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Patrick (not his real name) always seemed to be getting into trouble, and he finally pushed past the limit of tolerance of local Human Services and Juvenile Court Services workers in his hometown in Clinton County. The officials placed the 15 year-old Patrick at Eldora, and after his evaluation there, moved him to Peterson Lodge on the Hillcrest campus in Dubuque. Patrick lived at Peterson Lodge for 12 months, and upon finishing his time at Hillcrest, he returned home in Clinton County.

Hillcrest could do nothing more for these two youngsters —until March 25, 2002. That was the date on which Hillcrest began providing family centered, in-home services, foster care and adoption services, and independent living services in Jackson and Clinton counties.

Families of Northeast Iowa, another human services agency, had been providing these services in Jackson and Clinton counties, but decided to go out of business. Officials of the agency approached Hillcrest about the possibility of taking over the services in those counties.

Hillcrest agreed to do so, and hired the staff that had been working for Families of Northeast Iowa from offices in Maquoketa and Clinton. Hillcrest took over the cases that the Department of Human Services and Juvenile Court Services workers had been referring to them.

The Hillcrest Maquoketa office now includes three therapists, a Foster Care Coordinator and an administrative assistant, as well as the records of all cases from Jackson and Clinton counties.

The Hillcrest office in Clinton is located in the same building occupied by the Hillcrest WIC office there, and includes six therapists and an administrative assistant. A second location in Clinton houses outpatient and Play Therapy services.

Beginning June 1, 2002, the clinic will be located at 220 W. 7th Street, Dubuque. This is the same building that now houses the Hillcrest/WIC program, In Home Supervision, Hillcrest Supporting Living, Adult Vocational and the Intensive Psychiatric Rehabilitation programs.

The Hillcrest Clinic offers a number of services, including:

Ordained ministers, their spouses or other active lay leaders are encouraged to apply.

Qualifications include a sound knowledge of the United Methodist Church, and the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.). The person should also have an understanding of church hierarchy and structure, with particular emphasis on the Iowa Conference and the Synod of Lakes and Prairies. Willingness to travel is essential.

These are two of the corporate ad campaigns that have been used to speak to the quality of an organization. I doubt whether “Help for Today, Hope for Tomorrow” will ever be recognized nationally as the new quality slogan, but this tag line for Hillcrest Family Services is becoming synonymous with quality throughout Iowa.

For over 100 years Hillcrest has provided quality human services to people of all ages. The exact measurement of this quality is often times elusive because we do not manufacture products like widgets that are accurately measured within a fraction of an inch. At the same time, measuring the quality of our services can be extremely moving when you see the life-altering events that occur as the result of Hillcrest’s efforts.

One measure of our quality can be found in the respect that others have for our services. In recent years there has been no greater indication of this respect than the requests that Hillcrest has received to expand our services. The front page article in this issue speaks about the recent expansion of our family centered services into Clinton and Jackson counties. This expansion came about as the result of a request from the administration and board of another agency asking us to take over the services they had been providing. It has been said that there is no greater honor than that which is bestowed by your peers. We are proud to have been asked to fill an unmet need by a fellow private provider.

We have seen a similar expansion of our special education and adult mental health services as the result of requests from school districts and counties.

Our special education program now has satellite sites in Bettendorf, Maquoketa, and Postville, Iowa. New classrooms will also be added in Clinton in the Fall.

In February 2001 representatives from Wapello, Jefferson, Lucas, Washington, and Keokuk counties asked Hillcrest to consider operating a residential care facility in Ottumwa. Again, we were invited to do so because of our reputation. Hillcrest assumed that operation on July 1, 2001.

In Faith in the Valley by Iyanla Vanzant, Wally Amos was quoted: “If you’re going through hell, don’t stop to take pictures!” The statement is both ridiculous and exactly what we sometimes do. Trouble and times of grief come in life. Sometimes it’s our own fault. Sometimes it is not. Either way, it does not mean we are to set up permanent residence. We are to navigate through. Hillcrest Family Services and the Chaplaincy program nestled therein, stands as a reminder of God’s wee small voice in the noise of abuse and violence declaring “But you are…God’s own people, that you may declare the wonderful deeds of (the Lord) who called you out of darkness into (God’s) marvelous light. Once you were no people, but now you are God’s people; once you had not received mercy but now you have received mercy.” (1 Peter 2:9-10)

Please keep the work of Hillcrest— all of the residents, staff, administration and chaplain, too — in your most earnest prayers. It’s an important and much appreciated lifeline of support.

Roger Stutsman of Riverside, Iowa (pictured here receiving the award from Gary Gansemer, Executive Director/CEO), received the Nancy Hill Award for his outstanding contributions and long-term commitment to the agency. Ruth Scharnau of Dubuque was honored as the Volunteer of the Year for her involvement as a mentor in the Big Brothers Big Sisters program.

Julie Johnson, Dubuque, was reelected President of the board. Other elected officers include:

Newly elected to three-year terms on the board were:

In addition to Bonnet and Cook, others re-elected to three year terms are:

Note: Following publication of this photo, two of the women have been identified. The woman on the far left (facing the reader) is Ruby (Mrs. George) Steuck. We thank her daughter, Kay Read of Dubuque, for phoning us with the information. The woman pictured 2nd from the left has been identified as Mrs. Willard Verda Bottoms. Our thanks to her son, Alan Bottoms of Dubuque, for identifying his mother via e-mail for us!

It takes $1,000 to maintain a match of a child with an adult mentor for a year. Big Brothers Big Sisters of Dubuque is currently maintaining 55 matches. There are still 25 youngsters looking forward to being matched with adult mentors.

You are invited to check out a complete listing of sponsors and donors to the event under "Recent News" on this web site.

Agency Executive of Year
Gary Gansemer, Executive Director/CEO of Hillcrest was named Agency Executive of the Year by the Dubuque Area United Way.

Gansemer was honored for providing strong leadership for the agency, successfully collaborating with other agencies to strengthen the community impact of the agencies, and co-chairing the United Way Agency participation in the annual campaign.

If you own your own home or farm – or even a vacation home – you may be able to make a gift of the property now, obtain an immediate income tax deduction and still continue to use the property as long as you wish.

How does this work? Simply give the property, but retain the right to use it for your life. This is called a life estate. You can continue to live in your home or receive income from the farm, and only after your death will the property pass to Hillcrest for our benefit. You would continue to pay for the property as usual – maintenance fees, insurance, property taxes fixing the roof, or replacing the water heater, for example. But by arranging this gift now, rather than in your will, you receive an immediate income tax deduction for the present value of Hillcrest’ future right to receive the property. Consider this example:

Mary is a 78-year-old widow with three grown children. They are all doing quite well financially, but they live in other areas of the country and do not wish to come back home. Mary is planning on leaving most of her estate to them, but she would also like to leave a charitable gift to a local charity during her lifetime.

She decides to make a gift of her home now, but retains the full rights and duties of ownership and benefits from her home for the rest of her life.

Because she has made a qualifying gift, she is entitled to a tax deduction of over half of the value of her home. Her house is worth about $150,000, so the deduction would be approximately $70,000 in the year the gift is made.

A life estate gift is most attractive to those of you who are over the age of 65 and reasonably expect to stay in your home, or in times of low interest rates. If you would have to relocate to a nursing home or hospital, the home could be rented out or the remaining interest in the property can be donated to Hillcrest at that time, gaining additional tax deductions. Because there are such tax incentives for the arrangement, a life estate agreement is an irrevocable gift.

The benefits of this gift are many:

2. Reach out for a child. A smile or a word of encouragement can mean a lot.

3. Reach out to a parent. All parents want the same things for their children — a home, education, and a chance to succeed.

4. Keep an eye on local and national policy decisions that affect children. Elect officials who put caring into action.

5. Encourage parents and other people who care about kids to register and vote.

6. Make your neighborhood an extended family.

7. Write letters to the editor applauding people who help children and families. Blow the whistle on those who hurt them.

8. Make your workplace family friendly.

9. Volunteer. Hillcrest and many other organizations need caring adults.

10. Write a check. Hillcrest and America’s children need your support.

Chuck Egelhof
Patt Egelhof, Bob and Anne Chesterman, Dubuque, Iowa

Roger Flatrud
Dick and Beverly Gerdis, Titonka, Iowa

Dennis Gerdes
Dick and Beverly Gerdis, Titonka, Iowa

Jerry and Maureen Kloft
Fred and Ardith Meeker, Dubuque, Iowa

Jeanne O’Neill
Dean and Pat O’Neill, BWI – KP Workers, P.I. Packaging Technologies, Davenport, Iowa

Robert Owens
Dr. and Mrs. D. B. French, Chatfield, Minnesota

Myrtle Porter
Clarence Porter, Gerarda Hunting, Paul and Carole Porter, Anne Hedrick, Jackie Delaney, Jan and Bill Stoffel, Gene and Virginia Gordon, Gary and Kay Gansemer, Keith Cook and Sharon Kress, Arthur and Geneva Potzer, Paul Rossiter, Daryl and Twila Griffith, Cottingham and Butler, Bethany Home Volunteer Service Organization, Dubuque, Iowa; Janette Hansel, Bettendorf, Iowa, Shephanie Savage, Galena, Illinois

Lena Rickey
Winfield United Methodist Women, Winfield, Iowa

Sylvester Schmitt
Jeanne Schmitt, Durango, Iowa; Stephanie Savage, Galena, Illinois; Sharon and Mike Faley, Mike and Sharon Finnin, Gary and Kay Gansemer, Mark and Cheryl Falb, Jim and Monica Curoe, David and Linda Cantrell, Dubuque, Iowa; Friends and Family

James Seigenthaler
Bob and Mona Campbell, Waukon, Iowa

James Spayberry
Marion Williams, Gary and Renee Williams, Dubuque, Iowa; Paul and Barbara Williams, Davenport, Iowa; Rich and Betsy Boll, Alburnett, Iowa

Jean Thomassen
Bob and Mona Campbell, Waukon, Iowa