Vonnie's Service Learning Reflections

Service Learning Story of Engagement: Milk River, Inc.

Vonnie O. Pattison

Submitted to Dr. Barbara Berg in partial fulfillment of

 NR 725A Application to Practice

Regis University

                                                             March 23, 2014

 

                              Service Learning Story of Engagement: Milk River, Inc.

     To describe the service learning site I have the privilege to volunteer in, the first thoughts that came to mind are; care, love, and positivity.  Milk River, Inc. was started in 1976 after inadequate services were noted to be available for the developmentally disabled in a rural area of Northeastern Montana, specifically in Valley County.  The agency started assisting seven people and has grown to assisting thirty-two individuals (Milk River, Inc., 2012).  Milk River, Inc., is one of the largest employers in the county, with sixty-one employees working either full time, part time, or as relief workers.  The agency includes an “Activity Center,” and three group homes.  Milk River, Inc., is a non-profit 501 (c) 3 which provides employment, training, activities, and residential facilities (as mentioned above) to the underserved population of developmentally disabled people in the county.  Milk River currently has a seven member Board of Directors that meets monthly.  The current executive director is Connie Wethern, who has graciously agreed to allow me to volunteer at the various facilities for my service learning volunteer service.  The mission of the facility is both uplifting and inspiring, and one every facility should encompass:

Our mission is to encourage and advocate for the wishes, dreams and aspirations of persons with developmental disabilities and achieve this in the least restrictive, most appropriate environment (Milk River, Inc., 2012). 

Group Homes and Activity Center

     As mentioned above, Milk River, Inc. began with seven individuals, and has grown to assisting thirty-two developmentally disabled adults.  Twenty-two of these individuals live in one of the three separate Milk River residential group home facilities.  The group homes support the client’s life in the community by providing them with a family home. A “Life Skills” program is in place at the homes, and focuses on nutrition related to wellness, which includes preparation, cooking, and healthy meal plan choices.  Daily routines are also instilled in each facility to best meet each persons need in whichever group home they live in, which includes; check writing, budgeting, household skills, work habits, computer skills, socialization skills and daily living skills.  All residents act as citizens with a shared responsibility to keep the house in order. Support staff provide a framework within which residents can use their specific abilities to learn and choose healthy behaviors for work and daily living.  The three housing programs include the Warren Group Home, the Mitchell Group Home, and the Transitional Living Complex (Milk River, Inc., 2012).  Eight individuals live in the Warren Group Home which is the “standard group home.”  The residents of this group home have their own room and share the rest of the rooms in the house with the other people that reside there. Direct care staff is on duty at all times the individuals are at the home.  The Mitchell Group Home was built in 1993, and is an “intensive group home” (Milk River, Inc., 2012).  Six people live in this facility, also having their own room and sharing all other rooms in the house with other residents living there. Direct care staff is on duty 24 hours a day, with the morning shift accompanying the individuals to the Activity Center.  The last home, the Transitional Living Complex (TLC) was built in 1984 (Milk River, Inc., 2012).  TLC has eight apartments, two being double capacity, with 8 individuals living there.  A manager lives on site and is on duty during the early morning and evening hours, with staff that work weekends and sleep in the remaining apartment.  For further safety, the TLC staff is also on call Monday through Friday during the night for resident’s needs.  Those developmentally disabled adults who do not live in one of these three group homes either live in their own apartment or live with their parents and attend the Activity Center during the day (Milk River, Inc. 2012). 

Funding Sources and Support

     Milk River, Inc., is involved in many endeavors in Valley County. The “Activity Center” is located in the southeastern corner of the city of Glasgow, Montana.  The center is where individuals come Monday through Friday to learn, grow, and be a productive part of the county.  Residents that attend the Activity Center are involved in activities ranging from recycling activities, to laundry services, and seasonal endeavors which include the new community garden. 

     The recycling opportunity for Milk River began in 1976 with the inception of the agency.  This aspect of the Activity Center has evolved since the start where now the center receives, sorts, weighs, bags, stores and sells the aluminum they obtain.  Milk River also collected and recycled newspapers in the past. This service was stopped in 2001 due to a lack of storage and transportation. Other production projects through the years include furniture refinishing, coupon cutting, recycling memorial flowers, cutting and selling rags, recycling and selling clothing buttons, assembling and selling pens and stuffing business envelopes (Milk River, Inc., 2012). 

     An educational, productive activity the Activity Center is involved with is a “Community Garden” and ultimately harvesting the garden produce.  The endeavor began in the spring of 2012.  This project began with a seed grant obtained through/from the Montana State University (MSU) Extension office, specifically the Master Gardeners Extension Program (Montana State University Extension, 2014).  The Rural Health Initiative Incubator grant, and a grant from the Dennis and Phyllis Washington Foundation, as well as help from Scott's Miracle Gro also assisted with funding the project (Milk River, Inc., 2012).  Milk River participants grow, harvest and tend to the garden which is located at the Activity Center.  The produce from the garden is used for educational purposes at the center, in classes teaching garden-to-table meal preparation, and culinary, as well as basic cooking skills for individuals at the center.  Community support is also included by residents through sharing some of the produce grown with the local Senior Citizens Center, Food Bank, and Women's Resource Center. 

                                               Calling to Volunteer

     I have lived in this little rural community my entire life.  The center began in 1976, I was a freshman in high school at the time, with a developmentally disabled female in our little class.  I felt a need or passion to help her, by including her in events, activities, or just sitting at the table together when we ate.  I remember volunteering at the Activity Center whenever there was an opportunity to do so, through my local 4-H club, Key Club, or whatever organization I was involved with at the time.  I remember feeling blessed to have the opportunity and felt I received more from my volunteer service than those I was involved with.  

     The executive director is also an Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) in our little community, and I admire her.  I am amazed at the unselfish love, stamina, and devotion she has for this underserved population in our community, and wanted to give back.  I feel I am the one that has the privilege to be in the facility. 

                                                              Volunteer Service

     The service learning experience I had been asked to be involved with was assisting with the community garden project with the residents.  The area of the country we live in had a very harsh winter, as did most of the nation, and the ground is still frozen.  The temperature has been below zero except for a few days, and as such the garden project is “on hold.”  I have made contact with the Chief Executive Officer at the center, and I am welcome to assist in “in-house” daily activities whenever I can.  We have decided to have me work with the residents with laundry services and any other areas that may be needed when I come to the center starting next week March 26^th.  

                                                      Needs Met and Reflection
     The underserved developmentally disabled people in this arena are having their needs met.  Personal communication obtained from staff and the executive director, as well as review of living conditions/longevity in group homes, has substantiated this information.  Residents are seen as “productive,” and “engaged” in the little local community.  Community activities as discussed; recycling, laundry services, and the community garden are important and necessary not only to the individuals who provide the services but for those of us who benefit from these services.  As far as other means to assist and engage this underserved population in such a rural area of the country, educational opportunities, state funded programs, and continued involvement in the community events must continue in the future. 

     Personally the most challenging aspects of this course were the most rewarding.  I found the “blog” and “epathbrite” assignments new, exciting, and frustrating.  These were areas I thought might be explored in the informatics course, so I was pleasantly surprised by these assignments.  I do see the importance of including these two areas in this class as addition to both the blog and epathbrite portfolio will be added on throughout the process of obtaining the DNP degree.

     Reflecting on what was the best or worst part of the semester made me really put on my thinking cap.  I do not feel there were any “worst parts,” but I do feel the best parts were getting to know my peers and the faculty I am involved with.  I am feeling connected with both my peers, faculty, and capstone head throughout this semester.                                                                                   

     Future service learning plans have expanded in my thoughts after exposure to this arena.  I have been asked to help with a “Bike Ride for Diabetes” which will be held in June.  I have also been asked to help with a local “Furry Run” which involves the community and local veterinarians, with the money earned donated back to the animal shelter.  I have also been told I am welcome to continue helping in the Activity Center if I choose.  I feel humble by the opportunity to be involved in many wonderful volunteer opportunities, and grateful to be in a position to do so.  At this time, I am not sure which one I should help with, and/or if I should volunteer for them all!  

References

Milk River, Inc. (2012).  Who we are.  Retrieved from http://milkriverinc.com/home

Montana State University Extension (2014).  A brief history of the master gardener program.  Retrieved from http://mtmastergardener.org/