Submitted By: Jillian Faltermayer | Family Residences and Essential Enterprises, Inc.
Family Residences and Essential Enterprises, Inc. (FREE) was founded in 1977, and benefits and proudly supports more than 4,000 individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities, mental illness, and traumatic brain injury in New York. It is the mission of FREE to assist individuals of all abilities realize their full potential. Joanne Mineo is a Direct Support Professional for FREE and works to carry out the organization’s mission by embracing their motto to ‘reach high’ and ‘achieve more.’
Joanne used the Personal Outcome Measures® to understand the outcomes that Kathy wanted to achieve involving the indicator Best Possible Health. These include goals like her learning about nutrition, understanding ongoing healthcare needs, and managing these needs in the way she desired. Joanne has done a great deal to support Kathy in achieving these goals.
This past year, Kathy was diagnosed with cancer for a second time. Joanne supported Kathy by assisting with scheduling surgery, doctor’s appointments, and treatments, as well as helping her with completing various forms and handling insurance matters. Joanne also assisted Kathy with embracing proper nutrition and learning how to cook balanced and healthy meals to aide in her recovery. Since then, Kathy stated she no longer eats like a teenager and is consistent with doctors and routine care! Joanne also advocated with Kathy for more contact with other coordinators, to correct medical information and help complete documentation.
“Joanne is will do anything and everything to assist me, even if that means she has to change her own personal plans,” shares Kathy. “Joanne is also a great listener and that I’m comfortable talking to her and bouncing off ideas. This has led to me making better choices.”
In addition, Joanne helped Kathy to look and feel her best during treatment by helping her in getting her hair and nails done and maintaining contact with family and friends for support. Kathy is now in remission for a second time after successfully following through on all of her medical needs and completed her treatments.
Joanne has been dedicated to Kathy achieving her goals by providing advocacy, assistance, and support – even outside of work. Along with these health-related outcomes, Joanne has also supported Kathy in other goals such as enrolling in college and class scheduling so that Kathy can move towards earning her degree. Along with college-related supports, Joanne helps Kathy with her volunteer work for elections, going shopping, meeting up with her friends and family, going to lunch – anything Kathy wants or needs!
Thank you Joanne for all of your tireless work!
2018 Direct Support Professional Recognition Week
This article is part of a campaign during the 2018 Direct Support Professional Recognition Week, to acknowledge Direct Support Professionals who are helping people achieve their individually-defined outcomes, through the use of Personal Outcome Measures®. This campaign was developed through a partnership between CQL | The Council on Quality and Leadership and The National Alliance for Direct Support Professionals (NADSP).
Joanne Mineo: Supporting Kathy’s Best Possible Health