Over the last 9 months there has been a lot of staffing changes in the therapy Program at the Miriam Center and The Outreach Program. It is hard to believe 9 months ago I had 3 full-time Rehab Technicians and 2 more I was getting ready to offer full-time positions to. We were actively making plans to expand the outreach program to include 1:1 therapy, vitamin program, and better medical care, etc. The Miriam Center kids would get more therapy....etc. A lot of plans have been placed on hold for now.
Fast forward to today May 2018:
Over the last 3 months there has been alot of challenges with my therapy staff...Alot of misunderstandings, alot of challenges...alot differences in opinions...and alot of hard changes. Right before I got sick I felt like we were finally on a good path and plan. We started weekly meetings and were laying all of our problems, concerns, and thoughts out on the table and working through them. But after I got sick it started falling apart again.
Lorian sadly resigned as of end of December. She got married and is happily living back in PAP with her husband and has been able to find another Rehab Tech position. I am so happy for her but we greatly miss her at the Miriam Center.
Bernadette who has been working at the Miriam Center for over a year and also completed her 3 month fieldwork at the Miriam Center. She has played a HUGE part in outreach and therapy at the Miriam Center. It is with a very sad heart that I share she resigned 2 weeks. Her mother is very sick and by cultural standards it is her responsibility to move back home and take care of her mother. She is very sad to leave as she loves the kids and has given her heart to them and the families. Please keep her in your prayers as she cares for her mom and adjusts to life back at the Miriam Center and as she personally grieves having to leave the job she loves.
Panier completed his 3 month clinical at the Miriam Center and then came and volunteered for 3 months. He was offered a full-time position at the Miriam Center. Sadly due to his mothers health he also had to return to Jacmel area of Haiti to take care of her.
Monise who has been working at the Miriam Center as a Rehab Tech for the last 15 months. She has been a rockstar trying to hold therapy at the Miriam Center and the outreach program going but it is ALOT of work for 1 person... it is too much... and I got word last week that she is sick and the doctors have ordered a scan that can only be done in PAP.
Claudette has been back for a couple week now and is reviewing a contract and discerning wether or not the Miriam Center is where God is calling her. She also is under a difficult situation as her mom was in an accident the weak of the health fair and broke her shoulder. She is torn between feeling like she should be home in PAP taking care of her mom or working at the Miriam Center. Please pray for her as she makes a hard decision.
Lorian sadly resigned as of end of December. She got married and is happily living back in PAP with her husband and has been able to find another Rehab Tech position. I am so happy for her but we greatly miss her at the Miriam Center.
Bernadette who has been working at the Miriam Center for over a year and also completed her 3 month fieldwork at the Miriam Center. She has played a HUGE part in outreach and therapy at the Miriam Center. It is with a very sad heart that I share she resigned 2 weeks. Her mother is very sick and by cultural standards it is her responsibility to move back home and take care of her mother. She is very sad to leave as she loves the kids and has given her heart to them and the families. Please keep her in your prayers as she cares for her mom and adjusts to life back at the Miriam Center and as she personally grieves having to leave the job she loves.
Panier completed his 3 month clinical at the Miriam Center and then came and volunteered for 3 months. He was offered a full-time position at the Miriam Center. Sadly due to his mothers health he also had to return to Jacmel area of Haiti to take care of her.
Monise who has been working at the Miriam Center as a Rehab Tech for the last 15 months. She has been a rockstar trying to hold therapy at the Miriam Center and the outreach program going but it is ALOT of work for 1 person... it is too much... and I got word last week that she is sick and the doctors have ordered a scan that can only be done in PAP.
Claudette has been back for a couple week now and is reviewing a contract and discerning wether or not the Miriam Center is where God is calling her. She also is under a difficult situation as her mom was in an accident the weak of the health fair and broke her shoulder. She is torn between feeling like she should be home in PAP taking care of her mom or working at the Miriam Center. Please pray for her as she makes a hard decision.
FAST-FORWARD TO TODAY AUGUST 2018
REHAB TECHNICIANS
MONISE
Monise is a Rehab Technician who graduated from UNAH/LLU program in Carrefoure, Haiti. She has been working full-time for the outreach program and Miriam Center for the last 2 years. She also did a 3 month clinical followed by 3 months of CEU and Vol1. Why did you want to work therapy at the Miriam Center? She completed her clinicals at the Miriam Center and she had a deep desire to stay and help them. Her specialty has become pediatrics. She has such a deep love for the kids. She is quiet but does great 1:1 with the outreach families especially with encouraging them, educating them, and being building relationship with the kids. I asked all my staff 3 questions
1. Why did you want to work therapy at the Miriam Center? She completed her clinicals at the Miriam Center and she had a deep desire to stay and help them.
2. Why did you want to learn therapy? First she had the idea to go to school and during school she learned to like it. Doing therapy has alot of physical benefits and she likes the work she does in this feild to help. She also believes her work will reach outside the walls of the mission to the society. She is passionate about helping children with special needs and their families to understand and see that its not the end of the world.
3. What is your favorite part of working at the Miriam Center? Doing individual therapy with the kids. Also she enjoys providing education for the families and their children on the treatments she is doing and how to better help them help their families.
We are tremendously blessed to have MONISE as a part of our team!
CLAUDETTE
Claudette Prince graduated from LLU/UNAH. She completed one of her 3 month clinical under my supervision and later completed 4 months of volunteer work with the Miriam Center before joining our full-time staff back in April. She has a heart for and gift for working with kids. This gifting combined with her compassionate, loving, caring, and light hearted personality made her a good fit for our staff. She is eager to learn and hardworking as well. We are so glad to have her as part of the Miriam Center Team.
Why Did you choose to work at the Miriam Center? I chose to work at the Miriam Center because it helps children with disabilities, providing them with good therapy care that allows them to live longer. The Miriam center helps the children receive care from a variety of specialists to receive the best care in all areas. I also like that the outreach programs exists to help families keep and care for there children at home. I love kids a lot and I want to improve their lives in anyway I can.
Why did you want to become a Rehab Tech? After the January 12, 2010 earthquake, the American group left the example of therapy training and I saw the importance of therapy. So when I finished school I wanted to go to school to learn to do therapy so I could help in this important role.
JOSEPH
Joseph is the newest member of our team. He became part of the therapy team/ outreach team first week of July. He has 2 degrees. He has a Rehab Technician Degree and also has his nursing Degree. He heard about the job opening from a Rehab Tech friend who did some training under me in the past few years. He was very excited about joining the team. He is great with the kids, eager to learn and also eager to help with training the Activity Assistants. He has not been shy at jumping right in and getting started. The kids love him already and from all conversations since I have been gone he is still loving working at the Miriam Center.
1. Why did you want to work therapy at the Miriam Center? He loves to help children in general and wants to be apart of this mission in helping chidlren with special needs.
2. Why did you want to learn therapy? Because he recognized he had a desire to help people with special needs.
3. What is your favorite part of working at the Miriam Center? Working with braces, to exercise, to massage, and to play with the kids. He also has a passion for using instruments and music as part of therapy.
We are thankful and blessed to have him as part of our team.
ACTIVITY ASSISTANTS
Back in May I hired 2 locals from the mountains behind the mission. They had no therapy experience but were willing to learn. Since we were short staffed and I didn't have time to find and transition new Rehab Technicians from PAP these 2 wonderful individuals really stepped up and stepped in with only 3 days of training. Sony and Mdm PD are our ACTIVITY ASSISTANTS. They assist the Rehab Technicians in helping with basic therapy activities that typically a parent would do.
SONY
Sony became part of the therapy team/ outreach team back in May. He is an Activity Assistant who helps with massage, stretching, stander time, bike, swings, and other activities with the kids. He is 1 of 2 locals who showed in interest in learning therapy to help fill a great need we had back in May. Sony's Mom works at the Miriam Center and He grew up in the mission church and was very active in the youth group. He may not have known anything about therapy but he came to the team eager to learn, with a hardworking personality, Love for the Lord, and a passion for kids. His loving, caring, gentle personality has been a tremendous asset to our team. He has also picked up on basic therapy techniques quickly and has greatly increased the quality of life of the kids. One of his specific areas of ministry with the outreach program includes helping lead daily devotional time after outreach therapy every afternoon with the families.
1. Why did you want to work therapy at the Miriam Center? In the community He sees the help of and need of therapy. It is his passion to work in a therapy group, and that brings him joy to see many other Haitians from all over the country.
2. Why did you want to learn therapy? He has a desire to help people that can’t or have a hard time to help themselves.
3. What is your favorite part of working at the Miriam Center? He enjoys working with the Standers, therapy ball and also helping with the Bible study Lessons
We are so thankful he is apart of our team!
Mdm PD (Marlene Estime)
Mdm PD became part of the therapy team/ outreach team back in May. She is an Activity Assistant who helps with massage, stretching, stander time, bike, swings, and other activities with the kids. She is 1 of 2 locals who showed in interest in learning therapy to help fill a great need we had back in May. Mdm PD may not have known anything about therapy but she came to the team eager to learn, with a hardworking personality, Love for the Lord, and a passion for kids. Her loving, caring, gentle personality has been a tremendous aspect to our team. She has also picked up on basic therapy techniques quickly and has greatly increased the quality of life of the kids. One of her specific areas of ministry with the outreach program includes helping lead daily devotional time after outreach therapy every afternoon with the families. .
1. Why did you want to work therapy at the Miriam Center? She wanted to help special needs children. She saw the work her husband PD (who is the director of the MC) and wanted to take part in it.
2. Why did you want to learn therapy? So that she could play a part in helping the children get better and gain more skills.
3. What is your favorite part of working at the Miriam Center? Doing Massage/Stretching with the kids as well as doing work with the Therapy balls. She sees how much the kids enjoy these 2 activities.
We are so thankful she is apart of our team!
VOLUNTEERS/ CONTINUING EDUCATION POSITIONS
One of my passions is training nationals to be therapists and introducing locals to therapy and if interested helping them pursue education for therapy by helping prepare them to go and helping them connect with therapy school options.
One of my passions is training nationals to be therapists and introducing locals to therapy and if interested helping them pursue education for therapy by helping prepare them to go and helping them connect with therapy school options.
Alexandra Petion Remy (LELA)
LELA is the daughter of 2 of the Haitian Leadership staff members from NWHCM. Like her parents she is passionate about helping people, is caring, has a gift with working with children and has a leadership personality. I am so EXCITED that after her fathers stroke a year and a half ago she decided to school to become a therapist. She completed all her exams at FSRL (Fsrl FsrlSchool) the 4 year bachelors OT.PT school. She was accepted... unfortunately there was a mistake in the number of students that were accepted and LELA was asked to wait a year. Instead of getting discouraged she sought out a volunteer/internship with the therapy department at the Miriam Center and outreach program. She has been volunteering the last 9 months consistently and have become 1 of the staff. We are going to really miss her when she heads to school in September or October. She has been eager to learn and has learned ALOT and is going to make a fantastic therapist. We look forward to her coming back to the northwest zone of Haiti and using her skills for God's kingdom. Please keep LELA in your prayers as she heads off to school.
1. Why did you want to work therapy at the Miriam Center? She wanted to help children young and old who have special needs and to have a deeper experience in therapy and to be more effective and loves to teach the world about God. Working at the MC she can do both.
2. Why did you want to learn therapy? She likes the therapy feild and wants to help people that need her help and it is a good thing to help
3. What is your favorite part of working at the Miriam Center? Doing massage and stretching with the kids. Working on the therapy balls and putting their braces on.
If you would like to donate specifically to help LELA with school costs just note that in the comment section of your donation and I will ensure she gets it.
Cedler
Cedler joined the therapy team back in June as a volunteer. He grew up in our small town and was an active member of the NWHCM church youth group. His 1 brother has Down syndrome and has been apart of outreach and school at the Miriam Center for year. He decided recently he wants to go to school to become a therapists. He on his own found a Rehab Technician School in Cap Haitian where he will start this fall. He wanted to get some hands on experience and learn as much as he could prior to going. He has been participating in CEU courses I have been doing and started my pediatric course I do with Rehab Techs (unfortunately we did not get super far due to unforeseen events) BUT he is eager to learn, quick learner, hard worker, great with the kids, and motivated. Please keep Cedler in your prayers as he heads off to school. If you would like to help financially with his school you can make a donation following links below and specify for Cedler education and I will make sure he gets it. Each day he "volunteers" at the MC I will be giving him a gift to help with his schooling.
1. Why did you want to work therapy at the Miriam Center? He likes this feild and wanted to learn more to help the special needs chidlren and wants to be a professional in this feild. He also loves it very much.
2. Why did you want to learn therapy? Because he loves this feild.
3. What is your favorite part of working at the Miriam Center? Massage, work with the therapy balls, stretching, general exercise and to teach the Bible Stories.
The therapy staff do a lot more than just therapy for the Miriam Center children. They are heavily involved in the running of the outreach program. For outreach they help run the building clinic, clubfoot casting clinic, parent education days, therapy home-visits, bible study/devotions with families, etc. We have been blessed with an amazing group of individuals who are passionate not just about therapy but also about sharing Christ's love with each family. What they do goes far beyond just therapy.
IN THE COMING MONTHS
I foresee more staff changes in the coming months. I have a number of Resumee's of Rehab Technicians interesting in working at the Miriam Center and/or completing my 3 month CEU course to specialize in pediatrics which would allow me to help place them at 1 of the many other organizations who have asked me to help them find staff. I also have a few students who unfortunately were unable to pass all the classes necessary to continue on at FSRL (the 4 year OT/PT school in Leogane) who are planning to come learn and volunteer with me. We also have a few of the NWHCM orphanage older girls interested in possibly pursing therapy and have started joining in on any educations that I do. I hope to in the few months to find/train/hire a Assistant for me that can also double as a translator for the outreach program.
Please keep the therapy staff in your prayers and pray for me to have wisdom as I continue to grow the therapy staff, make it a training center for nationals and try to make sure I am pouring into and encouraging my staff so they don't get burnt out. It has been an extremely hard year with me being out of country and gone so much this year.
I foresee more staff changes in the coming months. I have a number of Resumee's of Rehab Technicians interesting in working at the Miriam Center and/or completing my 3 month CEU course to specialize in pediatrics which would allow me to help place them at 1 of the many other organizations who have asked me to help them find staff. I also have a few students who unfortunately were unable to pass all the classes necessary to continue on at FSRL (the 4 year OT/PT school in Leogane) who are planning to come learn and volunteer with me. We also have a few of the NWHCM orphanage older girls interested in possibly pursing therapy and have started joining in on any educations that I do. I hope to in the few months to find/train/hire a Assistant for me that can also double as a translator for the outreach program.
Please keep the therapy staff in your prayers and pray for me to have wisdom as I continue to grow the therapy staff, make it a training center for nationals and try to make sure I am pouring into and encouraging my staff so they don't get burnt out. It has been an extremely hard year with me being out of country and gone so much this year.
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