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Living with Dignity, Safety and Hope Lost (and Found) in the System Camp Builds Teamwork and Independence |
Changing Lives - September 2002
LSS staff assist people where they live and work.
Living with Dignity, Safety and Hope
What's so unusual about David Habedank's life is that it is so very normal - so "middle class" in terms of surroundings, work, recreation and relationships. It's unusual because David is a person with developmental disabilities, and one who has not had a "traditional" life in many, many ways. He had to leave his grandmother's home in 1980, at the age of seven, because of severe behavioral and developmental problems, and he moved into LSS Lake Park-Wild Rice Children's Home, in Fergus Falls, where he remained until the Home closed in the mid-1980s. At that time, David moved into an LSS group home for persons with disabilities.
At Lake Park-Wild Rice Children's Home, his first contact had been with Barb Conklin. David's relationship with Barb has now lasted 22 years, since Barb has continued to manage LSS disabilities services in Fergus Falls. "He's like another son, to me," she says. "You can't be part of a person's life 24 hours a day and not become family."
The LSS group home David lived in since the mid-1980s was located in a large apartment and, while adequate, it did not offer the "stretch-out" space of a single-family home.
In 2000, the four men who make up the LSS Terrace Residence moved into a new apartment home, which Barb specially designed for the needs of group home clients. There's a very large family room connected to a well-equipped and bright kitchen. The common areas are nicely appointed with furniture and high-quality wildlife art which one client's parents have provided ¾ along with furniture, lawn furniture and a house membership for the YMCA.
David and his three other housemates have private rooms. With money earned at their jobs, they've each been able to purchase their own bedroom furniture, curtains and special art of their preference. David loves deer and birds. Another resident loves cowboy art; another has a passion for Elvis-related art and collects Elvis' tapes and vinyl records.
The new home offers so much more than the apartment where the four men had lived before the new home was built. David proudly shows off each of the rooms, the yard, and where all the supplies are kept - everything in meticulous order so everyone knows where everything is. "There's my bike," David said, "and here are the fishing rods" as he showed off the spacious garage.
There's more to a "normal" life than the home, itself, where David and his housemates live. They spend their free time having fun and enjoying themselves. Sound familiar?
Staffer Keith Okerlund likes to hike and swim, so the four men follow suit and enjoy long hikes in the country and refreshing swims in area lakes and at the YMCA. Another LSS staffer, Wayne Klovstad, loves fishing. So he takes the men fishing whenever he can. Joyce Haarstad makes sure that other opportunities are included in the free time schedule, such as evenings at the Center for Performing Arts and plays or concerts at the Community College. Every Sunday, David and the others attend bible study class and, then, the worship service at Calvary Free Lutheran Church. One Sunday this spring, the men were invited to join the congregation for a pig roast on the church grounds. "It was homemade," David recalled.
Free time is spent beyond the local community - attending Twins games, visiting the Mall of America, Minnesota Zoo, Boundary Waters and as far away as Disney World. A travel agency that arranges tours for special needs people is engaged for vacations. These are vacations that clients pay for with money from their jobs - or from family members.
Free time and relaxation is the reward for working and staying on top of the chores and maintenance that any house demands.
David works five days a week at Shoremaster, a boat lift and dock manufacturer, where, with supervision, he runs the punching and drilling machines. David loves the work and, every day, tells Barb that he "has been at work today." With his wages, amounting to approximately $200 every two weeks, he contributes to his rent and board, buys his own clothes, furniture, etc.
When Barb met David 22 years ago, he had a violent temper and needed to be restrained physically and with medications. His future could not have looked bright to Barb at that time. How could he ever lead a normal life, she asked herself frequently.
Now, at 31, David lives a life as much like anyone else as possible. He is medication-free, looks very healthy, and demonstrates an abounding joy about his life, his housemates, his new home - and his good, old friend, Barb Conklin.
"My joy is that David is living the LSS vision. He's living and working in our community with dignity, safety and hope," Barb concluded with a smile.
While LSS program personnel are usually focused on helping clients with the routines of daily living such as jobs, training, meals, chores, recreation and exercise, they are sometimes called to serve in more unique ways. Damon Aukema, an LSS staffer from Red Wing, helped provide a once-in-a-lifetime experience for LSS client Marshall Pagel.
Marshall and Aukema have worked together for years, but they probably never envisioned themselves going on a long trip together. Yet, Marshall, an LSS client in the Semi-Independent Living Services (SILS) program, and Damon, an LSS program counselor, found themselves at the Red Wing Amtrak Station ready to board the train to meet Marshall's niece, Kathleen Scheider, in Atascadero, California.
For years, Kathleen's mother had kept in touch with her brother, Marshall, and, following her mother's death, Kathleen took up the tradition. After she retired from teaching, Kathleen invited Marshall to visit her and her husband, Richard, at their home in Atascadero, California.
On their way to Atascadero, Damon and Marshall enjoyed the magnificent scenery from their train seats and from the dining car windows. Using a map prepared by LSS staff prior to his journey, Marshall was able to identify towns as they passed through them. Following the trip, the map has given him a new interest in geography. He now has a map of the United States on a table and can track exactly where he has traveled.
Damon told LSS staff in Red Wing, "I've never seen Marshall grin like he did when he recognized Kathleen at the end of the train ride." After escorting Marshall to his destination, Damon left to visit his wife's relatives and, then, flew back to The Midwest. Marshall stayed on for nearly three busy weeks. His photo album includes a picture of a winding road leading to a house on a hill. "That's Kathleen's house," Marshall proudly tells his friends. Most of the pictures, however, are of aquariums, parks, and, of course, the ocean. Therefore, his California pictures include the likes of goldfish, flamingos, sea otters, and mud hens.
Marshall, Richard, and Kathleen also spent a day with her two sisters and their families. Photographs of their day at the beach show the family enjoying the sun and each other's company. There is a very special, candid shot of Kathleen and Marshall walking away from the photographer, arm in arm.
Marshall's trip home took an entirely different route and mode of transportation. Marshall can point out on his map where Kathleen and Richard's car took them. They didn't merely pass through places as the train had. Instead, Kathleen and Richard had special sites to share with Marshall. Reviewing the photographs from the returning trip to Red Wing, Marshall can provide details of the many destinations visited. He opens the pages to the highlights of what he saw: sequoias, caves, the Crazy Horse monument, and Mount Rushmore.
Of course, he'll always remember the trip that Kathleen graciously gave to him. Marshall recently described it to a SILS staff member: "It was the trip of my lifetime."
Lost (and Found) in the System
People who have mild disabilities are often the ones who get lost in the system. They appear to function fairly well, but they often misread situations and individuals with whom they interact. On the surface, they appear to have the skills they need, but often they don't. And that makes them extremely vulnerable.
Tami Sizer is one who got lost in the system. Developmental disabilities and some mental illnesses made it difficult for her to make wise decisions. She has been married, but is now single. And while she is currently living in the LSS Mi Casa group home in Richfield, she has lived independently in the past and has two children who are living with Foster Care families.
Times were tough for Tami one year ago. She and her husband, also disabled, were living in an apartment and were given limited supervision through county social workers. They were not functioning well as a couple, and finally were evicted from their apartment. At first, they were living on the streets. Then, her husband was placed in one crisis shelter, and Tami in another, located in St. Paul. In February, Tami's husband died.
Tami's county social worker was looking for a more permanent solution. The LSS Mi Casa (my house) residence seemed like a good place.
When Tami arrived at Mi Casa, manager Angela Strasser said that Tami was depressed, disconnected and directionless. She brought with her a box of legal papers that she did not understand. As Angela worked with her, she learned that Tami was a mother of two children and had other family in South Dakota. Angela pressed harder, and Tami's family were thrilled to hear from Tami as they had been out of contact for years.
"Higher functioning people with disabilities are often the most vulnerable," Strasser said. On many levels they appear to be able to live independently. But when problems or new situations emerge, they often lack the judgment necessary to make the right decisions. That's where organizations such as LSS are vital. "We protect these gentle people from making disastrous decisions in their lives," she said.
The next step was reuniting Tami with her children. "She has been able to see her son, age 12. But the relationship with her daughter, age 14, still has not been resolved," Angela explained.
During the day, Tami works as a home health aide. She goes into homes of elderly people and cleans, washes clothes and prepares meals. While she works four to five days each week, she only takes home $25, because she must pay a large percentage of her paycheck to Hennepin County for the Foster Care of her children.
Life is not easy for Tami. But she is positive. With the structure and support of LSS through Mi Casa, she is making excellent progress, and her life has changed. "Her biggest goal now is to restore a positive relationship with her daughter," Angela said.
Camp Builds Teamwork and Independence
"It's the best week of the summer!"
That's how 17-year-old Steven Eull, of Mahtomedi, describes his week at LSS Camp Knutson near Brainerd.
Steven loves to fish from the pontoon, play all of the fun water carnival games and ride horses. (With three years of riding practice, he's a real pro now!)
But there's a lot more to his camping experience. Steven, along with 35 campers with Down syndrome, are building independence, social skills and team experience to help them prepare for the work world.
"He loves it!" said his mother, Patsy. "It's a great growing experience where they develop leadership and teamwork. It's also a place where he can be on his own and take on more independence, without a personal care attendant or parent nearby."
The camp started three years ago and serves young people age 12 to 22. It is the first project of the Down Syndrome Foundation whose mission for the camp experience is to prepare young people for direct employment.
"There's good support for children with Down syndrome in the school system, with education, sports and recreations programs," explained Wayne Lindholm, president of the Down Syndrome Foundation. "But when young people turn 22 and leave the school system, there is a need to increase support for these young adults, particularly with employment."
So, the camp organizes the day's schedule to help youth build important work attributes of independence, social skills and self-confidence - all in a safe environment. Youth might have responsibility for getting themselves up in the morning and tending to personal care needs. They might also work on teams in the kitchen or learn how to work together in fun group activities.
"I really admire the camp partnership model that we share with Camp Knutson," Lindholm said. "We learn together how to make each year better than the previous one by evaluating what works well, taking risks and trying new things."
The idea for the Down syndrome camp had serendipitous beginnings. Lindholm was visiting Crosslake Lutheran Church near the camp one summer and overheard the pastor after the service talking about Camp Knutson's interest in serving children with Down syndrome. Lindholm, who has a daughter with Down syndrome, started thinking about how a week of camp could get under way and what its mission would be.
Not long after, the Down Syndrome Foundation was formed by a small group dedicated to the mission and funded by an annual golf tournament in July in North Oaks, Minn. Given the unusual nature of the camp's beginnings and the success of the camp, Lindholm believes that the camp was "meant to be."
"We are very happy with the camp, and are thrilled to be able to work with Lutheran Social Service in this collaborative," he said. "It's fun to see these young people grow and become more independent."
Each summer, Camp Knutson hosts week-long camps that serve children with special needs and their families: children with severe skin diseases, children with autism, children with hearing impairment and their families, young people with developmental disabilities, children with heart disease, and families who have a loved one coping with HIV/AIDS.
30 years later: Residence I and II
In May of 1972, the congregation at Resurrection Lutheran Church in Roseville voted to put $1300 toward a home for eight mentally disabilityped women, as a special project to honor the 25-year anniversary of the church. Group homes for the developmentally disabled are fairly common these days, but 30 years ago it was unheard of to have a small group of disabled people living and interacting with the community. Institutions were primary caregivers, and the developmentally disabled were separated from society at a young age.
This project was chosen, in part, because Pastor Dan Fuelling had a daughter who was developmentally disabled. None of the congregation members knew how significant the project would be, and what tremendous change their work would bring about in Minnesota and beyond. Thirty years ago, the formation of The Residence, Inc., a nonprofit which would eventually build Residence I and Residence II in Shoreview, and Residence III in St. Paul, was a landmark in the evolution of care for the developmentally disabled in Minnesota, bringing them out of institutions to live and grow in society.
In 1972, the concept of "normalization" was a new one, and the people at The Residence Inc. quickly learned that many of the general public were, initially, very opposed to having "those people" in their community. An attempt to buy a house next to the church showed them that misinformation and fear kept people from accepting a noble effort. Unfortunately, The Residence Inc. had no examples, data, or facts to prove that the concept would be both beneficial for the residents and the community-at-large. They only had an idea that it was the right thing to do.
"The biggest thing we had to fight was the unknown. No one had ever done this before," said Don Severson, who, at that time, was Chairman of the Board at The Residence, Inc. "We found out very quickly how fearful people were. The real issue was the belief that their property values would go down, but no one, early on, wanted to come right out and say it."
After a congregation member donated land in Shoreview that would become the sites for Residence I and II, many of the subsequent Shoreview City Council meetings turned into public forums on the issue. Eventually, the City Council awarded the required special use permit required to build Residence I, but a group of citizens took them to court. The two-week trial ended with the judge allowing the home to be built. Later, Severson was called before the Minnesota State Legislature to testify about his experience getting the permit to build group homes in Shoreview, and the Legislature then voted unanimously to change the permit laws, allowing group homes to be built without such opposition and hardship.
"If we had known what we were getting ourselves into, we never would have done it, but that's how God works sometimes," Severson said. "We had our house egged and our lawn torn up. One guy threatened to kill me."
Despite the rough start, The Residence started a significant shift, both in care and attitude toward the developmentally disabled. Severson kept newspaper clippings from 1974, with quotes of opposition from Gerald Beck, a Shoreview resident and neighbor, at the time, of the proposed sites for Residence I and II. After Residence I was built, Beck was introduced to the residents and staff, and, in 1980, he was quoted in the newspaper again, this time as a Board member of The Residence, Inc.
In 1988, The Residence, Inc. donated the entirety of its holdings to Lutheran Social Service of Minnesota. Seventeen years after the project had been started with $1300, its value now exceeded $500,000.
Even though Resurrection no longer runs the Residence I, II, and III properties, those who were so instrumental in the early days are still involved. Don Severson and Don Zibell, former treasurer, still serve on the LSS advisory committee for the homes. Another couple, who prefer to remain anonymous, still perform occasional maintenance work, and bake birthday cakes for the residents. Resurrection congregation members still buy Christmas gifts for the residents every year. Little did these people know what an impact their project would have, and continue to have on the lives of the developmentally disabled.
St. Paul: LSS has recently purchased property that will be converted for use as LSS Life Haven, a transitional living program for homeless adolescent women with children. The project is a partnership with LSS and Incarnation Lutheran Church (click on highlighted text for more information) in North Oaks, Minn. Incarnation will assume responsibility for remodeling/improving the building for the new program, providing some operating support annually, and providing volunteers to support operations and services. Life Haven will provide emergency shelter to minor moms ages 16-17 and their children. The program will likely be licensed as emergency foster care and provide shelter to six to ten girls and their children. For more information about the property or the program, please contact Alan Loose at (651) 969-2282 or aloose@lssmn.org.
Mankato: At a luncheon on Friday, June 28, about 60 people celebrated 27 years of dedicated service by LSS of Minnesota in the Mankato area. The celebration coincided with the City of Mankato“s 150th anniversary, which is being celebrated this summer. Hugh Kaste and Lori Ruthenbeck, both integral in establishing and expanding the LSS Mankato office, were the honored guests. Several people came to share stories about their experiences with LSS, including parents who have adopted through our special needs adoption program, a mortgage banker who works with LSS Credit Counseling, a nineteen-year-old youth services client, and volunteers in the Foster Grandparent, Senior Companion, and Guardianship programs.
Fergus Falls: LSS staff, donors, church partners, city government officials, the Fergus Falls Chamber of Commerce, and even some clients and spouses of attended the new office groundbreaking on June 13 at 4:30 p.m. Pastors, LSS Board members, and other supporters were on hand to show their support. Construction begins immediately, and the office is targeted for completion in the Fall of 2002. LSS employs over 100 employees in the Fergus Falls area, with an annual budget of more than $3 million.
Statewide: Effective July 1, LSS Customized Living Services and LSS ElderShare Homes have become a separate line of service. These services have been operated as a part of Home and Community Living Services (HCLS), but the very significant growth in these two areas required the separation of services. LSS ElderShare Homes are shared living arrangements serving from 5 to 16 older adults who need 24 hour support. We currently operate five homes in Willmar, Little Falls, Atwater, Marshall and Brainerd. LSS Customized Living Services are flexible support services that can be delivered to the apartment or home of older adults, and are now operating in Tracy and Round Lake, with plans to open eight additional sites by the end of 2002. LSS has plans to expand this service rapidly across Minnesota. The new line of service will be led by program director Jo Kantrud and operations director Glen Grambart.
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