Don't you just LOVE Saturday mornings?
Heheheh Good morning again … this is just us … we’ve had our happy post AND met up with V for a few moments 
We’re feeling pleased as punch to be having G-daughters’ pictures to be posting. We’ve got them sitting beside us here on the screen so we can ogle them for a bit. BUT, we’re in such a good mood … we figured we’d like to spend this next hour on doing something for the brand new paper. HMMMMM… what do we do next??
Let’s see … need to pull something up … I know, I know … we could open up the one note and start by matching articles to outline! Yup, yup definitely have to do that … let’s see how to do that … let me think
Hmm. Let’s start again …Good morning. It is now 8:30 on Saturday … the last message above was written on Friday morning. We’ve just had a major coffee spill … so am trying to calm ourselves down. Around here … there is sure something electronic going to be hit. But, I think it is ok … just a startle. Yes filled up the cup again too.
We are trying something new … on the side … my son introduced it to us while we were over at his place last weekend. It is the Purell instant hand sanitizer hehehe it is supposed to kill 99.99% of germs! Eh, we weren’t worrying about germs as much as we try to keep our hands clean for the sake of the keyboard. I’m sure most of you have already used something like this … you put it on wet and within seconds it dries and your hands feel, look, and smell cleaner, AND are germ-free! Because of the “purell-kind” we got it is a bit of an astringent smell, which I happen to think is ok, but after a minute or two even that smell fades. The difference on my fingers feeling less oily is amazing … and because we have tendencies to lean on our face it is always a problem keeping our hands clean enough. AND, last nice reason is because we smoke, our hands in all reality could be easily made to smell better. I’ve never really liked lotions because of the greasy feeling and I choke up with perfumes and such. We even get unscented shhh secrets for women!
ANYway … I love this stuff! We got two fairly nice size 12 oz bottles. One for here and one for work. It’s kinda neat in an octagonal plastic bottle … It’s clear and a little jell like with a nice pump. My bottle claims 50% more bonus. Hehehe that’s kinda cool. I think Macadam has it now by the gallon! AHA … checked it out … comes in 2 liter … that’s what he’s got. It lists 8 and 2 and 1 and ½ oz., so I really must have quite the deal! It’s a great size. No stickiness or residue. Works in 15 seconds no water or towels, contains moisturizers and vitamin e … hehehe a walking billboard we are … Look for it really! It’s very, very cool stuff! Hmm 62% ethyl alcohol … that’ll probably do the trick! Haven’t owned an antiseptic since high school! Woo HOO
Ok, had to leave that site … having too much fun … I’m going to introduce it to sister if she hasn’t seen it yet. She’s on a cleanliness kick. She’s got a new cleaning service. I think she’s going to let this team go and try another, because they are not good enough, but this is in addition to three of our staff helping with the daily cleaning. It is a very clean place to work, but germs are abundant, because of the number of people in a relatively small area. I’m never too sure how well the clients are keeping their hands clean … We could get a dozen 12 oz bottles so every employee could have their own on their desk for $62. We think that’s a very good idea. AND the 2 liter bottle is only $22 if you get four or more for doing the refills. That’s about 67 ½ ounces or 8 ½ cups, or a little over ½ gallon. Should fill then over 5 ½ 12 ounce bottles for each 2 liters. Pretty cool! I know that the staff is interested because one of them got hand cleaners and now all of them want them because of the germs. Sister said it was too expensive though. This would be a whole lot cheaper. The only concern is if it would be considered a safety risk to keep a bottle on everyone’s desk. Let’s see for the pumps 43 cents an ounce, or 34 cents an ounce for the refill. That doesn’t seem so bad … not sure of usage though. I think with up to about 10 people in a room it could get used frequently, though just a drop or two will do you. Ok, ok … we’re pretty obsessive on this now. Better get moving along … next?
Hmm, Hmm… just thinking how on Earth does anyone survive without a computer and the Internet? Me and V. were talking this morning again about his son’s super-duper-fantastic new computer. These things just amaze the pieces out of me!
*Sigh*
Mental rush … hehehe scuze me!
Ok, anything from yesterday or the day before we need to go through? Hmm, first thing in mind was the Thinking Group. Sister has a Chicago Bishop coming to the center on Monday to give a special service. So, we figured out since no one else had done it that we should make cards to give him from the clients. That took an entire hour to do. We gave them each a paper and had them fold it in half, and then we gave them a sheet with ideas for religious pictures. We told them to let that help them, or go ahead and draw what they wished free hand. The only other thing we did was to print the Bishops name and date on the board. They took it from there. We walked around the room for most of the hour encouraging them to do more. More pictures (to fill up the paper) and more colors and details. They did a really nice job. We double checked to make sure all the names were on it and then afterward we placed them by group in envelopes and we’ll give to the DSPs on Monday so the room can hand their pictures personally to the Bishop when he comes to visit in each of the rooms. It’s always nice to give and get a little something on visits like this. The clients are pretty much like experts in doing cards. Lots of occasions to make something special. Hehehe AND we only had one renegade, who decided to share with the Bishop her love infatuation with boys.
There wasn’t any staff training this week because the other Q was out. Sister said that would give us a little more time for the Annual Report. We ran into a little scrimmage with her on Thursday that seemed to blow over for both on Friday. I think she’s a little tense getting everything in shape for the visit. Mostly, it was the same as before. She first wanted to cut down on 20 pages, then we cut down to 16, then she wanted more cut, then we cut down to 12, then she said AFTER she’d approved of the table of contents that she didn’t want a column on the President of the ARC of United States in the report. Fair enough, BUT I’d already written it and it was very good AND she wouldn’t even read it to consider it. HMPF! That was pretty insulting. Eh, so we did our best to let it go, but it took awhile. We’re fine with it now. Just a little frustrated with the time put into writing something good and it getting tossed without a chance. So, instead we’re directing the secretary to fill an entire page with pictures. I thought the other useful because the president was a parent speaking to parents, but it’s ok … can’t go wrong with some nice pictures.
On Friday, while watching the front (secretary out for the day too), we finished putting together what we could of the report. Everything is in now except the individual surveys and Sr.s financial reports, which won’t be finished until a couple of weeks into July. End of the year ends June 30th. The secretary has a good couple of days work though. I don’t think she’s real fast … just little detail things, but I know putting together something fun for the pictures will take some time. That buys me some more time to get the individuals’ survey done. It is a lottttttttttt of work! Not real mind-numbing stuff, but long nonetheless. It is VERY interesting stuff to do though. Some of the DSPs like the one that we let go not to long ago, we’re pretty unimaginative, but there are others who caught some pretty cool thoughts. Like we’re real sure when the clients went to this nature preserve thing that petting and taking care of the ferrets, “Spaghetti” and “Meatball” that that had been a very big hit! Hehehe. God love ‘em. We had ferrets once named Bonnie and Clyde. They were hysterical to watch. If it weren’t for them being filthy beasts *giggle* it would have been all good.
We were exceptionally happy with this thought expressed by one of the higher functioning clients. The question on the survey was “Is there something you would like to do? She responded, “Science. I want to learn more about water. It can be good or bad, but how?"
Was like profound … that’s a very intelligent question to ask and wonder about! This is a level, we don’t hear too much of from the clients. Usually, the responses are more like I liked going to the zoo, the monkeys are my favorite. I appreciate all these facts too, but sure do like when they wonder!
I’m only 2 months complete of the surveys and I have 9 more months to go … We’re doing something very different and terrific with the surveys this year. In the past the statements have been collected and grouped by question … there are 7 questions at all. Then we have tallied them up in approximate groups such as “wants more work in the workshop,” or “would like to go on more field trips,” or “I like my DSP because she’s nice and helps me learn.” I’ll add certain lists together like the latter might end up in a count of “I like my DSP because she’s nice.” This year though, I’ve put the project on a huge Excel spreadsheet. Along the tabs on the bottom, I have placed each of the individual questions. Then along the column on the top, I’ve put every client’s name and grouped them by DSP, and then by QMRP. That way later when we’re analyzing the data we can make more assumptions. Then along the left hand rows, we’ve added the statements. AND, we’ve started to put them in categories. Such as when they are saying I like to use the computer, we can add a mark in that category for any client who said it, but if they were more specific, then I’m recording that too. This level hadn’t been done before. So, under computer now, we might get sub-categories like “I like the Internet,” “I don’t like it when the computers are down,” or “I like to use the spelling program.” With a spreadsheet and the freeze function you can go on for ever!
A lot of the statements expressed are pretty generic … and there is a couple in particular that are responded to yes or no. Such as “Are you making progress with your goals,” or “Are you satisfied with the services you are receiving.” I am tallying that, but it’s even cooler when they add a statement too. I’m very impressed this time with the number of clients stating specific goals they are working with that are favorites. That’s a really cool thing. If the client adds, “I really hate housecleaning 8 times out of 12, then she will have in her column the number 8 next to hates housecleaning and her name. When we go to analyzing the spreadsheet later down the line, I am going to be very interested to know why the DSP didn’t do something about making the task more enjoyable or different enough to be appreciated. I think we’ve already got that kind of problem going with one of the DSPs … She’s starting a pattern to say, each of my clients don’t like workskills. I am very interested to know what she is doing or not doing. Because it is so consistent in her group, but not in others.
The reason behind the logic I’m using in this report … is that not only is it because we are this detail-minded, but at the CARF meeting they stressed that they are looking for 20% of all input coming from the clients. I think it is no longer than satisfactory not to notice, which particular clients are saying what, or how they respond uniquely, or as a trend. I’m pretty sure Sr. is not going to be overly happy, but I believe that then the center is expected to be incorporating some of the ideas the clients are stating and to do something about them. Some of the things they love like computers, cooking and outings, we generically plan for more of at the center, but as I mentioned before … we are making sub-categories. So right now I might have a list of 7-8 places specifically the clients want to go … this in all reality has to be considered, within budget and time, of course.
Even more than generic outings, and shopping, the clients really seem to want to get out to eat. This is something that is hard to budget, because the families have limited means to pay, and the center has only so much money to go around. Even at a $5 dinner, it would cost the center $250 to treat the clients out, another $50 for staff, and then there is the transportation costs to get everyone out, which generically run $200-400. Not to say this isn’t done, but not often enough. For example, the groups have been on about one “mission” a year to some kind of religious place or another. To see a particular Saint’s Sanctuary, or on the way to a retreat center on a farm, or such. It’s a pretty big deal for the clients. They rent a coach bus and love getting out and it keeps the center’s moral high. Sister has been known to get the buses were they can watch movies and use the washroom.
Sister has also purchased a third van and that seems to be helping or will after all the staff finish their vacations. We can pretty much get the entire center somewhere between the vehicles in two trips. Works great for days spent at the park. Though it is much more common for the DSPs to grab an extra staff and a couple of them to take one group at a time somewhere. Sr. is big on things like free days at the Museum of Science and Industry. There is a ton of cultural things going on in Chicago, so it is not difficult to also get out to the African American or Hispanic/Latino Musuems, or for that matter the art museum, or the Halloween celebration down at Daley Plaza. Millinium Park? YOOOHOOOO!!! Be great this year if Sr. could budget enough money to get groups down to the Chicago Food Fest. Hmm, not sure if that’s what you call it something like that. Huge gathering of lots of venders and attractions held down at Grant Park. One more favorite set of spots is Navy Pier, beach/marinas, and the horticultural shows. We have one poor client who pleads, please take us back to Adler planetarium and IMAX!
Well, pretty sure you are getting the idea why the individuals like to get out and about. Like I said … they are very culturally-minded this group. There is simply no excuse for nothing to do in Chicago.
Hmm, we strayed there a bit from the surveys. Anything to finish those thoughts out? Naw, not really, but they are a lot of fun, even though pretty tedious. It is wonderful though knowing what they are thinking about. Each year I am left wondering why it took us so long to get around to going through them. The parents’ survey is a lot easier to do. They have about the same amount of questions, but they are asked only once a year and most the questions are yes and no. There were 34 of them who responded this year. I found ourselves first going through the one question where they get to respond to something extra they would like for their sons/daughters/siblings. When I started to collate all the desires, I realized they were fitting into my preset categories of social, community, living, personal, and achievement. That was pretty cool. Then we tallied up the yes and no’s and made a “kudos” paragraph for all the nice things said about staff or center. It fit beautifully on one page and I think its very well coordinated and informative. Really happy with it, and there was no trouble with sister. AND, there were NO bad comments this year, although one parent wanted to make sure we know that her daughter didn’t like picnics or bugs.
Another page finished is the demographics page. I liked the way that turned out this year too. Especially, considering we had to narrow it down to one page instead of two. I ended up keeping it on a spreadsheet format. On the left side of the paper, I listed about 8 categories, things like gender, primary diagnosis, age, length of time at the center, etc. Then I listed out the sub-categories, the numbers, and percentages. There were 46 clients counted this year. I left those things in regular size print so they were very easy to read. Then I used a bar graph with thick colored lines that touched, but went sideways. I didn’t use any descriptions except at the bottom you can see like how many percentage etc. Mostly though it is to visually identify spacially the difference between 72% and 36%, and such. I leave the graphs to go down the right side. It looks real nice, and we left the secretary a note saying she could change the colors of the bars to color-coordinate with the rust colors she’s using this year.
Hmm, that’s about it on that … generally, we’re real pleased with how she is going together this year.
Hmm, ok … ok … about time to move on … I only have one more thing I wanted to mention. If I have forgotten to tell you, Sweetie-Pie has left yesterday and should be well into Canada. He was at Duluth last night. He called. *Gigglin* He said he might do that once, but I surely didn’t expect the first day out! He sure, sure seems to be happy. He’s had a nice drive and had just come from a smorgasbord steak place with the guys. He had left a little earlier to go outside and make the call. He was so slaphappy goofy! Just chuckled me to pieces. That’s all … just wanted to say that all’s well that is going along quite well. Hehehe
Ok, It’s almost 11 and I seriously want to be getting back into the paper. I never quite remember what we are doing until we get in fully. But, I remember that we were having fun with whatever it was that we were doing. Vince had reminded me it was time to be moving on and we hadn’t wanted to stop what we were doing. I think I’m going to post this part of the post now, so I don’t get you too backed up with them, AND so I can start fresh on the project at hand. So, until we see you next. Umm, we’ll see you!
Very happily yours!
Oh one more shot, we forgot ... this was us trying to explain to V this morning the late night partying that had gone on the night before ... those Bermuda shorts kind of says it all ... Likely as not there was bound to be one trouble-maker in the bunch!
posted by Ann Marie @ 6/24/2006 10:49:00 AM
Comments: 1
