MEA members receive Community Service Award

Marshalltown Education Association members received the Iowa State Education Association H.O. Maxey Award at an awards banquet on July 22 at the West Des Moines Sheraton in West Des Moines before a group of educators. Accepting the award on behalf of the MEA was Brad Weidenaar.

H.O. Maxey was an educator and long-time leader in the ISEA. He believed the association should give back to the communities in which we serve and to demonstrate that he started food bank drives at the National Education Association Representative and the ISEA Delegate Assemblies. To continue H.O.’s efforts and recognize giving back to communities, the H.O. Maxey Community Spirit Award was established by the ISEA executive board in 2009. The award honors an individual or group for exemplary contributions in their community.

After Marshalltown was hit by a powerful tornado leaving homes and the community devastated, members of the Marshalltown Education Association lead by then President Paula Johnson sprung into action. Longtime local leader and member of the City Council, Sue Cahill met with community members to assess what help was needed in the initial hours after the storm and what resources were immediately available. Cahill and MEA sought donations of gift cards from grocery and other stores which were distributed to struggling families. She also began to work with MEA members at the start of the school year to determine what students needed. MEA secured a $5,000 Community Outreach Grant from the ISEA which was distributed to school counselors, social workers and principals to be given to those families most in need in their schools.

MEA continues to serve the community in ensuring they promote quality public education by placing students and families at the center of everything they do.

“The ISEA is proud of the MEA and their advocacy for students and their community,” said ISEA President Mike Beranek. “Their work demonstrates the strong commitment our members feel for the communities in which they work and live and is testament to the devotion they feel for the students in their care. We are pleased to be able to honor members of the Marshalltown Education Association with the ISEA 2019 H.O. Maxey Award.”

New behavioral health counselor comes to Marshalltown

“[I love all] the friendly faces. Everyone is so welcoming and helpful.” That’s one of the things Jamie Rich loves most about her new job as a behavioral health counselor at the Grace C. Mae Advocate Center in Marshalltown.

Behavioral health counselors hold a bachelor’s degree and help children and adolescents ages 3-21 and their families to learn to make healthy and positive choices and improve skills. Therapists hold a post-graduate degree and are trained and licensed to treat clients with emotional, behavioral and mental disorders.

Rich received a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from Buena Vista University and is currently pursuing a Master of Science in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from South Dakota State University. Rich will graduate in December 2019.

While attending school, Rich is also completing an internship with the Grace C. Mae Advocate Center and shadowing seasoned therapists.

“I did my [first] practicum with undergraduate students on campus and ran a group for students on academic probation. I worked with students on time management, depression, anxiety, life transitions such as moving, getting married, going to grad school and loss,” she said.

Due to a new agreement with the Marshalltown School District, Rich will have the opportunity to work with students in the schools to minimize the barriers in students gaining access to therapeutic services. Rich now works with children, teens, adults and families experiencing a wide variety of mental health issues.

Rich works with anxiety, depression, ADHD, ODD, communication issues, behavioral concerns, and trauma, among other diagnoses.

Rich also has a background in working with clients with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

“Iowa is home for me,” Rich said. “I look forward to growing my professional development and am excited for these opportunities.”

Rich is in the Marshalltown office Mondays and Thursdays as a behavioral health counselor and Tuesdays and Wednesdays as an intern. Rich is currently accepting new clients for behavioral health services. Rich’s clients may transfer into a therapy relationship with her when she completes her master’s level training.

IVH welcomes new medical director

The Iowa Veterans Home Senior Leadership team announced Joseph Hoagbin, M.D., as the newly appointed medical director of the Marshalltown campus, reporting for duty Aug. 13. As the recent Chief Medical Officer and Vice President of Medical Operations for Mercy Hospital in Council Bluffs, Hoagbin is bringing with him years of experience in healthcare management and implementation, with expertise in data driven metrics, evidence based patient case management and resident centered safety culture.

In his newly accepted role, Hoagbin will be continuing and improving the Iowa Veterans Home’s vision of excellence and clinical delivery by overseeing the medical providership directed across the entire 500 resident facility.

————

Submit local business news

The Times-Republican invites businesses in its circulation area to submit brief items concerning their employees or businesses for the Names & Notes column, which is published on Sundays.

Potential subjects of these business briefs include announcements of new businesses, branch acquisitions, departures of longtime employees, employee recognitions or new hires. Submissions will be edited and run on a space-available basis. Items must be received by 5 p.m. Thursday for consideration in Sunday’s column.

Submit brief articles and JPEG headshots to: Names & Notes, Newsroom, Times-Republican, 135 W. Main St., Marshalltown 50158, or call Kathy Beane at 641-753-6611 or email news@timesrepublican.com