Archive | June, 2013

June 20, 2013 Conference Call Notes

Service Coordinator Conference Call
Thursday, June 20, 2013 12:45-1:30

Host: Victoria Haltom, LaBelle Tower Co-op, Highland Park

Minutes

1. Attendees: Adrienne, Alexa, Diane, Harriet, Jackie, Jane, Jim, Judy, Karen, Lindsay, Maryanette, Matt, Renee, Zoe, Crystal, Harold, Trudy, Wylene, Brenda, Rachel

2. CSI Updates (Rachel)
Zoe Chen is the newest Service Coordinator and is part time at the Madison Heights Co-Op.

3. PVM Updates (Brenda)
Candidates for the service coordinator position for Mill Creek are being interviewed.

4. Client Scenarios (Open to the Group)
A live-in son who is also his mother’s caretaker had an argument with his mother and the mother is so distressed that she cannot return to her apartment. The cause or content of the argument is unknown although the police were involved. Mother has been unable to communicate what happened and is not coherent or making sense. Group suggestions included:
A. Get consent to release signed by Mother to talk to son about what happened
B. SC contacts son and asks if he would be willing to take his Mother to the doctor or to emergency based upon SC’s observations of Mother’s state
C. If son refuses to talk to SC and refuses to care for his Mother, SC can call 911 on her behalf.
D. If Mother refuses to go with EMS then SC could consider calling APS on the basis of neglect or possible emotional abuse

5. Announcement and Questions from Jane Grant
Jane invited SCs to be involved in the planning meeting on July 24th at 1:00 pm
to give input on Meyer’s Plaza’s Pamper Me Fair that is planned for August 9th.
Jane hopes that SCs will encourage their members to attend the fair.
Activities planned include: health screenings, mobile dentist for dental overview, massages, manicures, free samples from Whole Foods
Rachel mentioned that proper channels must be gone through to make sure that any resources, activities, or services provided that they do not violate the non-profit policy of CSI and that any issues if for profits are used are resolved with the building’s liaison.
Renee cautioned about doing any activities that require an invasive procedure. Emily Edwards cautioned about the risk involved in massaging diabetics or anyone with circulation issues.
It was recommended that Jane consult with Pat Baldwin who has done Spa Days.
Lyndsay agreed to help Jane with the technological design of the event’s flyer.

How often does SC print off progress notes for the hard files?
1. Prints all progress notes at the beginning of each month for the previous month
2. Prints every time progress note is written
3. Depends on the case. Sometimes progress notes are very involved and need to be printed so the next step of the Initial Plan can be easily executed
4. Before an audit, goes back and reprints single progress notes using the customize option so that more than one progress note gets printed on a page and there is less paper in the member’s folder.
Rachel cautioned that printing out progress notes just before an audit can be very time consuming. Brenda mentioned that printing out a progress note each time one is written can cause SCs to have to create more than one folder for the member and files can become too big.

Are the speakers for the computers on order?
Request for computer speakers needs to be approved by Rachel and then sent to Maxine as part of your supply order. Maxine has ordered speakers for those who have completed this process.

Are SCs using the Co-Ops’ van for off site educational workshops?
Victoria relayed that her Co-op van can be used only for educational purposes but can be requested jointly with the building’s FCRC and Educational Chair person if an educational event is being planned with their help. At the moment, LaBelle does not have a volunteer driver for the van.

6. Mutual of America presentation (Rachel)
The group meeting is for Friday, June 21 from 11:00-12:00 at Hannan. Pizza and salad will be served for lunch. Beginning at 12:00 individuals can meet with the representative to get individual guidance in planning their retirement program. At the end of the conference call, Victoria recorded names and times of individuals who wanted to meet with rep. This list was given to Maxine.

7. New Resources (Open to Group)
Tabled until the next meeting because of time

8. Review of MASC Conference (Rachel)
Tabled until the next meeting because of time

9. Additional Concerns, Questions, Issues? (Open to the Group)
No other issues were raised or addressed

10. Adjournment
Meeting ended at 1:35

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Renee “Scoop” Saunders

2013-06-20_09.18.11Renee was hired in April of 2012 and is positioned at the Flat Rock Towers Co-op, in Flat Rock, MI. Renee received her Bachelor’s in Journalism/Public Relations from Madonna University in 2004. She pressed on at Wayne State earning her MSW in 2011. Some of her special job experiences – Renee worked as a reporter covering city government, schools and crime from 2004-2006 for the Mirror Newspaper. Her work has been published in Crain’s Detroit Business, The News Herald, The Oakland Press, The Northville Record/Novi News, and Metro Parent Magazine. Currently Renee works as a “stringer” for the Associated Press gathering election results from the City of River Rouge on election nights. Renee worked for Kroger for 11 years. She worked as a “service director” essentially performing human resource functions such as hiring, training new hires, and payroll at the Kroger in Taylor for one year.

Renee holds a Limited Licensed Master Social Worker

Renee’s hobbies and interest include: Study of Tarot cards and frequents local Metro Parks.

Renee’s favorite book: Martin Eden is a (1909) novel by American author Jack London. This book is about an illiterate sailor who becomes aware of his social class after falling in love with an aristocrat. After educating himself and becoming a renowned writer, Martin Eden becomes less than dazzled with the love interest that inspired him. This was Renee’s grandfather’s favorite book.

An important factor impacting Renee’s choice in becoming a service coordinator was the Hannan Foundation. This was her first field placement as an MSW student. She learned about the service coordination through this experience. She stayed in touch with her field supervisor, Cheryl Bukoff, and stayed in touch with Hannan staff by creating a (short-lived) e-newsletter.

Written by: Monika George

 

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Witness Project of Detroit

Thanks to Wylene for sharing this resource.  She had them out at Oakman Manor and reports that they were a success.

The WITNESS PROJECT®OF DETROIT   is a faith-based program that supports African American women in Detroit and Wayne County in maintaining breast health.  The Witness Project® of Detroit is a program offered through the Barbara Ann Karmanos Cancer Institute and is funded by Susan G. Komen Detroit Race for the Cure.

Locally and nationally, African American women are more likely to be diagnosed with breast cancer at later stages and more likely to die from breast cancer compared to women from all other racial and ethnic groups.

The Witness Project®  is a health education model used across the nation that was developed to promote the early detection of breast cancer among African American women through screening and cancer risk management.  The Witness Project® relies upon two types of volunteers who educate women in the community:  1) witness role models who arebreast cancer survivors who “witness” and share their personal stories about their triumph over breast cancer, and 2) lay health advisors  who are women who have never been diagnosed but provide important information about the disease and early detection.

The Witness Project® is an evidence-based intervention that is part of the National Cancer Institute’s archive of Research-Tested Intervention Programs (R-TIPS).

To organize The Witness Project to present at our Village or Co-op, please contact:

Lauren M. Ramsey, MPH

Community Health Education/Research Assistant

Population Studies & Disparities

Department of Oncology

Wayne State University, School of Medicine

(313) 576-8032

ramsey@karmonos.org

 

To learn more about The Witness Project, go to the website at:  http://witnessprojectofdetroit.org/

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Affordable Care Act “Marketplace”

This website re: Medicaid is easy to navigate!  It is the Health Insurance Marketplace from the Department of Health and Human Services.

healthcare.gov

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Southgate Meet and Greet

Catrina and Faith packed the house with 53+ members for their long-awaited, post-fire Meet and Greet. It was a great success and testament to their patience and rapport building as Service Coordinators. Naturally, it didn’t hurt to have a big cake!!!! Fully consumed.

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Urge Your Member of Congress Not to Cut Nutrition Assistance

Please take the time to call your member of Congress on June 18!

Funding for supplemental nutrition assistance—a vital support for low-income families and children—is on the chopping block. This week the House of Representatives will debate the Farm Bill, which includes nearly $21 billion in catastrophic cuts to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP (formerly food stamps), causing millions of low-income children and families struggling with hunger to see their food assistance cut, or to lose their benefits entirely—a loss of 8 billion meals.
We must take action. We cannot let this happen.
Here are two ways you can take action:

  1.  June 18 is a National Call-In Day. Call your member of Congress to express your opposition to the Farm Bill and the $20.5 billion in cuts to SNAP. Call the toll-free hotline at 866.527.1087 to be connected to your member of congress.
  2. Send an email to your member of Congress telling them that cuts to SNAP are unacceptable.

The House Farm Bill will:

  • Cause 2 million individuals to lose their SNAP benefits entirely
  • Cause 210,000 children to lose access to free school meals
  • Cause 850,000 households to see their benefits cut by an average of $90 per month
  • Slash nutrition-education funding, which helps low-income families stretch limited resources to maximize nutrition
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AAA1B Network Insider

This issue includes info on:

  • Pet Food for Food Stamp Recipients
  • Monroe County Yellow Dot Program for Senior Citizen Drivers
  • AAA 1-B Aging Network News
  • DSP Vendor Updates: Reporting Missed Visits MDCH Requirement
  • Mind on Art at the Detroit Institute of Arts
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CSI May – December 2013 Calendar

Here’s the May-December 2013 CSI Calendar.  It’s good for double checking when regional meetings are that may take a number of members out of your co-op (regional meetings are in boxes).

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Social Security June Update

If you want to know more about……………

how to conduct Social Security business on the beach
the new policy regarding Social Security printouts
getting the latest Social Security publications
finding answers to the most frequently asked questions
learning the amazing work incentives for those receiving SSDI/SSI
income reporting for Social Security disability benefits

……………. then you will want to open the June issue to find the answers.

Vonda VanTil
Public Affairs Specialist
Social Security
3045 Knapp St NE
Grand Rapids MI 49525
w. 1-877-322-5883 X 18872
c. 616-304-7642
f. 616-363-5827
vonda.vantil@ssa.gov

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No Excuse for Elder Abuse Toolkit

Attached you will find the newly released No Excuse for Elder Abuse Toolkit.  This is a great resource to provide to residents/members, family members, friends, etc. in attempt to reduce elder abuse.

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