News

Building Strong Families Is at the Core of New  
Samaritan Neighborhood Counseling Initiative 
 
There is a tremendous need for affordable and accessible professional mental health 
services in the Lincoln community. Lincoln Public School principals report an increase in 
families who are experiencing job loss, substance abuse, mental illness, family 
relationship issues and basic health needs. The National Health Information Center 
estimates 25% of children are at risk of school failure related to problems such as 
depression and suicide, and as many as 1 in 5 children have a mental health disorder 
that can be identified and treated.  

With the opening of the Samaritan Counseling Center second office at Westminster 
Presbyterian Church, the center has partnered with Prescott Elementary School to offer 
neighborhood-based mental health and family-strengthening educational services. A 
grant from the KENO Human Services Prevention Fund provides support for uninsured 
children, their families and individuals that need counseling services and cannot afford 
the center’s minimum adjusted fee. 


From the Westminster office, Samaritan counselors Julia Christoffersen, Ph. D. and 
Ronald Welch, L.M.H.P. are serving surrounding south central Lincoln 
neighborhoods. (Story Continues)

Samaritan Counseling Center Opens South Central
Lincoln Office at Westminster Presbyterian Church
The Samaritan Counseling Center has opened a satellite office at 
Westminster Presbyterian Church (see news release) located at Sheridan Blvd.
and South St. (corner of 27th and South St.)  From this site, Samaritan counselors 
provide counseling and educational opportunities to Lincoln South Central and 
downtown neighborhoods.The Samaritan Counseling Center's main office is located 
on the St. Mark's Methodist Church campus at 84th and Pioneer. To schedule appointments 
at the Westminster neighborhood office and the main office, call 483-5117.
  

Samaritan “Straighten Out” Television Ad

A special thank you to Swanson Russell for their tremendous generosity in making

this television ad possible.

 
 Kit Boesch Comments on Receiving "2009 Spirit of  
the Good Samaritan" Recognition
  
"First and foremost, let me say thank you -to the Samaritan Counseling Center, their 
Board of Directors, and Scott Stuckey who nominated me. Thanks to all of you for coming 
tonight and for the incredible collaborative efforts you are doing on behalf of children and  
families in this community. 
  
This is a very special award for me. It's not about athletics, or scholastics, or how much 
money someone gives. It's a very humbling award and those who know me know humility is  
not always one of my strong suits. 
  
Something I don't usually share with people; I wake up every morning with a short prayer, 
"Thank you God for the talents, blessings and opportunities I've been given. May I use them 
wisely, to the best of my ability, so I don't screw anything up!" Probably not the most 
articulate prayer in the world but, it seems to have worked for me most of my life. 
  
One of those blessing has been living in Lincoln, doing a job I thoroughly enjoy.  
There are many people and communities that suffer from what I call SDD  
(Spiritual Deficit Disorder). SDD is when you think you are so important and 
so busy you can't take time to stop and do something for someone else. Lincoln 
isn't like that as demonstrated by the very people in this room tonight. 
  
The Samaritan Center reaching across the table to Westminster and St. Marks, 
who then reach across again to Prescott School is an outstanding example of what 
I believe is the phenomenal power in our faith communities to address poverty- 
one family, one person, one child at a time. 
  
Thank you for everything you do, for the talents you share, and for including me  
in the celebration for this evening. Thank you."
 
Second Annual "The Art of Healing" Fundraiser 
Celebrates Westminster Office Opening and 
Announces 2009 Good Samaritan Awards 
 
Friends and supporters of Lincoln's Samaritan Counseling Center gathered on 
May 1, to celebrate the opening of a new south central Lincoln outreach office 
at Westminster Presbyterian Church. "The Art of Healing" event helped to raise 
over $20,000 to support the center's services and educational programs,  
including support for those who can not afford the full cost of counseling (see program).
 
The evening began with a garden reception at the historic Sheridan Blvd. home of 
Joan and Tom Hruza, hosted by the Hruzas and Mary Arth. The attendees then  
moved to nearby Westminster Presbyterian Church for dinner, a program and silent 
and live auctions.The program featured presentation of the 2009 Spirit of the Good 
Samaritan Awards. This year's honorees were Kit Boesch, Lincoln/Lancaster Human 
Services Adminstrator; Samaritan Center's Founding Congregations, Westminster  
Presbyterian and St. Mark's United Methodist; and corporate award recipient, Swanson 
Russell. In addition, Lincoln vocalist and NET Radio host Annette Murrell, gave 
an inspiring "A Portrait of Healing" presentation. 
 
 
Samaritan Institute Awards Full Accreditation
To Lincoln's Samaritan Counseling Center 
 

The Samaritan Counseling Center of Lincoln has been awarded
"Full Accreditation" through October 2011 by the 
Samaritan Institute (www.samaritaninstitute.org). 
 
According to Rev. Dr. Paul Bretz, Vice President of the Institute, 
"Accreditation is a major accomplishment and demonstrates a Center's
commitment to excellence. It indicates the Lincoln center offers 
professional services within a framework of quality organizational, 
administrative and financial practices."



Nebraska Psychological Association's 
Inaugural Lifetime Achievement Award             
Presented to Dr. James Cole 
 
Dr. James Cole, clinical director at Lincoln’s Samaritan 
Counseling Center, was recently presented the 2008
Nebraska Psychological Association Dr. James K. Cole 
Lifetime Achievement Award. This inaugural award, bearing his 
name, was presented at a special luncheon on October 3. 
The award recognizes Dr. Cole as a pioneer, mentor,teacher,
leader and advocate.
 
Dr. Cole received his doctorate and Master of Arts degrees
 from the University of Kentucky. He is Emeritus Professor 
of the Department of Psychology, University of Nebraska 
at Lincoln. At UNL he served as Director of the Clinical
Psychology Training Program. 
 
Congratulations Dr. Cole from the Samaritan counseling and
administrative staff and board of directors!