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Woods Team Members Shine at Social Innovations Awards

March 4, 2021

In an evening for community innovators to shine, staff at Woods Services, and Woods affiliate Tabor Services, were among those whose work was in the spotlight at the 2021 Greater Philadelphia Innovation Awards hosted by The Social Innovations Journal. The Jan. 21 event, presented virtually this year due to COVID-19, honored social innovators, entrepreneurs and changemakers whose leadership, social impact and efforts in their communities make Greater Philadelphia a thriving region of innovation and opportunity for all people. The awards are presented annually by the nonprofit online magazine and voted on by the public.

 

We know how valuable our Woods team members are, and it was exciting to see their work for our residents and clients recognized publicly through the magazine and in front of the nearly 150 community leaders brought together via Zoom for the ceremony. The Woods stars honored on awards night are Karen Wilkins from Tabor Services, Dawn Diamond and the COVID Task Force members, and Kym Talerico and Avi Saltzman of Yellow Daffodil Flower and Gift Shop. Among the innovations they were nominated for are: tranquility rooms for employee well-being and retention, outdoor learning spaces created to maintain resident quality of life during pandemic lockdowns, and a program that provides work experience, develops confidence and independence, and even launched a jewelry line.

 

Read more to learn about these exciting, innovative, and award-winning programs underway at Woods and Tabor Services.

 

Innovations Improve Quality of Life during the Pandemic

We have all spent much time talking about and managing the coronavirus pandemic this past year. The “COVID-19 Innovations” category was an opportunity for organizations to share information about effective innovations in dealing with the outbreak. Woods and its COVID-19 Task Force members, led by Dawn Diamond, Darlene Barnes, Dr. Stephen Kolesk and Tine Hansen-Turton, deployed innovative strategies throughout the pandemic to prevent the spread of the virus to our residents and employees, including early adoption of masking, testing and other infection control measures, and converting some services to a virtual platform. Building outdoor classrooms, and creating a nature trail and an animal-assisted therapy program were innovative ideas for providing learning and exercise, and maintaining quality of life and engagement during a period of mandated isolation. Woods was honored with the category’s third place award.

 

Tranquility Rooms Transform Work Environment at Tabor

Karen Wilkins, chief human resources officer at Tabor Services, a member of the Woods Affiliate network, received third place honors in the “Healthy Food Access and Healthy Workforce Innovator Award” category for her efforts to ensure a supportive and nurturing work environment for employees. Focused on addressing workforce turnover that can result from a stressful and emotionally demanding job, such as with child welfare social work, Karen led a team of staff, maintenance workers and construction experts to transform the work environment by adding three Tranquility Rooms. The modified space features soothing sounds, accommodations for free in-person and virtual yoga classes, and massage chairs.  In addition, a trauma-certified psychotherapist with child welfare experience is available for free private and confidential counseling for all employees in need. Karen understood the importance of a supportive organizational culture and how it would help families served by Tabor. Her efforts also contributed to Tabor Services achieving a 98 percent staff retention rate in fiscal year 2020.

 

Yellow Daffodil Experience Builds Confidence and Independence

Yellow Daffodil Flower and Gift Shop’s manager, Kym Talarico, and employee Avi Saltzman were recognized in the Workforce Development Award – Innovation in the Social Mobility Category. The nomination showcased Woods’ commitment to creating the broadest possible work opportunities that enable individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities to contribute to the world around them in powerful ways. Product development, merchandising, sales and inventory are among the transferable skills taught at Yellow Daffodil. The work experience helps participants develop their self-confidence and gain independence. The runner-up award celebrated the environment of discovery Kym creates at Yellow Daffodil, encouraging employees to try new tasks that often ignite their passions, and the way Avi, who created a successful jewelry product line for the shop called Aviology, has inspired and supported others to follow his lead.

 

Congratulations to Karen, Dawn and the COVID Task Force, Kym, and Avi. We are so proud of your accomplishments! Thanks for making Woods shine so brightly.

WOODS SUPERINTENDENT, STAFF, FELLOW WIN AT 2020 GREATER PHILADELPHIA SOCIAL INNOVATIONS AWARDS

February 3, 2020

Dr. Maura Roberts, superintendent at of the Woods Schools in Langhorne, Pa., received the 2020 Greater Philadelphia Social Innovations Award in the Social Justice category from Social Innovations Journal, Institute & Lab, for her innovative approach to educational programs for students with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

 

ABOUT THE SOCIAL INNOVATIONS AWARDS

 

Dr. Roberts accepted her award at a ceremony on Thursday evening, January 23, held at the Independence Blue Cross Center for Innovation in Philadelphia.

 

The annual awards, presented by the nonprofit online magazine and voted on by the public, honor social innovators, entrepreneurs and changemakers in the Philadelphia region whose work, social impact and efforts in their communities make Greater Philadelphia a thriving region of innovation and opportunity for all people.

 

Dr. Roberts was one of 11 Woods employees and partners nominated for the awards.

 

Goals of the annual awards are to promote a culture of bold thinking and problem solving, increase awareness and build a culture for social enterprise and entrepreneurship, and increase social impact investments by social sector funders and investors.

 

“We are extremely proud of our Woods employees who were recognized by Social Innovations Journal with award nominations for the positive impact they are making for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities served by Woods,” said Tine Hansen-Turton, president and CEO at Woods.  “Their innovative approaches have been essential to Woods’ transformation as a population health organization and are deserving of recognition and emulation,” she said.

 

HOW THE SUPERINTENDENT OF THE WOODS SCHOOLS WON

 

Dr. Roberts received her first-place award in the Social Justice category based on the innovative work she is doing in education.  As a result of their intellectual and developmental disabilities and medical complications, the students Dr. Roberts serves can exhibit severe behaviors which impede their learning and compromise their safety.  Dr. Roberts identified and launched the School-Wide Positive Behavior Supports approach because of its emphasis on whole-school culture change.

 

Through this evidence-based approach, teachers and students learn skills to support positive behavior.

 

After two years of implementation, the approach has resulted in fewer negative behaviors among all students, and increased academic achievement, including enormous gains in math and literacy.

 

“Dr. Roberts’ belief that we should teach positive behavior just like any other subject and her leadership and dedication to ensuring all students can achieve their goals led to the implementation of this innovative approach,” Hansen-Turton added.

 

WOODS RECOGNIZES OUR OTHER SOCIAL INNOVATIONS AWARD WINNERS

 

Brian Valdez, a fellow at Woods and creator of PLACE (People for Liberty, Access, Choice and Equality), received a second-place award in the Social Justice category for his advocacy work on behalf of individuals with intellectual disabilities.

 

Valdez unifies groups within the disability advocacy community around the common goal of preserving real choice when it comes to where individuals with intellectual disabilities are able to live and work.  Maurice Johnson runs Woods Wear, a social enterprise print shop at Woods created by Danica Lynn to provide jobs for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities.  Johnson and Lynn shared the second-place award in the Small Business Development category.

 

The following Woods employees and partners were recognized with nominations and awards:

 

SOCIAL MOBILITY: Race Equity and Social Justice
  • Valerie Durden, Woods Enhanced Benefits Specialist, Woods Services
  • Dr. Maura Roberts, Superintendent, Woods Services
  • Brian Valdez, PLACE (People for Liberty, Access, Choice and Equality)
SOCIAL MOBILITY:  Small Business Development
  • Maurice Johnson, Operator, and Danica Lynn, Creator, Woods Wear, Woods Services
HUMAN SERVICES: Housing and Community Development
  • Dawn Diamond, Senior Vice President and Ben Pozez, Trustee, Woods Services
HEALTH: Healthy Communities
  • Dr. Steve Kolesk, Chief Medical Officer and Dawn Diamond, Senior Vice President
HEALTH: Healthy Workforce
  • Homestead Smart Health Plans and Woods Services partnership – Bill Green of Homestead Smart Health Plans, and Tom Grant and Julia Pfisiter of Woods Services
  • Dr. Scott Spreat, Vice President of Evaluation and Research, Woods Services

Social Innovations Journal Launch Event

August 28, 2017

CREATING A SOCIAL INNOVATION’S MOVEMENT
WITHIN HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
THE BUCKS COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA STORY

 

PLEASE NOTE: This event is sold out.

The Social Innovations Journal in partnership with Bucks County Human Services, Woods Services, Magellan Healthcare,  and Independence Blue Cross Foundation is pleased to host this SYMPOSIUM on Tuesday, Sept. 26 that will examine successful and innovative models and partnerships within the Bucks County, PA Region as an example of how health and human services organizations are innovating across the country. This edition specifically explores new innovative models of care for:

 

  • Aging Populations
  • Mental and Behavioral Health
  • Children and Youth
  • Drug and Alcohol
  • Physical and Developmental Disabilities

 

“Health and human serving system leaders are discarding the old ways of doing business in favor of new approaches that are innovative, efficient, effective, and responsive to the needs and demands of a dynamic and rapidly changing society. We are shifting from a reactive and crisis-oriented services delivery model to one that focuses “upstream” and better enables all of us to live to our full potential and to more effectively identify and address root causes when we do encounter roadblocks along the way.” (American Public Health and Human Services Association, November 2016)

 

Health and human services agencies along with their nonprofit and community partners in counties around the country have started to approach traditional long standing societal challenges differently. They are capitalizing on public/private partnerships; breakthrough technologies; brokering unique cross-sector partnerships; blending funding sources, and applying family-centered and community-based approaches to find innovative solutions with the expectation that these will lead to efficiencies and better client outcomes. Ultimately, regional health and human services agencies, collectively, are shaping a new ecosystem across sectors and systems that will align services, integrate data systems, leverage technologies and create system transformation.

 

PLEASE JOIN US!  As we have limited space capacity (100 participants) we ask that you only register if you are confident that you will attend.

 

Sincerely,
Nicholas Torres
CEO/Co-Publisher

 

Tine Hansen Turton
President & CEO of Woods Services
Co-Publisher

 

Jonathan Rubin
Human Services Director
Bucks County

 

Agenda

8:30 AM

Registration/Networking Light Refreshments

9:00 AM
WELCOME
Nicholas Torres, SIJ Publisher
Tine Hansen-Turton, CEO, Woods Services and SIJ Publisher
Charles Martin, Chairman, Bucks County Board of Commissioners
Jon Rubin, Human Services Director Bucks County

 

9:15 AM

KEYNOTE SPEAKER

Tracy Wareing Evans, President and CEO, the American Public Human Services Association
Current state of Human Services/Human Services Value Curve and the Value of and future for Public-Private partnerships

9:45 AM

CONSUMER VOICE AND PERSPECTIVE

Lessons learned from the consumer perspective:  Bonnie Healey

 

10:00 AM

PARTNERSHIP INNOVATION STORIES

Bucks County:  Connect. Assess. Refer. Engage. Support. (BCARES) program:  Margie Rivera, Associate Director, Bucks County Drug and Alcohol Commission and Eric Stark, Executive Director, Bucks County Health Improvement Partnership

Using the Sequential Intercept Model to build collaboration and support community engagement: Christina Finello, Deputy Director, Bucks County Human Services

Foundations Summer Internship Program: Ron Bernstein, Executive Director, Foundations Community Partnership

 

10:15 AM

CRITICAL THINKING ROUNDTABLES

 

11:00 AM

PANEL REACTION

Moderated by Tine Hansen-Turton, CEO Woods Services

Panelists

Tracy Wareing Evans, President and CEO, American Public Human Services Association
Audrey Tucker, CEO Family Service Association of Bucks County
Dr. Mark Hoffman, Ed.D., Executive Director Bucks County Intermediate Unit
Jon Rubin, Director of Human Services, Bucks County
Heather Major, Independece Blue Cross Foundation

 

11:45 AM

CLOSING REMARKS/NEXT STEPS

Tine Hansen-Turton & Jon Rubin

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Health, Wellness & Therapeutics

In an effort to improve communication, daily living skills and educational outcomes for both … Read More >

Vocational & Adult Day Services

We are committed to eliminating barriers and creating possibilities for achievement.   We … Read More >

Learning

Our school programs help students meet educational, emotional, behavioral and medical needs, while … Read More >

Having Fun

We exist to drive greater achievement for the individuals we serve.  Whether living  on our campus, … Read More >

Continuum of Care

We offer our individuals a full continuum of supports through our affiliates and various programs … Read More >

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  • .
  • About Woods
    • Our History
    • The Woods System of Care
    • Meet the Woods Services Leadership
    • Meet the Woods Services Board of Trustees
    • The Woods Clinical Approach
    • News & Events
  • Services
    • Short Term Residential Treatment
    • Health, Wellness, & Therapy
    • Vocational & Adult Day
      • Holland Enrichment Center
      • The Woods Enterprises
      • Yellow Daffodil
      • Common Grounds Café
      • Woods Wear
  • Education
    • An Overview of Education
  • Research Institute
  • Work With Woods
    • Employee Testimonials
    • Benefits of Working at Woods
    • Staff Development
    • Teach with Woods
  • Support Woods
    • Make a Gift to Woods
    • Join the Heart of Woods
    • Give through your Donor Advised Fund
    • Give through EITC
    • Leave a Legacy
    • Honor a Friend or Loved One
  • Admissions
    • Tour Woods
    • Email Admissions
    • FAQ
    • Meet the Admissions Team