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Hab Center staff honored
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. -- The recent blizzard proved a challenge and hardship to many Missourians including those who work in Department of Mental Health facilities serving more than 2,000 of Missouri's most vulnerable individuals with developmental disabilities and mental illnesses. The Department operates nine psychiatric facilities for adults and children with mental illness and severe emotional disorders, and six habilitation centers for persons with developmental disabilities, including the Nevada Habilitation Center.
The record snow storm prompted voluntary, heroic actions by hundreds of DMH staff statewide. These actions kept state psychiatric hospitals and habilitation centers operating and safe for residents around the clock throughout the difficult storm period. The Mental Health Commission and the Department of Mental Health expressed their deepest appreciation for these heroic efforts.
"There are countless examples of staff going above and beyond the call to ensure the care and safety of patients and residents, and to help fellow workers who were challenged by the effects and aftermath of the blizzard," said Keith Schafer, Director of the Department of Mental Health.
"Every day, 24 hours per day, 365 days a year, we count on the commitment and skills of our facility staff to provide treatment and care to Missouri's most disabled citizens. Frankly, far too often, we, and Missourians in general, take them for granted. This landmark weather event only served to remind us again what we have always known and seldom acknowledged. Our facility staff routinely exceed our best expectations." Facility directors noted that many employees came to work on Jan. 31, prepared to work extra shifts, anticipating that some co-workers would be unable to get to work on time for the next shift, or in some case not at all. Others, not scheduled to work that day, came in anyway because they thought they might be needed.
At one facility, a staff member arrived for the start of her shift at 6:45 a.m., with an inflatable mattress, blankets, a change of clothes and extra food; working her regular shift and the next shift before sleeping a few hours in the center's gymnasium, and got up early and started helping out again before her next "regular" shift. This continued for two straight days. There are many examples of staff staying at facilities from Tuesday morning through Wednesday afternoon, or longer, to ensure coverage.
Staff at Higginsville Habilitation Center pitched in by setting up an area on site for approximately 30 employees to stay during the storm. This included food, sleeping accommodations and showers. The area was affectionately labeled "Hotel Providence".
At many facilities, staff members volunteered to help others get to work. In one instance, two staff drove a personal four-wheel drive vehicle to pick up a fellow worker who was stuck 15 miles away. A maintenance worker took his personal vehicle into town to pick up a doctor and bring him to the facility to treat a resident for a medical condition. One worker made six different trips during the storm to pick up staff who did not have vehicles that could make it through the storm.
Psychiatrists at one facility, knowing the weather forecast, spent from Monday morning until Thursday afternoon either in the hospital or staying in a nearby hotel in order to provide services to patients. Dietary employees came in on their day off until additional dietary workers arrived in order to assure that patients got breakfast. Maintenance staff stayed overnight to ensure maintenance needs were met and to be available in case of power loss. They also cleared sidewalks and parking lots.
Program managers did their best to see that all staff members were rotated on and off duty, provided breaks and offered sleeping arrangements at the facility. Facility directors noted that the energy and high spirits of staff boosted everyone's morale despite the difficult weather conditions. Denise Norbury, Regional Executive Officer for the Southwest Region of the Division of Comprehensive Psychiatric Services noted that patients at Southwest Missouri Mental Health Center benefitted from the heroic examples of staff.
"Our biggest heroes are those who are here 24-7, not by choice, but because they are receiving services. Our clients turned the storm into an adventure in fun. There were jokes to staff members who spent the night...about whether or not they had bathed yet because, after all, it needed to be recorded and tracked. Individuals who have not laughed since admission were able to experience some complete full blown laughter. I am so grateful to those heroes for just tolerating us and all of our routines that are imposed upon them every day," said Norbury.
The exceptional efforts of DMH employees continued after the storm. Staff members who were not able to make it in during the storm offered to work later in the week to allow their coworkers who graciously covered for them, to have time off.
"Challenges like the recent storm have a way of bringing out the best in people. Members of the Mental Health Commission and the DMH Executive Team want to express our deepest appreciation and admiration for the actions of DMH facility staff during this crisis, and for the dedication they demonstrate each and every day," Schafer said. "We are blessed to have their tireless efforts to serve our very vulnerable clients."