Social Work Breaks Barriers That Prevent People and Communities from Thriving

National Social Work Month, observed throughout March, uplifts the social workers of our country, and celebrates their constant contributions to our society. These professionals use psychology and sociology to solve social issues and improve individual lives – and it’s no easy feat! Social work can be emotionally draining, require long hours, and pay entirely too little, yet still, these superhumans strive every day to improve many people’s quality of life and advocate on their behalf. Take some time out this month to recognize social workers and the great things they do at COMHAR!

Did you know that some of the most influential people in mental health have been women?

• Melanie Klein, in the early 1900’s, pioneered “play-therapy” as a way to better understand the communication, intention, and neurosis of children.
• Mamie Phipps Clark, Ph.D., was the first black woman to receive a doctorate in psychology from Columbia University and dedicated her life to offering psychological understanding and support of Americans of color, who were (and continue to be) disproportionately underserved by advances in mental health.
• Marsha Linehan is the creator of Dialectical Behavior Therapy and a true pioneer in the field.

Let us take a moment to recognize their contributions and the contributions of all female COMHAR team members who make a difference in people’s lives every day and are creating history for the future!

COMHAR supports individuals with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (IDD) to reach their fullest potential and live happy, productive lives. We provide customized programming that helps individuals maximize the skills they need to thrive at home or in their communities.

COMHAR offers a complete spectrum of services and has been a trusted name for over 45 years via three programs:
• Community Participation Support (CPS) program
• Community-Living/Residential program
• Intermediate Care Facility (ICF).

Congratulations to COMHAR’s ID Director, Jeff Prince, and the ID team who received the Division of Intellectual disAbility Services One Time Only Funding. These funds will give our ID members the opportunity to connect with the community at Hershey Park!

When it comes to pioneers in African American history, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., Rosa Parks, Maya Angelou, James Baldwin, and Muhammad Ali are often mentioned—and rightfully so. We know that individual differences enrich our lives with diversity, new ideas, and new perspectives.

COMHAR wants to recognize team members and COMHAR members who are people of color who contribute every day to the success of COMHAR.

Much to the joy of the children at the Latino Treatment Program (LTP), the Three Kings arrived on Friday, January 6th, to help them celebrate Three Kings Day. The children and their families enjoyed pizza, pretzels, popcorn, and soda, all of which was donated by pharmaceutical companies, including Vanda Pharmaceuticals, Takeda Pharmaceuticals, Teva Pharmaceuticals, and Vraylar Pharmaceuticals.

After enjoying games led by Gustavo Miguel-Castro, LTP Program Director, the Three Kings arrived for pictures and to distribute gifts donated by Toys for Tots, COMHAR team members, and COMHAR Board Members.

THANK YOU to all of the donors and the LTP Team for such a successful day that the children thoroughly enjoyed!

Congratulations to Outpatient Services, particularly the Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Health (TF-CBT) Therapists, for the extraordinary feat of earning the Mental Health Partner Excellence Award from Philadelphia Children’s Alliance! COMHAR’s TF-CBT practitioners in Outpatient provide vital services to children through a trauma-focused lens. They work tirelessly to ensure children and their families receive quality care and support through this important evidence-based model.
Thank you to all practitioners and team members in Outpatient. Kudos!