To be honest, January 1st has never really felt like the beginning of the New Year to me. I have always thought that the day after Labor Day feels more like a new beginning. Regardless of this, I still use that last week of December to clean out files and reflect on the year past.
As many people have said, 2020 and 2021 have not exactly been typical years. A pandemic that rises and falls has overshadowed almost everything. This is especially true in the field of services for people with disabilities. Our first and primary responsibility is to ensure the health and safety of the people we support. I am proud of the heroic work our staff have done during this time.
New Years is also a time for change. January will be the last month of separate newsletters for NER and Hammer. Starting in February, there will be one newsletter highlighting both of these fantastic organizations. Just one more step in aligning and being “Better Together”.
Thanks for all the support and encouragement in the past year. Thanks also for continuing on this journey together.
Blessings,
John Estrem
CEO
|
|
Hollie used our Respite program and then moved into the Rollingview house when it opened in 1995 and still has two of the same roommates. The first thing I noticed about Hollie when I met her was her beautiful smile and laughter. Like many of us Hollie likes to begin her day with some coffee before going to work where she sorts cards. Hollie also like going to work to visit her friends and meet new people.
When Hollie gets home, she likes to use her tablet to watch YouTube videos, play games and listen to music. Hollie’s favorite thing to watch on YouTube is fireworks. One of her favorite Holidays is the Fourth of July because of the fireworks. Hollie also likes to bake, watch movies, toss a ball around and just hang out with her friends as they listen to music and dance.
Hollie’s favorite place to go is the Dollar Store where she can get a new scarf, puzzle book or sunglasses. Hollie is looking forward to the summer when it is warm out to go to Dairy Queen for some ice cream. She also likes going to Target or just shopping anywhere. Hollie misses bowling and the “Eagles” dances in Stillwater, MN. Where she saw many of her friends on Friday nights.
One thing I know is that Hollie is a creature of habit, after 25 years she still has the same “keyboard” and her string. This year, one of Hollies wishes is to go play bingo. So, stay tuned for a Bingo night!!!
Sondra Hampton
Operations Development Manager
|
|
|
Person-Centeredness
Review of 2021
|
|
As I listen to the news and hear others state how terrible 2021 was for them it makes me reflect on 2021 at Northeast Residence (NER). As you know, NER was acquired by Hammer Residences at the first of the year. Even before the acquisition, as I heard and read about Hammer Residences, it made me immediately think that the companies were twins separated at birth. As the previous interim Executive Director, Eric Schnell, stated in his January 2021 article, it was clear NER and Hammer both share the same deeply held values: Every person in our care deserves a safe and healthy place to live with person-centered support so they can experience life to its fullest.
We have worked hard and strategically to incorporate Hammer’s procedures and technology to better support the individuals living in NER homes and employees. We put together the Centralized Scheduling team to assist Program Managers and Directors with staffing. All NER employees now have a company email account as a means of improving communication and we are in the process of wrapping up networking our group homes with the help of Hammer and NER IT departments working together. Hammer recently introduced us to Ceridian Dayforce, which will be a great improvement for employees to check in and out of their shifts while allowing payroll to be much more efficient for all involved.
In 2021, virtual meetings became more of a means to communicate with others. NER’s IT team quickly went to the homes and put Zoom and Teams on laptops so the individuals we support were able to participate in virtual family gatherings, speak with people from their day programs or participate in meetings and appointments.
In 2022 we will continue to move forward adapting to Hammer’s procedures. Our communication books for each home will be online and information will be stored more in the cloud for easier access by those who need it. We will bring in additional resources to make life a bit easier for those individuals who are not fond of going to a clinic when they do not feel well or need lab work completed.
In summary, we have made great strides to improve our methods of working efficiently thus allowing more time for employees to work with the people we support. Was 2021 difficult? Yes, it was for many, but NER and Hammer did not let it get in the way of making as many improvements that we possibly could. We remain focused on the individuals and will continue to do so moving forward because we ARE better together.
We wish you all a very Happy New Year
Lin Curran
Director of Program Operations
|
|
|
Employee Spotlight on:
Christine Hagen
|
|
Christine Hagen has been with Northeast Residence for 5 1/5 years. She applied because her niece, who worked at NER and loved her job, suggested to Christine that she apply. She thought that Christine would really enjoy the work. (And Christine found out her niece was right!)
Christine worked weekends for a long time but was always up for cross training at other sites. In 2020, she transferred to the float staff. She really enjoys seeing the different people at each house and has worked at Rollingview, Morningside, Hwy 96, Labore, 9th Ave, Currie, Duluth, Edgewater, 33rd and Gramsie.
Christine’s advice to new staff is to stay positive and approach each shift with a good attitude- it will rub off on the people around you. She also advises to find ways to have fun. This is evident in her approach to each day as her favorite part of the job is the atmosphere. Christine says that the people at each house are usually happy and positive- she really likes the positive atmosphere! She also loves going on outings with the people at each house!
Christine’s supervisors say that Christine is great. She connects well with the people at each house and is amazing at picking up extra shifts whenever she is able.
When Christine isn’t working, she loves hanging out with her daughters and 9 grandkids (with one more due in July!) She also enjoys shopping and playing Bingo.
Becky Bollinger
Program Compliance Manager
|
|
|
Celebrating NER January Anniversaries
|
|
|
Thank you for all you do for Northeast Residence!
|
|
| First Name |
Last Name |
Department |
Start Date |
Years of Service |
| Marie |
Nygaard |
Cedarwood |
1/28/2019 |
19 |
| Bonita |
Connolly |
Corporate |
1/18/2007 |
15 |
| Traci |
Maruska |
Corporate |
1/23/2020 |
15 |
| Kumari |
Arimilli |
Hugo B |
1/30/2008 |
14 |
| William |
Odame |
Rollingview |
1/24/2011 |
11 |
| Denise |
Ring |
Co Rd. F |
1/29/2018 |
4 |
| Obaraeze |
Uba |
33rd Ave. |
1/29/2018 |
4 |
| Margaret |
Nelson |
Edgewater |
1/31/2018 |
4 |
| Gafari |
Arowojebe |
Allen |
1/15/2020 |
2 |
| Latisha |
Rondo |
5th Street |
1/20/2020 |
2 |
| Beatta |
Smith |
Co Rd. F |
1/23/2020 |
2 |
| Megan |
Umbreit |
Hale |
1/5/2021 |
1 |
|
|
|
Gift Card Winners *
Nanette Wrich
Selena Villanueva
Darrell Moore
Matthew Bakare
*Contact Brion Curran at bcurran@nerinc.org or call (651) 419 - 8615
|
|
|
|
"You will either step forward into growth or step back into safety"
- Abraham Maslow
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
