A letter from the CEO - August 2023
Finding time to focus on what TFS has achieved in the last 20 years is elusive. I found myself thinking the other day about the opening of our first home in Murfreesboro in May of 2001. We designated it as FTM-4 and soon after we opened FTM-1 and placed 2 fellows from Clover Bottom Developmental Center there. I came on as Executive Director in September 2002. We were then serving 8 individuals. Marla, our daughter, moved into her home in Hermitage in December, 2002. The years have slipped by and Clover Bottom was closed in 2010. What the community provides at TFS is so much better than the residential arrangements at Clover Bottom. Little did I realize in 1996, when the Clover Bottom lawsuit began, what likely improvement for our special people would be made possible. Dealing with 12 Home Owners Associations has its challenging moments but I am proud of the neighborhoods where our folks are living. I’m proud that TFS has proven to be a good neighbor to others who live in our neighborhoods.
I was asked some years ago to write an article for a magazine titled Exceptional Parent. I titled the article “Change is the only Constant”. Nothing has proven over the years to better represent the operation of an organization like TFS. As our population ages we are attending more and more funerals and memorial services. The State of Tennessee has taken a turn away from supporting residential services for the severally disabled and turned its focus instead to providing in-home supports and encouragement for competitive employment. While many will likely benefit from this emphasis we continue to be concerned for that minority who will not. We who are currently in services are the fortunate ones. Please keep those who are on the outside looking in on your prayer lists.
Ralph
Congratulations to Fraizer Lemon for winning the Family Teacher of the Quarter Award for the 1st quarter! Fraizer has worked in the field for 27 years and spent the last 18 of those years with TFS. One of his favorite things working with adults with intellectual disabilities is teaching them new skills and watching them grow and seeing them smile every day. He shares some challenges he has had to overcome are patience, loyalty and trust.
Fraizer says he chose TFS because it is a family atmosphere. Working here is fun - meeting new people and clients and he enjoys what he does. "They say if you find something you enjoy, it will not feel like work."
Fraizer has two daughters; Taryn is 29, and Tiera is 24 and 3 sisters; Rhonda, Karen, Helen. His daughters treat the guys like family and every time they call or come in town, they want to see and hang out with the guys.
Congratulations to Shancey Martin for winning the Family Teacher of the Quarter Award for the 2nd quarter! We asked Shancey some questions and here are her responses:
I've worked in the field for 10 years. All of those with TFS. Some of my favorite things working with adults with ID/DD are going out in the community with the individuals, teaching the supportive living skills, and seeing the joy that the individuals bring to my face.
I have a passion for working with people who have special needs, and my friend had told me that TFS was hiring so, I had applied, and my journey started with TFS from there. I went from liking to loving working at TFS because I grew a relationship with my guys, their family, and my staff. TFS is a family orienting place to work, and I have endured some challenges working as a DST, however, the challenges that I endured helped me to become the FT that I am today.
Some of challenges that I have faced are the behaviors, and when my individual gets sick it was hard for me to watch. I want to thank Basiru, my wonderful manager, and I had two amazing FTs; Brittany, and Quiencey who taught me a lot of things, gave encouraging words, and believed in me.
When asked how her line of work personally impacted her children/family? My family and children are so proud of me. They have seen me grow in ways that I never could have imagined.
I am so thankful for my job, I enjoy working at TFS, and when you don't believe in yourself just keep going no matter what, and just give your best at everything that you do. Just like I tell my guys even on a bad day, we are winners!
We hope you enjoyed celebrating our Nation's Independence this year!
We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.
That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed,
That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government,
...laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness.
Prudence, indeed, will dictate that Governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes;
...and accordingly all experience hath shewn, that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable, than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed.
But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security.
May God Bless the United States of America
2 Chronicles 7:14
The herb peppermint, a natural cross between two types of mint (water mint and spearmint), grows throughout Europe and North America.
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Peppermint has been used for health purposes for several thousand years. Records from ancient Greece, Rome, and Egypt mention that it was used for digestive disorders and other conditions.
Today, peppermint is promoted for irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), other digestive problems, the common cold, sinus infections, headaches, and other conditions. Peppermint oil is promoted for topical use (applied to the skin) for problems like headache, muscle aches, joint pain, and itching. In aromatherapy, peppermint oil is promoted for treating coughs and colds, reducing pain, improving mental function, and reducing stress.
We love hearing from you! If you have any questions, feedback or general comments, please email: newsletter@nashvilletfs.org
Alisha Lea - Hub Nurse, Andrew Howard - TFM Associate Director ICF/Event Management Coordinator, Basiru Konta - Family Teacher/Staffing Coordinator, Brad Bellew - Maintenance, Brittany Johnson - Director of Programs/QA, Cassi Carpenter - Assistant Office Manager, Chandra Michon - TFM Consultant, Daniel Bellew - Maintenance, Jackie Scarlett - Service Coordinator, Jessica Brown - Hub Nurse, Joyce Gilton - Family Teacher/Staffing Coordinator, Julia Hall - Auditor, Kesley Shrum - HR Assistant, Lexi McLaughlin - Family Teacher/Staffing/Medical Coordinator, Lindsey Wisniewski - Hub Nurse, Lori Mills - Auditor, Madi Jones - RN Supervisor, Mercedes Taylor - Administrative Assistant, Michele Callahan - Office Manager, Naomi Suddarth - Human Resources Director, Quintin Perkins - TFM Associate Director SL, Ralph Kennedy - CEO, Rita Tate- QA Auditor, Sarah Napper - DON, Shelly Hall- Executive Director, Tameria Dale - QIDP, Tracy Kennedy - Admin. Assistant, Tracy Sonko - Lead Staffing Coordinator