For All Seasons, Inc.

For All Seasons Hosts Red Devil Moon Performance at Avalon Theatre

December 30, 2019 by For All Seasons, Inc. Leave a Comment

On Thursday, January 30, 2020 at 7 p.m., For All Seasons will host “Red Devil Moon,” a concert version of an original musical at the Avalon Theatre in Easton, MD. The show, with a script by Robert Earl Price and music and lyrics by Pam Oritz, is inspired by the novel, “Cane,” by Jean Toomer, originally published in 1923. Jean Toomer’s “Cane” is widely considered the first major text of the Harlem Renaissance. Price approached Pam Ortiz of Chestertown after hearing her 2012 album of original tunes, with the idea of collaborating on a new piece of musical theatre.

“Red Devil Moon” tells the story of events that unfold on the night of the full moon during the sugarcane harvest in South Georgia through music and narrative. The enveloping scent of boiling cane syrup, the observant creatures of the night, the provocative moon, and conflicted characters conspire to set the backdrop for a love story that is both personal and universal.

Pictured is Karen Somerville with members of the Pam Ortiz Band.

The evening will include songs from the musical narrated by Price, who is a recipient of the American Film Institute’s William Wyler Award for Screenwriting and the author of four books of poetry. He spent 15 years in Los Angeles working in the Black film movement and collaborated with artists associated with the L.A. Rebellion. Music in the show will be performed by the Gospel trio Sombarkin and the Pam Ortiz Band. Sombarkin, whose members include Karen Somerville, Lester Barrett Jr., and Jerome McKinney, is well known and admired for their deeply layered and finely wrought sound and vocal arrangements. The Pam Ortiz Band, whose members include Nevin Dawson (viola, violin, and vocals), Philip Dutton (piano, keyboards and vocals), Ford Schumann (guitar and vocals), Bob Ortiz (percussion and vocals), and Pam Ortiz (guitar and vocals), will be joined by Tom Anthony on bass and Ray Anthony on drums. The troupe performed the concert version of “Red Devil Moon” at the 2016 New York International Fringe Festival.

Ortiz wanted to perform the concert this year on the Shore to benefit For All Seasons where she currently serves as Chair of the Board of Directors. Beth Anne Langrell, Chief Executive Officer of For All Seasons, comments, “Pam’s music continues to inspire local residents with themes about social justice. She is such a big supporter of our agency and has remained committed to supporting the work that we do. This benefit concert is another example of her passion for mental health services in our communities.”

Tickets to “Red Devil Moon” at the Avalon Theatre cost $25 for adults and $10 for students. To purchase tickets, visit forallseasonsinc.org or call 410-822- 1018. For information on “Red Devil Moon,” visit reddevilmoon.com.

For All Seasons serves Caroline, Dorchester, Kent, Queen Anne, and Talbot counties. For All Seasons Rape Crisis Center offers certified sexual assault victim advocates; counseling and support groups, free and confidential services in English and Spanish, support in the hospital, police department, and court, and referrals to social and legal services. For All Seasons English Hotline is 1-800-310-RAPE (7273) and Spanish Hotline is 410-829-6143.

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For All Seasons Hosts Human Trafficking Awareness Workshops Across Region

December 16, 2019 by For All Seasons, Inc. 1 Comment

Katharine Petzold

Maryland has one of the highest rates of “domestic human trafficking in the nation,” according to the National Human Trafficking Hotline, and the Eastern Shore is not immune. To provide education on this important issue across the Mid Shore, For All Seasons is sponsoring regional presentations, “Open Your Eyes: Human Trafficking Awareness and Education,” in the month of January, National Slavery and Human Trafficking Prevention Month. The presentations are free and open to professionals working with the issue of human trafficking, such as social workers, healthcare workers, and law enforcement.

Katharine Petzold, Anti-Human Trafficking Program Coordinator for For All Seasons, and Cara Rose, Special Agent with Homeland Security Investigations, will present information about human trafficking – both sex and labor trafficking, its prevalence in our community, and ways to recognize its red flags.

Presentations will be held from 9:30 a.m. to 12:45 p.m. and breakfast will be served beforehand at 9:15 a.m. The presentations include the Kent County Public Library, Chestertown Branch, on Thursday, January 9; the Queen Anne’s County Free Library, Centreville Branch, on Monday, January 13; the Caroline County Public Library, Denton Branch, on Tuesday, January 14; and the Dorchester County Public Library, Cambridge Branch, on Tuesday, January 21.

Cara Rose

In Talbot County, For All Seasons will be a contributing partner to Mid-Shore Behavioral Health’s 6^th Annual Sequential Intercept Mapping (SIM) meeting. Speakers at this meeting include Katharine Petzold, Cara Rose, Corporal Chris Heid of the Maryland State Police Child Recovery Unit; Patrick Wynn, Special Agent with the Federal Bureau of Investigation; and Julie Crain, Founder and CEO of Harriet’s House. This event will be held at Temple B’nai Israel in Easton on Tuesday, January 28 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. A light breakfast and lunch will be served. Registration is limited, with CEUs provided to the first 40 individuals to sign up.

Katharine Petzold, states, “These presentations, designed to shine a light on the often hidden and often misunderstood crime of human trafficking, will educate professionals on the reality of trafficking in our community. Through understanding and awareness, we can identify and better serve those who are at risk or may be involved in a trafficking situation. Come join us as a first step to creating a community free of trafficking.”

Limited seating will be available at each of the workshops. The cost is FREE to attend, and $25 if you sign up to receive three NASW CEUs at the Kent, Queen Anne’s, Caroline, and Dorchester presentations. To register for any of the workshops, visit forallseasonsinc.org to register or call 410-822-1018, extension 219.

Theraplay Training to be Offered to For All Seasons Staff in June

June 29, 2019 by For All Seasons, Inc. Leave a Comment

Lesa Lee, LCSW-C, and Clinical Director at For All Seasons

For All Seasons received a grant from the Queen Anne’s County Local Management Board that will provide a four-day training in Theraplay for over 35 members of For All Seasons clinical team. Theraplay is a child and family therapy for building and enhancing attachment, self-esteem, trust in others, and joyful engagement. It is based on the natural patterns of playful, healthy interaction between parent and child and is personal, physical, and fun.

Theraplay interactions focus on four essential qualities found in parent-child relationships: Structure, Engagement, Nurture, and Challenge. In treatment, the Theraplay Practitioner guides the parent and child through playful, fun games, developmentally challenging activities, and tender, nurturing activities in each of the four dimensions.

According to Lesa Lee, LCSW-C, and Clinical Director at For All Seasons, who was the first to be trained in Theraplay, “The most common use of Theraplay is to build on the attachment between child and caregiver. It can also be used in individual therapy, especially in assessing and building a child’s capacity to manage challenges and tolerance for structure.”

Lee adds, “It assesses the strengths and vulnerabilities of child and family and can be used from a state of pre-pregnancy through adolescence. For at-risk mothers, it can help how a mother feels about her baby – creating an early attachment to her child.”

Theraplay sessions create an active, emotional connection between the child and parent or caregiver, resulting in a changed view of the self as worthy and lovable and of relationships as positive and rewarding.

Mid-Shore Pro Bono Helps For All Seasons Clients Navigate Legal Matters

June 28, 2019 by For All Seasons, Inc. Leave a Comment

For All Seasons is partnering with Mid-Shore Pro Bono to provide free legal services to clients facing divorce, custody, foreclosure, consumer debt, and family law issues. Funded through a Victims of Crime Act (VOCA) grant, these legal services are offered through local volunteer attorneys.

According to Sandy Brown, Executive Director of Mid Shore Pro Bono, “This collaborative program helps victims of crime with the civil and legal matters that have created barriers for them. It brings the best of our services together. It’s what we do best.”

Ivy Garcia, Director of Victim Services of For All Seasons Rape Crisis Center states, “We are excited about our partnership with Mid-Shore Pro Bono to assist our clients in civil matters that impact their quality of life. The ability to have a warm hand-off to a great team of legal experts allows us to focus on our expertise of sexual assault, sexual abuse and trauma, all the while knowing that our clients are being served in a more robust way.”

Pictured are Sandy Brown, Executive Director of Mid-Shore Pro Bono, Beth Anne Langrell, Executive Director of For All Seasons, and Ivy Garcia, Director of Victim Services at For All Seasons.

Since starting in 2018, 16 For All Seasons clients have used the services of Mid-Shore Pro Bono. Clients may be victims of crimes such as sexual abuse or trauma. Victims of crime can also be identified as family members of those suffering from opioid addiction. The program, therefore, has also provided referrals to those who are experiencing third-party custody issues due to an opioid issue resulting in incarceration or death.

Brown adds, “Mid-Shore Pro Bono has seen an 82 percent increase in third-party custody cases due to the opioid crisis. The funds provided by this grant enable attorneys to take these complex cases at reduced fees.”

According to Brown, lawyers can also provide services for immigration and asylum cases if they are related to victims of a crime.

She concludes that both organizations have created a referral source to one another depending on where the victim of a crime first seeks assistance. She states, “We are proud to be working alongside For All Seasons, sharing funds to serve our common clients.”

Governor Hogan Signs HB 829 to Benefit Mental Health Billing

May 23, 2019 by For All Seasons, Inc. Leave a Comment

On Tuesday, May 14, Governor Hogan signed House Bill 829, which will change the way that mental health services are provided in the state of Maryland. The bill prohibits private insurance carriers from rejecting an accredited community-based health care provider solely because the provider is a Licensed Graduate Social Worker (LGSW) or a Licensed Master Social Worker (LMSW). Public assistance has long been recognizing LGSWs and LMSWs as billable providers. Now, under HB 829, private carriers must follow suit.

For All Seasons Executive Director, Beth Anne Langrell, Delegate Jeff Ghrist (Caroline County), and the Mid Shore Behavioral Health Consortium worked on the bill for over two years. Langrell testified before the Senate, the House of Delegates Committees, and the Eastern Shore Delegation to help others understand the insurance billing challenges and how they affect individuals and families who need services.

(Back row, from left) Caroline County Delegate Jeff Ghrist, For All Seasons Executive Director, Beth Anne Langrell, and Legislative Assistant, Lois Dustin look on as Governor Hogan signs HB829.

According to Langrell, “People in need of care should not have to worry about whether they carry public or private insurance when scheduling a visit. HB 829 eliminates a long-standing discrepancy and simplifies getting more individuals the mental health services they need.”

Delegate Jeff Ghrist comments, “For so long private insurance holders have not received equal treatment in the ways their mental health services are billed. This bill helps to streamline access for people who need care, rather than complicate the process.”

The bill will go into effect on October 1, 2019.

For All Seasons offers individual and group therapy, general, child and adolescent therapy, marriage and couples’ counseling, grief counseling, school-based mental health therapy, urgent care services, Rape Crisis Response, Rape Crisis Counseling and Support, 24-Hour English and Spanish Hotlines, and education and outreach programming. For further information about For All Seasons or to donate, call 410-822-1018 or visit forallseasonsinc.org.

VOCA Grant Expands For All Seasons Staff

April 2, 2019 by For All Seasons, Inc. Leave a Comment

For All Seasons has received a significant grant from Victims of Crime Act (VOCA) to provide support, advocacy, and mental health services to primary and secondary victims of violent crime at no charge. This includes victims of rape, sexual assault, adults molested as children, child and adult victims of domestic violence and child victims of physical abuse and neglect. The grant will enable For All Seasons to provide timely response to the emotional needs of victims; provide primary and secondary victim assistance to bring stability and safety to their immediate circumstances; educate victims about their rights under the criminal justice system; provide access to mental health treatment for victims and their families as appropriate and ensure that all victims wanting civil legal assistance get an attorney through partnership through Mid-Shore Pro Bono.

According to Beth Anne Langrell, Executive Director, “The VOCA grant will enable our agency to expand our services and have a greater presence in the Mid Shore counties we serve. By providing professional development for our staff and trauma certifying all staff who work with clients and victims of trauma, we can tailor these services to meet specific mental health needs.” She adds that the grant will also provide for trainings for community members, expanded mental health and rape crisis services, and allow the agency to bring awareness of Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) in the schools.

Katie Pittsinger, For All Seasons Director of Education and Community Programs.

Several staff positions have been added through the grant, including Director of Education and Community Programs which has been filled by For All Seasons staff member Katie Pittsinger of Easton. Previously, Pittsinger was Assistant Clinical Director at For All Seasons. Prior to working at For All Seasons, she was a Social Worker, Advanced Criminal Justice with the Maryland Department of Juvenile Services in Easton. She completed her Master of Social Work from the University of Maryland, School of Social Work and Bachelor of Science in Family Studies from the University of Maryland, College of Health and Human Performance at College Park. She holds The Ferentz Institute Trauma Certificate Level I and is a Certified Instructor for Youth Mental Health First Aid. In her new position, Pittsinger will be working on developing For All Seasons’ Training Academy, including training for school systems on Trauma-Informed Schools and providing consultation to school systems on becoming trauma-informed. Pittsinger will be working on bringing continuing education to the community and mental health professionals to the Eastern Shore and will work to ensure that people throughout the five-county region have an awareness and understanding of services provided by For All Seasons.

In response to the growth of the Rape Crisis Program at For All Seasons, which has tripled in three years, two additional staff members have been hired to new positions in the Rape Crisis Center. Stella Lee Coulbourne of Preston was recently hired as the For All Seasons Director of Rape Crisis Programs and Katharine Petzold of Easton was recently hired as For All Seasons Anti-Human Trafficking Program Coordinator.

Stella Lee Coulbourne, For All Seasons Director of Rape Crisis Programs and Katharine Petzold, For All Seasons Anti-Human Trafficking Program Coordinator.

Coulbourne previously worked as Deputy Director of Critchlow Adkins Children’s Centers, Program Administrator for Early Head Start, and Site Coordinator for the Federalsburg Judy Center. She holds a Master of Science in Public Administration and a Bachelor’s of Science in Human Services from Bellevue University in Bellevue, Nebraska. She also completed an Associate’s of Arts in Liberal Studies and Business Management from Chesapeake College and an Early Childhood Mental Health Certification from John Hopkin’s University. She serves as a Maryland State Department of Education State Validator to Accredit Early Childhood Programs. In her new role, Coulbourne will work as a team member with other staff members and volunteers in order to achieve the mission of the Center, including providing direct client services, community outreach programs and/or professional training when needed. She will also develop, implement and monitor short-and long-term goals through a strategic planning process, including Anti-Human Trafficking.

In addition to her role as Anti-Human Trafficking Program Coordinator, Petzold also works as a psychotherapist for For All Seasons. She has worked at the Ben Franklin Center for Community Schools in Baltimore and at the National Human Trafficking Resource Center in Washington, DC. She was a member of the Court Appointed Special Advocates Association in Caroline County and served as a Court Appointed Special Advocate. Previously, she worked on the Human Trafficking Resource Project and the Coalition to Abolish Slavery and Trafficking both in Los Angeles, CA. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Theater from Northwestern University and a Master of Social Work from the University of Maryland at Baltimore, School of Social Work. In her role as Anti-Human Trafficking Program Coordinator, Katharine will be expanding For All Seasons’ anti-trafficking programs which provide services to survivors and outreach and education to our Eastern Shore community.

For All Seasons offers individual and group therapy, general, child and adolescent therapy, marriage and couples’ counseling, grief counseling, school-based mental health therapy, urgent care services, Rape Crisis Response, Rape Crisis Counseling and Support, 24-Hour English and Spanish Hotlines, and education and outreach programming. For further information about For All Seasons or make a donation, call 410-822-1018 or visit forallseasonsinc.org.

For All Seasons Wraps Up Successful 9th Annual Heart & Music

March 16, 2019 by For All Seasons, Inc. Leave a Comment

For All Seasons recently presented its 9^th Annual Heart & Music at the Oxford Community Center to large crowds for its Gala and all three show performances. This year, Director Ed Langrell and Music Director Ellen Barry Grunden returned with “Songs from the Stage” from Broadway and Beyond with selections by Carole King, Sara Bareilles, and Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons, as well as special guests from Crashbox Theatre Troupe. Producers for the show were Beth Anne Langrell and Lisa Roth.

L-R: Delia Denny, Beth Anne Langrell, Executive Director of For All Seasons, and Diane Flagler, Heart & Music Committee Chair. Photo by Randy Bachand.

This year’s Heart & Music cast included Gail Aveson, Jane Copple, Matt Folker, Marcia Gilliam, Bill Gross, Malley Hester, Beth Anne Langrell, Ed Langrell, Lisa Roth, Zack Schlag, Heather Scott, Mike Sousa, Shelby Swann, Joe Tyler, Becca Van Aken, and Richard Vitanovec. Crashbox Theatre Troupe members included Sarah Anthony, Sara Chapple, Logan Herron, Aiden Loeser, Sophie McGee, Jaylen Nixon, and Seth Wagner.

A special thank you to the Heart & Music Angels, Dock Street Foundation, Laurie and Michael Frame, Price Rentals and Events, and What’s Up Media.

Heart & Music benefits For All Seasons, the only non-profit Behavioral Health and Rape Crisis Center serving the five counties of Maryland’s Mid-Shore. For All Seasons offers individual and group therapy, general, child and adolescent therapy, marriage and couples’ counseling, grief counseling, school-based mental health therapy, urgent care services, Rape Crisis Response, Rape Crisis Counseling and Support, 24-Hour English and Spanish Hotlines, and education and outreach programming. For further information about For All Seasons or make a donation, call 410-822-1018 or visit forallseasonsinc.org.

For All Seasons’ 9th Annual Heart & Music: Songs from the Stage

February 21, 2019 by For All Seasons, Inc. Leave a Comment

For All Seasons Behavioral Health and Rape Crisis Center presents the 9^th Annual Heart & Music on Thursday, March 7^th through Sunday, March 10^th at the Oxford Community Center. This year, Director Ed Langrell and Music Director Ellen Barry Grunden return with “Songs from the Stage” from Broadway and Beyond with selections such as Carole King, Sara Bareilles, and Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons.

Join the cast for a great show filled with talent and entertainment at the Opening Night Gala on Thursday, March 7 at 6 p.m. with tickets starting at $150 that includes cocktails and dinner. Weekend performances are Friday, March 8 and Saturday, March 9 at 8 p.m. and a Sunday matinee on March 10 at 2 p.m. with tickets starting at $25 for adults and $10 for students.

To reserve seats, call 443-258-2130 or visit www.heartmusic.eventbrite.com.

Heart & Music benefits For All Seasons, the only non-profit Behavioral Health and Rape Crisis Center serving the five counties of Maryland’s Mid-Shore. To learn more about their services or make a donation, visit www.forallseasonsinc.org.

For All Seasons’ 9th Annual Heart & Music: Songs from the Stage

February 20, 2019 by For All Seasons, Inc. Leave a Comment

For All Seasons Behavioral Health and Rape Crisis Center presents the 9th Annual Heart & Music on Thursday, March 7th through Sunday, March 10th at the Oxford Community Center. This year, Director Ed Langrell and Music Director Ellen Barry Grunden return with “Songs from the Stage” from Broadway and Beyond with selections such as Carole King, Sara Bareilles, and Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons, as well as special guests from Crashbox Theatre Troupe. Producers for the show are Beth Anne Langrell and Lisa Roth.

“Heart & Music, our annual fundraiser, once again brings together a talented cast to entertain and educate the community about the important mental health and rape crisis services that For All Seasons provides. This year, in particular, we celebrate the growth of our agency and the increasing role it is taking in the communities across the Mid Shore,” states Beth Anne Langrell, Executive Director, For All Seasons.

This year’s Heart & Music cast includes Gail Aveson, Jane Copple, Matt Folker, Marcia Gilliam, Bill Gross, Malley Hester, Beth Anne Langrell, Ed Langrell, Lisa Roth, Zack Schlag, Heather Scott, Mike Sousa, Shelby Swann, Joe Tyler, Becca Van Aken, and Richard Vitanovec. Crashbox Theatre Troupe members include Sarah Anthony, Sara Chapple, Logan Herron, Aiden Loeser, Sophie McGee, Jaylen Nixon, and Seth Wagner.

Music will include songs from a number of favorite Broadway shows, including “Beautiful: The Carole King Musical,” “Dear Evan Hansen,” “Jersey Boys,” “Waitress,” “Next to Normal,” “Big Fish,” “Once on This Island,” “Man of No Importance,” “The Bridges of Madison County,” “tick, tick…Boom!” and “Taboo.”

To reserve seats, call 443-258-2130 or visit www.heartmusic.eventbrite.com.

Heart & Music benefits For All Seasons, the only non-profit Behavioral Health and Rape Crisis Center serving the five counties of Maryland’s Mid-Shore. For All Seasons offers individual and group therapy, general, child and adolescent therapy, marriage and couples’ counseling, grief counseling, school-based mental health therapy, urgent care services, Rape Crisis Response, Rape Crisis Counseling and Support, 24-Hour English and Spanish Hotlines, and education and outreach programming. For further information about For All Seasons or make a donation, call 410-822-1018 or visit forallseasonsinc.org.

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