TFH Portal

Longevity

5 Years

Sam Zick (2024)

Brian Lingle (2023)

Cole Contois (2023)           

 Courtney Raske-Knox (2023)   

Sarah McNair (2023),                          

 Cindy Schwemin (2022),

Chris Chaney (2022),

Annette Newman (2021),

Marek Nojek (2021),

Veronica Teresinski (2021),

Brian Hurst (2021),

Dashana Rathbun (2020),

Mindy McNeil (2020),

Liz VerSluis (2020)

10 Years

Linnéa Wyma (2022),

Dana Koziara (2022),

Erin Juntunen (2023)

15 Years

David Mastric (2020)

25 Years

James Whalen (2024)

Annual Awards

Cedar Creek Direct Care Worker – Alex Engstrom

Lakes Area Direct Care Worker – Russell Kern

South Bluff Direct Care Worker – Kaitlynn Heiss

Michael J. Jago II Award – Missy McNeil

Supervisor of the Year award – Mindy McNeil and Cole Contois

Home-Based Worker of the year – Elisabeth Martini

Administrative Support Staff – Linnea Wyma and Chris Chaney

Executive Director Award – Dana Koziara

Throwback to the 90s with Jodi and Samantha!

Fun times were had by all at the Annual Dinner and Banquet on Saturday, February 22nd at NMU. We are pleased to announce the winners from the employee nominations awards

Home-Based Worker of the Year:

Ronnie George Youth Surveillance Worker for JJDRA

Supervisor of the Year Award:

James Whalen, Consultant of Lakes Area

Administrative Support Staff of the Year:

Courtney Raske, Nutrition and Recreation Coordinator

Cedar Creek Direct Care Worker of the Year:

Cole Contois, Cedar Creek Lead Direct Care Worker

Indian River Direct Care Worker of the Year:

Evelyn Hubbell, Indian River Lead Direct Care Worker

Lakes Area Direct Care Worker of the Year:

Mindy McNeil, Lakes Area Direct Care Worker

Regional Treatment Center Direct Care Worker of the Year:

Dashana Rathbun, RTC Direct Care Worker of the Year

South Bluff Direct Care Worker of the Year:

Alex Makosky, South Bluff Direct Care Worker

Michael Jago Jr. Overall Direct Care Worker of the Year:

Sarah McNair, South Bluff Lead Direct Care Worker

Congratulations on 5 Years of Service to Jodi Decker-Major and Dwayne Evans of JJDRA

Congratulations on 25 Years of Service Michael Smith (Site) and Ronald Saari (JJDRA)

Director of Clinical Services– If you are interested in this position, please contact Human Resources.

Beneath every behavior there is a feeling. And beneath each feeling is a need. And when we meet that need rather than focus on the behavior, we begin to deal with the cause, not the symptom.
-Ashleigh Warner

Have you ever thought that part of your job is to be a detective? One of the greatest reminders I have had over the last several months is that youth are trying to tell us something through their behaviors. The challenge is that sometimes the behavior has nothing to do with the feeling that the youth is trying to express or the need that the youth is trying to get met. For example, a youth may be expressing anger, when in reality she is sad. Sometimes when we sit down with the youth they can tell us what they are feeling or need, but sometimes they themselves aren’t sure what they are feeling or needing. As you work with the youth, do a little detective work and see if you can find the need and feelings behind the behavior.
Thank you for all your awesome work.

Two years ago, when I arrived in the UP, one of the things that came with me was a rock.  I had picked the rock up off a sidewalk where it just seemed to be tempting someone to throw it through a windshield.  My daughter grabbed it out of my car one day and painted “Say Yes to New Adventure” for me.  I haven’t looked at it for a while, but that rock is still in my office.  As I think back over the last two years, moving to the UP and working at Teaching Family Homes has definitely been a great new adventure.  The last two years have had their ups and downs.  There have been moments of pure joy and other moments of great frustration.  However, looking back I would not change it.  I am very glad I came on this new adventure. 

I want to thank each of you for signing on for the Teaching Family Homes adventure.  For some of you it is a new adventure; for others it has been an adventure of many years.   It is an adventure with many ups and downs.  There is great joy in seeing a child’s life changed or a family moving down a new path.  It is frustrating when no matter how much we advocate we can’t seem to help turn a situation around or we see youth and families making choices that will hurt them in the long run.  There are ups and downs as we navigate the workplace with co-workers, leaders, and policies.  Sometimes we are happy with the changes that come.  Sometimes the changes don’t make sense to us.  Through it all, thank you for being a part of the journey.  It is all of you who make Teaching Family Homes what it is and are laying the foundation for what Teaching Family Homes will be in the future. 

In the next month our strategic planning team will be meeting to look at future directions for Teaching Family Homes.  Thank you to all who have already expressed their interest in joining the team.  We are still looking for a few more people, particularly from the group homes.  If you would like to participate on the strategic planning team please drop me an email at jsanter@tfhomes.org. 

Thank you again for being part of our adventure at Teaching Family Homes. 

Jennifer

Alone we can do so little, together we can do so much.” –Helen Keller