Author: Chris

By Clare Krabill, MHS COO

When I rise up
Let me rise up joyful
Like a bird

When I fall
Let me fall without regret
Like a leaf

        ~Wendell Berry

I was struck by the purity and simplicity of these words penned by Wendell Berry as I uttered them in a silent prayer. We are living in times of great complexity, stress, suffering and strife. In the midst of the global pandemic, increased awareness of violence against people of color, particularly Black people, and growing political division, his words sooth a longing in my soul.

It would be an act of extreme denial to say the times we are in do not affect our work, our sense of vocation, and the culture of our organizations. As Christians we are called to be peacemakers and to seek unity rather than division. As workers in healing ministries you yourselves are the tender hands of Christ ministering to those in your care. Why then, can relating to others be so hard sometimes? Why can it be so difficult to demonstrate the same loving kindness to those who look different, talk differently, worship differently, and have different political viewpoints? Yet, I confess, sometimes it is hard to treat all people equitably. My own periodic knee jerk response to judge others looms as a barrier.

Colossians 3:11 exhorts us, “It doesn’t matter if you are a Jew or a Gentile, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbaric, uncivilized, slave, or free. Christ is all that matters, and he lives in all of us.”

Christ is all that matters, and he lives in all of us. These are profound words, the kind that have the power, when adopted as an ongoing prayer, to foster peace and loving kindness in us and around us. May these words weave themselves into your hearts, souls and minds as you apply yourself to your daily work.  With them, when you rise up, may you rise up joyful like a bird! When you fall, may you fall without regret like a leaf.

The Arts, Vulnerability and Mental Health

Ted Swartz is a playwright and actor who has been mucking around in the worlds of the sacred and profane for over 20 years. Ted fell in love with acting and theater on his way to a traditional pastorate in the Mennonite church, a denomination not usually thought of as a hotbed of theatrical opportunities.

Coupling theater and seminary education, Ted became a theologian of a different sort. He discovered that at the intersection of humor and biblical story we often find new or different understandings of Scripture.

Ted’s love of acting, comedy, and collaboration with creative partner Lee Eshleman  took him to performances in 45 states in the US, Canada,  as well as shows in  Kenya and Japan. Ted & Lee became known for a quirky and gently askew view of life, building a loyal following.

Despite the tragic loss of Lee in 2007 Ted continued the search for the intersection of comedy and faith, grief and loss deepening that exploration.

He is the creator or co-creator of over a dozen plays, and continues to perform and write across the US and abroad.

In addition to acting in solo and multiple cast original shows, Ted is an accomplished speaker and teacher, melding theater and comedy with issues of creativity, theology and faith in a profound and engaging presentation.

Born in Phoenixville, Pennsylvania, a 1989 graduate of Eastern Mennonite University and 1992 graduate of Eastern Mennonite Seminary, Ted now lives in the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia. Along with writing and acting, his loves include his wife, Sue; three sons, Eliot, Ian, and Derek; daughters-in-law, Katrina, Hannah, and Chelsea; and grandchildren Mona, Hattie, Josie, and Ezra.

He is also the Executive Director of the Center for Art, Humor, and Soul.

by Clare Krabill, MHS COO

The Warmth of Other Suns: The Epic Story of America’s Great Migration

by Isabel Wilkerson, © 2010

As non-profit professionals you understand the power of story to portray why your mission matters as you seek to move the hearts and minds of your constituents. Through story you hope to empower your reader to act on behalf of your mission.

In this deeply moving work of non-fiction the author tells the true-life stories of three African-American individuals who partook in the Great Migration, the movement of African-Americans out of the South and to the Midwest, Northwest and West from approximately 1915 to 1970. A New York Times Best Books of the Year honoree and rated by TIME magazine as one of the 10 Best Nonfiction Books of the Decade, this book is deeply moving. The author interviewed more than 1,200 people to produce a work of non-fiction that enabled me to more clearly grasp the deeply imbedded systemic racism that has existed in our country for generations, how the pain of racism motivated brave change, and how this continues to effect Black people in America today. This is a vital part of our country’s history that all can benefit from learning about.

This book accomplished a rare thing, it changed my thinking, increased my awareness, and moved me through the power of relating human stories. I highly recommend this to those who are seeking to better understand how the journeys of the Great Migration unfolded, altering our cities, our culture, our country and ourselves.

Jesse Kaye, President and CEO at Praire View, will retire after nearly 16 years with the organization and 44 years of service in faith-based health and human services ministries. November 22 is Kaye’s scheduled last day.

Her years at Praire View have included many accomplishments including: The rapid expansion of telemedicine to ensure provision of services during the COVID-19 global pandemic, construction of Prairie View’s East Wichita outpatient clinic location, and the creation of the organization’s first Statement of Values to protect the heritage and faith identity of Prairie View.

“I have been richly blessed by the opportunity to serve Prairie View and its communities, and I deeply appreciate the support I have felt throughout my time here,” says Kaye. “It has truly been my honor and privilege to be a part of this ministry. I feel tremendous gratitude for all who have touched my life during this time.”

Kaye and her husband and mother plan to relocate to her home state of Texas, to be nearer extended family and have more time to travel the continent to visit her six children and six grandchildren, as well as follow their adoptee as he plays professional basketball in Europe.

All of us at MHS wish her the best as she enters a new chapter of her life.

With the COVID-19 pandemic, communities are finding that hiring qualified candidates is becoming the biggest challenge, while employee turnover falls to the secondary challenge. Communities and associations are bustling to develop recruitment and retention strategies that align with the stress and fears of their employees. Some strategies include flexible scheduling, affordable childcare, free meals, extra uniforms, transportation services, sick leave, paid family and medical leave, mental health benefits and many more.

Communication between communities and employees is a vital strategy. Utilizing the messaging features through a workforce technology solution has been reliable, effective and a best practice to inform the employees regarding policy changes, new CDC regulations, testing protocols, as well as messages of encouragement and gratitude. Additionally, leadership teams are able to seek feedback from the frontline employees to discover and resolve issues, providing immediate support to the frontline and fostering strong relationships. As well as current employees, communication with candidates is crucial to keep them engaged throughout the hiring process.

Hiring the right candidate really does matter. Seeking candidates that are compatible and will contribute to the culture, as culture retains employees. Plus, residents and families need consistent and quality care through the relationships that will be built with these candidates. Consider talent acquisition technology that will assist with hiring top candidates quickly, staff consistently and efficiently for high quality care, increase productivity and decrease recruitment costs.

Employees are experiencing more stress and working long hours, disrupting their home life, creating a real risk of burnout. Understanding employee obligations outside of work and giving them more control over their schedules will improve culture and retention. Scheduling technology is easy and convenient, offering employees the opportunity to manage their own schedules, pick up shifts that are suitable for their schedule, and overall provide work-life balance.

To learn more about the CPS vendor partners that can assist you with recruitment and retention, give me a call, Dianne Piet, your dedicated CPS Client Account Manager. 603-935-7923, email: pietdianne@carepurchasing.com.

OnShift is designed for senior living providers, offering predictive and intuitive tools to find and recruit talent, make quality hires, engage employees and optimize their workforce for service excellence, improved productivity and greater profitability.

CliniShift can reduce over-reliance on agency staff, grow staff recruitment and increase retention across clinical and non-clinical staff. It is uniquely designed to help manage scheduling needs and a platform for staff engagement. CliniShift’s base functionality provides a strong starting point for developing successful staff retention and recruitment programs at senior living organizations.

IntelliCorp provides comprehensive employment screening services to help minimize risk and determine the quality of your new hires.

LeaderStat is a national recruiting and consulting firm dedicated to senior living, placing top performers in key roles on an interim, retained, and contingency basis and assisting communities in a variety of operational areas.