Episode Transcript
Speaker 0 00:00:59 And good evening. Thank you for joining disability and progress, where we bring you insights into ideas about end discussions on disability topics. My name is Sam. I am real live in the studio. Hello everybody. <laugh> after a much needed long break. So thank you for, for tolerating that break. Hopefully you got to tune in to some of the great replays of the year and I am back ready to bring you some more. And my research person Charlene do is back. Hello, Charlene. Good evening, everyone. She is back. And this week we have, uh, Jeremy went, Jeremy is executive director of Episcopal group homes, and he'll be talking to us about that and made in the shade and a whole lot more timely topics. Good evening, Jeremy. Hello? Oh, let's try that again. Hello, Jeremy. Hello there. That's better. <laugh> well, um, I wanna start out by first of all, thanking you for, uh, being here. So we really appreciate that. Um, and I wanna ask you to please give us a little bit of history about you and how you got into this line of work.
Speaker 2 00:02:14 Absolutely. Thank you. It's my pleasure to be here. So I moved to Minneapolis from Nebraska after I graduated college and I was planning on being a substitute teacher of elementary school. Oh my. And, uh, I was running into a couple of complications with getting my certification for teaching transferred to Minnesota. Aw. And so I took a, a part-time job that I figured would be temporary, uh, serving at a group home in Wisetta. And, uh, I was working overnights and I quickly fell pretty hard for the people I was serving and the agency that I was working for. And, uh, without really trying, I was quickly offered, uh, full-time work and realized it won. It was a place I wanted to stay. And, uh, so my journey from a part-time direct support professional to being the executive director. Wasn't my plan, but I am very grateful to have done it.
Speaker 0 00:03:14 Wow. And how long have you been in this particular field?
Speaker 2 00:03:18 Well, today is my 19th anniversary at egh H
Speaker 0 00:03:21 As a matter of that, huh? Congratulations. Thank you. I'm sorry. We don't have any champagne together. <laugh> but you're on the radio, but you are true, but you are on the radio, so right. That there you go. There's your, there's your happy hour Uhhuh. Um, so let's talk about, uh, who is, or what is Episcopal group home? Tell, tell me a little bit about them.
Speaker 2 00:03:44 Sure. So we were founded in 1977 by a group of families at St. Martin's by the lake Episcopal church. Mm-hmm <affirmative> in Minnetonka beach. And at that time in the late seventies, uh, there are a lot fewer options for people with developmental disabilities and where they would be able to live. Oftentimes families would just keep them within their own homes as long as possible, or there were larger state facilities that a lot of us remember. Yep. And, uh, that was around the time where the first generation of so-called group homes were coming into being, and, uh, in the Western suburbs where we are located, there is the hammer school, which, uh, did serve and educate a lot of persons with developmental disabilities and the, uh, rector of St. Martin's Episcopal at that time at eon had learned about the group home concept on a visit in California.
Speaker 2 00:04:44 And so, uh, all of the families who kind of came together to follow Reverend Eron and, and that dream all had either someone in their family or someone with whom they were closely associated that had a developmental disability. Ah, and so they pooled resources together and, um, purchased a house on a cul-de-sac and Zeta on shady way road. So it was known as shady way and we served people there for 40 years and, uh, we, our founders at that time also thought of it as kind of a stepping stone type of home where you would leave your parents home and learn some skills around the house there. And then they also acquired a fourplex apartment building. Oh, wow. In Zeta with the idea of, then you would kind of move into that apartment and learn further independence before kind of moving on your own. Okay.
Speaker 2 00:05:37 And so there were a few people that did that stepping stone process, a couple of whom we still serve today. And a couple of whom we've lost over the years, it's already been, you know, 45 years. Right. And so, uh, we've always done our best to keep, to keep that foundation the way we were founded, why, how it was a group of families and a community working together. And, uh, we've never grown particularly large since then we, we serve about 34 individuals now, and we have a staff of about 55 direct support professionals and managers and administrators, and by staying small, but, but following the trends and the evolutions of disability services over the years, we've been able to maintain that spirit of our foundation.
Speaker 0 00:06:27 And so how many facilities do you actually have?
Speaker 2 00:06:30 We have three community residential settings also known as group homes. And then we still have that apartment building where currently six individuals are living, but despite our name of Episcopal group homes, the majority of the people we serve live in their own apartments or their own home or with their families. And so we, we bring our supports to them.
Speaker 0 00:06:52 Ah, okay.
Speaker 2 00:06:53 Gotcha. And so we're, we're kind of like, uh, international business machines, right. That's IBM. So we go mostly by egh since the, the group home part of our name is, uh, only a portion of what we do.
Speaker 0 00:07:05 Gotcha. So, um, what I mean, tell me a little bit more about what you guys do. Do you, do you have projects or things that you, you know, activities for the residents? Do you help them find jobs? Things like that?
Speaker 2 00:07:24 Yeah, absolutely. Yes. So it really varies by the individual and, uh, we believe, and the state of Minnesota believes in person-centered services. So we focus on what is important to the person as in all of their likes and fondness and preferences, as well as what is important for them, as in what supports do they need to thrive where they are. So by balancing that there are some individuals who, you know, really need help with every step of the way, both from, from getting out of bed, to, uh, medications and meals and finding all of their, uh, recreational activities they would prefer. And, you know, having a staff person on site overnight in case something were to come up. But plenty of the people we serve also are, do not need supports on those activities, a daily living, but rather they might need supports in, um, helping save for a vacation or planning a vacation mm-hmm <affirmative> or going to buy their groceries and finding new, um, recipes. And then everything in between everything from, um, you know, completing the paperwork to keep their, their medical assistance open or, uh, helping to apply for their vouchers for their section eight. You know, we really do support people based on what they need. And then, uh, we do our best to show them and the staff persons a good time too.
Speaker 0 00:08:52 Gotcha. So I have to ask because, well, it's just one of those things that I do. Uh <laugh> you know, we're, I, I, I am now pretty much coming into this station, but not very long ago, I was doing all my shows from home mm-hmm <affirmative> and I know that this was a big deal as far as how group homes operated and how staffs operated. So now what are you doing for after COVID like, I can't believe that things just automatically went back to normal. What, how have things been?
Speaker 2 00:09:31 It has been a long few years as, as you mentioned Sam. And so, uh, in the beginning stages of the pandemic, everyone was learning as they went, of course, right. And we were no exception. And, uh, while we always do support the rights of the person served on who they wanted to see and where they wanted to go, all of a sudden we were walking a, a tight rope of, uh, supporting their wants and needs while also doing our best to keep COVID away from, you know, the community residential settings we have right. Or
Speaker 0 00:10:08 Keeping them safe too.
Speaker 2 00:10:09 Exactly. And, and, uh, the, the people who support our individuals were also kind of the biggest risk that our individuals had since they needed to bring people in. And so we did a lot of, uh, coaching of our staff to, to make decisions away from work, keeping in mind that, uh, the people they support really needed them. And it has been a long process of making certain COVID safety measures, routine and natural, as well as finding all the various steps over the last couple years of, okay, now I think it would be safe to do this activity, or I think this person has really been itching to do this thing. They love let's find a way to do that. Mm-hmm <affirmative>. And so at this stage of the pandemic, uh, we are encouraging our individuals to live the life that they want. And we are following their lead regarding the levels of, um, safety or security or, uh, restraint that they are wanting.
Speaker 2 00:11:16 So we do have some individuals who live by themselves, who are still very much concerned about the pandemic and safety, right. And they're wanting us to take every measure. We can mm-hmm <affirmative> and there are other people who say, I am tired of this. I want to go to the mall. Can you bring me there? Let's, let's go. Right. And so we're really trying to follow the lead of the, the pandemic and the, the illness as it's circulating. But most importantly, as the people we serve what their wants and their level of kind of tolerance of risk.
Speaker 0 00:11:50 So what is your current statement of how you're dealing with Iya vaccination and or masks?
Speaker 2 00:11:58 Th that's a great question. So all of the people, all of our, uh, employees are direct support professionals when they're with their individuals are wearing masks. And we do that just as that one last measure of, um, safety between the two. Uh, but we did find, and we, we kind of took the pulse of the people we serve and their families. Um, one thing I know, you know, Sam is finding good employees willing to do the work has never been more challenging. Mm yes. So we had required new employees to have received their vaccinations. And we are offering a bonus to current employees who got one, but eventually we had to make the decision to, to eliminate that vaccine requirement simply because whether you are vaccinated or not many people were getting COVID mm-hmm <affirmative>. And so the difference was if you'd receive the vaccination, you were less likely to become seriously ill. Uh, and so we decided that was if, if the, the new staff that we are hiring, if they didn't want to get the shots and run the risk of their illness being particularly worse, uh, we didn't want that to be an impediment to employment.
Speaker 0 00:13:13 So I'm gonna stop you there for a minute. Mm-hmm <affirmative> how much of an impediment did, were you finding that that was, was it significant?
Speaker 2 00:13:21 Yes,
Speaker 0 00:13:21 That's what I thought
Speaker 2 00:13:22 Mm-hmm <affirmative>. And so we would screen our applicants, uh, with a question of, do you have your, uh, vaccine or not? And so the ones who checked no for that, we would just immediately eliminate. And we were realizing that that more people that were interested were checking no than were checking. Yes. And there were certain stages of the pandemic last, last winter. And, uh, even in the spring, of course, where we were, uh, really in need of, of persons to serve. And so, uh, we did eliminate that and we improved our, our hiring rate. And we did then in turn convince some of the people. Yeah. I think the vaccine would be a good choice for me then too. And so, uh, now they've got another iteration of the vaccine coming, and so we'll be acquiring that for the persons we serve who want them, and I will, of course be encouraging my staff. They will hear from Jeremy again, Jeremy's talking about vaccines again.
Speaker 0 00:14:26 <laugh> so, and, and how is this working with people who you are serving? Are you requiring vaccinations with, for the residents or no,
Speaker 2 00:14:34 No. We, we never made that requirement that, that wouldn't be something we would feel we have the right to do. Uh, but on the, uh, 100% of the people we served did, and their families did choose to get the vaccine, so that didn't turn out to be
Speaker 0 00:14:50 A problem that's off to them. Good job. Well, and the, the problem I have, I, I totally hear where you're coming from with, you know, having the smaller staff when you were kind of battening down the hatches and saying, you have to be vaccinated, you have to do blank and understanding that that was lessening. If you, if you made that decision, the fact of the matter is to me, from what the science and the knowledge that I have is people with disabilities. Although by far not all tend to have some, or can have some immunity issues. Yes. And this can be a big deal to them.
Speaker 2 00:15:32 Absolutely.
Speaker 0 00:15:33 So that must be a struggle.
Speaker 2 00:15:38 It was an incredible struggle, Sam. Yes. Uh, there have been sleepless nights for many reasons over the last couple of years. And, and that was one of them. Um, uh, I didn't wanna lead our organization based on fear of what could happen. Mm-hmm <affirmative> I wanted to lead based on love for the people we support and the people who work for us. And so, uh, that may seem like a fine line, but it helped me, uh, function in that I'm going to do everything I can to encourage the vaccinations and encourage, uh, you know, hand washing and, and mask use and everything motivated by. I want the best for the people we're serving. And I want the best for our staff rather than, oh my God. If I make a mistake, something terrible is gonna happen. Mm. And that was just a way, uh, in my mind, to help, to help me sleep a little bit at night <laugh>.
Speaker 2 00:16:37 Uh, and then we, we certainly did have where, where it entered our, our group homes. And we, we dealt with that. We put it off, we kept it away for a long time during the pandemic to when there was a lot of doubt and concern and a lot of unknowns, it wasn't until the, uh, Aron wave where seemingly everybody was contracting that it entered those houses. But by then, the staff, uh, had really stepped up. They, they steeled themselves against what was happening. They recognized that these people needed support. And so, um, one of my biggest concerns, always throughout the pandemic was having a house full of persons that need support and no one willing to come right. Serve them. And so, uh, I will forever be grateful to the people who work at egh that we never had that, and time and time again, we have had people stepping up and doing what we need to do to get through this
Speaker 0 00:17:36 Thing. So what do you do currently? Now, if someone gets COVID, cuz it's still there. Yeah. And, um, especially if you're not vaccine, well, hopefully people will get this newest vaccine and hopefully the newest vaccine will do what it's supposed to do. Mm-hmm <affirmative> at least higher the percentage I hope. Um, I'm certainly getting it. Mm-hmm <affirmative> I, what, what happens if somebody comes in a facility who's a resident there who gets COVID what, how do you deal with the isolation? Surely, you know, that, that may sift through the house.
Speaker 2 00:18:11 Yes. It is really varied from house to house and, um, our, our field and our industry and other providers have all been through this and, and it's been really inspiring and, and, uh, a pleasure to be a part of this, uh, community of other providers that have group homes and, and provide support to people with disabilities. Cuz we worked together to, to, you know, what worked for you, what didn't work for you and the first houses and providers that got it, uh, spoke of a lot of struggle, uh, be of, of staying staffed and keeping, uh, the fear and keeping, keeping the supports up without, um, having all the necessary, like things they need. But anyway, at now, if it does enter one of our community residential settings or our apartment building, we do our best to do the isolation and to, to have people keep, um, apart from one another.
Speaker 2 00:19:10 But the fact of the matter is the, the people we're serving, uh, may have a limited understanding of, of why they're being asked to do this. They're still figuring out why they, um, don't get to see their staff's faces anymore. Right. And so you can explain, well, unfortunately, you've come down with COVID. This is the thing we've all been speaking about and, and concerned about all these years. That's why you're being asked to wear a mask when you go to work mm-hmm <affirmative>. And so I need you to kind of stay in your room for a while. Uh, there are certain individuals that, that is fine. They will understand they will buck up and get it done and others that that's not gonna quite register. They're gonna say, well, this is my home and that's my kitchen <laugh>. And so the, it has been difficult to keep it just to one individual or, or two out of the, out of the four that we've had at, but we've had, we have three, uh, group homes, community, residential settings, as I've mentioned. And, uh, two of them at COVID has ran through it, but one of them somehow or another, they have never had it at that house. And so
Speaker 0 00:20:17 Hat's off to them. Yes. You know, you gotta, you gotta think that they're doing some really good, um, cleanly stuff. Yes. That they're supposed to be. And just some you, maybe they're just generally having good spacing and just good, good COVID manners. Yes.
Speaker 2 00:20:34 Right. And I think that, uh, our staff have now learned the routine of if, if we're feeling any illness, we need to let our supervisors know right away. Right. And, uh, we have done our best, best to say, you know, we'll financially support you, even if, if you can track here at work, if you're supporting someone, uh, that has COVID, you know, one of the individuals we serve and you contract, we will pay you all the time for if you are needing to miss. And, and we're doing everything we can to make sure no one faces a financial loss due to this, the, the people who work for us. And then hopefully that is, uh, just building a culture of encouragement. We, we can do it together.
Speaker 0 00:21:17 That's gotta be a real big chunk outta your pocket though.
Speaker 2 00:21:21 Well, you know, it, that's an expense we've been willing to, uh, field. And ultimately there's only been a few, uh, instances where that really started adding up where we had a couple of times last winter where we, my, my colleagues and I couldn't go all day without hearing about another positive test, either among the people we serve or our staff, and really balancing act in quite a, a juggling, uh, act we were having to do.
Speaker 0 00:21:48 Right. So Jeremy, tell me what made in the shade is.
Speaker 2 00:21:53 Yeah, so Maide in the shade is a really wonderful event. That egh is proud to be a part of. Um, we've been a part of this event for, I believe about 14 years. Uh, and it is a group of nonprofit providers of services for people with disabilities who pool our resources and our efforts to create a really fun event where there is, um, it's ATCO in Minneapolis and we all get together and have, uh, some music and some fun and some warmups. And then those who are able circumnavigate be Macca, going all around to show support for people with disabilities. So the providers who come together to put on this wonderful event are E G of course, wingspan life resources, PAI, Homeward bound, partnership, resources, the Phoenix residents, and T S E. So by, uh, pooling our resources and splitting the costs of holding the event, both, um, you know, renting the park and, uh, all the things that go along with it, with food and the porta potties and everything.
Speaker 2 00:23:07 We are able to raise money, uh, for our own agencies while splitting the costs of a big event. So it is really wonderful. There are always, uh, around, uh, 800 people who come, both the people with disabilities and those who support them, mm-hmm <affirmative> and their families. And, uh, we all wear brightly colored shirts. I happen to be dawning the one from 2019 right now. And so it is a wonderful event in that everyone's having a good time there's music. It is, uh, people get to see their friends in a, in a, in a PLA beautiful place in Minneapolis. They might not visit routinely. But also what I enjoy about the event is of course, Macko a Saturday morning in September is a very popular place to be <laugh>. And so it really shows kind of the numbers and the power and the unity of the disabled community.
Speaker 2 00:24:02 So there are people who are jogging and, and who are coming to a, enjoy the lake who see this great big group of people and those who support them. And, uh, I, I generally go on the bike patrol. I'll ride around several times to help out anybody, if they need any help or need some water mm-hmm <affirmative>. And I'll speak to the people who are visiting the lake unaffiliated with made in the shade. And, uh, it really is an inspiring crowd. We have, they ask what, what the event is. I've had people ask how they could support it. And so it is a celebration, uh, for people with disabilities, for the community, and for those who support them, that, um, we are here and, uh, this community, this, this wonderful resource in Minneapolis is, uh, belongs to everybody. And, uh, we're really happy to be a part
Speaker 0 00:24:52 Of it. I think Charlene and I have done the event twice.
Speaker 2 00:24:55 Excellent.
Speaker 0 00:24:56 Charlene. Yeah. Do you remember, was it, was it 20 18, 20 19? What do you remember the years?
Speaker 3 00:25:01 I think we were at 2019. I don't remember maybe 18. I,
Speaker 0 00:25:08 I know we did two times. Yeah. I just don't remember. We
Speaker 3 00:25:11 Had a lot of fun and a lot of met a lot of people, really nice people.
Speaker 2 00:25:14 Yes. I, uh, I really enjoy, there are plenty of people who use wheelchairs, who are there. And so they may have support people who are walking with them, and I'm also always really impressed by them. We've had some pretty hot afternoons, you know, the sun can get pretty hot out on the lake. And so,
Speaker 0 00:25:34 Although it can also rain. Yes, it's true.
Speaker 2 00:25:36 We have mix of weather. You never know in, in late September what you're gonna get. But, uh, I have seen so many folks who the, the person in the wheelchair is so clearly happy to be there and wants to be a part of it. And there are people, you know, pushing them, supporting them, and it can be a big workout, right. It's yeah. Over three miles around the lake.
Speaker 0 00:25:56 Yeah. And some, if you're, if you're rolling into some of the grassy parts, indeed, you know, that can be kind of a
Speaker 2 00:26:03 No doubt. And so I, I bring plenty of water bottles and make sure that people supporting the individuals too, are, uh, well hydrated and taken care of. But the it's a, it's a hard thing to describe the overall positive, uh, feeling this event can give. And, um, there are many fundraising events, very similar to this fun runs and everything. But I think this one is unique by the population that it's serving, as well as the cooperative nature of it, uh, being put on by several nonprofit organizations.
Speaker 0 00:26:36 So when you raise the funds, what, what do they go for? How, how do they help you?
Speaker 2 00:26:41 Yeah. Sam. So each organization does its own fundraising for, um, the own agencies. So, so if I get a donation, I get to keep all of that and I share the expense with the other agencies. And so each agency will have different focuses on how they're going to use their funds. Um, I know a place like wingspan has many community residential settings. And so, uh, as well as, um, Homeward bound. So each one of those houses might make a wishlist of things they want for their house, whether it be a home improvement or a new piece of furniture. I know Homeward bound had raised money for a, um, wheelchair swing out in the yard. So people who are in the wheelchairs could have a swing. We at egh H uh, we raise money for what we call our quality of life subsidy, which has been a part of, um, our agency, as long as I have been there, uh, wherein we raise money to help get people, the opportunities they might not have, um, with their own income.
Speaker 2 00:27:44 So we have people who might have a dream of, of, uh, going to see a football game where they're here or Dallas, Texas, or, uh, take a bus down to Branson, Missouri, or, uh, any kind of in those are just two that popped into my head that we have supported people on or things like, uh, making little improvements to the house or having a barbecue or a pizza party or something like that, all things great and small to help support people. And we also use any donated funds to help improve the employment situation, to make incentives like such as gift cards, or just a way to make the employment experience at egh, because nobody in this field is, is gonna become a rich person from it. Right. So whatever little effort we can do to, uh, give perks and, and just enhancements of the quality of the job, we look forward to that as well.
Speaker 0 00:28:44 And that's been a big deal. I do understand that, um, employment has been a big deal with all of the group home situations and, and people who are dealing with that, that type of service mm-hmm, <affirmative> that they're doing. And so how, where are legislative people with this? I, it feels to me like they often kind of stop short or, you know, how is there anything that's going on that you think that's gonna happen coming up in this coming session that will happen?
Speaker 2 00:29:15 Well, that's a great question, Sam, the, the previous session, uh, that ended was not a great one for us. You, you may remember there was a very large surplus in the governmental coffers, and we were really hoping that that a chunk of that might come to our right home and community based services, um, field. But unfortunately, uh, you know, our realm, the, the group home realm and, and the persons with developmental disabilities, um, you know, we are considered the home and community based services, and yes, we, we could use more funds for our employees, but so could, uh, elderly, and so could the schools, and so could programs for people with autism and, and, uh, basically any kind of service sector that isn't generating revenue is in need of support. And so, uh, we are hoping the upcoming legislative session will find a little more of the piece of the pie for us.
Speaker 2 00:30:14 Um, the, uh, rates we receive to support our people have gradually increased. And, uh, that, that means, of course the rates we can play, pay to the people who support them have gradually increased, but we have a long way to go. And so, uh, we are hoping that we will get that governmental support on an ongoing basis, but we also recognize as an agency, we need to survive and thrive with what we have too. And so part of that is going to be fundraising and finding supporters, um, outside of the Medicaid funding streams that we depend on to provide our services.
Speaker 0 00:30:55 So how has egh H had to change since the field of field of supporting people with disabilities has evolved? I mean, it is hard to find workers.
Speaker 2 00:31:07 It is, and, uh, that is, there are a lot of different answers to that. And when we talk about the challenge of employment mm-hmm <affirmative> and finding people to support our individuals, I think it's really important. First of all, to recognize the tens of thousands of people in Minnesota, who are currently doing the work and providing the supports, um, at my agency and at all the agencies that are a part of made in the shade and all disabilities agencies have absolute hero workers who are doing hard work for little pay, and often at, at a great, uh, many hours at a time. And so, uh, a direct support professional that, that supports our individuals has to have, uh, elements of many different jobs, frankly. Uh, they need to have some nursing skills to support people with their medical needs and to appropriately and accurately give their medications.
Speaker 2 00:32:09 They need to have some counseling skills where, you know, some people we serve are very aware of their disability and, and, and that can create, you know, uh, depression are just challenges. And so it takes a really canny and, and, and savvy professional to help guide people through that. Mm-hmm, <affirmative>, it might take, uh, elements of being a, a cha for like, to where it's one thing to drive yourself through rush hour, but it might be another per another to drive one of the people you support in a big van who may even have some behavioral challenges or something, and to, uh, get there safely. Right. Um, and then of course in the recent years, we've all had to become, uh, infection control experts, right? And so to hire a direct support professional at about 16 bucks an hour, all who is, um, has elements of these high stakes careers in their job, uh, is a bit of a challenge.
Speaker 2 00:33:11 If, if, if you make a mistake with someone say anti-convulsant meds or something like that, yes, it can be a pretty significant error and, uh, can have some high stakes. And if you can make the same money at Aldi, where if you make a mistake and you need a manager to help you ring up this thing, the stakes are a lot low. You can blow it off <laugh>. Yes, exactly. And so the peop we do have a number of people doing excellent work, and, and at egh, we have just so many folks who are really keeping our services afloat and keeping the people we serve, getting them everything they need. So that's one side is it is a, um, it is a really fulfilling and exciting and wonderful position. And we have a lot of people who, who really love it. And there are a lot of people out there doing great work, but the other side is, of course, we need many more and we need more at egh.
Speaker 2 00:34:10 And, and there's no provider that is exempt from the catastrophic shortage shortage of workers that exists right now. And so I don't consider any of the other agencies that do what we do to be competition. I think of us all in the same, uh, pool, but we might serve different individuals. And, uh, so some folks with say more CNA skills, certified nursing assistant skills might serve folks who have more profound needs or more hands on needs. And then there is another kind of type of direct support professional who might better be that counselor and, and help build people up and help, help make those who have a lot of independence, even reach all their potential. So there's, there's a couple different pools, but then all of us different agencies who are making those hires need to sort out, who's gonna work best with whom and, uh, the employment, the state of employment, uh, you know, in Minnesota and nationally is, has changed a lot.
Speaker 2 00:35:18 And I think the idea of accepting a job and getting started is a lot different than it used to be. We will, yeah. Will have. I think if you want to do this type of work, uh, and you show your willing and you are a capable and competent individual, you are going to get several job offers instantly, basically. <laugh> right. And so it's been fairly common for us to make a hire and begin to train only to find we, we don't hear from that person again, they've accepted a job elsewhere, or, or what have you. And so we are really in need of better incentives to, to accept a job, to get rolling and to, to complete the training and to serve the people. And so I think that is, uh, a really critical change we could, we need to make. And I think one route to do that is to formalize and make known, uh, to society, just the career path of a direct support professional.
Speaker 2 00:36:23 As I mentioned, it's a really hard job with a lot of different facets, but yet, um, the community of people with disabilities in general, and particularly the dis, uh, developmental, developmental, disabled community kind of exists under the surface. Right? And so I think there are plenty of people who would be spectacular supporters of people with disabilities, who might not even consider it a viable job path. Uh, and so I, I really think we all need to work together to, to build up the nobility of the work and build up the fact that, but by supporting our most needy, we, we, we deserve a, a strong and, uh, high place in our society. And, uh, those are questions. I think we all need to ask each other on, on how best can we do that for our teachers and, and our nurses and our direct support professionals. And, and those of us who are, who are doing service for others and not necessarily in revenue generating careers,
Speaker 0 00:37:25 You know, I hear this and I will be honest having you equate the, uh, group home experience with staff to working at Aldi or whatever, uh, sort of horrify me <laugh> because it is not at all the same type of responsibility mm-hmm <affirmative>, and it is not at all. And shouldn't be, I mean, it should be such a different comparative, you know, but yet that's, people are looking at the money, as you say, and I understand this because I used many years ago, work in daycare. Mm-hmm <affirmative> and it is very similar there. Yes. People in daycare don't get paid. Anything you ever wonder why? Um, you know, people send their kids away 10, 12 hours a day and things go wrong in a daycare. Well, look what they get paid. Mm-hmm <affirmative> so, uh, similar
Speaker 2 00:38:19 You're exactly right, Sam, that, that is one field I meant to, to mention in this, uh, critical state we were in. And,
Speaker 0 00:38:26 Um, but it, it all falls in right. Humankind. Yes. Humankind. It's like what? We don't get paid to take care of our humans very well. Yes. Disability or not. Yes. Um, it's just not a, a field that they, they have put value on. So, but what is the, you know, the best part of supporting people with disabilities, um, that you feel that the public might not realize like,
Speaker 2 00:38:52 That is an excellent question. And those of us who do the work all will instantly know the answer, and it's a hard, nevertheless, it's a hard thing to explain. It is many small victories that you'll encounter over the course of a shift in a week and a month and a year mm-hmm <affirmative> when I see victories, it's a, it's a shared victory. Those of us who are in this field, um, we want to do a good job. And by us doing a good job, that means people are feeling supported. They're getting what's important to them. They're getting what's important for them. And so, uh, when you get one of those little victories, it's important to remember them. So that could be anything from, uh, you and the person you support go, uh, to the grocery store every week. And she wants to spend about $40 and she wants to get, uh, a few meals for her herself and stay within her budget and then be able to complete the task of entering her card, signing her name, getting it done, bragging the groceries and being on our way for, for many of us, that is a simple task we take for granted, but for people who are working to learn that and who finally have a breakthrough, when they remember, oh, I need to wait for the beat before I take out my card.
Speaker 2 00:40:16 Those little sorts of things. Yeah. They, that is a tiny victory. That person feels pride. And the, the person who supported that person who was there for them every time they weren't quite there, but then when they did celebrated it, that's the sort of thing that we do the job for. Excellent. And, uh, I have had a numerable, uh, experiences with the people that we support that have helped me go home just with a warmth in my heart. That, that, that I worked hard and, and I was not perfect, but I, I have supported someone.
Speaker 0 00:40:49 What does a day in the life of a direct support person, you know, professional look like?
Speaker 2 00:40:57 That's a great question. And of course it depends on the people you're serving. So we have employees, for example, whose, uh, shift begins at 10:00 PM, where they come into the group home and, uh, it's time for bed. So the people who they support are asleep and, and they can go to sleep, but then they wake up at six o'clock and have a very busy few hours to where, uh, they're supporting each person who lives there. It could be as many as five individuals, uh, help 'em get up, help them find, uh, uh, you know, close right for the weather. Some folks might wanna wear shorts in the winter or their coat in the summer, uh, need to accurately and in a timely fashion, give their medication and document that as well as help prepare, uh, breakfast and, uh, just help people get ready to start the day.
Speaker 2 00:41:51 And then to be kind of ready to go. We have many people who are picked up then by things like Metro mobility to go to their vocation centers or their jobs. And so, uh, that morning can be all right. If I checked all these things, have I given everybody the meds? Did he remember his gloves? He forgot his gloves yesterday. Uh, did I remember to mop the floor, for example? So tho those overnight staff people have, uh, you know, they get to go to sleep for a while, but they wake up and they're very busy. Mm. Yeah. And then, uh, a different direct support professional who supports someone in their own home, uh, might go in and say, okay, since last time I saw you have, has all your meds gone. Okay. Can we fill up your little Medi set for the next week? Um, let's check out your bank.
Speaker 2 00:42:42 Have you, have you, uh, got your bills page this month? Oh, whoops. This bill doesn't look quite right. Let's call up the cable company and figure that out. And then, uh, your HRA inspection is coming up soon. So let's make sure and tidy up around your apartment, or it might be that the person you support, um, has an illness or we're, we're supporting a couple people with cancer right now. So the day in the life of the direct support professional might be okay. It's it's time for your treatment. Let's, let's head off to the doctor. Let's talk about how things have gone since last treatment. How's your appetite, here's the notes I've taken on, on how things have gone at home. Um, the doctor might have questions that the person you're serving is unable to communicate effectively. And so the direct support professional, or, you know, the management team that we have there will help fill in the blanks to communicate to the doctor. And then another day in the life of a direct support professional might be, oh, I can't wait for my person to come home because it is their birthday. And we are taking them to red Robin. That is their favorite. We are getting burgers just like last year and they are going to bring their best friend along.
Speaker 0 00:44:01 And what do you feel makes a good, you know, somebody who is a good professional support person?
Speaker 2 00:44:09 I think that, um, the number one thing is to give a damn for lack of a better word. Mm-hmm <affirmative>, uh, there are folks who, uh, kind of come in and you, you kind of can see them right away where they might have their mind on something else, or, or they're looking just to make the job as easily, easy as possible for them. Right. But, uh, the ones who are good in quality and successful and who really make egh the great place it is, are the ones who think, what does the person I'm serving right now need, uh, how best can I make their day, a good day? And so, um, that doesn't always need to be a great large heroic act, but it can be just the peaceful comfort of spending some time with a person to, uh, you know, playing a game of UNO before I have my snack to, uh, making sure to get all of my documentation just right. So that the people who come after me know exactly how this person is doing. And so, um, to be a DSP means some days are gonna be, you know, more relaxing than others and some days are going to be very stressful. And so it just means that any day I am ready to best support my person. And I give a damn about how this turns out. And so that's as simple as I can explain it.
Speaker 0 00:45:40 Charlene, do you have any questions in regards to this?
Speaker 3 00:45:46 I appreciate your, your sentiments. Um, personally, I've worked for the VA in north Chicago for 27 years. And although I wasn't a, I was in recreation, but what you said is so true, you have to care. Mm-hmm
Speaker 2 00:46:01 <affirmative>,
Speaker 0 00:46:02 I, I do have a question. I, I want you, first of all, um, I don't know how long this one will take. So give people an, an idea of how they can find out more about made in the shade. And then I I'll ask you this intense question. <laugh> sounds
Speaker 2 00:46:18 Good. So the made in the shade, uh, event, I don't even think I'd said the date of it yet. So thank you. It is, uh, September 17th. So a week from Saturday, and it is taking place, uh, about nine 30. We kind of have a warm up dance and, uh, some snacks and coffee and that sort of thing. And then the people start going around the lake at 10, but those folks who are making their way around the lake deserve their support and the pledges, and that can come, but in the, uh, in the form of dollars. And so, uh, one way to just see all the different providers who are taking part in made in the shade is to go to Facebook and search made in the shade 5k, that's the numeral 5k. And there, you will find, uh, links to all the websites of the agencies who are taking part.
Speaker 2 00:47:08 And, uh, so each of them have different avenues of how you might make a donation for, um, the people they support. So, uh, Episcopal group homes, and many of the other providers are on the give men, uh, website, if you're familiar with that, that is, uh, website. That is an avenue for nonprofits in Minnesota to collect donations. And so ours would be give men G I V E M N slash Episcopal group homes. And they're also just search functions and Google functions. And each of these providers, uh, on their own websites would also have avenues to, to, um, make donations as well.
Speaker 0 00:47:51 Well, now I do have a, a conversation for you that you have about oh, nine minutes or so to answer mm-hmm <affirmative>. Um, so, you know, legislative sessions will be coming up soon enough mm-hmm <affirmative> and every year people do the same things. And, and actually I have been so impressed with some people with disabilities. They so know how to advocate for themselves. Yeah. And they go to the legislators, they tell them they need support. You know, they tell 'em their story, the legislator shakes their hand and smiles and nods and says, yep, you are right. We support you. And some of them really do, but I always hear the same story every year. There's just, they, they don't, they, they don't walk the walk, you know, they, they will support and they'll tell them you their support. And I believe that they really truly feel that your work is important, but the dollars don't come and, you know, go on from there. So what is it that people need to do to get their attention? Number one, and number two, what is a reasonable, you know, amount or that, that people should be making in this type of service?
Speaker 2 00:49:12 <laugh>, that's a, that is a difficult question. So, uh,
Speaker 0 00:49:15 Yep. I told you I was gonna do
Speaker 2 00:49:16 It. Yeah. Right. Okay. So what can you do in terms of getting in your legislator's ear? So, uh, we are a part of a trade group known as arm AR RM the association for residential resources of Minnesota. And that is kind of our lobbyist wing, where we have, uh, people fighting the good fight on the legislative floor. So, um, they work cooperatively with an organization called Mora, which is supports the vocational aspirations for people with disabilities in Minnesota. And so they, uh, communicate with us the providers on what most we need on what of our, uh, services are working, where can providers get some help and, uh, what is not working in the disability system? So, so they, uh, work on behalf of the providers in Minnesota and just today, as a matter of fact, we met and we prevent presented an award to Senator Jim aler, who has been the chair of the, uh, dis of the human services, uh, wing of the legislation of the legislature and whatever any citizen can do, of course is contact their own state legislator.
Speaker 2 00:50:40 And so we at egh have done that, where we encourage our staff and, uh, as well as we contact the legislators of the communities where we have our individuals and just say, here's who we are, here's what we need here is what we don't have. And, uh, just do our best to make our presence known. And some years we celebrate successes and some years we don't mm-hmm <affirmative>, but arm, uh, does every year have an event known as arm day at the capital where, uh, all the member providers bring as many persons with disabilities, and those who support them to the rotunda to just kind of say, we are here, see us. And the last couple of years, that has taken a different form than previously, of course, yes. But, uh, those are the avenues we have to make sure we're not overlooked in the legislature.
Speaker 2 00:51:34 And it should also be known that just the human services omnibus and the legislature is one of the largest, uh, pools of money with education in the entire state budget. And while we in the home and community based services sector recognize that we have needs. We also realize as, as we've talked already before, there are, uh, communities and, and groups of people that all need support. And so it is a, it's tricky, a difficult pie to slice. And so we all advocate for each other while recognizing that, uh, there are many people in Minnesota who need support and as, uh, I would para paraphrase Franklin Roosevelt, when I say the, the measure of our societies, greatness is how much we provide for those who have too little, rather than for providing more to those who have much. And so, uh, I think all of us can just do our best to make sure our legislatures don't forget that
Speaker 0 00:52:39 And real quickly, um, how, I guess you probably hear from other parents or other people, and you may be even have, um, some real live experience with this, but how do we fare in Minnesota comparative to other states?
Speaker 2 00:53:00 That's a good question. I don't know how to answer it completely because I have only worked within Minnesota. Ah, but what I do know is that there is a great variance in how the, the quote unquote system works in each state. And I know that, uh, Minnesota's, uh, disabilities care took a, a big change in the nineties where, uh, there were a lot more, uh, services available. And so people from neighboring states were coming to Minnesota to establish residency and get supports. But so I, I can't necessarily claim how successful or unsuccessful other states are without having lived it. But I do know as a part of national networks, that we're a part of that. Um, the success can certainly vary by the region, but across the country, the needs that we have for qualified and dedicated support workers is there,
Speaker 0 00:53:57 Jeremy, thank you so much for coming in. I really appreciate your time tonight. Good luck with made in the shade and, um, keep in touch with
Speaker 2 00:54:06 Us. It's been my absolute pleasure. Thank you, Sam.
Speaker 0 00:54:08 Thank you. This has been disability and progress we has expressed on this show are not necessarily those of KVA or it's board of directors. My name is Sam. I've been the host of this show. Charlene dolls, my research person this week. We were speaking with Jeremy, we who is executive director of Episcopal group homes. Thanks for listening. Good night KPIs
Speaker 1 00:54:34 Work.
