January 2014

$500 Referral BonusIf you know someone who would make an exceptional member of the Melmark team, please tell them to check out Career Opportunities posted on our website and apply online at: www.melmark.org. We’re looking for motivated and caring individuals who want to make a difference in the lives of children and adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities. An existing Melmark employee will receive $250 when the new hire is here for three months and another $250 when the new hire is here for one year. You can refer new hires all year long!

Remember to fill out the employee referral form, found in Human Re-sources, before the new hire begins at Melmark.

Congratulations, Louie! Our Work Experience Employee of the Quarter

Please join us in congratulating Louie for being named Melmark’s Work Experience Employee of the Quarter. Louie is a valuable member of our kitchen staff, working alongside other Sodexo employees in The Eatery.

Louie’s colleagues in the kitchen will often call and ask for him to work even if he is not scheduled. They say they know they can rely on Louie to come in every workday and give 100%. Louie is respected by his peers and the staff with whom he works. He is known as a hard

worker who completes his tasks in the kitchen and dish room independently and is always willing to fill in if one of his colleagues is unavailable for work.

Louie always has a smile on his face and is quick to say hello to everyone he sees in the hallway outside the dish room and in the cafeteria. He is also a huge Villanova fan and sports clothing from the university. While not working in The Eatery or in his day program at The Meadows, Louie enjoys spending time at his parents’ home, where he resides.

Louie and The Eatery staff

Please join us in congratulating Louie on being named our Work Experience Employee of the Quarter.

Don’t forget that special person on your shopping list! The Meadows Store and The Meadows Too are the perfect places to shop for unique crafts, beautiful scarves and handmade jewelry.

All proceeds benefit the adults in these programs.

We have over 1,000 likes! Be a part of Melmark’s Facebook conversation. Join staff, parents and friends by ‘liking’ our page athttps://www.facebook.com/MelmarkPA

Meadows Gift Shop

Turkish marbled scarves at The Meadows

January 2014

A Monthly Newsletter for the Melmark Community

In this issue of the Melmark Moments, you will read about the importance of being “TJC Ready”. TJC, or The Joint Commission, will be visiting Melmark soon as part of our application for TJC Accreditation. While this is an opportunity for all of us

to refresh our knowledge of Melmark policies and procedures, we should all work daily to make sure we are familiar with the processes put into place to make

Melmark the Center of Excellence it is known as in the field and beyond.

The safety of the children and adults we serve is always our top priority at Melmark. The TJC accreditation survey will document how well we are doing in our daily responsibility to protect the vulnerable individuals entrusted into our care. Families rely on us to keep their sons and daughters safe and to provide them the most excellent care possible. I rely on each of you to be stewards of that mission, and I thank you for your commitment to those we serve.

A Message from Our President Joanne Gillis-Donovan, Ph.D.

Melmark Sponsors Saint Joseph’s Women’s Basketball Game for Autism AwarenessSt. Joseph’s University recognized Melmark during Autism Awareness Night this month. Melmark was featured on the digital scoreboard during the January 26th women’s basketball game. The university’s athletics department also presented our organization with a statuette during half-time.

Melmark featured on the digital board Melmark Executive Director of Marketing and Admissions, Jim Powers, accepts award

at the St. Joe’s game

Melmark has applied for accreditation by The Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations (TJC, formerly JCAHO), and we are looking forward to our upcoming visit from surveyors from The Joint Commission. TJC evaluates healthcare and behavioral healthcare organizations which serve individuals with developmental disabilities. TJC evaluates the extent to which organizations meet the TJC’s quality and safety standards. Ultimately, TJC awards “accreditation” to those organizations which meet standards for excellence in quality care and services.

The evaluation will include a week-long visit by at least two surveyors. The surveyors will review policies, procedures and quality improvement information. The surveyors will talk to individuals, families and staff. They will review individual records and speak with physicians and nurses about medical care. They will visit each of Melmark’s 32 residential sites.

Unlike mandatory licensing surveys from the Department of Welfare, the Department of Health, the Department of Education and other regulatory agencies, there is no requirement for Melmark to become accredited by the Joint Commission. So, why should we go through the time and trouble to seek accreditation?

•Accreditation is a public acknowledgement of our commitment to the highest possible standards of services and supports for individuals.

•Accreditation helps the community feel confident in the quality and safety of our services.

• Joint Commission accreditation is recognized throughout the United States by payers and regulatory agencies.

•Accreditation standards serve as a framework to continually evaluate and improve the safety of our services.

We are anticipating a visit from TJC in February or possibly March. We will have 30 days notice of the visit and will inform staff of the dates as soon as we become aware. We are also planning to conduct staff and manager refresher training on some important policies and processes in preparation for the visit. Staff are asked to review all training material carefully and in a timely manner. They are, as always encouraged to ask questions/seek guidance from their managers. Our All Staff Meetings on Feb 4 and Feb 5 will focus heavily on our upcoming TJC visit.

As we prepare for our upcoming visit from the Joint Commission, just a reminder that we all need to wear our Employee ID badges at all times while on duty and while on campus. TJC’s requirement regarding ID badges is in place in order to ensure the safety those we serve and of all staff.

If you have lost your badge, please submit a request for a new badge. You can find the ID Badge Request form on SharePoint under Employee Resources.

As of February 1, employees will no longer be able to clock in or out without the use of their badge. Badges will also be needed in order to purchase meals in The Eatery. These changes are being made to help ensure we all get into the habit of wearing our badges at all times.

Please discuss any questions you may have with your supervisor.

Michael Flannery

“Are you TJC Ready”?

With the holiday season behind us, the advocacy community looks to maintain existing relationships and to cultivate new ones in 2014. We, at Melmark, are no exception.

We continue our association with the Alliance of Approved Private Schools through our Education Administrator, Travis McCoy, by participating in a zip code survey of our students. This helps the Alliance to identify and develop a list of key legislators that members of the Alliance must regularly visit.

Michelle Bradsher, Director of Marketing & Communications, and I remain a part of PAR’s Communications Collaborative Committee, which allows staff from providers across Pennsylvania to share ideas with the goal of bettering the lives of those we serve through proactive advocacy.

We look to make a new friend in Rep. Tom Murt of the Human Services Committee, who will be here in mid-February. We continue to build relationships with the Delaware County Chamber of Commerce, and have met with Chamber President, Alex Charlton. We also have a meeting planned with John Durso, Jr., Executive Director of Delaware County Community Foundation.

If you have any suggestions or would like to get involved in advocacy efforts, please feel free to contact me at extension 4740 or at michaeldonovan@melmark.org .

ADVOCACY CORNER

Michael Donovan Manager of Operations and Strategic Initiatives

Holiday ArtworkThe holidays always bring out the creative sparkle of children young and old. Below are a few snapshots of holiday artwork created by individuals at Melmark.

Holiday artwork decks the halls of Melmark

EMPLOYEE DEPARTMENT EMPLOYEE DEPARTMENT

Jean Calvarese-Donovan Adult Campus Residential Danielle Marshall Children’s Residential

Ahnya Graham-Cleaves Adult Campus Residential Senait Tsegay Children’s Residential

Abdulraman Kamara Adult Campus Residential Lauren DiLullo Education

Diana Rambert Adult Clinical Services Jessica Garrison Education

Jennifer Adams Adult Community Residential Michelle Hilferty Education

Patricia Carey Adult Community Residential Jenessa Hosler Education

Sandra Gephart Adult Community Residential Mary Segraves Education

Babatunde Adebule Adult Day Services Erin Way Education

Asaad Brown Adult Day Services Thomas Getty Facilities

Malcolm Crump Adult Day Services Patrick Janvier Facilities

John Deaton Adult Day Services John McCarthy Facilities

Victor Dorbor Adult Day Services Lee Sturt Facilities

David Dragone Adult Day Services Sunday Adebayo Health Care

Andiree Evans Adult Day Services Cynthia Burke Health Care

Comfort Ibare Jones Adult Day Services Sharon Burns Health Care

Maleeka Jackson Adult Day Services Nancy Crosen Health Care

Melissa Johnson Adult Day Services Shareeta Davis Health Care

Liza Jones Adult Day Services Simone Davis Health Care

Rudy Jones Adult Day Services Sandra Fellman Health Care

Sandra Lartey Adult Day Services Amanda Kessler Health Care

Jaclyn Ruffing Adult Day Services Julie McNamee Health Care

Judy Schlosser Adult Day Services Bernadette Toner Health Care

Sue Smith Adult Day Services Heidi Fagan Rehab Services

Tamra Smith Adult Day Services Laura Turner Rehab Services

Rebecca Van Deusen Adult Day Services

Rebecca Zelonis Adult Day Services

Janae Bynum Children’s Residential

Meaghan Chirinos Children’s Residential

Jennifer Croner Children’s Residential

William Green Children’s Residential

Aaron King Children’s Residential

StanDinG oVation aWaRDS

Congratulations to Sharon Burns on being the Standing Ovation Grand Prize Winner!

EMPLOYEE NAME POSITION LOCATION

Jacktone Ambuka Residential Aide, Adult Services Spruce A

Heather Bixby ABA Counselor, Education School Program

Nicholas Clarke Residential Aide, Children Sacca

Briana Finch ABA Counselor, Education Intern School Program

Tiffany Hastings Residential Aide, Children Schoemaker RTF

Alfred Jardiah Residential Aide, Children Schoemaker RTF

Amadu Kamara Residential Aide, Adult Services Gallagher

Roosevelt Korboi Residential Aide, Children Schoemaker RTF

Francess Myers Residential Aide, Adult Services Engle ICF

Kasmir Prewitt- Robinson Residential Aide, Adult Services Melissa

Mona Pugh Residential Aide, Adult Services Charleston Greene

Dwanette Ross Residential Aide, Children Martha

Shanita Scott ABA Counselor, Education Intern School Program

Brian Showell Residential Aide, Adult Services Gallagher

Tyreke Smith Residential Aide, Children Matthew

Ciera Stovall ABA Counselor, Education School Program

Kathryn Hopkins HR Administrative Assistant Human Resources

Samuel Alexis ABA Counselor, Residential Matthew

Iris Cruz Residential Aide, Adult Services Aston A

Faith Galletley ABA Counselor, Residential Schoemaker RTF

Hosana Girmay ABA Counselor, Education School Program

Kelli Larkins Asst. Dir., Staff Development Main School

Solomon Muin Residential Aide, Children Matthew

Jordan Pennings ABA Counselor, Education School Program

Lyzette Spicer ABA Counselor, Education School Program

Alisha Tillman Instructional Assistant Meadows

Zainab Williams Licensed Practical Nurse Healthcare

Daniel Willie Res Aide, Adult Services Engle ICF

conGRatulationS, neW hiReS!

EMPLOYEE NAME POSITION LOCATION HIRE DATE

Hawah Conway Residential Aide, Adult Services Adult Campus Residential 9/9/2013

Corey Curtis ABA Counselor, Residential Children’s Residential 9/9/2013

Rebecca Donohue ABA Counselor, Education Education 9/9/2013

Markeisha Hackett Residential Aide, Adult Services Adult Campus Residential 9/9/2013

Sonnie Sackie Residential Aide, Adult Services Adult Campus Residential 9/9/2013

Quincy Tenny ABA Counselor, Residential Children’s Residential 9/9/2013

Terrence Townsend Adult Services Manager Adult Campus Residential 9/9/2013

Sheila Bridges Physical Therapy Assistant Rehabilitative Services 9/23/2013

Carlos Farr Residential Aide, Adult Services Adult Campus Residential 9/23/2013

Vafa Farr Residential Aide, Adult Services Adult Campus Residential 9/23/2013

Tamara Ficklin Adult Services Manager Adult Campus Residential 9/23/2013

Ashley Gaines Residential Aide, Adult Services Adult Campus Residential 9/23/2013

Robin Holts Adult Services Manager Adult Campus Residential 9/23/2013

Nicole Johnson Residential Aide, Adult Overnight Adult Campus Residential 9/23/2013

Hadassah Jones ABA Counselor, Residential Children’s Residential 9/23/2013

Umaru Koroma Residential Aide, Adult Services Adult Campus Residential 9/23/2013

Susan Kuhn Teacher Education 9/23/2013

Joseph Lebbie ABA Counselor, Residential Children’s Residential 9/23/2013

Staff ReachinG 90 DayS of eMployMent

peRfect attenDance WinneRS

EMPLOYEE NAME DEPARTMENT EMPLOYEE NAME DEPARTMENT

Abdul Cole Children’s Residential Lee Sturt Facilities

Ahmed Adekanmbi Adult Day Services Maxwell Dumbuya Children’s Residential

Allen Jones Adult Campus Residential Nancy Kuhns Adult Day Services

Andrew Hills Children’s Residential Odessa Freeman Adult Campus Residential

Carl Raymond Adult Community Residential Patricia Carey Adult Community Residential

Charles Lausch Facilities Patrick Janvier Facilities

Damaris Odhiambo Children’s Residential Paul Lucchesi Facilities

Darlene Evans Facilities Rebecca Donohue Education

Frances Schulz Education Rebekah Lush Education

Franklyn Kargbo Children’s Residential Sandra Fellman Health Care

Hawah Conway Adult Campus Residential Sandra Gephart Adult Community Residential

James Craig Facilities Saul Odira Children’s Residential

James Varney Children’s Residential Vanessa Rogers Health Care

Jenessa Hosler Education Yatta Pewa Children’s Residential

John McCarthy Facilities Catherine McIntosh Adult Day Service

Kiara Gant Children’s Residential

Artwork created by students in The Melmark School is on display at the Kimmel Center in Philadelphia. Each painting is accompanied by an artist biography, allowing visitors to the Kimmel to learn more about the artists’ unique talents. The Kimmel Center is hosting the art show through February.

The Melmark Traveling Art Show has been on display for the past three years, rotating to new venues each month. We are currently booking venues for 2014. If you know of an area business that may be interested in displaying our students’ artwork, please email MichelleBradsher@Melmark.org .

Student Artwork on Display at The Kimmel Center

Melmark Traveling Art Show at the Kimmel Center

Radnor High School Annual Talent ShowRadnor High School students performed a talent show at Melmark for children, adults and staff on Friday, January 24th. The annual “Club Melmark” Talent Show took place in Melmark’s Multi-Purpose Center and included ballet performances, tap dancing, a live acoustic jam session and many other crowd pleasing acts. Everyone was dancing in the aisles at this fun event.

Radnor High School’s “Club Melmark” recruits students to support their annual talent show and their involvement in Melmark’s Valentine’s Day and St. Patrick’s Day dances. The students also volunteer at other Melmark events throughout the year.

During the winter, extra caution needs to be taken to prevent injuries to individuals and staff. Each of us needs to adapt our behavior to the environment whenever the weather changes. It is important to check the weather regularly to be aware of any impending inclement weather.

Our goal is to keep everyone SAFE! ӹ Use only the walkways and roads that have been cleared of ice or snow. • Refrain from using the stone paths in the walking garden when they are covered with ice and snow.

Avoid these areas even if it means taking a longer, but safer route.

• Always use handrails wherever available.

• Be aware that cleared areas can re-freeze due to melting and take extra caution in shaded areas or areas that tend to be wet.

• Wear flat, sturdy shoes or boots that provide good traction. Elevated heels/soles, clogs, and sandals are not safe footwear.

• Shorten your stride. Walk slowly and carefully. Pay attention to where you are walking!

• Be aware of ice you may not be able to see with the naked eye (“black ice”).

ӹ Use extreme caution in the parking lots when entering and exiting your vehicle. • Look at the ground before you get out of the vehicle.

• Be aware of other drivers as you are walking through the lot.

ӹ Check the walkways before you use them. • Do not send individuals on a walkway unless you are assured that the route they take is safe. Go with them if needed.

ӹ If you or an individual slips or falls, please report it immediately. • Supervisors must take necessary action to correct the situation immediately.

• Any incident must be followed-up with Accident/Injury/Incident report

• Report slippery areas; do not assume that Facilities knows. Please call Kathy Beutler at extension 2992.

ӹ Keep indoor floors dry.• Place safety mats inside entrances to prevent slips.

• When you see water on any floor, clean it up. Do not ignore it.

• Be aware that wheelchairs will track water along the floor. Be sure to clean up.

ӹ Dress appropriately for the weather!• Wear hats, gloves, sturdy footwear, and zipped up jackets, especially for individuals.

• If you’re going to be outside for an extended period of time, wear layers.

ӹ Clean vehicles off completely BEFORE driving.• It is very dangerous and illegal to have any snow or ice left on a vehicle when operating it.

ӹ Do not leave vehicles running and unattended at ANY TIME.• Do not warm up your vehicle if you are not with it. This is a Melmark Policy.

Winter Safety

Upcoming Events

Valentine’s Dinner and Dance for Adult Day and Adult Residential ClientsAn evening of dinner and dancing with one-on-one interaction between volunteer/staff and client. No more than two residents per volunteer/staff.

Tuesday, February 11th5:00 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.Multi-Purpose Center

All attendees (staff, volunteers and clients) must RSVP with Lois Eyler at Main House Reception.

Melmark hosts Sibshops, a lively celebration of the many contributions made by brothers and sisters of kids with special needs.

Wednesday, February 19th6:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.Multi-Purpose Center

For information about joining a Sibshop Group, contact SuzanneMuench@melmark.org .

Expert Speaker Series Melmark hosts speaker, Michelle Ennis Soreth, Ph.D., BCBA-D of Rowan University. Dr. Soreth’s presentation is titled: Translation Research & the Continuing Importance of Experimental Analysis of Behavior for ABA. BACB Type 2 Credits are available.

Thursday, February 20th4:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.Multi-Purpose Center

Register by contacting AmandaFisher@melmark.org .