MCH Staff Mentor Professionals in TBRI
Four Methodist Children’s Home staff members have teamed up with Texas Christian University’s Institute of Child Development to train others around the world in Trust-Based Relational Intervention (TBRI). John Warren, Lee Davis, Ian Bracken and Clarence DeGrate have all traveled to Fort Worth and Austin to serve as mentors during the Institute’s TBRI practitioner training.
TCU approached our staff to see if they were interested in helping out during the week-long sessions. These trainings typically occur four times a year. Sarah Mercado, training specialist with the Institute, said mentors have become an integral part of their TBRI practitioner training. They lead small groups in roleplay activities as well as breakout groups to learn about sensory integration, nurture groups, life skills and mindfulness.
“They are remarkable at developing relationships and building trust to make participants comfortable and able to learn,” Mercado said. “The mentor also serves as a wonderful support for our staff. Whether they are roaming the room with a microphone to aid in audience participation, leading sensory breaks, helping carry heavy boxes or lending a hand wherever asked, they have become an invaluable part of our training.”
Warren, director of training at MCH, said he plans to serve as a mentor again this spring and enjoys being able to share TBRI with others.
“We love doing it,” he said. “It is great to be up there. It energizes us and helps give us ideas. It is good to connect and see what others around the world are doing and stay connected with the people at TCU.”
People attending the training are from various professional fields including other childcare agencies, occupational therapists, medical doctors, therapists, and educators. Lee Davis, youth care counselor supervisor at MCH, has attended three trainings as a mentor so far and also plans to return in the spring.
“I am very happy to be able to share and to hopefully have a greater impact on the lives of kids and their caregivers,” Davis said. “Without exception, the people that I have mentored have been highly motivated and dedicated to helping children heal.”
MCH Students Surprised During Field Trip to McLane Stadium
Some special visitors joined a group of Methodist Children’s Home charter school students during a tour of McLane Stadium, home to the Baylor Bears football team. On March 1, five Baylor players surprised the middle schoolers and helped give them a field trip they will not soon forget.
The group of students were from Mr. Zachary Byrd’s Core class. Byrd, the middle school social studies teacher at the charter school, said one of his objectives in his class is to teach the children leadership and positive peer interaction.
“A lot of my kids in the class are big sports fans,” Byrd said. “I wanted them to have the opportunity to interact with some of their heroes and see the stadium. I emphasize to the kids that there are a lot of jobs involved with sports and you don’t have to be a great athlete to have a career in sports or athletics. I think them seeing the stadium showed them some of the career opportunities involving athletics.”
Byrd coordinated with Baylor athletics to surprise the students. At the beginning of the tour five players, Wyatt Schrepfer (running back), Josh Malin (tight end), Will Jones (defensive tackle, pictured at left with MCH student Quentrell), Clint Kelly (long snapper), and Chris Lutzel (long snapper) along with Associate Director of Football Operations Ryan Kelly filed into the stadium.
During the tour, the group was taken through the press box, president’s suite, recruit lounge, postgame interview room, locker room and football field. The players spent their time talking with the students, signed autographs, and even tossed around the football and kicked field goals with the students on the field.
“Seeing the kids interact with the players absolutely made my day,” Byrd said. “Their positive interaction with them was amazing. The kids’ smiles and comments afterward were awesome.”
MCH Invests in Administrative Professionals
Administrative professionals are often the first point of contact in an office. As an essential support element of a workgroup, their work is important to keep a team operating like a well-oiled machine. To support and encourage this group of individuals, Methodist Children’s Home (MCH) recently held the Administrative Professionals Conference (APC), gathering together for the first time administrative personnel from all MCH offices.
According to John Warren, director of training at MCH, the APC was an important part of an organization-wide strategic plan to strengthen employees.
“Since 2009, the agency’s commitment to employee professional growth across all departments and programs has increased as a result of the strategic plan,” Warren said. “The APC is an important part of this commitment that came out of the implementation of the agency-wide training plan. The APC, in particular, was the result of an intentional emphasis on a group of employees who work in many different departments, but utilize a similar skillset.”
Attendees included administrative professionals from the Waco campus, Boys Ranch and the MCH Family Outreach offices located throughout Texas and New Mexico. During the two-day conference they heard from various MCH leaders on topics such as the MCH legacy of ministry, building a culture of community and connection, and supporting the MCH mission. They also toured the Boys Ranch and new Daniels Home and received training from MCH’s training staff. Sarah Aynesworth, a professional etiquette consultant, delivered an interactive keynote address on professional and social interaction and conversation.
Jean Wright, MCH staff trainer, explained that the title of the conference, “The Connected Community,” was “to remind us of the importance of staying connected so that we can continue to strengthen our community even while we work in different cities and areas of the agency every day.”
“I think all of us can forget the scope of our programs and services at times,” Wright said. “We each play a different role, but we all contribute to the legacy and mission of MCH and are all connected to the accomplishments and developments taking place.”
Genie Greer, administrative assistant in the MCH Family Outreach office in Lubbock, has been with MCH for nearly 15 years. She said the APC was a good time of encouragement and validation for her and her peers in similar positions.
“MCH has always been good to accept that the position of administrative professional, with all its different titles throughout the years, is important,” she said. “Coming from a managerial background, I know that is not always the case. Organization, flexibility, problem-solving, reliability, and sociability are not always attributes one finds within the same person. It is good to be recognized as one of the persons using these skills on a daily basis.
“MCH administration validated our position’s importance with this conference,” she added.
McLennan County Junior Livestock Show 2017
Methodist Children’s Home (MCH) FFA students had a record year at the 2017 McLennan County Junior Livestock Show with five animals making it into the sale. The Ag Mechanics team consisting of 17 students also won second place in sweepstakes.
The FFA chapter is part of the charter school at MCH operated in partnership with the University of Texas–University Charter School system. Every year, students in the agriculture classes learn to care for livestock and show them at local events. This year MCH had 23 students compete in the McLennan County show. Here are the results:
Steers: Nick – 4th (sale), Galen – 5th (sale), Josh – 6th, Kel – 8th; also participated – Jacob
Swine: Julio – 5th (sale), Noah – 6th (sale); also participated – Chris, Lester, Danny, Yacci, Alex
Goats: Selena – 2nd (sale); also participated – Edwina, Ladarius, Tameka
Sheep: Marisa – 3rd, Iona – 4th, Jaylen – 2nd; also participated – KK, Rainn, Akia, Gail
Ag Mechanics Show:
Gates (Lester and Jacob) – 3rd, Wooden salt feeder (KK, Akia, Selena) – 2nd, Headache rack (Alex) – 1st, Towable barbeque (Nick, Galen, Josh) – 2nd, Cedar coffee table (Danny) – 2nd, Cedar chest (Marisa) – 1st, Cedar table (Ag classes) – 2nd, Quail house (Rainn, Jaylen, Tameka) – 2nd, also entered – BBQ (Galen) and Fire pit (Noah, Kel); Shop light (Galen) – 1st and Reserve Division Champion, Turtle trap (Nick, Galen, Kel) – 2nd and Reserve Division Champion, Indoor lamp (KK, Akia, Selena) – 1st and Division Champion; Team received Second in Sweepstakes
Congratulations to all our students on their hard work, and a special thanks to our AG Boosters!
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