Now You Know
the staff newsletter
Volume 12 Issue 1
1st Quarter
2014
edited by
Roger Richmond
Integrity
Matters
.
Roger Richmond
We want to maintain focus on our Values Statement (see page 8 for the entire
statement) and on Person Centered Practices in as many ways as possible.
With respect to our Values, in my opinion, if we had to choose one single
value from the six we’ve identified that stands out above all the rest, it would
have to be Integrity. If you are a person of integrity, then everything else
should follow. If you’re lacking in integrity, you are probably more likely to
conduct yourself in ways that may not be proper or productive to the organization.
A person of integrity displays the highest standards of professional
conduct, ethical behavior and personal responsibility. According to
About.com, “Integrity is one of the fundamental values that employers seek
in the employees that they hire. It is the hallmark of a person who
demonstrates sound moral and ethical principles.
A person who has integrity lives his or her values in relationships with
(Continued on page 2)
Walk the talk Award
The Walk the Talk Award was implemented in order to recognize those
employees who truly exemplify and conduct themselves in accordance
with the Values and Vision Statements of Michael Dunn Center. Nominees
should be employees who maintain a high level of standards in their
support of people and who set a good example for others in their daily
activities. The award is presented to one employee, quarterly. Recipients
are presented with a framed certificate of appreciation, a copy of which is
posted in the lobby of the main MDC facility, and a $100 gift card.
We are pleased to recognize Wanda Davis, C.G. Sexton House
DSP, as the current Walk the Talk Award recipient.
(Continued on page 2)
DID YOU KNOW?
You can earn FREE
MONEY, and plan for
your future?
Sign up for our 403-b
retirement plan.
MDC will match up
to 3% of the
eligible employee’s
compensation that
the employee
contributes to the
plan.
Inside this issue:
Nursing
Department
Recognitions
3
Andi Murphy
4
Transitions
4
Notice the
Good Things
5
New Home
for Richard
5
Things I Wish
I Had Known
5
Outcomes
& Actions
6
Reach Out a
Hand
7
Things I Wish I
Had Known
7
Integrity, continued
(Continued from page 1)
coworkers, customers, and stakeholders. Honesty and trust are
central to integrity. Acting with
honor and truthfulness are also
basic tenets in a person with
integrity.
People who demonstrate integrity
draw others to them because
they are trustworthy and dependable. They are principled and
can be counted on to behave in
honorable ways, even when no
one is watching.”
Integrity is the very foundation of
good character. Honesty, trustworthiness, moral conduct, good
work ethics, strong virtues and
high values all fall into place
when built upon such a foundation. You are seen as an individual of unblemished character.
Wanda Davis, Award
Recipient, continued
(Continued from page 1)
Congratulations to Wanda for her
fine job performance! Following is
the information we received
about Wanda for her nomination:
Wanda shows compassion every
day to the people she supports.
She is always taking their feelings
into consideration, asking them
what they want to do or what
they want. She treats each person she supports with dignity and
she respects their opinions and
cultures.
Wanda conducts herself with the
highest standards while at the
Page 2
Each of us is constantly being
observed by others. If your
co-workers, especially those who
might be new to the job, observe
you not providing proper supports
or not doing your job properly,
they will get the wrong message.
Be sure that you always set the
right example with your conduct
and with your job performance.
If you are a person of sound
integrity and strong ethics, there
should be no question of your
conduct. People will respect you
and look to you for guidance and
example because they know that
you can be counted on to do the
right thing. There is no consideration that you would do anything
less.
quences of bad decisions. A
person with integrity might make
mistakes, but will try to avoid
doing the same thing again. If you
aren’t sure how to respond to
certain situations, you might find
the person that you and others
most admire and try to emulate
their work ethic and job performance. Better yet, try to be that
person yourself. Be the person
that others look to for leadership
and advice.
Make it your goal to be a person
of high integrity. Always set the
good example. Be a mentor in the
way you interact with new employees. Do the right thing, even if
no one will know you did it and
you have nothing to gain.
We are each responsible for our
own decisions and sometimes
have to live with the conse-
You’ll probably gain more than you
will know.
houses or in the community. She
never displays unethical behavior.
appointments.
Wanda uses the Person Centered
Thinking training that she has
been taught to provide better
days for the people she serves.
She performs all her duties daily
and is often seen doing extra
work and cleaning around the
houses.
I have heard many of Wanda’s
co-workers praise her. She works
many different shifts and always
gets along and works well with
everybody. She accepts changes
that come her way, and when
necessary,
has changed her
duties on the spot, without complaint, to take people to doctor
We offer thanks and appreciation
to Wanda, and to the many other
fine employees at Michael Dunn
Center, for providing outstanding
supports to people.
(left– right)
Walk The Talk Award Recipient
Wanda Davis, DSP, and
Stacy Suttles, House Manager
Now You Know
Annual Nursing Department Awards Recognition
Denise Jandro
The Nursing and Health Services Department started an annual tradition four years ago to recognize
employees in the department who have done something remarkable throughout the year. In addition to
what they are recognized for at the annual department meeting, they needed to have a minimum number
of absences, a high standard of care, a positive annual evaluation and a positive attitude.
The award is special recognition and appreciation from their House Manager, Director, Assistant Director
and Vice President of the department. The following employees were recognized for various reasons at
the January 2014 Annual Health Services Meeting.
Award Winners Health Services Annual Meeting 2014
Excellence in Nursing, Advocacy and Teamwork
Jeanine Jones, LPN, James Ferry Home
Excellence in Nursing
Laura Gilmer, LPN, James Ferry Home
Excellence in Organization, Time Management and Independence
Jacklyn Newport, Nursing Office Coordinator and QMRP
Excellence in Personal Care and Attention
Lacey Parker, DSP, Caillouette Home
Excellence in Personal Care and Attention
Ariel Escamilla, DSP, Caillouette Home
Excellence in Personal Care and Attention
Sandra Moudy, DSP- Caillouette Home
Excellence in Leadership
Stacey Suttles, House Manager, CR Lay and CG Sexton Homes
Excellence in Nursing
Randy Rodriguez, LPN, Burke Mill Home
Excellence in Teamwork and Leadership
Wanda Davis, DSP- CR Lay and CG Sexton Homes
Director’s Choice Award
Patrice Devaney, House Manager, ICF
VOLUME 12
ISSUE 1
1ST QUARTER
Page 3
Employees Make The Difference!
Lara Collins
For those that are unfamiliar with Family Model
Residential Services, the model used is very similar
to “foster care”, in that an individual lives with a
family in their home while receiving services.
Because the model is so unique,
most of the Family Model staff is not
known by other Michael Dunn Center
(MDC) staff. To that end, I want to
highlight one of the outstanding
Family Model employees that supports our individuals.
Andi Murphy began working at
Michael Dunn Center in 2007, as a
case manager. She left in 2008, but
returned in 2010 as a DSP in Family
Model. Andi works at a home in
Oakdale and provides day services
to two individuals.
Andi grew up in Harriman and graduated from
Harriman High School, in 1994. After high school,
she always knew she wanted to help people.
On 12/10/13, we re-opened one of our Supported
Living homes to support two gentlemen from the
Residential Habilitation Dept. This is a transition that
we have worked on for three people for many
months, received multiple denials, and we were ready
to proceed with a TennCare hearing. After making a
change to the transition plan, we were
finally able to obtain approval.
The home was formerly known as JDJ,
but we changed the name of the
home to Walnut to correspond
with the street name on which
the home is located.
The two gentlemen who moved into this home have
transitioned beautifully. They were each having
behavioral issues that were disruptive to their housemates in their Res Hab homes, which necessitated the
need to move.
After moving into the new home, both gentlemen are
much calmer and are very happy, as are the individuals in their former homes. They have even been able
to visit the mall for the first time.
Page 4
Her first job was for a local radio station located in
Rockwood. While working for them, she was able
to meet and know some of the employees and
individuals from MDC. Due to that exposure, she
knew she wanted to work with people
who had disabilities and she pursued
that once her radio career came to a
close.
In addition to her work with MDC,
Andi has volunteered her time for the
last seven years as a first Responder
and Unit director for the Roane County
Rescue Squad. She strongly believes
that you need to treat people as you
would want to be treated and that
everyone has a purpose in life to touch
other’s lives each day.
Andi goes to work hoping to make a difference
with the individuals she supports, so they can be
impacted in a positive way. Please join me in
thanking Andi for her hard work, dedication,
commitment and positive spirit!
On 11/18/13, we opened Lilac Home in Rockwood.
This is a new Supported Living home created to
support two individuals from Res Hab. The two
individuals received excellent care in the Res Hab
homes, and have done very well for many years.
However, recent changes in their health status
prompted the COS to consider changing
living arrangements. This move has had
such a positive impact on them.
In their respective Res Hab homes,
there were 9 other people living
with them. In their former homes,
neither would eat very well. They
would eat very slowly, taking more than an hour to
eat a meal, to the frustration of their roommates,
and often not finishing.
Since moving to the smaller home both individuals are
eating much better at their own pace, they have
gained healthy weight and they are less anxious
because there is less activity around them. They are
very relaxed, happy, healthy and are thriving.
Now You Know
Take Note of the Good things
Mike McElhinney
In a recent meeting of the Coaches and Leaders of our
Person Centered Planning Team, the agenda concluded with
a time to share success stories.
However, when we got to this point everyone was quiet. So
I started asking questions about recent transitions that have
occurred as a result of applying some of the Person
Centered Tools.
When I asked how Owen and Richard were doing people
straightened up, smiled and began talking about how much
happier they are now in their new home, their improved
toileting habits, the fewer verbal outbursts and the smiles
when they are asked how they like their new home.
When I asked about Della Sue and Jim people shared stories
about the friendship they have formed, their much needed
weight gains and their increased calm demeanor.
For me this was a good reminder that many, many great
improvements are happening at Michael Dunn Center in the
lives of the people we support since we started implementing the Person Centered Tools.
But it was also a good reminder that sometimes we need to
stop and look around, stop and reflect on the positive things
that we are right in the middle of every single day. We tend
to focus on negative behaviors, incident reports, inspections,
QA scores, meeting minutes, shift notes, appointments,
evaluations, purchase requisitions and all the necessary
“stuff” that goes along with this business.
But sometimes we just need to focus on the successes, the
changes and improvements in people’s lives that are
happening everywhere.
I want to thank all our employees, board members and
other volunteers; you are doing a wonderful job.
Please take a moment now and then to stop and realize
what great things are happening all around us and share
those stories with each other.
VOLUME 12
ISSUE 1
1ST QUARTER
A New Home For
Richard
Carolyn Moore
Richard seems to really love his new
home at Walnut. He beams as if to say,
“I am home”, when he walks in the door.
He is not self-abusing anymore and he is
no longer cussing and hollering all the
time.
He really seems to love being in a smaller
home environment and he gets along
well with his new housemate, Owen.
When Richard was in the larger home,
with more housemates, he used to have
a lot of chaos going on at all times. He
would get nervous and start hollering
and/or cussing and sometimes selfabusing.
In his old house, he had housemates who
would constantly holler and pick at him
when he was hollering, which made it
worse. Now he seems at peace.
In the beginning, his mother was not
sure if he would be okay with the change.
But since visiting with him at his new
home, she says that she can see a
positive change in him. She likes the staff
at his new home, too.
Note: Carolyn Moore is Richard’s former
House Manager, at the house he moved
from.
Page 5
Outcomes & Actions
Submitted by Tiffany Whittenbarger
Tips: How to gather information about what is important to the
person:
Special thanks to Kat Allison
for the following comments:
Things I Wish
I Had Known
 Always start with learning what is important to the person
 The primary way to learn what is important to a person supported is
to listen to what they say, both with their words and actions.
 Remember that sometimes people will communicate with their
behavior to let us know what they like or don’t like.
 For people who don’t use words to communicate, completing a
Communication Chart can be a helpful tool to gather important
information.

If the weather is bad, you may
be stuck at a house.

Behaviors happen and how to
handle them; you need patience.

Everything must be documented.

Our people we support
are AMAZING!

This job, like any other, can
be stressful.

Each person served has specific needs; they need staff
that are a “good match”.

Just like us, the people we
support can have good days
and bad days.

There are still people in the
community who are
“misinformed” or just don’t
understand and they will give
you dirty looks. Just smile
and go about your day.
Tips: How to gather information about what is important for the
person to be healthy and safe:
 Review findings from all available assessments.
 Consider those things that others see as important for the person to
be a valued member of their community.
Tips: How to identify barriers to achieving outcomes.
 First, review what you have learned from the person about how
they define a quality of life for themselves.
 Next, think about those things that get in the way of the person
having a life rich in relationships and community experience.
 Are there skills the person needs to learn?
 Are there skills the supporters need to learn?
 Are changes in the environment or delivery of services
needed?
 Are there problems related to risks we need to solve?
 Are changes in resources needed… if the answer is yes, can
we use our current resources differently?
Work together to incorporate what is learned into the development of
action steps.
Tips: How to consider what else needs to be learned about identified barriers.
 Often times the people who support the person hold the solutions to
resolving many barriers.
 What have we tried?
 What have we learned?
 What are we pleased about?
 What are we concerned about?
These questions can be a useful way to gather information.
Page 6
Now You Know
Reach out A Hand of kindness
Special thanks to Ashley
Grant, for the
following comments:
Roger Richmond
I want to thank everyone that submitted comments in response to
the question, “What do you wish you had been told when you started
working here”. We’ve gathered quite a lot of information that should
be helpful to us with new employees. I was very impressed by many
of the suggestions and comments, and included two in this newsletter (see sidebars). Hopefully, your ideas will make a difference.
One thing we’ve heard and hope to act upon is that more hands-on
training is needed for newly hired employees. We are trying to revise
a mentor program to help teach the ropes to new staff. With that
said, though, each and every one of you has the potential to be
helpful and supportive for new employees.
Think of things that were good when you first started and things that
were not so good and consider how you might make the experience
better for the new person. Don’t feel threatened or challenged by
new people, or think of yourself as “superior” to the new person.
Reach out a hand of kindness and lift that person up if they need
help. Tutor them. Talk to them. Ask them how things are going for
them and how you might be able to help.
You might just be the one to make the difference and turn a job into
a lifelong career. Like many of you, I just needed a job when I
started in this field many years ago. I never gave any thought to the
possibility that my part-time, weekend-relief house manager job at
the Sunshine Learning Center might be something I’d still be doing
and enjoying nearly 40 years into the future.
The work we do is unlike most other jobs. For many people, this
work results in satisfaction and enjoyment that may not be found in
other jobs. Are there challenges along the way? Of course there are.
There always will be. Budgets will be tight, raises might be few and
far between, and probably not enough when they do come. But the
people we support are wonderfully unique individuals and a genuine
pleasure to know and support.
Thank you all for what you do for Michael Dunn Center and for each
person that we support. We appreciate you. Hopefully, one of these
days, funding will allow us to back that sentiment with wages. For
now, we do the best we can with what we’ve got and do all we can
to enrich the lives of some very well-deserving individuals.
VOLUME 12
ISSUE 1
1ST QUARTER
Things I Wish
I Had Known

Teamwork is essential to
the needs of people we
support.

The quality of life for
people supported depends
on our attitudes.

Every single thing you do,
or don’t do, for that
matter, will affect people
we support in some way.

There will be a lot of
stress involved; but
we’re a family, and what
family doesn’t have
stress?

Taking an extra five
minutes out of our day
to listen to the people
we support will mean a
lot to them. They have
something to say, too.
Page 7
Phone Numbers:
Poison Control…..… 1-800-222-1222
Abuse Investigator…. 1-800-579-0023
MDC Engineering On Call…. 865-335-0549
Back issues of Now You Know can be found at www.michaeldunncenter.org
Mission
Empowering individuals living with disabilities and challenges
to gain independence
Vision
We strive to be a premier agency providing the
highest quality of person-centered services with an
emphasis on positive communication while inspiring people to
open their minds to acceptance and inclusion.
Values
We value a person-centered culture by promoting:

High Ethical Standards
Compassion
We value honesty and openness, and treat people with dignity, compassion and mutual respect
Integrity
We have a positive reputation in the community and maintain the highest standards
of professional conduct, ethical behavior and personal responsibility
Diversity
We value the dignity, worth and uniqueness of each individual and
respect the diversity of opinions, backgrounds and cultures of others

High Quality of Services
Professional Commitment
We maintain a disciplined, results-oriented organization reflecting
the highest professional standards and ethical behavior
Teamwork
We strive to develop positive working relationships based on trust and
respect as we work together to achieve our common goals
Responsiveness
We believe that our future is based on our current actions and decisions.
Remaining open to change will define how we manage the challenges that come our way.