Posted 2/16/2024
The California IDD Clinical Team recently attended CalABA's 42nd Annual Western Regional Conference on Behavior Analysis in Pasadena to further their professional development, expand their knowledge base, and foster connections within the behavior analysis community. This is Merakey’s third year sponsoring the conference, which plays a pivotal role in empowering BCBAs to make a positive impact in the lives of the individuals they support.
Pictured: Clinical Director Julie Miracle, Executive Director of Clinical Services Paola Ortiz, and Clinical Director Alex Compton
Pictured: Executive Director of Clinical Services Paola Ortiz, Brandi McGee BCBA, Aryn South BCBA, Clinical Director Julie Miracle, Meghan Harrison BCBA, Elizabeth Smith BCBA, and Clinical Director Alex Compton.
Individuals and staff at Merakey AVS Kennedy Program Center held a Mardi Gras celebration to remember! They kicked off the party with a parade through the halls of the site with colorful masks, decorations, and jazz music. Everyone participated in a Mardi Gras-themed scavenger hunt and finished the day with King Cake and iced tea.
The ladies from Ewings Mill I at Merakey AVS enjoyed a special dinner with their Valentines at Olive Garden. Everyone enjoyed celebrating love together over some delicious Italian food.
On February 9, individuals from Slippery Rock Program Center attended Tim Tebow’s annual Night to Shine Prom at Bethel Life Church in Greenville. PA. Night to Shine is an unforgettable prom night experience for people with special needs, ages 14 and older. The attendees enjoyed dressing up and dancing the night away. They really loved receiving swag bags and being treated like kings and queens. Our Merakey AVS folks were shining that night!
Valentine’s Day was celebrated in a big way at Merakey AVS Slippery Rock Program Center. All the areas were decorated beautifully for the occasion. Almost everyone was wearing red or pink. The individuals had fun exchanging Valentines with each other, loved eating yummy treats, and enjoyed making Valentine crafts. The best part of the day was the afternoon when everyone had fun dancing to tunes that DJ Caleb Holland, Program Instructor, played for the Valentine’s Day dance.
The individuals at Merakey AVS Slippery Rock Program Center have been busy this past week. On February 9, they held a pre–Super Bowl Party, designed pennants to support their respective teams, and played games of indoor origami football. The fandom was split within the group: half were rooting for the Chiefs and the other half were rooting for the 49ers. On February 13, the individuals celebrated Mardi Gras with a party. They participated in a lesson about Mardi Gras, designed their own masks, and enjoyed a traditional King’s cake.
Merakey AVS’s Pittsburgh Campus hosted a fabulous Valentine’s Day Dance. The individuals truly enjoyed every moment of the event, which included dancing, singing, photo backdrops, and a special crowning of a king and queen of the dance. A big thank you to Pittsburgh Campus Horticulture Coordinator Aaliyah DiMarco and all the staff at Pittsburgh Campus who worked so hard to make the celebration special.
“I wanted to take a moment to express my gratitude to those who helped me to make this dance possible,” commented Aaliyah. “Thank you all for your creativity and unwavering dedication to make our campus a vibrant and loving place to be.”
Tommy and his friends from Patricia Hillman Miller Campus Apartment 3 had a blast watching the Superbowl together. It was especially thrilling for Tommy as he got to cheer on his brother Justin Watson, who is a wide receiver for the Kansas City Chiefs!
Suzy from Merakey AVS Buckskin loves to garden and received a hydroponic garden for Christmas, which allows her to enjoy this hobby all year round. Suzy’s plants have gotten so big that she’s already transferred them to larger pots. So far, she’s been able to grow and share fresh basil, chives, and oregano. Everyone at the home is looking forward to fresh tomatoes and peppers this summer.
The Passion Ambassador Engagement Program continues to grow throughout the IDD Division in Pennsylvania. Members of the group meet through Zoom monthly and share ideas on how to keep their co-workers engaged. Many groups have been handwriting birthday and anniversary cards and giving small tokens of appreciation. Some Passion Ambassador teams surprised the individuals they support and fellow employees with candy and a valentine. In Slippery Rock, a calendar of Random Acts of Kindness was sent to employees to remind them of ways they can help to brighten someone’s day.
The Passion Ambassador Engagement Program was created in 2022 to bring frontline IDD employees together to share stories, struggles, and strength after the pandemic. The goal of the meetings is to reacquaint staff members with the passions of their work, explore reasons why they got into the field, and learn new ways to stay engaged.
