Dr. Rene Searles McClatchey

Dr. Rene Searles McClatchey, Ph.D., LCSW, graduated from the University of Lund in Sweden, with a degree in Business Administration and Foreign Languages. She received her Master’s and Ph.D. degrees in Social Work from the University of Georgia and holds a clinical license in social work. After extensive work with abused children in mental health centers, Department of Family and Children Services and private practice, Rene began an extensive sojourn in hospice. During this time she developed children’s bereavement groups and grief camps, and designed new treatment tools for work with children experiencing grief. Rene left the clinical arena in 2003 to further her knowledge about children and grief through studies and research.

Rene has presented statewide workshops on treatment of abused children to healthcare providers in addition to numerous workshops on children and grief and adolescent suicide. She has been interviewed on a number of occasions on national television as an expert in the area of children and grief.

Rene currently serves as an adjunct professor at University of Georgia and Kennesaw State University. She has also served as a field instructor for the University of Georgia and Clarke Atlanta University supervising and teaching graduate students in the areas of assessments, theories and treatment interventions in the dying and grieving process. She was instrumental in forming the Georgia Society for Clinical Oncology Social Work. She is the Founder and Director of Camp Magik and a published author of research on children and grief.

Rene enjoys camping, hiking, reading, and long distance in-line skating. She is the mother of two daughters and the bonus mother of three.

Bent Jones, LCSW

Bent Jones, LCSW, received a B.A. in Philosophy from Emory University in 1971 and an MSW from the University of Georgia in 1996. Bent started his social work career as the Bereavement Care Coordinator at an Atlanta hospice. There he met Rene and thus became involved with the early planning and organization of Camp Magik. He has participated in every session since.

Bent now serves as the bereavement care coordinator of Crossroads Hospice. Bent has presented at numerous workshops on end-of-life ethical issues and has published original research on hospice care in the Hospice Journal. He has also served as field instructor for graduate students in psychology and counseling from various graduate schools in Atlanta in the area of grief, death and dying. Bent loves spending time fishing, canoeing, and making video films. He is married with one daughter and one dog, Hannah.

Hannah

Hannah, a 12 year-old shepherd-collie mix, is a certified pet therapy dog. She loves to swim and chase tennis balls almost as much as she loves playing with children and visiting residents in nursing homes and hospices.

Jayne Midura, LCSW

Jayne Midura, LCSW, received a B.A. in psychology from Georgia State University in 1982, and her MSW from the University of Georgia in 1989. She has worked extensively in the field of geriatrics. As a paraprofessional with the Alzheimer's Association, Jayne helped pioneer one of the first specialized Adult Day Centers in the state of Georgia for persons with Alzheimer's Disease. After a brief "retirement" - aka graduate school - Jayne joined the staff of Wesley Woods Geriatric Hospital, where she assisted elderly clients and their caregivers in dealing with the stressors associated with Alzheimer's Disease, major depression and other psychiatric disorders. Jayne joined hospice in 1994, where she soon took on the challenge of working with children whose family members were dying. Jayne quickly learned that geriatrics was not her only passion, and she became an active participant in Camp Magik. At hospice Jayne also served as field instructor for graduate students from Clarke Atlanta University and Georgia State University.

Jayne went back to work with older adults again in 1998 - this time in a public mental health setting. From there she changed fields and now she teaches in the special education arena. She also continues her commitment to Camp Magik, being involved in the planning and execution of every camp since its inception.

Jayne resides in Pike County with her schoolteacher husband and their menagerie of critters. She and her husband provide a temporary foster home for abandoned dogs.

Lisa Anger, LCSW

Lisa Anger, LCSW, received a Masters Degree in Social Work from SUNY at Stony Brook in 1989. She has worked as a psychotherapist and group facilitator at various drug and alcohol treatment centers in New York and Southern Florida, prior to relocating to Athens, GA in 1997. In Athens she has worked as a child and adolescent mental health counselor for NE GA Mental Health Center, and as a Student Support Counselor for the Clarke County High Schools. She is currently in private practice in downtown Athens, and is an adjunct instructor for the University of Georgia in the School of Social Work.

Lisa has been working as a camp counselor and group facilitator at Camp Magik since 2000. During this time, she has served as counselor for various age groups, from the very youngest to the oldest, and has enjoyed, as well as been inspired by, each one. Most recently she has been facilitating and assisting in coordinating the Adult Retreat and Workshop.

Lisa has many varied interests, including tennis and travel. She has a 24 year old son, who has volunteered at Camp MAGIK in the past, and she lives in Athens, Georgia with her dogs.

Stephanie Solomon, LMSW

Stephanie Solomon, LMSW, obtained her BSW from UGA in 2000 and her MSW from UGA in 2005. She is currently in her third year of clinical supervision and plans to receive her LCSW in the fall of 2008. She currently works as a School Social Worker with Cobb County School District. There she facilitates a male's mentoring program for grades 9-12, girl's mentoring program for grades 7 and 8, "making better choices" group for grades 6-8 in ISS, and a grief group for grades 9-12. She provides individual, family and other various meetings, such as SST, IEP and crisis management. Her passion is working with adolescents and teenagers in individual, group, and family settings. “I love coming to Camp Magik for so many reasons. Camp makes me a better person and makes me appreciate my blessings. Every child who takes the brave step of coming to camp is an amazing hero and stronger than I ever imagined a child could be. It is so rewarding and inspiring to watch the children face their pains together and help each other heal together.”

Andre M. Danzy

Andre M. Danzy is a native of Chicago, Illinois, but he gained most of his social work experience in St. Louis, Missouri. Andre graduated from St. Louis University in 1993. He provided case management supervision services as well as educational programs at Blacks Assisting Blacks against AIDS. His work with HIV/AIDS clients also includes instructional training with the American Red Cross as well as facilitation of support groups for persons living with HIV/AIDS including teens. He was appointed to the State of Missouri Governor’s Council on AIDS and served from 1994 to 1999. Andre has also worked as a resident manager and program coordinator for an interfaith AIDS residence program. He has served as the director of support services and housing at AID Gwinnett.

Andre currently serves as the client services manager for the Office of Emergency and Transitional Housing Program of Fulton County. He is the co-founder of Youth Outreach Summit, Inc., a non-profit organization assisting disadvantaged youth. He is also a foster parent with the Department of Children and Family Services. Andre has been a counselor with Camp MAGIK for eight (8) years.

Shirley Bradshaw, LMSW

Shirley A Bradshaw, LMSW, received her degree from the University of Michigan School of Social Work. She is a member of the Association of Death Education and Counseling (ADEC) and has presented and led many workshops on children and grief. She currently works as a hospice social worker at Angels of Hope in LaGrange, Georgia. "I am committed to working with grieving children - no camp is ever the same. I tear up with the children every time. I walk away with so much gratitude for the opportunity to meet and serve our campers. In comparison to our campers' situations, my problems are so minor and I always look forward to the next camp."

Rebecca Searles

Rebecca Searles has been working with Camp Magik since its inception in 1995, at which time she served as the camp director’s "right hand". Rebecca is a Special Education teacher, teaching 6th grade math. She graduated from the University of Georgia with a Bachelors Degree in Psychology and is currently pursing her Master’s Degree in Special Education. "I look forward to each camp because I meet some of the most exceptional children. These kids have gone through so much in their young lives but they continue on with strength and determination. At camp their grief is normalized and they learn coping skills. They teach me to enjoy the little things in life and to appreciate every moment."

Rebecca served for many years as a co-counselor and now assists in the management of camp as a unit leader. Rebecca coaches her school's step-team, enjoys painting in acrylics, traveling, and sports.

Christina Searles Tai

Christina Searles Tai, daughter of the Camp Magik founder as well as sister to our co-counselor Rebecca Searles, has been volunteering with Camp Magik for the last 12 years and is currently serving as a co-counselor. When she's not spending her time helping out at camp, Christina works at her public relations and government affairs consulting company which she founded while still a student at the Georgia Institute of Technology. Christina holds a BS in Management with a specialization in marketing from Georgia Tech. She has also studied international marketing at Jonkoping University’s International School of Business in Sweden.

Christina currently resides in Atlanta with her husband Brandon and their dog Lucy. She is on the Board of Directors for the Swedish American Chamber of Commerce Georgia and is Vice President of Sorella Cycling, Atlanta's all-women's cycling club. "I always look forward to meeting the campers at Camp MAGIK and feel that the campers teach the counselors more than we could ever teach them!!"

Tim D. Couch

Tim D. Couch has been a Camp MAGIK volunteer for over 10 years. He graduated from Greenville Technical College in 1984, majoring in Physical Therapy. His diversified background in physical therapy includes pediatric rehabilitation for various physical and emotional needs. He has been a community based volunteer for 20 years, including Laubach Literacy International; Palmetto AIDS Life Support Services and most recently Camp MAGIK. Tim has always enjoyed the various ways in which you can be a small but integral part of camp. "Each time at camp there are always children whose losses resonate the truest part of unspoken grief. If all I can do is stand beside them to let them know I care, then hopefully I am a small step in their healing process."

Tim currently is the Atlanta Administrator of Thomas Eye Group, one of the countries largest ophthalmology practices. He loves to travel, spend time with his cherished family and friends - and play parent to his “big-boned” four legged child, Belle. Tim has several talents at camp, serving alternately as a counselor and unit leader.

Jason Evans

Jason Evans has been a Camp Magik volunteer since 2004 and loves working with kids of all ages. After spending several years in business with stints as a part-time actor in Atlanta, he decided to become a stay-at-home dad. This led him to help organize Atlanta Dad-2-Dad.

Jason loves Camp Magik because of the friendships formed and the personal growth he sees in every camper. Each camper is different and the kids teach everyone around them by sharing their experiences. Jason says "I love Camp Magik from the minute the kids arrive to the second they wave me goodbye because I’ve seen the strength they show, the emotions they feel and the hope they carry with them." Jason serves as a co-counselor as well as "emcee extraordinaire" of the talent show.

Jason enjoys raising his son, hiking and acting. He is an avid Alabama Crimson Tide fan.

Solomon E. Stretch

Solomon E. Stretch was born in Savannah, Georgia, and graduated in 2004 with two bachelor’s degrees, one in psychology and one in sociology. He is employed at the Marcus Institute in Atlanta where he works with developmentally delayed children. When asked by another volunteer, Rebecca Searles, to be part of the experience of Camp MAGIK he couldn’t resist and has been part of camp since 2003. "It has been a wonderful outlet for me and I am proud to watch the difference camp makes in the lives of these children. Today’s children go through so many trials and tribulations and having to lose part of their support system is tough. I am proud of them for having the courage to participate in a weekend where they can share their situations and I am proud of their parents and caregivers for understanding the importance of bringing them to Camp MAGIK."

Solomon serves as a co-counselor at camp.

Kennon McCollum, RN, MSN, APRN-BC, nurse practitioner

Kennon McCollum, RN, MSN, APRN-BC, nurse practitioner, has been working with Camp Magik since the fall of 2002. Kennon serves as the camp nurse whose duties include managing and administering medications to campers brought from their homes. His role during camp includes being available for general first aid, and also providing medical and emotional support to campers in need. Kennon has been a registered nurse since 1991 and has many year of clinical experience in emergency medicine, critical care, and pulmonary medicine. He received his Master’s in nursing in 2002 and since that time has been working as a Nurse Practitioner in the areas of Hematology and Oncology. He is a member of the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners, the National Oncology Nursing Society, the American Nurses Association, the Georgia Nurses Association, the Metro Atlanta chapter of Oncology Nursing Society, and Sigma Theta Tau National Honor Society for Nursing. Kennon also serves as adjunct clinical faculty to Emory University School of Nursing and Georgia State University School of Nursing. Kennon has a warm and caring heart for children who are affected by grief, and is diligent in ensuring that campers remain well and safe while attending camp.