In this issue p2 Championing People
Who Support People with Disabilities
p3 It’s Stockley Time! p4 Eyes of Hope p6 Patient Advocacy p7 Polar Plunge! volume 27/#2 • spring 2017
Hope House Foundation Staff Christie Lacefield Wins Ancor’s Direct Support Professional Award 2nd National Award for Hope House Staff
in this area in many important ways. Recently, Christie ensured that all interested individuals were registered to vote and had support to do so. Christie also launched agency civic meetings at which people come together to discuss what’s working for them and what’s not.
Our congratulations to Christie Lacefield, community support coordinator, who was honored by the American Network of Community Options and Resources (ANCOR) with its 2017 Direct Support Professional Recognition Award. The award is given to those who personify the values of ANCOR’s National Advocacy Campaign, which works to ensure a professional and sustainable direct support professional workforce and to increase public awareness of their important work. Nominees are judged on their success in helping people with disabilities build social networks and engage in substantive community participation and for advocating for the people they serve. Christie holds strong beliefs about the importance of supporting individuals with intellectual disabilities in directing their own lives. She has demonstrated her willingness to lead services
Christie Lacefield and Lucinda
ANCOR selected Hope House Foundation as the Service Provider of the Year in 2012.
This year, Christie assisted a person receiving support, Chris, with gaining confidence to assert her wishes. With Christie’s help, Chris joined the Endependence Center and Our Voices. Chris also contacted a peer advocate and called the Disability Law Center for advice. Thanks to Christie’s influence, Chris is now able to express her feelings more confidently and is thrilled to have opened her first checking account at a bank. This is the second national direct service award that a Hope House staff member has received. And, in 2012, ANCOR selected Hope House Foundation as the Service Provider of the Year.
From the Executive Director
Championing People Who Care for People With Disabilities “Quality is defined at the point of interaction between the staff member and the individual with a disability.” – John F. Kennedy, Jr. 1996 I love this quote from John F. Kennedy, Jr. It moves me not only because he, like many members of the Kennedy family, cared and advocated for people with disabilities, but because this President’s son looked at championing people with disabilities through a different lens, that of the direct support staff member. In this field there are countless regulations, inspections, oversight and governmental bodies designed at some level to deliver quality. Yet I know for a fact that quality, the kind that matters, happens in the unseen moments, the briefest of exchanges or the gut-wrenching process of supporting someone through loss, or moving a dream to reality. Providing great support and service is not a science but rather an art form. Supporting people well and with quality is full of improvisation, ingenuity and great insight. It requires tenacity, a sense of social justice and an uncompromising belief in inclusion. Those who are good at it are also good at partnerships, communication and working within a team framework. They have the ability to anticipate needs, solve complex Lynne Seagle
Direct support professionals are the champions of equality and the barrier to exploitation. issues and encourage the expression of very unique and diverse individuals. People who love this work do not see a job, they see a mission. They understand that their idea of service, real quality service, is the only thing that leads truly to community, not just for people with disabilities but for all of us. Direct support professionals are the champions of equality and the barrier to exploitation. At Hope House Foundation, they represent the majority of our employees. Out of 261 part- and fulltime staff, 239 provide direct support to people with disabilities. When we have asked people with disabilities what matters to them most, the answer is always the same: that the directsupport professionals they know will remain. It’s a modest yet challenging request. By 2020 the need for direct support professionals will be at five million, larger than fast-food workers or teachers, and by 2022 another million will be needed. The discrepancy between the skills needed to produce the quality we envision and the wages paid is apparent. This issue does not just affect those with developmental disabilities, but anyone who requires support to live and flourish within the community. This could be the returning soldier, your elderly mom or your
Dear Lynne, This contribution is in honor of John Smith. Your perseverance and “never give up” attitude in having him accepted as a resident of Hope House will always be appreciated. Hope House provided John a much-needed respite of happiness in the final days of his life.
Your Friend, Channing Pfeiffer
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child with mental health needs. It’s a big issue that requires awareness, discussions and political will. Where are the champions for this issue nationally? I know the National Alliance for Direct Support Professionals is speaking loudly across the country about low wages, the need for investment in education and training, career ladders and certification. I know organizations such as Hope House Foundation spend the bulk of their funding on this workforce, yet there is a disconnect with our political leadership. We worry about the jobs in our country being replaced by robots, but do we worry about the ones that cannot be replaced? We can do better. If we believe in the value of including people with disabilities in our neighborhoods and communities, then we too must believe in the value of those who are key to making this happen. You can not have one without the other. At Hope House we promote from within, invest in the individual, implement retreats, provide bonuses when we can and strive to create a culture of forgiveness, accountability and acknowledgement. All of this helps bring quality to our services and value to our workforce. Recently, two of our direct support professionals have received national awards that reflect the exceptional quality they bring to their work. They both deserved this recognition, as do so many others. The time has come to match our words of accolades for those who dedicate their careers to service to deeds of action for living wages and education.
“You can’t cross the sea merely by standing and staring at the water.” Rabindranath Tagore
Presented by
Sat. May 20, 10 am–5 pm • Sun. May 21, Noon–5 pm Art Party, Sat, 5 pm–7 pm with Urban Hill | Cash Bar
This year’s poster is by Amanda Outcalt, a mixed-media artist living and working in Norfolk, Va. She received her BFA in painting and metalsmithing from East Carolina University in 2008. Her work has been shown locally and nationally, including a recent solo show at the Virginia MOCA satellite gallery and a solo exhibition at Slippery Rock University. Her current work uses intaglio etched copper plates and painting, drawing, and collage to tell different narratives. When she is not working in her studio, Amanda also teaches art for Norfolk Public Schools.
Saturday, May 20 11:00am, Olivia Dyer | 11:30am, Mark Rogers 1:00pm, Pyrrhic Whim | 2:00pm, Little Doors 3:30pm, Jeremy Lasley and the Lastoness
Sunday, May 21 Noon, Troy Breslow | 12:30pm, Hot Gumbo Brass Band 1:45pm, School of Rock Norfolk House Band 3:30pm, Roebuck
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The Eyes of Hope 6th Annual Feather the Nest
Feather the Nest raised over $10,000 in gift cards and donations to be used to purchase much-needed items for those supported by Hope House to make their house a home. Hope House board members, FTN attendees and KDW Home staff enjoyed a fantastic evening filled with energy and great music by Breaking Brad.
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Photography: Howard Rodman
Hope House Foundation– proud to be a partner.
Shamrockin’ in Ghent 2017 Shamrockin’ in Ghent raised $20,000 for Hope House Foundation. This annual event brings the community together to start their St. Patick’s Day festivities.
Photography: Howard Rodman
“It does not matter how slowly you go as long as you do not stop. ” Confucius
VEER Music Award
Stockley Gardens Arts Festival won “Best Outdoor Festival Featuring Local Music” at the 6th Annual Veer Music Awards. 5
Patient Advocacy. What is it and why do we need it? Joyce Schmidt, RN, BSN, MSN President, Medical Care Advocate Group, LLC The geriatric population is the fastest-growing population in America. This aging of the population is one of the biggest trends affecting healthcare — over the next 25 years, the number of people older than 65 will double. By 2050 those 85 and older, including all Baby Boomers, will represent one of every five senior citizens. Studies also show that fewer physicians will enter the workforce, resulting in nurse practitioners (NPs), physician assistants (PAs) and other midlevel practitioners becoming the primary providers of patient care. As most of us have already experienced, when we do get to see our doctor instead of an NP or PA, the doctor is typically limited to a 15-minute visit. As seniors and adults with developmental disabilities age, most will face increasing and more complex healthcare needs. In addition, sometimes dwindling finances, fear, denial, family issues and legal concerns will complicate their situation. Healthcare advocacy is becoming an increasingly necessary service for anyone trying to navigate our complex medical system.
A professional medical-care advocate can help foster and encourage patient empowerment by demanding complete communication, ensuring continuity of treatment (after hospitalization or upon completion of rehabilitation) and helping break down barriers for patients. An advocate will help patients navigate the maze of modern healthcare and act as a champion by asking the right questions, accompanying patients to doctor visits and, if needed, be present throughout a hospitalization to access medical professionals and information not always available to families. Nurse advocates with strong clinical backgrounds are savvy about whom to turn to in various medical environments, including hospitals, rehabilitation facilities or nursing homes, and even for home safety. The medical-care advocate team (social workers and experienced RNs) has an obligation to support patients and families throughout their therapeutic journeys and across the continuum of care. This means helping patients and their families become their own empowered healthcare advocates. For more information, contact joyce@medicalcareadvocacygroup.com or call (757) 469-3670.
What is a Representative Payee? By Brian Boys, Attorney, Atlantic Law PLC In a prior issue, I discussed tools available to assist an individual in the management of his or her affairs, including a Power of Attorney. Another tool, namely for those who receive benefits from the Social Security Administration, is the Representative Payment program. The Representative Payment program allows an individual to be appointed as the Representative Payee of a beneficiary who needs assistance managing his or her Social Security or Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits. The Representative Payee is responsible for the financial management of these benefits including: 1) ensuring they are used to pay for the current and foreseeable needs of the beneficiary (e.g., food, clothing, shelter, utilities, dental and medical care, and personal comfort items), 2) saving unused benefits, and 6
3) maintaining records of all actions taken as Representative Payee. Representative Payees must always make decisions that are in the beneficiary’s best interests, according to the Representative Payee’s best judgment. It is important to recognize that even if the beneficiary has signed a Power of Attorney, he or she will still need a Representative Payee to manage Social Security benefits, as the Treasury Department does not accept Powers of Attorney for negotiating these benefits. Conversely, a Representative Payee cannot assist the beneficiary with matters outside Social Security Administration benefits and may not sign legal documents in ways that an Agent under a Power of Attorney may. Also, a Representative Payee has no legal authority over income from any sources other than Social Security or SSI.
Prosper Insurance Poker Tournament Prosper Insurance Group will host its annual poker tournament, Prosper’s Poker Party, Thursday, May 18. This No Limits Texas Hold’em tournament will take place at The Signature at West Neck at 3100 Arnold Palmer Drive, Virginia Beach, from 6 to 11 p.m. Tickets are available online for $70 at www. prosperinsurancegroup.regfox.com/ prospers-poker-party, and all proceeds benefit Hope House Foundation. The first 50 people to register will get an extra $100 in chips in addition to the basic registration. Tickets include $1,000 worth of chips, one drink ticket and hors d’oeuvres. The tournament with be capped at 100 players. There will be a limited buy-back option and a cash bar available all night.
N.C.-based Consortium Partners with Hope House Foundation and Others to Integrate People with Disabilities into Community Settings The North Carolina Council on Developmental Disabilities (NCCDD) selected Asheville-based Vaya Health to lead a statewide effort to improve how healthcare providers and other organizations can help individuals with intellectual or developmental disabilities (I/DD) successfully live in homes of their own. As part of the initiative, Vaya plans to partner with leaders of the Norfolk-based Hope House Foundation, Community Resource Alliance and National Leadership Consortium on Developmental Disabilities at the University of Delaware. NCCDD chose Vaya, a public managed healthcare organization serving 23 western North Carolina counties, as the recipient of the state’s “Supported Living – Making a Difference” grant. The grant offers $100,000 per year, for up to three years, to build the capacity of supported living programs and share lessons learned to help people with I/ DD achieve greater independence.
Marvin Daniels— Mayor’s Award for Feather the Nest Marvin Daniel of KDW Homes was first introduced to Hope House at the 2011 Rise and Shine Breakfast. He was so moved by the presentation that he established an event focused on the individuals supported by the organization. Called Feather the Nest, it is an invitation-only shower where the cost of admission is a gift card/certificate and/or a household furnishing item. Members of the community learn more about Hope House Foundation and provide support through donated gifts and home items. Not only has the event been a great success, it has grown each year. Over the past six years, a total of $106,000 in gift cards and cash has been raised, along with the household items guests have contributed. Every person in Hope House has benefited from the event, which has included remodeling of apartments by design professionals to furniture, fixtures and gift cards for stores like The Home Depot, Target, Lowe’s and others so people with disabilities can purchase items needed to make their homes more livable. The people who receive services through Hope House Foundation have extremely limited incomes. However, Marvin Daniel and KDW’s support has enriched their lives and provided some of the comforts of home that they otherwise would not be able to enjoy. Items have included safety technology, microwaves, toasters, lamps, kitchenware, home décor and bedding. One woman who uses a wheelchair was unable to go up the stairs to do her laundry. Funds from Feather the Nest paid for a new washer and dryer, and she is now able to do her laundry in her own apartment. Marvin was recognized by Mayor Will Sessoms of Virginia Beach with the Mayor’s Award for People with Disabilities. Congratulations and Thank YOU!
Spotlight Page Polar Plunge
The 25th Annual Special Olympics Virginia Polar Plunge might have been the most special one for Page Powell, who has participated in the event for 13 years. Last year, Page competed to be selected as a Special Olympics Global Messenger. If chosen, she would become a spokesperson for the Special Olympics. To be selected, she had to write a speech, select a mentor, apply for the position and present in front of a panel. Page was indeed named a Global Messenger this year and was asked to speak to students and teachers participating in the Feb. 3 Cool School Challenge. “I really enjoyed speaking to the Cool School plungers and being on stage!” she said. Additionally, Page directed the Pledge of Allegiance on Saturday, Feb. 4, and led the crowd, while carrying the American flag, to the Polar Plunge starting point. She even braved the plunge with her “plunge buddy” and boyfriend of four years, Allen, who works as a bagger at Harris Teeter in Harbor View. This year, Page raised more than $1,100 for the Special Olympics. To date, the Virginia Beach Special Olympics Polar Plunge has raised more than $1.1 million for the Special Olympics Virginia, which covers the expenses for athletes so they can compete.
“If you can dream it, you can do it. ” Walt Disney
Hope House Foundation Board of Directors
20% off any purchase with this ad—Thru 6/30/17 1800 Monticello Avenue • Norfolk Mon–Sat, 10am–6pm
Joshua Harris, President Anne Standing, Vice President Janet Davis-Merlo, Secretary Jonathan Gray, Treasurer Dorothy Clark Matthew Fine Pam Katrancha Whitney Katz Shannon Layman-Pecoraro Pete Leddy
Richard C. Mapp III Tom McCune, M.D. Peggy Meder Thomas Moss III Jeff Parker Grey Persons Jacqueline Schillereff DiAna White Lynne Seagle, Executive Director
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Nonprofit Org. U.S. Postage PAID Norfolk, VA Permit #535
801 Boush Street Suite 302 Norfolk, VA 23510 www.hope-house.org 757-625-6161 757-625-7775 fax Hope House is a certified United Way of Hampton Roads agency. Designation #5070
spring 2017
events
Be our friend!
May 18 Prosper Insurance Poker Tournament. 6–11 p.m. Signature at West Neck. Tickets are $70, which includes two drink tickets, food and $100 in chips. Purchase tickets online at https://prosperinsurancegroup.regfox.com/prospers-poker-party
May 20–21 TowneBank presents the 2017 Stockley Gardens Spring Arts Festival. Enjoy the works of over 125 artists in a variety of mediums. This event is free and open to the public. Visit www.stockleygardens.com.
June 9 Tidewater Blues All Star Event. 7–10 p.m. with music by BluzHammer & Brandon Bower band. 715 Shirley Ave., Norfolk. Tickets are $20 in advance and $25 at the door. Purchase at www.hopehousersvp.com.
June 22 Hope House Foundation’s 39th Annual Dinner. 6–10 p.m. at Hilton Norfolk THE MAIN. For more informa-
tion and sponsorship opportunities, please call (757) 625-6161. July 1 Hops for Hope. Noon–7 p.m. at Bold Mariner Brewing Co.