After years of providing wonderful people-first services for Dwayne, Michael and Wesley, why now did this team achieve the coveted SPIN Team of the Quarter? Three little but important words: You never quit!

It is often said that in going through adversity we find our greatest strengths. It is also true that when we go through life’s challenges nothing helps more than having caring people around us.

The ace team of six men all bravely signed on to be deployed where their strengths and skills were needed for Ken. Each DSP brought their best to Ken;

The ace team of six men all bravely signed on to be deployed where their strengths and skills were needed for Ken. Each DSP brought their best to Ken;

Frank Margerum and Michelle Blackson wrote in their nominating letter, “It is sometimes said ‘If you want something done right, you have to do it yourself’.  We would like to permanently rewrite this motto to now read; ‘If you want something done right, ask the SPIN Residential Coordinators’.

The mighty, little team from Client Funds handles thousands of financial transactions each year to support the individuals in Residential Services across all of SPIN’s locations including SPIN Lehigh.

This team has been an inspiration to everyone in our SPIN Lehigh community and now in our entire community. Kim and Adam, your fellow employees look to you for guidance, leadership and ideas.

Through your excellent teamwork, the Program Specialists, are a highly effective and high performing team. Debbie identifies that there is no negativity in this team as you face every challenge with a “we can do it” positive attitude.

The Children’s Services Management team wrote in their nomination letter about this team that, “Their willingness to take on new challenges and work with each other to problem solve and complete tasks while facing timelines is amazing.

When we think of what it takes to be a great, committed team that achieves excellent results, the word BRAVE comes to mind.

It takes a lot of skill to get nine children in one circle, singing the same song and fully attentive in the planned activity – yet you accomplish this masterfully and lovingly.  Little do the children know as you expertly engage them that they are working on language skills, taking turns, increasing attention span and learning to connect with the other children and adults in the classroom – all powerfully important skills to develop.  Your deep understanding of each child, excellent organizational and communication skills and the early intervention services needed virtually guarantees each child will grow and develop.

No, we are not having a déjà vu moment! This is actually the second time that the Real Property team has won the Team of the Quarter and the first time this has ever happened in the seven years that we have recognized our high performing teams. Given the many excellent teams we have at SPIN, this is an amazing accomplishment. But somehow I’m not really surprised because when I think about this team and all that they do to support our services to have safe, comfortable and healthy environments, it is no wonder we stand in awe and choose to recognize you.

Over the past year the Barry Street CLA team has delivered the deepest level of people first services to the residents of the Barry Street home. Last winter when your beloved, Ron became ill, this team wrapped their love and devotion around him and supported him like the most loving  family would through his illness, hospitalization, in-home hospice care and ultimately through his death. When there was a question as to whether Ron would go into a hospice placement or return to Barry St. for hospice, this team advocated strongly for his return home. You did this fully knowing it would be much more work for you. You acted out of love for Ron, not out of concern for your workload. This is a true people-first team. When the hospice nurse told the Tyree and Terrell that Ron was passing, his death was a beautiful transition to his next life as those present gathered around him. They held Ron together in their arms and recited a Jewish prayer led by our Executive Director, Judy and gently helped Ron pass away peacefully.

Professionalism is so imperative when circumstances are challenging.  This Team experienced a series of tragic incidents and dealt with it with utmost strength, professionalism and commitment.
As Frank Margerum wrote in his nomination letter, “The dedication to people first supports, the glowing examples of performance excellence, the demonstration of impeccable professionalism, and no decline in productivity, even through all the adversity of this past year, is why I am honored to nominate the WELSH TEAM for team of the quarter.”

Employment opens doors to the possibilities in life; it is the gateway to our lifestyle, our friends, our conversations, our productivity, and our self-esteem. 

Eileen, Minerva and Jill are three very lucky women!  They have a dynamic team of “whatever it takes” Direct Support Professionals putting them first in every decision and action they take.  

In the three or more years leading up to prospective payment system billing for ODP services, I, Rich and other SPIN leaders attended meetings at county and state government designed to prepare providers for what would be needed to transition from program funded to payment for services rendered. 

The difference in what is occurring in the Erwin home from what was to what is, can be felt and experienced from the moment the Erwin door opens. The Erwin team has created a sense of comfort and ease within the home that really has never before existed.

What does it take to launch and execute a fantastically successful new charitable event for SPIN?  It takes expert organizers and planners, energized self-starters, talented networkers and a dynamic team who works together toward a common goal and never quits…in other words, it takes the fabulous Team of HR Confidential Staff! 

Dear Knorr Street Team,

There are challenges and then there are challenges. What this incredible team has done and continues to do each day is to take on what is universally regarded as life's greatest challenge, that of supporting a family and raising children. Lesser people and teams would flee to safer, simpler ground, not these amazing people tied by a bond of a higher purpose - a life of possibilities for six lives and one family.

Dear Loan, Jimena, and Vivian,

"Come along inside…and we'll see if tea and buns can make the world a better place. " 
-Kenneth Grahame

I don't know if you ever serve up tea and buns, but I do know that what you do every day in the Frankford kitchen is amazing and makes the world a better place for many children and their families.

Every day you make and serve breakfast for over 200 children. At lunchtime you quiet the hunger pangs of some 450 children in two locations

Dear B.E.S.T.Team,

In her nomination letter, Karen Smith referred to you as "fun loving, hard working, intelligent and outside the box thinkers". I've had the pleasure recently of observing some of you in action in the classrooms where you support the children on your caseload. I whole heartedly agree with her!

Despite the challenges and growing pains of moving from a pilot project to a fully funded program, your commitment to the children and their families have helped you remove barriers, overcome obstacles and develop a "state of the art" program to support the educational process of children with Autism