I started as an Intern at Starfish in 2000: now I’m the Director of Child, Youth and Family Clinical and Trauma Services. In 2000 while in college I interned at the Starfish Shelter. After graduating with my bachelor's degree, I was hired at the Shelter. I held a variety of roles including supervisor. Once I obtained my Master's Degree, I became a homebased therapist on the Starfish Behavioral Health Services team. I have been given many opportunities here at Starfish to grow professionally and become a leader within the company. I am now the Director of Child, Youth and Family Clinical and Trauma Services. Throughout my journey at Starfish, I chose to focus my attention on childhood trauma and toxic stress. I received the opportunities to become a Nationally Certified Trauma Focus Cognitive Behavioral Therapist (TF-CBT), a trained Supervisor in TF-CBT, and I participate in various County and Statewide initiatives to bring trauma awareness throughout the State of Michigan. … [Read more...]
Archives for June 2016
Press Alert: Starfish Family Services Awarded $22 Million, 5-Year Head Start/Early Head Start Grant
INKSTER, MICH. (June 29, 2016) – Starfish Family Services is pleased to announce that the Office of Head Start (OHS) has awarded the agency approximately $22 million in federal funds over the next five years. The grant enables Starfish to continue to offer quality and comprehensive services to local children aged 0-5 and their families. The new grant expands services to pregnant women and children 0-3 while offering more full-day services for preschoolers. Programming will serve income-eligible children in the communities of Dearborn Heights, Redford, Inkster, Garden City, Plymouth, Canton, Northville and Livonia. Quality early childhood programming, including Head Start, is proven to have long-term benefit. Studies show that children who arrive at kindergarten ready for school success are more likely to graduate from high school and move out of poverty. Therefore, it’s critical that families facing limited economic and educational opportunity have access to quality preschool … [Read more...]
Press Alert: Starfish Family Services’ CEO Ann Kalass Appointed to Governor Rick Snyder’s 21st Century Education Commission
INKSTER, MICH. (June 3, 2016) – Starfish Family Services is pleased to announce Starfish CEO Ann Kalass has been appointed to serve on the newly created 21st Century Education Commission, established by Executive Order 2016-6. Kalass is a Northville resident where she serves on the Board of Education. The 25-member commission includes representatives from the education, business, government, and nonprofit communities with a particular interest or expertise in education. Appointees have been charged with analyzing top performing educational systems and identifying ways the state of Michigan can successfully replicate such systems. The members, proficient in education system design at the state, regional, and local levels, will focus on how to best organize, govern, fund and create a system of public education that leads to academic and career success for Michigan residents. Membership consists of 16 gubernatorial appointees, four legislative appointees, the State Board of … [Read more...]