DH Special Services
Education for the Activity Professional		   January 2015
 
Happy New Year!!
Happy New Year!  This newsletter has a fresh look to start the new year as well as lots of helpful resources to start 2015 in a successful and efficient way.
The NJ classroom Modular Education Program for Activity Professionals  (MEPAP) brochure has been mailed.  I have attached a copy to this e-mail. or you can visit my site for all the details and to register.  

                                 MEPAP I begins on February 11th in Moorestown
                                 MEPAP II begins on February 12 in Willingboro
 
The MEPAP is also available through independent study which can be started at any time and completed at your own pace.  Feel free to e-mail me to discuss whether independent study is right for you.
 
If you are interested in certification through the National Certification Council for Activity professionals or the MEPAP Courses but are unsure as to how to proceed - feel free to contact me.  I will be happy to assist you in defining your path to professional growth and certification. 
Happy National Activity Professionals Week
Making Moments Count is this year's theme for National Activity Professionals Week which runs from January 18th through 24th.  This is our week to celebate the good works of our profession.  It is an opportunity to educate others as to the benefits of our service.  If you are looking for ideas to acknowledge our week, check out the listing on my site. If you are looking for some inspirational poems, I have them listed on my site as well.
 
NCCAP is sponsoring a week of complimentary chats during our week.  The chats will be held each evening at 8 PM EST.  Here is a chance for you to accrue ten free continuing education hours.  The topics are as follows:
1/18-Sunday- Kathy Hughes-Sensory Programs
1/19-Monday- Cindy Bradshaw- Streamlining NCCAP applications/processes
1/20-Tuesday-Debbie Hommel-The ABC’s of Understanding the Cause of Dementia Driven Behaviors 
1/21-Wednesday- Murv Delpino- Activity Supplies on a Dime- Resources that can help stretch your Department budget Dollars ! 
1/22-Thursday-Sulekha Zaug-Personality Conflicts-Tips for Managing Behaviors During Activities 
1/23-Friday- Sherry Barzak-Strategies for Dealing with Mental Illness as a 1:1
1/24 -Saturday-Ruth Roach Martanis-Keeping Your Patients Motivated in Rehab with Activities
1/25- Sunday-Kathy Hughes-Themed Events
You also need to complete the NCCAP chat form and submit for the credit.
Many thanks to NCCAP for organizing this. 
Continuing Education Update
The DH Special Services Independent Study Library continues to grow with twenty eight programs currently available.  The topics vary - including specific program types, professional issues, documentation, quality assurance, dementia care, person centered care and more.  The books are based on books which are shipped priority mail and some can be e-mailed.  To obtain credit,  complete the pre-test, read the book and complete the post test.  Once the test is submitted with a passing grade, a certificate is sent to you and you get to keep the book and build your professional library.  Check out the current listing of classes on my site.
Home Care Certification
Home care services is growing by leaps and bounds.  The National Certification Council for Activity Professionals has introduced a new certification for the Home Care worker.  Home Care is different than Home Health Care which focuses more on health care needs.  The Home Care worker focuses on quality of life and companion care.  NCCAP has introduced the Home Care Certification or HCC, the first national standard of it's kind for the home care worker.  NCCAP certified individuals can add the home care as a specialization to their current certification as well.  For more information about home care, read this article. For information about the Activities 101 course (required component of the HCC) and the HCC certification, visit my site.    
Jobs Jobs Jobs Jobs and more Jobs
The job board remains an active place to seek a job or seek qualified individuals to work in your department.  All jobs are posted at no charge.  I am listing a few of the recent director postings here but there are many more positions on the job board as well as additional information about these positions.
1. Assistant Director of Activities at Greenwood House in Ewing (Mercer County).  Apply to Terri Kling via e-mail
2. Activity Coordinator for Rose Hill Assisted Living in Robbinsville (Mercer County).  To arrange an interview, please e-mail resume to Drew Finch, Regional Healthcare Recruiter.
3.  Activity Coordinator for   Millennium Memory Care , a small (16 resident) memory support home.  Apply to Galina Markovich via e-mail.   
4.  Director of Activities for Care One at Wall in Wall Township (Monmouth County).  Apply to Michelle Fugett via e-mail.
5. Director of Activities for Rolling Hills Care Center in Lebanon (Hunterton County).  Small care facility.  Apply to administrator - Isaac Sonenblick via e-mail or call facility at 908 236 2011 ext 13 or cell which is 718 473 6505.
6.  Activity Director for Pine Brook Care Center in Englishtown (Monmouth County).  Apply to Brian Paneth via e-mail.
7. Director of Activities for Shorrock Gardens in Brick (Ocean County). Large facility with memory care, sub acute and assisted living.  Send resume to Ron Denti, LNHA via e-mail.
8. Director of Activities for The Elms of Cranbury in Cranbury (Middlesex County).  Long term care facility, privately owned.  Apply to MARLENE CONNELLY via e-mail or call 609-395-3432.
9, Director of Activities for Northern Valley Adult Day Center/Vantage Health System, a small day program in Dumont (Bergen County). Apply to Nancy Bortinger via e-mail or call 201-385-4400 X 3086
10. Director of Activities for Rising Star ADC in Ewing (Mercer County).  Apply to Carmen Hahn via e-mail.
11. Director of Activiites for Alaris of Cedar Grove in Cedar Grove (Essex County).  Please submit resume/salary requirements via email to Jennifer Puleo
12.  Director of Activities for Salem Care of Salem in Salem (Salem County).  Adult Day Program -  Apply to Laura Grassia via e-mail.
Staying Connected
The internet and social media is becoming embedded in our day to day lives. I find and post many articles and items of interest to activity professionals on a few sites.  You are invited to join, like, follow or contact me through any of the following sites:
Facebook     My facebook page is very active with several postings daily, not only from myself by by the group members.
Linked In     My group here mainly focuses on articles of interest related to aging, dementia care, industry news and similar topics.
Google +      I post articles of interest that I find here as well but also updates about my classes. There is a place to review the classes which is a nice feature.
Pinterest     This site is my new "to die for" site.  It has every idea known to man and everything is so easy to find.  I have many board dedicated to activity programming.  My newest board was dedicated to the paint chip (free paint samples you can get from home improvement stores) and all the things you can do with them.
Twitter - I have begun to tweet although I am still #notsurewhatiamdoing
But, it is a fun way to communicate something quickly. 
Hope to "see you" on one page or another.
DH Special Services  105 Brookville Rd.  Barnegat  NJ
609-698-9530   609-290-4549     www.dhspecialservices.com
Powered by YMLP.com