Couples & Kids is a non-profit organization dedicated to serving the complex needs of Central Virginia families through counseling services and educational programs.  Since its beginning in October 2000, Couples & Kids has served over 585 families. 

Dedicated Counselors

Steve Briggs joins the staff of Couples & Kids as a clinical counselor.  Steve has an undergraduate degree in Pastoral Studies from Liberty University and will graduate from Lynchburg College in April with a Master’s degree in Counselor Education.  Steve has a long history of working in school settings, adult and adolescent counseling, anger management, substance abuse, and pastoral counseling with couples and families.

Patti Dugger continues her internship with us through the spring.  Patti works with our sliding scale clients.  She and Steve co-lead our Anger Management, Healthy Divorce, and Healthy Parenting classes.  They also  co-lead educational groups for the clients of Lyn-Cet, a program of The Lynchburg Community Action Group.  Patti and Steve also go to the Yoder Center on Jackson Street.  There they lead anger and stress management groups for 8th grade students who were suspended from Lynchburg City Schools and who are now in the Amelia Pride Alternative Education Program.

Kathryn Nash, Licensed Professional Counselor,  continues to offer her expertise with children and families on Monday evenings.

Denise Jones, who has her Master’s in School Counseling from Lynchburg College, provides counseling for the many children we see here at Couples & Kids.  Denise brings her many years in school counseling to Couples & Kids.

News & Notes

Gibbs Arthur, Licensed Professional Counselor, will present monthly workshops for our staff beginning April 12.  The workshop will be held from 6:30 to 8:00 pm here at Couples & Kids.  The April topic is “Ethics.”  There is no charge and Continuing Education Credit is offered.   We extend an invitation to other counselors in the community.  Please join us.  Call 316-9339 to reserve a space.  Bring a sandwich and spend the evening with us as we use this as an opportunity to grow as clinicians.

Joyce Meagher, Licensed Professional Counselor and a Registered Play Therapist Supervisor, will present a workshop on “Getting Confident for Court:  The Counselor as an Expert Witness.“  She will discuss everything from writing progress notes and getting a subpoena to testifying in court.  CEU credit is offered through Lynchburg College.  The cost is $50.  This includes breakfast, handouts, and the CEU certificate.  We are offering this workshop on Saturday, April 2, 2005 from 9 to 12 in our group room. 

Please send your check and registration to:

Couples & Kids

P. O. Box 1338

Forest VA 24551

Please provide the following:

Name:  _________________________________

Address:  ________________________________

Phone:  Home ___________  Work ____________

Organization:  _____________________________

Email:  ___________________________________

Check appropriate box below:

 □  $35 Student Fee       □  $50 all other Registrants

Spotlight on our Outreach

Program at Lyn-Cet

Community Employment Training (CET) was founded in San Jose, California, 36 years ago.  The successful model has been replicated in 12 states, including Virginia.  Virginia’s centers are located in Alexandria, Abington, Lynchburg, Norfolk, and Roanoke.  Plans are underway to add a sixth location in Newport News.

CET Virginia has achieved phenomenal results.  For every dollar appropriated to Virginia’s CET programs, there has been a 470% return on investment.  Since 2000, over 400 low-income families have found unsubsidized employment as a result of training provided by the five Virginia centers. 

CET is effective at providing immediate access to employer-supported occupational training, training dislocated workers, serving people who are seeking new careers that pay higher wages, and enhancing employer participation in training activities and matching resources.

One of CET’s many advantages is that it never looses sight of its ultimate goal—that each student obtain permanent, unsubsidized job placement with good benefits.  Nationally, from July 2002 through April 2004, CET assisted over 7,300 hard-to-serve clients.  Of the 5,352 who completed the program, 3,898 were placed in jobs at an average hourly rate of $9.94.

Since January of 2003, Couples & Kids, in partnership with the Lyn-Cet program, has provided weekly educational programs to the students enrolled in Lyn-Cet.  Counselors from Couples & Kids travel to the Commerce Street location of The Lynchburg Community Action Group (Lyn-Cag) each Monday morning and present seminars on anger management, parent education, healthy relationships, self-esteem, depression, improving communication, stress reduction, drug and alcohol education, and managing fatigue and exhaustion.  The goal of Outreach at Lyn-Cet is to provide helpful information that participants can use to help them and their families not only at home, but in the workforce as well.

Staff and Board Retreat

From the Director

As many of you know, I have been on a leave of absence during the illness of my sister, Marty Murphy.  Marty lost her courageous battle with brain cancer on February 16.  I would like to take this opportunity to thank all of you who have offered your support these last few months.  Your kindness has sustained me and my family through this very difficult time. 

Thank you from the bottom of my heart.

Contributions made in the memory of Martha S. Murphy:

Couples & Kids

Making a difference in the lives of families

                    one

                              by

We are grateful to our very supportive Board of Directors:

Norma S. White, Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer

Kathy Husted, President

Carol Spencer-Read, Vice President

Barbara Johnson, Secretary

Mark Faulconer, Treasurer

Rae Creammer

David Crowder

Elizabeth Farnsworth

Melissa Thornton

Gibbs Arthur

Bedford Community Health Foundation

Ms. Louise Beirne

Ms. Judy Bird

Dr. and Mrs. E. Noel Bowling

Steve Briggs

Mr. and Mrs. Jeffrey C. Burdett

Mrs. Susan Carrington

Mr. and Mrs. Ray Carroll

Mr. William Chapman

Mr. and Mrs. Buzzy Coleman

Rosalie B. Craft

Robert Crawley

Rae Creammer

Debra Crowder

Dina & Dave Crowder

Ms. Jill Crum

Mr. and Mrs. Harvey P. Dunn

Patti Dugger

Dr. and Mrs. Robert Elliott

Carol England

Elizabeth Farnsworth

Mark Faulconer

Dr. and Mrs. J. Gregory Fisher

C. B. Fleet Company, Inc.

Mrs. Renee Fluty

Mr. and Mrs. J. William Garry 

Ms. Linda Grubba

Angela Hart

Kathy Husted

Husted Living Trust

Mr. and Mrs. George Jessen

Mrs. Barbara Johnson

Mr. and Mrs. Robert Johnson

Denise & Richard Jones

Junior League of Lynchburg

Mr. Jeffrey Krantz

Mr. and Mrs. John K. Kuhfuss

M. Leach

Mr. and Mrs. Robert Lemon

Mr. and Mrs. James Losty

Lovelace, Tibbs, Wyatt, Norvelle & Mathews, PC

M & J Developers, LLC

Dr. and Mrs. Robert Milanovich

Marty Murphy

Therese M. Namenek

Kathryn Nash

Ms. Ellen Owens

Mr. and Mrs. Timothy Owens

Jane Pitts

Portobello Road, Inc.

Mrs. Ann Potter

Ms. Sheelin Prinzinger

Retail Merchants Association & Foundation of Lynchburg, Inc.

Mrs. Susan Roehrich

Mr. and Mrs. Anthony Saitta

Wavolyn Shelton

Dr. and Mrs. David Smith

Mrs. Robert P. Smoot, Sr.

Mr. and Mrs. Robert P. Smoot, Jr.

Carol Spencer-Read

Betsey & Dexter Stulz

Target Stores

Melissa Thornton

Mr. T. D. Thornton, II

Timberlake Christian Church

TPS Displays

Brenda Van Fossen

David Vose

Mrs. Elizabeth Webb

Drs. Patty L. and G. Kenneth West

Abbie White

Mr. and Mrs. David White, Sr.

Mr. and Mrs. David White, Jr.

Mr. John T. “Jay” White

Mr. John White

Mr. and Mrs. Matthew White

Norma S. White