Author: DW Admin

Sandi McKinney, RN
Wesley Nurse, St. Paul’s United Methodist Church
San Antonio, Texas

As an MHM Wesley nurse, I develop and lead programs designed to make lasting change in the lives of the people I serve at St. Paul United Methodist Church in San Antonio. I frequently create programs for parents and children to help improve their physical and mental health. Recently, I conducted a special class about fire safety.

I enjoy giving the children in my programs a takeaway when they complete the safety class, but I didn’t have any educational items to facilitate this particular class. As I spoke with my downstairs neighbor Carmen De Luna-Jones, the director of the Alamo Colleges GED program, about this dilemma, an interesting thing happened – fate stepped in. Carmen had a friend, Jody Orozco, who founded, Rudy’s Angels, an organization in memory of Rudy Alejos, a six-year old boy who died in a 2011 San Antonio apartment fire. Jody was looking for a group of children that could benefit from the hope and love of Rudy’s Angels. The Holy Spirit has a way of making these connections, especially when we least expect them.

With the generous support of Rudy’s Angels, 60 children were surprised to receive bike safety helmets after completing the safety program. The generosity didn’t end there. A survey of the group was done to determine which children owned a bike of their own. Then, Rudy’s Angels blessed the children again by purchasing 23 bicycles for those in need. The bicycle giveaway occurred at St. Paul’s and was attended by Jody Orozco, Carmen De Luna-Jones and MHM Community Health Worker, Rosa Ovalle. The team was thrilled to see the joy of the children; a mission accomplished.

“Miss, miss, I’ve never had a bicycle,” one girl excitedly told me as she received her new bike. I recall another five-year old boy was overwhelmed with tears upon receipt of a brand new bicycle. The bicycle giveaway was one of the best things that I’ve been a part of here at MHM. We are blessed to teach, reach and embrace so many wonderful people. The children and adults were humbled by the gifts, left in memory of a small boy named Rudy.

About Rudy’s Angels:

The memory of six-year old Rudy Alejos lives on through Rudy’s Angels, an organization designed to honor the child who died in a 2011 San Antonio apartment fire that displaced more than 70 residents. The group brings hope and love to other local children through donations and special events. 

In coordination with Methodist Healthcare, MHM hosted a HeartCheck® Health Fair at the Wesley Health & Wellness Center on Saturday, November 9, 2013. Methodist Healthcare provided free screenings to include a complete lipid profile, blood pressure check, glucose check, body mass index (BMI) assessment, diabetes and nutrition education, and an ‘Ask a Registered Nurse’ booth.

Members of MHM’s Family Wellness Programs provided a hands-on demonstration of exercise classes available at the Wesley Health & Wellness Center while other team members hosted resource tables to inform fair-goers of programs and services available through MHM.

A total of 70 participants were screened as part of the two-hour health fair. Of those 70, over half were shown to have a cholesterol reading higher than 200, a BMI above the recommend 18.5-25 and a blood pressure reading above the recommended 120/80.

“The results of the day clearly illustrate how important these fairs are to residents of the community. Once community members have a better understanding of their current health condition they are better able to take control of their individual health and that of their family. It is our goal at MHM to offer our clients and the communities in which we serve, opportunities to improve their health and create access to care when needed,” explains Jessica Muñoz-Sherfey, Director of Communications at MHM.

All event staff volunteered their time to take part in the HealthCheck® Health Fair at the Wesley Health & Wellness Center.

Group goes to Peter Piper Pizza and the San Antonio Children's Museum

Parents as Teachers (PAT) is a component of MHM's Parenting Programs, and is designed to help parents with children under the age of three recognize their children's development milestones in order to prepare them for school and to support their overall health and well-being. PAT is based on the belief that the early years of a child's life are critical for optimal development and provide the foundation for success in school and in life, and that parents are their children's first and most influential teachers. 

In addition to their regularly scheduled home visits, PAT hosts annual family field trips as a benefit to program participants. 

"Since PAT is a home visitation program, this field trip affords parents the opportunity to meet with other parents in the program. It's a great experience for all involved. The parents are able to forge connections with other care givers in the community, children get to explore the educational amenities San Antonio has to offer, and MHM team members are able to witness, first-hand the impacts of their work; it's an important time for all of us," explains Ericka J. Lima, Parenting Programs Coordinator. 

In September, PAT participants along with two Meld Growing Families groups took part in a family field trip to the San Antonio Children's Museum and Peter Piper Pizza. PAT parents and children, and MHM team members came together to celebrate the successes of the program and strengthen their bonds as parents and guardians. In the end, a total of approximately 50 families attended the field trip.  

Join in on the fun by viewing photos from the Meld Family Field Trip on Facebook. For more information on the Parenting Programs at MHM, contact info@mhm.org. 

Congratulations to our 2013 Spirit of Excellence Winners

Congratulations to these team members for being selected as the 2013 Spirit of Excellence Award recipients. These individuals were selected from among the winners of the Excellence Achiever of the Quarter awards for 2013. Their demonstration of the MHM core values and upholding of excellence in all they do on behalf of MHM has earned them this recognition.

• Top (left to right): Amada Perez, Parenting Programs (Community Programs); Vanessa Adame, Information Technology & Services (Administration)
• Bottom (left to right): Jacqueline Mercado, Behavioral Health Services (Behavioral Health/Nutrition); Christopher Cruz, Medical Services (Clinic Operations); Catalina-Schultz-Kraft, Wesley Nurse Health Ministries™

All winners will be featured on the organization’s website and social media networks, and will receive a crystal desktop clock. In addition, these winners will receive a voucher for one full-day off to use at their discretion , with supervisor/manager approval.

Congratulations to our 4th Quarter Excellence Rock Stars

These individuals were nominated by their peers, and selected by the MHM Board of Directors for their demonstration of the MHM core values, and for being pillars of excellence in all they do on behalf of MHM.

These winners will receive a desktop award and a certificate signed by MHM's President & CEO and the Board's Personnel Committee Chair; winners will also be featured on the organization's website and social media networks.

All winners will also receive a certificate for leave of one-half day (4 hours) to be used at the choosing of the award winner, approved by the supervisor or manager. Finally, all Excellence Achiever of the Quarter winners will be eligible to win the annual MHM 'Spirit of Excellence' award to be presented at the December team member Christmas party.

Please join us in celebrating their achievement!

4th Quarter Excellence Rock Stars:

• Vanessa Adame, Support Technician/Help Desk (Administration)
• Catalina Schultz-Kraft, Staff Development Specialist (Wesley Nurse Health Ministries™)
• Christopher Cruz, Pharmacy & Therapeutics Coordinator (Clinic Operations)
• Rosalee Guzman, Administrative Assistant(Community Programs)

Congratulations to our 3rd Quarter Excellence Rock Stars

These individuals were nominated by their peers, and selected by the MHM Board of Directors for their demonstration of the MHM core values, and for being pillars of excellence in all they do on behalf of MHM.

These winners will receive a desktop award and a certificate signed by MHM’s President & CEO and the Board’s Personnel Committee Chair; winners will also be featured on the organization’s website and social media networks.

All winners will also receive a certificate for leave of one-half day (4 hours) to be used at the choosing of the award winner, approved by the supervisor or manager. Finally, all Excellence Achiever of the Quarter winners will be eligible to win the annual MHM ‘Spirit of Excellence’ award to be presented at the December team member Christmas party.

Please join us in celebrating their achievement!

3rd Quarter Excellence Rock Stars:

• Wanda Thiele, Registered Nurse (Clinic Operations)
• Nereida Valdez, Behavioral Health & Social Work Supervisor (Behavioral Health Services)
• Amanda Perez, Parenting Programs Coordinator (Community Programs)
• Lilly Cardenas, Executive Assistant (Administration)

Beth Ann Scarth, RN
Wesley Nurse, First United Methodist Church
Mason, Texas

Children are near and dear to the hearts of so many. The prospect of harm or injury to a child can transform a seemingly tame parent into a ferocious lion. Upholding the safety and protection of children is the driving force for Kristy Powell, County Extension Agent for Family and Consumer Sciences of Mason County, and me.

For the second time this year, Kristy and I partnered to bring a Texans in Motion Car Seat Safety Inspection event to Mason, Texas. Part of Scott & White Healthcare, Texans in Motion Seat Safety program provides certified technicians to offer consumer and public education initiatives.

On Wednesday, August 14, 2013, at the First United Methodist Church, Leslie Stark, CPSTI, Project Coordinator with Texans in Motion, and Sherri Cabrera educated parents, grandparents and guardians on child passenger safety. Car seats were inspected for proper installation as well as general wear and tear. Car seats that were found to be outdated or not meeting the child safety seat standards were replaced. Parents and caregivers attended the event with their children so all could actively participate in the installation of the car seats or booster seats and learn of the perils of improper use. 

In all, 32 participants received instruction and a total of 18 child safety seats were provided by Texans in Motion Car Seat Safety program.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, more than 9,000 children and adolescents, from birth to 19, died from unintentional injuries in the United States in 2009 with motor vehicle crashes listed as the number one preventable child injury. Car seats were noted to be either installed incorrectly or used incorrectly or not at all. One of my hopes serving as part of MHM’s Wesley Nurse Health Ministries™ program is to play a small, but significant part in the safety and protection of our children.

Parenting Programs Fact Sheet

Meld Growing Families goes to Witte Museum and Peter Pipers Pizza

Meld, a component of MHM’s Parenting Programs, brings together groups of parents with similar parenting needs, and provides them with tools to help them become more confident leaders within their families. The program consists of peer groups guided by a team of Parent Group Facilitators, whose roles are to provide groups with curriculums designed to address health and safety, child guidance and development, family management and personal development.

The core philosophy of the Meld program stems from the belief that parents can, and do: learn from each other; give one another support; need to be free to make informed decisions about their families; and can cooperate in groups while maintaining their individuality.

In addition to their regularly scheduled weekly group sessions, Meld hosts annual family field trips as a benefit to program participants. “For many, this opportunity is huge. The Meld Family Field Trip is a chance for families to share time together. Some families simply do not have the financial capability to partake on this type of outing with the entire family. This celebration gives these families an occasion to go out as a family and experience quality time as a unit. It’s all about spending time with their children and other positive role models,” explains Alma Saenz, Parenting Programs Coordinator. 

In August, Meld Growing Families hosted a family field trip to the Witte Museum and Peter Piper Pizza. Meld parents, children, team members and volunteers came together to celebrate the successes of the group and strengthen their bonds as parents and guardians. In the end, a total of approximately 187 (113 children, 64 parents) participants attended the field trip.  

Join in on the fun by viewing photos from the Meld Family Field Trip on Facebook.

Sharlene Scheler, RN
Wesley Nurse, First United Methodist Church
Smithville, Texas

When the Wesley Nurse Health Ministries™ team was tasked with the goal of enhancing programs and partnerships through collaboration with their respective health committee and community agencies, I set a personal goal of completing two projects before the end of the year. 

With only four months left in 2013, I had my work cut out for me!

The first project, a Diaper Drive, was an instant success with 4,123 diapers collected for the Food Pantry and My Baby & Me.

Coming off of that massive achievement, we were excited to start planning the second major collaborative project: a Back-to-School Bash to collect school supplies and clothes.

To get started, the health committee and I visited with the principal of Brown Primary School in Smithville, Texas. We were surprised to learn that the demand for school supplies in the area was low; many local agencies donated school supplies at the beginning of each school year. We were even more surprised to learn of the strong need for health services for families in the community – especially around back-to-school time. Shifting gears in the direction of health care, we visited a local pediatrician, Dr. Spears to get his input and his reaction was validating. His response was, “I have been here seven years and this has never been done. Count me in!”

I also met with two area dentists. Their response to the proposal matched Dr. Spears’s, “Let’s do it!”

After receiving so much support from Smithville practitioners, I visited with a number of community agencies, groups and businesses to include: the Student Health Advisory Committee; school nurse; the police department; the Sheriff’s office; Speak Freely (a local speech therapist and audiologist); St. Mark’s Clinic; Tejas Clinic; Smithville Safe Route to School; DSHS; and countless others.

Now that the key players were aligned and interest was drawn, the school principal and his team suggested the fair be scheduled in coordination with school registration, with a focus on pre-k through second grade.

After advertising the fair in the local paper, passing out flyers and speaking at local functions, we had a flood of calls from community members wanting to volunteer or hold some role in this inaugural event.

Dr. Spears educated attendees on the harms of soft drinks, dentists handed out free toothpaste and toothbrushes and conducted brief dental exams, and vision tests were provided by a nurse clinician – one child was identified to have a severe vision problem, which alone made the event worth it.

The Sheriff’s office provided parents with electronic finger prints and educational DVD’s. The Police department gave out coloring books and safety resources.

Great Clips gave 35 haircuts. School nurses administered required immunizations and Wesley Nurses provided education on medication safety.

The First United Methodist Church of Smithville brought their popcorn machine and two congregation members dressed as clowns and made balloon art. Blue Bell Ice Cream donated ice cream and MHM provided Frisbees.

The fair ran from 1:00 to 5:00pm. In the end, over 100 residents showed up. All resources, goods and services – donated au gratis – were free to attendees. The only item that had to be purchased was bags for the fair which Wesley Nurse Health Ministries™ gladly secured.  

I must admit, when I set my goal of hosting two community event before December 2013 I thought I may have been too ambitious. I wondered how everything would come together, and if the end result would translate into a success. I am happy to report a resounding response to the two events recently held in Smithville. I look forward to bigger and better community-wide events next year!

On July 6, 2013, my 15 year old granddaughter was on a plane at the San Francisco International Airport when the Asiana Airlines Boeing 787 crashed upon landing. Her flight to China was delayed two days as the airport and airlines dealt with the aftermath of the tragedy.

This event and many more since that time also made me reflect on how I cope with tragedy – personal and global.

The acronym SPOT is my coping mechanism:

• Sadness. I reflect upon my personal sadness and loss out of the event. I also try to reflect upon the sadness and loss felt by my neighbors near and far.
• Pray. I pray to God for comfort, healing, presence, awareness, justice, mercy and guidance for me and for all touched by the tragedy.
• Offer Hope. I remember that God offers me and all people the hope of a better tomorrow in the midst of the darkest of times. God will bring healing, love and abundance into life out of the tragedy that has occurred. God is a God who gives abundant life to all.
• Tell. God tells God’s story of justice, mercy and a humble walk with God to everyone and invites each of us to engage in that journey that the world might be filled with joy, love and abundant life for each person.

In using the acronym SPOT I am able to be engaged with being comforted and healed in the midst of tragedy and living toward a world that seeks to be engaged with God that tragedy will be no more. I invite you to accompany me on that same journey.

Blessings,
Rev. Mickey McCandless