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Woods Services Leadership Debuts Book, Webinar Series on Organizational Change

“Thriving Through Transformation: A Practical Guide to Creating Organizational Change in the Social Sector” seeks to inspire current and emerging professionals in organization management

 

Few organizations have undergone the kind of radical transformation that helped Woods Services, a nonprofit organization that serves the complex needs of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities, comprehensively re-envision its structure, services, and future. Now the organization is sharing its lessons learned and providing a roadmap to help other organizations in the newly released book, “Thriving Through Transformation: A Practical Guide to Creating Organizational Change in the Social Sector.”

 

In the 228-page book, Tine Hansen-Turton, MGA, JD, FCCP, FAAN, president and CEO of Woods Services, and Peter Shubiak, MS, former chief operating officer, break down the essential elements of Woods’ transformation. They use employee stories, research findings, and business best practices to explore themes that include creating a clear and consistent organizational vision; developing strategic directions and planning; managing change; engaging employees; cultivating a culture of innovation and care; embracing equity, diversity and inclusion; planning for mission-driven growth; improving infrastructure and enterprise shared services; and developing strategic positioning, policy, and thought leadership.

The Cover of Woods Services Book "Thriving Through Transformation"

“We didn’t set out to write a book, but as we saw how our work changed the lives of our clients, employees, and community members, we wanted to share what with learned with other mission-driven organizations,” said Hansen-Turton.

 

Coinciding with the book’s release is the launch of a free, monthly webinar series, Thriving Through Transformation. Moderated by Hansen-Turton, the symposia will include 90-minute virtual panel discussions with national and regional visionaries who will discuss cutting-edge innovation in the health and human services sector and beyond.

“All organizations must embrace change to best serve their clients, but it can be difficult to know where to start,” said Hansen-Turton. “We hope our success story will inspire others to start the journey and serve as a roadmap to plan their own transformative journeys.”

 

In the first webinar of the series, “Vision, Strategy, and Cultivating a Culture of Innovation,” which took place Jan. 12, four health and human services experts discussed how they developed their own visions for organizational change, and then established both a strategy and a culture of innovation to weave those visions through every level of their organizations. Panelists included Josh Rubin, Principal, HMA; Rita Gardner, President and CEO, Melmark; Dawn Holden Woods, President, Generative Consulting Partners; and Dawn Diamond, Executive Vice President of Operations, Woods Services. This webinar is available as a recording.

 

Upcoming webinars will address employee engagement (Feb. 16), integrated and complex care for special populations (March 15), and Strategies for Avoiding the Cliff at 21: Models for Education, Behavioral and Family Supports (April 12). All webinars run from 3:30 to 5 p.m. and will be available as recordings.

 

“Thriving Through Transformation” is available for free electronically by clicking here or on www.socialinnovationsjournal.org. Hard copies are also available on Amazon. Hansen-Turton has written several other books, including “Making Strategy Count in the Health and Human Services Sector,” “Practical Tools for Not-for-Profit Leaders,” “The Social Innovator’s Playbook 2.0,” and more. All are available on Amazon.

The Woods Schools’ Class of ’22 Graduated and On Cloud 29!

Help Woods congratulate 29 students who graduated from The Woods Schools on June 29! We are so excited to see where these amazing, talented individuals will head next in their journeys.

 

Of the 29 who graduated, 10 will transition to Woods’ adult day enrichment program, where they will receive support with socialization, vocational training, health and wellness and purpose. Nine of the graduates will transition into Woods’ work center where they will start employment with the help of The Woods Enterprises. 10 are leaving Woods to move back home or into a community group home.

 

“I, along with my fellow staff here at Woods, am very proud of this year’s graduates of The Woods Schools for their dedication and determination to complete their education,” said Tine Hansen-Turton, president and CEO of Woods. “Their passion to excel and continually raise the bar for themselves and those surrounding them is inspiring. I am fully confident in their abilities to contribute their talents and rays of light to the world.”

 

The Woods Schools include the Gardner Education Center and Crestwood Education Center. They provide students of ages 5-22 with year-round special education and supports to help them meet their educational, emotional, behavioral and medical needs, as well as their personal goals. The students are provided instruction through an evidence-based, state-approved curriculum that includes reading, language arts, math, science and social students, health and physical education, vocational training, the arts and more.

 

Check out the photos below from our graduation ceremony on June 29 in the Gardner Education Center, and help us congratulate the Woods’ Class of 2022!

The Woods Schools is Ready for the Bell to Ring on a New Year

With the seasons changing and the calendar turning to September, a new school year is upon us. We know this year will feature exceptional student and staff achievements at the Woods Schools.

 

Mary O’ Neill, the Vice President of Education, spoke with us about her expectations for the 2021-2022 academic calendar.

 

The first bell ring will come on the heels of some great news. The Woods Schools has received two substantial grants that will help shape the new school year, an award from the Governor’s Emergency Education Relief Fund and an Emergency Assistance to Non-Public Schools grant. With this help, the Woods Schools can also grow its science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) programming with everything from basic experiments to robotics. The Woods Schools can now acquire additional iPads and laptops, ensuring each student has a device.

 

With COVID-19 still present, the Woods Schools must put some goals on hold to ensure the virus does not enter their doors.

 

“In the new school year, we hope to get things back to the way they were before the pandemic,” O’ Neill said. “Unfortunately, we’re going to be specifically focused on COVID protocols, for now, to keep our students’ health and safety first.

 

“We’ve been quite successful at preventing spread within our schools, and we’re going to continue to do that.”

 

For the Woods Schools, going back to normal means in-person music, art, and gym classes. A bustling, energetic cafeteria is full of students. Live concerts rock the stage. We share our projects at the science fair and strut down the runway during a fashion show. Students work at their school-based jobs, including creating the yearbook. If the pandemic subsides, these will all return.

 

Yet, some activities halted by the pandemic will make modified returns. Students will be able to get back some job-related work as the Woods Schools acquired individual vocational bins. In the past, students would work in a group to assemble items in these bins. Now, they can do it individually, helping build life skills that did not get enough attention during the pandemic.

 

The Woods Schools also begins the year with a great team of educators and staff.

 

“We’re closer than we’ve ever been. We all know each other. We all know each other’s students and departments. We’ve grown a family-like atmosphere,” O’Neill said.

 

O’Neill explained that the pandemic created an atmosphere where the entire staff pull together for one another, creating a more tight-knit group of teachers. Everyone has had to help out with each other’s departments and the schools’ quick responses to COVID-19.

 

“Everyone who’s remained on our team during this time has been great,” O’Neill added. “This will make for a great year.”

TD Provides Woods Grant to Further “Gamifying” for Learning

The TD Charitable Foundation has awarded a grant of $10,000 to support Woods’ efforts to incorporate new approaches that use technology to meet the needs of students with severe behavioral and emotional disorders.

 

This grant will help make it possible to develop customized video modules or “gamification” to teach social and behavioral expectations.  The gamification of learning is an innovative, educational approach to motivate students to learn by using video game design and elements.  The goal is to maximize engagement through capturing the interest of learners and inspire them to continue to learn.  New vocational curricula will focus on STEAM areas such as desktop publishing, computer game design and fashion design.  The new modules will have the potential to be replicated in many school settings across the country, to the benefit of some of the most vulnerable students with special needs.

About the TD Charitable Foundation

 

The TD Charitable Foundation is the charitable giving arm of TD Bank, America’s Most Convenient Bank®, one of the 10 largest commercial banking organizations in the United States. Since its inception in 2002, the Foundation has distributed over $243 million through donations to local nonprofits from Maine to Florida. More information on the TD Charitable Foundation is available at https://www.tdbank.com/corporate-responsibility/the-ready-commitment/funding-opportunities/

Woods Winter Wonderland Welcomes Langhorne Community

Winter-Wonderland-Choir

Together with our community, Woods celebrated the holidays during our third-annual Winter Wonderland on Dec. 6 and 7. Hundreds joined our Woods family as we shared holiday fun from free visits and photos with Santa to checking off wish lists, thanks to our 15 merchants.

Our Tree Lighting Made Winter Wonderland, Langhorne, and the Season Bright

As the clock struck 6 p.m. on Friday, we sang the songs of the season with choirs from Woods and our community. Speaking of community, Julie Bartl of our Presenting Gold Sponsor, Johnson, Kendall, & Johnson, helped begin our tree lighting ceremony. She stood beside our CEO Tine Hansen-Turton, State Representative Eugene DiGirolamo, and Woods resident Nathali J. They all spoke to the value of Winter Wonderland and inclusively supporting those with challenges and disabilities.

The tree was ready to be lit. Hansen-Turton gathered every person who was on the stage to flip the switch.

Then, silence fell as the tree lights flickered. Help was needed.

Sirens sounded from a distance as Langhorne-Middletown Fire Company firetrucks carried a special guest. Santa was arriving.

He pulled up to much fanfare as he exchanged greetings with the crowd. Now with Saint Nick’s assistance, the tree sparkled, and the crowd clapped and cheered.

2019 Winter Wonderland

Baby, It Was Cold Outside, But Common Grounds Café Was Delightful

Following the lighting, families, and residents explored the site that spanned outdoors and indoors.

In the warmth of Common Grounds Café, there were treats and food. Artwork by Woods residents was available as gifts. We’d be remiss not to mention Jeremiah J.’s calendar, crafted with the help of his occupational therapists. His work was among our social enterprises, including Yellow Daffodil, Woods Wear, and BeechTree, which were well-received by our community in Langhorne.

The halls were decked with handmade snowflakes and creative decor, leading to free events, including writing letters to Santa, decorating Santa hats, and painting ornaments. These festive family activities and giveaways were made possible by our generous sponsors.

Our Sponsors, Donors, and Volunteers Lit Winter Wonderland

Winter Wonderland was Stuffed, Thanks to the Food Trucks at Woods

Chickie’s and Pete’s and Have A Ball, crowd favorites, were dishing out food. When lines got long, Winter Wonderland goers could help themselves to free soft pretzels and hot chocolate. Common Grounds Café baked scrumptious cookies.

These served as fitting appetizers while waiting for free photos with Santa.

Meeting the Clauses

Heading into Winter Wonderland, our community expressed a desire to have free photos with Santa. Not only was every family able to grab selfies with Santa, but they also received a gift from Kris Kringle. Local shoppers at PetSmart of Newtown donated stuffed animals to this effort.

Winter Wonderland goers snapped hundreds of photos with Santa and the Mrs.

The Season of Appreciation

Woods is deeply grateful. This thankfulness reaches to all parts of our community: volunteers, visitors, merchants, sponsors, staff, families. Without your support, Winter Wonderland would not be possible. We sincerely hope you enjoyed our time together as much as we did.

Volunteers were also busy at our Secret Santa drop-off. You overwhelmingly ensured every person enjoying the holidays at Woods would receive presents this season, nearly 1,000 in all.

Now, you can be a part of Winter Wonderland 2020. Please take our survey, regardless of whether you attended or not.  We would love to hear from you.

We wish you and your family well in the new year!