Inclusive Practice: Individuals and Families

A photo of a St.Olaf student with a member of Northfield Retirement Community

St. Olaf social work faculty and Northfield Retirement Community (NRC) have been working for a number of years with the Story Circle Program. In the fall of 2018, Professor Melissa Mendez was teaching the Inclusive Practice course that partners with the NRC. Mendez reinforced the educational and personal benefit of the course: “The Story Partner experience was definitely a highlight of the semester for the students! They were able to learn new skills in our classroom and then go out and practice them in the community. It was a very powerful, impactful, and memorable experience that students were very grateful to have.”

*This story was written about Inclusive Practice: Individuals and Families by Melissa Mendez in Fall 2018.

student reflections

“Overall my experience with the Story Partner program was a beneficial one. I learned a lot about what it is like to work with older adults and how to engage in meaningful and impactful ways. I feel as though this experience enhanced my ability to engage with others, to listen more deliberately, to reflect on what is being said, and to notice another person’s feelings, thoughts and perspectives. This experience will inevitably help improve my ability to be a present and effective social worker.”
“It solidified my decision even further that listening to people and helping them talk about their life experiences is something I was meant to do. I think this experience has helped in setting up a solid base for becoming a social worker in the future.”
“Having the opportunity to meet and practice my skills with my story partner has been my favorite part of learning this semester.”
“The biggest thing I learned was the power of being present and listening deeply to another person.”

A photo from Northfield Retirement Community’s website

Founded in 1969, Northfield Retirement Community provides a distinct set of living options and services for aging adults. NRC is a Christian, not-for-profit organization committed to creating a caring community where residents feel at home and live life to the fullest. NRC employs team members who are devoted to compassionate care for seniors, ensuring a comfortable atmosphere while maintaining a safe and supportive Christian environment.

reflections

Milosha Malecha, Director of Activities and Volunteer Opportunities, says, “We wanted volunteers, staff, family and friends to have meaningful and enjoyable conversations with our residents. We then joined with the Social Work program at St. Olaf to help teach the students the importance of these techniques and how it will help them in their careers. This is such an amazing program and benefits the residents and the students so much. The stories and history that our seniors have to share are very interesting and students are able to ask questions and learn so much from their stories. This intergenerational program truly makes our seniors feel that they are helping our college students and we have made some truly amazing relationships over the years.”

*This story was written about Inclusive Practice: Individuals and Families by Melissa Mendez in Fall 2018.