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A Moment to Pause
We find ourselves once again in a place of grief and pain. The unspeakable violence and hate that we have born witness to over the past few weeks feels overwhelming. Let us be gentle with each other as we continue the work of START – recognizing the impact of these events on ourselves and on the people and systems we encounter.
May we not just grieve, but give:
May we not just ache, but act;
- Amanda Gorman
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Mental Health Month Features
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Being subject to a global pandemic over the last few years may have made you realize that there is more than one type of fatigue and different types of needed rest. For example, you might be experiencing sensory exhaustion. This is when your senses might be working on overload…why might this happen? Well, according to a 2022 Forbes article, it is estimated that the average American is exposed to between 4,000 and 10,000 ads each day. That’s a LOT of content coming at you, from airwaves to visuals. And how many of us have been trying to manage back-to-back video conference calls since 2020?
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It’s a juggling act to manage your own participation amid constant pings of incoming emails, not to mention homes with kids, pets, dishwashers and/or washing machines contributing to the auditory input. Oh, and we can’t forget our other halves - cell phones. Why are there so many push notifications for everything!? It’s no wonder that your brain is screaming at you to take a break when it is constantly accepting such a huge variety of input every hour.
So, how do you address this kind of fatigue? First – unplug. Find some time each day to shut down anything with an electrical cord or a battery. A half hour before bed is ideal for so many reasons. Want to go further? Take some time in nature (helpful hint: also without technology). Studies have shown that spending time outdoors has many exceptional benefits, including soothing sensory overload by creating opportunities for some of the stillness, quiet, and peace that you are seeking. Being outside is also associated with increased focus and energy. Instead of being bombarded by ‘likes’ or commercials, use your senses to take in the natural world around you and appreciate the shift of what you are experiencing. Simply put, lean into the mindfulness that naturally occurs as you are present in the moment. Allow your senses to focus on things like the colors around you, the sound of the wind through leaves, or the smell of rain.
While START practices systems engagement, your individual capacity is important, too! It speaks to your ability to contribute toward larger goals – whether the goals are your own or those of a collective entity. You can’t pour from an empty glass, as is said. So rest, take care of yourself and build your own capacity, in order to feel refreshed and ready to take on whatever is in your next chapter!
References
Simpson, J. (2022, April 14). Council post: Finding brand success in the digital world. Forbes. Retrieved May 4, 2022, from https://www.forbes.com/sites/forbesagencycouncil/2017/08/25/finding-brand-success-in-the-digital-world/?sh=50c7634c626e
Robbins, J. (2020). Ecopsychology: How immersion in nature benefits your health. Yale Environment, 360(9). Retrieved May 4, 2022, from https://e360.yale.edu/features/ecopsychology-how-immersion-in-nature-benefits-your-health
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The National Center for START Services has the pleasure of welcoming several new staff members to our team!
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Meet Felicia Bates – Project Manager
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Felicia Bates joined the National Center for START Services as a Project Manager in April 2022. Prior she worked as the I-START Program Director for 6 years, where she led her team to National START Program Certification in June 2021. She has been a Certified START Coordinator since 2016 and was the proud recipient of the 2017 National START Clinical Team Leader of the Year award. Felicia has a master’s degree in Public Health from the University of New England.
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Felicia has worked with individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities and mental health needs for over 15 years. She began her work as a Direct Support Professional, where she found her passion for supporting and advocating for those with IDD. Felicia has successfully worked with client’s and their support systems to improve health and quality of life measures. She prides herself in being relatable to those she serves and works with.
In her spare time, Felicia enjoys spending time with her husband, baby boy, stepson, and their two dogs. She is passionate about health and fitness and is a Certified STAGES indoor cycling instructor. She coaches spin classes on the weekends.
Education
- MPH, University of New England
- BS, Biology, University of Northern Iowa
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Meet Jennifer Boisvert – Senior Program Support Assistant
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Jennifer Boisvert joined the National Center for START Services as a Senior Program Support Assistant in May of 2022. Prior she served in the NH Army National Guard for 9 years as a Human Resources Sargent. After leaving her services in the military, Jennifer has worked in Customer Service roles in which she coordinated and managed schedules, invoices, processed payments, resolve customer complaints and issues, and worked to develop smart and efficient policies and procedures.
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Jennifer lives in Concord, NH with her spouse and soon to arrive puppy! In her spare time, she loves outdoor activities with her spouse. Depending on the season, they love snowboarding, hiking, swimming, biking. She is passionate about yoga and living a healthy lifestyle and is currently in the process of getting her yoga teacher training certificate.
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Meet Ashley Wilson – Training Department Adjunct
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Ashley is serving as an adjunct to the training department and provides coordination and project management support to various training initiatives and projects.
Ashley’s current full-time job is the Director of Brain Injury Services with the Brain Injury Association of NH. Prior to this role she was a Case Management Supervisor at a NH Developmental Services Agency. Ashley’s professional experience began in direct support roles.
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She brings a diverse array of organizational, technical, leadership and engagement skills. Ashley’s top 5 strengths are humor, perspective, appreciation of beauty & excellence, leadership, and love of learning. She currently resides in Dover, NH.
Education
- MS, Organizational Leadership, Granite State College
- BS, Human Services, Granite State College
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START Program Strengths: Curiosity
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WHAT IS CURIOSITY?
To be curious is to explore and discover, to take an interest in ongoing experience for its own sake. Curiosity is often described as novelty-seeking and being open to experience, and it’s associated with the natural desire to build knowledge. It is fulfilling to journey toward an answer, to engage in a new experience, or to learn a new fact. To go to a new restaurant, visit a new city, meet a new person in your class, or to conduct an online search for a question can each fulfill your quest for new experiences and new information.
There are two key components to curious individuals: They are interested in exploring new ideas, activities and experiences, and they also have a strong desire to increase their own personal knowledge.
Source: https://www.viacharacter.org/character-strengths/curiosity
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Every year as part of the START National Training Institute (SNTI), START programs from across the country participate in the annual Research Poster Session. This is an opportunity for START programs to channel their character strength of curiosity, to look beyond their day-to-day work and explore issues that are of interest to them and the communities they support. The research poster presentations utilize data from the START Information Report System (SIRS) in combination with other information collected through the work of START.
Being evidence-informed is at the core of the START model and the annual research posters are a demonstration of how START teams are ‘walking the walk’: using data to build capacity and knowledge of START practices beyond their individual programs. Furthermore, their research posters reflect and inspire curiosity. It’s an opportunity for START team members to expand on topics of interest, explore new trends and delve into what makes them most curious about the work they do and how they can do it better. So, in the spirit of the Research Poster Sessions, we’d like to ask: What are you curious about?
Visit our website to view this year’s poster presentations.
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Have a healthy and happy week,
National Center for START Services
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