The ARRM Conference begins tomorrow, and the ARRM Cares awards ceremony is Thursday! We hope to see you there.
Winner: Kyann Washburn
Nominator: Roger Buege
Agency: Home and Community Options
Kyann Washburn is a twenty-two year old student and Primary Counselor at Home and Community Options. In the three years that she has worked for the agency, she has made an unquestionable impact on the individuals she serves, family members and co-workers.
Primary Counselors within the agency are typically responsible for four or five individuals. Kyann’s role as a Primary Counselor is unique because she was charged to serve one woman who has many behavioral challenges. Her primary job is to provide direct care, but she also writes program plans, trains staff and serves as the liaison to the family and community supports.
One of the ladies (we’ll call her Mary) in Kyann’s residential program is very high need and had behaviors that were becoming intolerable for her roommates and challenging to staff. In an effort to keep her from being moved to a crisis program and losing her placement, Kyann worked with the rest of her team to plan a renovation of the home to allow for more privacy for Mary. Once the house was renovated and Mary was settled into the new space, her behaviors began to decrease.
As her behaviors began to decrease, it was easier to get Mary more involved in the community. Kyann was able to persuade her from having her coffee at a convenience store and to instead have it at a coffee shop where she could people watch and socialize. It has also been easier for Mary to make friends. Kyann has helped her join a church, participate in Weight Watchers and go hot tubing at the YMCA. All of these efforts helped Mary develop natural supports within the community.
Kyann has also implemented new and innovative programs. When Mary was unable to convey her feelings to her staff and roommates, Kyann created feelings cards. These cards have a picture of a woman that resembles Mary demonstrating a specific feeling -anger, jealous, embarrassed, etc. These cards provide a unique way for Mary to express how she feels before any behaviors escalate. When Mary started to get frustrated at work and brings her feelings home, Kyann utilized a work waste basket. Kyann and Mary write down her work frustrations on a piece of paper. Mary is then able to crumple the paper and throw the frustrations and paper away in the basket.
Kyann is described as a really, really exceptional person by her supervisor. She demonstrates leadership and communication skills beyond her years and is client centered in every aspect of her position. We are so thankful to have her as a part of our team.
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