AIRS Blog - Something in the AIRS

Insights, tips and lessons learned on a variety of topics from AIRS Superstars

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  • 02/25/2020
    ​When people hear of epilepsy or seizures, the most common thing people think about are the seizures where the person’s body jerks, they may fall to the floor and lose consciousness. Other types of seizures may include the body stiffening, or simply staring for a few seconds. In older adults, absence seizures are often mistaken for “senior moments.” These are only a few types of seizures. There are many different types of epilepsy and seizures, various epilepsy syndromes, and other conditions that can cause seizures. We’re continuing to learn about epilepsy and seizures. But, before we go any further, let’s talk about what epilepsy and seizures are.
  • 02/12/2020
    In everyday speech when we say "That is a myth," we mean "That is not true." Myth and truth are often seen as opposites but a myth is neither completely true nor completely false. A good myth is one that artfully represents human experience. These are my 7 myths about information and referral.
  • 01/28/2020
    A couple of months ago, the Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation created a blog series called: What I Now Know. It consisted of letters written by people living with paralysis to their newly injured selves. These wonderfully moving letters (see #WhatINowKnow to read and get an introspective look at life with paralysis) inspired me to write to that nervous girl who, over five years ago, started answering calls from people in crisis. Here is what I know, what I learned, and hopefully will, in turn, inspire you to reflect on your I&R experience and share it with your new coworkers.
  • 01/13/2020
    As most of us are well aware, one of the only things that is constant in the social service world is change. This is especially true for those of us responsible for I&R Database management and curation. Whether it’s programs that come and go due to funding changes; organizations that are new, merge with one another, or dissolve; seasonal assistance programs like free school supplies, holiday assistance and tax preparation services; or a particular event or disaster the sparks the creation of numerous programs that require fast, but effective vetting; all of these things can be taxing on a Database Curator team or individual. No matter what type of resource it is, we have a sense of obligation to provide the most accurate information to our Community Resource Specialists so they can provide the best level of service to our community members in need. With all of that said, it’s both figuratively and literally a lot to manage! Luckily, we have an entire network of I&R experts to bounce ideas off of, and now a blog! Here’s some tips and habits that I have learned about database management from my peers along the way:
  • 12/11/2019
    We have heard it before but self-care is the most important thing we can do. We are not capable of reaching our full potential unless we take care of us. In most of our work, we constantly take care of others. We have to be there for them when no one else is and that can create a lot of stress. Giving back is so rewarding, just don’t forget to give back to you.