Core Value Award for Responsibility - Nicole Hall

Methodist Children’s Home (MCH) annually recognizes staff who exemplify our Core Values. Staff are nominated by their peers and recognized at an all-staff meeting.

The Core Values for MCH are:

Christian Principles
Relationships
Responsibility
Growth
Service
Hope

Nicole Hall, administrative secretary in the Killeen MCH Family Outreach office, received the 2017 Core Award for Responsibility at the all-staff meeting this fall. The recipient of the Core Award for Responsibility is someone who is accountable for self and others.

According to her nomination, Hall models the Core Value of Responsibility through her commitment to the mission of MCH and through the numerous ways she goes above and beyond her daily responsibilities to see that families are connected to resources and that the local community is familiar with our presence.

Hall has been an anchor for the Killeen Outreach team since July 2016 when she spent her first few months building furniture, decorating the office, organizing materials and collecting local community response information when the office was just opening.

According to her supervisor and director of the Killeen office, Violet Read, Nicole frequently provides the Killeen team information about resources she has identified online or through social media groups. When families call looking for resources beyond MCH services, she researches and follows up with families. Earlier this year, Hall spent several hours corresponding with local shelters to help a family secure a place to stay. That family stopped by the Outreach office to thank Hall for her kindness and willingness to help when no one else would.

“Nicole’s humble demeanor never demands the spotlight,” Read said. “However, the responsibility she assumes in the workplace for both her and the entire team’s success is worthy of recognition. I am so very thankful for the opportunity to work alongside her every day!”

Old Navy supports Methodist Children’s Home families during the holidays

Kelly Deramee of Old Navy (left) presented four sacks of clothing
to Toccara who is served through MCH Family Outreach in Waco. 

The holiday season can be a particularly stressful time for families who are dealing with challenging circumstances in their lives, whether financial or emotional. Toccara, a mother of five children ranging in age from 5 to 18, was worried about providing for her children during this time of year.

Recently divorced and experiencing financial difficulties, she reached out to MCH Family Outreach in Waco. Waco case manager Maegan Bennight began working with Toccara in early November 2017 to identify her goals and develop strategies to reach those goals.

During a staff meeting, Bennight learned that Old Navy wished to provide Thanksgiving and Christmas meals as well as clothing for a family served through MCH Family Outreach. Toccara was identified as a prime candidate for this donation.

Kelly Deramee, general manager of the Old Navy store in Waco, learned about MCH from one of her leaders at the company when she joined in 2016. Old Navy also donated baby and toddler clothing for several children of MCH graduates who are currently served through Transition Services.

“Old Navy and Gap, Inc., strive to give back to the communities we live and work in,” Deramee said. “We've partnered with MCH on a few other occasions since I've joined the brand and have discovered that our missions align. Old Navy and Gap, Inc., stores across the country adopt families every year to provide Christmas gifts. We are so glad we reached out to MCH for our family this year.”

When Toccara learned she was chosen for the donation, she was extremely grateful for the opportunity for her family.  She received several shopping bags full of clothing specially picked out for her children on Dec. 21, just in time for Christmas.

“I’m ecstatic,” she said. “There are other places that will help you (with clothes) but no one asks you what you child is interested in or needs. I’m overwhelmed and overjoyed. I’m at a loss for words.”

Toccara said she is working to make a “fresh start” for her family and is thankful for the support she is receiving through MCH Family Outreach.

“It has been a struggle but I am grateful for this program,” Toccara said. “There’s still more progress to make, but I see that I’m not where I used to be. I’m grateful, I really am. It’s been hard but it won’t be like this forever.”

Bennight will continue working with Toccara and said she has enjoyed getting to know her.

“She has been an absolute pleasure to work with,” Bennight said. “She has some great skills, an unrelenting drive and a contagious optimism that are all working together in her favor. I have no doubt that good things are coming for her and her family.”

Old Navy also donated clothing to some of the young children
of previous MCH graduates served through Transition Services. 

Core Value Award for Growth- Morgan Lyons

Methodist Children’s Home (MCH) annually recognizes staff who exemplify our Core Values. Staff are nominated by their peers and recognized at an all-staff meeting.

The Core Values for MCH are:

Christian Principles
Relationships
Responsibility
Service
Hope
Growth

Morgan Lyons, unit manager, received the 2017 Core Award for Growth at the all-staff meeting this fall. The recipient for the Core Award for Growth is someone who provides opportunities for spiritual, emotional, physical and intellectual development.

According to her nomination, Lyons has displayed notable growth in her ability to work in the shift work model with young men from challenging circumstances. She has established connections with diverse families, probation officers and CPS caseworkers. She has developed a keen ability to meet families where they are, while also honing her professional skills. Morgan’s growth has recently been evident as she has provided extended coverage of other home units with special needs youth as well as in the basic care model.

Lyons is also sought out for committees because she brings such a valued perspective gained from her time at MCH. Her desire to learn and grow never ceases as she frequently seeks to better understand and support youth in her care and staff under her supervision. She is also working toward her Childcare Administrator’s License – a big commitment of discipline and growth in and of itself.

According to Erica Reyes-Rosas, associate administrator for the Waco campus, “Morgan has a desire to see her peers grow as well and she often takes a mentoring role with new unit managers. She is valued and appreciated for her commitment to growth and her commitment to the agency.”

MCH Family Outreach in Killeen hosts military culture training

Since July 2017, one in four families served by MCH Family Outreach in Killeen have been families with members who are active duty or veterans with many others having some connection to the military. Fort Hood, one of the largest military bases in the United States, is located in Killeen which translates into a high active-duty and veteran population in the city and surrounding communities.

Violet Read, director of MCH Family Outreach in Killeen, said for these reasons, they felt it was important to form a partnership with the Texas Veterans Commission and offer to host a military culture training in their community. The training was held at First United Methodist Church of Killeen on Dec. 8.

“MCH Family Outreach is one of several civilian entities that work with military families,” Read said. “We wanted to extend this opportunity to other providers who might also benefit from knowledge about military culture and increase their sensitivity toward the unique challenges this population experiences. Additionally, we hope to improve collaboration between military and civilian service providers to better meet families’ needs.”

  

Aubrie Wade, provider coordinator for the Veterans’ Mental Health Program with Texas Veterans Commission, facilitated the training. Read and Wade connected after a State of the Veteran Family Symposium at the University of Texas in June 2017.

Around 50 individuals attended the recent training including psychologists, therapist, medical personnel, mental health professionals from Fort Hood as well as clergy, local veterans and civilian service providers. 

“Military trainings and symposiums are a great platform for individuals to ask questions about frequently used terminology and systems,” Read said. “These professional platforms have been the vessel through which I have learned that service men and women are simply individuals who have endured trauma and whose careers deeply impact their families. These are the families Methodist Children’s Home serves every day. It was great to see military and civilian service providers coming together to discuss how both sides can provide support to military families.”

Shelia Brown of Goodwill Learning Center attended the training to learn more about military families. 

“I work with veterans one-on-one so I want to get as much training as I can to gather information,” Brown said. “I’m also a spouse of a veteran so I can connect in some ways but there are some ways I can’t. Any training helps, even if it is just learning about resources available and being able to connect them with the right resources.”

The training provided information about the composition of the military, historical information about veterans groups, forms of trauma those in the service may endure and resources available to veterans and their families.

“We understand that most men and women serving in the military experience trauma during their service, often in addition to traumas endured prior to beginning their military career,” Read said. “In addition to trauma, military families experience ruptures in family roles and relationships and their communities which creates a unique set of challenges for families. As a provider who desires to provide quality services to these families, we hope to stay abreast of knowledge that will enhance our work in this community.”

MCH Family Outreach in Killeen staff members Sara Elliott, case manager,
and Violet Read, director, welcomed participants to the military culture training.

Aubrie Wade of the Texas Veterans Commission was the presenter for the training.

MCH Family Outreach in Killeen provided information on our services available in the community.

Participants were encouraged to ask questions and share their own knowledge during the training.

Core Value Award for Relationships- Joshua DeLeon

Methodist Children’s Home (MCH) annually recognizes staff who exemplify our Core Values. Staff are nominated by their peers and recognized at an all-staff meeting.

The Core Values for MCH are:

Christian Principles
Relationships
Responsibility
Growth
Service
Hope

Joshua DeLeon, youth care counselor, received the 2017 Core Award for Relationships at the fall all-staff meeting. The recipient of the Core Award for Relationships is someone who builds healthy relationships through communication, respect, trust, and love.

 According to his nomination, DeLeon embodies the Core Value of Relationships by the way he goes above and beyond when it comes to the challenging work of building trusting relationships with our youth. DeLeon has a natural way of creating a relational foundation of love, respect, patience, and trust. He also shows a high level of love and compassion in his work.

Those who work with DeLeon say that he seems to have an innate understanding of the potential for healing and transformation in these relationships. He naturally prioritizes his connections with students and is able to establish things like felt safety and trust where others may not be able to. DeLeon is known as someone who is always willing to do more, even coming in on days off if it means helping out a student in need.

Austin Brown, clinical therapist, said, “It is easy to see the depth of genuine love Josh has for our kids and his commitment to being an agent of change and healing in their lives.”

Core Value Award for Service- Rhonda Anderson

Methodist Children’s Home (MCH) annually recognizes staff who exemplify our Core Values. Staff are nominated by their peers and recognized at an all-staff meeting.

The Core Values for MCH are:

Christian Principles
Relationships
Responsibility
Growth
Service
Hope

Rhonda Anderson, youth care counselor supervisor, received the 2017 Core Award for Service at the fall all-staff meeting. The recipients of the Core Award for Service is someone who shows compassion through generosity and care.

According to her nomination, Anderson demonstrates the Core Value of Service in the way she role-models generosity to others. She demonstrates commitment through her helping attitude and she is quick to lend a hand to youth and staff who seek her out, even in the midst of “challenging” days.

Anderson has served in several positions during her long tenure at MCH and her service to MCH is valued in many ways. She is exceptional at empowering, training and supervising staff at numerous home units across campus. She is dependable and readily addresses any staff issues that may arise, providing direct feedback that will improve performance. Anderson is always readily available when she is on duty and her work ethic offers a warm welcome to students and staff that may want to come in and visit with her.

According to Unit Manager Elizabeth Goss, “When I ask Rhonda for help with tasks that may seem unbearable or overwhelming to others, Rhonda consistently responds with a positive attitude and ensures the task is complete in a timely manner with no concerns. She is willing to work when needed and has worked extra days to provide coverage across campus when needed.”

Ag Showmanship Contest 2017

Methodist Children’s Home (MCH) students involved in agricultural sciences presented their livestock in front of staff and peers during the Ag Showmanship Contest on Wednesday, Nov. 29. The annual contest provides the middle and high school students at the MCH charter school an opportunity to utilize the skills they have learned this semester. Many also present during local junior livestock shows during the school year.

The contest took place in the horse pavilion at the MCH Boys Ranch. Ag teacher Steve Kruse began organizing the annual contest four years ago.

“I started the contest to give the students another opportunity to show and allow the home parents, staff and students not in Ag to see what it is all about,” Kruse said. “I want the kids to learn more about how to exhibit their project to its fullest potential because everyone knows practice makes perfect.”

Buckles were awarded to four MCH students for their work with an animal project: Galen – steer; Jaelyne – lamb; Jackson – goat; and Noah – swine.  

Ronald Morgan was the guest judge for the contest. Morgan is a retired ag teacher and owner of Morgan Livestock. He taught ag for 28 years and has been exhibiting livestock for more than 40 years. The ring steward was Keeli Twaney, a former Robinson FFA student who has experience showing every species of livestock. Twaney’s mother, Buffy Nehring, a supporter of the MCH FFA program, also assisted with the event.

Click here for a photo gallery of the contest.

Core Value Award for Hope- Shawn Powell

Methodist Children’s Home (MCH) annually recognizes staff who exemplify our Core Values. Staff are nominated by their peers and recognized at an all-staff meeting.

The Core Values for MCH are:

Christian Principles
Relationships
Responsibility
Growth
Service
Hope

Shawn Powell, admissions secretary, received the 2017 Core Award for Hope at the fall all-staff meeting. The recipient of the Core Award for Hope is someone who believes in the possibilities of the future.       

According to her nomination, Powell embodies the Core Value of Hope in the way she cares for the families who come through the admissions process at MCH. Some families who call are often frustrated, angry or weary as they are in need of immediate assistance. Her dedication to helping these families navigate the admissions process is always done with genuine care, compassion and hopefulness. Powell has an innate ability to connect with families during the initial phone call due to her calming and gentle demeanor as she collects often delicate information about youth behavior.

Powell also develops relationships with youth once they are placed in our care. Oftentimes youth who come for interviews ask to come back to visit her once they are in placement.

Recently, she connected with a family in Houston who had been displaced by the Hurricane Harvey. Hearing the fear and desperation in their voices, Powell was able to bring hope to the situation by compassionately speaking with them and keeping them updated about the admissions process.

According to Julie Spiech, associate program administrator for the Waco campus, “Shawn never hesitates to meet families ‘where they are’ emotionally in order to make them feel welcomed and comfortable. The hope she brings to the process is invaluable beyond measure.”