Here is the link to the publication of assistance programs for hearing aids:
http://www.betterhearing.org/pdfs/e-Guides/Financial_Assistance_for_Hearing_Aids.pdf
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Have you met Harold Massingille?
Harold Massingille was hired as service coordinator at Village of Brush Park Manor in October 2007. He is a lifelong Detroiter who came from a loving family that imparted strong values like character and devotion to loved ones.
His father, Jessie, worked construction as a young man but was injured and later worked at Eastern Market as a night watchman. He had a tremendous work ethic and made sure his four sons, including Harold, did too. All four boys worked with their father at the Market most nights, washing off the butcher’s counters. It was, as Harold described it, a way to “keep us off the street.” After work, he and his brothers returned home to get ready for the next school day. Harold’s mom, Betsy Ann, took care of her four boys and managed the house.
As a resident of the northwest section of Detroit, Harold attended Central High School. It was there that he met Gwen, whom he dated throughout high school and then married eight years later after having an on again off again courtship.
For 33 years, Harold worked for General Motors (GM). He started out as a clerk and worked his way up to become a reliability engineer, a position he held for his final 15 years working for the company. Over time, GM saw promise in Harold and sent him to the now closed General Motors Institute in Flint, where he received training on reliability analysis and other skills like measuring regressions on GM parts.
The experience of moving up the ranks at GM drove Harold to attend the University of Detroit, graduating in 1977 with a Bachelors of Business Administration (BBA). He loved college, but found socializing difficult, as he continued to work during the day and spend time with his wife Gwen whenever possible. Regardless, he still managed to form a close-knit group of friends that stay in touch to this day, some have moved to other parts of the country, but they still find time to re-connect.
While working at GM provided many great experiences, Harold says that it was not as fun as his work at Brush Park since 2007. As a reliability engineer, he would give his boss and upper management reports and not hear anything else about them afterwards. He rarely saw the outcomes of all the hard work he had put into reports and his analysis. Now, however, when he is able to get someone important services like access to food stamps, he sees the looks of appreciation on resident’s faces and knows he did something meaningful.
When he is not working at Brush Park Manor, Harold enjoys gardening, often with his wife Gwen. She is a retired seamstress who had her own business in Detroit for many years.
While Harold and Gwen did not have children of their own, they have kept a tight knit family and see their four grandnieces and nephews from Harold’s brothers quite often. As Harold puts it, they are always at his house because that’s the way it’s always been. Their parents were there when they were kids too.
Harold would say his favorite book is the Bible, though he has many favorites like books talking about hospice and issues facing aging communities, along with John Grisham novels. One of Harold’s great passions is attending book signings, one time getting a picture with Maya Angelou when she was in town many years ago.
In the near future, Harold is looking forward to a writing class he is helping to start. It is promoting healthy aging, by encouraging residents to tell their stories.
Have You Met Adrienne Smith?
Adrienne is the service coordinator at Dearborn Heights Co-op in Dearborn, Michigan. She has been working at the Co-op since April of 2012, and has loved every moment of it. Adrienne has a Bachelors degree in Health Services Administration from the University of Detroit Mercy. Along with her degree, Adrienne has special training in (MMAP), Medicare/Medicaid Assistance Program she received training from the Detroit Area Agency on Aging 1A. As a MMAP volunteer, it is her job to answer questions related to Medicare, Medicaid and supplemental insurance plans. During her career Adrienne has always worked with the aging population. At the beginning of her career, she worked at Blue Care Network, where she worked with their Blue Choice Program. This program was specific to seniors who needed extra coverage with their Medicare. Then transitioning to a sales and marketing position at Sunrise Assisted Living as Director of Community Relations. Prior to joining Hannan, Adrienne worked for Matrix Human Services.
Adrienne started working with the elderly greatly due to her grandmother living with her when she was six years old. As Adrienne got older she started to help her grandmother. Assisting her grandmother and understanding what it means to age really helped Adrienne see the need to become a senior advocate. Adrienne decided to become a Service Coordinator because she wanted a job were she could use her skills gained working with elders, while advocating for them at the same time. Her past jobs limited her ability to advocate for the aging population and to growing her skill base. When she found Hannan she knew it was the perfect fit for her. She feels she can grow and advocate for the elderly in a greater capacity.
When Adrienne is not working at the Co-op, she enjoys golfing, walking, baking, trying new restaurants, and traveling with family. When baking she loves to try new and creative recipes. Adrienne also has a strong faith, which allows her to work and be the best advocate for her Co-op Members.
Adrienne enjoys working at her Co-op, and would like to see everyone at the co-op get the services or help they need. She also wants all of the members to understand the purpose of a Service Coordinator, so when they do need services or help they know where to receive them. Wit
hin herself, Adrienne aspires to attain a Master’s Degree.
Have you met Catrina Collins- Moye
Catrina is a service coordinator at the Southgate Co-op, located in Southgate Michigan. She has worked as a service coordinator since March 2013. Catri
na obtained an Applied Science degree from Wayne County Community College, after graduating she went to Mary Grove College and received a bachelor’s degree in Social Work. In the near future, Catrina will pursue a Master’s in Social Work at Wayne State University. Catrina has also received a certificate as a certified benefits planner from Cornell University, and a certificate for customized employment from Goodwill Industries.
Before working as a service coordinator, Catrina worked for the United Cerebral Palsy Detroit for 12 years as an Advocate/ Training Coordinator. She started as an Advocate working in crisis intervention, information/ referral, assisted disabled individuals with benefits planning, and understanding their benefits. After working as an advocate, she became a Training Coordinator, in this position she developed training materials and trained parents and professionals. Helping individuals at this job encouraged Catrina to become a social worker. At this job she gained skills in resolving conflict, time/ stress management, communication, and effective advocacy.
In Catrina’s free time, she enjoys dancing, playing board games, listening to jazz, reading, swimming, and traveling to warm weather states. She also enjoys helping the community and advocating for the rights of all people. Catrina has worked in the community as a community representative, advocate, and has set on several committees such as: St. Vincent DePaul, Detroit Parent Network, Wayne Westland Educational Committee and Oakland Interagency Coordinating Council. She is currently working part-time as a home help provider, which she has done for the last 9 years, and she serves as a companion to seniors.
Catrina is a service coordinator because she enjoys working with the aging population, and she was inspired by her past intern supervisors, Cheryl Bukoff and Wylene Jones. These women encouraged and motivated her while she was an intern. They provided her with a number of resources, which have helped her as a service coordinator. These women have impacted her career because they taught her lifelong skills. The specific skills Catrina learned while being their intern: the importance of writing effectively, analytical/ critical thinking, and managing multiple priorities. Catrina appreciates them because even though she is no longer an intern they are only a phone call away.
Catrina enjoys working at the Southgate Co-op, and she has accomplished a lot in her months here. She has assisted members with applying for state benefits, provided case management services, scheduled educational presentations, and monitored/ assessed member’s needs. Catrina enjoy working with the members of Southgate Co-op because they are wise, full of inspiration, humorous, and appreciative.
UofM Free Healthcare Class
UofM is offering a free online course explaining the Affordable Care Act. Here is the link:
Have you met John Chandler?
John Chandler grew up in Flint Michigan, attending high school at Flint Northern and then Mott Community College, where he earned an associates degree in 2009. After graduating, he wanted to work in a mental health field, and did so as a job placement coordinator, helping disabled individuals find employment as well as other adults.
Growing up in Flint was an overall positive experience. John remarked that much of his upbringing was hinged to the city and General Motor’s success, as it fueled the city’s economy and employed his father, also named John, who worked at a factory for over 25 years before retiring. His mom, Macel, worked at Hudsons, what is now known as Macys, and retired as well after 20 years of working there. John is the youngest of 5 children, with three sisters and a brother. He still keeps in contact with them, and enjoyed being the youngest, yet was often called spoiled by his older siblings.
Going forward, John wants to get additional training and wants to specifically pursue a maters degree. He is looking into the school of gerontology at Wayne State right now.
While John still lives in Flint and is happily married to his wife Felicia and has a young daughter, working at the Village of Holly has been a great experience. It has had a big influence on his choice of what to study in the future. He describes Holly as a small town, where the chief of police is on the board of directors for the Village, as well as some on the city council. It’s the kind of place where you see the fire chief in passing and can strike up a conversation with anyone while taking advantage of Holly’s wonderful antiquing or beaches. For John, working in Holly has created hundreds of favorite moments, one of which was a basketball game that raised money in tandem with local police officers.
Becoming a service coordinator came from a desire to make a difference in people’s lives. This position in Holly is the second such service coordinator position, and has given much greater satisfaction than the previous, where John did not feel like he had the same type of impact on the community. John talked about the need to promote empowerment, and not be satisfied with residents being given all their resources, without having to advocate for themselves too.
When he is not at work, John enjoys watching movies like Antowain Fischer, and sports. He is a big Detroit Pistons fan. John has participated in auctions and sells merchandise on Ebay. He often does these things with his wife, Felicia. The best thing about marriage is stability, and the opportunity to work hand in hand. It gives him the platform to do great things with his life. He also spends all the time he can with his daughter. While being a father has made him plan his activities more than when he was single or first married, it has also made him more empowered by being responsible as well.
ITN MetroDetroit
I found out about this transportation service from a co-worker. The customer can pay an annual $50 fee and receive “ride credits”. The transportation is available 24/7. They will also help customers donate cars for tax credit or extra ride credits for those who can no longer drive themselves. Gift certificates can also be purchased by family and friends for more ride credits. I don’t have all the details yet. I’m also not sure what their “range” is. They are located in Southfield. But, here is the link if you want to look into it further:
Have you met Kara Kirk yet?
Kara Kirk is the social worker at The Village of Westland Senior Living facility. She attended Wayne Memorial High School, and was previously a member of the dietary staff at the Village of Westland from then time she was 16 until she went to college. What initially started as an emphasis on child welfare issues turned into re-visiting her time working with aging populations. Kara remembered how great it was working at the Village of Westland 12 years prior to her return, and decided to pursue what is now her current position.
She is graduate of the BSW program at Western Michigan and the MSW program at Wayne State University. Kara recently received her state license, making her an LMSW.
She has been busy at work since first taking on the role in November of last year. Residents come to her in need of assistance, referrals, and paperwork that needs to be completed. They’re needs are daily reminders of the importance of the job, and to continue thinking about innovating service delivery. Kara hopes to start running a support group for caregivers in the near future.
Kara’s discussions with residents keep her going on the job. They have been welcoming, supportive and willing to share their stories. When she is not at work, she is a huge baseball fan, and would spend most of nights watching the Detroit Tigers if they played year round. Her love of the game inspired her to buy a partial season ticket package this year for 15 games.
On her living room wall reads the quote “you can change the world if you care enough.” It is pretty obvious upon talking with Kara that she has lived her life well, staying true to that mantra.
Meet Faith Junor- Hughes
“To thine own self be true, and it must follow as the night day, thou canst not then be false to any man.” This is Faith Junor- Hughes’ favorite quote from the famous play write Hamlet, written by William Shakespeare. Faith understands that you must first be true to yourself before you can be true to anyone else, which is important to understand and know as a social worker. Faith is one of the full time service coordinators at the Southgate Co-Op located in Southgate Michigan. She has been working as a Hannan Service Coordinator since March 2013.
Faith is originally from Jamaica, she migrated to the United States permanently in 1993 because she wanted to give her daughter all the opportunities not afforded in Jamaica. Faith is a single parent and has one daughter. Once her daughter finished high school, Faith decided to further her education. She received her Associates degree in Applied Science at Oakland Community College. After graduation Faith received the Presidential Scholarship and full tuition scholarship to Marygrove College based on her academic performance at Oakland Community College. Faith was lucky enough to accompany her daughter at Marygrove cCollege, while her daughter was attaining her Master’s in Social Justice; Faith was working toward her Bachelors of Arts in Social Work. Faith has finished her BSW, and now attends Wayne State University for a Master’s in Social Work.
Faith is a Limited License Bachelor of Social Worker, and has a certificate in gerontology, Gestalt Therapy, and counseling. She also has counseling experience with domestic violence and anger management. Her main focus is gerontology; she feels it more fulfilling to put a smile on an elder’s face when they were crying once before.
Faith believes you can be age 100 years with a degree or age 100 years without a degree, and she chooses to be age 100 years with a degree. She feels it is never too late to return to school and she always encourages people to go back to school if they are able.
During Faith’s free time she enjoys reading, watching movies, trying new foods from different countries, traveling, and playing games. Her favorite games are scrabble, jeopardy, and dominos. Faith’s favorite book genre is inspirational books, specifically anything written by Iyanla Vanzant. Her favorite movie is Cry Freedom.
Faith has always enjoyed helping people, every since she was a little girl her parents raised her to give back. She has continued this teaching in everything that she does. Faith enjoys her job as a service coordinator because she is able to give back to her residents by linking them with services and helping them maintain their independence as they age. 