June Presentations
Wellness for a New Normal. ABCs at ABCD Presentation
ABCD’s Jeanne Ashmore welcomed Amy Hassa, MSW, Director of DHS specialized behavioral health Disaster and Terrorism Branch to present Everyday Wellness. Focusing on Strength and Resilience. Amy talked about the need for wellness for the individual to have the resources to recognize and face fatigue/trauma while taking care of themself and wellness for the organization and the importance of modelling wellness for staff. The presentation included definitions and discussions about Pandemic Fatigue, Secondary Traumatic Stress, Vicarious Trauma, Burnout, and Compassion Fatigue (Vicarious Trauma – “I care too much”+ Burnout “I just can’t = Compassion Fatigue.) Consider that the stronger you are, the stronger you can be for others; it is okay to be okay, while others are not. Participants were made aware of the signs of burnout since currently 75% of the workforce in the U.S. is experiencing, “I just can’t.”
Amy also discussed two types of wellness, Compassion Satisfaction and Post Traumatic Growth. Compassion Satisfaction is the ability to derive a great sense of meaning and purpose from one’s work. To use the memory of when you first had that feeling to help manage and keep your balance. Post Traumatic Growth, not taking people or things for granted, becoming more tolerant and understanding, increased appreciation for relationships, having an improved perspective, and strengthening spiritual/personal beliefs.
You can survive and thrive if growing toward a purpose.
Thanks to Amy for the nurturing presentation.
The QA Forum welcomed the Office of Licensing Director, Kathy Patrick and Chief, Sean Obrien to their quarterly meeting. Sean reviewed and answered questions on the new revisions to 10 44A, noting that most changes had already been in place and clarifying that unlike licensing issues for which agencies have a year in which to come into compliance, HCBS related items are cited immediately as deficient. In addition, Kathy and Sean reported that in April of this year all supportive living arrangements became either unlicensed, converted to supportive apartment, or assumed into an existing supportive apartment program. The OL inspection backlog due to Covid is anticipated to be resolved and back to standard-time frame by the end of the calendar year. They were very grateful for agency collaboration during the pandemic. One important lesson that OL took away from the crisis, there is a strong benefit to in-person inspections. Finally, they outlined the four tenets of a High-Performance Agency
- From front line staff to management, all are familiar with the agency’s internal policies and procedure and how to implement them.
- Agency staff take the initiative to immediately contact OL with questions and need technical assistance.
- Multilevel engagement of higher-level management in and familiarity with all programs and how they operate.
- Consistent staffing. It’s hard and almost impossible, but it is a factor.
- Strong quality assurance programs where quality assurance staff are regularly auditing programs.
Kathy and Sean ended by saying that relationships with agencies are very important for OL.
Stay in touch!
Our thanks to Kathy and Sean for a wonderful presentation and discussion.
