development

By Molly Severtson, Intermountain Senior Development Officer Charity begins at home. It’s a proverb that’s been used since the 14th century to remind us that our first responsibility is to love and care for our own family. Some have extended the phrase to mean that we should take care of our own family before worrying … Read more

By Daniel Champer, LCPC, Intermountain Clinical Manager of School Based Services A quick internet search of the phrase “mushroom cloud” reveals that the technical definition of the phenomena is “a distinctive pyro-cumulus mushroom-shaped cloud of debris and usually condensed water vapor resulting from a large explosion.” The phrase will also conjure up frightening descriptions related … Read more

By Todd Garrison, Executive Director of ChildWise “I’m not telling you it’s going to be easy, I’m telling you it’s going to be worth it.” That’s the theme for elevating the well-being of our children. And it’s not someone else responsible for this, it’s you and me. I have trained literally thousands of people from … Read more

By Todd Garrison, Executive Director of ChildWise Highlight this page and delete it! Or, highlight this page, print it and frame it where you can see it every day. Because this article is either going to make you mad and frustrated … or it might be just the thing you need at this moment in … Read more

By Chaplain Chris Haughee, M.Div  While far from ideal, my childhood provided me with great memories of the holidays. I recall special days of decorating cookies with my Aunt Shirley, sharing a bowl of homemade Chex mix with my Grandpa Haughee while watching football, candlelight services at church, and special meals where family came together. … Read more

By Joelle Johnson, LCSW, LAC, Intermountain Co-Occurring Therapist Recently, a young girl was brought to my therapy practice by her mother.  The girl had attempted suicide a week earlier, which was a sudden and traumatic alert that her daughter was struggling with depression.  The first therapy session held more surprises as the daughter revealed she … Read more

By Daniel Champer, LCPC, Intermountain Clinical Manager of School Based Services The term “physical fitness” conjures up many different emotions and mental images. My mind immediately creates a picture of a bulbous nose, loud raspy voice, and a hyperactive whistle all encased snugly in a medium Gold’s gym t-shirt and a pair of gym shorts … Read more

By Joelle Johnson, LCSW, LAC, Intermountain Project Director Summer vacation is an interesting thing.  Sometime around spring break, kids, parents and teachers alike start dreaming about a life absent of the morning routine and afternoon homework responsibilities.  The end-of-the-school-year craving for unstructured time demonstrates our children’s need to have a break from the routine of … Read more

By Daniel Champer, LCPC, Intermountain Clinical Manager of School Based Services Deadened eyes stare.  Pasty skin shimmers.  Insipid tongues drool.  Listless arms dangle.  Guttural sounds emit.  Rancid odors waft.  Zombies?  Not likely. There are many more believable explanations for all of these ghastly manifestations.  Would you care to guess along with me?  Teenagers?  Parents of … Read more

By Marvin Williams, Director of Education at Intermountain Imagine being away from home in a setting where you don’t want to be in the first place and you are only 7 or 10 or 4 or 13 years old.  That’s how the children who come to Intermountain’s Residential Program feel.  Parents and educators believe that … Read more