The CRFE credential demonstrates an individual’s mastery of the standards set for core knowledge and skills required of fundraising executives after five years of experience.
The CFRE designation is held by only about 10% of all AFP members worldwide. To earn the CFRE, one must document extensive experience and achievement, and must pass an intense, comprehensive examination on all aspects of fundraising including ethical standards. The CFRE is considered as significant a professional achievement for a fundraiser as a CPA is for an accountant.
“This affirms Covita’s commitment to the fundraising profession. With her years of experience and the qualities she brings to her work, we knew she had the skills, but it’s nice to see it recognized,” exclaims Covita’s director, Anne Connor.
There was music, merriment and the patter of many feet as El Buen Pastor United Methodist Church’s line dancing group celebrated Happy Feet Line Dancing Group Day on October 4, 2012 in San Marcos, Texas.
One year ago, Mayor Daniel Guerrero of San Marcos proclaimed this date as a day of recognition for Happy Feet’s successes and contributions to the community.
In 2009, the congregation of El Buen Pastor UMC asked their Wesley Nurse, Cindy Ybarra, to start a line dancing class. Cindy, who had never line danced in her life, learned just enough from YouTube to get the class started. Today, the class is still alive and kicking thanks to YouTube and to recruits from other line dancing groups who generously shared their dancing expertise.
Happy Feet, as the group is now called, meets twice weekly and averages 10 participants at each session. Happy Feet specializes in out-of-the-ordinary line dances from many musical and cultural backgrounds. Included in their repertoire are the familiar country/western line dances, but the group especially enjoys dances with Latin, Cajun, Rock n’ Roll and ballroom influences. Sometimes they even throw in a little Scottish and Irish traditional for a change.
Happy Feet is notable for its success as a holistic ministry. It is without a doubt a wholesome, healthy form of exercise, but it is also mentally challenging and socially rewarding.
A typical Happy Feet participant memorizes no less than 25 different dances, and the troupe certainly knows how to have fun! One participant noted that most of the group’s time together is spent in laughter and celebration. “We celebrate our dancing successes, our life events such as birthdays, retirements, comings and goings, and our time together as a group of very diverse but very compatible friends,” explains Cindy Ybarra.
The line dancing classes are free, open to the public.
Congratulations to our 3rd Quarter Champions for Excellence
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.
Please join us in celebrating their achievement!
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.
Last month the Lutie Watkins Memorial United Methodist Church opened its doors for Michael Nye’s ‘Children of Children: Portraits and Stories of Teenage Parents’ exhibit. This free, multimedia exhibit is a collection of stunning black and white portraits accompanied by audio stories, as told by the individuals featured in the portraits, about how teen pregnancy affected their lives.
Vicki Krcha, Wesley Nurse at the Lutie Watkins Memorial UMC, applied for a transportation scholarship to arrange for the exhibit to be brought to Llano. “Teen pregnancy has a deep-rooted impact on not only the mother and child, but is felt community-wide,” explains Krcha.
To facilitate the showing, Vicki recruited volunteers to assist, placed advertisements in local newspapers and church periodicals, and met with school officials to promote.
An estimated 100 attendees visited the exhibit during the course of its weeklong showing. Among its visitors was Deidre Henderson’s Child Development Class from Llano High School. As a class exercise, Vicki made poster paper available for youth to share their thoughts and feelings after the viewing. These posters were later taken to the classroom to encourage further discussion.
“Visitors to the exhibit were struck by the beautiful photographs and touched by the sentiments shared through the audio recordings. Many people expressed their gratitude for having such an exhibit come to Llano,” exclaims Krcha.
The exhibit was also used as a kick-off for a new Parents Helping Parents (PHP) support group which meets on Wednesdays from 5:30p.m. to 7:00p.m. at the Lutie Watkins Memorial UMC. For more information about the PHP support group, contact Vicki at (325) 247-4009.
For more information about the ‘Children of Children’ exhibit, call (877) 790-0192 or email info@mhm.org.
Since inception, MHM has provided nearly $500 million in healthcare services through our clinics and programs, as well as through our partnerships. MHM is proud to partner with organizations that share our mission and organizational objective of delivering healthcare and social services to the least served in the South Texas region. By strengthening other organizations’ capacity to provide services, we achieve our overarching goal of increasing access to care.
An MHM funded partner since 1997, the Hispanic Religious Partnership for Community Health, Inc. (HRPCH) works to make a difference in Bexar County by engaging in the lives of the disadvantaged, underserved, and those requesting assistance to meet their basic needs.
Founded in 1997 by ten local Hispanic United Methodist Churches in San Antonio, Texas, the HRPCH has a deep-rooted connection with addressing the health and human service needs of families in the community. The founding churches, located in some of the city’s most underserved communities, witnessed firsthand the despair that is brought about from poverty. Lacking the resources to be able to provide the much-needed help as individual congregations, these churches came together to form a partnership to more adequately address this need.
Today, HRPCH operates four distinct programs:
Diaper Bank. Started in 2011, the Diaper Bank assists low-income families by providing access to a reserve of diapers, baby wipes, baby food and formula. This Bank also serves as a distribution center for products that supplement MHM’s Wesley Nurse Health Ministries™ My Healthy Child health education program and the HRPCH Baby Boutiques located St. John’s UMC and Bethel UMC.
Help Program. The Help Program provides emergency food and household utilities assistance, vision enrollment, federal benefits referrals, and job placement assistance along with other vital services. This program is designed to function as safety net for families in need.
Hunger Relief. The Hunger Relief program organizes various food pantries and special outreach events year round. Its goal is to provide nourishment to hungry families throughout Bexar County.
Senior Wellness. The Senior Wellness program is focused on providing healthy alternatives to ensure low-income seniors stay healthy both mentally and physical by participating in an assortment of exercise and nutrition opportunities.
At its core, HRPCH believes individuals and families must have their basic needs satisfied before they can work towards setting and achieving long-term economic and educational goals. HRPCH programs are designed to meet these needs.
In 2011, HRPCH served 7,422 families. This year to date, 9,562 families have been served through HRPCH programs.
To date, MHM has provided over $2.1 million in funding to support HRPCH.
Linda was nominated for this important recognition by her team, and selected by the Chapter in appreciation for the strong support she has shown the administrative staff at MHM, and the administrative profession.
The Executive of the Year Award is given each year in recognition of an executive’s interest and support of administrative professionals and who raises awareness of the critical role administrative assistants play in every organization. The International Association of Administrative Professionals (IAAP®) is the world’s largest association for administrative support staff, with nearly 600 chapters and 40,000 members and affiliates worldwide.
Linda is a champion for her team, always striving to raise awareness for the important role each of the administrative professionals at MHM plays in support of the mission. The entire MHM team applauds Linda for this important recognition, and thanks her for her many years of exemplary service and outstanding commitment to MHM’s mission.
Each year MHM's Team Member Appreciation Committee (TMAC) organizes various social and recreational events designed to promote goodwill and enhance team morale. Ultimately, these events serve to honor and appreciate the hard work and dedication of team members throughout the year on behalf of the MHM mission.
Our annual Team Member Appreciation Picnic is one such instance. The theme this year? Awesome 80s!
On Friday, October 5, the entire MHM team convened at Pedrotti's North Wind Ranch for a day of games, team building and entertainment.
Awards were presented to the best dressed 80s Icons with Beetlejuice (Ruth Schmidtka) and Miami Vice's Sonny Crockett (Victor Reyes) making an appearance and Biggest Hair (Donnelle Storrs).
Our 'Gag me with a Spoon' bake off awarded prizes for the Best Tasting (Karmel, Karmel, Karmel Chameleon Apple Cake; Jae Kight) and Most Heathy (Fruit Danish; Sara Campbell). While Madai Chandler's Pac Man Cake took home the title for Best Presentation.
Our 'Totally Tubular Volleyball' tournament helped us work off the Bake Off treats with Revenge of the Nerds (Samantha Andrus, Maureen Lares, Monica Orozco, Nicole Perez, Perry Spindler, Jessica Weaver, Ken Webster, Liz Valerio) taking home the championship trophy.
Thank you to the MHM team for your commitment to 'Serving Humanity to Honor God' through your daily work. A special recognition goes to TMAC for planning and organizing our Awesome 80s celebration!
Health and counseling services are provided by MHM through School Based Health Centers (SBHC) that provide primary medical and dental services to school-age children enrolled in the Schertz-Cibolo-Universal City and Marion ISDs and their siblings, up to age 21.
At present, SBHC are located at:
Krueger Elementary (217 West Otto Street, Marion, TX 78124)
Through these Centers children, who live in areas where such services are not readily available, are eligible for low cost immunizations, medical care, counseling, and dental care.
A comprehensive range of services are offered to include:
Diagnosis and treatment of simple illness or minor injury
Immunizations
Physical exams for school sports, cheerleading, dance team, Boy Scouts and camp
Well child exams
Health promotion and education
Prescription assistance
Referral to health care providers, specialists and resources within the community
Primary dental care including x-rays, cleanings, fluoride treatments and sealants
Dental treatment including fillings, extractions and endodontic treatment
Individual and family counseling and case management
Assistance with Medicaid, CHIP and Food Stamp applications, and food, housing and utilities is also available.
Charges for medical and dental services vary according to procedure; however, all services are provided on a sliding fee scale. Services will be provided regardless of your ability to pay.
submitted by Rosalio (Lio) Luna Parenting Programs Coordinator, Parenting Programs
At a recent PHP Facilitator training I met with Jeanette Pickard and Robin Kaspar, who will be serving as PHP Facilitators at one of MHM’s newest PHP sites located at the Marble Falls United Methodist Church (1101 Bluebonnet Drive, Marble Falls, Texas 78654).
By providing community members with hands-on training, we are able to ensure facilitators are equipped with the knowledge and resources needed to carry on the PHP model within their respective communities.
During the course of the six-hour training, Jeanette and Robin were provided with a PHP program history and introduction. As the training progressed, we discussed topics to include setting group norms and expectations, warm-up activities, and meet-and-greet tips.
As PHP Facilitators in Burnett, Jeanette and Robin will work closely with PHP team members to implement the program in Burnett County. Duties for this role include:
Collaborating with community agencies and guest speakers
Planning and promoting the weekly group meetings
Facilitate group meetings, and recruit group members and volunteers
Complete and submit logistical reports after every group meeting
Additionally, Jeannette and Robin plan on working with The Parent Project, another ministry at the Marble Falls United Methodist Church, to help spark interest for the new group.
About Parents Helping Parents
Launched in 1999, Parents Helping Parents (PHP) is a parent support group designed to build stronger, healthier communities by strengthening and encouraging family life. One of three distinct parenting programs offered through MHM’s Parenting Programs, PHP is volunteer-based, built upon the belief that parents are the first teachers and best advocates for their children.
Together, the group identifies a facility in which to meet once per week for 10-12 weeks for a two-hour session. The group then selects at least two volunteers who are willing to be trained and serve as facilitators for the group. These trainings are conducted by our Parenting Programs Coordinators.
In addition to the hands-on training, MHM provides groups with a full program curriculum and ongoing technical assistance, along with making a limited number of stipends available to United Methodist Churches.
The Challengers, with team captain Juan Martinez at the helm, are comprised of MHM team members, clients, and community supporters. Collectively, the Challengers identified a fundraising goal of $1,000 in support of the ADA. What's more, MHM has offered to match every dollar raised by the team!
We sat down with Vanessa Enriquez, MHM Challengers' Fundraising Superstar, to learn more about her connection with this cause:
Why are you participating in the ADA Step Out: Walk to Diabetes?
I am participating because I have several family members affected by diabetes. Last year, we lost my grandmother who was diabetic. In the end, she had heart trouble that led to her passing, but I know that the diabetes contributed to her poor cardiovascular health. My family is very close and personally, I spent my afternoons growing up helping my grandmother make dinner. My parents, brother and I ate dinner during the week with my grandparents so I shared a very close bond with her. In a way, she helped shape my love for food and nutrition, so I partly have her to thank for my career as a dietitian. Since becoming a dietitian I have tried to help my family in whatever ways possible and this is another way I see that I can try to impact those with diabetes or those who may develop the disease.
You've raised over $500.00 so far. Any tips or tricks to share with your teammates?
I emailed all of my family members through the ADA Step Out page. I added that I wanted to raise funds in memory of my grandmother so that one day other families would not have to go through the loss we had because of diabetes. I also emailed my close friends with a similar message. Many of my friends were supporting me during my grandmother’s illness so they saw the impact in had when she passed. Lastly, I post weekly updates on my facebook page. I try to share what my total is and how close I am to my goal. I also add that MHM is matching donations to encourage people to give no matter the amount, as it will be doubled in the end.
We are just five short weeks away from Step Out, and the Challengers are nearing their fundraising goal with close to $900 raised. Please consider joining our team, and helping us stop diabetes.
To join our team, or make a donation to the MHM Challengers, visit our team page.
The fervor the U.S. Supreme Court decision over the Affordable Care Act (ACA) this summer caused is understandable given how drastically the law is expected to change our healthcare delivery system.
Since then, pundits, scholars, and people on all sides of the issue have offered wildly different estimates on who the law would actually help. Now, thanks to Dr. Michael Cline and Dr. Steve Murdock of the Hobby Center for the Study of Texas at Rice University, Texans don’t need to speculate. There is data that illustrates who would benefit in our state.
Methodist Healthcare Ministries commissioned a study authored by Dr. Cline and Dr. Murdock—who once served as the official State Demographer of Texas (in case you were wondering why the name sounded familiar)—to help us better understand how the new law would impact our community.
Texas has the highest uninsured rate in the nation. This unfortunate ranking is not necessarily breaking news; it’s a distinction our state has earned in the past. But, it’s worth mentioning since the U.S. Census Bureau just recently released 2010 Census data that confirms our unfortunate standing in the nation. So how many uninsured Texans does it take to put our state nearly dead last? As of 2010, an estimated 23.7 percent of all Texans (5.9 million people) had no health insurance coverage. Given our numbers, it stands to reason, that we have a lot to gain from the ACA.
According to Dr. Cline and Dr. Murdock, in the study titled Estimates of the Impact of the Affordable Care Act on Counties in Texas, if Texas implemented the new law—even with a moderate effort to increase enrollment in public and private health insurance— by 2014 every county in Texas would see a decrease in the number of uninsured people. The total number of uninsured people in our state would essentially be cut in half; from 5.9 million to 2.9 million. Nearly 3 million people in our state stand to gain from the ACA due to the expansion of Medicaid and the accessibility of affordable health insurance through the private sector.
According to the two researchers, all this is largely dependent upon the efforts of the State and healthcare advocates enrolling people in public health insurance (Medicaid and CHIP), and how well the health insurance exchange is developed and marketed. The Center for Public Policy Priorities (CPPP) has further analyzed the data and summarized the key findings in a brief titled Choices and Challenges: How Texas County Uninsured Rates Will Drop Under Health Care Reform. That brief also includes some recommendations on how the state can leverage the ACA to reduce its uninsured rate.
Aside from the sheer number of people who would benefit, health care as an industry will also realize tremendous gains through expanded funding of previously uninsured patient visits.
As a healthcare provider, we here at MHM know this law will make an important difference in peoples’ lives based on what we hear time and again from those served in our clinics and the programs we support throughout South Texas. The difference between paying rent, or getting health care; buying food or getting much-needed medicines. The findings in this study make the choices before our policy makers clear, and invite them to make that difference for three million Texans.
We are ready to do our part to help our community realize all the ACA has to offer. We hope our legislators are ready too.
Grants have made up 34 percent of overall spending in 2012 at MHM. Through Community Grants we are able to provide ongoing support for agencies addressing: access to care; dental and oral health; obesity and diabetes prevention; health education and promotion; mental and behavioral health services; public health policy and research; spirituality; and the health professional shortage.
Offering mental and behavioral health services, The San Antonio Clubhouse, became an MHM funded partner in 2005. The Clubhouse, one of 300 worldwide, is ICCD accredited. ICCD Clubhouses are founded on the realization that recovery from serious mental illness must involve the whole person in a vital and culturally sensitive community. Since its founding in 2003, The San Antonio Clubhouse has provided hope and recovery for people living with mental illness.
The Clubhouse offers its members an opportunity to build essential life skills through a variety of responsibilities. Members design and operate onsite services, obtain empowerment through skill building and education, and work to gain independent employment through the Transitional Employment program − all in a self-sustaining environment, operating without state or federal funding.
Members and staff work together, as equals, to perform a variety of tasks necessary to the daily operation of The Clubhouse. In the Business Unit, members are exposed to office computer systems, newsletter production, accounting, data entry, and receptionist duties. In the Culinary Unit, where the kitchen and snack bar operate, members collaborate to perform cashiering duties and budgeting, meal planning and preparation, and grocery shopping.
Wellness at The Clubhouse has become an especially important initiative for its members. The wellness program has three distinct areas of focus: nutrition, education, and exercise. Collectively, members decided to adopt a menu and snack bar offerings around a healthy eating model. Unlike typical snack bars, members replaced sodas, candy bars and chips with water, healthy drinks, fresh fruit and fruit smoothies, and other healthy snacks. Meals offered at The Clubhouse are low-cost; currently, breakfast and lunch are free for members. For many members, this is their most nutritious meal of the day; for some it is their only meal of the day.
The Clubhouse is equipped with a 2,000 square foot exercise room where yoga, pilates, dance and other exercise classes are held. Weekly client-led workshops are also conducted in this area to include meditation, diabetes management, proper nutrition, smoking cessation, weight control, and medication management.
The Clubhouse’s impact can be measured through its members’ success stories: “I got sick twenty years ago. I’ve been in lots of other programs, at least twelve others. Out of all of them, The Clubhouse has helped me the most. In other programs, they treat me like a patient. I’m reminded over and over that I am sick. Here, at The Clubhouse, I am treated like a person. They don’t baby me. I like to interact with people, and help out cooking and cleaning the kitchen. I come almost every day.” – Tom, The San Antonio Clubhouse Member
In June, The Clubhouse relocated to its new home at 445 Recoleta Road in San Antonio, Texas. Originally located in the Travis Park United Methodist Church, and later moving to a historical residential home on N. Alamo Street, their new 7,200 square foot building increased The Clubhouse’s capacity to serve members with the ability to hold 120 members at any given time from the previous 30-member limit.
As an official welcome to their new home, The San Antonio Clubhouse will host a Housewarming Party on Friday, October 26, 2012 from 5:30p.m. to 8:30p.m, with a short program at 7:00p.m. There is no charge to attend; however, ‘housewarming gifts’ in the form of monetary donations are welcomed. Attendees will have the opportunity to learn more about The Clubhouse, meet its members, and tour the facility. A silent auction will be held along with an art showcase of work composed by Clubhouse members. For more information about the Housewarming Party, contact Linda Zimmerhanzel at lzimmerhanzel@saclubhouse.org.
Membership is open to men and women ages 18 and older who have a diagnosis of mental illness and a referral from a qualified mental health professional.
Currently, The San Antonio Clubhouse serves over 400 enrolled members.
To date, MHM has provided $1,195,800 in funding to support The San Antonio Clubhouse.
Jaime Wesolowski is the President and Chief Executive Officer at Methodist Healthcare Ministries. A healthcare executive with three decades of leadership experience, Jaime is responsible for the overall governance and direction of Methodist Healthcare Ministries. Jaime earned his Master’s Degree in Healthcare Administration from Xavier University, and his Bachelor’s of Science from Indiana University in Healthcare Administration. As a cancer survivor, Jaime is a staunch supporter of the American Cancer Society. He serves as Chair of the American Cancer Society’s South Texas Area board of directors and he was appointed as Chair to the recently created South Region Advisory Cabinet, covering eight states from Arizona through Alabama. Jaime believes his personal experience as a cancer survivor has given him more defined insight and compassion to the physical, emotional, and spiritual needs of patients and their families.
Congratulations to our 3rd Quarter Champions for Excellence
An estimated 100 attendees visited the exhibit during the course of its weeklong showing. Among its visitors was Deidre Henderson’s Child Development Class from Llano High School. As a class exercise, Vicki made poster paper available for youth to share their thoughts and feelings after the viewing. These posters were later taken to the classroom to encourage further discussion.
Linda L. Lopez, Administrative Manager and Assistant to the President & CEO at Methodist Healthcare Ministries (MHM), was recently presented the 
