February is Recreational Therapy Month

Let's hear it for Special Tree's Recreational Therapists!  Through leisure activities, our TR's help clients to improve skills and emotional well being.

The Recreational Threapy team had a blast celebrating Rec Therapy Month with clients and staff. The TR's at Troy Neuro Skills Center planned a week of Valentine/Rec. therapy-themed activities. On Monday, staff and clients decorated cookies and made Valentine's cards that were hand-delivered to Fort Sill, Oklahoma army hospital by Speciail Tree TR Amanda Hendley, who was visiting family. Tuesday, staff participated in getting to know Troy’s Recreational Therapy staff by attempting to complete a “Who’s Who in TR?” questionnaire. On Wednesday, Rec. therapy challenged staff to complete a Scavenger hunt. On Thursday, the recreational therapists passed out various word puzzles such as crossword puzzles, word search and scramble. To conclude the TR Month festivities, the recreational therapists provided a hot cocoa bar with a prize drawing.

 

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Honoring the Legacy of MLK Jr.

by Chevon Saftern, Special Tree Oakland/Macomb Residential Community Nurse

Of all the holidays of the year, the one which I look forward to with child-like zeal and excitement is Martin Luther King Jr. (MLK Jr.) Day. Each year, I chose to celebrate this day in a way that I feel best continues the legacy and work which Dr. King began; by participating in community service to others.


I was inspired to begin this tradition nearly twelve years ago when speaking with my grandmother, who was has lived all of her life in a, still very segregated, rural Georgia town. As my grandmother and I spoke of how quickly times and opportunities for my generation have changed, her eyes welled with tears. “You are the first generation in our family who has never known what it is like to be a second class citizen,” she said. Her words leveled me to tears. I began to reflect upon my grandmother’s stories of how dangerous and terrifying it was to live through the Civil Rights Era. How, while marching the streets for equality, one was forced to take assessment of the risks involved. She experienced the local mailman, the local grocer, and even her former employer standing among the crowd, hurling death threats and bricks at her. Many people lost their jobs, had their homes terrorized, and were even killed for involvement in, what was viewed as: “a threat to the order of society." My grandmother and my father were raised in this environment and knew it very well. There are many martyrs of the movement whose names and faces will forever remain anonymous to collective consciousness of America.  I want to make sure that their legacy, my grandmother’s legacy, and the legacy of Dr. King live on.

Dr. King’s true legacy consists of far more than tidy, sanitized sound bites about “having a dream” or “going to the mountaintop.”He was an advocate for equality for all American citizens, a pacifist who stood in opposition to the Vietnam War, an advocate for fair employment practices, and a champion for issues concerning the poor. At the time of his death, he was actively organizing a rally in Washington D.C. to highlight the issues facing the impoverished of all races (the rally was carried out shortly after his murder). MLK Jr. understood the value of every human life and was a staunch advocate of being of service to others. Whether feeding the less fortunate, holding a clothing drive for the homeless, or just visiting a person who is sick or shut-in; I believe that, in being of service to others on MLK Jr. Day, I am TRULY honoring the legacy of Martin Luther King Jr Ph.D.

Talking With Kate McClain, Special Tree's Director of Workforce Engagement

 HR is more than just policies and procedures, it's also at the core of developing a successful organization because a company develops through its people.  That's why I like to call HR the "People Department."

I like that staff members are on a first-name basis with the CEO.  The family-nature of Special Tree makes it feel personable and warm and that’s the kind of company where I want to practice HR.

For HR month, our goal is to help staff members get better acquainted with our department.  We hope staff will come to our open houses in January to have some light refreshments and to meet the team face-to-face.  We’re also producing an HR directory so staff members can quickly find the right HR person for help.

Invite, invest, and inspire.  That’s our team’s philosophy to developing a great workplace.  It’s a system that continually refuels itself.  When you recruit the best people and make them feel welcomed; provide opportunities for their ongoing training and job development; and inspire them to be the best they can be, the reinvestment continues. 

We’re enhancing our online screening process with new assessment technology that helps place people in the right jobs.

Being a Detroit Free Press Top Workplace is part of our inspiration to attract and keep the best staff.  Top talent is what makes Special Tree a Top Workplace.

I have a very good team and we’re all in the process of adjusting to new roles and responsibilities.  Mary Jo Hall is now leading Learning Systems.  Lisa Bray is handling all of HR’s day-to-day operations, and Lashawn Slay is championing our recruitment efforts.

Staff is going to see a more fluid HR that’s more visible at all of our facilities.

Our team views staff members, management, and applicants as valued customers.  We want to the HR process to be as easy as possible and provide the right support and resources to meet their HR needs.

As Special Tree continues to grow, the HR team is being more proactive in anticipating future workforce needs.  In order to have enough staff who are ready, willing, and able to do all the jobs needed, we have to invite the right number of people to join our company, make sure they are well-trained and well-prepared, and give them the right tools and resources to do their job.

Healthy Holiday Cooking Tips

By Brahmlin Sethi, RD, Special Tree Residential Dietitian

Eating healthy over the holiday is easier than you think.  Incorporate some of these simple-cooking tips in traditional holiday recipes to make them healthier. 

 

• Gravy — Refrigerate the gravy to harden fat. Skim the fat off. This will save a whopping 56 grams of fat per cup.

• For dips, sauces and pie toppings use fat-free yogurt, sour cream and whipped topping.

• Dressing — Use a little less bread and add more onions, garlic, celery, and vegetables.  Add fruits such as cranberries or apples. Moisten or flavor with low fat, low sodium chicken or vegetable broth and applesauce.

• Choose reduced-fat or low-fat cheeses for salads and casseroles.

• Green Bean Casserole — Cook fresh green beans with chucks of potatoes instead of cream soup. Top with almonds instead of fried onion rings.

• Mashed Potato — Use skim milk, chicken broth, garlic or garlic powder, and Parmesan cheese instead of whole milk and butter.

• Quick Holiday Nog — Four bananas, 1-1/2 cups skim milk or soymilk, 1-1/2 cups plain nonfat yogurt, 1/4 teaspoon rum extract, and ground nutmeg. Blend all ingredients except nutmeg. Puree until smooth. Top with nutmeg.

• Desserts — Make crust-less pumpkin pie. Substitute two egg whites for each whole egg in baked recipes. Replace heavy cream with evaporated skim milk in cheesecakes and cream pies. Top cakes with fresh fruit, fruit sauce, or a sprinkle of powdered sugar instead of fattening frosting.

• More than just sweet. When making desserts or eggnog, reduce the amount of sugar by half and enhance "sweetness" by adding a bit of citrus, more vanilla, nutmeg or cinnamon. Try turbinado sugar, honey or molasses instead of sugar— their flavor means you can use less. If recipes call for sugary toppings like frosting, jams and syrup, use fresh or unsweetened frozen fruit instead.

• Shake the salt out. You can reduce salt by half in most recipes too. Also go easy on salty condiments, such as pickles, catsup, mustard and soy sauce. Or try low-sodium versions if available. Try a new homemade dip, such as hummus and salsa. In soup and entree recipes, substitute fresh herbs and flavored vinegars for salt.

• Trim the fat. In baked goods you can cut the fat by about half and replace it with unsweetened applesauce, prune puree or mashed banana. Instead of full-fat condensed milk, use condensed skim in drinks, desserts and, yes, even in fudge. For gravy, heat fat-free, low-sodium broth (or drippings with the fat removed); mix flour into cold skim milk and pour slowly into broth, stir until thickened and season to your liking.

• Substitute applesauce for oil, margarine or butter in muffins and quick breads like banana bread. Try substituting a small amount at first, as the more you substitute the more the texture of the finished product changes.

"I Love Turkey Day"

Clients in Special Tree's Day Treatment Services program at the Troy Neuro Skills Center decided to express their excitment for Thanksgiving by making up a song in their weekly music session.  Outpatient client Stephen M. who leads the group, played his guitar while the clients sang...


"I Love Turkey Day"

Chorus:  I Love Turkey Day - sung 3x

V1: 
We have appetizers, deviled eggs, ham roll-ups, and shrimp
Along with fancy crackers and spinach dip

X Chorus

V2:
Thanks to the Native Americans and Pilgrims for inventing this day,
Thanksgiving is here, time to eat away!

X Chorus

V3:
Turkey with stuffing, mashed potatoes, and gravy
Mac and cheese, casserole with green beans if you please

X Chorus

V4
Sweet potatoes and pumpkin pie,
Lots of redi-whip, oh me, oh my!
Like to thank God for this beautiful day,
Enjoyed friends and family, time to hit the hay!

 

 

 

 

Talking With: Linda Davis, Special Tree Greenhouse Coordinator

The greenhouse has so many different uses. Clients can come here for therapy,  vocational work, or just to relax and/or visit with family.

I only use organic sprays in the greenhouse and natural pest control.  We just held a “Lady Bug Release Party” to help with pests that are common greenhouses.

DTS clients work in the greenhouse and are growing over a dozen different herbs that they’ll dry and package to sell in a few months. 

For now, we’re only growing seasonal plants.  We’ve got some cold weather crops going including kohlrabi, beets, and turnips.

Working with plants helps clients feel a sense of accomplishment. It also can have many physical, social, and psychological benefits.

I really enjoy working with the clients.  They all bring something to the greenhouse and can participate in many different ways.

The greenhouse is a great setting for therapy. I did a training with the NCC OTs and PTs about activities for clients including starting seeds, watering, and repotting plantings.   

The NCC kitchen made a beautiful salad for the salad bar using lettuce and radishes from the greenhouse,

I’m currently looking into different grow lights to grow out-of-season crops like strawberries and cucumbers.

I want a wide variety of plants for clients to work on and I enjoy looking out for things that are different.  Come spring the greenhouse is going to explode!

I have a 500 ft. square vegetable garden in my backyard because they’re my favorite plants to grow.

I encourage staff and clients to come in for a visit.   Being in the greenhouse is so relaxing.  It’s warm, colorful, and smells wonderful.

Detroit Free Press Names Special Tree a Top Workplace for Fourth Consecutive Year

Special Tree has again been named one of the best places to work in Michigan by the Detroit Free Press on their annual Top Workplaces list.  

The Top Workplaces list was published Sunday, November 17, 2013 in the Detroit Free Press.  The list recognizes the top 100 Michigan companies and is based entirely on how employees feel about their workplace.  

To make the list, employees take an independent survey conducted by the Detroit Free Press and their survey partner Workplace Dynamics to rate their company’s performance on Direction, Execution, Career, Conditions, Managers and Pay & Benefits.  Special Tree’s high survey score and collection of positive written comments helped it to earn a fourth Top Workplace recognition.  Employees’ survey comments praised Special Tree’s leadership, caring work environment, staff training program, and strong teamwork.

“I’d like to give my special thanks to our employees, not only for all of their hard work and dedication, but also for sharing their positive workplace experiences,” said CEO Joe Richert.   “Equally important is our employees’ understanding and strong commitment to our mission to help our clients achieve the most independent and meaningful life possible.”