Merakey

With help from long time staff member Lynelle, the Merakey Penn Hills ATF began their American Sign Language classes again. Every morning the Day Program spends 15 minutes learning five new ASL signs for the week.

Genny, Wendy, and Nolte House Manager Susan White from Merakey AVS spent a fun day at Randyland art museum. They also stopped for a yummy lunch at the Terminal in Pittsburgh's famous Strip District.

Last month, Merakey AVS Slippery Rock Area threw a retirement party for Health Services Supervisor, Terry Mack, and Assistant Health Services Supervisor, Lisa Buhler. Terry Mack served Merakey for over 10 years. During his tenure, he built an excellent team of nurses to provide top quality care for the individuals we support. Lisa Buhler worked for Merakey for over 20 years. During her time with Merakey she was known for being one of the best nurses with a meticulous eye for detail. Client care was always her top concern. Both Terry and Lisa worked well with all departments, and they were friendly and caring to everyone. Jessica Hoffman and Amy Cumberland, nurses from the Slippery Rock nursing team, were promoted to Health Services Supervisor and Assistant Health Services Supervisor respectively. Both Jessica and Amy have several years’ experience in the Slippery Rock Area of Merakey. Both possess the excellence and caring attitude that Terry and Lisa have. Although Terry and Lisa will be greatly missed, we wholeheartedly welcome Jessica and Amy and wish them nothing but the best. In true Slippery Rock style, we sent Terry and Lisa off with a big party and enough food to feed a small army. Best wishes to Terry and Lisa!

Happy Mother's Day to all of the amazing mothers, grandmothers, mother figures, caregivers, and foster moms 💜

Take Your Child to Work Day was filled with exciting activities at Merakey AVS’s Pittsburgh Campus including planting, making slime, and playing sports. 🌼 Food trucks visited the campus adding to the fun day.

A family in Merakey's Stepping Stones Plus program in Ellsworth, PA was recently honored at Beacon's 2024 Eleven-County Exceptional Parent/Caregiver Awards. Dixie has been a dedicated caregiver to her great-grandson Carter during his mental health journey. During her speech at the event, Behavioral Health Therapist Site Lead Cayla Komondor shared: “When I was asked to nominate a caregiver for this award, it didn’t take me long to make my choice. Of course, all our families are dedicated caregivers and work hard to ensure their children receive the support they need. But not all of them have stayed so positive while they have had a fight on their hands. Dixie is the great grandmother to one of our consumers, Carter. To know Carter is to love him. He is the sweetest boy, and to work with him, you would never guess that he has had to travel a rocky road to make and maintain the progress he has made. Carter’s parents struggled with their mental health and substance abuse issues for years, and when Carter started with our program he presented as an anxious, non-speaking, aggressive boy who clung to routine and was starved for stability. Fortunately, Carter was blessed with amazing great grandparents, who despite their age and health concerns, were determined to give him a happy home and find support systems for him through school and therapy. Dixie has gone to bat for Carter in the legal and educational systems, at great cost to her financially and time wise to ensure he receives those supports. She also drives long distances for therapy and Miracle League every week and coordinates his care with minimal assistance. Dixie has continued to fight for custody of Carter and has worked tirelessly to ensure his biological parents are able to be part of his life while maintaining appropriate boundaries. She is his voice and biggest cheerleader. And if you could see the way Carter gently touches her cheek when he sees her at the end of session, you would be cheering them on along with all of us from Merakey Stepping Stones, too.” Congratulations, Dixie, Carter, and the whole family!

Happy National Teacher Appreciation Day! 🍎 Today, we celebrate the dedicated educators who inspire, empower, and make a difference in the lives of students every day. Thank you for your tireless commitment to education and shaping the future.

Happy National Nurses Week to all heroes in scrubs who go above and beyond for their patients. If you're a nurse looking for a rewarding career, Merakey is hiring! Learn more and apply today: https://ow.ly/5OyL50RxBaG

Today marked a significant milestone at Mt. Airy Ave in Philadelphia for Merakey Total Health as we celebrated our grand opening and building dedication in honor of Michael A. Barton. Michael's tireless commitment to our mission has been instrumental in shaping our organization. A special thank you to Senator Art Haywood and Representative Chris Rabb for their instrumental role in championing healthcare initiatives that benefit our community. On behalf of our entire team, thank you to everyone who attended today. We are grateful for the collective efforts that have brought us to this moment and look forward to the future of Merakey Total Health. For more information, visit www.merakeytotalhealth.org

Individuals at Slippery Rock Program Center recently planted seeds in honor of Earth Day. 🌱 The group could choose to grow plants for the sensory garden or take their pots home with them. Many chose to grow the plants for the sensory garden. Everyone is looking forward to seeing how beautiful the garden will look once it starts to grow.