News

Jeana Lee, LCSW and Logan Valentine, LCSW Promoted to Assistant Clinical Directors

New Haven would like to announce the promotions of Jeana Lee, LCSW, and Logan Valentine, LCSW as two of our newest Assistant Clinical Directors. Jeana will be over the Parks house, and Logan is over the Teresa House. Greg Burnham, LMFT remains Assistant Clinical Director of the Sacagawea and Roosevelt Houses, and John Stewart, LCSW remains the Clinical Director of New Haven in general.

Annual 5K Run Includes Parents for the First Time

New Haven held their 2nd annual 5K run during the July family weekend. Students, their parents and staff participated to make this is a fun, successful event. Over 60 participants ran in beautiful Diamond Fork Canyon.

Goblin Valley Family Camping

During the September family weekend, New Haven girls and their parents went to Goblin Valley State Park in southern Utah. While there they participated in hiking, outdoor activities, evening programs and therapeutic family events.

Larissa Taylor Selected by Presidential Academy for American History and Civics

New Haven’s History and Civics teacher, Larissa Talyor, was selected as the Utah participant for the Presidential Academy for American History and Civics. Funded by a grant from the federal government, the Academy selected one secondary teacher from each state to join in a three-week tour of Philadelphia, Gettysburg, and Washington D.C. Touring with some of today’s top historical experts, they covered three pivotal documents in American History: the Declaration of Independence, the Gettysburg Address, and Dr. King’s “I Have a Dream” speech.

Teachers were required to fill out an application and to write an essay on their qualifications and interest in the subject matter, what they hoped to accomplish by participating, and how the Academy ties in with their professional responsibilities. Most of the teachers accepted were picked from Title I schools, who the Academy thought would benefit the most from such a rare and rich opportunity. Hotel accommodations, meals and transportation between cities were provided by the Academy. Participants also received a stipend to help cover the cost to and from the East Coast.

Larissa received over 3,000 pages of text in preparation for the trip and was able to sit at the feet of two Pulitzer Prize winners, a two time Lincoln Prize winner, as well as other notable experts for 72 total hours of lecture. In describing the lectures, Larissa remarked that they were “really intense, but incredibly good” and appreciated that they were “not about teaching style” but “about content and developing your historical knowledge.”

From her experience with the Presidential Academy for American History and Civics, Larissa said she gained “an increased enthusiasm and desire to teach.” Her rejuvenation and excitement to share what she has learned and seen as well as the supplemental text and material she received will greatly enhance the learning experience of the students at New Haven.

New Haven Welcomes Kip Rasmussen, LMFT

New Haven is pleased to welcome Kip Rassmussen, Ph.D., LMFT, to their clinical team. Kip received a Bachelors degree in Psychology at Brigham Young University, a Masters degree in Family Studies from Texas Tech University, and a Ph.D. in Marriage and Family Therapy, from Brigham Young University. Ten of his 13 years in the field include working with youth, most extensively with young women suffering from severe eating disorders. He has been published in academic journals and popular magazines, writing on topics related to the family, and co-authored a non-fiction work geared toward adolescent females entitled Frogbusters: A Girls Guide to the Dating Swamp.

Laurie Laird, M.Ed. and Brad Rentfro, LPC Present at IECA

Laurie Laird, M.Ed., Education Director and Brad Rentfro, LPC, presented "The Emotional Learning System and the Art of Rewiring the Brain" at the recent IECA conference. The presentation focused on how strengthening emotional pathways becomes a key factor in healing trauma, dealing with learning differences, personality disorders, and other emotional impairments. Treatment can be viewed as the process of releasing the trauma-induced blockages through different approaches. A New Haven alumnus also came to share the story of her healing journey.

Dustin Tibbitts, MFTI Receives NATSAP Outstanding Service Award

Dustin Tibbits, Executive Director at New Haven, was awarded the NATSAP Outstanding Service Award at the 2008 Conference in Savannah, Georgia. He was awarded for his hard work and dedication to both the Research Committee as well as his work on the Alumni Committee, both of which he has been a part of since their inception.

Kris Kilpatrick and Irene Kotter Present at NATSAP

Kris Kilpatrick, New Haven’s Program Director and Irene Kotter, Residential Lead Supervisor were invited to present at the 2008 NATSAP Conference in Savannah, Georgia. They presented on Emergency Preparedness in Residential Facilities. The presentation included New Haven’s Emergency Preparedness Program and offered suggestions for productive, cost effective emergency planning.

New Haven Expands ROPES Course and Certifies Therapists in ROPES

New Haven recently rebuilt and greatly expanded its outdoor ROPES Course by adding a 30-foot climbing wall, peg wall, other High-wire Tasks and additional challenges. The course is an excellent tool used for experiential therapy for both girls and their families. The new Course was used for the first time at the March 2008 Family Weekend. As part of an initiative to encourage therapists to use more experiential therapeutic techniques to reach and engage troubled teens, New Haven sponsored six of its Masters Level Social Workers, Licensed Counselors, and Marriage and Family Therapists to become certified ROPES facilitators.

New Haven Student Government Reports on 5,000 Hours of Service in 2007

Part of the New Haven experience is giving back to the community. In 2007, the New Haven School’s Student Government organized over 5,000 hours of service. Girls and their families helped clean the town center in Green River, Utah, and moved the Boys and Girls Club’s Community Thrift Store across town. Students made quilts for the women who utilize the Provo Women’s and Children’s Shelter, and hosted a carnival for the kids. Students volunteered at the local Food Bank, visited the elderly in retirement centers and nursing homes, and worked at the Cancer Wellness Center.