Ready for Prom



Spring is finally here, and while everyone is gearing up for the warmer weather, Special Tree clients got to gear up for prom.

Special Tree’s annual Spring Fling Dance for clients and alumni is almost here, and this year’s event has a special theme: prom night. The idea to do a prom for Spring Fling came from a Special Tree client who expressed her goal of attending prom.

“We’re pulling out all the stops to make it a memorable night,” said Special Tree staff Debbie Justice, who has organized Spring Fling since 2000.  To help clients get ready for prom, the Spring Fling Prom Committee held “Diva Day” on April 5th where clients had the chance to pick out dresses, shoes and accessories. Over 40 dresses were gathered for interested clients to pick out, try on and model – an opportunity that put smiles on everyone’s faces.  

 

“I am terribly excited. Everything came out so great and everyone here is so wonderful,” said client Kelly R. “I really appreciate everything.”

 

Most of the dresses were donated thanks to the efforts of the Facebook group “Everything is Free,” a page for donating and receiving items and services.  The page’s creator Brianne Blanks said events like Diva Day is why she originally started the group and that she and her friends were happy to donate articles of clothing.

 

“We were so happy to be able to donate to these women,” said Blanks. “Every girl deserves to have that prom night and we’re so happy we could be a part of this.”

 

The event was a hit. Clients from all over Special Tree gathered to try on dresses and the reactions alone were enough to mark this Diva Day as one that will be remembered.

 

“I thought it went really great,” said Spring Fling Prom Committee member Cathy Wojtas, who helped organize the Diva Day. “The ladies were excited, the staff was excited and everyone seemed to have a great time. I had one client come up to me and start crying when she had her dress and it made me cry too. It’s just so nice that they have a little shopping and princess time.”

 

Industrial Operations Center Celebrates One Year

It’s hard to believe it’s been a year since Special Tree’s Industrial Operations Center (IOC) opened its doors, but on March 27, staff and clients in the Vocational Rehabilitation Program celebrated their first year anniversary.
 

Pizza and drinks filled the tables usually reserved for vocational work projects and smiles were on everyone’s faces. After lunch, client awards were handed out along with t-shirts supporting the IOC. It was clear to see from the awards that the clients who participate at the center truly love their work.
 

“It’s a good environment, you can get a lot of work done and it’s a peaceful place to be,” said client Daniel D. “I’ve worked a lot in the wood shop with sanding and assembly. Today was a total blast.”
 

The 8,000 square foot center in Wayne is more than a change of environment for clients though – it’s a cornerstone of Special Tree’s Vocational Rehabilitation Program.   At the IOC, clients can chose from a variety of supported paid work opportunities depending on their individual needs, goals, strengths, and interests including light industrial assembly projects, antique restoration, and woodworking.  Jobs are broken down into simple steps so every client has the opportunity to work whether it’s one step or an entire job.   On-site job coaches work closely with clients to learn work skills and to increase independence and productivity.

Industrial Operations Coordinator Steven Kozmor oversees most of the IOC’s operations and said he is always impressed with the client’s work ethic and performance.

“I love coming to work, and that is the first time in a long time I can really say that,” he laughed. “Showing the clients new stuff is great. They’re very hard workers and it’s very rewarding.”

Special Tree’s Troy Neuro Skills Center Gets a Caffeine Infusion

"Come on in...we're open!"

A group of about 30 staff and clients gathered on Thursday, February 27, 2014 at the Troy Neuro Skills Center for the Grand Opening of the Special Tree Café. Run entirely by clients in the vocational program, In Pro, the Café sells coffee, baked treats, and healthy snacks to staff and visitors. Team Members Sara Lundsten, Troy Vocational Coordinator, and Rene Dell, Associate Director of Vocational Services, played key roles to support clients in getting the Café up and running. 

Clients Dusanka E., Judie B., and others were full of excitement as everyone put the finishing touches on the Café  Finally the time had come to officially "open the doors." Dusanka and Judie along with Marchie, Sara and Joe from the Voc team lined up for the official ribbon cutting ceremony. 

Staff then used the opportunity to award Dusanka with an InPro Employee of the Month award – an honor that she has won three previous times. Unable to contain her smile, Dusanka cut the ribbon as everyone poured into the space to get their first taste of InPro's latest offering. Guests enjoyed coffee, fruit, cupcakes and assorted baked goods both regular and sugar free. 

The Cafe is located just off the lobby of the Troy Neuro Skills Center, in a cozy alcove to the left of the door. The center houses a full service outpatient clinic, day treatment services, children's services, and a vocational program to serve Special Tree clients in the Oakland/Macomb area.

The Special Tree Café is located at 600 Stephenson Highway in Troy and is open from 9:30 a.m. to 12 p.m. on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday and from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. on Thursdays. More shifts may be added depending volume of customers.

You can see more highlights from the event in this fun video. 

Drink up!

Celebrating Black History Month

Many thanks to Special Tree's Community Residential Nurse Chevon S. for shining a light on James Derham, an unsung hero in black history believed to be the first African-American to practice medicine in the United States.  


Although he never received a medical degree, James Derham  (1767-unknown) is believed to be the first African-American to practice medicine in the United States. Born a slave in Pennsylvania, Derham was able to learn to read and was purchased by a number of medical physicians throughout his lifetime. Eventually, he was purchased by a prominent surgeon in New Orleans and, due to his brilliance and aptitude, was encouraged to study medicine. After some time, Derham obtained freedom and began practicing medicine among the local African-American community. In addition to his aptitude for medicine, Derham was quite astute with languages as well, fluently speaking French and Spanish in addition to English. Derham’s reputation as a physician became so renowned that, a prominent physician and signer of the Declaration of Independence, Dr. Benjamin Rush, inquired to meet Mr. Derham during a visit to New Orleans. Dr. Rush said of Derham, “I conversed with him on medicine and surgery and found him learned. I thought I could give him information concerning the treatment of disease, but I learned more from him than he could expect from me.”

By 1789, a widespread outbreak of yellow fever plagued the New Orleans population. Mr. Derham emerged as the prominent physician in the region in treating and resolving yellow fever; a feat which nationally certified his reputation as one of the nation’s prominent physicians. Unfortunately, Mr. Derham disappeared in 1802. The details of his death and disappearance, to this day, remain a mystery.

For more information on James Derham

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/kate-kelly/james-derham-black-history_b_1260503.html

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.