SCOOP - Skills of Central PA
Transcription
SCOOP - Skills of Central PA
June 2015 SCOOP Skills of Central Pennsylvania SAVE THE DATE: Skills Is A Person Centered Organization 07/13/15 10th Annual E.F. Houser Golf Tournament State College 09/13/15 Discovery Garden’s 15th Anniversary Hollidaysburg Skills is committed to becoming a Person Centered Organization, which means that we employ Person Centered Thinking in all aspects of the organization. Skills does not use a cookie cutter, “one size fits most,” approach to encouraging people who receive support or are employees. We believe in personalizing supports to set people up for success. Person Centered approaches at Skills means: ▪ treating all people equally (including people who receive support and their families, employees and their partners); ▪ respecting the unique attributes of people; ▪ celebrating failures to support learning; ▪ people have a positive control over their lives and work; ▪ people are the primary decision makers over their lives and work; and ▪ being a source to help support and maintain the balance of what is Important To and what is Important For people. FOLLOW US @SkillsPA LIKE US @Skills of Central PA, Inc. For Skills updates and pictures, follow us on social media. SCOOP 10th Annual E. F. “Pat” Houser Golf Tournament The 10th Annual E.F. “Pat” Houser Memorial Golf Tournament to benefit the Skills Foundation will be held on Monday, July 13, 2015 at Toftrees Golf Resort in State College. Golfers of all levels can compete for the hole-in-one prize of a 2015 Toyota Camry donated by Joel Confer Toyota/Scion of State College. Skills will be treating golfers to a great day on the Toftrees links that includes a golf ball drop, lunch at the Eagle’s Nest, various competitive games such as beat the pro, longest drive, closest to the pin, and longest putt. The day is capped off with a buffet dinner, door prizes and awards for the top three teams. We recognize our key sponsors: ACE: Reliance Bank Gold, Silver and more: McQuaide Blasko, Houser Rentals, Selective Insurance, Wessel & Company, Good Day Pharmacy, Joel Confer Toyota, Brown and Brown of Lehigh Valley, Northwest Savings Bank, Bob Perks Fund, Restek, RTD Embedded Technologies, Thompson Pharmacy. For more information or to register, visit www.skillofcentralpa.org or call Gwen at 814-594-4251. Fun Time! Play Time! Who knew that we learn empathy, trust, irony, and problem-solving through play? Play is something the dictionary defines as "pleasurable an apparently purposeless activity." In the words of Dr. Stuart Brown, play can grow human talents and character across a lifetime. Play, as he studies it, is an indispensable part of being human. Anything that’s spontaneous and disrupts the routine can begin to create a culture of playfulness. There’s no shortage of ideas once you begin to let your playful, creative side show. Skills Strategic Plan’s Fun Committee wants to foster fun and play in the workplace. Yes, we said workplace, but it doesn’t mean we can’t laugh a little, or maybe a lot in our day to day activities. Here are some ways anyone can have fun in the next few months by observing some very unique holidays: June 23rd - Pink Day: wear pink, use food coloring to make meals to reflect the day such as frosting, mashed potatoes. Be creative. June 27th - Sunglasses Day: Who's behind those Foster Grants? June 29th - Camera Day: Have everyone bring a baby picture and make a poster to guess who is who! July 2 - World UFO Day: Star gaze and try to identify the celestial bodies. Watch Close Encounters of the Third Kind. July 7th - Chocolate Day: Taste test different types or brands of chocolate, white dark, milk chocolate. Watch WillyWonka and make chocolate popcorn. Check out www.allrecipes.com. Page 2 MARCH 2015 Rose Cologne Volunteer In 2015, the Centre County Council for Human Services (CCCHS) sponsored its 43rd annual Rose Cologne Volunteer Dinner. This dinner pays tribute to those volunteers who work to further the worthwhile mission statements of CCHS member agencies. This year, Skills recognized Pastor Calvin Miller for his contribution to the Opportunity Centre Clubhouse. Pastor Calvin came to State College area over two years ago to minister at Buffalo Run United Methodist Church. He was interested in mental health and came to Skills as a volunteer to learn more about services in the area. Six weeks later, he joined the Centre Region Advisory Board and fit well into advocating for member needs at the Opportunity Centre Clubhouse. “Though his schedule is full with community outreach and promoting services in mental health, Pastor Calvin continues to visit the Clubhouse every Monday, having coffee and offering spiritual guidance, accepting people for who they are and what they believe,” George Raymond, Manager, Psych Rehab says. “In short, Pastor Calvin has dedicated a lot of his time for the people in need in our community and fights for those who don’t have a voice.” During his acceptance of the Rose Cologne Volunteer Award, Pastor Calvin Miller was asked why he volunteers. “As a young boy, I saw the immense joy my mother received from volunteering. I am privileged to receive the same joy,” Pastor Calvin replied. “I am blessed and humbled to have the members and staff of the Opportunity Clubhouse in my life. I get exponentially more than I give.” Prom Night! Saturday, May 2nd, was an extraordinary night for Allen Schrey, a high school senior at Penn Cambria High School. Allen was dressed in his tuxedo, enjoying his Senior Prom with two of his biggest supporters, Skylar Brown, his DSP, and Jess Bendis, his teacher at Penn Cambria. The Prom was held at St. Michael’s School in Loretta, PA. Allen was having a great time with his peers who had nominated him to the Prom Court. Skylar Brown and Allen Schrey Page 3 When it became time to announce the high school’s prom king and queen, no one had a bigger grin than Allen. When it was announced that he was the Prom King, Allen’s smile became even bigger. Allen’s classmates danced around him and included him in every aspect of his Senior Prom. Judging by his never ending and beaming smile, it was a night that Allen and his friends will remember for a long time. Allen Schrey and Jess Bendis Skills Celebrates… Years of Service Five Years: Vicki Cunningham (Blair), Amanda Delegram (Blair), Chad Heichel (HMJ), Lisa Klingler (Blair), Ashley Plunkett (Blair), Joslyn Tirpak (Bedford) Ten Years: Amy Baughman (Blair), Randall Burnell (Blair), Cynthia Cottrill (HMJ), Melanie Keller (Blair), George Shearer (C/J) Fifteen Years: Robert Pruznak (Blair), Adriane Reeves (C/P) Twenty-five Years: John Bernard (Cambria), Kimberly Smith (York/Adams), Michelle Thompson (Blair), Diane Zupon (Corp) Thirty Years: Debra Palm (HMJ), Debbie Woolford (Centre) Thirty-five Years: Deedra Sheedy (Blair) “A Cinquain” Kaylee Estudante, Psychiatric Rehabilitation Worker for the Centre Region, was selected as the third prize winner with her poem, “A Cinquain,” as part of the 2015 Poetry Contest, sponsored by the Pennsylvania Association for Psychiatric Rehabilitation Services (PAPRS). Her poem was included in a booklet and on display in the exhibition gallery at the Recovery Workforce Summit: 2015 Annual Conference, held in Philadelphia, PA, June 1-4, 2015. A CINQUAIN Recovery. Fruitful, challenging. Purpose, courage, balance. To set yourself free. Resiliency. -Kayee Estudante, 25 Even though Kaylee hadn’t written poetry since she was in college, she felt she had the words to offer support. “Being that I am in the age range of transition age youth (ages 18-26), I wanted to add my view of recovery to the poetry contest.” The Recovery Workforce Summit: 2015 Annual Conference offered a comprehensive line up of in-depth psychiatric rehabilitation training and enhanced networking opportunities and special events that provided attendees with the tools they need to help others more effectively. For more information about the Summit, visit http://www.psychrehabassociation.org/events/recovery-workforce-summit-2015-annual-conference. Skills happily recognizes contributions of the staff. If your region has joyous occasions to celebrate, pass the news to us and we will include it in the next issue of SCOOP! Thanks from Gwen [email protected] and Flora [email protected]! Page 4 Skills Salutes…T.O.P.S Skills congratulates Eileen Pierson (Cambria, Clearfield/Jefferson, Somerset) for being chosen the recipient of the 2014-2015 Corporate T.O.P.S. Award. Congratulations also goes out to the other nominees for this award: Mary Rhodes (Bedford/Blair), Brittany Boulton (Centre), Jodi Royer (Huntingdon/Mifflin/Juniata), and Melissa Capps (York/Adams, Cumberland/Perry). Eileen is the Adult Training Activities Coordinator for the Cambria Region. She began her employment with Skills as a Direct Support Professional for Cresson Adult Training in 1989 - 26 years ago! She has progressed over the years with her dynamic creativity, giving people the opportunities to discover their talents, while having fun doing so. A few recent activities that Eileen has gotten her people participating in include: making “R” word t-shirts, holding a superheroes day, cruising on the Raystown Lake, and her tradition of providing goods and cards for our U.S. soldiers. “There is nothing not possible in the eyes of Eileen,” says Robin Weirich, Regional Vice President. “Everybody gets their exercise. Everybody plays the games. Everybody has a voice. Everybody has fun!” In September 2004, Skills established the Employee Recognition Awards Program to recognize exemplary Performance of staff members who provide a level of service beyond the call of duty. One such award is T.O.P.S. [Teamwork, Opportunity, Performance, Support]. Nominations and selections for this award are made twice a year within each region. Those award recipients are then considered for the annual Corporate T.O.P.S. award. Boo Boo Bears The Skills Vocational Training Services (Centre VT) has been making and donating Boo Boo Bears to Mount Nittany Medical Center in State College. Boo Boo Bears are small, hand-made, stuffed animals that are given to children who visit the Emergency Room for treatment, are admitted to the hospital, or are having surgery. A child can also receive a bear if a parent is being treated in the ER. Deb Gadsby, Program Specialist at Centre VT, is the lead for the Boo Boo Bears project. The fabric and stuffing is donated by families supported by Skills. Deb guides a team in cutting out the bear shape, sewing the bear together and stuffing it to give the Boo Boo Bear its soft, cuddly feel. A big heart is sewn on the front and a smaller heart with the “Handcrafted by Skills” logo is sewn on the back. Jerilyn stuffing a Boo Boo Bear Deb and her team are looking to expand the reach of their Boo Boo Bears to other hospitals, clinics, and facilities serving children to help those children through ‘scary’ times. The Centre VT is also interested in working with their counterparts in the other Skills regions to start up their own line of Boo Boo Bears. Jerilyn with a Boo Boo Bear Page 5 The Centre VT and other Skills Vocational Training Facilities help people with disabilities develop positive job skills. Through hard work and commitment, people are able to achieve higher self-esteem, build long-lasting relationships, and develop knowledge and independence toward their career goals. MARCH 2015 Guessing Your Way to the Top More than 100 people gathered at the Lakemont Casino in Altoona to try and outthink each other and raise money. Skills hosted the 4th Annual Trivia Challenge in April with Trivia Master Garrett Beck of Team Trivia in control. A special thank you goes out to the following sponsors: Andrew & Beard Law Offices, F.N.B. Wealth Management, Good Day Pharmacy, Reliance Bank, UPMC Altoona, and Wessel & Company. Discovery Garden Plant Sale Continues to Grow In partnership with community businesses, organizations, and the Skills Foundation, the Discovery Garden Plant, held in Legion Memorial Park, Hollidaysburg, on May 16, 2015, was a blooming success. Beautiful weather enhanced the incredible number of plants, most of which were donated by Lowe’s and Home Depot. Anchored by Karen Claton and a dedicated cadre of longstanding volunteers, the sale raised $2,600. For the green thumb gardeners who shopped, there were annuals, perennials, herbs, vegetables, bird baths, candles, garden balms and stepping stones. Highmark Walk Healthy Vines of Hope recently participated in the Highmark Walk for a healthy community. The Walk was held in Johnstown’s Central Park, on May 30, 2015. The 5k Walk was underwritten by Highmark, meaning that there was no cost to participating organizations. All of the money raised goes to the organizations. There was a live band, face painting, a balloon artist, and healthy snacks and drinks, all of which were FREE! Eighteen (18) non-profit organizations had tents set up, most of them with free give aways and basket raffles. Skills raffled off a $50.00 money tree, a summer fun basket, and a patriotic 4th of July basket. Skills raised $2,028 this year! While we are proud of this year’s success, we are hoping to increase participation next year, and make it even more successful! Please keep your eyes and ears open for updates regarding next year!! A very special thank-you goes to Lisa Eberhart, Jodi Eberhart, John Motel, Eileen Pearson, Tom Rito, Robin Weirich, and Cathy Sumner for representing Skills at the walk! Page 6 -Back row, left to right- Phil Sumner, Julius Kovach, John Motel, Cameron Sumner, Lisa Eberhart -Front row, left to right-Jodi Eberhart, Ashlyn Sumner, Cathy Sumner, Mary Ann Lantzy, Michael Butala, Robin Weirich, Brad Weirich SCOOP Safety, Health and Security in the Workplace Before cleanup. We spend many hours a week in our workspace, whether an office or home setting. How often do we stop and consider whether it is a safe workplace? One of the many concerns of the Skills Quality Improvement and Compliance Department is making sure every individual being supported and the staff providing support is working in a safe workplace. Which picture is your workspace? Remember: A clean work place helps avoid slips, trips, and falls. A clean work place makes it easier to find supplies and equipment. A clean work place is a more enjoyable place to work. A clean work place is more productive. After cleanup. ABLE Act Top 10 Achieving a Better Life Experience (ABLE) Act: 1. ABLE accounts can be created by individuals to support themselves or by families to support their dependents. 2. There is no federal taxation on funds held in an ABLE account. 3. Money in an ABLE account can be withdrawn tax-free if the money is used for disability-related expenses. 4. Distributions used for non-qualified expenses are subject to income tax. 5. Each disabled person is limited to one ABLE account. 6. ABLE accounts can generally be rolled over only into another ABLE account. 7. Eligible individuals must be blind or severely disabled and must have become so before turning 26 to qualify for ABLE. 8. ABLE accounts have no impact on Medicaid. 9. Upon the death of an eligible individual, any amount remaining in ABLE account will go into the deceased’s estate. 10. Contributions to an ABLE account by a parent, grandparent are protected in bankruptcy. Provided by Stambaugh Ness http://www.bizactions.com/n.cfm/page/e120/key/296771374G1508J5391709N0P2563P2563T2/ DAVIS VISION, Skills eyecare provider, is introducing DVTV. DVTV is Davis Vision’s newest digital space for plan members and anyone hoping to learn more about eye care, eyewear, and Davis Vision’s products and services. For more information, visit http://dvtv.davisvision.com/dvtv. Page 7 MARCH 2015 One Page Profile This issue’s One-Page Profile spotlight is on Thomas Bennett, a Licensed Practical Nurse in Blair County’s Residential Program. Tom is celebrating his one-year anniversary with Skills this month! What people like and admire about Tom is that he is a go-getter. “I take leadership well and work towards completing goals set for me.” He is described as very funny and is able to draw others to share the joy of laughter. When not at work, Tom continues to help his community by serving as a Firefighter and EMT for more than 17 years. What is important to Tom is Family First … they are the reason for what he does everyday. In his job, Tom cares about the individuals that he works with, and really enjoys working with the staff to accomplish whatever needs done. Serving the community is very special to Tom. “I have seen people at their worst, and I am extremely proud to be able to help them, when and how I can. To see somebody be able to pull through so much tragedy, and still come out ahead, is unexplainably fulfilling.” Tom emphasizes leadership and communication as areas of support. He appreciates it when people talk with him to make sure multiple tasks are being handled correctly. When working in groups, his leadership tendencies come out and he encourages people to share their opinions and ideas. Tom believes that is the true way to the best solution. Meet the Board Skills would like readers to get a closer look at the members of our Board of Directors, so you can get to know them like we do! This month, we’re getting to know Glenn Fisher. Glenn is a life-long resident of Centre County and has been involved in the Centre Region banking industry for more than 30 years. Currently Glenn is the Senior Commercial Lender for Clearfield Bank & Trust Company. Serving in his first year on the Skills Board, Glenn brings his financial background and expertise to the Audit Committee. In addition, Glenn has a deeply personal understanding and appreciation for what providers like Skills offer to the community. “I have a daughter with Down Syndrome, and I want to make a difference in the quality of life for all disabled individuals.” The Board of Directors meet six times a year so they can conduct both routine business including operations, finance, HR, development, and quality assurance as well as overseeing a plan for the future of Skills through strategic planning and new program evaluation. When asked what he sees in the future for Skills, Glenn said, “Skills is an excellent organization which enhances the lives of many individuals. I see the future of the organization maintaining our current programs we offer and to develop additional programs as new needs evolve.” Page 8 SCOOP Missing Manager! The Lewistown staff was shocked to find the office of Chris Snyder, ASA Manager, empty during the lunch hour in April. She is known for her dedication to her numerous responsibilities and duties. Chris is often seen sitting at her desk well past 5:00 PM, finishing up one task or another. April 22, 2015 was nationally recognized as Administrative Professional Day. Across the country celebrations of the accomplishments of ASAs were prevalent, and revelries and merriment abounded. In HMJ however, this never was the case. Chris takes her job entirely too seriously to be bothered with such superficial things. An undisclosed source described Chris boldly leaving the administrative office building that day accompanied by someone in authority. “I was just standing here minding my own business when they walked by me. I thought I was seeing things until Chris turned around and said ‘Bye!’ I still can’t believe it!!” Mobile Psych Rehab RCPA Conference Josh Zernick, Training Specialist, has been accepted to present “Using Person Centered Thinking to Affect Organizational Change” at the Leading the Way: Rehabilitation and Community Providers Association (RCPA) Conference, in Seven Springs, PA, Oct. 6-9, 2015. Centre County Community Service Providers (CSP) organized a Fashion Show/Resource Fair Event in early May. Representing Skills was Kim Utters, Team Leader, and Jillian Park, CPRP, Mobile Psych Rehab Director for Lycoming/Clinton and Centre Counties. “Always do Right ” – A Compliance Conversation In general, compliance means operating within the rules. For us at Skills, the rules are regulation, policy and the law. It has always been our goal to be aware of and take steps to comply with all relevant laws, regulation and policy. Due to the increasing number of regulations and need for operational transparency, Skills, like many other organizations, has adopted the use of a more consolidated set of compliance controls, including creating a compliance department and developing a compliance plan for the organization. The purpose of this is to ensure that all necessary governance requirements can be met without the unnecessary duplication of effort and activity from multiple people, programs and department. At the compliance department, we know how hard you all work to ensure that Skills continues to operate within the rules. It is our job to work with you to make this part of your job easier. Anytime you have a question about a regulation or policy or about a legal questions arises, please, feel free to contact us. We are here to help you. [email protected] 814.238.3245 ext. 339 Page 9 SCOOP Scoop Editors: Gwen Auman & Flora Marynak Scoop Writers: Flora Marynak Scoop Story Contributors: Thomas Bennett, Andrew Bollinger, Judy Caldana, Kaylee Estudante, Glenn Fisher, Mary Kay Fultz, Julie McBreen, Tina Moore, Jillian Park, George Raymond, Cathy Sunmer, Pennie Spalding, Ann Stacey, Robin Weirich, and Joshua Zernich. We are always looking for fascinating, fun, and fantastic stories about members of the Skills Family. No story is too small. So let us know what is going on out there in the Skills’ world and send your stories, pictures and ideas to Gwen at [email protected] or Flora at [email protected]. THANKS! AmazonSmile Donating to Skills has just been made easier and more fun, and it is all thanks to Amazon. A simple way to support an organization every time you shop with AmazonSmile, shoppers enjoy the same shopping experience as with Amazon, but with an incentive! Each time a customer makes a purchase, 0.5 percent of that purchase is automatically donated to the organization of that shopper’s choice! This way, shoppers are still purchasing the items they would normally buy on Amazon, while donating to their favorite organization at no extra cost, and right in the comfort of their own home! To start using AmazonSmile, simply log on to www.smile.amazon.com, search for SKILLS, and select it as your charity of choice. You may then shop as you normally would, except that items will now have the words, “Eligible for AmazonSmile Donation” in the product description. At the end of your purchase, AmazonSmile will have automatically donated 0.5 percent of your purchase to SKILLS at no extra cost to you! Happy shopping! Skills of Central PA, Inc. is a partner agency: Page 10 Skills is proud to be an Equal Employment Opportunity Service Provider and Employer. Our services and employment are made without regard to age, race, gender, sexual orientation, ability, religion, income, and/or language.