Today we’d like to introduce you to Keanna Winters.
Hi Keanna, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today.
I have always had a passion for helping others and then started working as a social worker at a rural hospital/nursing home inRuleville, Mississippi after graduating from college. I then began working with the geriatric population, as well as people with intellectual and developmental disabilities in my early twenties. My passion for working with people with disabilities was a result of my internshipat Walter B. Crook nursing home. With this experience, I was able to see firsthand the need for more compassionate people in the healthcare field.
Therefore, I began my journey in healthcare and appreciated my ability to help families in need. Because of my passion to help others, I started an Alzheimer’s support groupat Walter B. Crook so that families would have an outlet to seek support for their family members, as well as additional resources. Starting this support group drew me closer to understanding and finding my purpose. With this experience, I was able to maneuver through the field and work in different capacities. With this knowledge, I also was able to start my foundation in the field of intellectual and developmental disabilities.
I am a native of Mound Bayou, Mississippi and a first-generation business owner. With over two decades of experience in the healthcare/disability field, I have developed the skill set and understanding of the need of the parents and people living with disabilities in order to provide the highest quality of services to those in need. My passion for people, and impeccable reputation distinguish me from many of my peers.
Currently, I am the Chief Executive Officer/Owner of Springwood Health & Supportive Living Services, LLC in Cordova, TN.
Springwood Health was formed in February 2020 right before the COVID-19 shutdown. My husband and I saw a great need for these services and therefore wanted to start our own agency. Springwood Health provides 24-hour staffing and assistance to people living with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Today, Springwood Health has grown substantially over the last 2 years from a one-room office to a 1525 square feet storefront with 40 employees.
The road has definitely not been a smooth one. In 2020, as we all know, the entire world was faced with the COVID-19 pandemic crisis, and we were in the beginning stages of formulating Springwood. At the time, our agency was still waiting for the State of TN’s approval and not accepting new referrals. The field was desperately in need of more provider agencies such as ours. During this time, we continued to work on different components of the organization so we could perfect our services and training and development for our employees. We reassessed and reevaluated all our policies and procedures. We put our heads down and went to work. Although the path was not easy the first year following the pandemic, we did not expect it to be easy and were fortunate for the financial positions we had.
The other challenge for me was now becoming a minority business owner and employer for people in Memphis, TN. There was no blueprint to establishing our agency and things were difficult at times. I was completely out of my element at times and many mistakes were made that cost time and money. The best advice I would give to anyone going into business is to expect the highs and lows and learn from them. We continued to work toward building Springwood in spite of many obstacles, and today I am proud to say Springwood has weathered several storms including the pandemic.
We’ve been impressed with Springwood Health & Supportive Living Services, LLC, but for folks who might not be as familiar, what can you share with them about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
Who We Are:
Our Mission
Our mission is to support, promote, and facilitate services that lead to increased quality of life for all our persons supported. Our company is based on the belief that our individuals’ needs are of the utmost importance. Our entire team is committed to meeting those needs.
Our History
Although founded in 2020, we have developed the industry’s best design supportive living structure while delivering the next generation of exemplary care and offerings to our supported persons. We believe that care should be provided with love.
Our Team
Our amazing team of caregivers, healthcare aids, and direct support professionals are committed to helping you and your family’s unique needs. We fully commit and understand that each person we serve may have a unique need, so we work hard to match that need in the best way possible.
What We Do:
Community Participation Services:
Community participation (CP) are volunteer activity centered around everyday interests and hobbies separate from the person’s home that helps with acquiring, retaining, and improving self-help, socialization, and adaptive skills.
Intermittent Employment & Community Participation Services:
Intermittent Employment & Community Participation are services available to a person who desires to participate in integrated community participation as well as community employment.
Non-Residential Homebound Support Services:
Non-Residential Homebound Support Services are services available to a person who has been defined as homebound and not able to participate in the community for at least 2 hours per day.
Respite Services:
Respite services are considered short-term services provided because a support person is absent or needs relief from caregiving responsibilities.
Family Model Residential Support Services:
Family Model Residential Support are services selected by the person supported that includes the person living with a trained support staff that is not a family member.
Supported Living Services:
Supported Living is a residential service selected by the person supported that is individualized to their needs while providing assistance in acquiring, retaining, and improving self-help, socialization, and adaptive skills.
Personal Assistance Services:
Personal Assistance is services provided to a person supported individualized to his or her support to meet the needs of the person by providing them the opportunity to live in the community setting of his or her choice.
Individual Transportation Services:
Individual Transportation Services are non-emergency transport services for a person supported to and from approved activities specified in the person-centered Individual Support Plan (ISP).
Semi-Independent Living Services:
Semi-Independent Living services are services for the person supported that requires intermittent or limited support to remain in his or her own home.
Non-Medical Home Health Care (Coming Soon):
Non-medical home health care is services being provided to individuals with a disability, chronic conditions, and the elderly in their homes as needed.
Pre-Professional Developmental and Job Readiness Training
A curriculum-based training tailored for supported person who requires a better understanding of job preparation/readiness, healthy lifestyle choices, and money management.
Katie Beckett (TEFRA) Waiver
Tennessee’s Katie Beckett program is for children under the age of 18 with disabilities or complex medical needs. This program is for children who are not Medicaid eligible because of their parent’s income or assets.
We’d love to hear what you think about risk-taking.
Owning and developing your own business, especially during a pandemic is a huge risk on its own. I invested a substantial amount of personal money during a global crisis. Opening Springwood was a major risk because the services are based on referrals and typically in-person visits before you can provide any type of service to a client.
Because the world was shut down, it was very difficult to establish relationships. In addition, branding and understanding the expectations of the families is how you stay successful in this type of business. So, you can imagine all the risks that were involved with establishing Springwood.
If I were giving advice on taking risks, I would simply tell someone that true risk would entail staying in spiritual connection with God, a lot of prayers, and going with your gut. I feel that taking risks is important for you to be able to grow as a person professionally and to see the development of your personality and life goals.
Contact Info:
- Email: keanna.winters@
springwoodhealth.com - Website: https://springwoodhealth.com
- Instagram: @SpringwoodHealth
- Facebook: https://m.facebook.com/121232559718335/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/SpringwoodHlth/status/1305274719600508928
