Team Voc Expands its Reach

Special Tree’s Vocational Rehabilitation Program recently became an Approved Vocational Rehabilitation Facility through the State of Michigan’s Worker’s Compensation Agency. This is great news to the growing program that employs 50 workers and serves over 90 clients in three locations.

The certification means that our team will be able to serve more individuals looking to return to work post injury. The State of Michigan Certification allows injured workers injured with Workers Compensation Insurance to receive vocational rehabilitation at any of Special Tree's three locations in Troy, Romulus and Midland.  Our program received the accreditation by meeting the quality standards and requirements outlined by the State of Michigan.

"This certification increases our ability to help individuals through their path to rehabilitation and helps our program continue to expand and improve- And we’re really excited about that,” said Joe J. Richert, Director of Community Rehabilitation Services.

As the program continues to grow it will provide a wide variety of supported work settings, community enclaves, as well as formal vocational assessments and community placement services.

Special Tree Rehabilitation Services’ Vocational Rehabilitation Program is a CARF accredited program.

NCC North's Spooktacular Halloween

By Jessica Bahny
Activities Coordinator

Another scary Halloween has come and gone at NCC North.  Staff, clients and guests celebrated the holiday in our typical style- fun, costumes, food and music!  Clients rocked out to Halloween “scaryoke” and Motown karaoke, and snacked on Halloween party mix and cupcakes.  There were also “monster fingers” to make and eat.  (No, they weren’t real fingers!  They were string cheese with a green pepper “fingernail”!)  Clients played “toss the eyeball”, tossing bouncy eyeballs into a cauldron.  Kudos to George G. who got all but 2 in on the first try!  The costume contest was great as usual, with a number of staff and clients turning out in their spookiest or most creative attire.  Congratulations to the winners!  For staff, Joan C. and Frances L. won, and for clients, Kieth C.  and Harley W. were the big winners!  Winners took home a Halloween DVD and a ribbon.  Some of our friends from NCC south came to celebrate with us, and judging by the smiles on everyone’s faces, a good time was had by all.  Halloween is always fun here at NCC, and this year was no exception.  Thanks to Amy Blevins and the activities staff for putting on the party, and thanks to everyone who dressed up and came down to party with us!

Respiratory Thearpy Week

At Special Tree, our respiratory team truly exhibits the Science of Caring. Not only do they treat the clinical needs of clients, but they participate in their overall rehabilitation goals, too, helping them participate in individual and group community outings. Respiratory Therapists have accompanied clients swimming, to sporting events, movies, fireworks, local cultural attractions, the annual Spring Fling dance, and more. Whether it is getting outside to enjoy the warm summer sunshine, heading downtown to a Tigers game, or just going out to dinner, Special Tree clients are often able to participate in important family and community events.

In managing the respiratory component of a client’s care, a Respiratory Therapist may perform tasks such as operating and maintaining equipment to administer oxygen or assist with breathing (often through a "vent" or "ventilator"), managing therapy that will help a client recover lung function, administering medications to help alleviate breathing problems and prevent respiratory infections, monitoring a client’s levels of oxygen, carbon dioxide, and other gases, or maintaining a client’s artificial airway, commonly called a “trach” or “tracheotomy.”

With the opening of Special Tree's new NeuroCare Center in the fall of 2011, our Respiratory Therapists talents soared to new heights as they embraced advanced equipment and technology.  In honor of Respiratory Therapy week we proudly recognize our fantastic team of respiratory therapists and all of the good work that they do. 
 

NCC client, Jasper enjoys the beautiful weather outside thanks to the work of our great Respiratory Therapy team.

 

Our Native American Outing

by Kari Webster, NCC Activity Aide

For our community outing, myself and a client ventured out to Nankin Mills Park in Westland to enjoy the 9th Annual Native American Heritage Day Fest brought to the community by The North American Indian Association of Detroit. This event brought much of the surrounding communities together for a day of fun, which included performances of many dances, such as, The Grass Dance, The Round Dance, The Blanket Dance and also the Butterfly Dance, which happened to be my favorite; a social dance meant to mimic the crow as he bounces around the field. One legend states that the crow brought the fire to our land to keep our ancestors alive through the cold winter. Dancers imitate bird-like movements, hopping side to side, first on one foot and then on the other, also known as the crow hop. The dancers wore their beautiful and brilliant colors of traditional regalia and ceremonial attire of the Oneida and Ojibwa people.

I would have to say the client especially seemed to enjoy the steady, calming and inviting beat of the drum which is one of the main foundations of Native American music. The drums act as the base of the beat to maintain the pace or speed of their performance, they bring to life a positive energy to any area, there is almost something magical as you sit and listen to the steady rhythmic sound.

If you would like to learn more about the Native American Dance, follow this website:  http://www/ani-kutani.com/NativeAmericanFacts

Olympic Fever

The spirit of the Olympics brought together clients and staff from Special Tree's Day Treatment Services, Residential, and NeuroCare Center for an afternoon of games and fun at Special Tree’s Olympic Carnival on August 10^th.    The NCC South parking lot was a swirl of colorful flags and creative team uniforms as clients competed for medals and prizes for their country’s team.  Congratulations to Moravian West, a.k.a. Team Canada, who brought home the Gold;  Tyler’s 1 & 2 won the Silver for Team China; and the Bronze went to Trevino who represented France.  Many thanks to Angie Folkwein, Residential Best Practices Coordinator, and Neal Dregansky, DTS Manager, for organizing the event. 



A shot of the coveted Special Tree Olympic Medals

Hearts of Compassion

Submitted by Choyia Jackson, Special Tree Residential Services Technician
 

I wrote this poem as an appreciation for all staff, clients, and family members. Often times we go through our days in auto-pilot. Sometimes a pleasant “Thank You” reminds us that our daily duty to help one other regardless to color, disability, race, or ethnicity doesn’t go un-recognized. I hope this poem acknowledges and shows appreciation to those individuals that give so willingly of themselves everyday. I hope this will serve as a good gesture to keep things in balance.

 

“Hearts of Compassion”
 
To care is to believe that your heart can stretch miles to reach anyone, anywhere
No matter the time or the place
Regardless if you can recognize the persons face
As humans we need nurturing emotions to thrive and live
It’s no different than the generous forms of empathy that we give
Day in and day out to have the belief in our spirit to carry the strength for a person in need
We often follow each others examples of integrity and take the lead
To be able to assist them even if the time has past for us to leave
To have the finesse and caress of a gentle hand
Especially when we all have those days when life has us feeling like we are sinking in quicksand
The “Science of Caring” reminds us that we have so much to give.
It should make us realize that we all need this to live.
We can often take for granted the life that we lead
Unfortunately it can put us in the mindset of disbelief
Seeking refuge from reality and feeling desensitized by everyday events
If you are looking for a safe haven;
Seek and you shall find
You will find in all of us the heart and soul that compassion calls home
A home that is never vacant;
This beautiful place is completely welcoming to anyone who may feel alone.
Whether rehabilitation be your goal or if this is just the place that’s your therapy stepping stone.
Owning the knowledge to be diverse in the caring for others is an amazing task
Allowing you to be exposed and vulnerable, wearing no mask.
Whether it be one day or an extended lifetime of happiness
There is no reason for anyone to ever feel empty or an ounce of hopelessness.

Surprise!

The highlight of Discover Summer is always a big road trip to Mackinaw Island that Children’s Services Managers Derica Scribner and Christine Morabito plan for clients.  This summer, they decided to surprise the kids with a trip to Niagara Falls, but kept the trip destination a big secret until it was time to hit the road.  Looks like this was one surprise worth the wait.  As one client put it, “This has been the best trip EVER!”  The Discover Summer program wrapped up Friday, August 17^th

A view of the falls taken by our Discover! Summer Team