PCSN Network |
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Pittsburgh Caregiver Support Network
Board of Directors PCSN has been a grassroots effort by members of the community who understand the struggles of caregivers. Many of us are or already have been caregivers. Dr. Thuy Bui is the medical director for the Program for Health Care to Underserved Populations, UPMC. Dr. Peter Bulova is the medical director for the Adult Down Syndrome Center, UPMC and the Magee Center for Healthcare for Women with Physical Disabilities. Laurel Davis has served both the mental health community and caregivers as a social worker and currently teaches students with learning differences and developmental delays. Katharine Fitzgerald, Executive Director has a Master of Public Health, a Master of International Development and is a certified Community Health Education Specialist. She is a Research Associate at the Pennsylvania Prevention Project. Contact katharinefitzgerald@pittsburghcsn.org Frank Fleischer recently accepted a position as the Network Administrator for Older Ohioans Behavioral Health. He has previously served as CEO and COO of several Ohio Behavioral Health Organizations. Joyce Schlag is a licensed clinical social worker, board certified diplomate and certified case manager providing counseling, education and care planning with caregivers and families. Cathy Skidmore is an attorney involved in dispute resolution of the provision of educational and related services to children with disabilities. If you are interested in a position with the Pittsburgh Caregiver Support Network, or if you are interested in board membership, please contact Katharine Fitzgerald at katharinefitzgerald@pittsburghcsn.org. How Pittsburgh Caregiver Support Network was Formed I was motivated to start a support system for caregivers through my own experiences and needs. I would have been lost during a family illness were it not for the support of dear friends and compassionate colleagues. I moved back to Pittsburgh as an adult for the sole purpose of being a support for my family in the face of terminal illness. I found, as things usually happen in life, that everything I tried to plan for and everything I expected to experience was different. I learned that you can not fully prepare for loss, or debilitating illness, or how to manage your day-to-day activities in the face of increased responsibilities. What you can do is acquire a set of skills that will be available when you need them. Having the financial knowledge to set budgets and to negotiate health costs are fundamental. Having support networks, both local and long-distance, is essential to managing emotional needs and providing respite. Understanding when and how to ask for help is vital. Knowing how to provide the best care and the best opportunity for your loved one is crucial. Living in a way that attends to your own physical and mental health needs for the now and long term is nonnegotiable. I hope that the Pittsburgh Caregiver Support Network serves as a framework that provides these tools for you. I hope the PCSN provides comfort and strength. And, I hope that PCSN improves the quality of life of your own care network. Katharine Fitzgerald, Executive Director and Founder |
