News Articles

2025 Spring-Summer Newsletter Edition

Mon, 09 Jun 2025 14:24:50 +0000

Read the newest edition of our Journey-wide semi-annual newsletter by clicking HERE.

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2025 Annual Board and Donor Celebration

Mon, 09 Jun 2025 14:13:28 +0000

(Pictured L to R: Gregory LaRocca, 2025 B.E.A.C.O.N. Award recipient, and Guy Signor, Journey Health System’s President & CEO.)

Beacon Light Behavioral Health System, Beacon Light Adult Residential Services and Journey Health System, held their annual board and donor appreciation event with nearly 60 people on May 29 at the Pennhills Club in Bradford. Agency leaders thanked board members for volunteering and the donors in the community for providing philanthropic support toward the agency’s mission.

The program commenced with a prayer by Father Leo Gallina. Joseph Yaros, Journey Health System’s Board Chair, delivered a warm welcome message, followed by an introduction of all of the Board members. Their Boards’ combined total of 325 years of service was applauded.

Years of Service milestone awards were presented to: Kathy Jones and Joseph Yaros for 20 years and Joe Haines and Mary Anne Polucci Sherman for five years of service.

The 12^th Annual B.E.A.C.O.N. Award was presented to Gregory LaRocca. B.E.A.C.O.N. stands for Being an Enthusiastic Advocate for Community and Organizational Needs and is awarded each year to an individual who exemplifies service to the Beacon Light companies.

With 16 years of dedicated service, LaRocca currently serves as treasurer of the Stairways Behavioral Health Board in Erie and recently completed his term as chairman of the Board of Directors for Journey Health System. His extensive background in management and finance has been invaluable, contributing his expertise to various committees, including finance, development, human resources and strategic planning. LaRocca is being honored for his dedication and commitment to positive change within both Stairways Behavioral Health and Journey Health System.

Guy Signor, Journey Health System’s President and CEO said, “Greg's unwavering commitment to governance and leadership, coupled with his passion for service and philanthropy, continues to inspire those around him.”

LaRocca stated, “As I accept this award, I do so, on behalf of all of you. This is a celebration of a collective impact and shared values for changing lives together. I am grateful to be a part of this important work and the Journey Health System family.”

Other highlights of the evening included a testimonial from a psychiatric rehabilitation program client and a live video with clients of Beacon Light Behavioral Health System’s Specialized Therapeutic Residence for Intellectual & Developmental Empowerment (STRIDE) program.

Tana Smith, Journey Health System’s Director of Institutional Advancement thanked HUB International for co-sponsoring this event, all of the agency’s staff, donors and honorees for their continued support.

For more information about career opportunities or donating to Beacon Light Behavioral Health System and Beacon Light Adult Residential Services, please visit www.beacon-light.org .

Fall 2024 Newsletter Released

Tue, 22 Oct 2024 16:11:10 +0000

Read the newest edition of our Journey-wide semi-annual newsletter by clicking HERE.

To subscribe for future newsletters, please sign up on the bottom of our homepage. Thank you!

Journey Health System Held Annual Board Meeting

Mon, 14 Oct 2024 17:19:25 +0000

(Pictured: Guy Signor, president & CEO of Journey Health System.)

Journey Health System (JHS) and their affiliates held their annual Board meeting on Friday, October 11, 2024, at the main JHS office located in Bradford, Pennsylvania. Over 40 individuals from each agency’s Board, executive team members and guest speakers gathered remotely and in-person for the election of officers and to review the fiscal year. The theme of this year’s meeting was “Your Journey is our Story”.

Journey Health System provides administrative support for the following non-profit, behavioral health affiliates: Beacon Light Behavioral Health System (BLBHS); Beacon Light Adult Residential Services (BLARS); Deerfield Behavioral Health (DBH); Dickinson Center, Inc. (DCI); Forest-Warren Mental Wellness Association (FWMWA), Stairways Behavioral Health (SBH) and Deerfield Solutions, a for-profit provider of the LOCUS levels-of-care software. The JHS Board of Directors is comprised of representatives from each organization which deliver mental health care to a total of 23 counties across Pennsylvania.

Journey Health System’s President and CEO Guy Signor welcomed attendees to the meeting and reviewed the JHS annual report including the organization’s strategic plan. Presentations followed from each affiliate’s executive director regarding last year’s results.

Brian Chruscial, CPA, from Zelenkofske Axelrod, LLC shared the JHS consolidated financial report.

The annual meeting’s Board proceedings and elections were led by Journey Health System’s Board Chair Gregory LaRocca.

The following new Board members were announced:

Beacon Light Adult Residential Services

Kyle Kirk

Beacon Light Behavioral Health System

Katie Mattocks

Dickinson Center, Inc.

Joe Jacob

Forest Warren Mental Wellness Association

Susan Ball
Danielle Flasher
Beth Sprentz
Amy Tobolski

Journey Health System/Deerfield Behavioral Health

Judy Bodmer

Stairways Behavioral Health

Kristie Nosich

The 2025 JHS Board Officers were elected as follows: Chairperson Joseph Yaros, Treasurer Maurice “Maury” Cashman and Secretary Kathy Jones.

Board reappointments made for a three-year term are as follows:

Journey Health System

Tawni Betts
Craig Hartburg

Beacon Light Adult Residential Services

Dee Baxter

Beacon Light Behavioral Health System

Chris Clifford

Dickinson Center, Inc.

Joseph Jacob
Isaac Gradl
Bob Ordiway

Forest-Warren Mental Wellness Association--

Marsha Romine

Stairways Behavioral Health--

Rosmari Graham
Celene McIntyre
Kristie Nosich
Brandon Sieber
Dr. Tony Snow

Special guests included trick-or-treaters from the BLBHS Short-term Adolescent Recovery program.

Visit www.journeyhealth.org for more information.

Annual Board and Donor Event 2024

Thu, 20 Jun 2024 15:58:32 +0000

(Pictured L to R: Gregory LaRocca, Journey Health System’s Board Chair; Maurice Cashman, 2024 BEACON Award Honoree & Beacon Light Behavioral Health System’s Board Chair; and Guy Signor, Journey Health System’s President & CEO.)

The program commenced with a prayer by Father Leo Gallina. Gregory LaRocca, Journey Health System’s Board Chair, delivered a warm welcome message, followed by an introduction of all of the Board members. Their Boards’ combined total of 319 years of service was applauded, along with the longest tenure of 49 years held by Bob Saunders.

Years of Service milestone awards were presented to: Craig Hartburg for 35 years; Richard Esch and David Ferguson for 20 years; Anne Albright, Dee Baxter, Maurice (Maury) Cashman, Jean Hvizdzak and Gregory LaRocca for 15 years; Bill Chapman, Karen Costello-Pecht and Cindy Zembryki for 10 years; and Norm Strotman for five years of service.

The 11^th Annual B.E.A.C.O.N. Award was presented to Maurice Cashman. B.E.A.C.O.N. stands for Being an Enthusiastic Advocate for Community and Organizational Needs and is awarded each year to an individual who exemplifies service to the Beacon Light companies.

“Whether he is at work, with his family, or in the community, Maury is passionate,” said Guy Signor, president and CEO. “Maury is an enthusiastic advocate not only for Beacon Light, but the entire community of Warren.”

With 15 years of dedicated service, Cashman currently serves as Chair on the Board of Directors for Beacon Light Behavioral Health System. Additionally, he serves as a member of the Journey Health System Board of Directors, contributing his expertise to various committees including Executive, Corporate Governance, Development, Strategic Plan Oversight, and Finance. Maury’s extensive involvement underscores his profound dedication to fostering excellence and driving positive change within both Beacon Light and Journey Health System.

“I wish to thank Maury for his dedication to Beacon Light and Journey Health System”, added Jennifer Gesing, executive director of Beacon Light Behavioral Health System. “He’s always been available to me to offer advice, help establish relationships in the Warren community and make Beacon Light better a place.”

Cashman stated, “I did not set out to win this award 15 years ago. However, my goal was to be the best board member that I could be by bringing my strengths in finance and my business background to the organization. This continues to me goal going forward.”

The evening closed with a live video with Beacon Light Behavioral Health System’s children’s programs.

Signor thanked HUB International for co-sponsoring the event, all of the agency’s staff, donors and honorees for their continued support. He also noted the thousands of children and adults who received treatment throughout Beacon Light’s over 120 years of service. Each day, their programs touch more than a 1,100 individuals in some way, and whether it’s in a family therapy session, a structured group home setting, a peer-led mental illness recovery journey, or alternative classrooms teaching life skills.

“It is through your efforts and commitment that our future caring for the most vulnerable members of our community is secure. So, this night is about thanking all of you,” added Signor.

For more information about career opportunities or donating to Beacon Light Behavioral Health System and Beacon Light Adult Residential Services, please visit www.beacon-light.org.