A total of 11 staff members from the elder law firm of Steinbacher, Goodall & Yurchak earned professional certification as as a Certified Dementia Practitioner® (CDP®) through the National Council of Certified Dementia Practitioners (NCCDP) at an all day training held at the firm's Resource Center in Williamsport on May 11, 2022. This brings the total of SGY team members that have earned the CDP® designation to 19. A full list of those staff members that earned it yesterday and already have it is below. 

Attorney Julie Steinbacher, the founding shareholder of SGY, Attorney Jenna Franks, a partner of the firm, Long-Term Care Planner Kristin Daugherty, and Jasmyn Winey, administrator at Nippenose Valley Village, a retirement community located in Williamsport, led the training. All four are Certified Alzheimer’s Disease & Dementia Care Trainers®, which allows them to train others to become CDPs®. 

The CDP® designation represents individuals that have received comprehensive knowledge in the area of dementia care and achievement in completing the Alzheimer's Disease and Dementia Care course/seminar. The CDP® also commits to ongoing professional development through NCCDP Staff Education Week or other educational opportunities and re-certification every two years. The NCCDP remarks that the "CDP® certification reflects a deep personal commitment on the part of the front line staff, health care professional and the organization’s sense of accountability by abiding by the NCCDP ethics statement, inspiring confidence and dedication in an individual's professional knowledge through quality of life and quality of care provided by the CDP® to the dementia patient." The goal of the NCCDP is to develop and encourage comprehensive standards of excellence in direct-care skills, education, and sensitivity in the area of dementia care.

The following SGY staff members and attorney partners are now CDPs®. Their position and primary office location(s) are also included. 

*Attorney Chris Bradley (Williamsport/State College)
Kristin Daugherty, Long-Term Care Planner (State College)
Attorney Jenna Franks, Partner (State College)
Attorney Landon Hodges, Partner (Williamsport/Wyalusing/Wysox)
*Attorney Megan Ingram (Williamsport/State College)
*Haley Jenny, Legal Assistant (State College)
*Heather Mendler, Long-Term Care Planner (Wyalusing/Wysox)
*Kathy Morrison, Care Coordinator (Wyalusing/Wysox)
Kiley Myers, Paralegal (Williamsport)
*Jessica Oakley, Long-Term Care Planner (Wyalusing/Wysox)
Holly Reigh, Specialized Care Planner (State College)
*Janelle Scillia, Legal Assistant (State College)
Attorney Brittany Smith (Williamsport)
Attorney Julie Steinbacher, Partner (Williamsport)
*Samantha Tompkins, Care Coordinator (Williamsport)
Samantha Tressler, Legal Assistant (Williamsport)
*Briella Walk, Legal Assistant (State College)
*Angel Yost, Administrative Assistant (Williamsport)
*Tammy Zilske, Long-Term Care Planner (Williamsport)

* Indicates they earned or renewed CDP® credential at May 11 training

Steinbacher, Goodall & Yurchak serves clients that have been diagnosed with Alzheimer's and Dementia, and assists those clients and their families with long-term care plans, asset protection, care coordination and more. More information is available on caring for loved ones with Alzheimer's and Dementia. To schedule a consultation, call 1-800-351-8334.