Sparrow Newsletter His Eye is on the Sparrow — December 2012
In 2010 our board decided to pur-
sue accreditation that would allow
us to expand our services of sup-
ported living to more than five peo-
ple. We contacted and reviewed the
two accreditation agencies that pro-
vide this service to supported-living
providers, COA and CARF. After
deciding to go with CARF Interna-
tional (Commission on Accredita-
tion of Rehabilitation Facilities),
we purchased the CARF manual,
which describes the types of docu-
mentation necessary to pass an au-
dit for accreditation.
In May of 2010 we prepared a
spreadsheet comparing the CARF-
required policies with those we al-
ready had in place. During 2011 we
wrote or revised polices and made
forms to comply with the CARF
requirements. By the end of 2011
we had 70 forms and 127 policies
written in a common format and
approved by the board. We imple-
mented the policies and wrote a
strategic plan for the next three
years.
On 9/17/11 we submitted our intent
to survey. From 2/22 through
2/24/2012 we were surveyed
(surveying is an in-depth, in-house
examination of policies, procedures
and program goals) for compliance
with the CARF requirements. On
3/31/2012, we were pleased to hear
we were accredited for a three-year
period! We have no statistics about
how many agencies get a three-year
accreditation on the first try, but we
were very gratified that we had
done so.
Considering the fact that we are an
all-volunteer board, it was a fine
accomplishment. Thanks to our
wonderful board!
—James Turek
CARF Accreditation Ensures Growth for His Eye is on the Sparrow
An appreciative parent looks back at five years of growth for her daughter, a resident of His Eye is on the Sparrow. Since first opening its doors to residents on a cold January day in 2008, His Eye is on the Sparrow has provided more than a safe and supportive environment for four young adults. HEIOTS staff have also found a way to find
and keep a dedicated group of loving, devoted, compassionate caregivers and volunteers. The sta-bility and depth of knowl-edge that comes with such a group is one of the most important things that make His Eye is on the Sparrow so successful in meeting the needs of their clients, includ-ing our daughter, Chel-sea. My husband, Rich, and I know full well that it is the people who make Sparrow House different
from so many other simi-lar enterprises. We're five years down
the road, and we can re-port that the days when Mom and Dad were
A House Becomes a Home
Continued on page 3
Page 2 Sparrow Newsletter
Reported elsewhere in this
newsletter are some of the
more public achievements
of the past year–getting
accredited at the highest
level by CARF, obtaining
a grant from the Lloyd and
Mabel Johnson Foundation, the continued
success of our golf outing. There are, how-
ever, other achievements to celebrate that
are not as public but just as important. For
example, let me cite the progress being
made by our residents in both medical and
behavioral realms—progress made possi-
ble by the dedicated work of our staff,
Carol Magill as medical monitor, and the
staff of CSTS. As a result of their com-
bined efforts, there have been substantial
improvements in the lives of those we
serve.
And once again we find God’s generos-
ity in giving people to help us. For exam-
ple, even though we experienced a loss
from the resignation of Kathy Zukowski,
who had helped us for a number of years,
we were provided with two other persons
to help out: Pat O’Connell and Annette
Fraser, both of whom have joined our
board and have provided energy and ex-
pertise to our charity. Of course we con-
tinue to benefit from His generosity in
providing us with enough money—we are
fiscally solvent again this year, with a
budget that is not out of balance. With the
human and monetary resources given to
us, we look forward with confidence to
developing and staffing our next house to
serve three or four young men.
Volunteers
His Eye is on the Sparrow is very
blessed to have a group of regular
volunteers who help with projects
around the house, yard work, special
events, music night, trips to the
movies and bowling or whatever
else we can think up. They give of
their time and their talents to enrich
our home members’ lives. We could
not do it without them.
We are also so very blessed to have volunteers who step up to help with our annual
golf fundraiser. To all those who helped in planning, obtaining raffle items, donating
raffle items, and working the actual event…..THANK YOU!
If you or someone you know has a special talent or time to share and would like to vol-
unteer at His Eye is on the Sparrow, please contact us at [email protected].
Whether it is helping in the garden or hanging Christmas lights outside, helping with
outings or playing games on game night, we would love to have you.
2011-2012
His Eye is on the
Sparrow
Board of Directors
President
Bob Magill
Vice President John Rolph
Secretary Carol Magill
Treasurer James Turek
Bill Champion
Sr. Fran Depuydt
Annette Fraser
Judy Greenbaum
Alice Hartman
Patrick O’Connell
Diane Turek
Advisory Board
Jill Barker
Sharon Davis
Fr. Dennis Glasgow
Larry Green
Marilyn Johnston
Joe McKeone
Mike Morrissey
John Rose
Carol Sefton
Sue Stout
Polly Wise
President’s Report by Bob Magill
Mission Statement
Disability is a natural
part of human experi-
ence; we are all created
equal in the sight of God.
Individuals with disabili-
ties deserve to lead lives
of dignity and respect in
an atmosphere that en-
courages self-
determination and per-
sonal growth.
Our homes will provide a
caring family environ-
ment based on Christian
values. Each home will
serve as a base from
which home members will
contribute to and partici-
pate in the larger commu-
nity.
Page 3 Sparrow Newsletter
2012 Special Events 2012 Special Events In June three of our four
home members graduated from
the WISD program. Two home
members gained paid employment
with local businesses, three home
members are working in the com-
munity with the CSTS Pace group,
and one gained a regular volunteer
position for a local business. Con-
gratulations to all!
Our fabulous volunteers
shared their gifts and talents
with us. Whether it be singing
Neil Diamond and the Beatles
every week or planting, sowing
and harvesting our Salsa Garden
or painting a home member’s
bedroom, our volunteers were up
for the challenge. No project
was too big or too small.
needed to read Chelsea's every fa-cial expression and intuit her every need are long gone. She is making her way in the world in large part without us--and that's as it should be. She enjoys a new kind of inde-pendence, finding her way (with the help of HEIOTS staff and her teacher and aides at the WISD young-adult program) to becoming a much-improved self-advocate and a reliable worker-in-training.
The blessings that our daughter, Chelsea, has received from living at Sparrow House are many and var-ied. Chelsea would probably want me to place particular emphasis on our gratitude that the house has supported her interest in sports with weekly bowling trips, continu-ing weekly therapeutic horseback
riding sessions, participation in Special Olym-pics, new twice-weekly fitness classes, even a day enjoying a Toledo Mud Hens minor-league baseball game from a private suite overlooking the field, and then a trip to Co-merica Park for a night with the Tigers. While at their Dexter home, Chelsea and one housemate can often be found cheering for one of Michigan's many pro or col-lege sports teams. Perhaps the highlight of our daughter's year in sports came in November 2012 when, thanks to the thoughtfulness of one of the staff, Chelsea and a housemate got to meet U of M football superstar Denard Robinson. Whatever she may think, we know that social sport-ing opportunities are far from the most important things to come to Chelsea as a result of moving into
Sparrow House. Chelsea has continued to gain mastery of her emotions. With the help of sensitive insights into the causes of Chelsea's outbursts from caring, observant staff, Chelsea's psychologist,
parents and HEIOTS management and staff collaborated to create a truly successful behavioral plan. Now, instead of dissolving into an emotional outburst when she is very sad or upset about things that are out of her control, Chelsea pours her troubles into one of two stuffed animals that serve as sounding boards, tear-wipers and agents of calm.
A House Becomes a Home
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Staff is well-trained in handling the process of calming Chelsea's upset, and in anticipating the kinds of situations that could cause a meltdown. This allows them either to change the environment or to prepare Chelsea for circumstances they can-not change. They have also helped Chelsea learn to use words to express her sorrow and frustra-tion. The world is a hap-pier place! We are so deeply grateful for the compassion, patience and understanding exhibited by the board of directors as we worked through this difficult transitional period. They have defined grace in action. What Chelsea has to say is always enlightening and often entertain-ing. One evening in the middle of a recent va-cation with Rich, I grew desperate to hear her voice. We had to phone the house three times before we reached her at home--yes, she's that busy. When we called the third time we had to settle for hearing her in the back-ground, explaining to the staff exactly why she couldn't take the call: "I'm busy!" What a gift! Chel-
sea was not missing us. Her world was in order--without us--and what she needed most was to stay on track with her chores so she could earn her re-ward for getting to bed on time. The takeaway for us was something we have been feeling for a long time now: Chelsea does not just have a spot in a supported-living enter-prise. She has her "own" home, a loving home, and she is fine without us. Ahhhh. These are things that every parent yearns for, and His Eye is on the Sparrow has made these
dreams a reality, for Chel-sea and for us. Chelsea recently let me know just how happy, content and sure of her place she is at Sparrow House. For three and a
half years, each time Chelsea would come to our home to visit she would say, "This isn't my house. I don't live here. I live in Dex-ter now." Repeatedly. "I'm going back to my house on Friday." She
clearly needed reassur-ance. I believe that she thought there was a chance that someone would take her place at the house when-ever she wasn't there. About a year ago the constant questioning and re-hashing stopped. An-other breakthrough happened just a cou-ple of weeks ago. The Fri-day before Thanksgiving, I found a message from house manager Laura McKenzie, who was call-ing to inform me that Chelsea wanted to know about our plans for the holiday. The surprise: Chelsea had informed Laura that she wanted to come home... a day early! It sounds strange, but Chelsea being happy to leave her house tells me just how much she knows she belongs there. The vision of the board of directors of His Eye is on the Sparrow has been made real. As time goes
on we continue to be amazed at the endless work required to run the entire entity. And so very thankful to those who have taken on this task. The loving care and input of the Sparrow House staff and manage-ment have been critical in fostering Chelsea's contin-ued growth. We are grati-
fied that the new CARF accreditation will allow more Sparrow Houses to be built, more lives to be changed for the better. We also want to thank all those who have sup-ported His Eye is on the Sparrow in the past, be you a volunteer, a board member, a donor, or a staff member, past and present. We encourage you to continue your sup-port. I can attest to the excellence this organiza-tion has achieved. I liter-ally trust them with my child's life. What more proof can a parent offer? —Suzanne Ceppos
A House Becomes a Home
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Sparrow Newsletter Page 4
Thank you to all of you who make His
Eye is on the Sparrow
possible. We could not
do this without your
generous contributions,
which covered twenty-
two percent of our op-
erating expenses in the
last year. If you are able to continue
to support us financially,
please send a check pay-
able to:
His Eye is on the Sparrow
473 Preston Circle
Dexter MI 48130.
This
year our
staff had
some great
training op-
portunities
and bonding
time. We
were
trained in CPI by board member Pat-
rick O'Connell. He did a wonderful
job not only training us in this physi-
cal management piece but also brain-
storming ideas with staff on how to
maintain a calm and peaceful home.
Just recently our managers attended
a Gentleness Training, which focuses
on the four pillars of feeling safe,
loved, loving and engaged in order to
help others be active participants in
community living. It was wonderful
to give a name to the technique our
awesome staff naturally applies to
daily life.
We welcomed a
visitor from Russia this
year as well. Father
Vladimir Klimzo from the
village of Davydo, Russia,
is from one of four par-
ishes in Russia working
with people with disabilities. He was
in Michigan to visit organizations
that serve those with dis-
abilities. He hopes to model
some of what he saw when
he is back in Russia.
On any given day in
Dexter one can find this
energized house on the go
or enjoying our beautiful
yard and home. This is just
a snap-
shot of
all the
good
hap-
pening
at
Spar-
row
House. Many of these opportunities
have been made possible through
grants received, fund-
raisers such as the
golf outing or individ-
ual contributions.
Thank you for helping
make these wonderful
events and memories a
possibility.
2012 Special Events
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Sparrow Newsletter Page 5
Save the Date
3rd Annual Golf Outing
Saturday May 11, 2013
Lake Forest Golf Club
For more information contact
John Rolph [email protected]
or
Laura McKenzie [email protected]
Looking for:
Hole Sponsors
Raffle Donations
Volunteers
Golfers looking to have a great time
www.hiseyeisonthesparrow.org
His Eye is on the Sparrow 6440 Merkel Dexter, MI 48130