The FUTURES’ VOICE
SEPTEMBER – 2009
NEWSLETTER
FUTURES UPDATE
Hi and welcome to the “back to school” edition of The Future’s Voice!
It seems like we literally went from summer weather to fall weather overnight. I hope everyone had the opportunity for some vacation and play time the past few months before we all got back into the full swing of work, school, and family commitments.
While we all might think that summertime means only fun time, many of us at Futures continued to provide important therapy services and were also busy finalizing new contracts and in very interesting geographical places. Since July, we have taken over the responsibility to provide therapies, nursing, social work, and behavior management at The National Children’s Center based in Washington, DC. We are serving the “little people” of early intervention through the spectrum of older children and adults. This has been an exciting and challenging project so far, but we are thrilled to have been given the opportunity to provide these important and needed services to these children and individuals.
In addition, and beginning with this school year, we are also providing and managing therapy services for the Anson County School District in Wadesboro, North Carolina and the Everett Public School system on the North shore of Boston. While both “Boston” and “mid-South” cultures are
quite different, they both share the common mission of providing exemplary therapy services for students, and with improved outcomes. I’m happy to report that that is exactly what is happening.
Those contracts are just three of the newer and significant projects we are working on, but we continue to provide good and consistent work in many school districts and developmental disability organizations in New England, Michigan, and the District of Columbia that we have served for several years. So the “new” and “old” are blending together quite well. I also want to take this opportunity to welcome our new colleagues to the Futures family, and welcome our existing friends “back” and extend a “thank you” for being part of The Futures HealthCore team. Here’s to a terrific fall and an even better winter!
Erin Edwards, CCC-SLP
President
Springfield, MA office: (413) 788-2171
Email: eedwards@futureshealth.com
FUTURES HIGHLIGHTS
Hi everyone and happy fall!
As Erin sketched out, we’ve been busy putting the finishing touches on three very exciting contracts. Bringing these contracts in and setting up all of the operational pieces has truly been a team effort. From the development team to the presentation team to the operational team to the clinical team…everyone worked together in concert to make these projects a reality for Futures. At the end of the newsletter you will note many new Futures colleagues and most are part of the teams at Everett Public Schools, National Children’s Center, and Anson County School District. In particular, I would like to extend recognition to our two recruiters…Laquanda Stewart and Bonnie Heminger. They do yeoman’s work daily, but truly pulled out all of the stops in a very short and difficult recruiting time this summer to ensure Futures was appropriately staffed for these important contracts.
Recently we completed our “back to school” orientations for new therapists and current therapists. We had orientations in New England (5 total); DC, Michigan, and North Carolina. It was so much fun bringing new and familiar faces together so that they had the opportunity to get to know each other, get reconnected, and get revved up for the coming year’s assignments. Thanks to all for your active participation and, by the way, feedback from you all reported that all orientations were a rousing success!
Futures is poised for a terrific rest of the year and on into next year. That success won’t happen, can’t happen, without everyone’s effort, whether it comes from colleagues in clinical and therapy delivery, administration, operations, or development. We are blessed to work with all of you in pursuit of providing valuable therapy and clinical services to children and individuals in a variety of clinical and school settings. Thank you for being part of the Futures family. You are all very much appreciated. Have a great fall!
Brian Edwards, M.Ed.
Chief Operating Officer
Springfield, MA office: (413) 788-2171
Email: bedwards@futureshealth.com
FUTURES INDEX
Futures serves 25,000 students and consumers in more than 130 organizations in over 1,000 sites and locations. We provide services in Massachusetts, Connecticut, Rhode Island, Michigan, Maryland, North Carolina, and the District of Columbia. Settings consist of schools (public, private, charter, and collaboratives), early intervention programs, skilled nursing facilities, group homes, hospitals, and programs for individuals with developmental disabilities. We’ve also performed over 100 CSAs in states such as MA, MI, RI, MD, DC, NC, ID, GA, and VA.
CUSTOMER FOCUS
Willie Ross School for the Deaf
Longmeadow, MA
In the mid-1960s, a group of parents came together, united by the needs of their children who had been deafened by the rubella epidemic that swept the eastern seaboard. At the time, residential placement for all deaf children was the prevailing option. When the existing programs did not welcome the parents’ vision of the benefits of a day placement, they were undaunted by the rejection. The parents, confident of their decision, moved ahead and established their own day school. As a result of the parents’ efforts, the Willie Ross School for the Deaf first opened its doors in 1967.
The school offers students from age three on up through high school a program which encourages the development of the necessary combination of academic strengths, social skills, and general preparation for successful participation in society upon the completion of students’ studies. This goal is accomplished through the dual-campus model, which offers an immersion approach (deaf students learning together, at the Longmeadow campus) and the inclusion approach (academic and community mainstreaming – deaf and hearing students learning together, at the East Longmeadow campus). This integrated approach recognizes that students with different needs are best served in a setting which acknowledges the value of integrating different approaches to meet student needs. The school’s focus is on the student, and not a particular approach or philosophy.
While Willie Ross has their own speech therapists, The Futures HealthCore has been providing occupational and physical therapy to the school’s students since September, 2008. Tina Zabik, PTA and Clinical Director, heads up our Futures team, which include: Stephanie Stevens, OTR; Jen Boyle, COTA; Cindy DeLuca, PTA; and Diana Kenney, PT.
According to Linda Carfora, Director of the Longmeadow Campus at Willie Ross, the Futures team provided therapy to 14 students this past year. Linda indicated that she was so very pleased with the service and professionalism that Tina Zabik and her staff provided that she is looking forward to working with them again in the future. WAY TO GO LADIES TO A JOB WELL DONE!!!
Elizabeth Phillips, Foster Parent, MI
Usually in our customer focus segment we concentrate on a specific consumer, or client (school, clinic, etc.). For this edition, Val Green, Nurse Manager, Michigan, suggested we do a story on Elizabeth Phillips, who is a foster mom to four of our consumers (two males and two females; ages 15, 24, 32, and 38).
These individuals require very extreme, highly-skilled 24-7 medical treatment and custodial care. Futures provides nursing services on a monthly basis, and OT/PT services approximately twice a year. Ms. Phillips also has a private duty nursing staff to assist her. Although Elizabeth does not drive herself, she does receive help in transporting her adult foster children to their doctor visits, and hospital stays, when necessary.
Elizabeth, who is very protective of her residents, allowed me and Val to pay her a visit recently. We entered a large, airy, single family dwelling, on the northwest side of Detroit, (which is about 30 minutes northeast of our Wayne facility). Upon meeting Elizabeth (who never had children of her own), one is reminded of the saying that goes something like this: “whether you are a birth parent, a step parent, a parent of an adopted child, or a foster parent, you are still a parent.” Our foster mom exudes love for her children and wants the very best for them. Although a compassionate, gentle soul herself, Elizabeth fights for what her children need, and will go straight to the top (whatever that may be) to get it.
In past years, Elizabeth had been working in nursing homes, comforting the elderly. Twenty-six years ago she decided she wanted to take care of children with special needs, and applied for a foster care license with Wayne Community Services (now, of course, CLS). In 2002, Futures came into the picture.
During her 26 years of being a foster mom, besides the four adult children Elizabeth currently reveres, she fostered two other special needs individuals who have since passed away.
Looking back over the years, Elizabeth recalls a special time when one of her male charges received a Make a Wish Foundation trip to Disneyworld in Florida. (The occasion had such an impact on the young man, that when he arrived home to Michigan, he removed his tracheotomy, and shortly after his feeding tube.) Ms. Phillips has family in Florida, so the trip was memorable to her as well. Besides accompanying her foster child to Florida, Elizabeth has also visited North Carolina and Alabama.
To the average lay person, caring for the individuals Elizabeth does, to say the least would be considered challenging. However, Elizabeth found her calling early in life. She is a cheerful, positive person with a wonderful sense of humor. One can tell by communicating with her and observing how she interacts with her four children that she knows she is blessed because she has made a genuine difference in their lives. Thank you Elizabeth for your untiring devotion.
CLINICIAN FOCUS
Susan Gannon, SLP
Area Speech Manager, MI
Susan began her career with Futures in November of 2005. She provides speech services to children at ABT Elementary, and consumers living in group homes. Susan works with dysphasia and autistic individuals, as well as with a few people who use speech generating devices. Susan was recently promoted to Area Speech Manager and has added the responsibility of managing our Michigan speech clinicians to her roster. The votes are in; she is doing a fabulous job!
What Susan enjoys the most about her job is the variety it brings her. One day she will be at a school, and the next day she shifts gears by helping consumers in group homes. Because Susan finds her work so exciting, it is a little disappointing to her when she has an appointment scheduled and there is no one home when she arrives. In spite of the few challenges she faces, Susan takes it all in stride. She finds her work very rewarding, and enjoys being on a dedicated team like Futures.
When she is away from Futures, Susan loves to spend time with her 11 year old triplets, who started 6th grade this fall. Like any parent with children this age, it means driving them to their school activities and sporting events. When Susan does have a little “alone” time, she enjoys running, swimming, and playing cards. In addition to her excellent therapy services, we thank Susan for her exceptional fairness, organizational skills, and just being a nice person to be around.
Tina Zabik, PTA
Director of Clinical Support, NE & DC
Tina worked on a part time basis at Valley Rehab, Holyoke Public Schools, and some other settings since 1992. She kept in touch with her friends and colleagues from these organizations, and joined Futures full time in July of 2007.
Most of her consumers are children in schools, and adults in group homes and day rehabilitation settings. A year ago she took on the role of Director of Clinical Support, so the people she interacts with on a daily basis are clinicians, SPED directors, and her immediate office colleagues. As Tina plays a major part in interviewing and hiring Futures clinicians, she interacts with the company’s recruiters on a regular basis as well.
What Tina loves the most about her job at Futures is the family atmosphere, and the way our clinicians support and care for one another. There is a tremendous amount of respect and professional courtesy demonstrated.
For those of us who know her well, it is no secret that Tina thoroughly enjoys getting up every day to come to work. She is thrilled to help and observe other therapists regarding their caseloads, treatment ideas, and success stories. The consumers Tina works with from children to adults are all truly special and unique, and for Tina,” it is a privilege to help make a difference in their lives as therapists.” Having revamped the Futures orientation manual, she had the opportunity to visit different sites to conduct employee orientations. As a result, she was able to meet/talk/listen to the clinicians and other staff members at Futures.
With all of Tina’s responsibilities, sometimes prioritizing the requests that come her way can be a bit of a challenge. Tina is skilled, however, at assessing needs and selecting the clinician most appropriate/compatible for a particular site.
During her time away from Futures, Tina enjoys spending time with her husband, Tim, a Chicopee fire fighter, her son, Sean, age 15, and her daughter, Megan, who is 13. Tina is fortunate that other family members live relatively close by as well.
When Tina has time for “just Tina,” she relishes going for walks, exercising, traveling, reading, volunteering at different charity events (such as the Special Olympics), and socializing with her family.
One constant thread that runs through her cloak is Tina’s extremely positive attitude, and fun loving nature. The glass is always more than half full, (regardless of what circumstances she might be dealing with). There is no doubt that Tina’s “can do” life philosophy, and wonderful sense of humor is tantamount to her success as a clinician, family member, friend, and human being.
KUDOS
Cindy DeLuca, PTA, MA
Cindy has worked with Tina Zabik, PTA/Clinical Director, for 10 years, and with Futures for two of them. Cindy is in the process of acquiring her Master’s degree in Occupational Therapy at Bay Path College in Longmeadow, Massachusetts.
The college is a diamond sponsor to the “Extreme Makeover” television show on ABC, and asked for volunteers for a one week period to build the house for the Hill family from Suffield, Connecticut.
Along with her daughter, Christina (who is going to college to study communication disorders at Bridgewater State College), Cindy assisted in the behind the scenes clean up after the family moved back into their home and the celebrities were gone. They did get to meet some of the family members, who were genuinely grateful for all the help that the community donated.
Cindy describes the mayhem as “organized chaos,” but the house turned out beautifully and the experience gave Cindy a different perspective of the Extreme Makeover production.
Below is an excerpt from an article located on the Pecoy Signature Homes (the builder) website. "The build started with the knock on the door of the Hill home on Sunday, June 21, 2009, progressed with demolition and rebuild, and was finally revealed to the Hill family on Sunday, June 28, 2009. The Hill family was sent on an all expenses paid trip to Disney and returned on Sunday to see celebrity cast member and construction lead, Ty Pennington, yell with thousands at the site, ‘MOVE THAT BUS!’ Every item and service for the build was donated by thousands of regional residents and businesses. More information about this particular build, the 146 th for ABC, is on www.ExtremePecoy.com. The segment will air as the two hour season opening special in late September or early October 2009, 8:00-9:00 p.m., EST on ABC."
Way to go Cindy and Christina! Thanks for volunteering, and your hard work.
FAVORITE THOUGHTS TO LIVE BY
Laquanda Stewart, Recruiting Manager, who is an up beat, positive person, suggested it would be nice to have a “Favorite Thoughts to Live by” segment in the newsletter. To start us off, here are two of Laquanda’s favorites:
* “No questions Monday.”
* “Laughter is like chocolate; you gotta have it.”
Bonnie Heminger, Recruiter, has one as well, which is:
* “Sing like no one can hear you;
Love like you’ll never get hurt;
Dance like no one is watching.”
FROM THE HR HUB
For any benefits related questions, contact Michelle Lynch, Executive Assistant, at
(413) 788-2171, or mlynch@futureshealth.com.
FUTURES NEWS
Wedded Bliss
Congratulations to Karlyn Goodman, OTR, MA, on her marriage to Chris Ciaramitaro on April 4, 2009. Also best wishes to Laurel Phillips, SLPA, MA, who tied the knot on September 5, 2009. Her new name will be Laurel Arthur Simpson.
Look What the Stork Brought
Congratulations to the following clinicians on the birth of their newborns:
Katie Murphy, SLP, MA - Cora Edna Chalif, June 16, 6 lbs., 14.7 oz., 20”
Wendy Mulligan, OTR, MA - Neylon Patrick, May 16, 6 lbs., 8 oz., 20 ½”
Melissa Cavrell, RPT, CT - Daniel Ira, February 6, 8 lbs., 9 oz., 21”
Christie Smart, RN, MI - Jake James, April 19, 6 lbs., 8 oz., 18”
Tiffany Boards Oggletree, Psych., MI -Joseph Gabriel, June 2, 7 lbs., 13 oz., 21 ½”
Rebecca VanDale, OTR, RI - Cooper Ronan, May 24, 6 lbs., 14 oz., 19”
Welcome Aboard
Please welcome the following clinicians to our Futures team:
Audrey Sarnacki, SLP, MI, 4/29/09
Lindsay Wohleen, CF, MI, 5/11/09
Miranda Whitley, CF, MI, 5/12/09
Tony Raymond, Psych, MI, 5/14/09
Beth Gourley, COTA, MI, 5/30/09
Kynthia Marinkovich, COTA, MI, 6/15/09
B. Hartley, BCBA Psych, MI, 6/25/09
Sara Buswell, COTA, MI, 7/1/09
Emily-Ann Jakubasz, SLPA, MA, 7/1/09
Diane Hammerle, RN, MI, 7/13/09
Yael Ganet, OTR, MI, 8/3/09
Anika Leftridge, LPN, DC, 8/5/09
Janet Lamy, COTA, MA, 8/24/09
Yolanda Negron, OTR, MA, 8/24/09
Rachel Sheehan, SLPA, MA, 8/24/09
Joey Pyle, CF/SLP, MI, 8/24/09
Jessica Dutton, SLPA, MA, 8/24/09
Aubrey Cieglo, SLPA, MA, 8/24/09
Cady Myers, SLPA, MA, 8/24/09
Katie Dishman, SLPA, MA, 8/24/09
Elizabeth Krispien, SLPA, MA, 8/24/09
Katie Welch, COTA, MA, 8/24/09
Tiaa Johnson, SLPA, NC, 8/24/09
Claire Melancon, SLPA, NC, 8/24/09
Tanya Hyatt, COTA, NC, 8/24/09
Colleen Picarazzi, OTR, NC, 8/24/09
Pat Beverly, SLP, NC, 8/24/09
Christina Shaffery, RPT, NC, 8/24/09
Valerie Young, PTA, NC, 8/24/09
Deniere Allen, SLP, DC, 8/24/09
Mackenzie Steger, CF, MI, 8/24/09
Jessica Bonello, CF, MI 8/24/09
Kathryn Kochis, CF, MI, 8/24/09
Obiageli Okudoh, RN, DC, 9/1/09
Heather Tepfenhart, RN, MI, 9/8/09
BONNIE’S CORNER
Suggestion Box/Open Forum
Hello Everyone,
A special thank you to Elizabeth Phillips for inviting Val Green and me into her home for a visit.
Let’s keep Bonnie’s Corner an open forum for opinions, ideas, suggestions and comments. All are encouraged and welcomed. What would YOU like to read about in the newsletter?
Bonnie Heminger, M.A., Psych.
Recruitment Specialist
Wayne, MI office (877) 407-2500, or (734) 377-3748
Email: bheminger@futureshealth.com
We hope you enjoyed this edition of the Futures’ Voice. We’ll see you for a special December holiday edition!
