From: United Neighbors of Fall River/ Community Connections Dear Maryellen and the Wonderful UMASS Nursing Students, What can I say? The day was extraordinary. You did the most amazing job not only bringing better health outcomes to our families, but connecting with them and playing with the children. I looked around the room and saw so many happy faces – something we often do not see on the faces of our families that are living in the motels. Your work, attitude, comfort, professionalism and support exceeded my expectations. Because of you all we have had some amazing outcomes. We already have signed up one of the residents for a grief group, another one is meeting with a counselor this week for depression related issues and a third is receiving transportation to see a doctor so that she can get a renewal on her anti-depression medication. One toddler was identified as possibly having rickets from mal-nutrition and we have a pediatrician’s appointment scheduled for him shortly after Thanksgiving. All of these issues were discovered because of you! We were unaware of all of them and only because you connected and related to our families and made them feel safe were we able to glean this information and direct family members to the correct resources. We do many programs in our line of work, and I have to say that Saturday was one of the highlights of the work we do. Everyone won – we are getting better health outcomes from our families, our children connected to role models and friends that showered them with affection and support, we ate together, we laughed together and everyone went home with better consequences than they had when they arrived. One little girl, McKenzie, told me that when she grows up she wants to be a nurse and go to college at U (she didn’t quite get the UMASS but we knew what she meant!) That’s quite the compliment. I am so looking forward to our next Health Day. I have already received phone calls from residents that did not come and want to know when we will be doing it again. You are all amazing. I guess the icing on the cake was the fact that some of you brought us gently used coats as well as staffing the day. I was so touched that you remembered. I am a firm believer that only through collective collaboration can we change the world and Saturday showed me that teaming with the UMASS School of Nursing will enable us to repair our little corner of the world. I cannot wait for our next Health Day! Best wishes to you and your families for a Happy Healthy & Peaceful Thanksgiving! With gratitude, respect and quite a lot of awe, Wendy Wendy Garf-Lipp Executive Director
Posted on: Tue, 25 Nov 2014 23:11:54 +0000
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