2015 HAVE Award Winners

Community Service Programs

Fairview’s Youth Grief Services
Fairview Health Services
Minneapolis, MN
David Murphy, Interim President and CEO

Accepting award: Volunteer Karen Lahn

Fairview Health Services—a nonprofit, academic health system —operates Youth Grief Services (YGS), a community outreach program designed to provide essential emotional support to youth and families struggling with the death of a loved one.

Since 2000, Youth Grief Services has provided significant grief support through its core programming to more than 3,000 people. In 2013, Youth Grief Services staff and volunteers provided direct services for more than 250 grieving children and teens, as well as the adults who care for them. Another 300 youths and adults received email and telephone support or took part in a community education session.

The program started when a group of school social workers, counselors and faith community leaders recognized the lack of available resources to support young people and families through the trauma of losing a loved one. They formed a volunteer community coalition with leadership from the Rev. Elizabeth BJ Larson, senior chaplain at Fairview Ridges Hospital. Fairview provided space and support for the program, and Rev. Larson has served as its executive director since Youth Grief Services began.

Today, Youth Grief Services offers a range of support and education options—including support groups, telephone triage and a summer camp for grieving children and teens. It also provides grief education and presentations for schools and other organizations interested in learning more about childhood grief and how to support the grieving children they serve.

Contact Jenny Simmonds, jsimmon3@fairview.org, 952-892-2797

Community Outreach and/or Collaboration

Senior Health Insurance Information Program (SHIIP)
UnityPoint Health – St. Luke’s Hospital
Cedar Rapids, IA
Ted Townsend, President and CEO

Accepting award: Volunteer John McDonough

The Senior Health Insurance Information Program (SHIIP) provides free, unbiased counseling to Medicare beneficiaries and caregivers about Medicare, Medicare prescription drug plans, Medicare Advantage plans, Medicare supplement plans, billing and claims issues, Medicare fraud and abuse and long-term care insurance.

This service is provided by highly trained volunteers whose goal is to serve Medicare beneficiaries by assisting them in making insurance decision-making easier, provide information to compare Medicare and insurance plans, assist with enrolling in Medicare prescription drug plans and assistance programs, and understanding the bills they receive for their health care.

This program is a community collaboration involving UnityPoint Health – St. Luke’s Hospital, local nursing homes and assisted living communities, the State of Iowa Insurance Division and The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. The State of Iowa started SHIIP in 1990 in response to the statewide need for senior health insurance information and St. Luke’s Hospital has grown to be the state’s largest site.

The SHIIP Office at St. Luke’s consists of the manager of Volunteer Services; the Volunteer Services secretary, eight reception desk volunteers, five data entry volunteers, four office support volunteers and 14 volunteer counselors. All volunteers must complete training on a continual basis. Counselors undergo an intensive six-day initial training and assignment shadowing on Medicare and Medicare programs to enable them to provide quality service.

In December 2015, the program will be in existence for 25 years and have served thousands of individuals. In 2013 the volunteer team saved 2,577 individuals almost $500,000 on prescription drugs. In 2014 volunteers participated in more than 25 community outreach events and assisted almost 1,500 people during open enrollment. One volunteer counselor recovered one client more than $10,000 in overpayments.

Contact Angela Berns, angela.berns@unitypoint.org, 319-369-7044

Fundraising

Tails on the Trails Walk-A-Thon
Tri-City Medical Center
Oceanside, CA
Tim Moran, Chief Executive Officer

Accepting award: Volunteer Sandy Tucker

This dog walk fundraiser was held at Guajome Lake Park in Oceanside, California, a natural habitat for a wide variety of wildlife and birds. The goals of the event were community outreach for Tri-City Medical Center and the Tri-City Hospital Auxiliary, and fundraising for the hospital and local non-profit organizations. The event included dog-related vendors, exhibitors, demonstrations, live music, food, and drawings for prizes donated by local businesses.

The event drew 250 dogs and 400 humans and had nine sponsors and 28 vendors and exhibitors, including three non-profit service-dog organizations and a rescue-adoption organization. A local veterinary practice emailed 10,000 pet owners promoting the event.

Dog related non-profit groups were invited to form teams to earn money for their organizations. More than $7,000 was raised; proceeds benefitted the children’s outpatient rehabilitation unit at the hospital, the pet therapy department, and the Special Care Foundation for Companion Animals for Cancer Research. The walk-a-thon was an opportunity for dog owners to stay healthy and active by spending a fun day walking their dog(s) in the park.

Contact Sharon Schultz, hertzks@tcmc.com, 760-940-3353

In-Service Hospital

Victory Band
Detroit Veterans Affairs Healthcare System
Detroit, MI
Pamela Reeves, MD, Director

Accepting award: Volunteer Steve Munafo

Since June of 2012, the collaborative effort between Voluntary Service and the Jams-For-Vets Project has been music to the ears of military veterans receiving care at the Detroit VA Medical Center. The partnership uses music-centered programs to influence therapy and enhance the quality of life of patients in our Psychosocial Rehabilitation and Recovery Center (PRRC). There is a growing body of evidence that music therapy can improve symptoms of psychosis and enhance interpersonal communication for patients with severe mental illness. Working collaboratively, Jams-For-Vets volunteers and PRRC therapists have taken a group of diverse individuals with varying levels of musical talent and, under the tutelage, transformed them into a skilled band, a Victory Band.

The Victory Band members have learned to work as a team and demonstrate improved social skills and leadership, resulting in newfound confidence to expand their community integration activities outside of the band. They have learned to use music as a coping skill to manage their emotions/symptoms.

The success of the program is demonstrated the first Monday of every month in the medical center’s main atrium as the Victory Band performs pop favorites for patients awaiting their appointments. This exposure has allowed family and friends to experience a sense of pride in their loved ones’ accomplishments and has served as a catalyst to break down the stigma often associated with mental illness. As members of the band, the veterans are no longer defined by their mental illness, but rather view themselves and are viewed by others as a group of talented musicians.

The Victory Band has also helped with Detroit VAMC community outreach efforts, performing at numerous events and providing evidence of the Detroit VAMC’s therapeutic value to the community.

Contact Bill Browning, william.browning@va.gov, 313-576-3332

2015 HAVE Award Finalists

Community Service

Parish Nursing
Cape Regional Medical Center
Cape May Court House, NJ
Joanne Carrocino, President and CEO

The Parish Nurse Program at Cape Regional Medical Center is a health promotion and community support program. The program provides health education, wellness programs and health screenings at more than 40 churches. Parish nurses are volunteers who serve as teachers, counselors, advocates and resource liaisons.

Health screenings are conducted at community agencies, senior housing complexes, assisted living facilities, civic associations and churches. The outreach includes chronic disease self-management, caregiver support, osteoporosis prevention, fall prevention, nutrition, physical activity, Alzheimer’s support and breast health.

In 2013, the Parish Nurse Program volunteers served 1,158 hours, reaching 11,997 people. In coordination with the state health department, several parish nurses have become master trainers, teaching other parish nurses to become peer leaders or coaches. The Parish Nurse Department at the medical center also oversees the community health needs assessment.

Contact: Bonnie Kratzer, parish nurse coordinator, jkratzer@caperegional.com, 609-463-4043.

STaR Volunteer Program
University of Wisconsin Hospital and Clinics
Madison, WI
Ron Sliwinski, President and CEO

The Singing, Talking and Reminiscing (STaR) program works with elderly patients suffering from dementia or memory loss to provide them with companionship to decrease their anxiety associated with hospitalization.

Clinical nurse specialists educate the volunteers in how to interact with patients. Nurses report the program aids in decreasing patient anxiety and agitation and increasing alertness, relaxation and stimulation. In the first 2 ½ years, STaR Program volunteers visited 509 patients, one third of whom had dementia or delirium and half of whom were 80 years or older.

Nurses request STaR volunteers through the medical center’s electronic medical records system.

Contact: Michael Rosenblum, volunteer services manager, mrosenblum@uwhealth.org, 608-263-0920.

Community Outreach and Collaboration

Stroke Education Program
Presence Resurrection Medical Center
Chicago, IL
John Baird, Regional President and CEO

Presence Resurrection Medical Center’s Stroke Education Program begin in 2002 by a physician and a volunteer who suffered a stroke.

The program includes a support group, peer visitation and aphasia training for law enforcement officers. (Aphasia is a communication disorder that affects many stroke survivors with slurred speech that can mimic driving under the influence.)

Volunteers in the program are focused on stroke prevention, intervention and long-term recovery.

Contact: Sandy Hoelzel, Stroke Care Coordinator, SHoelzel@presencehealth.org, 773-594-7875.

Footnoters – Community Foot Care Clinic
University of Vermont Medical Center
Burlington, VT
Eileen Whalen, CEO

Footnoters, a volunteer community foot care clinic, began in the mid-1980s through a collaboration among the volunteer services, infection control, risk management and community health improvement departments at the University of Vermont Medical Center.

Footnoters meets the demand for low-cost foot care services for low-income seniors who struggle with arthritis, limited hand strength or poor vision. The service is staffed predominantly by 16 retired volunteer nurses, who offer foot care clinics at eight congregate meal sites and senior residences.

Every year the volunteers donate some 350 hours caring for more than 900 people. Patients requiring more comprehensive care are referred to a partnering podiatrist. The service has been key in treating foot sores before they become ulcers or infections.

Contact: Margaret Laughlin, director of volunteer services, margaret.laughlin@vtmednet.org, 802-847-3166.

In-Service

Parent-Baby Volunteer Program
EvergreenHealth
Kirkland, WA
Bob Malte, CEO

EvergreenHealth’s Parent-Baby Volunteer Program is an educational peer support group for new mothers. Volunteers serve as resources to the new moms and bring their own babies to the support groups along with the new moms they are helping.

The volunteers are trained as peer-to-peer helpers and reach out to the new moms, giving advice and observing them interacting with their babies. The volunteers help with breastfeeding, post-partum depression and managing expectations.

The program started in 1991. Volunteers contribute almost 800 hours annually.

Contact: Marcia Long, director of volunteer services, mllong@evergreenhealth.com, 425-899-2001.

SUpporting Engagement and Resilience
University Hospitals Case Medical Center
Cleveland, OH
Fred C. Rothstein, MD, President

The SUpporting Engagement and Resilience (SUPER) program trains volunteers as coaches for patients through an original evidence-based curriculum in partnership with medical professionals.

The coaches help build patient-directed relationships with the patients as a means of improving outcomes. Coaches engage patients on their health issues, assisting them in identifying their priorities and self managing their behaviors.

In the first 18 months of the program, which began in 2013 based on a proposal by a family medicine physician, 76 volunteers contributed 4,383 hours with 170 patients in 850 conversations.

Contact: Barbara Nalette, barbara.nalette@uhhospitals.org, 216-844-1504.

HAVE Webinar Recording: 2015 Winners and 2016 Information

Click here for the video.

For more information, please contact Joan Ryzner, AHA Director of Member Relations, at jryzner@aha.org.