Grief is such a small word that packs a big punch. Grief is one of the few things that will affect every single living person throughout their life. Guaranteed!

Here are a few definitions of grief provided by the Grief Recovery Method®:

Grief is a normal and natural reaction to significant emotional loss of any kind.
Grief is the conflicting feeling caused by the end of, or changing in, a familiar pattern of behavior.
Grief is as individual and unique as you are yet there are some typical responses people have when dealing with grief like: reduced concentration, a sense of numbness, disrupted sleep patterns, change in eating habits and a rollercoaster of emotions.

I invite you to take a look at how our Western culture has addressed grief. As a society we’ve all been taught in some capacity how to handle if someone injures themselves in front of us – we would call for help and do our best to comfort the injured person. Society has also taught us what to do if we get a flat tire on our car. One option is to change the tire yourself, or to call someone who can help you. So who do we turn to that will help us when a life event causes a broken heart producing grief?  For the most part society has taught us some unhelpful myths about grief.

6 grief myths are:

• Time heals all wounds.
• Grieve Alone.
• Be Strong.
• Don’t feel bad.
• Keep Busy.
• Replace the loss.

These myths can be harmful because they don’t facilitate a sense of completion to the relationship that just ended. It’s possible these myths distract us from healthy grieving.

How can we all support someone during their time of grief? Be a big heart with ears. No matter if it’s your  family member, a friend or coworker; listen empathetically to them and don’t judge, criticize or analyze their grief. Listen with your heart and allow the emotions to be expressed.

I am dedicated to helping people grieve in a healthier manner while navigating life transitions.
For more information please contact me at mbgriefrecovery@outlook.com or www.mbgriefrecovery.info.

The post Gaining a Grasp on Grief appeared first on Hammer.

Person Centered Planning is a term used to describe a variety of approaches used to help a person identify what is desired and meaningful in their life. The common theme in each approach is that the person is the primary focus; their hopes dreams and desires are the priority.

People invite their family and others that care about them to be part of the planning meeting. The team’s role is to help share the things that are most important to the person and to develop action steps to move toward the desired future.  Planning always includes a process facilitator that leads the group through a series of conversations. The facilitator also assures that the person centered planning meeting remains respectful and that the person’s choices are at the center of all discussions. The planning meeting may also include a graphic recorder. The recorders job is to capture in picture and words the essence of the meeting. Graphic recording helps everyone to see what is being written in way that all people can understand.

Person Centered Planning can have a significant effect on the amount of positive control that people have in their lives. People’s hopes, dreams, and desires typically center around where they live, where they work, where they go, who they spend time with, and how they can have more independence in their lives. The focus is on these things that are important to the person, not the disability.

I first started working on Person Centered Planning methods with the Hammer staff in the early 1990s. Hammer Residence Inc. was always looking for the best way to support people to have the life they desired. They worked hard to listen to the people they served and to develop resources and supports around the person. They were ahead of their time. Person Centered Thinking and Person Centered Planning is now mandated in Minnesota by Rule 245D and the Positive Support Rule.  This is exciting for everyone, and especially for the staff that have been working so long to help people have the lives they really want. This is not just the rule: it is the right thing to do for people. We are all excited to see people have control of their lives and to identify what will make a difference for them. Please join our conversation at Hammer’s Family Education Forum as we focus on the critical importance of our role in this process. Together we are better!

The post The Person Centered Planning Process – What is Our Role? appeared first on Hammer.

In Its Third Year:
HAMMER’S
FAMILY EDUCATION FORUM
GETS A FACE LIFT!

Thursday, May 5th
5:30p to 8:30p
Click to RSVP by Monday, April 25th.

What’s New?

2016 Brings about engaging ways for you to connect and contribute at Hammer’s
May 5th Family Education Forum.

After a light dinner, join us at our information tables where you can briefly chat with experts regarding Health, Finances, Advocacy, and more.

This year’s Keynote address reflects Hammer’s passion about sustaining a learning partnership with our family members. We feel strongly that a solid understanding of the Minnesota Olmstead Plan is paramount in providing meaningful lifelong opportunities for each individual we serve.

Our Keynote speaker this year can guide each of us to a deeper understanding of this vital plan:

Dr. Darlene Zangara – Executive Director of the Olmstead Implementation Office shares on the power, presence, and compelling reasons that the Minnesota Olmstead Act is the vital link to maintaining excellence in person centered services. Dr. Zangara wants everyone to understand, “It is about what people with disabilities want and how they choose their path towards a purposeful and integrated life in their communities.”  Our Chief Program Officer Tom Gillespie shares, “We are excited to see the focus of the Olmstead plan placed on creating opportunities for meaningful choice, increased self-sufficiency and sustainable supports. The intersection of these factors is a place where innovative solutions are developed and individuals can thrive.” Join us and learn more about this key component of achieving the best life for your loved ones, and all Minnesotans with disabilities.

Participate in two different
interactive styled workshop sessions
of your choice! 

You’ll have the opportunity to share your stories, and gain insight from others on these topics impacting your loved one’s daily life.

Offerings this year include:

• Your Role in Person Centered Planning
•  A Panel on Living Life with Autism  
• Dealing with Life Transitions, with the Grief Recovery Method
• Conversational Connection – time with CEO, John Estrem and Chief Program Officer, Tom Gillespie.

We look forward to seeing each of you and your family members on May 5^th for this evening of valued education and partnership! 

Cate Saracen Peters
Director of Training and Education

The post Hammer Family Education Forum 2016 appeared first on Hammer.

By Deb Krug, Direct Support Professional

Passionate and creative are the two words that best describe me. I have found that these characteristics serve me well in my work at Hammer.

Three years ago, I began working for Hammer as a Direct Support Professional at Lake Place. I was looking for something to enhance myself and provide personal growth. I have been working with District #287 as a teacher and Crisis Prevention Intervention (CPI) instructor, but needed something more to really make my life complete.  Serving 18 -21 year olds in the transition program, I knew working at Hammer would give me the chance to see how the transition skills I teach actually apply in real life. So, after working at Hammer for a couple years, I approached Director of Training and Education Cate Saracen-Peters about CPI classes. She jumped on the opportunity, and within a couple months, I became a CPI instructor for Hammer!

The cornerstone of CPI is the Nonviolent Crisis Intervention™ program, which is considered the worldwide standard for crisis prevention and intervention training. Its core philosophy is to provide care, welfare, safety, and security for everyone involved. CPI has taught me proven strategies for safely resolving situations when confronted by anxious, hostile, or violent behavior, while protecting the therapeutic relationships with those in my care. I have adopted this philosophy in both my professional and personal lives. My passion for this is strong and is rooted in person-centered thinking. 

I am truly honored to be a part of the Hammer family and am driven to teach all Hammer employees how to de-escalate potential crises. I feel compelled to help them grow and understand the importance of relationship building during possible crisis situations. Through innovative ideas and the established techniques of CPI, my end goal is always to improve the support we provide to amazing individuals we serve. And, it really helps when we have such quality, well-trained staff.

I believe in the power of communication and how it impacts the people we serve.  Together as a team, we can move forward with whatever situations arise and find positive outcomes to negative implications.  I look forward to sharing more of my thoughts with family members and guardians at next week’s Family Ed Forum. Together we can do this!

Part II

By Eric Sage, Credentialing Coordinator and Program Manager

According to the MN Department of Health it is estimated that 1 in 88 children will be diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). So, I wasn’t surprised when Hammer’s Training and Education Department told me they would like to have a focus on AD at the Family Education Forum this year. Like most states, Minnesota has struggled with the growing demand for services as autism diagnoses have soared in the past decade.  Treatments like Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) are often well beyond the means of most families, and many insurers refuse to cover them. So what do we do? At Hammer, we acknowledge that our staff teams and families will need additional trainings and support to best serve the individuals we care for so deeply.

I’ve been at Hammer for almost six years now, and I’ve worked with several individuals with varying diagnoses. I’ve tried multiple strategies to achieve different goals, and I look forward to sharing some of these coping mechanisms and skill building techniques during the autism focused break out session. I will also be sharing information on ASD’s effects on the educational, social, family, and professional aspects of individuals living with autism. It’s important that we come together as a team and realize the importance of partnering together to best support each other and most importantly the individual.

As Cate Saracen-Peters said in Rich Roots Grow a Learning Partnership: “I thought it best to include this “back to basics” approach with a conversational format designed to re-emphasize the importance of connection and the power of sharing through stories.” I couldn’t agree more with this statement and look forward to seeing many family members and guardians at next Thursday’s forum.

The post Double Feature: We’re in This Together appeared first on Hammer.

The story that brings me to Hammer Residences is somewhat selfish. I connected with Hammer because my wife Simone and I have a son with high functioning autism and Asperger Syndrome. His name is Jake. I have sought out new connections, both personally and professionally on our journey with Jake. Hammer has become an integral part of that journey.

I sought out Hammer as a potential resource for Jake (thus the selfish part) for when he became an adult if he needed such supports. He is now 20 years old, still under our wings, but showing strong signs of independence. So, he may not need the services that Hammer provides, but having such a trusted resource in our lives provides a lot of confidence for the future.

Along the way, Cate Saracen-Peters, Director of Training and Education, has encouraged me to share some of my professional background with the Hammer community. Through special needs financial planning and values-based money management workshops, I have been able to share some of my knowledge with others. I hope that it has helped the special needs community at least a little bit. As the disability community has been a blessing to our family in our journey with Jake, my goal is to give back in as meaningful a way as I can.

So, if you are a Hammer family member or guardian, I encourage you join us for the upcoming Family Education Forum this spring. There are many resources available – skills, knowledge and experience we provide each other. This sharing of resources is an especially important aspect because no one knows it all. We can all learn from each other, and I am happy to be part of it. Thank you and I hope to see you in a few weeks!

The post Sharing What I Know: My Hammer Story appeared first on Hammer.