Bigfork woman to head Montana kids' home

By ALEX STRICKLAND

Bigfork Eagle

Intermountain Children's Home — under one name or another — has been near to Dee Incornado since before she was old enough to know what it was.

Growing up in Helena, the home — Deaconess Orphanage then — was a fixture in her neighborhood, a place where she went to daycare and where some of her friends lived. As an adult, it's an institution to which she has given mountains of time and energy and beginning in 2009, she will lead home's board of directors.

Incronado's leadership will come at a time in the program particularly well-suited for her, Intermountain is working on a Flathead Valley expansion, having recently purchased land near Somers. Before anything is built, studies will be done and feasibility charts examined, but an expanded future in the Flathead looks all but certain.

Intermountain is an organization dedicated to the rehabilitation and counseling of children from neglected or abusive home situations. Incornado said kids range from those adopted from decrepit and understaffed orphanages in Eastern Europe who hit a rough patch as they grow older to a Montana child taken from an abusive and unfit home. Some live at Intermountain's residential facility and attend school on the campus, while others might live in Helena and utilize counseling services or special education programs.

Incornado said kids who come from certain situations "create their own rejection" and can have difficulty adjusting to life in a loving family or a special environment like Intermountain. That's why kids are in contact with counselors and other professionals even after they leave the facility, creating a long-term connection that separates the work of Intermountain from other programs. That connection also has a history of easing the transition to a new family, Incornado said.

"The most used and profound therapy is a rocking chair," said Bigfork resident and Intermountain President's Council member Don Loranger. "It brings tears to your eyes.

"These kids don't have an advocate," Loranger said. "The mission of Intermountain is incredible."

As far as a Flathead campus is concerned, Incornado said it's likely that residential services would be included in the plan.

"We're in the process of assessing the valley," she said. "We're mapping out services and networking."

To kick off the effort, Intermountain is hosting a formal gala called "Calling All Angels" on Friday, Dec. 14 at the Hilton Garden Inn Ballroom in Kalispell. The gala, a fund-raiser for the organization, will feature a wine tasting, hors d'oeurves, music from Glacier Symphony, a short, live auction and other entertainment. Tickets are $75 per person and can be reserved online at http://www.angelsball.org.