Foster Homes for Adults with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities

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1 Summer Newsletter 2017 Foster Homes for Adults with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities InspirationField would like to take this opportunity to make our local communities aware that there are not only children in need of exceptional foster homes, but adults with developmental disabilities as well. Through hardships or circumstances beyond their control, a growing number of adults with intellectual and/or developmental disabilities find themselves in need of a "family home." InspirationField offers a Host-Home program that matches individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities with dedicated caregivers in the community. Host home providers open their homes and their hearts and provide ongoing support while nurturing meaningful relationships with others. The individuals residing with families in host-homes often achieve what they need most: a connection to a home and community, and the services they need to live as independently as possible. For the host-home families, they gain a new family member, a friend and someone whose personal gifts and charm can add a new dimension to their family lives. Current Host Home Providers are paid a monthly rate between $1,539 and $3,345 of tax-free income (depending on support level and the number of days in the month. Range of support may vary by the individual s needs). continued on page 4... Inside this issue Employee Anniversaries Years of Service... 4 Case Management Years of Service... 6 Community/Residential... 7 Employee of the Quarter..8 Foster Homes cont d... 12

2 Chief Executive Officer Blog As of July 1, 2017, the state legislature passed legislation surrounding the perceived conflict of interest in providing case management. At issue, state law has moved towards conflict-free case management and the separation of case management from service provision within community center boards. All of a sudden, the individual would not be able to choose the same agency to be both their case management agency and their service provider, which is in direct conflict with person-centered thinking and choices. Although many individuals and families throughout the valley and state have expressed their displeasure, this legislation will continue to move forward until fully implemented by June 30, As such, Inspiration Field has filed for a geographic (rural) exemption to provide both case management and services to the same individual. During the upcoming rule-making process, the agency will continue to advocate for guiding principles of choice as it applies to case management and service provision. The reality is that the individuals in service and their families/guardians do not want to become just another number and see the quality of case management decrease. Finally, I encourage you to vote in the upcoming November elections. Of particular interest is ballot issue #5A & 5B in the city of La Junta. Ballot issue #5A creates the La Junta Health Services District. Ballot issue #5B increases taxes in the city of La Junta to 7.9% to build a new nursing home in La Junta. Once the debt is paid off, the sales tax drops to 7.4% to provide for construction, ongoing maintenance, operations, upgrades, etc. At no point in the process does the city of La Junta retain any of the sales tax revenue. In fact, the new LJ Nursing Home would be ran by a completely independent Board of Directors separate from the city of La Junta. The IF Board of Directors supports these two huge ballot issues and encourages you to vote YES to build a new nursing home in La Junta. Should either of these ballot issues lose, the existing nursing home will close in March/2018 and your loved ones and aging individuals in service will be without a local nursing home from that day forward. Joanna Olguin has had a 3-year goal of receiving her Driver's license and back in April she took the first step and received her Permit! Big Thank You to ANSHOR Driving School for assisting Joanna with learning how to drive! Congratulations Joanna and keep dreaming! Hard work and determination will help you reach any goal you set your mind to! 2

3 October Board Meeting 11:30a 23 - Children s Halloween Party 5:30p 24 - Adult Halloween Party 5:30p 28 - Monster Bash 7:15p November Board Meeting 11:30a 15 - All Staff Training 16 - Thanksgiving Luncheon 11:30a 23 - Thanksgiving, CLOSED 29 - Santa s Workshop 4:00p December Volunteer/Donor Party 5:30p 4 - Annual Dinner & Banquet 5:30p 5 - Children s Christmas Party 5:30p 11 - Swink Lions Club Dinner 5:30p 21 - Christmas Break, CLOSED 25 - Christmas, CLOSED January New Year s Day, CLOSED 8 - Board Meeting 11:30a InspirationField Congratulates the following employees on their years of service: Thank you for your dedication and commitment to the individuals we support!! PRESIDENT, JIM CLAWSON Board Member Since: Sept VICE-PRESIDENT, JOHN GALLEGOS Board Member Since: Oct TREASURER, MARGIE GARDNER Board Member Since: July 2007 SECRETARY, MELVINA SKINNER Board Member Since: Jan STEVE BERG Board Member Since: July 2007 HELEN HOLLAR Board Member Since: May 2013 MICHAEL MATTHEWS Board Member Since: May 2013 JOHN HABERMAN Board member since may 2015 Patrick Romero 1 year Samantha Owen 3 years Barbara Leyba 1 year Zeke Vigil 3 years Briana Huff 1 year Deborah Henderson 3 years Mary Medina 1 year Jose Diaz 4 years Mercedes Bernal 1 year Maria Perez 4 years Tina Stanley 1 year Maria Talmich 4 years Lanae Tafoya 1 year Tammi Trujillo 4 years Angela Ornelas 1 year David Garcia 5 years Carrie Brown 1 year Barb Manchego 6 years Monica Gonzales-Salas 1 year Steven Encinias 9 years Renee Mora-Menges 1 year Erika Rodriguez 10 years Rich Mata 2 years Ryan Denahy 10 years Ruth Padilla 2 years Sharon Church 14 years Amanda Baker 2 years Julie Fernandez 13 years John Hinze 2 years Charlie Lovato 19 years Christina Sanchez 2 years Joseph Archuleta 25 years Brittany Leyba 2 years SCOTT MONARCO BOARD MEMBER SINCE MARCH

4 InspirationField Recognizes Ryan Denahy for 10 Years of Service! Ryan Denahy, Adult Services Director, was recently recognized for his 10 years of employment at InspirationField s All Staff Training. Back in May of 2007, Ryan started off as the Community Supports Director. In this position, he directed Day Habilitation Supports and Services (DHSS) which was Day Program at 1500 San Juan and then at 612 Adams and New 2 You Day Program in Las Animas (which includes Day Program, Supported Employment, Threads of Time and Community Creations in Rocky Ford, Global Treasurz and Majestyk Treasurz in La Junta and Community Access), Supported Living Services (SLS), Children s Extensive Supports (CES), Transportation and Maintenance. Ryan assisted with opening the current Global Treasurz location in La Junta in 2009 and in 2010 help consolidate Threads of Time and Community Creations into the Global Treasurz location in Rocky Ford. Ryan also oversaw InspirationField s Cleaning crew, Mobile crew and community employment with the Job Coach. In 2015, Ryan and the Leadership Team reorganized the program structure of InspirationField and he became the Adult Services Director and was over both the Residential and Proceeds programs and continued to oversee the Learning Center (Day Program). Currently, as the agency searches to fill the Community Supports Director position, Ryan oversees all of InspirationField s service delivery programs, on an interim basis, to include all of Residential, Day Program, Supported Employment, SLS and CES. Working at InspirationField has been an absolute pleasure, stated Ryan. I remember interviewing with our CEO, Johnnie DeLeon, Jr. and he asked me how long I saw myself working at InspirationField. I told Johnnie I would commit two years to the agency before I considered pursing other options. It did not take long to realize that working with our individuals in service has been the most rewarding job I have ever had and 10 years later I am still here working for this great company. Ryan is amazed with the joy and love for life the individuals in service bring with them on a daily basis. Being a part of their growth and supporting them to achieve their dreams is one of the many things he loves about his job. We have a great team of talented employees who are dedicated to providing the best services and support to enhance the lives of the individuals. I am very proud of the many achievements Inspiration Field has accomplished over the last 10 years and I feel very fortunate to have contributed in some way. I am excited for what the future holds for InspirationField and remain committed to providing the highest level of quality services and support for both the individuals and staff. stated Ryan. We would like to thank Ryan for his dedication to InspirationField! 4

5 Case Management Director Blog The summer months have been busy for our Case Management Department. We hosted our annual Children s swimming party and had approximately 45 children and their families in attendance. Everyone enjoyed the perfect weather and a great time in the pool. In addition to hosting our annual children s swim party we hosted the annual adult bar-b-que and swim parties as well. Everyone enjoyed amazing food and spending time together with their friends. Our annual swimming parties are something everyone looks forward to and we are happy to keep the tradition going strong. In July we welcomed two new case managers to our team. Brittany Baylor and Paula McIntire. We are excited to have them on board to help our department provide quality case management services for all the Medicaid waiver and State-funded programs for children, adults, and families throughout the Arkansas Valley. Welcome Brittany and Paula! Paula graduated from Metropolitan State University with a degree in Human Services with emphasis in Non Profit Management. She has over nine years of experience working in an Early Intervention program prior to coming to Inspiration Field. Her main responsibility will be working with the children and their families who are receiving services at InspirationField. I look forward to working with families in supporting the growth and development of their child(ren). I am strong believer that by providing supports and services earlier results in better outcomes for children., stated Paula. Paula s daughter received services when she was an infant/ toddler through a program in Denver. The support that I received was immeasurable to helping my daughter in her early years of development. It is because of this experience that I have decided to give back to the community by helping other families who are in similar situations. stated Paula. Brittany was born in Colorado Springs, but raised in Ellicott, Colorado. Graduated from Ellicott High School in She obtained a Certified Nurses Aid License from Nursing and Therapy Services of Colorado in 2012, and an Associates of Science from Otero Junior College In the future Brittany s plan is to obtain her RN degree from Otero Junior College. She has enjoyed her time here in the Arkansas Valley for the last three years. Brittany looks forward to using my experience working in the medical field in her position as Case Manager for Inspiration- Field. Brittany and her husband recently got married and bought their first home. She will be working with adults who receive services here at InspirationField. Brittany is looking forward to reaching out and becoming a part of the community. 5

6 InspirationField Recognizes Joseph Archuleta for 25 Years of Service! Joseph Archuleta, Program Supervisor, was recently recognized for his 25 years of employment at InspirationField s All Staff Training on June 25th. Joseph started off as a Direct Support Professional working weekends and covering Day Program positions where he transferred to permanently for about four years. During this time Joseph also assisted the agency in other areas including rooms with more high needs individuals, mobile crews, job coaching, ceramics and other rooms as needed. After a year of assisting in many areas, Joseph made the decision to go back and work residentially as a House Manager. After a few years of managing a group home, Joseph was asked to become the Supported Living Services (SLS) Supervisor, and he has been in this role ever since. While working in SLS, Joseph assisted people who lived in their own homes or with families to give the minimal support needed so that he was not intrusive, but gave enough care to meet their needs and help them become more independent. In the last few years while supervising SLS, Joseph s title was changed to Program Supervisor. As a Program Supervisor, Joseph has also taken on the duties of supervising two mobile crews, Children Extensive Services, and a group home in Las Animas, CO. What I enjoy about working at InspirationField is being able to work with the individual s and teaching the skills they need to be independent or at least the most independent as they can be. It s a happy feeling to know when they accomplish something and I or my team was a part of that as well. I have assisted in teaching others how to use resources outside of the agency and also how to get more involved in the community and be integrated rather than be isolated from others. stated Joseph Archuleta. What Joseph has learned from the individual s is how they don t hold a grudge towards others even on a bad day or when they don t like what we are trying to assist them with. Joseph has learned not to take things for granted, especially the little things that the individuals can get so happy about, whereas we can complain and always want better. I have been in this field for many years and a lot of individuals who I have worked with from the start are like my family and I treat them as normal as possible so they feel as complete as they can. stated Joseph. We would like to thank Joseph for his dedication to InspirationField! 6

7 Community Supports / Adult Residential Director Blog We have had a busy summer attending various events and functions throughout the state. We held our annual camping trip in May at Prospectors Campground in Canon City where a large group of individuals in service and staff had a wonderful time. Our Special Olympics Team, the Inspiration- Field Firebirds have competed in several state competitions for Track and Field and Bocce. In July we sent another group of individuals and staff camping, this time at Monument Lake. We held our annual swim party at the La Junta Wipeout in July. We had a nice barbeque but unfortunately a storm rolled in and we were unable to go swimming. Fortunately, we had a second date scheduled for the pool and were able to get everyone swimming in August. On August 7 th and 8 th, a group of 15 individuals and staff went on our annual overnight Broncos Training Camp Trip. On the first day the group went to the Downtown Aquarium, which for most was their first time there. It was a great experience and enjoyed by everyone. On the second day we attended Broncos Training Camp. Our individuals had the privilege of meeting the Broncos then starting strong safety, T.J. Ward and he signed autographs for everyone. 7

8 Employee of the 1st Quarter Our first Employee of the Quarter (Jan March 2017) is Maria Perez! Thank you Maria for supporting our mission and for outstanding support to individuals, staff and the agency! Staff Comments: Maria has gone with the flow and only has the best interest of the individuals that she serves. Maria has taken the lead in Special Olympics, Parade of lights, completing the individual videos and recreation events. Maria serves people by getting the individuals out in the community. One of the individuals wanted to go to the Bronco game, Maria researched the cost of the tickets and worked with the supervisor to get the whole house to go. Another one of the individuals wanted to swim with the dolphins and she went on that trip to Hawaii in August of this year. Our second Employee of the Quarter (April June 2017) is Samantha Owen! Thank you Samantha for supporting our mission and for outstanding support to individuals, staff and the agency! Staff Comments: Employee of the 2nd Quarter Samantha is willing to take the individuals out to dinner with her and spend 1-on-1 time with each of them. Samantha talks to the individual about their wants, likes and dislikes. She encourages them to make choices for themselves and works with them to advocate for themselves. Samantha comes up with ideas to get the individuals involved. Her most recent idea was doing a dance class which we are still working on how to incorporate it in the community. Samantha volunteers her time to InspirationField with helping with events such as Cinco De Mayo, Parade of Lights, and Early Settlers Day. 8

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12 Foster Homes cont d... In recognition of National Foster Care Month celebrated in May, InspirationField is proud to announce that we will begin to recognize all host home providers who start and continue to exhibit outstanding care and support. InspirationField will make the extra effort this year to nominate and celebrate with exceptional families that have stepped up to the challenge. If you are interested in becoming an adult host-home provider, please visit our website at or call Ryan at , for more information. Current InspirationField Host Home Providers! 612 Adams Avenue La Junta, CO (719)