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One thing comes out loud and clear when you visit with the three young men who are graduating from the Hillcrest education program this year: They could not have done it without the extraordinary support they received from their teachers and the school administration.

Josh perhaps summed it up best when he said, “If it wasn’t for Ms. Thole, I just would not have graduated. She constantly called me to make sure I was coming back, and if I didn’t understand something, she would explain it as many times as needed — and she never lost her cool. And I know Ms. Pancratz (school Principal) really worked hard to get me into the school in the first place. I really appreciate that.”

Justin Troendle
Justin has already made plans to attend Northeast Iowa Community College (NICC) at Calmar to study landscaping. He began building flower gardens at home, and began calling people about his interest. He even found a couple of business owners who told him that if he went on to college to study landscaping, and would help them afterwards, they would help pay part of his tuition.

“I like everything about this school,” he says. “I’ve learned how to apply for insurance and now understand how to go about getting different things like that on my own. Ms. Frieden and the others take the time to explain stuff in detail instead of just giving a few directions and then letting you go.”

Justin had attended three other schools before coming to Hillcrest. “At the last one I was hassled a lot and got depressed. The school district asked me if I wanted to come to Hillcrest, and I said I’d give it a try. I wish everyone would stick it out in high school because it gives you the opportunity to go on to more things in your life.”

Justin has a brother and sister, and they live with their mother in Waukon.

Wayne Phillips
Wayne has been at the the Postville school for two years. “I like the teachers here — they’re cool,” he says. “I went to three or four different schools, including the Job Corps, before coming to Hillcrest. I didn’t like them that much and wasn’t doing too well at them. When the Hillcrest school in Postville was suggested, I thought I’d give it a try. I started getting better grades and decided to stay. I’m glad I did.”

Wayne would like to get an outside job when he’s finished with school — preferably something in construction. “I would’t be able to stand working inside behind a desk every day,” he says.

Wayne has two brothers and they all live with his grandmother in Waucoma.

Josh Riordan
“Josh has really become a role model for the other students here,” says Barb Thole.

Working full-time as a Bulk Order Filler at the Family Dollar Distribution Center in Maquoketa while attending a tutoring program with Ms. Thole to finish his high school work keeps the young man plenty busy. He has been at the Hillcrest school in Maquoketa for the past four years.

“I’ve really enjoyed the whole experience here, “ he says. “I quit more than once, but their concern for me always got me back. The main lesson I learned is that if you give people respect, they will give it back to you.

“Here (at the Hillcrest school) if you’re having a bad day, they give you time to settle down. They take the time to explain things as many times as you need so that you can understand.”

Barb says, “Lots of positive things have begun to happen with Josh over the past four years. Many times when he was out of school, he would phone just to tell us about them.”

“I enjoy working in the Maternal Health field,” says Sherry McGinn. “I get to provide one-on-one education to women who really need the information, but otherwise wouldn’t have the opportunity to get it.” Sherry, a Registered Nurse, is the Hillcrest Maternal Health Coordinator. Hillcrest began offering maternal health services in 1988.

The Hillcrest-Mercy Maternal Health Center opened in 1991 to provide comprehensive prenatal care to women with little or no insurance. This unique program is a partnership between Hillcrest Family Services, Mercy Medical Center and Medical Associates. Prior to its opening as the community’s only center for comprehensive prenatal care for women with financial needs, most women without insurance had to travel out of town for prenatal care and delivery. Many were unable to do this for financial reasons, and thus went without the necessary care.

During recent years, Hillcrest has also been recipient of grants to provide enhanced maternal health services for pregnant women. The enhanced program provides additional education and services beyond that which they would receive through the Hillcrest-Mercy Maternal Health Center. A total of 512 expectant mothers received enhanced services during 2003. Of these, 210 were also clients of the Maternal Health Center. Most of these women were under the age of 25.

The Hillcrest enhanced maternal health services which are available to women in Dubuque, Delaware and Jones counties, include the following services:

• Insurance application assistance
• Nutrition education
• Access to WIC services
• Dental education and referral
• Counseling and family support
• Eduation on and preparation for labor, delivery and infant care
• Referrals, if needed, to other health care or local community services
• Tobacco cessation programming
• Preparation for the role of parent
• Lactation consultant services
• Referral to the Hillcrest Health and Family Planning Clinic following delivery of the baby.

Dubuque Bank and Trust displayed Silent Auction items and bid sheets in the main lobby and concourse of their bank from April 19 to April 30. Visitors received the opportunity to bid on a wide variety of items, including sports memorabilia, horseback camp, fine dining, gift baskets, a handmade quilt and more.

On April 24, the Dubuque Board of Realtors was the Event Sponsor for our Bowl For Kids’ Sake Event at Creslanes in Dubuque. Over 85 businesses, organizations and individuals gave prizes, cash or other support to the event, while more than 200 bowlers participated.

The Perfect Match, sponsored by Mark and Cheryl Falb, was held on May 15 at the Dubuque Golf and Country Club. The event featured a cocktail reception and auction. A highlight of the evening featured a special duet performance by Maestro William Intriligator, conductor of the Dubuque Symphony, and his Little Brother, Nick.

The Dubuque County program currently maintains 133 school based matches in Western Dubuque and Clayton County, and 71 community based matches in Dubuque and Jackson counties. There are 45 children on a waiting list.

I was reminded of this story by Caren Vogt who has worked as a cook in our adolescent residential treatment program for fifteen years. She said that this story is her inspiration for working with the many children who come to our services at Hillcrest. Caren is reminded of the starfish each time she sees a new child come to us. She doesn’t concern herself with all the details of their history and what brought them to us. She sees the person, the gift from God, and the potential they have for survival. Through her efforts, Caren joins the many staff of Hillcrest in bringing hope to one person at a time.

On the front page of this newsletter there is an article on the graduation of our students from our special education program. They are just three successes of the many that we see each day at Hillcrest. I am asked countless times each year about the outcomes of our programs. People want to know our success rate in terms of kids or adults who have gone on to be a success. Unfortunately we do not generally know what happens in the years following their leaving Hillcrest. Like colleges and universities, we will most often only know of their life story if they contact us.

New members elected to the Board of Trustees include:
• Julie Johnson, Dubuque
• Chad Leitch, Dubuque
• Rev. Mark Martin, Iowa City
• Stephanie Savage, Dubuque
• Claudette Carter-Thomas, Dubuque

Serving as officers of the Board of Trustees for this year are:
• Steve Bonnet - President
• Barb Kehl - Vice President
• Mike Donohue - 2nd Vice President
• Keith Cook - Treasurer
• Julie Johnson - Secretary

Paul Porter, Director of Finance at Hillcrest for nearly thirty years, was given the Nancy Hill Award in recognition of special service and commitment to Hillcrest.

Sharon Finnin received the Volunteer of the Year Award for twelve years of service to the Board of Trustees. Sharon has served four three-year terms on the Board.

$3,500 mission grant from the Presbytery of East Iowa - for Theraplay®, a specialized counseling program for children.

$500 from Westminster Presbyterian Foundation, Dubuque - for beds and bedding for Reflections House, our new home for visiting families with children in residential treatment.

$22,500 from State of Iowa Homeless Assistance (HSOG) - for the Transitional Housing for Homeless Families program.

A number of our supporters and donors have a supply of the old envelopes with the post office box number printed on them, and we ask that you please destroy these old envelopes.

VISIT US IN AMES — If you attend the Iowa Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church in Ames on June 10 and 11, we invite you to stop and visit with us at the Hillcrest Family Services booth. This will be an excellent opportunity for you to update your information about our agency.

14,000 PLUS! — During 2003, for the first time in its 108 year history, Hillcrest Family Services served more than 14,000 people during a single year. Hillcrest offers services in 22 separate programs for troubled adolescents, women and their families, and adults with serious mental illness.

OPEN INVITATION — If you or your group would like to learn more about the work of Hillcrest — or just want to see our main campus — we invite you to call Sondra Bennett at 563-583-7357; toll free at 1-877-437-6333; email sbennett@hillcrest-fs.org to make arrangements.

If you wish, you can also make arrangements on our web site at www.hillcrest-fs.org. Sondra will also be happy to schedule speakers for your meetings or special events.

Time takes its toll on some other very important parts of our lives as well. And though it does not receive near the verbal attention of an annual visit to the doctor, arrangements with respect to estate plans and the specifics of a last will and testament should be reviewed on a regular basis as well.

Estimates indicate that as few as 50% of the people in the nation have a will. More alarming is the fact that a large percentage of the wills in existence are invalid, out of date, or simply inappropriate as a result of changes in life circumstances. Here is a checklist of things to consider as you determine whether your will is in good health.

Have there been family changes?
Births, deaths, marriages and divorce can have impact on the appropriateness of a will. An example would be when a son dies and the daughter-in-law may be unintentionally disinherited. Legal counsel nearly always promptly reviews the will of a surviving spouse in the event of the death of his or her partner.

b>Have there been changes with respect to those bearing special responsibilities?
An example of this would be a change in the named executor or personal representative charged with the responsibility of carrying out the directions in the document. It is not uncommon for an executor named in a will to predecease the testator (person for whom the will is written). A rather well known example of this is the case of the assassination of Robert F. Kennedy: his executor was his brother John F. Kennedy who had predeceased him; however, no changes had been made in Robert’s will.

Have you moved to another state?If you move from one state to another, the move may invalidate your will. Some states require three witnesses, others only two. As a rule of thumb, it is wise to have your will reviewed when your domicile changes. A few states have community property law while others do not, which can also complicate issues after a move has been made.

Have there been changes in property or income?
Several years ago the story of a man who left his home to one son and the cash and personal property to another son dramatically emphasized the need for frequent review of your will. At the time the will was prepared the arrangement achieved a virtual equal distribution of value. However, the man had since sold his home without thinking to change his will. The result was that he unintentionally disinherited one son.

Have there been changes in tax law?
It is not uncommon for a major review of wills and trusts to be necessary following the passage of tax legislation. A perfect case in point is the passage of the 1981 Tax Act, which created the unlimited marital deduction. This legislated change provided an unusually significant benefit enabling one spouse to pass property onto another free of federal estate tax. However, the language in one’s will or trust needed to be amended to reflect that desire and take full advantage of this benefit.

Have you had a change of heart?
Let’s face it: things change. Some of the more infamous examples of this involve the disinheritance of a friend or love one. But there are other changes. Perhaps your support for charities has changed or your capacity for giving more has risen. Without a revision in the will, this charitable intent - not to mention the good that will come from the philanthropic act - will go unnoticed.

You should review your will frequently and in the wake of any significant change in your circumstances. And just as in the case of a physical check-up, it is important to get the right kind of legal counsel in the process.

If you do not have a will in place, this is not something to be dreaded. A will is really a simple document that has been in use for several hundred years.