Who: 

Jessica Grier, director of behavioral health community services at WellSpan Philhaven, and Patty Bogrette, director of applied behavior analysis services at WellSpan Philhaven

What: 

Wearing bee suits and peering into observation hives, children in one WellSpan Philhaven group are learning more than how bees make honey. They're building confidence, practicing teamwork and developing social skills they can carry into everyday life.

The hands-on experience is one example of how WellSpan's Intensive Behavioral Health Services program meets children and families where they are, bringing support into homes, schools and everyday environments to help build skills that last.

Jessica and her team lead the community-based program, focusing on expanding access to care and removing barriers. It supports children, youth and young adults through a range of services designed to fit their specific needs, including individual services, applied behavior analysis and group services. These offerings reflect WellSpan's commitment to personalized, human-centered care.

"IBHS is all about helping kids build skills they can use in real-life situations," Jessica said. "We're able to create meaningful, lasting change for both the child and their family."

One IBHS group in Lancaster brings learning to life in an unforgettable way by exploring the fascinating world of bees.

Every summer for the past four years, Patty has facilitated group sessions for approximately 300 participants using her own observation hives, giving her beekeeping hobby an even bigger purpose.

"We use tools to show how to collect honey, remove wax, and find and mark the queen," Patty said. "The kids are excited and engaged, but there's also an educational component to the experience. It reinforces teamwork, curiosity and confidence, which can translate into success in other peer environments."

It's another example of The WellSpan Way in action — personal, collaborative and always focused on what matters most.

Words to live by:

These experiences and the time spent during group sessions have a lasting impact on children and their families.

"Many of these individuals are working on social skills, and after participating in the program, we hear from parents that they're able to make friends more easily or get invited to their first birthday party," Jessica said. "I've run into families years after their child with autism participated in the program who shared how much it meant to them. One participant has since earned a driver's license, gotten a job and is now in her second year of college. It's heartwarming to hear."

Find more information about WellSpan’s behavioral health programs here.