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Placements Elm Street
educational & therapeutic consulting
May/June 2019
ELMSTREETPLACEMENTS.COM
When You Love What You Do It’s Not Work
HELPING FAMILIES HEAL
A fter receiving my bachelor’s degree in elementary education and getting into the classroom, I found I was spending more time with my students talking about their feelings than I was their academics. So, I went back to school, received my master’s in addiction counseling, and began my career in mental health. My first true experience with struggling children was with my oldest child who struggled with mental health issues from very early on. After lots of failed outpatient treatments, we eventually found a wonderful boarding school that supported him in all the right ways. As the owner and director of Elm Street Consulting, and in my role as an Educational and Therapeutic Consultant, I travel the country visiting boarding schools, residential treatment centers, hospital programs, and therapeutic wilderness programs. I assess new programs to see if they meet our high standards of care, and I revisit programs we already have relationships with to ensure they are continuing to uphold these standards. In our New Jersey and Manhattan offices, I evaluate the needs of my clients and determine their appropriate placement. Families come to us in moments of distress
and crisis, disorganized and unsure about what to do next. We provide a structured plan to follow when
it seems like their world is falling apart. The work I do is as rewarding as it is challenging, and it is a privilege to be involved in the lives of my clients.
The work I do is as rewarding as it is
challenging, and it is a privilege to be involved in the lives of my clients.
I look forward to our continued collaboration.
-Lucy Pritzker
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Monday–Thursday
Are 4-Day Workweeks the Secret to Productivity?
Could you get more done with one less day in the week?
balance. Considering the fact that burnout — and the sick days that come with it — is such a problem in the United States, providing employees with a better work-life balance may be the secret to a happier, more productive workplace. After the successful trial, Perpetual Guardian opted to stick with the four-day workweek permanently. They provide several tips for implementing a four-day workweek at your company. • Do your own web and local research. • Speak to your staff and be clear about your objectives. • Ensure policy is well-supported and resourced. • Create a policy that can flex depending on workloads, projects, or customer requirements. • Let your customers know what’s going on and assure them there will be no drop in service. • Ensure the new employment structure doesn’t cut across legal requirements. • Be clear that the aim of the initiative is to benefit the company as well as the employees. • Recognize that flexible working initiatives aren’t magic bullets. If you’re interested in learning more about Perpetual Guardian’s four- day work week, check out the white paper written by The University of Auckland researchers at 4DayWeek.co.nz/four-day-week-trial .
Of course not! Most of us need more time in the week, not less. At least, that’s the assumption. But a New Zealand company recently proved that when it comes to
company productivity, less may mean more.
Wilderness therapy programs are short-term programs designed to target a child, teenager, or young adult’s strengths and challenges. On the surface, sending a child into the rugged wilderness as a therapeutic technique might seem “out of the box,” but as the following facts show, these well-vetted programs can provide participants with an effective option for treatment. Thriving in the Outdoors In 1996, the Outdoor Behavioral Health Care Council (OBHCC) was formed to provide better guidance and support for children, teens, and young adults in these wilderness therapy programs. This organization continues to serve as an accreditation foundation, research center, and collaboration group. • The OBHCC is at the forefront of research on this form of therapy. Studies are headed by Dr. Michael Glass of the University of New Hampshire. In March of 2018, Perpetual Guardian, a finance management company in New Zealand, began testing a four-day workweek for its 240 employees. Researchers from the University of Auckland and Auckland University of Technology studied the firm before, during, and after the trial. Perpetual Guardian isn’t the first company to test-drive a four-day workweek, but during the trial period, they did something unusual: They didn’t reduce employees’ salaries. Paying employees for five days of work while only requiring four days sounds like a surefire way to bankrupt a company, but researchers found the change had the opposite effect. By trimming the hours down and maintaining pay, Perpetual Guardian saw a 20 percent increase in productivity. The shorter workweek motivated employees to get their work done quicker by cutting down meeting times, becoming more self- motivated, and telling their colleagues when they were being distracting. After the trial, employees at Perpetual Guardian also reported feeling 7 percent less stressed and a 24 percent improvement in work-life DID YOU KNOW?
WHAT CAN WILDERNESS THERAPY OFFER FAMILIES
• With seven active researchers and 200 studies to date, OBHCC has conducted significant research on the benefits of wilderness therapy through intake and discharge evaluations.
• In a 2016 study published in the Journal of Child and Family Studies, young adults who underwent treatment in wilderness therapy reported “significant improvement” in their
mental health and personal communication skills. The participants also reported having more trust in others.
The growth and difficulties a wilderness participant faces through these programs — as our consultants learn in weekly conversations with the participant’s therapist — provide our consultants with information to help determine what the longer term needs are. Let’s work collaboratively to help these families and children thrive. Let our consultants help by calling Elm Street Placements at 908-228-2212.
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Springtime Travels
Where in the World are Lucy, Kathy, and Fran?
This spring, Elm Street Placements’ educational and therapeutic consultants Lucy Pritzker, Kathy Nauta, and Fran Schlenoff traveled across the country to learn more about options for youth development. THRIVING IN SMALL BOARDING SCHOOLS Lucy, Kathy, and Fran traveled to The Gow School in South Wales, New York, for the Small Boarding Schools Association’s annual conference. Hosted by a different educational institution each spring, this conference encourages collaboration between small boarding schools. Each year, we look forward to the conversations this conference boasts. This year, a few of the many topics included aid for students with anxiety and support for students who have completed therapeutic programs. The students and faculty of The Gow School provided us with insight into their specialized learning environment. Founded by Peter Gow Jr. in 1926, the school helps students with varying language-based learning disabilities thrive through smaller learning environments and intensive teaching methods. UNDERSTANDING AUTISM Kathy and Fran’s April travels began with the Autism Symposium in Sundance, Utah. Keynote speaker, Michelle Garcia Winner, MA, CCC-SLP, was instrumental in providing
more background on teaching and treating those with autism. “She explained that social learning is not a linear process that can be taught in a fixed way,” Fran says. “It involves learning about our thinking as much as it is learning about our behavior. We need to help our neuro-atypical clients develop their social competencies, so they can live happier, more meaningful lives.” This spring, our three consultants traveled across New England to visit supportive boarding schools and learn more about their academic, social, and emotional support programs. Then, the trio
jetted off to Utah to visit clients and tour a number of residential treatment programs, therapeutic boarding schools, and wilderness programs.
For more information on Lucy, Fran, and Kathy’s engagements, or to learn how the expertise we glean from these events can help the families you serve, visit ElmStreetPlacements.com.
CHIPOTLE BLACK BEAN BURGERS
SUDOKU
INGREDIENTS • 2 cans black beans, drained and rinsed • 1/2 medium onion, roughly chopped • 3 cloves garlic • 2 tablespoons chipotle peppers in adobo sauce • 2 teaspoons cumin • 1 pinch salt
• tablespoon cornstarch • 1 handful fresh cilantro • 1 teaspoon Sriracha • 1/2 cup gluten-free rolled oats • 1–2 tablespoons olive oil
DIRECTIONS
1. Place half the black beans, onion, and garlic in your food processor. Blend for 20–30 seconds until combined. Add chipotle, cumin, salt, cornstarch, cilantro, and Sriracha. Blend for another 10–20 seconds. 2. Transfer to a large mixing bowl. Stir in oats and remaining black beans. 3. Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Form mixture into patties and carefully transfer to skillet. Cook for about 5–7 minutes until bottom is browned and set. Very carefully flip and cook for an additional 4–6 minutes until opposite side is browned and set as well. 4. Serve immediately, or store refrigerated in an airtight container for up to 1 week.
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908-228-2212 elmstreetplacements.com
I nside
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The ‘Why’ Behind Elm Street Placements
Is Your Company Ready for the 4-Day Workweek?
The Power of Outdoor Behavioral Health Care
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What We’ve Been Up to This April
Chipotle Black Bean Burgers
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