A MONTH OF DISCOVERY FEBRUARY 2023

Friends and Supporters,

The weather has been up and down, but the activity at The Center recently was non-stop!

Our busy month was punctuated with a visit to the state capitol, continued advancement of our new Children’s Specialty Hospital, a countywide accolade, musical auditions, and so much more!

Here’s brief look at what’s been going on.

Masks Off!

It is masks off again for our staff here at The Center.

In her regular webinar update, our President, Dr. Theresa Hamlin, was joined by Chief of Nursing Susan Sayers to give the good news to staff and families after intense examination of the federal, state and local outbreak COVID-19 numbers. “It’s time our kids and adults see our faces and our smiles. They get a lot of information about what we are thinking and how we are responding to them through our faces,” said Dr. Hamlin.

There will also be more visitation. “We are moving toward a pre-pandemic flow” added Susan, “we are still going to be diligent and aware of what’s going on in our resident and classroom spaces, but we are going to allow more than one family to visit in a house at one time.” Both Dr. Hamlin and Susan stressed the wisdom in continued COVID testing and masking if you or a loved one have cold, flu or allergy symptoms. The COVID Hotline on campus will remain open daily.

TCFD’s Trip to the State Capitol

Our leadership team brought the critical issues facing The Center and our community as a whole to the attention of key officials in Albany.

Our CEO Patrick H. Dollard, Executive Vice President of Marketing and Communications Michael Rosen, and Vice President of Strategic Partnerships Helena le Roux Ohm, met with New York State Senator John Mannion (D,NY), who is Chairman of the Committee on Disabilities, Department of Health Acting Commissioner James McDonald, Department of Health Acting Executive Deputy Commissioner Megan Baldwin, Deputy Commissioner of Primary Care and Health Systems Management Dr. John Morley and OPWDD Commissioner Kerri Neifeld.

Included in the topics of conversations were the opening of our Children’s Specialty Hospital, nationwide staffing shortages in the direct care field, and the importance in investing in our workforce.

Children’s Specialty Hospital Update

Just in time for spring, our Children’s Specialty Hospital is blooming with beauty, creativity, and infinite possibility.

The main entrance is vibrant and welcoming with its new wallpaper. Other engaging details will be completed soon – like trees with leaf lighting to reflect the seasons. The state-of-the-art, multimedia Alemany Learning Center, where we anticipate holding conferences and trainings, is also nearing completion. Last month, the glass wall of the “control room” was installed.

In her Center Update webinar this month, Dr. Hamlin discussed the increased need for TCFD expertise and experience statewide. “We are being asked to do more,” she said, “We hope to impact the whole service system.” This will include the Children’s Specialty Hospital, due to open in the fall of 2023 with its 18 beds (12 beds for autism cases & 6 beds for post-acute medical rehab).

Simply the Best: That’s TCFD!

We are so grateful to the residents of Sullivan County who voted TCFD as the Best Place to Work in 2022 in the annual River Reporter Readers’ Choice Awards.

We work hard to provide the best benefits, competitive salaries, and a wonderful, compassionate, kind working environment. Thank you Sullivan County for noticing!

Great Opportunity!

Our Transforming Lives through Assistive Technology and Innovation Virtual Conference will be held on April 5th from 9:30am-12:00pm.

This conference is open to anyone so please share the QR code or click here to register.

You will experience amazing presentations on Animal-Assisted Intervention, Immersive Virtual Reality, Integrating Assistive Technology into Project-Based Music Activities, Art & Community, Adapted Sports & Recreation, Maximizing Engagement & Participation Through Assistive Technology, and the Future of Assistive Technology.

We CAN Fly!

TCFD residents are learning to fly (and dance and sing and act) – for our first (drumroll please) – post-pandemic play on the Big Barn Grand Stage – Peter Pan!

In early February, our nervous and very excited students and residents gathered to do some drama exercises, scene work, and learn a new song with our Director of Music Therapy, Conio Loretto and his team. At least two dozen adults and children were cast in the play, and are already rehearsing their lines, dances, and stage directions twice a week at the Big Barn.

In the coming months, we will give you behind-the-scenes glimpses at stage design, costume and prop creation by our artisans in both DayHab and the school’s program.

Second star to the right and straight on ‘til morning!” We will all be able to visit Neverland in late spring.