Please join us! Eiros Group is excited to host our next presentation for our customers, staff and Support Coordinators featuring Blue Light Music Programs!
To join our online sessions, please email us to request a zoom link. Info@Eiros-Group.com
May 2024 News from Eiros Group
“Flowers don't worry about how they're going to bloom. They just open up and turn toward the light and that makes them beautiful."
Quote by Jim Carrey
Join us for this upcoming presentation from Blue Light Music Programs!
May 13 @ 1:30 pm: Blue Light Music Program. During this presentation, Blue Light Music presents their program where music and learning unite in an inclusive and supportive environment. The Blue Light Music Program is centered around the needs and interests of each student, equips individuals with the skills they need to express their creativity and bring their musical vision to life.
To join our online sessions, please email us to request a zoom link. **Please specify which sessions you wish to attend** Info@Eiros-Group.com!
Calling All
Direct Support Professionals!
Join us!
May 16th & June 12th
- Have you been working as a DSP for a while now, or are you new to this field?
- Do you have questions about how to do things better or need support to improve the life of someone you support?
- Do you feel isolated from other professionals and want to connect with other folks who care about the work and the people they support?
These are just a couple of reasons we are developing a DSP peer support group and we encourage everyone to attend. There are 2 in-person opportunities to connect (listed below) and we are working on a virtual option as well.
Attendance at these meetings are paid, professional development. Sheldon Schwitek, Director of People and Culture at Eiros group will help to facilitate the meetings initially, but DSP’s will develop the agenda and decide what they wish to focus on.
We will be hosting 2 opportunities to meet in person in May and June, for those who would like to learn more and begin meeting with each other.
May 16, 1:30-4pm, Boxwood Coffee, 17 Beechwood Rd. Summit NJ, 07901
June 12, 1-4pm, Turtle Beans Coffee, 225 Farnsworth Ave. Bordentown, NJ, 08505
Please reach out to Sheldon Schwitek, Director of People & Culture, if you have further questions or wish to participate, but cannot make the in-person dates. SheldonS@eiros-group.com or 268-330-2305
We hope you will take the opportunity to connect and support each other in making Eiros Group a great place to work.
What Defines Success? Purpose? Goals? Happiness?
For Elizabeth, success lies in the significant milestones she is embarking on as she moves forward with a new chapter in her life.
When I first met Elizabeth and we discussed her interests and goals in life, she was fierce in her explanation of her dreams to become employed, earn her own money, and move into her own apartment. This became the driving force to concentrate on person-centered planning and assist Elizabeth in finding those resources, services and supports so she can work and live in the community.
With the coordinated efforts of her Support Broker, Support Coordinator, the team at the Division of Vocational Rehabilitation Services (DVRS), and the employment specialist at St. John of God, Elizabeth has begun her journey and is currently working towards discovering her talents, interests, and the best job that suits her skills.
Elizabeth, your success is working towards your goals and dreams and we all are wishing you love and happiness as you continue your journey.
Jean Marie Hanna
Support Broker
Do you have a question about how support brokerage can help you, someone you know or a loved one in self-directing? Send your questions to jennb@eiros-group.com and Jenn will answer them!
FEELING FEARFUL…FEELING SAFE
“In the list that follows, compare how a person whom you serve struggles with fear and is distanced from a feeling of being safe. Reflect on the subtle interactions that the person expresses that show “I am safe with you” but always remember that we are not blaming ourselves. Yet, we need to gain insight into the fear that envelops those we serve. Look at each factor in the list and check those that apply. If fearful outweighs safe, then we know how important it is to teach the person a feeling of, “With us, you are safe!” Decide what major areas indicate fear. But, beware! We are not interested in focusing on behavior. They are only signs of a deeper anguish that is driven by deep fear and meaninglessness. Our full focus will be on dealing with fear. For now, get a sense of the fear that pervades the people we serve.
Some ways we can tell the person is fearful and unsafe are… running away, crying, expressionless, sad appearance, lashing out, poor sleep, complaining, isolating, cursing…
Some ways we can tell the person is safe and secure are… participates, joyful, relaxed, content appearance, respecting others, well rested, shares, interested in hobbies and others.
This initial analysis is a critical step for us since we often think that we do nothing to produce fear. We feel that the person is really “pretty happy.” Indeed, this may generally be the case. Yet, we have to look more closely. We might think that we do not do anything directly to cause fear. We might see the person as simply manipulative or seeking attention. We have to probe more deeply.
Our purpose is different. We choose not to control people. We choose to help them liberate themselves from fear and meaninglessness. We are not satisfied with, “Leave well enough alone!” We have to concern ourselves with the community of people whom we serve and teach all to live together. At school, home, work, or play, our task is to teach marginalized children and
adults to feel safe with us and loved by us.”
John McGee
“Mending Broken Hearts: Companionship and Community”
We are all guilty of it... brb, fwiw, btw, lol... condensing words into acronyms. Sometimes they're a great way to get a point across, or describe a topic. However, there are times that acronyms point to specific terms or programs or services and in the DDD world, we are especially guilty of this! In realizing that not everyone in our world will know what we are referring to, we thought we would dial it back a few steps and create an Acronyms List to help decipher some of those abbreviated terms you may hear. If you have any others you know that you would like to contribute to our growing list, please send us an email! Info@eiros-group.com. The list is here -->
Keeping Mom in Our Hearts and At Our Table
My mom was a fantastic nurse, mom, nurturer, and a forward-thinking woman who people gravitated to with her happy smile and easy-going nature.
Unfortunately, she was not a very good cook!
However, what she did spend time perfecting was her spaghetti sauce (do not call it gravy or she will haunt you lol) in which she prepared, simmered, and served her family once a month for Sunday dinner.
Mom has been gone for 20+ years; however, her spaghetti sauce lives on at many family gatherings. As an example, our Thanksgiving and Christmas meals offer the typical turkey and ham along with all the trimmings with a pot of Mom’s spaghetti sauce, kept warm on the stove, with a variety of pasta.
Just like her to offer choices.
People who joined us for a holiday meal had the choice to either add it to their plate or take it home.
The spaghetti sauce my mom lovingly cooked with care, while I was growing up, has continued to grace our family meals long after she has moved on.
Please enjoy my Mom’s recipe.
Mom’s Spaghetti Sauce:
Ingredients:
1 ½ pounds bacon
2 large cans of tomato puree (28-30 oz size)
1 can of tomato paste (6oz)
1 can of tomato paste (18 oz)
5 cloves of garlic (mom was always generous with her garlic and added more to taste)
2 small green peppers cut into quarters (remove seeds and stems)
1 medium onion
Spices:
Measure all spices and keep to the side for stage 5
½ teaspoon salt
1 to 2 tablespoons sugar
2 to 4 shakes of pepper
2 to 4 shakes of crushed red pepper
Stage 1:
Put in all tomato puree and paste into pot
Add (1) 28 to 30oz can of water (hint: use the puree can)
Add (1) 6oz can of water (hint: use the paste can)
Low simmer for (2) hours and stir/mix at regular intervals.
Stage 2:
About 1 to 1 ½ hours into cooking add green pepper quarters
Stage 3:
Dice the 1 ½ lbs of bacon
Lightly brown bacon pieces on medium heat
Remove bacon pieces with a slotted spoon and put in bowl
~ Leave some bacon grease in the pan ~
Stage 4:
Dice onion and cook in bacon grease until the onion is clear
Stage 5:
Once the low simmer of (2) hours is complete (stage 1) add to the sauce:
Onion, Bacon, Spices
Continue to slow simmer, stir/mix at regular intervals for (3) hours.
Enjoy!
We are growing! We have a number of open positions throughout New Jersey. Want to learn more? Click here and apply today!
Are you, or someone you know looking for either a way to bring more meaning to their career, or a to join a growing and dynamic group of caring professionals? Then you will want to visit our Work With Us page on our website! It is updated regularly, and because we are growing, we have a number of open open positions throughout New Jersey!. Want to learn more? Click here and apply today!
We want to wish all of our Moms a very Happy Mother's Day!
That's A Wrap For The
2024 Spring Transition Fair!
Over the past several months, our Support Brokers and Admin Staff have been attending numerous Transition Fairs throughout New Jersey and we just want to thank all of them for their time and greatness!
If your child is 16-21 and has not yet begun the planning process for Adult Services (ISP), please contact us so that we can connect you with those who can help plan for your future.
Eiros Group Attends Charting the Life Course in Kansas City!
Back in 2022, I attended Charting the Life Course by myself on behalf of Eiros Group. This was my first time attending a conference as a professional, and I was a little nervous. Fortunate for me all of the attendees were very kind and welcomed me with open arms.
Fast forward 2 years and we came to this year’s Showcase in force! We had a team of 10 Eiros Group Employees ready to learn more about what CtLC has to offer and additional perspectives on how the tools can be used.
Sherry Cameron, Emily Blohm, and myself gave a presentation with our friends from Values Into Action Pennsylvania on “Self-Directed Lives (Not Services)” to talk about some of the ways that we have used CtLC tools in our work.
I was also honored with CtLC’s Champion Award! This has been an amazing experience. I would like to thank our Supports Brokerage Team and the people that we support for the wonderful work that they are doing everyday.
Here at Eiros Group we look forward to continuing to use their tools for helping the people that we support build their best lives.
Please take a look at their LifeCourse Library to start exploring! https://www.lifecoursetools.com/
Kristen Mathews
Director of Supports Brokerage
Peter Leidy Visits Eiros Group
by Sheldon Schwitek, Director of People & Culture
We were so grateful to be able to host Peter Leidy in April. Peter has decades of experience supporting people and their caregivers and brough plenty of stories and suggestions on how we can all improve the kind of support we offer to others.
Peter’s friendly presentation style and the addition of his own guitar playing and song writing related to the work we do, was enjoyed by all who attended.
One of the techniques that he offered was something he called “Yes, and…” The idea is that when we are generating ideas or offering options to people, we start any of your suggestions with the phrase, “Yes, and..” so if we were talking about things that we might want to take to the beach it might sound something like this:
I think we should take a blanket with us.
Yes and, I think we should have a picnic.
Yes and, I wonder if we want to bring root beer.
Yes and…
You get the idea. The point being that there are no wrong suggestions, and we don’t want to shut down or discount anyone else’s idea. Sorting out the details can happen after we have generated all the ideas.
We hope that Peter will return soon to share his message of hope and belonging soon.
Upcoming events throughout NJ
Below are upcoming fun things to do throughout New Jersey! If you are hosting a similar type of event, and would like it included in our newsletter, please send to info@Eiros-Group.com
*Please allow 2 weeks or more advance notice. Thanks!
NORTH JERSEY:
Branchburg Food Truck and Music Festival
May 11: 11am-7pm
Food Trucks
May 11-12
Livingston Kiwanis Karnival
May 14-18
NJ Mineral, Fossil Gem, and Jewelry Show
May 15-19
Spheres Bubble Show
May 17: 7:30pm
Woodbridge Street Fair and Craft Show
May 18: 11am-5pm
Lake Hopatcong Block Party
May 18: 10am-4pm
Beer BBQ and Bacon
May 18: 1pm-5pm
Glen Ridge Arts and Eco Fair
May 18: 10am-4pm
International Day and Maifest
May 18: 12pm-5pm
Special Needs Resource Fair and Family Fun Day
May 18: 11am-1pm
Spring Arts and Music Festival
May 19: 11am-6pm
Kenilworth Street Fair and Classic Cars
May 19: 10am-4pm
Great Swamp Great Music Festival
May 19: 12pm-6:30pm
Flemington Summer Book Fest
May24-27: 10am-6pm
Cedar Lane Family Festival
May 27: 10am-6pm
Pride Fest in the Park
June 1: 12pm-6pm
Rutherford’s Pridefest
June 1: 12pm-4pm
AAPI Food and Music Festival
May 4: 12pm-4pm
Creative Arts Festival
May 11: 10am-4pm
Azalea Festival
May 11: 10am-4pm
Red Bank Record Riot
May 11: 10am-5pm
Asbury Park Spring Bazaar
May 11 and 12: 12pm-5pm
World Food Extravaganza
May 18-19: 11am-7pm
Brews by the Bay
May 11
Commission for the Disabled Meeting
May 15: 7pm-10pm
Ocean Township School District Spring Transition Fair
May 15: 3pm-5pm
2024 Asbury Park Vegan Food Festival
May 18 and 19: 11am-5pm
Denville Garlic Fest
May 19
Jewish American Heritage Festival
May 19: 1-4pm
Mayfest
May 19: 11am-5pm
Touch Mother Earth’s Best Fest
May 24-27
Keyport Food Truck & Music FEASTival
May 25: 11am-8pm
Jersey Shore Food Truck Festival
May 25-27: 12pm-4pm
Jersey City Jazz Festival
May 29-June 2
Jersey Shore Greek Festival
May 31- June 2
Spring Open House & Craft Fair
June 1-2: 9am-4pm
Lebanese Festival
June7-9
Bayonne Annual Hometown Fair
June 8-9
SOUTH NEW JERSEY:
Wildwood Spring Fling Fest
May 11: 11am-7pm
Ventnor City Block Party
May 11: 10am-5pm
Medford Day at Kirby’s Mill
May 11: 12pm-4pm
Mullica Hill Arts and Craft Festival
May 11: 10am-5pm
St. Mary’s of the Lakes Carnival
May 13-18
Cape May Spring Festival
May 16-19
Spring: Dragon Flight Night Market
May 17: 7pm-11pm
Red Bull Beach Scramble
May 18: 9am-5pm
Steel Mill Street Fair
May 18: 10am-5pm
Maple Shade Beer Fest
May 18
Stella Farms Strawberry Festival
May 18: 9am-4pm
Mayfest
May 18-19: 10am-5pm
Coast Guard Community Festival
May 18: 10am-4pm
Family History Day
May 19: 12pm-4pm
Renaissance Faire
May 18-19 and 25-26: 10am-6pm
Wildwoods International Kite Festival
May 24: 7am-9pm
Collingswood May Fair
May 25: 10am-5pm
Adventure Fest at Historic Smithville Village
May 25-26: 1pm-5pm
Wildwood Food Truck & Music FEASTival
May 26: 12pm
Memorial Day Ceremony
May 26: 1pm-3pm
Haddon Square Summer Market
May 31: 5pm-9pm
If you are hosting a similar type of event, and would like it included in our newsletter, please send to info@Eiros-Group.com
*Please allow 2 weeks or more advance notice. Thanks! Please note, we are relaying information found on other websites or through other organizations, and doing so as a service. Please confirm event details and information directly.
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Oh What A Night! Eiros Group Celebrated 5 Years!
Eiros Group Celebrates 5 Years of Providing Services for People in New Jersey!
"Love has nothing to do with what you are expecting to get - only with what you are expecting to give - which is everything."
"The year's first month is like a blank canvas. Let your actions be the brushstrokes that create your masterpiece."
"A little smile, a word of cheer, a bit of love from someone near. A little gift from one held dear. Best wishes for the coming year. These make a merry Christmas!"
"Peering from some high window, at the gold of November sunset and feeling that if day has to become night, this is a beautiful way."
"October is the month of painted leaves. Their rich glow now flashes round the world. As fruits and leaves and the day itself acquire a bright tint just before they fall, so the year near its setting. October is its sunset sky; November the later twilight."
"September's Baccalaureate A combination is Of Crickets – Crows – and Retrospects And a dissembling Breeze That hints without assuming – An Innuendo sear That makes the Heart put up its Fun And turn Philosopher"
"Remember to be gentle with yourself and others. We are all children of chance, and none can say why some fields will blossom while others lay brown beneath the August sun."
"If I had my way, I’d remove January from the calendar altogether and have an extra July instead."
