From the Director’s Chair- Bob Lieberman SOASTC
Bob Lieberman of SOASTC
Bob Lieberman is the Executive Director of Southern Oregon Adolescent Study & Treatment Center (SOASTC). He began his career at a residential treatment center for children in the mid-70’s at Christie School in Marylhurst, Oregon. Over the years Mr. Lieberman has watched mental health care evolve. What once was expected, such as long stays and almost a detachment from family involvement, the length of time spent in such programs has decreased, the expectations placed on mental health care has increased with a shorter time length to show results, and family, friends, and community has a much greater involvement in the process of caring for emotionally disturbed children. Bob finds this new degree of family and social involvement as a positive trend and hopes it will not only continue, but become the norm.
Founded in 1977, this program is accredited by the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Health Care Organizations and serves children from 8-18 year of age, although there are sometimes exceptions to this age limit. They offer both intensive and community programs. Their intensive treatment programs include psychiatric residential care, assessment and evaluation, and in-community services. The community programs include therapeutic foster care, independent living skills training, GED preparation, school based mental health services, planned and crisis respite care, treatment for sexual aggression, and other services and supports. These programs are designed for children who have chronic and persistent mental illness, along with those who have been victimized by abuse or have suffered trauma in their lives.
For families raising children with mental health problems, the program provides a host of benefits and receives numerous accolades from those involved. One mother writes of her experience and shares her thoughts about this “amazing facility” in the following words: “I placed my child here for help 8 weeks ago, and not only have I seen her grow, I’ve seen her ways of thinking changing, her mind opening to the possibilities of a new way to functions, and learning coping skills that she’ll be able to use the rest of her life in everyday situations…but the help here is not only for my child. My older daughter and I, through family therapy are also learning new ways to think. We have a long hard road ahead of us, but with the help we receive and the goals we need to meet to have my daughter discharged, and the amazing program of aftercare we will follow up up with…I am no longer afraid of the future, as I know we will always have the framework we have built and the hope that SOASTC will always be here for us as well as many children and families for years to come.” Current clients aren’t the only ones who feel this way. With its long history in the community, SOASTC has the benefits of being able to follow up with past clients over the years. Many return to share their success stories and to thank Bob and his crew for helping them out as youngsters. Therapy, coping skills, and the knowledge that somebody cares all work together to facilitate health, wellness, and ability to succeed in a world that isn’t always friendly to those who have trouble coping with the stresses of day to day living. They hope to see SOASTC continue to be a great community resource.
This is also the hope of Bob Lieberman - to have this facility available for those to come in the following years and be able to not only offer the quality services already instituted, but to expand and serve more families in need. While some of the funding for SOASTC comes from public and private insurance, they also accept children whose families are not financially stable and children who come to them through social services after having been removed from unfit homes. Thus, SOASTC relies heavily on monies from fundraisers and the generosity of local businesses and other donors. KDRV TV recently chose SOASTC as a recipient of Oprah’s Big Give, receiving $2,500 of the matched donations, but this is just a drop in the bucket compared to the need. Funds are used to help improve current residential facilities and expansion projects, fund activities, pay for educational programs, and much more. For more information or to help sponsor SOASTC, contact Mr. Lieberman by phone, fax, or mail.
Robert E. Lieberman
Executive Director
SOASTC
715 Ramsey Ave.
Grants Pass, OR 97527
541-956-4943
541-476-2895 - fax
rlieberman@soastc.org
www.soastc.org
- Gina Locke
