Mosaic Musea publication of Mosaic in Delaware | 261 Chapman Rd., Ste. 201 | Newark, DE 19702-5428 Summer 2014

Mosaic in Delaware 1 Mosaic Muse

C A R I N G C O M M U N I T Y

A Volunteer’s Story by Jessica Monahan, volunteer at Mosaic

As a human services student at Delaware Technical Community College, I was looking for an agency where I could complete my necessary human service hours. I was referred to Mosaic in Delaware by my college advisor. I spoke with Angi McCloskey, the Community Relations Manager at Mosaic. She invited me to attend a Discover the Possibilities information session. It was at that session when I knew that Mosaic was where I wanted to be!

I was placed at the Whitman group home, where several wonderful women reside. As I get to know the women more and more, I am inspired by their individual stories. I was impressed by their welcoming nature. They eagerly allowed me to come into their home and become a part of their lives. Each of them, including the Mosaic staff

members, have been nothing but kind.Together we play games, do crafts, and share our lives with

one another. It is a caring community and I look forward to being a part of it. I enjoy the time I get to spend with these remarkable women and cherish every memory.

Being a volunteer at Mosaic has educated me and opened my eyes to things I had not been aware of previously. I came into this thinking that I would be the one doing all the helping, but really, I believe I am the one who has gained the most. The ladies have really helped me to learn a great deal about people with intellectual disabilities, about Mosaic, and about myself. I am very

thankful for this opportunity that Mosaic has given to me. I know that my relationship with Mosaic is a lifetime one.

Craft project made by individuals and volunteers working together.

M E A N I N G F U L L I F E

Because of People Like You by Angi McCloskey, Mosaic in Delaware Community Relations Manager

Because of people like you, the gentlemen who live in the Fairfax neighborhood Mosaic group home stay healthy, thanks to a yearly membership to the Brandywine YMCA.

Mosaic’s mission is embracing God’s call to serve in the world, we advocate for people with intellectual disabilities and provide opportunities for them to enjoy a full life. The YMCA’s mission is to ... “enrich the emotional, physical and social life of all individuals, families and our community.” Mosaic and the YMCA ... together, our missions are intertwined and have a common goal of helping people live a healthy, happy, enriching life, a life of possibilities. However, possibilities are not without a financial cost and for most people with intellectual disabilities, lack of finances is the biggest obstacle to leading a full life.

Thanks to donors, these men never have to worry about

this obstacle. They can enjoy the emotional, physical, and social aspects of being a member of the YMCA, just the same as anyone else, without having to worry about how they will

pay for this added expense.They look forward to working out

together several times a month. They enjoy swimming in the pool, riding the exercise bikes in the Wellness Center and socializing with other members. Because of people like you, people who give out of the goodness of their hearts, the guys who live in the Fairfax neighborhood enjoy a healthy life filled with possibilities.

For more information on how the people we serve benefit from gift dollars, or to make a donation to Mosaic, please contact Angi McCloskey, Community Relations Manager at 302.456.5995 x.141 or angela.mccloskey @mosaicinfo.org.

Will and Taquan enjoying the pool at the Y.

Mosaic Muse published by Mosaic in Delaware

261 Chapman Rd., Ste. 201 | Newark, DE 19702-5428P 302.456.5995 | F 302.456.5998

www.mosaicindelaware.org

Executive Director chuck.sipe@mosaicinfo.org

Editor angela.mccloskey@mosaicinfo.org

MissionEmbracing God’s call to serve in the world, Mosaic advocates for people with intellectual disabilities and provides opportunities for them to enjoy a full life.

Integrity at MosaicIf you have a concern, call our national Confidential Reporting Hotline at 800.443.4899, or email integrity@mosaicinfo.org.

RelationshipsMosaic is an affiliated social ministry organization of the Evan-gelical Lutheran Church in America and a member of Lutheran Services in America.

Non-discriminationMosaic will not discriminate in matters of employment or service delivery on the basis of race, creed, age, color, sex, religion, national origin, ancestry, physical or mental disability, marital status or veteran status.

To be added or removed from the mailing list for Mosaic Muse, or to receive information via email, please contact Mosaic at the address given.

©2014 Mosaic. All rights reserved. Mosaic is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization.

Sparkle’s SectionSparkle, as she is known

around the office, is Mosaic in Delaware’s administrative assist-ant and when she is not assisting people around the office, she is scouring magazines and web-sites for the latest and greatest tips to share with family and friends. In each edition of the Mosaic Muse, Sparkle shares her research in the areas of parenting, health and beauty, and cooking and recipes.* Please note: Sparkle does not claim to be an expert in any of these topics, just an active mom on the go who is willing to share her research for keeping life sparkling!

H E A L T H & B E A U T Y

Papaya, Banana & Avocado Fruit MaskSummer is a great time for all skin types to exfoliate and

feed the skin with this moisturizing tropical fruit facial. It will be refreshing and the leftovers can be eaten for dessert!Ingredients:

1 avocado 1 banana 1⁄2 papaya

How to do it:Mash the avocado, banana and papaya into a nice smooth

paste. Spread this gently and equally with your fingertips on your clean face and neck: keep the eye area clear. Now lie down, relax and leave the mask on for 15 to 20 minutes. Then wash it off with alternately cold and warm water and end with a splash of cold; pat your skin dry with a clean towel. Finally apply a moisturizing cream, this way you “seal” your skin to keep the water inside.

www.natural homeremedies for life.com

C O O K I N G C O R N E R

Seafood LasagnaIngredients:

1 (16 ounce) package lasagna noodles2 tablespoons olive oil1 clove garlic, minced1 pound baby Portabella mushrooms, sliced2 (16 ounce) jars of Alfredo -style pasta sauce1 pound shrimp, peeled and deveined1 pound bay scallops1 pound of crab meat20 ounces of ricotta cheese1 egg6 cups shredded Italian cheese blend

Directions:1. Preheat oven to 350° F (175° C). Bring a large pot of lightly

salted water to a boil. Add pasta and cook for 8 to 10 minutes; drain.

2. Heat oil in a large saucepan over medium heat. Sauté garlic and mushrooms until tender. Pour in both jars of Alfredo sauce. Stir in shrimp, scallops and crab meat. Simmer 5 to 10 minutes, or until heated through. In a medium bowl, combine ricotta cheese and egg.

3. In a 9” x 13” inch baking dish, layer noodles, ricotta mixture, Alfredo mixture and shredded cheese. Repeat layers until all ingredients are used, ensuring that there is enough cheese for the top.

4. Bake uncovered in preheated oven for 45 minutes. Cover, and bake 15 minutes.

Courtesy of www.recipes.com

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P A R E N T I N G T I P S

How iPads can be used to support people with intellectual disabilities

by Sparklann Sparrow

Last spring I had the opportunity to attend a workshop, along with one of the direct support managers from Mosaic in Delaware. The workshop was held at a local public school in Delaware and sponsored by the Delaware Special Needs Parent Teacher Association. The guest presenter, Bill Ziegler, talked about the use of iPads in the classrooms with children and in their practical use in day programs, work and residential programs for adults with intellectual disabilities. Mr. Ziegler, shared many great ideas and uses for iPads. I gathered my notes from the workshop to share with everyone. Here is what we learned on some of the ways that iPads can be used to support people with intellectual disabilities of all ages.n As a communication device People who are nonverbal can

use certain applications to communicate with others. There are several touch-to-speak applications (such as Proloquo2Go), which assist people with communicating exactly what they want to verbalize. The “Assistive Chat” application can predict several sentence completion options. For people with more severe disabilities, there is a simple Yes/No application which allows people to voice their preferences in yes or no responses. For those with a hearing disability, there is the soundAmpR application, which amplifies sound from the device.

n As a Therapeutic Device iPads can serve as a stimulation solution for people with intellectual disabilities. People lacking fine motor skills can benefit from applications such as Bubbles and Uncolor. This Bubbles application creates bubbles with the touch of a finger (or two). Then one tap will pop them. This is a great cause and effect application. The Uncolor application allows a user to un color an image by rubbing the screen. People can use two fingers, a thumb, or a whole hand to touch the iPad and uncover the hidden picture which is great for those with fine motor difficulties. For people who are struggling with anxiety, there are applications such as the Memovesapp. This application has functions to assist with relaxation, focus and promoting a feeling of well-being.

n As an Educational Device There are iPad applications available to stimulate the desire to learn. The Clicker Sentences application serves as a writing tool that enables you to build sentences with whole words. Other applications such as Dragon (dictate) and Dexteria (a handwriting application) are also great tools used for learning. These applications provide instant gratification by using continuous real time feedback.

n Leisure/Casual Use of the iPad People with intellectual disabilities can use iPads to simply surf the web, play games, and other casual usage. Higher functioning people may be interested in using iPads for social networking, email and things of that nature.

G I V I N G A V O I C E

At Mosaic, we help people give a voice to their needs and dreams and help celebrate successes including...

Sara Smith Sara was awarded the “Worker

of the Month” Award this past January. Sara works at Elwyn – Delaware and is supported by Mosaic. She lives at the Mosaic Foulk Road neighborhood home and enjoys doing puzzles and crafts with her housemates. She was given the award for being

diligent and always having a smile on her face while doing her job. When asked about the award she said, “I am happy about it!” Sara is very proud of her accomplishment. She asked the house manager, Juliet, to hang the award on the wall in the house. Way to go Sara, we are proud of you too!

Jeffrey ThomasJeffrey had his dream come

true recently, thanks to one of our wonderful donors! Jeffrey lives at the Mosaic Grubb Road neighborhood home. He has been keeping healthy and happy by using a stationary bike. However, that happiness came to a halt the day his very old bike

broke! Unfortunately, Jeffrey’s income is limited and he was not able to come up with the money to purchase a new bike. He was beginning to become restless and staff were growing concerned, however a donor came to Jeffrey’s rescue and donated a gently used stationary bike in great condition! One of the staff members who support Jeffrey said, “Oh, that was the best day for Jeffrey!”

Thomas BrandThomas lives at the Black

Diamond neighborhood home, and recently had the time of his life when he received a visit from an Elvis impersonator for his birthday celebration. Thomas sang Elvis songs along with the

impersonator, such as “You Ain’t Nothing But a Hound Dog”, and “Blue Suede Shoes”. Thomas laughed, tapped his feet to the music and took pictures to remember the special day. He and his friends from Easter Seals and Mosaic had a rockin’ good time with “The King.”

E M P L O Y E E C E L E B R A T I O N S A N D K U D O S

Lula Suah is a Direct Support Professional at the Lauren Farms neighborhood home and supports five men in their daily living. Three of the men are nonverbal, but she has no trouble communicating with them because she knows them so well. When she cooks and prepares the meals, she has the men help to the extent their abilities will allow. She exemplifies the principle of supporting versus just doing the tasks for the men she supports. Lula keeps the men engaged in activities – swimming at the local YMCA, eating out and having fun at the park.

One of the men became very agitated once and hit Lula in the mouth, drawing blood. She remained calm and never got upset. She has unconditional love for the men she supports and advocates for them. She noticed that one gentleman would benefit from elevating his legs, so she worked to get him a recliner to help his circulation. She advocated for dental floss to be provided for another person, to help with his oral hygiene needs. She taught him how to use and tolerate floss. The results have been excellent. One person kept losing his belts, so Lula came up with the idea to buy him pants with drawstrings. Problem solved! It was Lula’s creative idea to assist another

gentleman who had destructive behaviors to hold sticks and straws in his hands. Her prediction was correct ... behavior

problem solved and the man was relaxed and happier.

When Hurricane Sandy struck, Lula came in to work on that Sunday and stayed until she could be relieved on Tuesday, without complaint. While oftentimes staff are understandably trying to get holidays off, Lula sees working on holidays as opportunities! She believes it is a great way to spend extra time with the men on those special days. Lula leads by example and models the most desirable approaches for other staff members

to see. She communicates often with the family members and loved ones of the people she supports because she understands the importance of working collaboratively to provide the best care. Her attention to detail and her consistent communication have earned the trust and gratitude of family members.

These are a few of the reasons Lula was selected as ANCOR’s Direct Support Professional of the Year from the State of Delaware for 2014. We are proud of Lula for representing our state and Mosaic. Congratulations Lula!

Onome KuyebiQuality Service Award winner

Direct Support Professional Onome Kuyebi works in our Black Diamond home, and was recently presented with a Quality Service Award for the month of May. She was nominated by Kathy Thomas, Program Coordinator. On a warm Tuesday evening, Onome finished her shift and clocked out, just like any other Tuesday. However, before she could open the door to leave, one of the ladies just getting home from her day program saw Onome and requested that they go horseback riding together.

Like the others living in the home, this young lady loves spending time with Onome. Instead of going home, Onome agreed to accompany her to the horse stables. Together, they enjoyed the warm spring air, as Onome walked alongside her during the riding lesson.

Afterward, they enjoyed dinner together at a local restaurant. The young lady was pleased and she shared with other staff members that the evening was one of the best nights she had ever had! All of this time spent was completely voluntary on Onome’s part. We are thankful to have such hardworking, dedicated, and loving direct support professionals as part of our Mosaic family. Onome’s actions exemplify the mission, vision and values of Mosaic, because for one of the people served by Mosaic, Onome turned an ordinary Tuesday into an extraordinary Tuesday!

Augustine Antwi and Judith ObareQuality Service Award winners

Direct Support Professionals Augustine Antwi and Judith Obare both work in the Llangollen home, and they were recently presented with Quality Service Awards for the month of May.

Imagine walking into one of your favorite restaurants and being told, “Only take-out!” As you and others in your group press further as to why, the manager finally gives in and says that it is OK, but only if your group sits at a table in the far back corner, away from any other customers.

Sadly, this story actually happened. Augustine and Judith both supported and advocated for this person, and did not stand for this type of injustice, nor did they get upset or create a scene at the restaurant. They asked to speak to another manager and when the person they were supporting was not treated with respect, they decided to leave immediately without giving the restaurant their business. Augustine and Judith agreed never to frequent this restaurant again. They wrote a detailed service log to inform other staff so that everyone was aware of the mistreatment, and so no one else would be further subjected to this type of discrimination. This unfortunate story displayed Judith and Augustine’s ability to advocate for those we serve, which is why their manager, Kevin Wanjohi, nominated them both for the award.

Lula Suah named ANCOR Direct Support Professional of the Year award winner

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Jeannie and Will at Jeannie’s

birthday party.

Burnetta making a mug at the

community picnic at Grace

Lutheran Church.

Bob and friends enjoying the Elvis impersonator at Tommy’s birthday party.

Mosaic believes that people with intellectual disabilities deserve the same rights as people without disabilities and that includes being able to enjoy the same types of activities and social life as everyone else, at their own choosing. People are given opportunities to decide how they want to spend their time and many choose to keep active. Here are few highlights from the past few months.

OUT ON THE TOWN

Jennifer is proud of her homemade mug made at the community picnic.

Mosaic provides a life of possibilities for individuals with intellectual disabilities. We help people define what happiness means for them. We support them and empower the pursuit of their goals. We celebrate their successes, even if that success is as simple as the pursuit itself.

If you already contribute or are contemplating contributing to the United Way, please consider designating our agency as your Donor Choice.

Mosaic — Donor Choice #9366PLEASE NOTE: The Donor Choice Number listed above is for designated pledges and is only valid for the United Way of Delaware campaign. If you wish to make donations through another United Way, please contact our office at 302.456.5995. We would be happy to apply to your local United Way for approval for “Write-in” certification in its campaign.

Wish Listn Two full/queen size hospital beds

n Two snow blowers

n Recliner

n Love seat or small sofa

n Power recliner To donate one of these items or to get more involved

with Mosaic, please contact Angi McCloskey at angela.mccloskey@mosaicinfo.org or call 302.456.5995 x.141.

Thrivent Members can support Mosaic through Choice Dollars

The new Thrivent Choice program makes it easy to support Mosaic with added gifts. If you have received a letter from Thrivent saying you are eligible to give through the program, simply visit www.thrivent.com/choice and follow the instructions or call Thrivent at 1.800.847.4836 to make Mosaic your choice! You can choose from The Mosaic Foundation (that supports all of our programs) or designate a local Mosaic agency such as Mosaic in Delaware. Your gifts will support a life of possibilities for people with intellectual disabilities. Thank you for your support.

261 Chapman Rd., Ste. 201 Newark, DE 19702-5428

A life of possibilities for people with intellectual disabilities.

Mosaic Muse 6 Mosaic in Delaware

It’s hard to believe we are in the middle of summer already – time has been flying by at a ridiculous pace. We have been very busy and we are working on a number of projects. Because life has been so hectic, I think it is a good idea to pause for just a moment to remind ourselves what we do and why we do it. For me, the Mosaic mission statement is the guiding light that directs every decision I make.n Our Mission – Embracing God’s call to serve in the world, Mosaic advocates for people with intellectual disabilities and provides opportunities for them to enjoy a full life.

When there are a thousand things happening at once, I focus on this mission statement to help me determine what is most important.n Our Values – I also lean on Mosaic’s core values to guide me. Our core values are safety, respect, connection and integrity. These values serve as wonderful barometers. Over the past year, the Mosaic Leadership Council has developed a new vision for the organization and I have developed a new vision for Mosaic in Delaware. These vision statements remind me where we are going.n Mosaic Vision – Mosaic is the recognized leader in making a

positive difference in people’s lives. We are passionate about services and partnerships that create meaningful lives in caring communities. Inspired by faith, we give voice to issues that affect people’s lives.

n My Vision for Mosaic in Delaware – In the future, Mosaic in Delaware will be known for our limitless capacity to love the people we serve, for knowing and honoring the individual needs, hopes and dreams of each person we serve, for listening to all of our stakeholders including the people we serve, their family members, our staff and the community and incorporating their input in to our organizational goals, plans and services

and for our tireless pursuit of perfection in all aspects of our operation.

We envision being able to increase wages for our amazing staff and we will do this through good stewardship and thoughtful and rational expansion of varied services for people with intellectual disabilities.

When we are surrounded by noise or chaos or when it seems like we have a million things to do, let us all refer to the guiding principles above. They provide a map, a destination and a beacon to light our path. God bless you all and enjoy the rest of your summer!

From the Executive Director by Chuck Sipe

Chuck Sipe