Tuesday, December 29, 2009

Origins Recovery Centers Announces an Expansion of its Continuum of Care

Origins Recovery Centers, a leading drug and alcohol rehab based in Texas, announced today that it has expanded its’ continuum of care with the addition of Origins Sober Living Facilities in major US markets

Dallas, Texas (PRWEB) December 29, 2009 -- Dallas-based Origins Recovery, LLC announced today that it has expanded its’ continuum of care to include Origins owned and operated sober living facilities in select markets.

Origins Recovery Center, South Padre Island, TX
Origins Recovery Center, South Padre Island, TX
Origins’ flagship drug and alcohol rehab in Texas is located on tropical South Padre Island, Texas. The Company is opening its second campus in exclusive Westchester County, New York early in 2010. The addition of affordable sober living to Origins’ scope of services allows the Company to ensure that its clients are receiving exceptional care in the critical “step-down” phase of their recovery after discharging from Origins’ intensive primary residential program.
"More frequently than ever, clients with multiple treatment episodes in their past are being referred to Origins because of our lengthier, more robust and cohesive programming” said Peter Marinelli, Chief Recovery Officer at Origins
Admission to the Origins Houses is limited to alumni who have completed their intensive residency at an Origins Recovery Center. “Origins success with its clients is based in our philosophy of engaging them in a year-long continuum that begins with intensive ninety-day residency at our Centers and gradually decompresses over time into staffed sober living, therapist-facilitated alumni groups and various monitoring and case management components” said Ben Levenson, Chief Executive Officer of Origins.

“Origins’ staffed sober living offers a seamless continuation of the exact same recovery disciplines and programming our clients experienced while in residency at the Centers, but in a more flexible environment. By operating the houses ourselves we provide a very fluid transition into quality sober living – a point in the recovery process where many lose their way” he said.

Each Origins House will be staffed by a counselor (LCDC or equivalent) that is responsible for managing the curriculum. Unlike most sober living environments which are peer-governed and have no programming in the house, Origins Houses are staffed environments with demanding programming in the house, including scheduled groups and activities.

The Origins Sober Living staff also provides daily accountability of important personal recovery practices like prayer and meditation, meeting attendance, 12-Step work and job activity.

“More frequently than ever, clients with multiple treatment episodes in their past are being referred to Origins because we offer lengthier, more robust and cohesive programming” said Peter Marinelli, Chief Recovery Officer at Origins. “Families and therapists know when they refer to Origins that the individual is going to be guided along a defined path of wellness much different than average treatment centers can offer in the short twenty-eight day model. For addicts and alcoholics who have demonstrated an inability to stay sober, Origins is a natural choice in high-quality, longer-term care” said Marinelli.

Origins is dedicated to facilitating successful outcomes in the clients and families it serves. Several nationally-funded studies have concluded that individuals who participate in a ninety-day residential program followed by aftercare, including sober living, show a substantially increased likelihood of achieving sustained abstinence compared with individuals who only receive twenty-eight days of treatment.

“What is abundantly clear is that individuals with a history of chronic relapse who have repeatedly been to twenty-eight day programs and failed to stay sober can benefit greatly from a longer-term program” said Levenson. “Please don’t send that chronically relapsing client back for more of what did not work. Origins Recovery Centers is committed to being a comprehensive option for disheartened families and therapists. Our residential programs give clients the time and depth they need to develop and habituate the disciplines essential to lasting sobriety while also working through accompanying issues. Origins Recovery Centers provides a genuine opportunity for residents and families to become whole, healthy and happy again” he said.

Questions about Origins’ innovative recovery programs in Texas and New York may be directed to its admissions specialists by calling (888)-843-8935.

About Origins Recovery Centers:
Origins Recovery, LLC operates premier gender-specific residential recovery centers and continuing care services for adults who are seeking lasting freedom from alcoholism and/or chemical dependency. Origins mission is to assist Residents in developing the core spiritual practices required to maintain permanent sobriety and experience abundant and meaningful lives. The Company has meticulously selected only the finest properties in premier locations around the United States, including Coastal Texas and the New York countryside. Learn more and take a virtual tour at www.originsrecovery.com.

CONTACT:
Dawn Wilson
Director of Business Development - Central Region
Origins Recovery, LLC
Direct: 214-886-7724
http://www.originsrecovery.com

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Posted by prolink at 12:45 AM 0 comments

Exclusive Class for Women Going Through Divorce Celebrates its 5th Year

Especially in these difficult financial times, divorce can be devastating to the whole family. Second Saturday is an essential tool for women to learn how to avoid the pitfalls inherent in the divorce process.

Columbia, MD (PRWEB) December 29, 2009 -- Maryland women who are going through the divorce process have had an exclusive opportunity to gain expert knowledge from a class offered through the Howard Community College. Since its inception in January of 2005, hundreds of women have been provided with priceless, accurate, insightful, and current divorce information.

John is a frequent speaker at law firms, CPA firms, and collaborative practice groups
John is a frequent speaker at law firms, CPA firms, and collaborative practice groups
“What Women Need to Know About Divorce” (aka “Second Saturday”) was actually the creation of attorney Genita Wall In San Diego. “When I learned about the success and history of this class, I just had to make it happen in Maryland,” says John Faggio, CPA, CFP®, CDFA™.
“John Faggio and his team of co-instructors have helped many women avoid the pitfalls of faulty advice and obtain further sage counsel.This is an invaluable class for those in need of support and guidance. “
John leads the all-volunteer team of instructors that includes a divorce attorney and mental health practitioner. The four-hour class not only provides information and recommendations; it was designed to give women the opportunity to meet others in similar situations. Second Saturday addresses the legal, financial, family, and personal divorce issues in a logical and considerate manner. These questions are frequently addressed at the class:
 
  • When should I contact an attorney?
  • What's the difference between using an attorney and mediation?
  • How can I make this a "child centered" divorce?
  • How can I best deal with the emotional issues of my children?
  • Should I keep the house?
  • Can I maintain my current living status?
  • How will income taxes affect my ability to pay my bills?
A vital segment of the class is an in-depth discussion of how and what process to choose. Each instructor talks about their respective roles, and the advantages and pitfalls in each of these processes:
 
  • Mediation
  • Arbitration
  • Collaboration
  • Litigation
Margaret (Meg) Oliver, Family Law Attorney at Hodes, Pessin & Katz, is a frequent presenter at the class. She says “This is a must for women going through separation and divorce. It is wonderful to see women empowered by the Second Saturday program as they gain knowledge about their rights and responsibilities and an understanding of the court process and other non-adversarial processes available for families in crisis. I am happy to be a part of this program.”

Marge Cangiano, Lifelong Learning Specialist at the Howard Community College, approved the class for inclusion in the College’s non-accredited seasonal brochure. "So many women face divorce without the legal and financial information needed to help them through this difficult and life changing challenge. Second Saturday offers women a comfortable environment in which to obtain the information they need."

Faggio Financial LLC is Central Maryland's only exclusive matrimonial financial planning practice. John Faggio is a CPA, CFP® and CDFA™ who has helped hundreds of divorcing individuals reach financial divorce settlements in a rational, expedient, and cost-effective manner.

Click here to register for our next class on January 23, 2010.

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[Via Legal / Law]

Posted by prolink at 12:45 AM 0 comments

Textbooks Enter the Digital Era

New Companies and Organizations are Ready to Usher in an Age of Paperless Texts

Tampa, FL (PRWEB) December 29, 2009 -- The average college student’s textbook bill can run more than $1,200 a year. In a decade already marked by economic recession, high unemployment and dwindling student loans, that amount of money can be a huge burden. But if organizations like Orange Grove Texts Plus have their way, expensive – and bulky – paper textbooks might be a thing of the past.

Orange Grove Texts Plus is a partnership between the University Press of Florida (the Florida university system’s nonprofit publishing arm), Integrated Book Technology (a Virginia publisher) and The Orange Grove (Florida’s digital database of K-20 teaching material). This program offers students digital versions of over 140 textbooks and scholarly monographs for free, and bound printed versions for $30 to $50. Eventually, Orange Grove Texts Plus plans to stock more than 1600 titles.

Students Ready, But Others Might Not Be

Even with programs like Orange Grove Texts Plus springing up all across the country – Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger of California recently started such an initiative for his state’s high schools – digital textbooks only make up about 2% of the current market. But it is seldom students who resist this kind of technology. After all, they’ve grown up with computers and the Internet – they’re accustomed to getting their information online. Studying on a laptop, smart phone or wireless reading device is hardly a stretch for them.

However, college and university faculty members are another story – and sometimes with good reason. Jack Mecholsky, chair of the University of Florida’s Faculty Senate, recently told Inside Higher Ed that “If the state amasses a library of free books selected without faculty input, it may be only a matter of time before some lawmaker with a populist streak tries to mandate that faculty assign only those books in their classes.”

“That’s the danger, and I could see that happening,” said Mecholsky. “What happens is lawmakers have just made an academic decision that that textbook is right for all professors and all students taking that course, and that’s wrong.” He also went on to note that “It sounds so good the way they present it, but then you say what are the unintended consequences? And they don’t think about that at all. We’re constantly fighting things like that.”

An Idea Whose Time Has Come

Unintended consequences or not, the move to digital course materials is probably inevitable. A government study recently found that textbook prices have ballooned at twice the annual inflation rate over the past 20 years. This has become such a burden to students that some states have passed legislation aimed at making them more affordable, and for-profit businesses now see an opportunity to break into the digital textbook market.

CourseSmart is a company that has over 7,300 titles that students can buy at a significantly lower price than the traditional paper versions. And Amazon.com, now the largest book retailer in the U.S., is taking part in a study with seven universities to evaluate the success of digital textbooks. So even if free programs like Orange Grove Texts Plus don’t emerge as the standard, it appears that lower-cost, course materials are going to become more and more common in the coming years.

It’s a safe bet that few students will choose to strain their already-thin wallets on bulky textbooks if a less expensive option is made available. And course materials that can be stored and read on a computer or smart phone will appeal to today’s tech-savvy college students in any case. Even if it takes several more years for the trend to fully catch on, the time has come for textbooks to enter the digital era.

SOURCE – U.S. News University Directory – Providing comprehensive and unbiased information on more than 2,000 academic institutions directly from U.S. News & World Report, the most trusted source for college and university rankings since 1983. Search America's Best Colleges and America's Best Graduate Schools offering associate’s degrees, bachelor’s degrees, master’s and MBA degrees, doctoral and PhD degrees, and certificate programs. And because U.S. News is the leading ranking resource for anyone seeking an on-campus or online degree, students who use the directory are getting the best education advice and information available.

ARTICLE – http://www.usnewsuniversitydirectory.com/digital-textbooks.aspx

Contact:
Matthew Speer, Director, Sales and Marketing
U.S. News University Connection
866-442-6587

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[Via Legal / Law]

Posted by prolink at 12:45 AM 0 comments

Law Offices of Timothy Bowles P.C. Launches New Client Development Campaign

Local law firm working with LexisNexis Martindale-Hubbell to better connect with clients and prospective clients

Pasadena, CA (Lexis Nexis/PRWEB ) December 29, 2009 -- Law Offices of Timothy Bowles P.C., a Pasadena-based law firm advising business on labor-employment and civil litigation issues, today announced that it has kicked off an aggressive new client development campaign in order to raise its market visibility.

The firm is partnering with LexisNexis Martindale-Hubbell, the industry leader in professional networking and law firm marketing, on an integrated marketing campaign designed to better connect the firm with clients and prospective clients. The program includes various development strategies, included expanded internet outreach through the firm's sites at www.tbowleslaw.com; www.lawyers.com/tbowles; and www.employerslawoffice.com, as well as regular blogging and social network initiatives.

"We're very proud of the high-quality legal services we provide to the public. We decided to think creatively about how to best communicate our services to prospective clients in the region," said Timothy Bowles. "LexisNexis Martindale-Hubbell is the recognized leader in the law firm marketing industry. They have been helping attorneys connect with prospective clients for more than 140 years. We're excited about partnering with them to make our firm more visible in front of the kinds of clients who need the services we provide."

Generations of attorneys have relied on Martindale-Hubbell as the authoritative resource for information on the worldwide legal profession. With a history dating back to 1868, the Martindale-Hubbell Legal Network is powered by a database of more than one million lawyers and law firms in over 160 countries. Martindale-Hubbell is widely regarded as one of the most effective ways for lawyers and law firms to promote their practices.

About Law Offices of Timothy Bowles P.C.
The Law Offices of Timothy Bowles, P.C. is committed to providing professional skills of the highest caliber. The firm aims to safeguard its clients, enabling enhanced prosperity and improvement of conditions society-wide. The firm specializes in labor and employment law for employers and management (including workplace discrimination, harassment and retaliation), business law, civil litigation, and health care fraud. The firm is also committed to extensive pro bono work in international human rights education, including the creation and expansion of the African Human Rights Leadership Campaign, an initiative of Youth for Human Rights International.

About LexisNexis
LexisNexis® (www.lexisnexis.com) is a leading global provider of content-enabled workflow solutions designed specifically for professionals in the legal, risk management, corporate, government, law enforcement, accounting and academic markets. LexisNexis originally pioneered online information with its Lexis® and Nexis® services. A member of Reed Elsevier [NYSE: ENL; NYSE: RUK (www.reedelsevier.com), LexisNexis serves customers in more than 100 countries with 18,000 employees worldwide.

See the original story at: http://lexisnexis.prweb.com/releases/2009/12/prweb3366544.htm

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Posted by prolink at 12:45 AM 0 comments

Monday, December 28, 2009

Clearwater Accident Lawyer Mark Roman Named to Million Dollar Advocates Forum

Clearwater accident lawyer Mark Roman of www.markromanlaw.com is named to one of the most prestigious groups of trial lawyers in the United States, The Million Dollar Advocates Forum. Less than 1% of all U.S. lawyers are members. Membership to The Million Dollar Advocates Forum is limited to attorneys who have won million and multi-million dollar verdicts and settlements.

Clearwater, FL (PRWEB) December 28, 2009 -- Clearwater accident lawyer Mark Roman of Mark Roman Law is named to one of the most prestigious groups of trial lawyers in the United States, The Million Dollar Advocates Forum. Less than 1% of all U.S. lawyers are members. Membership to The Million Dollar Advocates Forum is limited to attorneys who have won million and multi-million dollar verdicts and settlements.

The quality of this membership is very impressive and includes many of the top trial lawyers in the country. Many of the members have achieved numerous million and multi-million dollar results (several members have won billion dollar cases).

The certification and membership of Clearwater accident lawyer Mark Roman of the Mark Roman Law Group to the Million Dollar Advocates Forum provides recognition of his remarkable ability to demonstrate in an objective and tangible way, his extraordinary skill at accomplishing superior results in complex personal injury cases.

Mark is a Board Certified Civil Trial Lawyer specializing in personal injury litigation resulting from car accidents, construction accidents, falls, and other accidents involving injury.

Mark Roman’s Clearwater accident law practice areas include most areas of personal injury litigation, including: major personal injury, serious car accidents, construction accidents, falls, boating accidents, work injuries and all insurance litigation.

For more information on Mark Roman and the Mark Roman Law Group in Clearwater, visit online at www.markromanlaw.com/about-the-firm.php.

For more information on The Million Dollar Advocates Forum visit them online at www.milliondollaradvocates.com.

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[Via Legal / Law]

Posted by prolink at 4:45 PM 0 comments

Denver Colorado Company Invests in High End High Definition Equipment

This article is about The new Panasonic HVX-300 camera that VS Video Productions in Denver currently invested in.

Denver, CO (PRWEB) December 26, 2009 -- VS Video Productions located in Denver, Colorado recently invested in the Panasonic HPX-300 that is a true uncompressed High Definition video camera. The camera has many options and produces a variety of codecs such as the AVC intra Codec, DVCPRO-HD, Standard DVCPRO and a host of other functions. The camera is a full size broadcast quality camera that is utilized by many broadcast stations throughout the United States. VS Video Productions produces mostly corporate and training video productions for corporations in the United Staes and abroad. We are currently producing a training video for an Australian company that has a subsidiary company in the United States. This camera will allow our clients to produce very high quality video for their company and their websites still at an affordable price.For more information about the Panasonic line of professional broadcast cameras visit them at http://www.panasonic.com/business/provideo/home.asp. For video production companies in Denver contact us on the web at:
http://www.vsvideoproductions.com

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[Via Legal / Law]

Posted by prolink at 12:45 AM 0 comments

Sunday, December 27, 2009

ACORN 8 has "No FEAR" – Class Action Complaint Challenges USDA to Protect Federal Workers and America's Poor and Middle Class

Michael McCray, National Spokesman for the ACORN 8 included a Class Action count in a formal EEO complaint filed against USDA yesterday. McCray alleges that the entire EEO Process –as applied– at USDA has a disparate impact on minority complainants under Title VII and seeks EEO class certification. Charges of discrimination at the department of Agriculture are nothing new. Black farmers, mostly from the South, have long complained that they have been consistently denied loans, grants and other assistance by a "good old boy" network of local USDA field offices. Hispanic and American Indian farmers have also filed lawsuits against the department.

Washington, D.C. (PRWEB) December 28, 2009 -- On December 21, 2009 Michael McCray, National Spokesman for the ACORN 8 included a Class Action count in a formal EEO Complaint Number 19028 filed against USDA yesterday. In the cover letter addressed to Pearlie Reed, Assistant Secretary for Administration, McCray alleges that the entire EEO Process –as applied– at USDA has a disparate impact on minority complainants under Title VII and seeks EEO class certification. A USDA civil rights veteran from the Clinton Administration, Secretary Vilsack tapped Mr. Reed to solve USDA’s lingering civil rights claims.

The Agriculture Department plans to review more than 14,000 civil rights complaints that have been filed against the agency since 2000. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack said only a small number of those complaints were eventually decided against the department and that 3,000 of the complaints have not even been processed.

"This issue has lingered too long," Vilsack told reporters. Vilsack said the department would create a task force to review a sample of the complaints filed in the last nine years, supported by an independent legal counsel. On August 24, 2009 U.S. Senator Blanch Lincoln (D-AR) wrote a letter to Secretary Vilsack encouraging him to process Mr. McCray’s and others unresolved EEO issues.

Ironically, Michael McCray started his career in community development, and became a whistleblower after he suffered retaliation for his efforts to ensure that government funds actually benefited the low and moderate income communities it was intended to serve; just like he did as a national board delegate for the Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now (ACORN). McCray alleges that he was demoted, discharged and “blacklisted” from subsequent federal and non-profit employment after he reported government waste, fraud and abuse by USDA.

McCray alleges that this case was unusual because USDA officials refused to cooperate with the investigation or sign their own affidavits. “This was the rare case where the complainant presented a prima fascia case with evidence and collaboration and the government presented no legitimate defense. No evidence and no corroboration, but the civil rights division refused to process the complaints.”

Unfortunately, this case was never processed, investigated or heard. McCray established a prima facie case of discrimination and retaliation with admissible evidence, eyewitness testimony and legal admissions. However, after 4,380 days (from 5/20/07) Attorney McCray never received a hearing or any due process; he alleges due to baseless, dilatory litigation tactics and reported judicial misconduct amounting to coordinated judicial wrongdoing. Judicial Complaint No. 03-9. (6/11/03).

Undaunted, McCray continues to fight for the rights of others; including low and moderate income families and federal worker’s rights as National Spokesperson for the ACORN 8, co-chair of the International Association of Whistleblowers and member of the No FEAR Coalition.

The ACORN 8, L.L.C. (www.ACORN8.com) is an organization of ACORN leaders; current and former board members who are struggling to reform the association following the discovery of a multi-million dollar embezzlement; and is dedicated to empowering low and moderate income people through advocacy, direct action and integrity in community organizing.

In May 26, 2009, the No FEAR Coalition wrote a letter to Secretary Vilsack requesting that Michael McCray’s prior EEO case be immediately processed at this time EEO Case Number 990026. Consequently, the ACORN 8 join with the No FEAR Coalition in their support of Michael McCray and federal workers rights at USDA.

The Associated Press reports that, charges of discrimination at the department of Agriculture are nothing new. Black farmers, mostly from the South, have long complained that they have been consistently denied loans, grants and other assistance by a "good old boy" network of local USDA field offices. Hispanic and American Indian farmers have also filed lawsuits against the department.

“What know now, but didn’t know then, was that McCray’s case was not an isolated event, ignoring EEO/whistleblower cases was business as usual for USDA.” states Retired Chief Deputy Marshal Matthew Fogg. “Secretary Vilsack recently announced his intention to reopen 14,000 EEO cases over the last ten years; 3,000 of which were never even processed at all.”

Chief Deputy Fogg won a historic $4 Million verdict against the Justice Department; “declaring the U.S. Marshal’s service as a discriminating agency for African-Americans.” Chief Deputy Fogg, is Co-chair of the No FEAR Coalition and is the EEO representative for Michael McCray. The No FEAR Coalition is committed to the full enforcement and implementation of the Notification of Federal Employees Anti-Discrimination and Retaliation Act (No FEAR) of 2002 and the introduction of new No FEAR II legislation.

“It is a shame that USDA could blatantly violate these worker’s civil service protections and constitutional rights.” concludes Chief Deputy Marshal Fogg.

According to the Associated Press, USDA settled a class-action lawsuit from black farmers, in 1999, agreeing to pay $50,000 plus tax benefits to those who could show they faced discrimination. The government has paid out nearly $1 billion in damages on almost 16,000 claims.

In closing, “Secretary Vilsack promised a New Era for Civil Rights at USDA,” McCray concludes. “We will see how they respond to the first Class Action filed in this celebrated New Era.”

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Posted by prolink at 11:45 PM 0 comments

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