Congratulations, Willie Healy

December 2015
A Monthly Newsletter for
the Melmark Community
Congratulations, Willie Healy
Our Employee of the Month
Willie has been an employee at Melmark since 1989.
He is known as being extremely flexible, willing
to work with any individual and helping out in
any situation. He has developed many long term
friendships with the individuals whom he serves, and
he treats each individual like a close, personal friend.
Willie is extremely caring, gentle and kind to every
individual and employee he encounters.
Willie provides the highest level of quality care to the adults at Melmark. In
addition to his regular duties in the Adult Day Program workshops, Willie
also runs group activities and Bible Study. A bit of trivia about Willie - he
loves to discuss news, current events and history.
Willie treats every individual at Melmark with the utmost respect and
dignity at all times. He is the type of staff who volunteers to help if there is
a need, and his colleagues respect Willie and feel comfortable working with
him.
Please join us in congratulating Willie on his recognition
as Melmark’s December 2015 Employee of the Month.
Join the #conversation!
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Need $500?
Know someone who would make an
exceptional member of the Melmark
team? Tell them to check out Career
Opportunities and apply online at:
www.melmark.org/careers.
An existing Melmark employee gets
$250 when the new hire is here for
three months and another $250 when
the new hire is here for one year. You
can refer new hires all year long!
Willie with the individuals whom he serves and his colleagues
Just fill out the employee referral form,
found in HR, before the new hire begins at
Melmark.
A Message from the President and CEO-Elect
Rita Gardner, M.P.H., LABA, BCBA
During the holiday season, it is important to reflect upon all the wonderful things that
make life so meaningful to us. Regardless of our beliefs, which are unique and equally
important to each of us, we celebrate this time of the year with family, dear friends
and, for those of us who work during the holidays, treasured colleagues.
I would like to take this time to personally share my gratitude for each and every staff
member across both Melmark sites in Berwyn, PA and Andover, MA. I am grateful that your passion for helping others has led you to a career within this wonderful
organization, which is making a positive, often life-changing impact on thousands of
lives every day.
Rita Gardner, M.P.H., LABA, BCBA
President and CEO-Elect
You work tirelessly to create moments of success for the students and adults we serve.
Thank you for the many talents and gifts you bring to our organization, not only
during the holiday season, but every day of the year.
Rita M. Gardner, M.P.H., LABA, BCBA
President and CEO-Elect
Celebrating the Holidays
Melmark Staff Holiday Party
The Melmark Staff Holiday Party proved, once again this year, to be a spectacular night of dinner, dancing and celebrating.
This annual event was held at The Springfield Country Club and was hosted by Melmark’s Human Resources Department.
During the party, Rita Gardner and Dr. Donovan shared their holiday thoughts, praising the Melmark Family for their hard
work and compassion for the people we serve. Colette Brown, Vice President of Human Resources and Adult Services, led
the presentation of awards through the night. The following pages are filled with photos from the evening.
Adedeji Sodunke
leading the invocation
2015 Employees of the Month
2015 Employees of the Year,
Randy Wilson and Florence Sannoh
2015 Supervisors of the Quarter
10 Year Service Award Recipients
5 Year Service Award Recipients
2015 Supervisors of the Year,
Jackie Turner and Ashley Benedetto
15 Year Service Award Recipients
Melmark staff members gathered for a group photo
Award Recipients with
20 to 45 Years of Service
Staff at the Melmark Holiday Party
All photos from the event
can be found on Facebook:
@MelmarkPA
Sedeke at the Staff Holiday Party
Suzanne and Melanie at the party
Holiday Events at Melmark
Volunteers, Theatre, Craft Sales and More!
The holidays at Melmark are always a special time, not only for the children and adults we serve, but for their
families and staff as well. On the pages that follow, you will see some of the wonderful moments captured in
photographs during December.
Greg selling homemade
dog treats to Catie
Noodles enjoying
Croft Paw Treats
Meadows Sale at The Kitchen Workshop’s
December Open House
John buying a gift from Louis at the
ADP Christmas Village
Dr. Donovan and Cyndie Martin with members
of the Melmark Service League, who volunteer to
decorate center hallway for the holidays
Betty and Ron conducting at
The Chester County Concert Band’s Annual Holiday Concert
Dom making a gingerbread house at
The Kitchen Workshop Cookie Exchange
Dana and Joy with PBM Lions Club Members
at the group’s annual Melmark Christmas Party
Patrick and Donna celebrating as Santa and Mrs. Claus with
Dr. Woods and one of Santa’s helpers
Bill with volunteers from Malvern Federal, who
dropped off gifts for students and residents
Melmark’s Annual Santa Sing-Along - see 6abc’s
coverage at www.Melmark.org/videos.
Isaiah and Santa - Like us on Facebook to see
more photos with Santa! (@MelmarkPA)
Brenna designing an ornament during
Speech Therapy’s Holiday Social Group
The Melmark Players’ presentation of
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory - The Players had
three standing room only performances this month.
Another scene from
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory
by The Melmark Players
Cyndie and volunteers provided lunch and
holiday cheer to the Adult Day Workshops
Students and adults at a weaving workshop hosted by Art-Reach
Members of the Meadows Country Garden Guild at Vanguard’s holiday party - Melmark artisans taught Vanguard staff how to make Christmas wish balls.
The Melmark Family
Special Moments Shared Among Staff and Clients
There are so many reasons we love working at Melmark! The most important is that every single child and adult
is an extension of our families. Nothing could demonstrate that point more beautifully than these photos from
the wedding of Melmark Assistant Director of Staff Development, Stacey Atiyeh. Congratulations, Stacey!
Stacey and Marianne at the wedding
Dana dancing at the wedding
Help Around Your Program Area
Who doesn’t need a little help around the office? The young men and women who participate in the Christopher
Maurer Vocational Program at Melmark are offering you a helping hand. And thanks to some help from our MIS
Team, getting that help is as easy as a click of a mouse. Using Sharepoint, you can now request services ranging
from binder assembly to recycling pick-up and Melmark vehicle cleaning. Just go to the Sharepoint home page,
select “Client Job Request” and fill out the appropriate fields. Someone from the vocational team will be in touch
to schedule your job request.
Staying Healthy
Flu Shots at Melmark
Benjamin Franklin once said, “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.” In
order to prevent illness among the individuals we serve, as well as staff and their
families, Melmark launched its annual flu shot awareness campaign. During the past
few months, 75% of employees received their flu shot, either here at Melmark or at
their personal healthcare provider.
Each ‘patient’ was entered into a raffle for some fun prizes. Winners are listed below:
Maxine Ansbach, Finance Department: James Craig, Facilities Department: Jerome Zamgba, Children’s RTF:
Roku 3-Streaming Player
Fire Tablet
43” LG LED Television
Jerome Zamgba with his prize
The winners have been announced for the Walking Works Challenge, which ran from
August 16 to November 14. This 12-week challenge measured how many miles teams
(four to eight people per team) could walk by the end of the program.
This was another opportunity for staff members to earn Healthy Lifestyle Tracker points,
which add up to savings on health insurance premiums. In addition to earning points, there were prizes for the team
with the highest average miles walked over the 12-week challenge and a prize for the person with the overall highest total
number of miles walked. 77 employees participated in this season’s challenge.
Overall Winner:
Marianna Maggiore
Winning team: Walking Wonders
Becky
Garrison
Brigid
Fellenbaum
Karen
Mattox
Kristen
Madera
Michelle
McHugh
Suzanne
Muench
Donate Your Coupons!
The Vocational Program is collecting manufacturer’s coupons to send overseas to military families.
You can help!
Drop off coupons in blue collection boxes, placed in the following locations:
•
•
•
•
Under the Time Clock in the Main House (by the doctor’s office)
Main House Copy Room
Marcus House, Room 7
The Eatery
You just drop off the coupons, and Vocational will do the rest.
Tom
Crofcheck
A Helpful Resource
First Call
We’d like to remind you of a great benefit we offer to all of our employees. First Call is our Employee Assistance Program
which is independent from Melmark and managed by Main Line Health. The benefits cited below are free and available to
any member of your household.
Additionally, information on various topics related to wellness and managing stress can be accessed from any Melmark
computer in the Benefits folder on the HR page of SharePoint.
Visit SharePoint to learn tips to avoid the stress and
blues that can often be related to the holiday season.
First Call also offers:
Work/Life Assistance
Resources to help you with childcare, eldercare, adoption, vacation planning, printed literature on retirement planning,
college searches and other projects that need your time and attention. Access through the toll free number or at www.
firstcalleap.org (Username: melmark Password: firstcall)
Legal/Mediation/Financial Consultation
Free consultation and discounted fees for legal/financial service retainment. Free on-line legal and financial resource
library at www.firstcalleap.org. (Password: firstcall)
Free Short Term Counseling and Referrals
No cost, confidential, professional, solution-focused counseling (up to 8 sessions per problem). This is not your health
insurance -- there are no co-pays. Our counselors are licensed, fully insured, seasoned professional counselors, social
workers, psychologists and family therapists. You and members of your household are eligible for the employee assistance
program. Dependent students living away from home are eligible as well. When additional or specialized services are
needed, our counselors will offer appropriate referrals within your insurance network or to community resources.
• Marital and family issues
• Communication
• Parenting
• Domestic Violence
• Caring for an Elderly Relative
• Health Problems
• Substance Abuse
• Stress • Compulsive Behavior
• Financial Difficulties
• Work Related Problems
• Grief/loss
• Divorce/Separation
• Depression/Anxiety • 24-Hour Live Crisis Coverage
Convenient Appointments and Confidentiality
Appointments are available by calling our toll free number (below). Our intake counselors will find a network provider
near home or work, whichever is most convenient for you. Confidentiality of your information is maintained according to
the law and ethical guidelines of the helping professions. Your employer will not know that you have called the EAP.
For more information or an appointment:
1-800-382-2377
www.firstcalleap.org
Catering and Special Deliveries by Tee
Tee is proudly offering his baking services for your next party or special event.
Just fill out the form below and allow one week for delivery.
TEE’S VIRGINIA BAKING COMPANY
ORDER FORM
Please allow 1 week for orders. Thank you for shopping!
Filled orders can be dropped off in the Vocational mailbox in the copy room in the Main House
ITEM
AMOUNT
Needed
2 layer cake – Chocolate
Icing: ________Chocolate
_________Vanilla
2 layer cake – Vanilla
Icing: ________Chocolate
_________Vanilla
DATE
Needed
COST
$12
$12
Super Bowl, Valentine Day sugar cookies
$0.25 each
Chocolate Covered Pretzels
$0.25 each
Super Bowl, Valentine Day Cupcakes – Chocolate
Icing: ________Chocolate _________Vanilla
$0.50 each
Super Bowl, Valentine Day Cupcakes – Vanilla
Icing: ________Chocolate _________Vanilla
$0.50 each
Name
TOTAL COST
Phone Number
Email
Look for Tee’s Bakery Cart in your program area on Wednesdays and Thursdays.
NEW HIRES
EMPLOYEE NAME
POSITION
DEPARTMENT
Adedotun Adekitan
Residential Aide
Children’s Residential
Theresa Appleton
Residential Aide
Adult ICF Residential
Courtisha Chavis-Etchison
ABA Counselor
Education
Draperlynn Clarke
Residential Aide
Children’s Residential
Amadu Conneh
Residential Aide
Children’s Residential
Abdulai Conteh
Residential Aide
Adult Waiver Homes
Desiree Foster
Residential Aide
Adult ICF Homes
Oneka Gayle
Behavior Technician
Residential
Danielle Jubic
Program Specialist
Adult Day Program
Alhassan Kabba
Behavior Technician
Residential
Barba Kromah
Residential Aide
Adult Waiver Homes
Dasia Maxwell
ABA Counselor
Education
Jasmine McGriff
Assistant Director
Adult Community Residential
Amie Sherif
Residential Aide
Adult ICF Homes
Kenneth Silberman-Bunn
Clinical Associate
Education RTF
Takia Smith-O`Berry
Vocational Workshop Assistant
Adult Day Program
Deairrah Thomas
Residential Aide
Adult ICF Homes
Ashley Thomas
Clinical Associate
Children’s RTF
William Thompson
Residential Aide
Adult Residential
STAFF REACHING 90 DAYS OF EMPLOYMENT
EMPLOYEE NAME
POSITION
DEPARTMENT
Musu-Messie Abdulai
Residential Aide
Children’s RTF
Sahr Allieu
Residential Aide
Adult Campus Residential
Kimberly Andrews
Registered Nurse
Health Care
Elizabeth Anzevino
ABA Counselor
Education
Mohamed Bah
Clinical Associate
Children’s RTF
Lonaya Baker
Residential Aide
Adult Campus Residential
Elizabeth Cardin
ABA Counselor
Education
Jacqueline Carroll
Occupational Therapist
Rehabilitative Services
Ishmeal Conteh
Residential Aide
Children’s RTF
Imani Fortune
Clinical Associate
Children’s RTF
Nelto Gerlus
Program Manager
Adult Campus Residential
Veronica Greiner
ABA Counselor
Education
Margaret Haag
Director of Adult Campus
Adult Campus Residential
Shatara Johnson
Clinical Associate
Children’s RTF
Jamill Jones
Program Manager
Adult Campus Residential
Abraham Kamara
ABA Counselor
Children’s Residential
Agnes Kassoh
Residential Aide
Adult Community Residential
Daniela Lentini
ABA Counselor
Education
Felisa Leonard
Program Manager
Adult Community Residential
Meloney Leysath
Clinical Associate
Education RTF
Kaitrin Mahoney
ABA Counselor
Education
Kaitlin Maize
Speech Pathologist
Rehabilitative Services
Ashley Moss
ABA Counselor
Education
Sade Moye
Residential Aide
Adult Campus Residential
Daniela Powter
ABA Counselor
Education
Victoria Smith
Residential Aide
Adult Community Residential
Leslie Thompson
ABA Counselor
Children’s Residential
Veronica Turay
Registered Nurse
Health Care
Sade Turner
Vocational Workshop Assistant
Adult Day Services
Monique Walters
Registered Nurse
Health Care
Orlando Wilson
Scheduling Coordinator
Adult Campus Residential
Melmark’s Expert Speakers Series
All Presentations are Open to Staff and General Public
Complimentary Admission
DATE
TOPIC
SPEAKER
LOCATION
February 4, 2016
4:00 p.m. - 6:30 p.m.
System-wide Functional Analysis
of Organizational Performance
Donald Hantula, Ph.D.
Director, Decision Lab, Department of
Psychology, Temple University
Melmark’s
Multi-Purpose
Center
March 10, 2016
4:00 p.m. - 6:30 p.m.
Considerations in the Treatment of Feeding
Problems in Individuals with Autism: What
We’ve Done and What We Need to Do
Jennifer Dawson, Ph.D., BCBA, BS-L
Clinical Director, Southeastern PA Autism
Resource Center (SPARC)
Melmark’s
Multi-Purpose
Center
April 14, 2016
4:00 p.m. - 6:30 p.m.
ABA-SLP Collaboration
Lori Frost, MS, CC-SLP
Co-Founder, Pyramid Educational
Consultants, Inc.
Melmark’s
Multi-Purpose
Center
For more information about this and other professional development opportunities at Melmark, please contact:
Jennifer Croner., M.S.Ed., BCBA
Research and Training Coordinator
JenniferCroner@Melmark.org
610-325-2910
https://ecomm.melmark.org/conferences
The Melmark
2016
Saturday, April 16
7:00 p.m.
The Hyatt at The Bellevue, Philadelphia
Celebrating Melmark’s
50
th
Anniversary!