Congratulations to Ethel Goeden – the 2009 Volunteer of the Year! She has modeled a quote by former First Lady Rosalynn Carter, “Do what you can to show you care about other people, and you will make our world a better place”. She has volunteered thousands of hours during her volunteering career sharing her talents at St. Benedict Church, Royal Neighbors, American Diabetes Association, The Center & Senior Nutrition, Senior Companions, Yankton Antique Auto Association plus much more. Thank you, Ethel, for sharing your time, talents and treasures with your neighbors and community.
Individuals sharing talents with neighbors and community have accomplished amazing results. When caring people gather around an issue that needs resolution, it will be addressed, massaged and solved in some manner. Some of the issues are much easier to address than others, but all are important to the quality of life for all of us.
A number of people thought that a walking trail would be an enhancement to this community. With years of conversation, planning, collaboration with city officials, funding and community “buy-in”, the Auld-Brokaw Trail is a reality. Not very long ago we first heard of the vision of a Dog Park and Community Garden that is now a reality. The Skateboard Park was a collaboration of youth, parents, community members and City making a vision into reality.
Working together with key players – whether individuals, organizations, businesses, government – and an idea that enhances our livelihood is a sure design for success. A couple of years ago the United Way & Volunteer Services’ affiliated agencies that work with children gathered together to talk about unmet needs. The conversation revealed that many of their younger clients needed counseling; however, the waiting lists were so long that it usually took months before they could get an appointment. In many cases, it was too late to address the issue.
We then conducted a survey with the Yankton counseling businesses about their services to children, length of waiting lists plus additional information. With some statistics to assist in our decision, the need for more available counseling for children was made evident. We were approached by Family Education & Counseling Center that they were interested in assisting with the need as well as providing opportunities with counseling interns preparing to be licensed. Assisting with funding to the Family Education & Counseling Center and the Lutheran Social Services Yankton Counseling Office, the United Way has provided additional needed services to our children.
Additional information on today’s featured agency, Family Education & Counseling Center, under the direction of Rev. Rod Veldhuizen, is as follows:
Family Education and Counseling Center (FECC) celebrated its 8th birthday last month. For the past 8 years the mission of FECC has been to meet the needs of people who were not being served by other agencies in our community. Our mission statement reminds us that we exist to professionally support, care for and strengthen families and individuals in our rural communities. We fulfill that mission by offering professional counseling service with one full time therapist, one part time therapist and a therapist intern. All together we have nearly 45 hours of therapy services available every week and are able to schedule most appointments within a week of calling.
One unique aspect of FECC is our ability to tailor our programming to meet the requests of community agencies. Recently a local funeral director expressed concern over a number of young people who had died or been killed and saw a number of grieving teens and younger children. In response the staff developed and led a six week grief group for teens. We are currently looking into a similar short term support group children of divorce at the request of a school counselor.
Finally FECC currently offers an 8 week anger management course that meets the requirements of most local courts for individuals who are ordered to take such course work.
FECC would not be able to exist if it were not for the generous support of the Riverview Reformed Church which provides the space for the agency and allows Pastor Rod to donate some of his time to provide professional counseling services to people in Yankton and surrounding areas.
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