As our children transition from summer to the new school year, For All Seasons – the region’s behavioral health and rape crisis center – wants parents to know ways that they can build their child’s coping toolbox for some of the stressors that come with going back to school.

Mental Health America says that changing friendships, getting your brain back into “learning mode,” and balancing school with other responsibilities are just some of the ways that starting a new school year can be stressful. The coping toolbox is a collection of skills, techniques, items, and other suggestions that your child can turn to as soon as they start to feel anxious or distressed.

Creating your toolbox can be as simple as writing a list of what helps, like breathing exercises or playing with a pet – this way, when children are struggling with their mental health they don’t have to remember what to do or search for tips – they know what works best for them. Physical toolboxes could include such items as a stress ball, written notes of encouragement, or even photos that make them feel happy. This could be kept in a child’s bookbag or locker for access when they need reassurance.

Other ideas for coping with stress as school resumes could include mood boosters, such as:

• Watching a funny YouTube video
• Reorganizing your room
• Playing a game outside
• Watching a movie you loved when you were younger
• Repeating affirmations like: I believe in myself. Fear doesn’t control me. I let go of my sadness. I am safe.

According to the Child Mind Institute, the biggest changes are those starting kindergarten, middle school, and high school. These transitions involve new schools, new routines, and lots of unfamiliar faces. It’s understandable for kids (and parents) to be a bit anxious, but these new beginnings are opportunities for them to develop important academic and social skills and a stronger sense of self.

For students starting kindergarten:

• Practicing things like opening snacks, using the bathroom solo, and packing a backpack
• Teaching kids strategies they can use to calm down when they’re nervous that are part of their personal toolbox

For students starting middle school:

• Helping students learn time management and study skills for changing classes for the first time and the increased school workload with color-coded folders, calendars, and checklists
• Helping students learn to regulate emotions and handle friendships as they navigate the social and emotional challenges that come with puberty

For students starting high school:

• Helping encourage students’ independence in completing tasks without your reminders and teaching them self-advocacy skills
• Providing proactive guidance to students for how to handle situations involving sex and substances

For further information, visit Building Your Toolbox https://mhanational.org/back-to-school-with-mental-health-in-mind/. If you or your child needs additional support, reach out to a local mental health provider.

For All Seasons Behavioral Health & Rape Crisis Center offers mental health services, victim and crisis support, and education & outreach on Maryland’s Mid-Shore and throughout the state. The agency’s unique model of care ensures anyone can receive the highest-quality, trauma-certified mental health care when they need it, regardless of language or ability to pay. For more information about For All Seasons, please call (410) 822-1018 or visit www.ForAllSeasonsinc.org.

The University of Maryland Shore Regional Health (UM SRH) Board of Directors recently welcomed four new members: Aaron Gabrielian, CFP®; Pamela Metz Kasemeyer; Michael Molino and Kevin M. Morgan. The Board’s membership includes representatives from the five counties served by UM SRH, the regional physician community and the University of Maryland Medical System (UMMS), of which UM SRH is a member organization. In addition to these new members, the following members have been elected as new officers on the Board: Steve Satchell has been elected to serve as chair and Marlene Feldman as vice chair.

Gabrielian, of Easton, Md., is Senior Vice President – Branch Director, Senior Portfolio Director of the Coastal Private Wealth Group at RBC Wealth Management in Easton. He began his career as a financial advisor at Morgan Stanley and prior to joining RBC, worked at a leading independent advisory firm providing family-office style investment advisory services, business succession planning and estate preservation strategies to some of the nation’s most successful business-owning families, institutions and endowments. He has extensive experience managing individual investment portfolios on a discretionary basis and providing multigenerational wealth planning to corporate executives and business owning families. 

Gabrielian graduated from Towson University with a Bachelor of Science degree in Finance where he played baseball and was the recipient of the Towson University Tiger Leadership Award for his efforts on and off the baseball field. He went on to graduate study in financial planning through New York University. He holds active volunteer roles with several local organizations including The Mid-Shore Community Foundation Board of Directors, The Sultana Education Foundation Board of Directors and UM SRH Board of Directors, which he serves as Chair of the Finance Committee.

Kasemeyer, of Easton, Md., and Columbia, Md., currently serves as Director of the Office of Government Affairs for Baltimore County, Md. She was formerly a partner with Schwartz, Metz, Wise and Kauffman, P.A. in Baltimore, Md., representing business, professional and trade associations before Maryland’s legislative and executive branches.

Before joining Schwartz, Metz, Wise and Kauffman, P.A., Kasemeyer held several positions, including associate attorney at the Law Offices of J. William Pitcher, Executive Director of the Maryland Delaware Solid Waste Association and Director at the Maryland Association of Health Maintenance Organizations.

Kasemeyer earned a Juris Doctor from the University of Maryland School of Law, a Master of Health Services Administration from George Washington and a Bachelor of Arts in Public Policy Studies from Duke University. Her bar admissions include the Maryland Court of Appeals, the United States District Court – District of Maryland and the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals. Kasemeyer is Chairman of the Board for Sisters Circle, a mentoring organization in Baltimore City, and serves as a Court Appointed Special Advocate for CASA on the Mid Shore.

Molino, of Saint Michaels, Md. is Executive Vice President, Corporate Growth for SeaCorp, an engineering and technology company that builds electronic systems for submarines and related technology solutions, where he oversees corporate strategy, mergers and acquisitions, business growth and federal government affairs.

Before joining SeaCorp, Molino served in similar positions at ASRC Federal and Leidos, both government contracting firms. Prior to working in the private sector, Molino served in the U.S. Army, handling various logistics roles and leading deployment exercises, natural disaster relief and training programs. He continues his military service by volunteering on the Army Science Board, where he reviews Army projects involving robotics, personnel management, nuclear testing and technology. 

Molino earned a Bachelor of Science degree from the U.S. Military Academy at West Point and a Master of Business Administration from Cornell University.

Morgan, of Cambridge, Md., currently serves as Regional Health and Wellness Senior Director for Sam’s Club Inc., based in Annapolis, Md. In this role, he oversees a large network of pharmacies, as well as optical and hearing centers, across 12 states. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Morgan played a key role in the vaccine rollout within Walmart, collaborating with Walmart Supercenters, Sam’s Club, and Neighborhood Markets to deploy immunization services across the various retail platforms supporting all 50 states and Puerto Rico.

Morgan served as a commissioner on the Maryland Board of Pharmacy from 2016 to 2024, including 3 terms as board president. He has also represented Maryland as a delegate to the National Association of Boards of Pharmacy (NABP) and contributed as a member of multiple NABP committees. He holds a Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD) from Shenandoah University and a Bachelor of Science in Biology and Environmental Studies from St. Lawrence University. His professional certifications include APhA immunization delivery, American Board of Opticianry and basic life support.

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About University of Maryland Shore Regional Health 

A member organization of the University of Maryland Medical System (UMMS), University of Maryland Shore Regional Health (UM SRH) is the principal provider of comprehensive health care services for more than 170,000 residents of five counties on Maryland’s Eastern Shore: Caroline, Dorchester, Kent, Queen Anne’s and Talbot. UM SRH consists of approximately 2,000 team members, including more than 600 health care providers on the Medical Staff, who work with community partners to advance the values that are foundational to our mission: Compassion, Discovery, Excellence, Diversity and Integrity. For more information, visit https://www.umms.org/shore.

 

About the University of Maryland Medical System

The University of Maryland Medical System (UMMS) is an academic private health system, focused on delivering compassionate, high quality care and putting discovery and innovation into practice at the bedside. Partnering with the University of Maryland School of Medicine and University of Maryland, Baltimore who educate the state’s future health care professionals, UMMS is an integrated network of care, delivering 25 percent of all hospital care in urban, suburban and rural communities across the state of Maryland. UMMS puts academic medicine within reach through primary and specialty care delivered at 11 hospitals, including the flagship University of Maryland Medical Center, the System’s anchor institution in downtown Baltimore, as well as through a network of University of Maryland Urgent Care centers and more than 150 other locations in 13 counties. For more information, visit www.umms.org.

Department Seeks Youth Programs for Teen Pregnancy, STI Prevention Efforts Applications, parent consent forms are due by 5 pm Sept. 11

The health department invites programs serving Dorchester County youth to apply to offer a teen pregnancy and STI prevention course to county teens.

Two programs will be awarded $3,000 to teach the “Making Proud Choices!” curriculum to at least ten (10) Dorchester County youth ages 10 to 19.

The evidence-based curriculum has eight one-hour lessons. These lessons are designed to help young people:

• Get the facts they need to understand these issues.
• Feel confident that they can make safer choices about sex.
• Learn how to understand and manage their own feelings and thoughts.
• Learn how to talk to others and act in ways that lower their personal risk.
• Think about their beliefs about risks and what could happen. They will also learn to look at behaviors or situations that increase their risk of pregnancy, HIV, and other STIs.
• Be motivated to use these skills in their daily lives.

People who lead these programs will be trained to teach the lessons correctly.

This money can be used for things like supplies, paying staff, facility costs, and small gifts for participants. The program must be finished by April 30, 2026.

Go online to https://dorchesterhealth.org/about/#bids to download the application instructions, the application form, and a parent consent form template.

The application and completed parent consent forms are due by 5 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 11, 2025.

If you have questions or need help filling out the application, please contact Asiha Blake at asiha.blake@maryland.gov or 410-901-8158.

The Cancer Center at University of Maryland Shore Regional Health (UM SRH) will offer prostate screenings at no cost to eligible participants on Thursday, September 25, from 4 to 6 p.m. The screenings, which will be conducted as part of a clinical research trial, are open to males over age 45 who have never had a prostate cancer screening and to males ages 55 to 69 who are due for an annual prostate cancer screening. UM SRH is a member organization of the University of Maryland Medical System.

According to the American Cancer Society, one in eight men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer over the course of his lifetime, according to 2023 data, and in 2025, more than 313,000 new cases of prostate cancer are projected to be diagnosed in the United States. (To learn more about prostate cancer rates and risk factors, visit https://www.cancer.org/cancer/types/prostate-cancer/about/),

“Prostate screening is an important tool that men in their 40s and beyond should undergo to help maintain their best health,” said Margaret Ferski-Caraballo, MS, BSN, Clinical Trials Nurse at the Cancer Center at UM SRH. “Anyone unsure of whether or not he should be screened is encouraged to ask his health care provider. We look forward to having a strong turnout for this free screening offered during Prostate Cancer Awareness Month.”

The Cancer Center at UM SRH is located at 509 Idlewild Avenue in Easton. RSVP for the Prostate Screening event (no later than September 13, 2025) or ask questions, by calling 410-820-6800, ext. 5907. 

To view a patient story video about diagnosis, treatment and survival from prostate cancer, visit: https://www.umms.org/shore/health-services/cancer/services/radiation-oncology 

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About University of Maryland Shore Regional Health 

A member organization of the University of Maryland Medical System (UMMS), University of Maryland Shore Regional Health (UM SRH) is the principal provider of comprehensive health care services for more than 170,000 residents of five counties on Maryland’s Eastern Shore: Caroline, Dorchester, Kent, Queen Anne’s and Talbot. UM SRH consists of approximately 2,000 team members, including more than 600 health care providers on the Medical Staff, who work with community partners to advance the values that are foundational to our mission: Compassion, Discovery, Excellence, Diversity and Integrity. For more information, visit https://www.umms.org/shore.

 

About the University of Maryland Medical System

The University of Maryland Medical System (UMMS) is an academic private health system, focused on delivering compassionate, high quality care and putting discovery and innovation into practice at the bedside. Partnering with the University of Maryland School of Medicine and University of Maryland, Baltimore who educate the state’s future health care professionals, UMMS is an integrated network of care, delivering 25 percent of all hospital care in urban, suburban and rural communities across the state of Maryland. UMMS puts academic medicine within reach through primary and specialty care delivered at 11 hospitals, including the flagship University of Maryland Medical Center, the System’s anchor institution in downtown Baltimore, as well as through a network of University of Maryland Urgent Care centers and more than 150 other locations in 13 counties. For more information, visit www.umms.org.

 

The Dorchester County Health Department’s School-Based Wellness Center program now offers an exciting new addition to its health and wellness services at Cambridge-South Dorchester High School.

With funding from the Maryland Department of Health, the center designed and opened a new therapeutic garden space behind its wellness center on the campus grounds.

“Our new therapeutic healing garden at CSD High School is more than just a collection of plants; it’s a welcoming space for students, built on the belief that everyone deserves access to nature’s healing power,” Christa Chesley, LCSW-C, said. Chesley is the mental health supervisor for the School-Based Wellness Centers.
“We understand the pressures that many students and families face, and this garden offers an accessible and beautiful space for young people to feel safe, to heal, and to envision a brighter future,” Chesley said.

The garden prioritizes native plants and sensory elements, drawing on sights, smells, textures, and even sound.
The space features gently graded, accessible entrances, wide paved paths, and raised planting beds to accommodate individuals with a range of interests and abilities.
A therapeutic garden helps people interact with nature’s healing elements. Interactions can be passive or active, depending on the users’ needs. Therapeutic horticulture is used in various settings, including hospitals, rehabilitation centers, schools, and community gardens.It uses gardening, nature-based activities, and interactions with the natural environment to promote physical, psychological, and social well-being.

While the Wellness Center’s healing garden will beautify the school campus, the primary intention is to offer a connection with the natural environment.
This helps students reduce stress, strengthen learned coping strategies, and promotes social connections and improved mental health.
News reports show increasing mental health needs among young people. The wellness center is thrilled to offer this enhancement to their treatment.
The School-Based Wellness Center program offers medical and mental health services on-site at Dorchester County middle and high schools.
Nurse practitioners and mental health therapists staff the center. Our services are available to all enrolled students and school staff and include easy access for sick visits, sports physicals, seasonal flu vaccinations, and more.

Medical services are also available to students from select feeder elementary schools. Parents can ask their school nurse for more details.
To learn more about the healing garden, contact Christa Chesley, LCSW-C, mental health supervisor, at 410-228-3825.
For general information about the Dorchester County School-Based Wellness Center program, contact Mindy Black-Kelly, program administrator, at 410-901-8177.

For All Seasons Center for Learning is offering an introductory online training to equip hospitality professionals with the critical knowledge and tools to recognize and respond to human trafficking in lodging environments. Designed specifically for hotel, motel, and short-term rental staff—including front desk personnel, housekeepers, security staff, and managers—this program demystifies human trafficking and empowers learners to take practical action.

Led by Sean Walker, a nationally recognized safety and security expert with over 25 years of experience in hospitality, the course addresses both the myths and the realities of trafficking. Participants will learn how traffickers exploit the privacy and access provided by hotels and motels, what signs to watch for during check-in and throughout a guest’s stay, and how to act when something doesn’t feel right. Emphasis is placed on real-world scenarios, non-confrontational reporting, and establishing proactive relationships with local law enforcement.

“Human trafficking poses a direct threat to our region’s hospitality industry, by damaging reputations, undermining operational efficiency, and increasing costs. For All Seasons’ Regional Navigator Program is actively addressing this issue by training our business owners to improve customer trust, ensure public safety, and enhance employee satisfaction, ultimately driving long-term economic success in the region,” said Susan Ahlstrom, Regional Navigator at For All Seasons.

The online training program includes:

• A foundational overview of what human trafficking is—and what it is not
• Common behaviors and red flags at check-in and during a guest’s stay
• Best practices in response, including communication, policy development, and law enforcement engagement
• Mental health considerations for frontline workers who may witness or report trafficking
• Resources for further training, awareness, and organizational readiness

Participants will also hear a follow-up conversation between Sean Walker and For All Seasons’ Chief Clinical Officer, Lesa Mulcahy, focusing on the emotional impact of this work and how agencies like For All Seasons can support staff following traumatic incidents.

Whether you work the front desk or manage operations, this course offers the clarity, confidence, and tools needed to play a meaningful role in preventing exploitation. Completing this training signals a commitment to guest safety and community responsibility because every action, no matter how small, has the power to disrupt trafficking and create hope.

For further information, visit https://forallseasonsinc.lpages.co/human-trafficking-hospitality-training/, and for questions, contact: CenterForLearning@ForAllSeasonsInc.org.

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For All Seasons provides the highest quality mental health and victim services to children, adults, and families across Maryland’s Eastern Shore. Services are offered in both English and Spanish and include therapy, psychiatry, victim advocacy, 24-hour crisis hotlines, outreach, and community education. For information about For All Seasons walk-in hours, contact For All Seasons at 410-822-1018 or visit ForAllSeasonsInc.org.

In May and June, the University of Maryland Shore Regional Health Women and Children’s team strengthened its commitment to women’s and family health by engaging in three high‑impact community events across Caroline, Talbot and surrounding counties.

“University of Maryland Shore Regional Health is committed to supporting community events for women and children throughout our region. We believe these events are crucial to building a foundation of wellness, education and support, addressing the holistic needs of families and fostering a healthier community for generations to come,” said Jessica Genrich, MBA, RNC‑OB, C‑EFM, Director of Women and Children’s Services at UM SRH.

Team members promoted UM SRH resources and services at these local events:

• Women’s Health Fair —May 10, 2025, Easton

Talbot County Health Department provided free blood‑pressure and blood‑glucose screenings, HIV/Hepatitis C testing and counseling on family planning, substance‑use cessation, and maternal‑child health. Fifty‑two women and girls—29 percent identifying as Hispanic and 18 percent as African American—took advantage of the services, with 82 percent completing health screenings. Women and Children’s team members were available to distribute newborn care resources and answer questions about support programs, including free childbirth and parent education classes hosted by UM SRH.  Attendees received wellness toolkits and grocery gift cards, making the inaugural event one of the most successful first‑year health fairs.

• Discovery Day — May 14, 2025, Tuckahoe State Park, Ridgely

At the 13th annual Discovery Day, hosted by Family Support Services of Caroline and Talbot counties, Women and Children’s nurses joined more than 150 participants to connect families of children birth‑to‑age‑five with early‑intervention resources. Team members offered guidance on maternal and newborn care and introduced parents to UM SRH’s prenatal and postpartum support programs.

• Community Baby Shower — June 7, 2025, Easton Elementary School

During this annual celebration of expectant parents, sponsored by the Talbot County Health Department, Women and Children’s team members staffed an educational booth, distributed newborn care resources and answered questions for more than 200 attendees. The team emphasized the importance of early prenatal care and connected families with childbirth classes and lactation support available at UM SRH.

Through these events, Women and Children’s Services reached hundreds of families, extending UM SRH’s mission beyond hospital walls and reinforcing key partnerships with local schools, health departments and community organizations. This outreach underscores UM SRH’s dedication to improving maternal‑child health outcomes across Maryland’s Eastern Shore.

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About University of Maryland Shore Regional Health 

A member organization of the University of Maryland Medical System (UMMS), University of Maryland Shore Regional Health (UM SRH) is the principal provider of comprehensive health care services for more than 170,000 residents of five counties on Maryland’s Eastern Shore: Caroline, Dorchester, Kent, Queen Anne’s and Talbot. UM SRH consists of approximately 2,000 team members, including more than 600 health care providers on the Medical Staff, who work with community partners to advance the values that are foundational to our mission: Compassion, Discovery, Excellence, Diversity and Integrity. For more information, visit https://www.umms.org/shore.

 

About the University of Maryland Medical System

The University of Maryland Medical System (UMMS) is an academic private health system, focused on delivering compassionate, high quality care and putting discovery and innovation into practice at the bedside. Partnering with the University of Maryland School of Medicine and University of Maryland, Baltimore who educate the state’s future health care professionals, UMMS is an integrated network of care, delivering 25 percent of all hospital care in urban, suburban and rural communities across the state of Maryland. UMMS puts academic medicine within reach through primary and specialty care delivered at 11 hospitals, including the flagship University of Maryland Medical Center, the System’s anchor institution in downtown Baltimore, as well as through a network of University of Maryland Urgent Care centers and more than 150 other locations in 13 counties. For more information, visit www.umms.org.

Choptank Community Health System’s Denton and Federalsburg Health Centers recently welcomed dentist Chanel Farmer, DDS, to the dental care team.

Dr. Farmer’s comprehensive expertise spans diagnostics and treatment planning, restorative dentistry, endodontics, and prosthodontics. She also provides advanced care in oral surgery, implant placement, digital dentistry, and both pediatric and geriatric services, including emergency and pain management.

Dr. Farmer received her Advanced Education in General Dentistry from NYU Langone Health, where she continues as an attending faculty dentist with its Advanced Education in General Dentistry program. She earned a Doctor of Dental Surgery from Howard University College of Dentistry and a Bachelor of Science in Biology from Hampton University.

Choptank Community Health System provides medical and dental services in Caroline, Dorchester, Kent, Queen Anne’s, and Talbot counties to more than 30,000 adults and children, with a mission to provide access to exceptional, comprehensive, and integrated healthcare for all.

Choptank Health’s pediatric and adult dental services include dental examinations, cleanings, x-rays, dental sealants, fluoride treatments, fillings, oral surgery extractions, root canals, dentures, and coordination of hospital-based programs. Choptank Health’s school-based health care program also includes dental services for registered students in all five of Maryland’s Mid-Shore counties.

New and existing Choptank Health dental patients can call the Denton Health Center at 410-479-2650 or the Federalsburg Health Center at 410-754-9580 to schedule an appointment, with more information at www.choptankhealth.org.