Shining Star Stories — St. Joseph's Villa

Archive for Shining Star Stories

Connie Hill Really Helps Her Families!

By Bruce on March 27, 2012

Connie Hill, Service Coordinator at Hollybrook Apartments, has also worked at St. Joseph’s Villa as a Clinician providing Intensive In-Home Services. This is a story from those days. By Pamela Willard

Connie Hill provided Intensive In-Home services to a boy who was falling behind in school and in maturation due to his disabilities. Connie became quite creative in her therapeutic approach to providing services to her client. And it paid off.

Connie, with strong case management, advocacy, persistence and dedication, was able to work with her client and assist with implementing supplemental IEP goals, while at the same time ensuring that his education was mainstreamed as much as possible. Slowly but surely, he started to make progress. He started performing more age appropriate activities of daily living, including keeping his room neat and tidy and his bed made. Once rapport was established with the family, Connie was able to implement additional strategies in the home, assisting them with their overall functioning as a family system. Dinner time, as well as morning rush time, became much more pleasant for the family of four.

Soon, her client’s grades became better, he was able to interact more appropriately, interpersonally, with his peers and communicate his needs much more effectively. His inappropriate behaviors decreased, and he started to make friends! All the while, Connie continued to hold her client and his family members accountable for his treatment goals and objectives. She diligently worked with his treatment team, for continuity of services and to ensure that all of his needs were being addressed.

The boy’s mother, who at one time had been frustrated with her son’s behavior, began to speak more positively about him. With praise from his family and Connie, the boy became proud of his accomplishments. He desired to continue to make strides, as he learned to work around any barriers and build on his strengths.

Connie provided Intensive In-Home Services for eight months, and then he was successfully discharged. Connie was thrilled with her client’s success and had grown to know the family quite well. During her last session, the family treated her to a family dinner; they brought out the best china, they prepared a special meal. Everyone ate together. As the time approached for Connie to make discharge recommendations and say her goodbyes, she felt the strength of her commitment to serving the family and her client. The family was grateful for Connie and thanked her profusely. Her client, although saddened to say goodbye, held his head up a bit higher, with an air of confidence that he lacked prior to receiving Intensive In-Home services.

Connie Hill truly served a child and family in need and never stopped believing! Connie went on to become the Service Coordinator for Hollybrook apartments, here at St. Joseph’s Villa. Word around Hollybrook is that Connie is just as dedicated to that community and its residents as she was to her Intensive In-Home clients and families. That’s not surprising!

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Categories: 03/12 (March 2012), At-risk youth services, Date, Services, Shining Star Stories

Villa Pals Get More Than They Give

By Bruce on December 6, 2011

By Ann Frost, Villa Volunteer

I began my volunteer work at St Joseph’s Villa with two little boys when the Villa Pals program began. I was looking for something to do to try and make a difference with kids after retiring from 35 years of teaching in Chesterfield County. Little did I know, they would make the difference in me. These kids and this program have really touched my heart and have been an inspiration to me.

Jada and Ann

My latest little one has been a young lady full of energy and spunk. She has kept me busy and made me laugh each time I am with her. From the moment I got her from whatever activity she was involved in, until I returned, she kept me on my toes. We played lots of games, did a little art work (not really her thing) but mostly she just wanted to engage in pretend play. Her imagination was really something!!

We started trying to ride her bike in the Spring when the weather began to improve and we could be outside. She gave up rather quickly when it did not come easy to her. I tried to encourage her to keep trying but she was not interested. When someone came to take our picture for the newsletter her interest was sparked again. On different days we would take out the bike and try riding it in the grass in case she fell. Finally on our last day together I convinced her to give it a try on the hard surface of the road. She was very hesitant but went along with me. I got her started and away she went. She rode about 50 feet, jumped off and turned to me with her arms up in the air….”I DID IT!”, she screamed. The joy on her face brought tears to my eyes. She then had to stop anyone that went by and had them watch her ride her bike.

This program has been such a success not only for the children but for the volunteers as well. My time with these kids has been such a rewarding experience. Thank you to St. Joseph’s Villa and all who are responsible for making this happen. I cannot imagine my life without my little ones!

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Categories: 11/11 (November 2011), Homeless children and families services, Shining Star Stories, Volunteering

Robert Shines with Day Treatment Services

By Bruce on October 3, 2011

A Shining Star Story by Cherie Rochelle, Treatment Specialist

Robert is a ten year old male client who graduated from the After School Day Treatment program on September 16^th. Robert received Day Treatment services for approximately a year and a half to help him with anger management issues, anxiety, impulsivity, social withdrawal, interpersonal relationships, conflicted family relationships and difficulty expressing his thoughts and feelings in an appropriate manner.

While Robert struggled in the beginning to come out of his shell and relate to others, he came to realize he was not alone in his journey and that many of his peers had similar struggles. Our staff met Robert “where he was,” unconditionally, and formed a healthy “teaching” relationship, which allowed Robert to become a more confident, autonomous and successful individual.

He was able to work within the therapeutic and behavioral milieu to gain the self esteem he needed to improve his and his family’s quality of life. Robert revealed himself to be a caring young man who loves playing outdoors (baseball and football), learning about himself, playing in the snow, playing video games and ultimately, spending quality time with both his mother’s and father’s families.

Robert took his treatment seriously and worked hard to overcome his shyness and participate in his therapeutic growth, especially in his ability to express his thoughts and feelings. He became a leader among his peers, showing he could be trusted and honest, even when they might not want to hear it. When Robert struggled, his peers were there for him to assist him with what he needed to do. This was a valuable lesson for all in learning that needing help is not a sign of weakness but rather a sign of our “human-ness.”

Robert learned to use his many supportive services. During the past few years, Robert and his family have benefitted from community-based psychiatric and individual therapy, Intensive In-home, IEP support services in the school and Day Treatment services. He shared that he was no longer embarrassed by the need for help and can now look at these supports as “tools for his tool box of life” as we frequently called it in the group.

We are proud of Robert’s success and look forward to hearing about his future life adventures. We feel honored to have been a part of his and his family’s growth and wellness!

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Categories: 09/11 (September 2011), At-risk youth services, Services, Shining Star Stories

Geoffrey Shines at the Sarah Dooley Center

By Bruce on August 30, 2011

By Geoff Tubbs, Education Specialist

Geoffrey T. has been a student at Sarah Dooley Center for Autism since July, 2006. He was first enrolled due to his serious behavioral challenges (including aggression and running away) and significant developmental deficits. These challenges made it extremely difficult for Geoffrey to participate in activities with his peers outside the school environment.

Since enrolling five years ago, Geoffrey has made significant improvements in areas related to communication, daily living skills, transition and academics that has allowed him to grow and participate more fully in activities he enjoys. Geoffrey has improved his communication with others by using a PECS book, which includes photographs of the things Geoffrey most often wants, including food, drink, and use of the bathroom. He also uses it to let staff know what he would like to do during his leisure time. Some of the things Geoffrey enjoys are spending time outside, playing on the swing, and listening to his favorite music group, the Black Eyed Peas.

Geoffrey has also improved his academic skills. He completes all of his work-related tasks independently and precisely, working up to 15 minutes at a time. He is also involved in the Career and Transition Program on campus and has been doing a wonderful job completing shredding, recycling, and environmental services tasks. Geoffrey has also been able to tolerate and complete tasks related to hygiene and daily living, such as fixing a meal or snack.

The final area in which Geoffrey has shown progress is community involvement. Geoffrey has made great progress by going regularly to the vending machine at the Administration Building. He has also gone to Three Lakes Park, Wal-mart and the movie theatre at Virginia Center Commons. These trips provide much-needed experience for Geoffrey in becoming fully integrated into his community. Geoffrey is a wonderful student and we are very lucky to have him at Sarah Dooley Center for Autism!

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Categories: 08/11 (August 2011), Autism and developmental disabilities services, Shining Star Stories