News

STTAR Center Resumes Hospital Accompaniment for Sexual Assault Victims 

11/13/2007 -- Columbia, MD.     The STTAR Center, a 34-year Howard County human service organization, has resumed its Hospital Accompaniment Program for sexual assault victims.  The program collaborates with Howard County General Hospital to provide information and support services to sexual assault victims in the hospital’s emergency room.  Although the program has been in effect for over 10 years, it has suffered setbacks in recent months.   The number of interested community volunteers dwindled and STTAR’s Hospital Accompaniment coordinator left the organization.  “This left a void in providing emotional support and community resources to sexual assault victims at a time when such resources are critical to our patients,” said Sharon Coburn, RN, STTAR’s Forensic Nurse Examiner Coordinator at the hospital.

            STTAR’s Executive Director, Jeannie Dillingham secured funding from United Way’s Howard County Partnership and the State of Maryland’s Department of Human Resources to revamp the program and bring it to a higher standard of professionalism and expertise.  In partnership with the Mental Health Authority and Grassroots Crisis Intervention Center, STTAR recruited and trained eight professionals, who have past crisis intervention experience and/or have extensive mental health training, to staff the 24 hour on call program.  “The success of our hospital accompaniment program is due in large part to the coordinated effort of many community services organizations and the commitment of our volunteers.  I am confident our program can serve as a model for other programs across the state,” said Ms. Dillingham. 

STTAR Center Holds 3^rd Annual Stakeholders’ Meeting 

11/13/2007 -- Columbia, MD.   The STTAR Center held its 3^rd Annual Stakeholders’ Meeting on Thursday, September 27 at the Selbourne House in Ellicott City.  Attending the event were members of the Howard County Council, Maryland State Legislature, as well as Howard County Citizens Services representatives and other community leaders.

STTAR Center’s Board Chair, Jim Young, of Howard County General Hospital shared with the group that in the past year STTAR provided services to over 400 individuals in Howard County through its crisis intervention and therapy programs.  Mr. Young highlighted goals for fiscal year 2008 which includes focus on services to the Latino population of Howard County and a new, primary prevention program working with the school system on reaching out to boys and young men in an effort to end sexual violence among youth.

      STTAR’s Executive Director, Jeannie Dillingham recognized two employees of STTAR that have served the organization for 15 years:  Clinical Director, Dr. Catherine Busch, PhD and adult therapist, Dr. Mary Ellen Merrick, DMin, LCPC.   STTAR’s 2007 Annual Report was distributed to all in attendance. Copies of the annual report can be obtained by emailing a request to jeannie.dillingham@sttarcenter.org or download.

STTAR Center Welcomes Four New Board Members 

11/12/2007 -- Columbia, MD.  STTAR Center announces four new members to its Board of Directors.  Joining the STTAR Center Board are Pam Klahr, Executive Director of the Howard County Chamber of Commerce, retired Howard County School administrator, Beverly Koren, Allison Moran of The Growth Coach in Annapolis MD and Julia Ramirez, the Howard County Youth on Board representative from Oakland Mills High School.   To see the entire board roster, please click here.