Staff Stories

Bob Powell, Finance Director, Plymouth Meeting Office, Collaborative Support Services

A meeting with the staff of one of the funding sources became confrontational. Bob changed the tone of the meeting. At exactly the right times he brought all the parties back into focus with his statements, “You know, we’re all here for the people we serve,” “Let’s stay focused on how we can provide the best services for children and families,” and “Our goal is to support the children and families, so lets work this out.” His ability to be positive in the midst of conflict neutralized the disagreement and got the meeting back on track. Positive Approaches at KenCrest is keeping the most important values clearly in focus even in the face of antagonism.

(03/15/13)

Timothy Dunbar, Jr., Direct Support Professional, Philadelphia Residential Services, Community Living Services

During the power outages from Hurricane Sandy the three individuals at one of our community homes had to be relocated to various hotels. Timothy remained on duty around the clock to help make arrangements for the residents. When other staff were not able to get in to work due to the weather, he worked the entire day. Meanwhile, the individuals from that home were growing concerned and wanted to contact their families. Tim took out his personal cell phone and allowed all three individuals to talk to their families, calming themselves and their family members. At KenCrest, Positive Approaches is doing whatever has to be done to help people through rough times.

(03/01/13)

Janice Tyree, Community Home Supervisor, Philadelphia Community Homes, Community Living Services

During Hurricane Sandy, many homes were left without electricity. Included was the community home where Janice works. When the lights went out, many were challenged to improvise in order to keep the consumers safe and well. When supervisory staff checked in with Janice, all the residents were in a good mood. She was playing cards with them … by flashlight. Positive Approaches at KenCrest is keeping yourself and those around you calm and happy, even during a natural disaster.

(02/15/13)

Cheryl Chamberlain, Support Staff, Personal Support Network, Community Living Services

Cheryl suggested she and the individual she supports take a trip to New York City. Her individual had never been there and was excited about the possibilities. Each week Cheryl incorporated planning for their trip into their time together. They talked about budgeting, the weather, and appropriate clothing. They visited a travel agency, looked into various bus tours, and compared transportation costs. Her individual had a wonderful time and was “in awe” the entire trip! Cheryl was willing to go on this trip even though it would take all day and she could only get paid for part of the hours. She showed a true dedication to her individual and to her job. Positive Approaches at KenCrest is all about fulfilling someone’s dreams.

(02/01/13)