Each year we reach out to our donors with an appeal mailing. The purpose is, of course, to raise funds for programs and services. But it's also a way to let our supporters know about the work we do all year long. This year's appeal featured a profile of Evergreen patient Penny, written by Melissa Meyer. Penny is well known around Evergreen for many reasons, the most unique of which is her Evergreen tattoo. Penny says, “You really have to search to find your compass. Regardless of if it’s Evergreen Health or an evergreen tree in a forest, you still have opportunities to find yourself.” Penny knows too well the hardships in finding herself. She was first introduced to Evergreen when she was homeless. It was one of the few places she could get a decent meal and a warm place to rest. She describes hitting rock bottom when she was put on life support. Penny had developed MRSA and her body had gone into septic shock from drug use. She found out she was positive for hepatitis C. Her organs were failing; she was dying. Penny’s family came to say goodbye to her, though they had been estranged for years. But Penny still had fight left in her. She remembers Dr. Shon’s face when she woke up. Penny still sees Dr. Shon, medical director at Evergreen Health. They have a very honest relationship. “I would never go anywhere else,” said Penny. “Basically, when it comes to Evergreen, if you need help, it’s here.” Today Penny has what she needs to live a healthy life. She receives care from a doctor she trusts who never judges her. Her HIV is undetectable thanks to the care plan her doctor prescribed, the accessibility of the Evergreen Pharmacy and her commitment to her health. She ascribes to harm reduction principles and no longer uses drugs that are damaging to her body. Penny enjoys working on art projects in the THRIVE program and her hepatitis C is under control. Mending her relationship with her daughter has helped Penny the most. “She went through hell with me: drug binge after drug binge. I did a lot of damage. If it wasn’t for the fact that I almost died,” said Penny, “I wouldn’t have gotten my family back.” Connections
All numbers shown here accurate as of October, 2020 >>
World AIDS Day takes place on December 1st each year. It’s an opportunity for people all over the world to unite in the fight against HIV, show support for people living with HIV and honor those who have died from AIDS-related illness. Evergreen staff wore red (clothing and ribbons) to mark World AIDS Day 2020.
Evergreen's Survivor's Quilt was created by people living with HIV to mark World AIDS Day 2020. Laura Pasquarella tells the Quilt's story:
The idea originated when patient adherence specialist
Dawn Trotter attended a conference in Albany. On display were various Memorial Quilts, but an agency from the Bronx had also included a Survivor’s Quilt. Dawn recalls thinking, "Wow, we're surviving and thriving! Now let’s make a Survivors Quilt to show that even in our diagnosis, we're living life to the fullest." Dawn felt this would help with the stigma associated with the diagnosis. "When people think of HIV, they think death," said Dawn. "I hope this makes them think of life!" In coordination with Rob Baird and Rachel Voelkle-Kuhlmann, Dawn, Liza Pereira and I got the ball rolling. We obtained materials and reached out to patients who attend THRIVE or receive medical care. Each patient created a square reflecting their experience living with HIV/AIDS. Assistance with planning, design and sewing was offered. During group sessions, patients shared experiences, hope and support with each other.
VIDEOS
are a great way for us to share a message with staff or the community. Evergreen's videos may not have a long list of credits rolling at the end, but a
lot of work goes on behind the scenes in order to make them professional-looking and effective.
The first step in the process is to develop a plan. That involves asking - and answering - some
questions. What's our message? Who is our target audience? What are our options based on time and budget? How do we want viewers to react? The Marketing and Communications teams, led by Maggie Barnett and Amy Usiak, play major roles in the process, as do staff throughout the organization. Once we have an idea of our goal, we can begin to plan the video itself. This means asking more questions. Who will speak? What will they say? Copywriter Melissa Meyer works closely with program staff to craft a script that's clear and informative, while sounding natural for the speaker. Actors are recruited, and depending on the size of the project the cast could be staff members, patients or people from the community.
The shooting process can be chaotic. In addition to recruiting, schedules and locations need to be
coordinated and we have to do take care not to disrupt the activities of the organization. Despite all of these moving parts, Team Evergreen does a great job of making it look easy, on both sides of the camera! Once shooting is complete, the footage is edited and compiled into a finished video for review. A video may have multiple versions, customized for various platforms or target audiences. Sometimes there are last minute edits if circumstances or the specifics of a program change after shooting is completed. Flexibility is essential.
Finally, the finished product goes out into the world. In pre-COVID days, that might have meant a
premiere at the agency Huddle. Now a premiere is most likely through an organization-wide email or post on social media by digital marketing specialist Jeffrey Heras. Whatever the platform, once viewers hit play, our hard work pays off. Be sure to watch social media and your email for more Evergreen videos coming your way throughout 2021. (photo: Marketing project manager Claire Buscemi films Evergreen Health Foundation executive director Richard Ridenour for a fundraising video)
Evergreen has come a long way since the 1980s and so has our home base at the corner of South Elmwood Avenue and Chippewa Street. Built to accommodate the crowds of people traveling to Buffalo for the 1901 Pan American Exposition, the Roanoke Hotel had fallen into a state of disrepair by the 1980s. Click HERE to see more great photographs of 80s-era Buffalo at the BuffaloStories blog. Shown here are images of the Roanoke Hotel from three different angles, as well as the apartment building where Chippewa Street meets Georgia Street.
2020 was an unusual year, but growth and change remained constants at Evergreen. That often meant making adjustments to our physical spaces. The Pride Center moved into a new home in the Mathews Building and a variety of programs, including the Retention Adherence Program (RAP) and Emerging Communities teams, also shifted into 200 South Elmwood Avenue. Everyone is happy and settled into their new spaces!
Connections has been talking about Trauma-Informed Care (TIC) quite a bit lately. Here are some things to remember when thinking about how TIC can help us provide better care to our patients.
There's No Easy Recipe for TIC | It's natural to seek out a formula that will show us how to implement
the principles of TIC. While there are aspects of TIC that apply to nearly every situation, there are also countless variables that make a "one size fits all" approach impossible. It's essential to tailor our use of TIC to the individual patient - and ourselves.
We're All in This Together | Most people - service providers and patients alike - have experienced
trauma in their lives. Trauma affects people of all ages, genders, cultures and socio-economic statuses. Realizing we're all in this together helps level the playing field between providers and patients, making us true collaborators in the development of an environment where meaningful change can happen.
TIC Is About Staff and Patients | Creating a safe, supportive environment for staff, as well as patients,
is essential. It's difficult for us to help and support our patients if we're dealing with our own triggers or emotions from trauma or if we're overwhelmed or psychologically exhausted. Remember that TIC practices can be just as important for staff as they are for those we serve.
People Process Trauma in Many Ways | Trauma is painful. It causes fear, shame and feelings of
betrayal to different degrees and in different combinations, depending on the situation. Some may process this pain by talking frankly about their experiences. Others may process it non-verbally or even not at all. Being trauma-informed means creating a safe, supportive environment to our patients so they can process their trauma on their own terms.
You Don't Have to Be Perfect | Working with vulnerable patients is a responsibility, but we shouldn't
put pressure of unrealistic expectations on our patients or ourselves. Look at mistakes as opportunities for learning and remember that even when we're not perfect, we can still be effective.
Mark your calendar! The submission
If you have any follow-up questions for the Thursday
deadline for the February 2021 issue of Connections is Wednesday,
Evergreen Announcements from Ray, Ekua and Khris,
January 20. Be sure to get your
you can submit them via email at COVID19questions@
content in before the deadline to
evergreenhs.org.
guarantee placement. Kids, pets, recipes, your new home office we want to share them all! Send to
In addition to the Thursday email messages, you can find up to date information about how Evergreen is dealing with COVID-19 by logging in to the ADP portal or checking the Evergreen website.
EvergreenConnections via Outlook.
W
estern New York has been hit hard by opioid overdose and COVID-19 has made an already bad situation worse. "The pandemic has exacerbated this crisis," said Seanna Pratt, Evergreen's harm reduction specialist. "It's more apparent than ever that we need to have conversations about Harm Reduction through a public health and social justice lens." To help make this happen, Evergreen has developed trainings designed to equip staff with the tools necessary to respond to patient needs. This includes accurate, up-to-date information on substances and overdose. "The two trainings offered monthly are Understanding the Overdose Crisis and Prevalent Drugs in Western New York," said Seanna. "We also offer a Services for People Who Use Drugs training periodically throughout the year. At Evergreen, we know that providing updated information and education is an important part of our commitment to overdose and saving lives." According to Seanna, Understanding the Overdose Crisis takes a deep dive into contributing factors of the overdose crisis, as well as historical and expected trends. "It also discusses how Harm Reduction serves as a response to this crisis and identifies direct service and policy recommendations we can use to combat the overdose crisis moving forward." Prevalent Drugs in Western New York focuses on common substances used in our community, using information gained from research and from people who use drugs. "The aim is to provide factual information about substances being used in our communities, to ensure non-judgmental, appropriate responses to those we serve," said Seanna. "This training in particular has received a lot of positive feedback." "Services for People Who Use Drugs takes a step back for a broader perspective on the array of lowthreshold harm reduction services that exist for people who use drugs," explained Seanna. "Services discussed in this training include those found at the local, state, national or even international level." Seanna noted that all of the trainings provide staff with the information they need to remain nonjudgmental and appropriate when working with patients. "This approach builds trust," she said. "And it allows for more open conversations where patients feel more comfortable disclosing information." Each training lasts about an hour, with time for questions following. Session are currently held on Zoom. If you're interested in participating, watch for dates and times released monthly via Human Resources email. You can also email Seanna directly (spratt@evergreenhs.org) to sign up.
Birthdays Mohamed Ibrahim.............................January 1 Ann Breidenstein................................January 1 Mustafa Abucar...................................January 1 Linda Scalise.........................................January 2 Ventenese Palmer...............................January 3 Phillip Aris..............................................January 4 Ronda Ivory............................................January 5 James Thompson................................January 5 Alexis Pena.............................................January 6 Josh Matecki..........................................January 6 Tracy Eichelberger............................January 8 Tamara Miller.......................................January 8 Christina Monroy................................January 10 Natalie Gerdy........................................January 11 Glendalisse Lopez...............................January 12 Kanwalnain Bawa..............................January 15 Richard Smiley.....................................January 17 Alexandria Matyas............................January 18 Murray Wire..........................................January 20 Samantha Gaerte................................January 21 Ricardo Quiros.....................................January 21 Jessie Dorman.......................................January 22 Katheryn Richards.............................January 23 DeAirra Burroughs-Moore............January 23 Annette Pabon......................................January 24 Isaac Resto Reyes................................January 25 Jamie Major............................................January 28 Sarah Smith............................................January 30 Lindsey Kelly.........................................January 31 James DeGarmo...................................January 31
Anniversaries
Employee Engagement Survey The annual employee engagement survey (EES) will be released to all staff this month. The EES is a great tool for Evergreen Health’s leadership to get a clear look into the organization's culture and employee work experiences. The feedback from the EES can help Evergreen, Community Access Services and the Pride Center of Western New York make positive changes to improve the employee experience. There will be additional communications to come so keep an eye on your emails. If you would like to see past years' results, please go to the Training Page of the Intranet.
Steven Johnson............................................1 Year Shawn Caldwell...........................................1 Year Kasie Foulk.....................................................1 Year Zachary Nappo............................................2 Years Megan Bingham...........................................2 Years Jessica Glaser................................................2 Years Britney Warham..........................................2 Years Mariana Gonzalez......................................2 Years Kristy Mangel................................................2 Years Ingrid Burgos................................................2 Years Crystal Pereira-Finley..............................2 Years Zachary Marchese.....................................2 Years Taleha Ojeda..................................................2 Years Vendelin Juricevic.....................................2 Years Heidi Buesink................................................3 Years Ronda Ivory....................................................3 Years Kimberly Johnson.......................................3 Years Yolanda Sims.................................................3 Years Katherine Mego............................................4 Years Rachel Voelkle-Kuhlmann.....................4 Years Kimberly Clarke..........................................4 Years Kadie Desbordes.........................................4 Years Rachel Parrino..............................................4 Years Jessica Schanne...........................................4 Years Brianna Barrett............................................5 Years Garrett Dicembre........................................5 Years Stephanie Mineo..........................................5 Years Jillian Fanning..............................................5 Years Megan Bhatti..................................................5 Years Carly Casali....................................................6 Years Grant Rogers..................................................6 Years Harold Colburn............................................6 Years Rebekah Bongiorno...................................6 Years Magali Maldonado......................................8 Years Anna Ihle.........................................................8 Years Lavine Hatten................................................8 Years Andrew Kiener.............................................10 Years Victoria De Leon..........................................10 Years Nichole Frank...............................................12 Years Damian Mordecai.......................................12 Years Kevin Bidtah..................................................21 Years
A Dan Auflick
A LeAnna S
A David Setlock
A Marcia De
A Dennis McKnight
A Maria Cru
A Emma Fabian
A Matthew
A Eva Baez
A Melissa N
A Jordon Frank
A Michael B
A Katie Mego
A Nakeie Ca
A Kaysha Cruz
A Niaema F
A Khristopher Decker
A Rachel Vo
A Kristina Sykes
A Shakiya B
A Kyle Berberich
Recognizing Excellent Work at Evergreen from Novembe
Shanks
erby
uz Crehan Higgins
Nagro
Blasdell
arpenter
Fox Publisher/Layout
oelkle-Kuhlmann
Bell
er 20 - December 19
John Carocci 1.
Dial extension 2222.
2. Follow the prompt to record the Code Blue or Mr. Webber and say the exact location and building of the incident.
Copy Editor Melissa Meyer
Contributors
4. The Code Blue team and Security will respond to the incident.
Jocelyn Leising Shakiya Bell Arica Rouse Melissa Meyer Alicia Kohlhagen Marcia Derby
You'll have 30 seconds to record your message. If you're not done in 30 seconds, you'll be cut off and your message will be automatically broadcast. It's imperative that you say the location and building in your message: “Code Blue in the men’s lobby bathroom in the Elmwood building” or “Could Mr. Webber please come to the Mathews building counselor room?.” The Code Blue/ Mr. Webber Softkey has been removed from all phones.
Connections is the monthly newsletter for employees and Board members of Evergreen Health and its affilliates, the Pride Center of Western New York and Community Access Services. Please send us your story ideas, photos, feedback or just a friendly hello at Evergreen Connections via Outlook.
3. Hang up your phone. This will prompt your message to be broadcast to all Evergreen locations.
Evergreen's Southern Tier offices said, “There's no way we'll let 2020 break our holiday spirit!” So their annual holiday party went on - Zoom style. Reindeer games were organized by “Santa Marcia.” Games included Team Trivia, Scavenger Hunt, Mad Libs and, of course, Dress for the Occasion. Team Candy Cane led by Captain Ryan Ricther won the overall prize. Angela Palmer and Matthew Crehan Higgins from the Buffalo office made a surprise virtual appearance. Thank you Marcia Derby for the photos of this great way to end 2020!
Top: not even a face mask can hide the holiday smiles at the Bailey Avenue location! Bottom: flashback to a prepandemic holiday celebration in 2019.
Left: the Info Systems team celebrated the holidays with a virtual party via Zoom. Festivities included gift cards for lunch, holiday background contest and Jackbox games hosted by Alan Jacyszyn. Below: Alan Jacyszyn's cat Skellington enjoys his new favorite naptime blanket.