Photo caption: Tara Rhodes (left), Vice President of Operations for SSM Health St. Agnes Hospital, Ripon Community Hospital and Waupun Memorial Hospital, presents a $10,000 donation to The Arc Fond du Lac representatives, including (left to right) Dawn Scannell
Executive Director, and Grant Monroe, Director of Development.
SSM Health is giving $10,000 to The Arc Fond du Lac to help introduce a 12-month health and wellness program for its more than 70 direct support professionals who support individuals with disabilities to participate in their communities, including employment. “Direct support professionals deeply care for those they are serving and their role can be emotionally taxing,” according to Dawn Scannell, The Arc Fond du Lac executive director. “They navigate the harsh realities people face living with disabilities, as well as the social stigmas surrounding them. They face the risk of having their own psychological well-being impacted.” The wellness program will focus on burnout, compassion fatigue, personal finances, stress, time management, resilience, mental health, work-life balance, and physical health. Training classes will provide direct support professionals with resources for mental and physical health information, create monthly wellness challenges, and hold quarterly wellness meetings to discuss progress and offer other support and encouragement.
The Arc Fond du Lac is a human service organization that empowers adults and youth with intellectual and developmental disabilities to become independent and integrated into the community through advocacy, education, training, and support. The Arc Fond du Lac provides services to more than 250 individuals and families each year in Fond du Lac, Dodge, and Winnebago counties. Participants ranging in age from five years to end of life. “We know that managing your own mental health not only benefits you, but also benefits you as a caregiver,” says Tara Rhodes, SSM Health vice president of Operations for St. Agnes Hospital, Ripon Community Hospital and Waupun Memorial Hospital and The Arc Fond du Lac board member. “When you are healthy mentally, physically, and emotionally you can be the best caregiver possible and put all your energy into helping others.” To learn more, call The Arc Fond du Lac at 920-923-3810 or visit arcfdl.org. In 2023, SSM Health Greater Fond du Lac’s community benefit ministry totaled more than $630,000 across the communities it serves. This investment helps ensure access to health care for patients who are uninsured or underinsured, train the next generation of health professionals to care for those in need, and fund programs to address the most pressing health needs of our communities.
