Neither Rain, Nor Hail, Nor 19.3 inches of Snow ….
Gerry Beagles • February 10, 2015
A week ago at this time we were still digging out from the blizzard the blew through Chicago land. This time the weather forecasters weren’t out to just scare us, as they were fairly accurate about the amount of the white stuff that we were going to be dealing with. I think the gods mistook the happy dance I was doing for having a decent January as a snow dance and therefore blessed us with an abundance of it. But the purpose for this week’s blog isn’t to complain about Chicago weather, it is to tell the story of all the staff that struggled to make it to work and that put in very long hours, and to share my gratitude for their courage & commitment.
When an agency provides residential services in addition to day programing, it means a commitment to providing care and support 24/7, 365 days a year. It is a huge undertaking, and can only be accomplished through a collaborative effort on the part of dedicated management and direct care staff. In a situation where inclement weather conditions makes travel difficult, we so appreciate those staff that find some way to make it to their designated work site. We also had a number of situations at the houses where the staff that were already on duty agreed to work another shift which meant their relief staff did not have to risk the dodgy travel conditions.
When the weather is so severe that we responsibly close the day programs, we still ask those day program staff that are able to report for work. We then have these day program staff cover the homes in these situations so that the residential staff are not overwhelmed. All of this can be a huge strategic challenge and I am truly amazed at how our staff are able to pull together and get it done! The day in, day out services and support offered by our staff are incredible, but I wanted you all to be aware how often they respond above and beyond the call of duty.
Thank you, thank you, thank you, to all the awesome staff for your incredible commitment to the individuals we support.
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In a couple of weeks, service providers like ours will be celebrating Direct Support Professional Recognition Week (September 7th – 13th), during which we put extraordinary time and effort toward recognizing Direct Support Professionals (DSP) for the incredible work they perform. I am so uplifted by the respect and compassion I observe every day as the staff work with the individuals we serve. I think the fact that many of us in leadership positions at Garden Center started out as DSPs provides us with the insight into how strenuous their jobs can be at times. DSP Recognition Week is a great opportunity to focus on the incredibly committed, attentive direct support workforce that is the heart and backbone of services for the individuals with disabilities that Garden Center cares for. The majority of the agency’s employees are DSPs, and many of them have been with us 5, 10, 15 years, or longer! Though this week is established nationally to recognize DSPs, we try to express throughout the year how vital and valued our employees are. We are asking for your help to make this the best Direct Support Professional week ever, and invite you, the parents/guardians/families/& friends to join us in the effort to really show our gratitude and respect to these individuals. Inside the Leaflet you’ll find an article sharing ideas on how you can help. We’re also looking for any gift cards that you would like to donate which will help with the many raffle drawings that we hold during the week. Taking care of our staff so they can care for the people that attend our programs is weighing on me heavier than ever. As I shared with you in my last articles, changes that are being made in Washington is making it more difficult and riskier to commit ongoing funding to certain positions/programs at the agency. As we prepare to deal with the impact of projected cuts to our budget I am focusing intensely on targeting and amassing additional discretionary resources to sustain our quality programs. This is where YOU come in. I greatly enjoy speaking passionately about Garden Center Services and the awesome individuals we support, but I need new people to tell our story to. I will deeply appreciate any contacts that you would share with me to help this effort. Contact me directly at 708-560-4400, or at gbeagles@gardencenterservices.org. Thank you so much. Gerry
Dear Garden Center Services Family & Friends, I want to start off by wishing each of you a happy and safe summer! Even though we’ve had times where the temperature has been a little toasty, I so appreciate the sun-drenched days with all the opportunities for fun and frolic. It does my heart good to view the posted pictures of the individuals we support enjoying all kinds of activities and experiences out and about in the community. I want to give a big shoutout to the staff at our homes and day services that use a lot of energy and creativity to make these outings possible! I must admit that the recognition and celebration of Independence Day last week had lost some of its childlike excitement and meaning for me due to the passage of the Big ##### Bill in Washington. Though the supporters of this bill claim that it only focuses on “waste, fraud, and abuse,” the projected cuts that it contains could devastate millions of people with disabilities who receive life sustaining and enhancing services through Medicaid and other safety net programs like the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program. For some time one of my favorite quotes has been from former Vice President Hubert Humphrey. When dedicating a building in D.C. on Nov. 1, 1977, he spoke to the treatment of the weakest members of society as a reflection of a government: “The moral test of government is how that government treats those who are in the dawn of life, the children; those who are in the twilight of life, the elderly; those who are in the shadows of life, the sick, the needy, and the disabled.” I was personally drawn towards working in this field in the mid-1970s because I could sense that there was a sincere and genuine movement underway that would alter the approach to serving people with developmental disabilities. The 1980’s was a time when many states started to close their large institutions and through Medicaid Home and Community-Based Services allow individuals with disabilities to receive services and supports in their family homes, in their own homes, acknowledging and honoring the contributions they make as members of our neighborhoods and communities. To toil and struggle and rejoice in the accomplishments this movement has made in the last 5 decades has been incredible, and to see the changes we’ve made at Garden Center during the last 22 years as my time as the Executive Director, fills me with gratitude. And, we’ve still have a lot more that we’re planning on accomplishing on behalf of the awesome individuals that we’re honored to spend time with! So, what is our response going to be to the recently passed Reconciliation bill? We’re going to keep holding our heads high as we fight the good fight at the state level and keep focused on the multiple essential projects that are underway. What I am keenly aware of is my need to bring more discretionary, non-State funds, into our agency. Most of you reading this newsletter are already generous supporters of our agency, and so I’m not necessarily asking you to open your pocketbook. What I am asking, is that you would please share any contact information with me of people, or businesses, that you think might be interested in supporting a worthy cause like Garden Center Services! I just want the opportunity to share our story, the stories of the brave people we support, with a larger audience. Don’t hesitate to reach out to me by email, or you can call me at 708-560-4400. Thank you for everything! Peace, Gerry
Little did I know, on May 2nd, 2003, that I would be undertaking the role as Director of Garden Center Services that I am blessed enough to still be fulfilling today! Some of you probably remember that at the time I came on board, the name of our agency was Garden Center for the Handicapped. Changing the wording was easy; changing the approach to how the individuals we support are emboldened to make their own choices and create their own lives has been exhilarating and extremely hard work. There are many reasons that my passion for this work hasn’t waned but let me just share a few with you. First and foremost, it is the people we serve. I have spoken frequently, especially when spending time with new employees, about the tangible benefit that comes with working in this field; interacting with caring, curious, resilient adults with intellectual and/or developmental disabilities, who are the most unpretentious people you could ever spend time with. Next, if you are lucky, you end up working side-by-side with so many compassionate, committed employees that are like-minded and spirited in their desire to raise up the individuals we support and help them to have the lives they deserve. At Garden Center Services I have often felt the line between fellow staff members and chosen family gets quite blurry. Lastly, it is an incredible opportunity to be working in the disability services area during a time of change, when individuals are being empowered to learn and use their own voices, to advocate for themselves, and to make choices such as where do they want to live, who do they want to live with, how do they want to spend their days, …etc. I want to express a deep appreciation for the families, parents & guardians, friends, and the local business community that have been exceptionally supportive of the direction that we have taken the agency. Change can be difficult, and that’s why I am so thankful for the open-mindedness, trust, and respect that I have experienced as the Executive Director. We have a very committed, involved group of individuals that serve on the agency’s Board of Directors. They give up their time, energy, and often their resources to ensure that Garden Center is following through on our commitment to the people we serve. I want to express my gratitude to three members of the board that stepped down after serving 2 three-year terms. Ms. Donna Blair, Mr. Tony DiMiele, and Ms. Ava Rhodes-Smith. Their guidance has been invaluable over the last six years! Let me also introduce the four new people that have just joined the board. Ms. Kate Akin, Mr. John Considine, Ms. Kari Riordan, and Ms. Jenny Wojcik. You will learn more about them in the coming newsletters. A Happy Spring to All, Gerry