The Advocate

July, 2005

United Way Week Of Caring

Volunteerism At Its Best

Each year the Johnson City Area United Way sponsors The Week Of Caring to promote volunteerism. The recipient agencies of the United Way, of which the Arc of Washington County is one, submit projects that need to be done. United Way then matches project needs by skill, number of volunteers needed, interest, etc. to available volunteers.

This year, the Arc’s project need was to paint its respite center, which is funded in part by the United Way. The respite center is housed in Keystone Presbyterian Church in Johnson City and is open each Friday from 3:00 p.m.—10:00 p.m.

The Arc provided the paint, supplies, three volunteers of its own and refreshments while the United Way provided volunteers from Citi Commerce Solutions/The Home Depot Collections Department.

The work was tough but was faced with high energy and enthusiasm from all parties involved. “Our volunteers were wonderful,” said Malessa Fleenor, Associate Director for Program Services. “Everyone pitched in, worked hard, and contributed a lot of good natured kidding.”

In addition to the painting, the volunteers really went above and beyond the call of duty to assist with some “spring cleaning” in the kitchen area of the Respite Center.

The Arc’s respite program is the compassionate response of the citizens of the Johnson City area to the needs of parents of children with disabilities. Through their continued support, the Johnson City Area United Way is an answered prayer for parents and children living in the Washington County area. Other counties in upper East Tennessee are funded by the Division of Mental Retardation Services.

Layla Wright has joined the Arc of Washington County team as the new Respite Center Coordinator. Layla has an abundance of enthusiasm and some fresh, new ideas for creating an exciting and educational environment for the individuals who attend the Respite Center. She has extensive experience in designing activities that are person centered and promote an atmosphere of learning.

She has completed the Masters of Early Childhood Education program at East Tennessee State University. Under Layla’s leadership the Arc wishes to extend the services of the Respite Center to more individuals living in the area. The Respite Center is intended to be an exciting place where individuals can participate in activities and areas of interest that are beyond what they experience at home or at school. It is the Arc’s goal to begin laying the foundation to open a second respite center in the Jonesborough area, as this has been identified as an area of need in the Washington County/Jonesborough area.

According to Bill Schiers, executive director of our Arc, “We are very thankful for the support of the many people who contribute not only money but words of encouragement to us as we serve the needs of families who have children with disabilities. We encourage everyone associated with our Arc to generously give to the Johnson City Area United Way. The volunteers of United Way make difficult decisions in how many needy people they can support each year. There are so many worthy and needful causes. We enthusiastically support their efforts to serve our community.”

Little Folks Annual Survey Results

“Little Folks Has Been A Great Support For Our Family”

During the month of May 2005 parents receiving at least 3 months of early intervention services funded by the Tennessee Department of Education were asked to respond to an eight question survey regarding supports received from the Arc of Washington County’s Early Intervention Program- Little Folks.

Twenty surveys were hand-delivered to families and twenty surveys were returned, giving the program a 100% return rate. The surveys were returned to each early intervention specialist in a sealed envelope or mailed to the executive director. The one exception was a survey that was faxed to the executive director as it had to be translated for a Spanish-speaking family.

The format of the survey was set up using a grading system of A (excellent) to F (unsatisfactory) with a space given for comments. These annual surveys are a vital part of the early intervention program as it gives us direct feedback on the quality of services that we provide to families and we are able to see the areas in which we need to improve. This information also assists the program when it comes time for monitoring by the state and aides them in writing an Annual Progress Report showing how they are involving families in the programming of such services.

Here are the results of the survey for the Fiscal Year 2005:

25% of families are from Carter County, 15% from Unicoi, and 60% from Washington County.

When you were referred to Little Folks were you treated in a way that was appropriate and comfortable? 95% of families responded with an “A”, 5% of families responded with a “B”.

Has Little Folks provided you with information on community, regional or statewide resources? 85% responded with an “A”, 15% responded with a “B”.

Do you feel that the home visits and information provided by Little Folks have resulted in progress toward your child’s goals that are on the IFSP? 100% responded with an “A”.

Are the visits and information that you and your child receive from Little Folks occurring in settings that are a part of your child’s natural environment (child care, playground, library, home)? 100% responded with an “A”.

Does the program at Little Folks meet your child’s needs? 100% responded with an “A”.

Is your child’s teacher at Little Folks available to see your family and child as agreed upon in the IFSP? 100% responded with an “A”.

Did your child’s teacher at Little Folks give you information about your rights as a parent of an infant or toddler with a disability in a way that was comfortable and easy to understand? 95% responded with an “A”, 5% responded with a “B”.

8. Overall, what grade would you give your child’s teacher at Little Folks for the support they give to your child and family? 95% responded with an “A”, and 5% responded with a “B”.

Here are a few examples of comments from the surveys: “Very pleasant people to work with”, “Home visits and information given have helped work on goals set on the IFSP…”, “It is wonderful to have the people come to my house instead of always going to them.”, “It is an excellent program.” , “…if we need to reschedule, Little Folks will find out what day to come out.” , “Little Folks has been a great support for our family.”

We would like to thank all of the families that took time to answer this survey and allow us to be part of their lives. This information will give us a starting point as to where our efforts should be concentrated in order to improve our program for the families we serve.

We would also like to thank our colleagues from the TN Early Intervention System and the support and administrative staff from East TN Department of Education for their support and guidance during the year.

Accomplishments For Fiscal Year 2005

Each year staff and members of the board collaborate in establishing organizational performance standards for accomplishment.

These standards become a measure of the health of the organization in achieving its most important responsibilities.

94% of the 99 respondents to a family support program satisfaction survey indicated they “always” or “usually” were respected by staff and they received help in identifying needed services. Representatives of the comments from families are statements like these, “We are so thankful for your support. You truly are a good Family Support Program. God bless each of you for the support you have given…” and “This is a super program that greatly enhances my daughter’s life.”

100% of the respondents to a respite survey gave staff an “A” or “B” for the activities, care and meals provided to children.

The Division of Mental Retardation Services annual survey of the independent support coordination program resulted in an overall 95% grade of compliance with regulations and a Department of Education self-survey (CIMP) resulted in a 70% grade of compliance. In addition family experience surveys were sent to approximately 25% of the families served through independent support coordination. 96% of the 79 respondents rated their ISC as an “A” or “B”.

The financial objectives established for the year were met. The organization accumulated the goal of $5,000 after expenses for the fiscal year and bad billings were held to $1,000 thereby allowing staff to share nearly $6,000 in bonus money.

Board members achieved an overall 81% average of board attendance and a job satisfaction survey of 33 staff (70% return rate) indicated staff had no excessive dissatisfactions with the organizational environment. High positive ratings were achieved for coworkers respect for one another, respect for supervision and nature of work.

The number of Arc members grew from 320 to 1084 during the fiscal year. Our Arc won a membership award from the Arc of Tennessee for this accomplishment.

Meet The Arc’s New Faces:

April Combs & Bobbi Reuss

April Combs began work at the Arc in May and comes to us with 8 years of experience serving individuals with disabilities. She has formerly worked in a supported living home where she assisted individuals with daily living skills, therapeutic plans and medication administration. She has worked with individuals to reach their goals relevant to their individualized support plan as well as their behavior support plan.

She has transitioned into her role as an independent support coordinator smoothly. “April will be a great asset to our support coordination team,” said Elizabeth Cox, ISC manager in Greeneville. “She is a quick learner, a hard worker and has done a great job getting to know the individuals she will be serving.”

Bobbi Reuss comes to us having just completed an internship with Woodridge Psychiatric Hospital. She has an Associate of Science degree from Northeast State Community College and a Bachelor’s degree in Social Work from East Tennessee State University. She has three years experience working as direct support staff to individuals with disabilities where she has assisted with daily activities, coordinated exercise programs and Special Olympics events.

“Bobbi brings a high level of energy and enthusiasm to her job as independent support coordinator,” said Lorie Copas, Associate Director. “She is committed to helping the individuals she serves reach their goals.”

Both women are great additions to The Arc of Washington County family, and they will be working in the Greeneville area.

The Advocate Special Insert

July 2005

The Arc of Washington County Board of Directors:

Making A Difference In The Lives Of People With Disabilities

Since the Arc of Washington County began in the early 1960s, groups of men and women from all walks of life have come together to form the slate of officers that makes up our Board. These men and women, some who have children or family members with disabilities and some who are simply interested in serving, are dedicated to improving the lives of their fellow citizens with disabilities. Some have taken leadership roles, while others have taken the part of committee member. Some have even done both over the years of their service, but together they work to support the Arc’s employees and those they serve.

Board members of the Arc of Washington County serve because they want to make a difference in the lives of children with disabilities, their families and those who make up the larger fabric of community life. In short, they are responsible to all the stakeholders who believe in our vision that people with disabilities will have the opportunity and needed support to live their vision of a valued life.

Board members can wear many hats; however, two roles are the most often exercised during the tenure of board membership (our Arc limits members to no more than 6 years of service):

Volunteer: Often board members are asked to volunteer their skills to help achieve the mission of our organization. These activities include giving legal advice; referring consultants to meet special community, organizational, or regulatory needs; writing specialized policies because of their personal expertise; and informing board members and the executive director of changes in community leadership, support and needs.

Governance: A board is the ultimate moral and legal authority for our Arc. By law board members as a group are accountable to the public for running a not-for-profit organization.

This is usually accomplished by establishing policies that are then delegated for implementation to the executive director. In our agency, staff and volunteers work with the executive director to write proposed policies and procedures for board review. Policies and procedures are usually classified as board related or operations related. All board policies and procedures are reviewed and approved each year. Operational procedures are approved by the executive director. This distinction is important because the board is solely responsible for the approval and oversight of the policies of the agency. They are also responsible for review to make sure organizational performance meets regulatory and mission driven objectives.

According to Bill Schiers, executive director, “Our board protects the values, interests, and welfare of all stakeholders who believe in our vision. We are so very fortunate to have a diverse group of community representatives who strongly believe in our contributions to help people with disabilities live their vision of a valued life.”

Currently, the Arc is made up of eleven individuals who guide the direction of our Arc. These are their stories…

Dottie Stout was the Arc of Washington County’s president this past year. She has been involved with the Arc for 3 years and felt compelled to follow in her mother’s footsteps who worked with adults and children with disabilities. Dottie is an employee at Washington County Bank. When asked what her purpose for serving on the Board was, she replied, “To support the Arc in its daily mission of supporting families who have members with disabilities and to encourage the community to support the Arc and its service to people with disabilities.”

LaTosha Walker is new to the Board, beginning her service last year. She has a daughter with disabilities served by our Family Support Program, and she hopes to inform others about the supports and services provided by The Arc of Washington County. LaTosha has a BS degree in Physical Education from UT Chattanooga and a Masters in Human Performance and Sport Studies from UT. She is employed at East Tennessee State University where she is a fitness coordinator.

Jim Williams is a long-term member of the Arc family. He has worked with the Arc in various capacities for 20 plus years. Jim has held just about every office there is to hold including president, vice-president and treasurer. He also has served on the finance committee. Jim notes, “I have worked with many wonderful people during my time with the Arc, all of them very dedicated to improving the lifestyle of the people served by the Arc.” Jim is one of those dedicated individuals himself who has done whatever he can to make a difference. Jim recently retired from Seimens and will “retire” from the board in August. His loving guidance will be greatly missed.

Tammy Rowe has been a member of the Arc’s Board since 2002. She is a stay at home mom with a five year old daughter with Down Syndrome. Tammy organized what is known as the “Buddy Walk” in our area, which is a one mile walk that takes place every October to promote the awareness and acceptance of people with Down Syndrome. She and her family have been served by the Arc’s Little Folks program as well as the family support program. Initially, Tammy held a position on the Board as a parent served by Little Folks. Once her daughter aged out of the program, she moved to the seat of a parent representative. Tammy indicates she wants people with disabilities to be treated fairly in the community and that those who help them be appreciated for the important work they do.

John Greer is another newcomer to the Board accepting his post in July of last year. He is an agency manager for Tennessee Farmers Insurance Company in Bristol, Tennessee. His hope is to assist, from an organizational perspective, any person with disabilities to find his or her place in an active community. His goal is to help our community view people with disabilities as special people first and people with special needs next.

Madeline Nichols knows intimately what the Arc is about. Along with her husband, Del Ray, Madeline has loved and cared for her now 22 year old daughter who has severe disabilities. The Nichols’ daughter has been served by the Arc’s independent support coordination service for several years. The Nichols’ formed the first microboard in the state of Tennessee two years ago, and Madeline has been involved with other disability organizations in addition to her ties with the Arc of Washington County. She seeks to ensure that the needs of folks with disabilities in our community are met.

Joe Wallen, an employee of Northeast Tennessee Career Center, is an Arc Board Member whose job it is to counsel individuals and businesses on the advantages of hiring people with disabilities. He has been a board member since last September, currently holding the position of secretary and is looking forward to his service on the Board, its members and the individuals served by the Arc.

Vance Cheek, Jr. is another member of the Arc Board whose child has benefited from Little Folks, the Arc’s Early Intervention Service. His daughter has Osteogenesis Imperfecta Congenta and was served by one of the Arc’s early intervention specialists to assist her with skill development, physical therapy and occupational therapy. She “graduated” from Little Folks at age 3 and is doing great. Vance is the Chair of the Tennessee Claims Commission of Claims for the Eastern Grand Division of Tennessee and the chief judge of trial court for civil cases brought against the state of Tennessee. He has been a member of the Board for about a year and states that he would like to give something back for what the Arc has given his family. He hopes to help the Board and the organization reach out to as many children as possible so more parents can share the same joy that his family enjoys.

Charles DeRuyter is employed at Mountain Visions as a secretary. He has served on the Arc Board for one year to include service on the Nominations Committee, and has been served by the Arc’s Independent Support Coordination Service since March of 2001. Chucky, as he is known by his friends and colleagues, notes, “Having a disability myself gives me the knowledge to help others with disabilities because I can relate to them. My goal is to make at least one person with disabilities happy and feel good about themselves.” In his spare time, Chucky likes to collect Elvis memorabilia, coffee mugs and salt and pepper shakers.

Dr. Angus Shaw, has served on the Arc Board since 1999 in various capacities to include president, vice president, treasurer and finance committee chairperson. He takes seriously his role of advocate for individuals with disabilities and wishes to promote awareness of the issues that individuals with disabilities face. He is currently retired, but was the senior pastor at First Presbyterian Church in Johnson City for 30 years where he touched countless lives. He will be “retiring” from his role as a board member in August; however, he will remain as a member of the Nominating Committee. Board members and many staff are grateful for his continuing presence with our Arc as he continues to touch the lives of our board, staff and the communities in which we live.

Helen Lane has been a member of the board since 2003. She was our vice-president this past year and just took over the position of Arc Board President July 1st. Helen has been an advocate for her son, Nathan, who has disabilities. She has worked for Tennessee’s Early Intervention System for more than seven years in Technical Assistance. Helen states, “My goal is to educate the community and families in the community about services for persons with special needs and to involve the community to give support to people with special needs in the areas of jobs and housing.” She would like to network with services and supports available in the community and to advocate for families of individuals with special needs.