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St. Joseph's looks toward vets' drug rehab
New firm, new name, reputation solidly intact
SARANAC LAKE — Despite a dire economy, one local company is looking to break ground for a multi-million-dollar facility.
That will create jobs and expand services.
St. Joseph's Rehabilitation Center recently won a contract — one of four in upstate New York — to provide addiction counseling to U.S. veterans.
Soon to be renamed St. Joseph's Addiction Treatment and Recovery Centers, the company also just won designation as a "Best Place to Work," one of just 20 small-to-medium-sized businesses to earn the honor in all of New York.
REGENERATION
Regeneration is central to the momentum of success thriving here.
St. Joe's accomplishments are reflecting internal operations and spreading into the community.
"Part of what we try to do is be a place where the agency responds to individual needs," said CEO Bob Ross, who came on board a floundering organization less than two years ago.
As St. Joe's started rethinking opportunity — both inside and out — Ross said, they realized the new veterans program to counter addiction fit the historic mission founded by Franciscans friars nearly 30 years ago.
In a similar vein, they began exploring an addiction counseling training program to retrofit Camp Gabriels, keeping it viable in the state prison system, a plan still under development.
They also are looking to launch a pilot non-hospital detoxification program with Adirondack Medical Center, reducing Medicaid costs by breaking a costly cycle of detoxification emergency care.
St. Joe's already has operations in Malone and Ticonderoga.
But rather than being inundated by expectation, the company plugs each step back into the core mission.
The result is a kind of sustainable sense of potential.
"I think mission grounds us a lot," Ross said. "The check for us is we ask: Is this what we should be doing?"
INTERNAL ASSESSMENT
St. Joe's Human Resources Director Katie Kirkpatrick launched an internal assessment, working with State Office of Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Services Executive Deputy Commissioner Kathleen Caggiano-Siino, whom Kirkpatrick credits with much insight.
"We wanted to redefine our work as a profession of choice," Kirkpatrick said.
An evaluation process last March earned a 64-percent overall response from employees, engendering 23 steps toward improved work conditions, seven of which have been fully implemented.
The internal adjustment regenerated work goals based on employees' ideals.
It is also a model of sustainability.
People don't necessarily always work "up" a corporate ladder, Ross said; bigger isn't always better.
"There are ways to stay in a position and be constantly challenged."
Support for all 137 employees is delivered in new programs that encourage wellness, connect work and education goals and adapt work schedules around family time.
The company even created a computer purchase plan, so every employee can afford to buy a home computer.
"We have encouraged a development plan for each employee, working with a life coach," Ross said.
BEST TO WORK FOR
The internal review led to designation as a Best Company to Work For, an award program run by the New York State Society for Human Resource Management.
The win was announced in December, though the company won't find out what position in 20 it holds until April, when the award is presented in Albany.
A collective and growing sense of accomplishment at St. Joe's has snowballed.
"Having people be ready to do more interesting things with their jobs creates a more dynamic workplace," Ross said.
The company is also creating several rewarding volunteer opportunities for members of the larger community.
For more information, contact Katie Kirkpatrick at 891-3801, Ext. 242.
E-mail Kim Smith Dedam at: kdedam@pressrepublican.com
- Local News
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Schumer tours Strand Theater and takes part in economic roundtable
Sen. Charles Schumer visited the theater, which he helped secure $300,000 in grant funding. He also got updates from a number of government and business officials.
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Bombardier found guilty of manslaughter
Josh Bombardier cleared of vehicular homicide, but convicted of lesser charges for the February 2009 crash that claimed the lives of three people.
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Keeseville family displaced by blaze
A fire tore through William and Holly Vedder's AuSable Street residence Wednesday night, leaving the local couple without a home.
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Franklin County holds off on college contract
Legislators concerned about cost of NCCC contract and amount of raises.
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Many see Islamic center site as inappropriate
Controversy evokes strong feelings among people interviewed by Press-Republican.
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Use of Stop-DWI money debated
Essex County lawmakers are questioning spending Stop-DWI funds on public celebrations.
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Effort on to help Wilmington fire victims
Reed family lost home, possessions to blaze earlier this week.
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City park funding approved
City Councilors have approved $100,000 worth of improvements at the popular Melissa L. Penfield and South Acres parks.
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Second alleged DWI for Morrisonville man in less than two weeks
Deputies say Shawn Tuper fled authorities Wednesday night and was later found to be intoxicated.
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Polling sites planned for primary
Some changes made in Franklin County for Sept. 14 vote.
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Of Interest: Sept. 3, 2010
Busy holiday weekend expected at border; County to hold Hazardous Waste Day; Plattsburgh Town Court closed Monday.
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United Methodist Church overhauls structure in New York state
The Adirondack District, which includes United Methodist and Federated churches in Franklin, Clinton, Essex counties, is now part of the Upper New York Annual Conference.
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Priest's convictions live on through scholarship
Marnie Reynolds is the second winner of the Rev. Cyril R. Rapin Pro-Life Scholarship, awarded annually by the Bishop's Apostles for Life Pro-Life Scholarship Committee.
- September 2, 2010
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Bombardier found guilty of manslaughter
Josh Bombardier cleared of vehicular homicide, but convicted on lesser charges for the February 2009 crash that claimed the lives of three people.
-
Keeseville family displaced by blaze
A fire tore through William and Holly Vedder's AuSable Street residence Wednesday night, leaving the local couple without a home.
-
Use of Stop-DWI money debated
Essex County lawmakers are questioning spending Stop-DWI funds on public celebrations.
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Effort on to help Wilmington fire victims
Reed family lost home, possessions to blaze earlier this week.
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Bombardier Transportation awarded $267 million railcar contract
New Jersey Transit Corp. has ordered 100 MultiLevel railcars that will be assembled in Plattsburgh. The company plans to recall 75 to 85 employees when work starts in fall 2011.
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Closing arguments in Bombardier trial
After being instructed on the charges Wednesday afternoon, the jury has begun deliberating on the vehicular-homicide case.
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Local tribe shuns state cigarette tax
Lawsuit stops state from collecting new tax; Mohawks say plan raises "valid concerns."
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