Each year, for as long as I can remember, Dungarvin Minnesota has held a Holiday Card contest for the people we support.

This process begins in late October or early November, when a memo is sent out to all persons served asking each individual interested to submit a winter holiday or New Year’s themed picture. These submissions are then considered as a possible cover for Dungarvin Minnesota’s holiday card. We receive many colorful and creative submissions, which are proudly displayed in our office throughout the holiday season. All of Dungarvin Minnesota’s office staff and supervisors are given the opportunity to vote for their favorite submission. The votes are tallied and the winning picture becomes our holiday card for the year. The holiday card for 2013 is one of the best yet!

ARTIST: JOE K.

This year, we were also pleasantly surprised to see a couple of excellent floral photo submissions. These were so well done that we decided to use the photos to create blank note cards for the Dungarvin Minnesota team.

PHOTOS BY TIM S.

Employees have a shot… a shot at winning cash in a drawing for Dungarvin Minnesota’s flu shot campaign, that is. Dungarvin Minnesota has been offering this organized flu shot campaign since 2007, because getting vaccinated is the best prevention. It is now recommended that all people get vaccinated, not just high risk individuals. This is the best way to protect our own health, and the health of our families and individuals served.

When Dungarvin Minnesota employees get their seasonal flu shot they receive a $30 Gift Card and are entered into one or two drawings of $100, plus $1.00 for every staff entered into the drawing. That’s free money considering most insurance companies cover the cost of the shot and there are no co-pays. Staff simply show proof of their flu shot to their supervisor and start reaping the benefits of extra cash and better health for themselves and everyone else around them.

The winner of our first drawing is a long time employee: Ann McMahon, who won $296! Congratulations Ann, and all of the rest of our employees, for getting your flu shot!

A message echoed throughout the Minnesota State capital rotunda on November 12th at the 5% Campaign rally “What do we want? 5%! When do we want it? NOW!”

The 5% campaign is a nonpartisan coalition of Minnesotans working to ask state legislators for a 5% rate increase for Home and Community Based Services (HCBS) in 2014. The core of the message is Home and Community Based Services (HCBS) over the last five years have endured raising costs with no increase and more have dealt with cuts recently. As many are aware, last year, other care and support services within the state did receive a much needed 5% increase. However, this did not include HCBS; such as the many services provided by Dungarvin Minnesota.

Dungarvin Minnesota, as a corporate supporter of the 5% campaign, is developing ways in which we can assist staff in their support and continue to build a grassroots effort for increased funding for our services. We most recently did splash pages in Therap to get the word out for the rally and currently are distributing postcards addressed to the Governor indicating support for staff to complete and send. We will also soon begin to prepare, as in years past, our participation in the ARRM day at the capital. The next ARRM Day at the Capital is March 4, 2014.

Dungarvin will continue to assist and support both employees and persons served to share their personal stories with their representatives. We will be inviting representatives for home visits to provide employees, persons served, and their families the opportunity to share their personal stories with legislators. I encourage all those impacted by the decisions made during this legislative session to get involved either by writing to your legislator, meeting with them in person, and/or attending one of their visits to our homes.

Minnesota Halloween Fun with Supported Individuals

Each year Dungarvin Minnesota holds at least one event for the individuals we serve. This year the event was a Halloween Party and it was held at the Mermaid Convention center in Mounds View. This event was a tremendous success and we had over 200 people show up from ALL service segments, including Assisted Living, Residential, Non-Residential, Supported Employment, and even Case Management. There was a photography station for individuals, or groups, to get their pictures taken as they entered to keep as mementos. The event also included the two things essential for a good party, a taco bar and plenty of music.

The event included a costume contest with prizes for the scariest costume, cutest costume, best costume, funniest costume, and most creative costume. Contestants were judged by the planning committee, which walked around to take in all the different costumes.

The winning costumes included:

• Best – Zombie Bride
• Spookiest – Scary Clown (the “It” Clown)
• Cutest – Pink Princess
• Creative – Freddy Krueger (he had made his own glove with the knives out of paper)
• Funniest – McDonald’s Fries

Special thanks go to the planning committee: Missy Loveday, Toni Eggert, Melissa Haefner, Mor Vue, Rosaline Allen, Jerry Meurer, and Katie Shahzad. Not only did they plan the party and dress up in costume, they also volunteered their time to ensure the party ran smoothly.

Minnesota Office and National Central Office Halloween Events

All four levels of the Crosswinds building, that homes both the National and Minnesota offices, were decked out and ready for tricks and treats. Office staff were invited to bring their families throughout the building to visit and gather some treats. The children that were able to visit had a blast, each going home with a bagful of candy.

There was even a costume contest for the employees. The winning costume went to the Administrative Support Department, whom were all dressed as bees, with Barb Johnson, the Office Manager as the Queen Bee.

The Minnesota office held a friendly little competition of pumpkin decorating using only paperclips and binder clips. It was fun to see how creative the teams could be!

Dungarvin Minnesota is happy to announce the provision of new services at two new independent living apartments. These locations are non-provider owned, market rate apartments. People live in their own apartment and staff are able to respond to their needs when they need it. Service plans are individualized so we can respond to their needs when they need it.

Mill Pond opened up in Forest Lake in September and Hidden Cove opened up in Buffalo on October 1st. Both programs currently have the 24-hour emergency assistance response and Independent Living Services staffing. If you are interested in learning more about these programs, or other independent living options, please contact Jen Elleraas at (651) 216-8743.

Louis Farmer was selected by the American Network of Community Options and Resources (ANCOR) to be recognized as the state recipient for the 2013 Direct Support Professional (DSP) Recognition Award. ANCOR is a national association that represents more than 800 providers of community services that serve over 400,000 individuals with disabilities. ANCOR facilitates advocacy to Congress for policy development as well as creating community partnerships and collaborations to strengthen best practices for services to those with disabilities. The annual ANCOR DSP award honors and recognizes direct support staff that dedicate themselves to enrich the lives of people with disabilities. The award nominee had to meet strict criteria related to their work ethic, values, and sacrifices made to effect a positive change for those they support.

Louis Farmer is a Dungarvin Wisconsin DSP who works in the Milwaukee Intensive Apartment Program (IAP). The IAP Provides support for individuals who live independently in the community but require drop by support services to assist with daily living skills. Louis has worked for Dungarvin for 17 years and has been an invaluable asset to the individuals he serves. Louis was nominated for this award because he has continually demonstrates that he provides the individuals he works with opportunities to grow and become more independent. He has been assisting individuals with returning to school, becoming their own payees, educating them about their health and well-being, and often motivating them when others are unable. An individual Louis has worked with for 13 years wrote, “He would not let me give up on myself. He lets me know I can do anything I set my mind to. I know that if I ever need help Louis will be there.” It is this attitude that he brings to his work that makes all the difference for our individuals as well as his co-workers. His program manager, Colleen Teeters, states, “Louis is always there for the persons he supports and has missed milestones in his personal life to ensure that individuals he works with needs are met.”

Winning the award provided Louis the opportunity to travel to Washington D.C. for the recognition ceremony. He met with Dungarvin staff from other states and they discussed their experiences and shared advice. Louis attempted to meet with Wisconsin Congresswoman Gwen Moore but she was out of session. Instead, he met with her Legislative Director Steffany Stern to discuss issues affecting those with disabilities. The trip also afforded him some time to visit some of the sites in Washington D.C. He visited the Smithsonian’s National Air and Space Museum. Seeing the engine from the Wright Brothers 1903 Flyer was his favorite experience in his site seeing tour. After returning home, Louis reflected on his trip, “My trip to D.C. was very special to me because of the reason that I went. It was my first time there and I was able to see the various monuments and memorials. I never thought that I would be going to D.C. to accept an award for service to our consumers, because it is service that should be expected from all of us everyday.” This statement exemplifies the values that Louis brings to his work and the reason Louis’s nomination was chosen as the ANCOR Wisconsin winner for the DSP recognition award.

Dungarvin Oklahoma has successfully completed three transitions as a result of institutional closures mandated in Oklahoma in 2012. The plan developed by the Department of Human Services (DHS) to move 242 individuals into the community is now being implemented. The plan incorporates best practices determined by DHS to successfully move these individuals into homes in the community with the assistance needed to live safe, healthy and productive lives. No stone has been left unturned and the plan includes safeguards that prohibit a transition unless all services are in place. Dungarvin Oklahoma has worked diligently and arm-in-arm with DDSD Staff, families, professional providers and countless other key players to make these transitions as smooth as possible.

Post-transition activities also ensure that quality services are maintained. They include 30-, 60- and 90-day Quality Assurance Reviews, frequent visits from the Office of Client Advocacy as well as unannounced visits from key staff from the state DHS office.

Although the journey to transition these individuals has been long and challenging, the fantastic result is that three individuals are now living in a beautiful home in our community. They are closer to their families and Dungarvin now has the opportunity to help facilitate the growth of these relationships. Individuals will have more opportunities for daily outings and will attend a daily program to enhance their social lives that will foster long lasting friendships and connections.

Some challenges conuntered have included finding appropriate housing, securing architectural modifications, locating community professional providers, securing ample staff, and ensuring that all staff is trained in all aspects of the individuals’ lives. All of which were achieved because of the team work demonstrated by all parties involved. As we sit back and reflect on these first few transitions, the prospect of going through this again soon is exciting despite all of the challenges. We are currently working on three more transitions and are gearing up for more over the next year. Both institutions will be closed by August 31, 2015.

The best is yet to come. When the dust settles from the hustle and bustle of transitions and we begin to see the lives of these individuals begin to flourish, as opportunities to experience things unknown to them become reality, and as families visit more regularly because they are closer, the real reward will be revealed.