Vonnie's Service Learning Reflections

                              Service Learning Story of Engagement: Milk River, Inc.

     To describe the service learning site I had the privilege to volunteer in, the first thoughts that came to mind are; care, love, and positivity.  I did volunteer at the Milk River Activity Center, spring 2014.  I was excited to be back, and I was amazed at the many changes at the facility.  Two of the changes are a new executive director that oversees the facility, and a new regional coordinator. In the few months from March to October, there are new trainers to work with individuals at the center, and the new annex that was still a picture on the wall last March is now awaiting final touches with grand opening expected soon.

     To review the agency, Milk River, Inc. was started in 1976 after inadequate services were noted to be available for developmentally disabled adults in a rural area of Northeastern Montana, specifically Valley County.  The agency started by assisting seven people and has grown to working with twenty-eight individuals (M. Wethern, personal communication, November 3, 2014).  Milk River, Inc., is one of the largest employers in the county, with sixty employees working either full time, part time, or as relief workers.  The agency includes an activity center, a new annex building, and three group homes.  Milk River, Inc., is a non-profit 501 (c) 3 which provides employment, life skills training, activities, and residential facilities (as mentioned above) to the underserved, vulnerable 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 Marc Wethern, who has graciously agreed to allow me to volunteer at the various facilities for my service learning volunteer opportunity.  The mission of the facility is both uplifting and inspiring, and one every facility that works with developmentally disabled adults should either have or consider:

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 twenty-eight developmentally disabled adults.  Twenty-one 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, socialization, and guidance. A Life Skills program is in place at the homes, and focuses on nutrition related to wellness, which includes; (a) preparation, (b) cooking, and (c) healthy meal plan choices.  Daily routines are 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, caring for little pets, and daily living skills. 

     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 care 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 are 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 are on call Monday through Friday during the night for resident’s needs. I was told specifically the support staff in each home facility provide a framework within which residents use their specific abilities to learn and choose healthy behaviors for work and daily living.  Those developmentally disabled adults who do not live in one of the three group homes run by Milk River, Inc., either live in their own apartment or live with their parents and only attend the activity center during the day to work (Milk River, Inc. 2012). 

     I had been invited by one female resident to come visit her home and see her new hermit crabs; Tiny, Oliver, and Biggie.  I was told by trainers the best day and time to visit the Transitional Living Complex (TLC).  I arrived at 7:00 pm on a Wednesday. The evening I visited TLC, the individuals had just eaten pizza they had made with a trainer. When I arrived I was given a tour of the facility where the residents live, as well as I met the three hermit crabs.  I had asked who was going to do dishes for the evening, and I was told by the trainer present that all residents that live at TLC have shared responsibilities to keep the house in order.  One gentleman, who I recognized from the activity center, raised his hand, smiled, and said he got to do the dishes for the night! 

Funding Sources and Support

     If you viewed the blog related to Milk River, Inc. last spring, you may remember this facility 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 to be productive citizens of the county.  Residents that attend the activity center are involved in; (a) recycling activities, (b) laundry services, (c) shredding, (d) ironing, (e) and seasonal endeavors which include a community garden.  Clients are also seen out in the local and surrounding communities, riding on a float in the homecoming parade, attending the Fort Peck Theatre, and purchasing groceries in the local stores. 

     The recycling opportunity for Milk River began in 1976 with the inception of the agency.  This aspect of the Activity Center continues and has evolved since the start where now the center receives, sorts, weighs, bags, stores and sells the aluminum they obtain.  Milk River also collects and recycles newspapers.  Other projects include furniture refinishing, coupon cutting, flowers and American flags for Memorial Day celebrations and cemeteries, cutting and selling rags, selling clothing buttons, assembling and selling pens and stuffing business envelopes (Milk River, Inc., 2012). 

     An educational endeavor the center is involved with is the community garden mentioned last spring, with a late harvest this fall due to a cold spring.  This specific learning and philanthropic endeavor began in the spring of 2012.  The project began with a seed grant obtained 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 planted, tended, watched grow, and harvested the garden which was located outside the actual activity center.  The produce from the garden is used for educational purposes at the center, in classes teaching garden-to-table meal preparation, 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

     As discussed in a previous blog, I have lived in this little rural community my entire life.  The center began in 1976, when I was a freshman in our local public high school, which did include a developmentally disabled female in our 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 to enter the facility, and felt I received more from my volunteer service than those I was involved with.  What is interesting, these same feelings have surfaced all these years later as a grown adult volunteering in pursuit of continued help to others.  Remarkably, I still feel I am privileged to be at the center, and even more honored to get to know these special developmentally disabled adults.   

                                            Volunteer Service

     The service learning experience I had been asked to be involved with last spring was assisting with the community garden project.  The area of the country we live in had a harsh winter, as did most of the nation, and the ground was still frozen during my time at the center. I worked with individuals with their laundry services job and wherever else I was needed. 

     This service opportunity had me helping prepare the facility for Halloween, as well as laundry services, cooking, and feeding those who needed help.  Holiday parties throughout the year are rotated to other developmentally disabled adult facilities throughout Northeastern Montana for socialization, this year the annual Halloween social was to be held at the local activity center.  Also exciting is the new annex attached to the facility off the south side of the building.  Movement into the new facility is expected in November, 2014, and includes; (a) a community kitchen, (b) quiet room, (c) activity and craft room, (d) dance floor, and (e) ramp leading to the existing building.  

                                                   Special Time at Center

     The days spent at the activity center started at 0745, with the local transit bus bringing individuals to the center from little surrounding communities to work for the day.  When individuals arrived they immediately washed their hands and started preparing for the day; wiping down baskets to prepare for clean laundry, turning lights on, and visiting with each other. I was allowed to assist with each step of this process, being instructed by the residents, who also gave hugs, and smiled nonstop.  There were four trainers who assisted with the residents off and on throughout the day in various activities, with other trainers taking people to appointments, and other various activities outside the facility as planned during the day.  At 0830 the first laundry run occurred, with two individuals assisting the trainer to go to the local hospital and get the load.  Those people who did not go on the laundry run were encouraged to participate in the activity for the day which was coloring and crafts to decorate for the upcoming Halloween party on 10/30/14.  When the laundry arrived, weighing and sorting began, with those individuals doing this job wearing gloves.  After the sorting, washing began with three commercial laundry machines.  One individual was assigned to help with a trainer for this task. Throughout the day, shredding was done, snacks were given at 10:00 and 14:00.  Lunch was made by the trainers, with individuals stopping their work and all partaking in lunch and socialization.  When the tasks were completed for the day, all floors were swept and mopped, garbage was dumped, and the entire facility work area was organized for the next day.  At 15:30 the transit bus starting taking individuals to their various homes.  

                                                  Needs Met and Reflection

     The underserved developmentally disabled people in this arena are having their needs met.  Personal communication obtained from staff and the new executive director, as well as review of living conditions and longevity in the group homes, as well as visiting one of the group homes has substantiated this information.  The local community has rallied around the clients at the center by raising money to build a new modern facility that will encourage and allow other members of the local and surrounding communities to become involved with the developmentally disabled adults by coming to where they work with their own projects and activities.  New educational opportunities will be provided to the individuals at the center, while those participating will also be blessed by exposure to this environment and helping those in it.  Residents are seen as productive, and engaged in the little local community.  Community activities as discussed; recycling, laundry services, shredding, 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. 

                                                        Conclusion

     Much remains to be done with and for this underserved, vulnerable population. The executive director has invited me to come to the center at any time to participate again. I feel very fortunate to have been allowed to learn, visit, and get to know this special group of adults.  I have visited with the executive director that when I am done with my DNP schooling, I would be honored to be a member of their board of directors, which is a task I will pursue next year.  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.    

                                                            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/