Going the Extra Mile For Movement and Mental Health

DIRECTOR’S CORNER
Stepping Into Spring: Going the Extra Mile Together

Spring reminds us that movement is medicine. When we go the extra mile to support our customers in staying active, we're caring for their minds as much as their bodies. It's about meeting each person where they are and moving alongside them.

This month, let's step into the sunshine and embrace the season together. Thank you for always going the extra mile.

Travis Toedtemeier
Founder/Director

APRIL’S QUOTE
Theme: Go the Extra Mile

NEWS AND HAPPENINGS
We Expanded to Portland!

Connections NW is proud to announce our official launch into the Portland Metro area, expanding our mission to support individuals with developmental and intellectual disabilities and their families right here in the community!

UPCOMING EVENTS
Spring is for Fresh Air and Friends!

You are invited to our Open House-come meet the team, explore our services, and see what Connections NW is all about. We are opening our doors in Yamhill County to customers, DSPs, and community members for an afternoon of connection, conversation, and fun. Enjoy light appetizers, a dirty soda bar, crafts for all ages, and even a face painter for a little extra color and creativity! Whether you are already part of our community, or just curious to learn more, we'd love to meet you. Stop by, bring a friend, and help us celebrate together!

Please join us as we walk, talk, and make new friends. Our Lane County walking group will meet monthly beginning on Monday, September 22nd. Location may vary. Please RSVP to [email protected] or 971-266-2866. All abilities are welcome to join the fun.

VALUES IN ACTION
Going the Extra Mile to Get Moving

Spring is here, and with it comes longer days, warmer air, and a natural invitation to get outside. For many adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities, movement is about more than physical health. It supports mood, reduces anxiety, and can make a real difference in how someone feels day to day. As we focus on our core value of "Go the Extra Mile" this April, we have a genuine opportunity to help our customers experience those benefits. Here are some practical ways DSPs and case managers can support movement as part of whole-person care.

1. Start Where They Are

Tip: Before introducing any activity, try observing what your customer already enjoys and how they naturally like to move.

How-to: You might notice that a customer taps their feet to music, enjoys a walk around the block, or likes to stretch before starting the day. Use what you already know about their preferences and mobility to build from there. It doesn't need to be a structured exercise plan. A starting point that feels comfortable to them is enough.

Go the Extra Mile Focus: Going the extra mile isn't always about adding something new. Sometimes it's about paying closer attention to what's already there and building on it.

2. Move Alongside Them

Tip: Try participating in movement with your customer rather than directing from the sidelines.

How-to: If you suggest a walk, go with them. If they're stretching, stretch too. When customers see that movement is something you're doing together, it becomes a shared experience rather than a task. Even a few minutes of moving side by side can shift the energy of the whole interaction.

Go the Extra Mile Focus: Showing up alongside your customer, rather than watching from a distance, is one of the simplest and most meaningful ways we can go the extra mile.

3. Use the Outdoors

Tip: Spring weather is a built-in motivator, and even a few minutes outside can make a difference.

How-to: A short walk, a few minutes in the sun, or stopping to look at something blooming along the way can shift someone's mood more than we might expect. You don't need a destination or a plan. Try checking in with your customer about what outdoor settings feel comfortable and enjoyable for them, and start there.

Go the Extra Mile Focus: Taking a little extra time to get outside together, even briefly, tells your customer that their experience of the day matters to you.

4. Keep It Short and Flexible

Tip: On harder days, it helps to remember that five minutes of movement still counts.

How-to: Not every day will feel like a walk around the block. You might try marching in place during a commercial break, a few shoulder rolls before lunch, or dancing to one song together. Keeping activities brief and low-pressure makes it easier for customers to say yes, and easier for both of you to follow through.

Go the Extra Mile Focus: Meeting your customer where they are on a hard day, rather than holding to a plan, is its own version of going the extra mile.

5. Celebrate the Effort

Tip: Acknowledge every attempt at movement, not just the ones that look like exercise.

How-to: When your customer takes a walk, tries a stretch, or steps outside, try saying something simple. "That was great. How did that feel?" or "I'm glad we did that together" goes a long way. Over time, that kind of acknowledgment helps customers connect movement with something positive, which makes it easier to return to.

Go the Extra Mile Focus: Noticing and naming the effort, especially when it's small, is one of the most encouraging things we can offer. It tells your customer that what they did mattered.

Spring is a season that naturally pulls us outside, and we're in a good position to bring our customers along with us. Going the extra mile to support movement doesn't require big plans or special equipment. It just takes a willingness to show up, pay attention, and take a few extra steps together. Every walk, every stretch, and every moment outside is worth something.

SUNSHINE AWARD
Jerry

Do you have a hobby that brings you joy?

“I’m really interested in game development.” 🎮️ 

What is your favorite food?

“Pizza!”

Thank you, Jerry! Wishing you many sunny days with pizza this summer!🌞

DSP OF THE MONTH
Tyler

What do you like about working as a DSP?

"What I like about working as a DSP with my clients is seeing consistent improvement in the people I support and being part of their progress over time.”

What comfort food would you eat every day for a month?

"That would be hot wings.”

WINTER CONTEST WINNER
Cheesy Jam Bites for the Win! 

🏆 The Perfect Winter Snack: Cheesy, Warm, Melty, Sweet! 🌸 

This delicious recipe was submitted by the Bartunek family, who said: “This is such a fun recipe to make together, and it really hits the spot. We like them best straight out of the oven, but they are still really delicious cold. We usually like to put the jam inside them, but Grandma likes to double up the jam. She puts a dollop on top, too!”

 

QUARTERLY CONTEST
Our Spring Contest Theme: Gardening 

🏆 Quarterly Contest: Simple Recipe Contest 🌸 

It's time to celebrate spring! We want to see how you connect with gardens. There are three ways to enter…just pick one!

1. Draw a garden (real or imagined)

2. Visit a garden and tell us your favorite part

3. Share photos of what you're planting or photos of your favorite plant

Get creative and have fun with it!

Email your entry to [email protected] by June 25. Include your full name.

 🎉🎉🎉🎉 You could win a $50 Visa gift card! 🎉🎉🎉🎉

Katie, our Referral Specialist, loves crocheting or listening to audiobooks with her dog curled up on her lap. She's going to have so much fun looking at your entries and choosing her favorites.

No purchase necessary to win.

WHAT DO YOU THINK?
We Want to Hear From You

GET PAID TO CARE FOR YOUR LOVED ONE
We Are Hiring!

Get Paid to Care For Your Loved One
At Connections NW, we believe the best care comes from those who know and love your loved one best—family members or trusted friends who truly understand their needs and routines.

With our Bring Your Own Caregiver program, family members or trusted friends can be paid to provide care. Our DSPs (caregivers) start at $24 per hour, with annual raises up to $26, plus full benefits and overtime.

Join the Bring Your Own Caregiver program and start now!

Become a DSP Today
If you have a passion for serving your community, Connections NW is looking for Direct Support Professionals. All our DSPs start at $24 per hour with raises each year up to $26.

Go to: https://connections-nw.org/careers to apply.