United Helpers Hosts Celebration for Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month

HEUVELTON – Holding signs that said things like, “The only disability is a bad attitude,” “My ability is stronger than my disability,” and “Keep staring, I might do a trick,” a group of nearly 50 individuals with developmental disabilities and their caregivers took to the streets of Heuvelton for a walk to celebrate Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month.

United Helpers Behavioral Health and Life Skills operates 10 Individualized Residential Alternatives (IRAs) across St. Lawrence County, providing employment to more than 250 individuals, while also caring for nearly 50 individuals with developmental disabilities.

One of those IRAs is located in the village of Heuvelton, with two more scheduled to open later this year. Whitney Atkins organized the event and serves as program leader at the Flackville IRA located in Heuvelton. 

Jen Davison, Whitney Atkins, Brook Duprey & April Streeter

“The people we care for in these IRAs are just that, people – just like you and me,” she said. “An IRA is a home – their home. IRAs have a kitchen, a living room, a dining room, and each individual who resides there has their own personalized bedroom.”

Ms. Atkins explained, “The primary responsibilities for those of us who work in their home, are centered on supporting the individuals in leading self-directed lives. We do this by working with them to maximize their potential by assisting with maintaining and/or developing skills and abilities.  These skills are what helps the individuals interact in their community to the maximum degree that they are interested.”

Prior to the walk program members and IRA staff from across the organization gathered for a barbecue at the Heuvelton Fire Hall with those present signing a large, tie-dyed banner with the words “Developmental Disability Awareness 2022” on it.

Developmental Disability Awareness Month is celebrated each year in March. According to the National Association of Councils on Developmental Disabilities (NACDD), activities during the month of March are designed to “highlight the many ways in which people with and without disabilities come together to form strong, diverse communities.”

“United Helpers has been caring for individuals with developmental disabilities for more than 30 years,” said United Helpers Behavioral Health and Life Skills Director of Residential Services Colleen Aldridge. “It always has been and always will be our mission to provide the people we care for with the highest quality of life possible. Whether it be helping them find jobs in the community, trips to concerts, fairs, and amusement parks, or simply being there for them with a hug or words of encouragement, we really are, as our tagline says, “Always Caring.”

While not everyone who attended the Developmental Disabilities Awareness Barbecue participated in the walk, a group of nearly 50 heary souls took off on a walk from the fire hall across the State Street Bridge and back to promote developmental disability awareness. The walk and barbecue were organized by United Helpers Behavioral Health and Life Skills Program Leader Whitney Atkins, who oversees the Flackville Road IRA in Heuvelton.

United Helpers Enhancing Residential Opportunities for People with Developmental Disabilities

HEUVELTON – The vacant Individual Residential Alternative (IRA), located on the Irish Settlement Road in Heuvelton will soon be reopening its doors as two, six-bedroom IRAs.

Renovations at the property, which has been used periodically as a quarantine site during the COVID-19 pandemic, began earlier this month and are scheduled to be completed by mid-summer.

“Each home will have its own entrance, kitchen, dining area, and six single bedrooms,” said United Helpers Director of Buildings and Grounds Rick Pirie. “The homes will share a common gathering that includes another full kitchen, with that space being used for parties, meetings, educational events, and other large gatherings.”

United Helpers Behavioral Health and Life Skills Director of Residential Services Colleen Aldridge said the opening of the new house will allow increased flexibility both for staffing and residential placements.

“This is being done to better serve our community and to meet the needs for people with developmental disabilities and their families,” she said. “Our leadership team is currently working on a plan for allocating these new beds, as well as a plan for any restructuring that may take place.”

United Helpers currently operates 10 IRAs which employ 260 people and provide residential services to nearly 50 individuals with developmental disabilities across St. Lawrence County.

For more information on Behavioral Health and Life Skills or any of United Helpers programs, please visit www.unitedhelpers.org.

Kendrew Program Member Honored for Actions During Fire Alarm Activation

Brian Burk with Program Leader Paul Linden

RENSSELAER FALLS – Imagine sleeping peacefully and being awoken by the sounds of a smoke detector going off in your home.

The first thing you would do is rush to get you and your family out of the house.

That task however is easier said than done when your home is an Individual Residential Alternative (IRA) with six guys with varying degrees of developmental disabilities, including two in wheelchairs. 

This scenario played out on Jan. 27 when an alarm was activated at the Kendrew IRA. Brian Burk and his housemates, along with two staff members had to evacuate their home, in some instances leaving in just their pajamas.

Luckily it was a false alarm triggered by a rush of heat from the home making its way onto the porch when the home’s back door was opened. However, this was not immediately apparent, and not determined for nearly 20 minutes as Mr. Burk, United Helpers Behavioral Health and Life Skills staff, and the home’s other residents waited for the fire department to respond and give them clearance to go back inside.

Making matters worse, the temperature was -20 degrees.

As the home emptied varying degrees of irritation could be detected among those residing there, and that’s where Mr. Burk sprang into action.

“Brian has a huge heart and is always very helpful to everyone in the house,” said Kendrew IRA Program Leader Paul Linden. “That night was no different.”

Mr. Linden explained that as the home was evacuated program members were loaded into a van located a safe distance from the house. 

“Brian gave one of the guys his coat and used his own cell phone to provide a hot spot so another could play on his tablet while they waited to go back inside,” Mr. Linden said.

Those two simple gestures helped ease tensions and provide a much needed sense of calm, both for his housemates and for staff attempting to manage the situation.

For his actions on that night, Mr. Burk was recently presented with a gift card and a certificate at a surprise meeting held at the Behavioral Health and Life Skills complex in Ogdensburg.

As the clock ticked towards 2:30 p.m. and people began to file into the room, one could tell that Mr. Burk was curious about what was going on.

“I guess now I can tell you this is for you,” Mr. Linden told him, eliciting a surprised reaction.

“I never expected so much attention for doing what I did on that day,” Mr. Burk said. “If it happened again, I would do the same things all over again.” 

Following a ceremony honoring Brian Burk for his actions during an alarm activation at the Kendrew IRA, Mr. Burk posed for a photo with Kendrew IRA Program Leader Paul Linden, and several of his housemates. From left, Mr. Linden, Nate LaPlante, Mr. Burk, and D.J. Bellinger.

Welcome New Hires

  

United Helpers Rehabilitation and Senior Care

Joseph Flanagan - RN

Keylee Halpin - RN

Brenna Morrill - CNA

Phillip Smithers - Food Service Attendant

United Helpers Management Company

Frank Larkins - Maintenance II

United Helpers Independent Senior Living

Whitney Brand - Hospitality Coordinator

United Helpers Behavioral Health and Life Skill

Kendrew IRA

Quenton Steinburg - RN

United Helpers Behavioral Health and Life Skills

Spruce Street IRA

Jessie - DSP

United Helpers Behavioral Health and Life Skills

Rensselaer Falls IRA 

Chelsea Montroy - APL

Flanagan Honored With Fannie Frank Distinguished CNA Award

CANTON - A popular television sitcom that aired in the 90s and 2000s was titled “Everybody Loves Raymond,” and while that show had nothing to do with the medical field, a spin-off titled, “Everybody Loves Minnie,” could be filmed in the halls of United Helpers Rehabilitation and Senior Care in Canton.

The show would star this year’s Fannie Frank Distinguished CNA Award winner Minnie Flanagan, of Canton, who would be cast as herself playing the role of a CNA, a home health aide, and an activities aide. 

Rehabilitation and Senior Care Vice President of Operations Timothy Parsons said that while Mrs. Flanagan’s primary role at the facility, where she’s worked since 1988, is activities aide, it’s not unusual for her to work in two or even three roles all in the same day.

“There has been numerous times when Minnie has worked in three departments in one day,” he said. “She’ll start her day as a CNA from 1:45 a.m. to 6 a.m., then work as a home health aide in the ALP from 6 a.m. to 7:30 a.m. and then still have enough energy to work in activities until 3:30 p.m.”

When Mr. Parsons began looking for people to nominate for this year’s honor, he said Mrs. Flanagan’s name was one that come up often.

“It was astounding to hear everyone’s impressions of Minnie,” he said. “She is universally known for always putting residents first and taking time to get to know the people she is caring for. She is an expert when it comes to knowing their personal preferences, and in fact does weekly shopping for many of them.”

To learn a little bit more about Mrs. Flanagan, Mr. Parsons said he dug into her personnel file.

“The file was quite large and filled with evaluations year after year praising her compassion,” he said. “Her 2003 evaluation particularly stood out. ‘Minnie is indeed an exceptional worker. She always goes out of her way to provide excellent care to the residents. Her attitude of friendliness and warmth towards her co-workers, and especially new workers, is beyond approach. Everybody loves Minnie.’”

The Fannie Frank Award was established by longtime United Helpers volunteers Dr. Edward and Barbara Gordon in 2019 to pay tribute to Dr. Gordon’s grandmother, a Polish immigrant who moved to the U.S. prior to World War I with her parents and six of her nine siblings. Three of her older siblings were already married and stayed behind, he said. They perished in World War II. 

The award is a $1,000 cash bonus and awarded based on the following criteria:

•  A remarkably caring demeanor
• Remarkably competent care
• Continuous employment with UH for five or more years
• Nomination by the Vice President of Operations at her respective facility

Dr. Gordon grew up in New York City in close proximity to his grandmother and credits her with instilling in him a love of animals that would eventually lead to his career as a veterinarian.

Welcome New Hires

 

United Helpers Rehabilitation and Senior Care

Taylor Babcock - Task Aide

Abeni Payne - Task Aide

Abrinel Seeger - Task Aide

Ciara Spicer - Task Aide

Emma Young - Task Aide

Evan Folsom - Food Service Attendant

Karlie Gordon - CNA

Payal Sharma - RN

Sparx

Kelsi Shippee - Business Office Assisant

United Helpers Rehabilitation and Senior Carwe

Assisted Living

Chellsey Hayden - HHA

United Helpers Behavioral Health and Life Skill

Pleasant Valley IRA

Ashley Dixon - RN

United Helpers Behavioral Health and Life Skills

Lisbon IRA

Patricia Brothers - DSP

Brooke Martin - DSP

United Helpers Behavioral Health and Life Skills

Health Home Care Coordination 

Dominic Dinatale - Care Manager