Hopewell Therapeutic Farm Community

🍃 🧠 Exploring Mental Health 🧠 🍃 Over 70 people joined Hopewell for the 13th annual David Cutler Conservatory Exploring Mental Health event on October 30 at the Chagrin Valley Hunt Club. We thank speaker Dr. David Victorson (pictured here with Colleen Welder, Acting Executive Director, and David Vincent, DC, Board Chair), who explored how spending time in nature has significant benefits for physical and mental health. Dr. Victorson is a health psychologist, Professor of Medical Social Sciences, and Director of the Flourishing in Society and Health research lab at Northwestern University’s Feinberg School of Medicine. Some of his research reveals that: · When people spend time in parks and back yards, benefits include decreased anxiety, improved ability to focus and concentrate, and better sleep. · Just 2 hours of nature exposure a week can provide these benefits. · Making nature part of a healthy lifestyle is easier when new habits are F.I.R.E.: fun, interesting, reasonable, and easy. · Positive experiences in nature can lead to becoming more environmentally conscious even in small ways, such as turning off lights when not in use and recycling. · There is a need to address underserved populations and ensure access to parks and pleasant green space in economically stressed areas. We thank Alexander M. (Sandy) and Sally Cutler for their ongoing support of Exploring Mental Health programs.

✨ Meet a Hopewell Team Member Monday ✨ If we were to list everything that Environmental Care Manager Celeste Hein does in a week, we might be here for a while! From morning medication pass and waking up residents, prompting residents to get involved in programs, running the morning staff meeting, supervising the housekeeping work crew, taking residents on errands and to the doctor, and more, Celeste is ready to interact with and support residents any time of day. She also runs the Movement Group, a fun physical activity program that gets residents moving with dance, ping pong, frisbee, and other physical games, and the Book Group, where residents read books together.   Celeste does it all with a warm and welcoming demeanor. She said, “The best days are when residents laugh and when I see their progress during their stay. When they leave, we realize that we’ve done our part so they can go out in the world with more confidence.”   On her days off, Celeste especially enjoys her time with her grandchildren and she enjoys accompanying her husband Jim to his music jobs. She is currently planning an annual family trip to a beach resort next summer.   Thanks, Celeste, for all you do!

🎃 Halloween at Hopewell 🎃 The annual Hopewell Halloween Party was an absolute success with 25 residents and many staff in costume having a blast together. Celebrity attendees included Elton John, Stevie Nicks, John Lennon, the Dixie Chicks, David Bowie, Sinead O’Connor, Freddie Mercury, and Daria and Jane cartoon characters. Residents joined in as a clown, witches, “Scream,” a cottage core anime cat, peanut butter and jelly, and a couple of space cowboys. Staff dogs and some family members added to the fun. The party featured rounds of karaoke as everyone sang and danced. Games such as spooky bowling were a big hit. The Kitchen staff provided delicious treats including apple cider hand pressed from Hopewell apples and handmade pumpkin dip. We thank the Staff Appreciation Committee for creating the “best Halloween ever!” One of the primary healing factors at Hopewell is being engaged in the community. Yesterday was an excellent embodiment of staff and residents coming together for a fun afternoon.

✨ Meet a Hopewell Team Member Monday ✨ Meet Annie Melinz, October’s employee of the month, who has been a clinician at Hopewell since November, 2022. She holds a master’s degree in clinical mental health counseling and is a licensed professional counselor specializing in trauma-informed approaches.    Her favorite things about working at Hopewell are the staff and the beautiful property, especially in the fall. She loves horses and has been working with Colleen Welder (acting executive director) in the weekly equine therapy group. Annie usually heads up resident super trips, helps with holiday events is part of the Staff Appreciation Team.   Annie loves hiking and trail riding with her husband, Mike. They have hiked on Camelback Mountain and Squaw Peak in Arizona, and recently returned from their honeymoon in Switzerland, where they hiked on Mount Pilatus. She also enjoys spending time with Charlie Brown, her sweet little dog who she brings to the farm.   When asked about a “great day” experience, Annie said, “A great day is any day that I get to lead the 2 o’clock walk with residents and staff. We talk about light, fun topics and it’s a casual bonding time. It’s also a great day when a resident makes a breakthrough. I am so happy to see people progressing.”   Thank you for everything you do, Annie!

🕺 Movement Group 💃 Celeste Hein, Environment of Care Manager, encourages residents to get involved in exercise and moving their bodies by joining the Movement Group. They usually meet in the Richard Swadey Community Center for hula hooping, basketball, indoor walks, or dancing. This week they decided to put their movement to good seasonal use by raking leaves that covered the patio. Five residents the three staff tag-teamed raking, blowing, and bagging leaves, having fun jumping around and throwing them up in the air. Andy Hunt and Navada Smith from maintenance/farm team transported the bags to the garden for Garden and Landscape Manager Kelly Flynn to use in compost. Yippee for fall!

Wow!

Courage to Caregivers is hosting its fifth annual Caring for the Caregivers Virtual Summit on Tuesday, November 12, Wednesday, November 13, and Thursday, November 14 from 11 am to 2:30 pm ET daily in honor of National Family Caregivers Month. Register via Zoom - link in bio! This year’s theme is Navigating the Journey of Caring with presentations and workshops focused on education, support, and empowerment for those who care. The Virtual Summit is free for unpaid family caregivers and professional caregivers. You are welcome to attend one or both days. 9 free CEUs are available for social workers, counselors, behavioral health professionals, and certified peer supporters (3 CEU credits available per day). Caring for the Caregivers Virtual Summit on Tuesday, November 12, Wednesday, November 13, and Thursday, November 14 from 11 am to 2:30 pm ET daily in honor of National Family Caregivers Month. Register via Zoom - link in bio!We're highlighting our presenters as we lead up to the Summit! Tuesday, November 12 from 11 am to 12 pm ET: “Using Art Therapy to Cope and Manage Stress and Grief During Caregiving” with Misty Ramos-Saviano, ATR, LPCC-S, CIT, ACTP @palsforhealing In this experiential presentation, you will engage in ways to cope and manage stress with art therapy. These practical therapeutic art activities will be quick, so you can fit them into your caregiving schedules and not require expensive art materials or previous art experience. #NFCMonth #NationalFamilyCaregiversMonth #Caregivers #Caregiving #FamilyCaregiving #caregiver #caregiversupport #mentalwellbeing #mentalwellness #courage #hope #support #empowerment #selfcare #breathe #breathingmeditation #stressrelief #stressmanagement #burnoutprevention #personalgrowth #personalgrowthjourney #tenacity #learntosayno #noisacompletesentence @followers

✨ Meet a Hopewell Team Member Monday ✨ Meet intrepid traveler Heidi Moser, LPC, a clinician whose circuitous journey led her to Hopewell in February, 2024. She provides individual psychotherapy, co-facilitates a Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) group, 12-step informed recovery group, and Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP) groups for people with Obsessive Compulsive Disorder.   After 18 years as a veterinary technician working in a diagnostic laboratory, Heidi’s path made a left turn as she returned to school to earn her Master of Science in Education in Clinical Mental Health Counseling in 2021. She worked in a private practice before joining the Hopewell team.   Heidi has always carved out time to travel, looking for beautiful landscapes, nature, and adventures both at home and abroad. She often adventures solo, and counts trips to Iceland, the UK, and Italy among her favorites. One of her travel bucket list items is to walk the 186-mile long Pembrokeshire coastal pathway in Wales. When not planning a trip, you can find her kayaking in the Mahoning River and playing with her two corgis.   Thank you, Heidi, for everything you do!

👥 Hopewell Networking 👥 On October 15, Hopewell hosted and co-sponsored a speed networking event in Pittsburgh with Newport Healthcare and The Renfrew Center. Each attendee met for one minute with a partner to introduce themselves and talk about their programs and moved on after the minute was up. Participants rotated through the group until everyone had met each other, then socialized afterwards. Professionals from the mental health and addiction fields, private practices, and hospital employees had a great time making new connections and sharing resources.    Representatives from several organizations joined Hopewell clinicians for Brunch and Bouquets on October 16, when attendees shared their programs with our team. Food Service Manager and Wellness Educator Jennifer Miller and the kitchen staff whipped up a delicious lunch and Garden and Landscape Manager Kelly Flynn and the gardening crew provided flowers for attendees to make take-home bouquets. Regional Outreach Manager Rachel McDonald organized the event and led a campus tour afterwards for our guests.

Welcome Jim Koutrodimos to the Hopewell Board of Directors! As a vice president and a relationship strategist at PNC Bank, Jim coordinates a team to assist clients and their families in pursuing the peace of mind that comes from knowing that the important aspects of their financial life are thoughtfully orchestrated. Helping families achieve goals and aspirations is his primary focus. Jim has the knowledge, experience and desire to help bring about successful outcomes as a trusted advisor. Prior to joining PNC Bank, Jim's experience included working in the areas of estate and trust planning, corporate legal matters, and ERISA/employee benefits plan, design and tax issues. Jim has published articles in Oil and Gas Quarterly and Taxation for Accountants. Jim graduated with a Bachelor of Business Administration from Farmer School of Business at Miami University, Ohio, with a Master of Taxation from University of Akron’s College of Business Administration, and with a Juris Doctor from The University of Akron.