Erin Fiorito, Maureen Kishna and Pamela Mitterling have all been recognized by the Multisystemic Therapy (MST) Services' "Whatever It Takes" program.
This recognition is given to individuals within the MST community who have demonstrated outstanding and meritorious service. Their dedication to those they work with and serve does not go unnoticed. The MST community recognizes their hard work and willingness to go above and beyond.
Erin Fiorito
Research Associate, Begun Center for Violence Prevention Research and Education
Reason for nomination: Erin did whatever it took to support another expert's team within the CIP network partnership. She was covering for the network partner director and fellow expert while they took a vacation. At the last minute, a new agency asked her to do a supervisor interview. Erin hadn't done a supervisor interview in a while, so she dropped everything, went on the portal and started reviewing the toolkit. The agency was not responding to emails or calls, and Erin didn't know if she was conducting a first interview or second interview. She also didn't know who would be present at the interview. But she rolled with the unexpected task and supported the agency despite being unsure where they were in the process and not having met the hiring team members before. We truly appreciate her willingness to take on challenges with ease and do her best to support a fellow expert!
Maureen Kishna
MST Network Partner Director for Ohio, Center for Innovative Practices
Reason for nomination: Maureen has done whatever it takes to support a new agency as they start an MST team. She has worked diligently to position this agency to be successful and has had repeated troubleshooting meetings with both the expert for the team and the agency leadership. Maureen has rearranged her schedule to support this agency despite ongoing and repeated barriers. Each meeting, she moves this agency closer to MST adherent practices and recognizing that a scattershot problem-solving approach is not working for them. She has been instrumental in supporting the expert and her help has been invaluable, not only to the team but to the expert.
Maureen is always thinking about the Ohio system and how to increase the capacity to serve more at-risk youth. This has driven her to go above and beyond to support this agency so they maintain as an MST provider knowing that there is an opportunity for in-home services in the upcoming year that would be more lucrative for this agency than the MST program will be due to the QA costs. She works tirelessly to help this agency see that MST, with fidelity, is the right program for this community and this agency. We cannot thank Maureen enough for her never-ending work with this agency!
Pamela Mitterling
MST Expert, Center for Innovative Practices
Reason for nomination: Pam has done whatever it takes to support a new agency as they start an MST team. She has worked diligently to position this agency to be successful and has had repeated troubleshooting meetings with both the supervisors and the agency leadership. Pam has rearranged her schedule to support this agency to have emergency meetings to address ongoing and repeated challenges. Each meeting, she moves this agency closer to MST-adherent practices and recognizing that a scattershot problem-solving approach is not working for them. Pam has been instrumental in supporting both of the supervisors that have taken on the team and the therapists. Her patience, support and guidance have been invaluable—we're not sure the agency would have any staff if not for the expert's support.
Pam also met at the new supervisor's home to conduct a portion of the MST supervisor orientation training because she needed to step away from the office. Pam has consistently met this agency and staff where they are at with grace, despite the fact this agency has presented challenges she hasn't seen in her 20 years doing MST. She is working diligently to help this agency see that MST, with fidelity, is the right program for this community and this agency. We cannot thank Pam enough for her tireless work with this agency!
Congratulations to Erin, Maureen and Pam! The Mandel School appreciates your dedication and your continued efforts to go above and beyond.