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Woods Celebrates Pair of Harcum Graduates

Erica Obeng and Sylvia Vankpana are quite a dynamic duo. Erica, an instructor at Woods’ Holland Enrichment Center, and Sylvia, a housekeeper at Woods’ Redwood residence, made history on May 11th as the first Woods employees to graduate from the Harcum program with associate’s degrees. For Erica, the opportunity to go back to school through Woods’ partnership with Harcum helped her to fulfill a lifelong dream.

 

“I started college before when I lived in Virginia and then I went back once through the University of Phoenix in 2009, but it was just too much at the time,” she said. “When I heard about the Harcum program I thought ‘this is my opportunity to take the bull by the horns’.”

 

And that she did. With the help of Valerie Durden, Enhanced Benefits Specialist at Woods, Erica and several others (26 to be exact) completed the necessary paperwork and embarked on a new journey together. One of the many benefits of the Harcum partnership is that all of the classes take place at Woods and flexibility is offered around work shifts.

 

“It worked out well for because I worked at Holland (Enrichment Center) from 9 am-4 pm and then I had a short break before I had classes (at Woods) from 5:30 to 9:30 on Monday and Wednesday evenings,” said Erica. “I’m a workaholic and I just knew that I would be able to handle working and going to school at the same time. I also got my whole family involved. My husband, Samuel, who also works at Woods, and my 16-year-old daughter helped me improve my typing.”

 

Aside from convenience, the Harcum program and Woods’ additional partnerships with Capella University (offering bachelor’s degrees) and Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine (offering master’s degrees) offer a tuition discount, tuition assistance benefit, and guidance with paperwork and requirements.

 

“Woods is committed to supporting their employees’ professional development and encouraging higher education, and Erica and Sylvia are a testament to that!” said Valerie. “This achievement has also given Erica and Sylvia the confidence and ability to go even further in their education. We will continue to offer our support as these ladies embark on the next steps towards earning their bachelor’s degree. Erica and Sylvia are winning with the support of Woods, and when our employees win, we win as an organization.”

 

For Erica, the sky is the limit as she continues her education in pursuit of a bachelor’s degree and beyond!

 

“This was a very personal thing for me. I knew I could make it work and accomplish this and now I am moving on to work towards my bachelor’s degree and am hoping it will help me move up at Woods,” said Erica. “I also dream of one day getting a master’s degree and doctorate degree in Abnormal Psychology.”

 

 

World Autism Awareness Day

Today, at Woods and throughout the world, we recognize and celebrate the joy and enrichment those living with autism bring to our lives.  We honor all those who work with and live with people with autism and those who bring light and hope into their lives.

 

We are honored at Woods to have some amazing staff and families who are dedicated to supporting our clients to help them realize their dreams.  Tomorrow, our Head of Psychiatry, Dr. AFM Haque, MD, MPH, will speak in front of the United Nations as the U.N. recognizes “Autism: Nurturing Care Framework and Family Centered Care.”

 

Please join us in creating awareness around the barriers faced by individuals with autism and how we are all part of the solution. Woods is doing its part by educating our legislators and others around the need for lifelong support for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.  For people to live successful and fulfilling lives in the community, they need to be provided with the same levels of supports throughout their entire lifespans.  You will be hearing much more from us in the coming months about our advocacy around this critical issue.

 

Approximately 1 in 59 children is diagnosed with an autism spectrum disorder.  Let’s make sure each receives the early intervention support and continued services throughout their lives.

 

Luis’ story: “With persistence, anything is possible”

Woods resident Luis Perez and staff member Musa Kamara have spent five days a week together for the last 10 years. During that time, the pair has weathered many storms and celebrated numerous successes. But the road to the increased independence and expanded opportunities that Luis now enjoys was not always an easy one. He came to Woods more than a decade ago with limited communication and inadequate coping skills and has made extraordinary strides since his arrival.

 

“Since I met him 9 year ago, Luis has made consistent and significant progress in regulating his emotions which allows him to cope with a wider variety of situations,” said Woods’ Residential Program Care Coordinator Erin Caraballo. “He has also made great progress in his ability to communicate. Now, he can say a few full sentences such as ‘what are you doing?, which shows the amazing growth he has made through the years.”

 

When Luis first came to Woods at the age of 18, he required two or more staff members to accompany him on off-campus trips. He also required a dedicated 1:1 staff member, Musa, to be with him during his time spent at Woods’ Holland Enrichment Center, a life skills day program for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities who are retired or unable to work.

 

Luis’ Care Coordinator at Holland, Christina Santana, says the staff was so impressed with Luis’ progress over the last year that he no longer requires a dedicated staff member and now spends his days with Musa and another Woods individual. Caraballo credits Luis’ entire care team, including Musa, Santana, Holland Instructor Marieflore Chatelier, and Residential Counselor Eddie Lynch with the progress he has made since arriving at Woods.

 

“Things that have helped Luis’ progress include a structured day, regular physical activity (walks, playing basketball, riding a tricycle), water play, and a modification of his environment,” said Caraballo. “Through consistent 1:1 staffing, the utilization of a Behavior Support Plan and the constant support of his residential and day program staff, Luis has exhibited a noted decrease in his tracked behaviors which has made it possible to begin the process of fading his 1:1 staffing,” said Caraballo.

 

“Since Luis has been in a group of two, his personality has begun to truly shine. He has been smiling more and there has been a noticeable difference in his communication skills,” said Santana. “Luis has even started a job at Holland of assisting his instructor with collecting data on a daily log for each classroom.”

 

In addition to assisting Chatelier with the daily classroom logs, Luis has also been instrumental in keeping the classroom tidy and watering the plants, two skills that helped him to secure a volunteer position outside of Woods.

 

“Due to his behavior stability, Luis also started a volunteer opportunity cleaning up at Silver Lake Nature Center in Bristol,” said Santana. “He has done extremely well and actively participates. This is a major accomplishment for Luis and we are all so proud of what he has accomplished!”

 

Though it may no longer be just the two of them, Luis and Musa remain close and are enjoying their bond more than ever before.

 

“Working with him has helped me see life from a different perspective: with persistence, anything is possible,” said Musa. “Today, Luis is like family to me and I enjoy every second with him.”

 

Luis’ accomplishments and abilities also extend to his residence at Woods, where, with the support and encouragement of his staff, Luis is now able to assist throughout his home on various tasks such as: delivering the mail to the residential supervisors, assisting staff while bringing his laundry to his bedroom, and sweeping the kitchen floor in the dining room after dinner.

 

Luis’ care team at Woods has certainly enjoyed seeing their hard work and investment in Luis come to fruition. But other important people in his life like his family members and friends are also enjoying a “whole new Luis”.

 

“He went through a period when he refused to do anything for himself and relied so heavily on staff for everything. He would not even walk standing straight up,” said Lynch. “But now, he is starting to dress himself, participate in tooth brushing by doing the movements himself and showing more interest in his daily activities. He has built some great bonds with his staff over the years.”

 

“The most significant growth that has been seen in Luis over the past few years would have to be his overall demeanor and sense of calm. Luis always has a smile on his face and loves to interact with his family, staff, and peers,” said Caraballo. “Luis is an amazing young man and we all feel very blessed to be able to play a small part in helping him grow and achieve his goals.”

 

 

Launch of Woods Wear Custom Apparel Company Fits Woods to a “Tee”

Latest Social Enterprise Initiative Creates Job Opportunities and Fosters Independence for Individuals with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities

 

Since it first launched its social enterprise program more than 50 years ago, Woods Services in Langhorne has been committed to creating employment opportunities for individuals with autism spectrum disorder, emotional and behavioral concerns, cerebral palsy, and other physical, developmental and intellectual disabilities. Today, Woods launched its newest social enterprise with the grand opening of Woods Wear, a custom apparel company where Woods residents will design, print, and sell t-shirts, as well as hats, headbands, hoodies, sweatshirts and yoga pants.

 

Woods President and CEO Tine Hansen-Turton joined Woods Wear lead Maurice Johnson and other Woods Wear employees in cutting the ribbon on the new apparel studio. Located on the Woods campus, the shop is equipped with state-of-the-art design and printing equipment – a DTG Epson Sure Color f12000. There are currently seven part-time Woods individuals employed at the studio. Woods Wear has already produced “tees” for several departments at Woods and will now officially begin to take orders from customers in the community.

 

Woods chose the custom apparel industry because Woods was already ordering apparel from other vendors for its events and for staff, so there was a built-in customer base. Additionally, Woods Wear offers a different type of work opportunity from Woods’ other social enterprises, thereby broadening the work opportunities available to meet the varied interests and skills of Woods’ residents and students.

 

The Woods Wear grand opening event was also an opportunity to shine a spotlight on Woods’ other social enterprise initiatives, including Common Grounds Café, an open-to-the-public, on-site coffee and convenience shop that employs residents who greet customers, take orders, operate the register, prepare food, and maintain inventory and the dining room. Along with Woods Wear, Common Grounds celebrated the grand opening of its coffee bar offering specialty coffees, such as lattes prepared by trained baristas. Common Grounds employs one full-time and 13 part-time Woods individuals.

 

Woods also operates two Yellow Daffodil Flower and Gift Shops, one located on the Woods campus and the other in the Pine Watson Shopping Center in Langhorne, where employees participate in floral creation and plant care, sales, inventory, display and design. The shops have been central to the community, providing fresh flowers, wedding bouquets and centerpieces, greeting cards, soaps, lotions, and homemade gifts. Another social enterprise initiative, BeachTree Bath and Body Products, operated by Woods’ Beechwood NeuroRehab program for adults with an acquired brain injury, has developed jobs where employees create products and sell them online and through stores, shows and markets.

 

“Woods was considered an innovator when launching its social enterprise initiative in 1966, 52 years ago. Today, we continue that commitment to eliminating barriers and creating possibilities for achievement,” said Hansen-Turton. “Through Woods Wear, and our other social enterprise initiatives such as Yellow Daffodil Flower and Gift Shops, Common Grounds Café, and BeachTree Bath and Body Products, we are providing individuals with opportunities to work in an integrated setting, gain skills, readying them for future employment opportunities in the community. All of this helps them increase their independence.”

Social Innovations Grants Announced by the Woods Services Foundation

Social Innovations Lab provides unique opportunity to create, test and execute innovative ideas for the social sector.

 

The Woods Services Foundation announced $100,000 in seed funding for six projects resulting from the Social Innovations Lab recently held at Woods Services.  The 2nd annual Social Innovations Lab ran from June 2018 through late September for 30 staff from Woods and its affiliate organizations during which they could propose a solution to a social problem, improve the delivery of services, develop a new line of business, or create a social enterprise.

 

Woods partnered with the Social Innovations Institute to offer lab experiences that were designed to cultivate, test and execute creative ideas and strengthen entrepreneurship and innovative thinking. During the Lab, staff generated ideas about how Woods and its affiliates may enhance services or develop new ones, improve upon policies or systems, have a greater social impact, and/or enhance the employee experience. Staff participated either as individuals or as teams.

 

The six proposals receiving funding include:

 

  • The Artist out of the Woods proposal was awarded $10,000 to produce and sell artwork created by Woods’ residents as income for residents as well as support for the art therapy program.
  • The Heartfelt Adventures proposal was awarded $5,000 to develop a competitively priced social recreational program for Woods Community at Brian’s House.
  • The Leadership Development proposal was awarded $37,800 to pilot a training and coaching program designed around the principles of emotional intelligence that will develop leaders for the Woods organization who will support and drive Woods transformation initiative into the next 100+ years.
  • The Sanctuary Room 2.0 proposal was awarded $15,000 to create a room and resources that address secondary traumatic stress and staff burnout for Tabor Services.
  • The Social Market Garden proposal was awarded $5,000 to pilot the production and sale of organic vegetables grown by Woods residents as an employment opportunity.
  • The Flower and Gift Shop proposal was awarded $24,200 to develop a retail social enterprise run by Archway Programs in similar style to Woods’ Yellow Daffodil Flower and Gift Shop.

 

Woods Services is a 501(c)(3) non-profit multi-service population health management and advocacy organization that provides innovative, comprehensive and integrated health, education, housing, workforce, behavioral health and case management services to more than 4,000 children and adults in the intellectual and developmental disability, child welfare, behavioral and brain trauma public health sectors who have complex and intensive medical and behavioral healthcare needs.