Tag: Blog

Parenting Programs Fact Sheet

Meld Growing Families goes to Witte Museum and Peter Pipers Pizza

Meld, a component of MHM’s Parenting Programs, brings together groups of parents with similar parenting needs, and provides them with tools to help them become more confident leaders within their families. The program consists of peer groups guided by a team of Parent Group Facilitators, whose roles are to provide groups with curriculums designed to address health and safety, child guidance and development, family management and personal development.

The core philosophy of the Meld program stems from the belief that parents can, and do: learn from each other; give one another support; need to be free to make informed decisions about their families; and can cooperate in groups while maintaining their individuality.

In addition to their regularly scheduled weekly group sessions, Meld hosts annual family field trips as a benefit to program participants. “For many, this opportunity is huge. The Meld Family Field Trip is a chance for families to share time together. Some families simply do not have the financial capability to partake on this type of outing with the entire family. This celebration gives these families an occasion to go out as a family and experience quality time as a unit. It’s all about spending time with their children and other positive role models,” explains Alma Saenz, Parenting Programs Coordinator. 

In August, Meld Growing Families hosted a family field trip to the Witte Museum and Peter Piper Pizza. Meld parents, children, team members and volunteers came together to celebrate the successes of the group and strengthen their bonds as parents and guardians. In the end, a total of approximately 187 (113 children, 64 parents) participants attended the field trip.  

Join in on the fun by viewing photos from the Meld Family Field Trip on Facebook.

Sharlene Scheler, RN
Wesley Nurse, First United Methodist Church
Smithville, Texas

When the Wesley Nurse Health Ministries™ team was tasked with the goal of enhancing programs and partnerships through collaboration with their respective health committee and community agencies, I set a personal goal of completing two projects before the end of the year. 

With only four months left in 2013, I had my work cut out for me!

The first project, a Diaper Drive, was an instant success with 4,123 diapers collected for the Food Pantry and My Baby & Me.

Coming off of that massive achievement, we were excited to start planning the second major collaborative project: a Back-to-School Bash to collect school supplies and clothes.

To get started, the health committee and I visited with the principal of Brown Primary School in Smithville, Texas. We were surprised to learn that the demand for school supplies in the area was low; many local agencies donated school supplies at the beginning of each school year. We were even more surprised to learn of the strong need for health services for families in the community – especially around back-to-school time. Shifting gears in the direction of health care, we visited a local pediatrician, Dr. Spears to get his input and his reaction was validating. His response was, “I have been here seven years and this has never been done. Count me in!”

I also met with two area dentists. Their response to the proposal matched Dr. Spears’s, “Let’s do it!”

After receiving so much support from Smithville practitioners, I visited with a number of community agencies, groups and businesses to include: the Student Health Advisory Committee; school nurse; the police department; the Sheriff’s office; Speak Freely (a local speech therapist and audiologist); St. Mark’s Clinic; Tejas Clinic; Smithville Safe Route to School; DSHS; and countless others.

Now that the key players were aligned and interest was drawn, the school principal and his team suggested the fair be scheduled in coordination with school registration, with a focus on pre-k through second grade.

After advertising the fair in the local paper, passing out flyers and speaking at local functions, we had a flood of calls from community members wanting to volunteer or hold some role in this inaugural event.

Dr. Spears educated attendees on the harms of soft drinks, dentists handed out free toothpaste and toothbrushes and conducted brief dental exams, and vision tests were provided by a nurse clinician – one child was identified to have a severe vision problem, which alone made the event worth it.

The Sheriff’s office provided parents with electronic finger prints and educational DVD’s. The Police department gave out coloring books and safety resources.

Great Clips gave 35 haircuts. School nurses administered required immunizations and Wesley Nurses provided education on medication safety.

The First United Methodist Church of Smithville brought their popcorn machine and two congregation members dressed as clowns and made balloon art. Blue Bell Ice Cream donated ice cream and MHM provided Frisbees.

The fair ran from 1:00 to 5:00pm. In the end, over 100 residents showed up. All resources, goods and services – donated au gratis – were free to attendees. The only item that had to be purchased was bags for the fair which Wesley Nurse Health Ministries™ gladly secured.  

I must admit, when I set my goal of hosting two community event before December 2013 I thought I may have been too ambitious. I wondered how everything would come together, and if the end result would translate into a success. I am happy to report a resounding response to the two events recently held in Smithville. I look forward to bigger and better community-wide events next year!

On July 6, 2013, my 15 year old granddaughter was on a plane at the San Francisco International Airport when the Asiana Airlines Boeing 787 crashed upon landing. Her flight to China was delayed two days as the airport and airlines dealt with the aftermath of the tragedy.

This event and many more since that time also made me reflect on how I cope with tragedy – personal and global.

The acronym SPOT is my coping mechanism:

• Sadness. I reflect upon my personal sadness and loss out of the event. I also try to reflect upon the sadness and loss felt by my neighbors near and far.
• Pray. I pray to God for comfort, healing, presence, awareness, justice, mercy and guidance for me and for all touched by the tragedy.
• Offer Hope. I remember that God offers me and all people the hope of a better tomorrow in the midst of the darkest of times. God will bring healing, love and abundance into life out of the tragedy that has occurred. God is a God who gives abundant life to all.
• Tell. God tells God’s story of justice, mercy and a humble walk with God to everyone and invites each of us to engage in that journey that the world might be filled with joy, love and abundant life for each person.

In using the acronym SPOT I am able to be engaged with being comforted and healed in the midst of tragedy and living toward a world that seeks to be engaged with God that tragedy will be no more. I invite you to accompany me on that same journey.

Blessings,
Rev. Mickey McCandless

Each day in the United States, four children die as a direct result of child abuse.
 
Since 1977, Family Outreach Corpus Christi (FOCC), Inc. has offered hope to families in need by providing education, support and counseling in a safe environment based on the example of Christ.
 
Originally formed as a joint venture between Child Protective Services (CPS) and the Corpus Christi chapter of the National Council of Jewish Women, FOCC’s goal was to prevent child abuse by offering services to parents voluntarily seeking help. The ultimate goal, though, was to strengthen these families with hopes of preventing them from entering the CPS system.
 

Now an independent 501(c)(3) and a charter member of Family Outreach of America, FOCC has expanded their services to provide play therapy, support groups and psycho-educational classes. All services are offered free to the families of Nueces County and the surrounding area.

“When the things that have happened to you become the things you are doing, there is a problem. I used to say I would roll over dead before I became ‘her’, but I caught myself in the middle of a whirlwind of anger hollering at my children about laundry.  I used to stare at myself in the mirror and ask ‘who am I?’  …thankfully, I found the answer—I’m not alone.  FOCC has given me so much.” – FOCC client

Through Community Grants, MHM is able to strengthen other organizations’ capacity to provide care, as well as improve health outcomes for those served. FOCC joined MHM’s family of partners in 2008.
 
To date, MHM has provided over $350,000 in funding to support FOCC.
 
To learn more about FOCC, visit http://www.familyoutreach-cc.org/.

Congratulations to our 2nd Quarter Excellence Rock Stars

These individuals were nominated by their peers, and selected by the MHM Board of Directors for their demonstration of the MHM core values, and for being pillars of excellence in all they do on behalf of MHM.

These winners will receive a desktop award and a certificate signed by MHM’s President & CEO and the Board’s Personnel Committee Chair; winners will also be featured on the organization’s website and social media networks.

All winners will also receive a certificate for leave of one-half day (4 hours) to be used at the choosing of the award winner, approved by the supervisor or manager. Finally, all Excellence Achiever of the Quarter winners will be eligible to win the annual MHM ‘Spirit of Excellence’ award to be presented at the December team member Christmas party.

Please join us in celebrating their achievement!

2nd Quarter Excellence Rock Stars:

• Regina Garcia, Executive Assistant (Administration)
• Teresa Alejandro, Family Wellness Programs Coordinator (Community Programs)
• Beverlee Williams, Wesley Nurse (Wesley Nurse Health Minsitries™)

Step Out: Walk to Stop Diabetes is the American Diabetes Association’s (ADA) signature fundraising event. Founded in 1940, the ADA funds research to prevent, cure and manage diabetes; delivers services to hundreds of communities; provides objective and credible information; and gives voice to those denied their rights because of diabetes.

In 2012, MHM joined forces with the ADA by forming the MHM Challengers, a team compiled of MHM employees, clients, friends and family members. What started as a small, but dedicated group grew into a troupe of 117 team members making the MHM Challengers the third largest corporate team followed only by much larger organizations such as Wal-Mart and Walgreens.

Through months of recruiting, educating and fundraising, the MHM Challengers were able to raise $3,320 to contribute to preventing and curing diabetes. This, paired with MHM’s matching promise and sponsorship, brought the total funds to $11,640!

There are nearly 26 million people who have diabetes. In San Antonio, our rate of incidence is double the national average. At MHM, we promote nutrition education, healthy eating and physical wellness year-round. MHM also supports legislative and advocacy initiatives that aim to increase state efforts at addressing the prevention of chronic illness such as diabetes and obesity.

Recent estimates project as many as 1 in 3 American adults will have diabetes in 2050. Now is the time to take action. The MHM Challengers will make their second consecutive appearance at Step Out: Walk to Stop Diabetes on Saturday, November 2, 2013 at the AT&T Center in San Antonio, Texas. Will you join us?

For more information, contact info@mhm.org.

MHM is proud to partner with organizations that share our mission and organizational objective of delivering healthcare and social services to the least served in the South Texas region. By strengthening other organizations’ capacity to provide services, we achieve our overarching goal of increasing access to care.

In the Coastal Bend area, MHM’s investment has been particularly significant. To date, MHM has invested $5.7 million in the region, which includes Aransas, Atascosa, Bee, Karnes, Live Oak, McMullen, Nueces, San Patricio and Wilson counties.  

Mission 911, a faith-based mission dedicated to empowering people in poverty in the Corpus Christi area, is among these partners. A funded partner since 2007, Mission 911 performs outreach to citizens struggling with poverty through providing shelter, meals, transportation, vocational training and a place to worship.

“No one has a uninterrupted flow of joy, peace and happiness in their life. We all have our peaks and valleys, our ups and downs. It is true the measure of a person is how he or she handles being in those valleys or handles a crisis in one’s life. The Greek word crisis means a turning point for good or bad (evil) and a time for making decisions or judgments; an opportunity for positive change.” explains Tony Reyes, Founder and Executive Director of Mission 911.

To learn more about Mission 911, visit www.ccmission911.org.