DOUGLAS COUNTY Office of the County Manager

Transcription

1 DOUGLAS COUNTY Office of the County Manager Developmental Disabilities Grant Committee Recommendations For the Developmental Disabilities grant year, we received grant requests totaling $836, A committee of citizens, parents, county employees and a Developmental Pathways employee reviewed the grant applications and asked follow-up questions of applicants. The following are the recommendations of the DD mill levy grant committee (a total of $302,850). The total grant recommendations are similar to what was recommended last year, but will decline in future years once carryover dollars are fully expended. Grants awarded were once again limited to the areas of greatest need: recreation, day programs and respite. Transportation requests were solicited under the separate Transportation RFP that Community Services issued earlier in the year, but will be paid out of these funds. 1. Broken Tree Community Church Amount Requested: $ 1,300 Recommended Amount: $ 1,300 The request was to help fund the Fourth Friday program at the church. The Fourth Friday program provides weekly recreational/social activities for people with disabilities. The committee recommends funding the request at the full amount because it is a reasonable amount and there is a great need for social activities for individuals with developmental disabilities in the community. 2. Castle Rock Recreation Program Amount Requested: $23, Recommended Amount: $20, This is the second year Castle Rock has requested funding. They are asking for funds to help support and expand their recreation programs and services to people with developmental disabilities. Recreation is one of our highest priorities, so the committee recommends funding Castle Rock and the other recreation programs at the $20,000 amount. 3. Douglas County School District Bridge Program Amount Requested: $15, The request was for dollars to take the students out in the community for a variety of different activities/experiences. For years we received, and funded, similar requests from other schools in the District. A couple years ago, when our carryover dollars started to run out, we decided we needed to limit our focus to the areas of greatest need (recreation, transportation, day programs and respite) and as much as possible to dedicate funding to Page 1 of 7

2 those who are receiving few or no other services. As such, we stopped funding the school requests; it is not that the dollars are not needed, it is just that there aren t enough dollars to go around. We will let the Bridge Program know what else we are funding, so their students can take advantage of some of those opportunities. 4. Easter Seals Amount Requested: $10,918 Recommended Amount: $10,500 To provide (through the Highlands Ranch Discovery Club) recreation, socialization and skill development for children with developmental disabilities. This once-a-month club lasts for six hours parents may drop off their children (thus providing much-needed respite). The club is atypical in that it provides services to children with high medical needs. The club also allows nursing students the opportunity to receive training and experience working with children with special needs and their families. The program has expanded to several other locations since its inception in Douglas County (it started with the help of mill levy funds). 5. Highlands Ranch Community Association, Therapeutic Recreation Program Amount Requested: $45,400 Recommended Amount: $20,000 The request was to fund additional staffing, equipment, and scholarships for the Therapeutic Recreation Program. The Therapeutic Rec program provides a much-needed and muchappreciated program for people with developmental disabilities. HRCA s Therapeutic Rec program is a leader in the field and we are lucky to have them in the county. The program serves people from all over Douglas County not just Highlands Ranch. Unfortunately, there are more requests and fewer dollars to fund requests. The committee recommends funding HRCA at $20, Highpointe Services/Exceptional Kids day programs Amount Requested: $50,000 Recommended Amount: $15,000 The request is to provide funding to subsidize the various Highpointe Services programs, including the year round Adult Day Enrichment Program and the Summer Teen Enrichment Program. $15,000 is recommended for scholarships to these programs. There have been some changes in state funding levels and we have learned that the need for day program days is not as acute as it once was as such, the committee recommends funding day program requests at a lower amount than in the past. 7. Highpointe Services/Exceptional Kids Post secondary education programs Amount Requested: $40,000 The request was to provide scholarships for individuals to participate in Highpointe s postsecondary education programs. Unfortunately, there is not enough money to fund Page 2 of 7

3 everything and because this one does not fall into the priority areas, the committee is not recommending funding. 8. Lone Tree Arts Center Amount Requested: $ 4,200 Recommended Amount: $ 4,200 The request was to help underwrite some of the additional costs associated with putting on sensory friendly performances for people with developmental disabilities. The Lone Tree Arts Center believes in the importance of providing cultural, recreational and volunteer opportunities (ushers!) for individuals with developmental disabilities. They are currently planning eight sensory friendly performances. The committee really liked the request both because it is new, and because of the passion that came through in the grant application. 9. New Day in Home Support and Respite Services Explorer and Sunlight Programs Amount Requested: $ 116,072 Recommended Amount: $ 15,000 The request was to fund two different day programs one that is for higher functioning individuals and one that is for individuals with higher needs. Due to limited funds (and what we heard about the greatest needs), the committee recommends funding New Day at $15,000 the same amount recommended for all the day programs. 10. New Day in Home Support and Respite Services Recreational activities Amount Requested: $ 9,041 The request was to fund a variety of outings and classes for individuals in New Day s day programs. Rather than funding day program providers (or individual schools or school programs) for recreational outings, the committee recommends funding the various recreation centers and therapeutic riding organizations to provide these services. We will let everyone know what was funded, so their clients can take advantage of some of those opportunities. 11. Parker Recreation Program Amount Requested: $ 17,850 Recommended Amount: $ 17,850 The request is to continue to support the recreation program for people with disabilities. The funds will be used for scholarships, some part-time staffing assistance and program supplies. The committee recommends funding Parker at the full amount. The committee has been impressed with how much the Parker program has grown in the last few years. 12. PATHs with Lori and Ruth Amount Requested: $ 25,000 Page 3 of 7

4 The request was to fund the creation of Person-Centered Future Life Plans (PATH Plans) and circles of support for 25 individuals in Douglas County. The committee did not feel comfortable supporting this request. There were questions about being able to identify 25 individuals to go through the program and this organization does not file taxes or maintain budgets. The request also did not fall into any of our priority categories. 13. Plum Creek Academy Amount Requested: $21, The request was to build a music studio at Plum Creek Academy. Plum Creek Academy serves secondary school students with emotional and cognitive disabilities. Committee members are not recommending funding this request many of the students at Plum Creek do not have developmental disabilities and the group was not comfortable paying to renovate a room and buy music equipment. 14. Promise Ranch Amount Requested: $18,000 Recommended Amount: $10,000 The request was to provide reduced rate therapeutic riding sessions to individuals with developmental disabilities. Priority for the scholarships should be given to individuals who are on a waiting list and receiving no services. The committee recommends funding the request at $10, SaddleUp! Foundation Amount Requested: $24,798 Recommended Amount: $10,000 The request was to provide reduced rate therapeutic riding sessions to individuals with developmental disabilities. Priority for the scholarships should be given to individuals who are on a waiting list and receiving no services. The committee recommends funding the request at $10, Sky Cliff Center Equine Therapeutic Driving Program Amount Requested: $11,000 Recommended Amount: $ 5,000 The request was for funds to help support the creation of an equine therapeutic driving program. This program would allow individuals who are not able to get up on a horse to participate in equine activities they would ride in a cart behind the horse. No one else in the area is offering this program. Since the grant was submitted, someone has donated the funds for the cart. 17. Sky Cliff Center Day Program Scholarships Page 4 of 7

5 Amount Requested: $ 9,000 Recommended Amount: $ 6,000 The request was for funds to provide scholarships to Sky Cliff s day program. The funds will go to individuals who are on a waiting list for services. The committee recommends $6,000 of funding. 18. Sky Cliff Center Transportation Amount Requested: $ 7,500 The request was for funds to help offset some of the costs of providing transportation to outings which are a part of the day program. Sky Cliff also requested funds to set up an emergency driver program that would get participants to the day program when caregivers were not able to provide the ride. There are not enough dollars to recommend helping one day program with transportation (they all have the same need). The committee has suggested Sky Cliff use some of the transportation dollars available through the Douglas County Mobility Manager s programs to help with rides to the day program. 19. South Suburban Parks and Recreation Amount Requested: $ 8,702 Recommended Amount: $ 8,000 The request was for funding for an 8 week summer recreation program to be held at the Lone Tree recreation center. The STAR Club program is held twice a week one day participants go out in the community and one day is spent on activities in the rec center. 20. Special Olympics Project UNIFY Amount Requested: $20,000 Recommended Amount: $ 5,000 The request was to help subsidize Project UNIFY in a number of Douglas County schools. Project UNIFY is a school-based program that increases Special Olympics collaboration with schools by expanding inclusive sports opportunities through Unified Sports. The committee would like to contribute to help support Special Olympics efforts $5,000 is recommended. 21. Sun Foundation Amount Requested: $ 10,460 Recommended Amount: $ 10,000 The request was to offer scholarships for children (3+ years old) to attend a summer camp that will provide much needed respite for caregivers and recreation opportunities for the kids. Page 5 of 7

6 22. To The Rescue Day Program Scholarships Amount Requested: $ 74,480 Recommended Amount: $ 15,000 Similar to the other day program requests the committee recommends funding To The Rescue s day program at $15,000. The dollars would be available to individuals (aged 18+) on Developmental Pathways waiting list for services. 23. To The Rescue Recreation Amount Requested: $ 64,000 The request was to fund a variety of outings and classes for individuals in To The Rescue s day program. Rather than funding day program providers (or individual schools or school programs) for recreational outings, the committee recommends funding the various recreation centers and therapeutic riding organizations to provide these services. We will let everyone know what was funded, so their clients can take advantage of some of those opportunities. 24. To The Rescue Respite Amount Requested: $ 52,000 For the past three years, the committee has recommended setting aside a pot of money ($25,000) to be used for respite. Because Developmental Pathways is aware of the needs and already coordinates respite for families, the committee asked Pathways to administer the respite dollars which are given to the families to shop for respite. Many of those who apply for respite dollars ultimately receive the dollars through Pathways distribution process. The committee likes this model because it gives families the most choice and Pathways is able to distribute the money to those most in need. The committee recommends providing the respite dollars to Pathways this year again with an increase in funding to $50, To The Rescue 24 hour Respite Amount Requested: $ 73,000 The request was to fund 24 hour respite at To The Rescue s facility. There is not enough money to fund this request and $50,000 of respite dollars are being made available through Developmental Pathways. 26. To The Rescue - Transportation Amount Requested: $ 50,000 Recommended Amount: $ 50,000 To the Rescue received its first transportation Mill Levy grant in Once again, their Page 6 of 7

7 request will provide free transportation for people with developmental disabilities. They have a 24/7 dispatch number that recipients call to schedule rides. Transportation for people with special needs is very expensive and difficult to do, so this is a much needed service. The dollars we give to To The Rescue will be leveraged as a part of the county s unified transportation program the dollars will be used as a match for additional federal dollars. This grant was applied for under the county s Transportation RFP and will be managed by the county s Mobility Manager. 27. Wellspring Community Work and Enrichment Program Amount Requested: $ 21,033 Recommended Amount: $ 20,000 The request was to provide tuition assistance to enable adults with developmental disabilities the opportunity to attend the Work and Enrichment Program. The work and enrichment program is the only work-focused grant request and work is an important component in the lives of people with developmental disabilities. The committee recommends a $20,000 contribution to the Wellspring program. 28. Young Life Capernaum Amount Requested: $ 16,601 Recommended Amount: $ 10,000 To provide teens and young adults with developmental disabilities the opportunity to develop long-term, meaningful relationships and to experience adventure-based recreational activities by attending integrated summer and winter camps. The funds also help pay the coordinator who works with the young people with special needs. DC Young Life Capernaum is the only chapter in the nation that brings kids with special needs to their typical camp. The committee recommends the following grant as well: Respite dollars $50,000 One of the greatest needs for families is for respite. For the past three years, we have given Developmental Pathways the respite dollars and asked them to ensure that it gets to those most in need. It has worked well and the committee recommends that approach again this year. Pathways will be responsible for ensuring the dollars are used by the people who need the respite and the agencies who applied for respite grant dollars will still provide the services only it will be coordinated by Pathways. The committee believes this is a fairer and more efficient way of getting the dollars out to those in need. Page 7 of 7