|
Dear Colleagues,
Happy holidays! If you’re taking some vacation, I hope you step away from your email for real. If you’re working to meet needs that don’t take time off, I salute your service.
The MDHHS team welcomed me generously this year. I had so much to learn – and still do. I had so many mistakes to make – and still do. Yet at every turn, I’ve been met by wisdom, patience, and kindness.
In this season of giving, I want to take a minute to celebrate the ways you give every day. Martin Luther King said, “everybody can be great, because anybody can serve.” At MDHHS, nobody is getting rich or famous. Yet every day, you engage in acts of greatness.
This can be a source of joy, as in this beautiful note from Christie Klever in our Mecosta County office:
"Even with the stress of UCL and the never-ending work I am so thankful when I can help a family smile…. Today I put all my effort into getting what was needed so [a mom] could smile and be happy knowing her home wouldn’t be taken from her over the holidays. She was so thankful and happy she gave me a hug and told me that it made her Christmas knowing that the threat was gone and she and her girls will still have a roof over their heads."
Even if you’re not getting hugs on the job – even if you’re working far behind the scenes in an operations or administrative role – you’re making a difference. As we wrap up this year, I want to celebrate a few ways that MDHHS staff achieved greatness in 2019. I hope you’ll enjoy these stories, pulled together by Scott Davis.
After a fire
An elderly woman in Wayne County had lost her home in a fire. Eligibility specialists Renee Jones and Shana Dorsey (pictured at left) were there to help. They provided the woman and her adult daughter information about emergency housing and helped them apply for State Emergency Relief assistance.
It wasn’t just what Renee and Shana did, but their compassion in doing it that made the difference. The mother got into a new home and she’s doing well. And the daughter wrote to thank Renee and Shana : “Each of them was extremely attentive as they listened to all of my concerns with a great deal of patience,” she said. “Their caring approach was needed and helpful. They are true professionals. Please accept my gratitude for their kind, speedy and efficient services.”
|
A smile
Hawthorn Center excels at providing care to children facing challenges. Recently Hawthorn was treating a teenager with autism who couldn’t tolerate being in a room with another person without a barrier like a desk between them. Going to school or playing became impossible. A team at the center worked closely with the family on a holistic approach that included behavioral intervention, family therapy, parent support, and several interactions with the child’s teachers. The team put in extra hours and extra care to making an extra difference.
And they did. At discharge, the child could calmly step outdoors, eat in a dining room, participate in group activities, and attend partial school. The child could smile.
The team that made the difference (some are pictured at right): Tamina Stuber, behavior analyst; Julie Wrobbel, occupational therapist; Dr. Jaime Wetzel, clinical psychologist; Dr. Sumi Cyriac, psychiatrist; and three managers, Ursula Shipp, Cynthia Williams and Jean Ward.
|
A lifeline
Consider a 16-year-old youth with several medical challenges: epilepsy, cleft palate, esophageal anomaly, and sleep apnea. And he risks losing his Medicaid, which allows his family to care for him.
Matt Richardson, a nurse consultant with Children’s Special Health Care Services, intervened. He researched the case history, set up a secure email account for the family to improve their communications with medical providers, and reached out personally to several entities that could help straighten out the young man’s coverage. In the end, Matt (pictured at left) helped to maintain the youth’s eligibility without a lapse.
|
Kin
Jacharri Foster is a foster care worker in Saginaw. In her overstuffed caseload, she had one especially challenging case: five siblings who were placed with a relative who could no longer care for them. They couldn’t go home, and they risked being split up. Jacharri would not let it happen. She called the relatives, the local county foster homes, and the homes in surrounding counties. No luck. But there was a whisper about a family friend who might work out. They were willing, but were they able? Jacharri first did the routine checks on the home. She made a visit… and another… and another. The family was ready to support the siblings.
Thanks to Jacharri’s work, there was also support from the department, the court and the supporting services in the county. The children were safe – and, while troubles remained, they were together.
My thanks
Our stories don’t end like Disney movies, but they end better than they began. I’m grateful for the chance to have served alongside you in 2019. The new year will bring new challenges – and new opportunities for greatness.
Thanks for all you do, and happy holidays!
Robert
|
