Pinebrook Community Training Center
Pinebrook Debuts its Community Training Center
With a Free Training and Open House
The importance of National Child Abuse Prevention Month was featured in a free training, “Child Abuse Prevention and the role of Children and Youth Services,” held at Pinebrook’s newly renovated Community Training Center on April 24th. Valerie Rode, MSW, LSW, Program Specialist with the Lehigh County Office of Children and Youth Services, shared her experience of working together in partnership with private agencies to prevent child abuse and neglect. More than 60 community members representing schools, county agencies and direct caregivers such as foster parents were in the audience, and participated with good questions about the child welfare system, related legal issues, and the rights and responsibilities of those involved including how to report suspected child abuse and neglect.
In response to the many requests of attendees, Pinebrook plans to host additional trainings and seminars that will be available to the community at large.
Later that day, an open house reception for the Community Training Center was held. Pinebrook is enormously grateful to the following funders who made the Community Training Center possible:
Major Funders: Anonymous, The Century Fund, Wendy & Robert Heller, The Charles H. Hoch Foundation, Robert M. Jacobs & David A. Artman, The Fred J. Jaindl Family Foundation, Keystone Nazareth Charitable Foundation, Karl Reichstadter, and Harry C. Trexler Trust
Supporting Funders: Cynthia R. Ace, Ameriprise Financial, Anonymous, Florence Applebaum, Carol and Clifford Artman, Jeffrey Baker, Betty & Robert Biehn, Nancy Blaha & Peter Nowlan, Mimi Brunner & Kai Kaysen, Judith Ann & Evan Burkhart, Marcella C. Cummings, Alexander Doty, Amy L. Folk, Bernadine Gombeda & Joseph Furmanchin, Catherine & Thomas Haddock, Mary & Richard Haupt, Janet Hermann, Josh Early Candies, Gayle G. & Edward F. Labuda, Kathleen O’Malley & Michael T. Shaffer, James Miller, Adele & Russ Pearly, Susan Pearson, Michael Rodriguez, Catharine Shelly, Kimberly Slack & Lori Long, Rosemary F. Slegel & Michael Korenich, Steve Stevenson & Frans DeQuillettes, and Stephanie Werner
Above Photo: (L-R) Bob Jacobs, Valerie Rode and Rosemary Slegel
Pinebrook Family Services announces the opening of its Community Training Center at its Allentown location. This new initiative, which involved making minor renovations to the lower level of its Allentown facility, now provides two well-appointed training/meeting rooms available for Pinebrook and other child- and family-serving agencies to use; the smaller room has seating capacity of 30-40, while the larger room can accommodate between 70 and 90 guests. Phase One of the project also allowed for the installation of eco-friendly lighting and new furniture to be purchased. Ample parking is available at its Allentown office located at 402 North Fulton Street.
Bob Jacobs, Executive Director of Pinebrook, shares, “During the past several years, and primarily as a result of Pinebrook’s community partnerships and outreach activities, we have received requests from other local charitable organizations to use our facility for hosting meetings, training, and even programming activities. Pinebrook’s current strategic plan is based upon the premise that similar mission-driven organizations are more effective in advancing their individual missions when they embrace the spirit of collaboration and partnership, and even pool their human and financial resources. We believe there is greater social impact when doing so, especially during these rather challenging economic times.”
For more information about the Community Training Center, please click here.
