over five years. They also received personalized jerseys from the 76ers. 


In addition, CUA families received free tickets to enjoy the game (above, right) while a ttendees visited NET Community Care's table on the concourse during the game to learn more about fostering to adopt. The evening's activities were part of the 76ers new Three Point Program which gives nonprofits the opportunity to highlight their services and acknowledge those who are making a difference in their organization.

NET Welcomes New VP of NET Steps
NET welcomes Amy André McNamee as the new Vice President of Medication Assisted Treatment Programs. She replaces John Carroll who retired in September.

Prior to joining NET, Amy served as Assistant Director of the Addictions Recovery Unit at the Philadelphia Veterans Affairs Medical Center. She received her Doctorate and Masters degrees at Chestnut Hill College and Temple University, respectively, and a degree in Psychology at Arcadia University.

Amy's priorities in her new role include expanding the NET Steps program at our new State Road site, moving to a paperless system and most importantly, providing exceptional treatment for NET clients. "I am excited to be working with great staff to provide the best treatment to those with opiate disorders. One of the biggest rewards of working with this population is seeing people get into recovery and eventually reclaim their lives."

 
Outside of NET, Amy enjoys reading, cooking and being a mom to her 11-month-old son. Welcome, Amy!
NET Youth Spend a Day with the Eagles
In September, In-Home Detention (IHD) youth, through NET's partnership with Sports for Juvenile Justice, were joined by Philadelphia Eagles players in FDR park in South Philadelphia for a day of fishing. While this outing marked the first "Community Monday" of the Eagles' season, IHD youth had been fishing with the Mid-Atlantic Youth Anglers organization throughout the summer fishing season for the third consecutive year. This year, for the first time, all participating youth and staff were awarded their own fishing rod and reel for completion of the program. 
  
In the past two-and-a-half years, NET's partnership with Sports for Juvenile Justice has helped over 300 system-involved youth have access to sports programming, an effort that will be the focus of a short documentary being put together by the US Attorney's Office.  
  

IHD youth spent an afternoon fishing with Philadelphia Eagles players as part of the team's "Community Monday" (right photo courtesy of the Eagles).

Youth Host First Staff Halloween Party
On October 30th, the youth from NET's Youth Leadership Council hosted the agency's first ever Halloween Costume and Pumpkin Carving Throwdown at the 5th & Spring Garden office. The idea for the party was derived entirely from the youth of the council, who planned, promoted, budgeted, and organized all affairs. The event featured free bags of candy for the first 25 costumed employees through the doors, as well as prizes for "best costume" and "best pumpkin." This year's prize ceremony featured a clean sweep by staff from Jeanne Lehrer's Behavioral Health Division, which saw staff members taking home all major awards, as well as the hotly contested "Guess the Number of Candy Corns" event.
Staff enjoy the Halloween Throwdown hosted by NET's Youth Leadership Council. Can you guess who they are??
  
The Youth Leadership Council is a voluntary enrollment youth engagement group that works with youth across all of NET's services, creating a safe space to promote leadership skills and foster personal resiliency and talents. For more information on how to refer a youth to the Youth Leadership Council, please contact Adam Serlin at (215) 451-7030.  
Kinship Care Conference Honors Caregivers
Carly King, Director of Community Engagement for CUA 7, represented NET at the 3rd Annual Helping Hands Kinship Care Conference at West Philadelphia High School in October. The event featured resources, workshops and networking opportunities for grandparents and other relatives raising children as well as for the community partners who help support them. 

Pictured with Carly (below, right) are Cateria McCabe, Senior Law Center, Marlene Henkin of Senator Anthony Williams' office, State Representative Rosita Youngblood and Chartan Nelson of GrandsCentral, Inc.
Two Easy Ways to Help NET Families This Holiday

Donate New Toys to our Toy Drive

 

Due to an unexpected change in sponsorship this year, NET is no longer the recipient of the annual Toy Truck Parade. We're reaching out to friends in the community to help fill the gap. 

We are collecting new, unwrapped toys and gift cards for children and teens of all ages served by NET and NET Community Care.

 

If you'd like to help or know someone who can, CLICK HERE FOR THE FLYER with more details and a list of NET collection sites.

 

Contact Laiza Santos at laiza.santos@net-centers.org or 267-339-0564 with questions. 

 

Sign Up for Rite Aid's KidCents Program (it's free!) 

Now through January 31st, you can help NET receive a grant through the Rite Aid Foundation's KidCents Program by signing up to designate NET as your charity of choice. It's easy and free!  

NET will be eligible to receive a grant ranging from $5,000-$20,000 based on the number of new designations we earn until January 31. Simply go to www.KidCents.com, sign up for the KidsCents Program, and select NorthEast Treatment Centers as your charity.   Then, next time you shop at Rite Aid, your purchase can be rounded up so the extra change goes to NET.

 

Sign up at www.KidCents.com or at your local Rite Aid store today!

 

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:
Laiza Santos, Communications Coordinator
laiza.santos@net-centers.org | 267.339.0564
2701 N. Broad Street, Philadelphia