Fall 2012 - Community Resources for Independence

COMMUNITY RESOURCES FOR INDEPENDENCE
FALL 2012
CONNECTION
V O LUME 2 IS S UE 2
Senator Toomey and Senate Republicans Kill Veterans Jobs Bill
Senate Republicans blocked legislation Wednesday, September 19, 2012,
that would have established a $1 billion dollar jobs program putting veterans
back to preserving and restoring the country’s national parks as well as federal,
state, and local lands and local police and fire departments.
The largely party-line Senate vote of 58-40 fell two votes short of the threefifths majority needed to overcome the procedural objection. Republicans said
the Veterans Job Corps bill violated the Budget Control Act by adding a new
program that would increase the deficit.
Senate Majority Leader Harry M. Reid (D-Nev.) said the measure would
have sailed through the Senate, in past years, but had been derailed by
partisanship. Blocking a veterans jobs bill is a new low, he said in a statement.
Supporters loosely modeled their proposal after the President Franklin
Delano Roosevelt’s Civilian Conservation Corps used during the Great
Depression to put people to work planting trees, building parks and
constructing dams. They said the latest monthly jobs report, showing a nearly
11 percent unemployment rate for veterans of Iraq and Afghanistan, merited
action from Congress.
Democrats wrote the bill with a large amount of bipartisan support. Four
Republican senators, John Boozman of Arkansas, Mike Johanns of Nebraska,
Richard Burr of North Carolina, and our own Pat Toomey of Pennsylvania
wrote parts of the bill, then voted against it.
The Veterans Jobs Corps bill, which is part of President Obama’s push to
secure jobs for veterans, would have provided $1 billion over five years to
hire 20,000 young veterans for public lands jobs and prioritize vets for first
responder jobs such as police, firefighter, or EMT. The measure would have
also provided young vets access to the infrastructure with which to assist in job
searches, such as access to computers, internet and career-services advisers.
The organization representing the largest number of post-9/11 veterans,
Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America, expressed outrage at the outcome,
saying the program would have created thousands of jobs.
Election politics should never stand in the way of creating job
opportunities for our nations veterans, especially with an official 10.9 percent
unemployment rate, said IAVA founder Paul Rieckhoff. We hope constituents,
veterans and their families across the country will hold the Senate accountable
for this failure.
No veteran who fought for our nation
should have to fight for a job at home, but
Republicans in Washington are blocking a common-sense plan to create the
Veterans Jobs Corps and put tens of thousands of veterans back to work, the
White House said in a statement.
Democratic lawmakers turned to the legislation shortly before they will
adjourn for the finals weeks of this year’s election campaigns. The bill had
little chance of passing the House this Congress, but it still allowed senators to
appeal to a key voting bloc.
Senator Tom Coburn of Oklahoma said the federal government already has
six job-training programs for veterans and there is no
way to know how well they are working. He argued
that making progress on the country’s debt was the
best way to help veterans in the long-term.
Democratic officials did not have an estimate for
how many veterans would be hired as a result of
the legislation. Senator Patty Murray, D-Wash., said
much would depend upon the number of applicants.
She noted that more than 720,000 veterans are
unemployed across the nation, including 220,000
veterans who have served since the September 11,
2001, terrorist attacks. She said putting veterans back
to work was the cost of war.
MISSION STATEMENT
Community Resources for Independence, Inc. is
committed to preserving, enhancing, and enriching
the quality of life for all people with disabilities.
VISION STATEMENT
By embracing our mission, Community Resources
for Independence, Inc. will strive, in partnership
with others, to empower people with disabilities to
become fully integrated into society.
CORE VALUES
Consumer Control
Consumer Education
Consumer Empowerment Independence
Equal and Full Access
Individual and Systems Advocacy
11th Annual Consumer
Appreciation Picnic
On Thursday, August 23, 2012, Community Resources for
Independence hosted its 11th Annual Consumer Appreciation
Picnic. The picnic was held at Picnicana Park, on Old French Road
in Waterford, from 11 a.m. until 4 p.m. The event is held annually to
thank the hundreds of individuals with disabilities who have chosen
CRI as their service provider. The picnic is also an opportunity for
consumers to meet other consumers, CRI staff, play games, take
nature walks, indulge in delicious food and enjoy a free auction. The
free auction has become one of the highlighted and most anticipated
events at the picnic. CRI would like to thank Best Buy, the CRI Good
Neighbor Fund, Presque Isle Rehabilitation and Wheelchairs & More
for their generous contributions to make the day a success. Over 700
invitations were sent out to consumers in Erie and Erie County; two
hundred individuals attended the annual picnic.
Employee Picnic
On Friday, August 24, 2012, CRI held its annual employee picnic at
Picnicana Park. The picnic is held annually for CRI employees and
their families to enjoy a day outside to enjoy good friends, play games,
enjoy fabulous food and win prizes.
“Success doesn’t come to you, YOU go to it!”
Golf Outing
On July 27, 2012, the CRI Erie office held their 2nd
annual Golf Outing. All proceeds from the outing went
to the CRI Hospice Wraparound Program that provides
end-of-life care to those participants in need. The
program gives participants the option to stay in their
home for the remainder of their lives, while receiving
the care that allows them to maintain independence and
dignity. CRI coordinates with local hospice agencies to
make sure all of the participants needs are met during
this difficult time in their lives. CRI has a hospice
team of direct-care workers that are trained and have
experience working with Hospice. CRI developed the
wraparound program to assure terminally ill consumers
receive the attendant care, in their homes, along with
end of life care without having to wait for the program
eligibility process to be complete.
Community Resources for Independence would like to
that all of our sponsors for their generous donations in
making our 2nd Annual Golf Outing such a success.
PRIME SPONSORS
Home Renewal by Dore’
Crotty Insurance’
MAJOR SPONSORS
McCarty Printing
Wedgewood
Creative Imprints
UPMC
Highmark
GOLD SPONSORS
Citizens Bank
PLATINUM SPONSORS
Plyler Overhead Door Co.
HOLE SPONSORS
Doug Yaple’s Vacuum Cleaner Center
Imperial PFS
Koldrock Waters
Mar Mac Farms
Rodeo Square Hermitage, PA
UTZ
In Memory of Alfie and Alice Dore’
Wheelchairs & More
Joe B’s Carpet Connection
Chaser Family
Emergicare
TEE SPONSORS
Champion Ford
SILVER SPONSORS
Paragon Pint Systems
CRI Good Neighbor Fund
Parsons Copier Care
Doug Yaple’s Vacuum Cleaner Russell Concrete
Center
Scolio’s Fruit Baskets
Hagan Business Machines
M 80’s
TJ & S Insurance
New Motors
Parkers Garage
DONATIONS
Campbells Pottery
Erie Beer
Doug Yaple’s Vacuum Cleaner Center
Ferrier True Value
Garnon Mobility Vehicles
Larese Floral Designs
Mar Mac Farms
Tractor Supply Company
Wheelchairs and More
UPMC
Highmark
Utz
Mason Farms
Frankie & May
“I have a tip
that can take five
strokes off anyone’s
golf game: it’s
called an eraser.” - Arnold Palmer
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Private Pay
CRI is now offering Private-Pay In-Home Health Care
services. Our rates are based on an individual’s income and
range from $16.00 to $19.00 per hour. We offer various
services that enable you, our consumer, to remain at home
rather than to reside in a skilled-care or assisted living
facility. Regardless if the need is for short-term or long-term
assistance, we can help. CRI attendants are friendly, flexible,
and willing to do whatever it takes to meet your needs. All
you need to do is tell us what those needs are.
Listed below are the services we provide:
Companionship
Would you simply enjoy chatting with someone? Perhaps
you would enjoy going through photo albums or to talk
about past experiences. We have found that our consumers
enjoy the friendship and comfort regular visits provide.
Personal Care Assistance
This service includes assistance with bathing, toileting,
dressing and grooming - anything that is needed to help
prepare for your day.
Grocery Shopping
Do you enjoy grocery shopping? Your home-care attendant
will be there to take you grocery shopping and to carry
those heavy bags. Another option is to prepare a list, and
your attendant will take care of that task for you. The choice
is yours.
Light Housework / Meal Preparation
We will assist with daily household chores so that your
home continues to run smoothly. We can also assist with
meal planning and preparation.
Escort To and From Appointments
Do you have an appointment with your doctor or dentist,
do you want to visit a friend, or wish to go to church? Your
home-care attendant will be there to safely escort you.
Medical Reminders
Your home-care attendant can help you keep track of your
medication schedule and prompt you to take them, at the
appropriate time, in accordance with your Care Plan.
There are many things CRI can do for you. All you
need to do is call us for more information!
C O N G R AT S T R E Y !
Trevon Jenifer won a Paralympic bronze medal in London
as the U.S. wheelchair basketball team defeated Great
Britain 61-46 to win the bronze medal. The U.S. outscored
Great Britain 46-30 in the first half on its way to victory.
CRI’s Trevon Jenifer had two assists, one block and a steal
in the final game.
After returning from London, Trey paid a visit to
President Barack Obama at the White House. Obama
gathered Team USA at the White House to hail the
Olympians and Paralympians as conquering heroes.
Jenifer, a 24-year-old graduate of Edinboro University,
was among the athletes on hand to meet President Obama.
“We could not be prouder of you. You gave us a summer
that we will never forget,” Obama told more than 400
athletes crowding bleachers on the South Lawn.
Jenifer, a Huntingtown, Md. native, works as the Waiver
Program Service Coordinator for Community Resources
for Independence. He was born without legs as a result of
congenital amputation. On behalf of everyone at CRI we
would like to thank and congratulate Trey Jenifer; you are a
true hero and inspiration to the disabled community!
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NONPROFIT
ORG
www.crinet.org
US POSTAGE PAID
ERIE PA
PERMIT NO. 352
3410 West 12th Street
Erie, Pennsylvania 16505
Upcoming Events
• Mr. Bill Essignman retires from CRI after 33 years
• Updates from the State Independent Living Council
• Updates from the State Rehab Council
• Fiscal Managment Services (FMS) transfer to one
statewide public partnership limited in Boston, MA
• 2012-2013 Bay City Thunder & Lightning
• Conflict Free Service Coordination
“Excellence is not an act, it is a habit.”
As you may already know, National ADAPT, and numerous
other Advocacy Groups, CILs and Consumers, will
be hosting a statewide “My Medicaid Matters” rally in
Harrisburg on October 17th at the Capitol in Harrisburg, Pa.
It is very important to our statewide advocacy efforts to
preserve and expand medicaid funded HCBS services that as
many of LRI’s Consumers from both offices attend the “My
Medicaid Matters” rally. We need to support our Consumers
in this struggle. Please spread the word among all your
Consumers and to our awesome SCs. Please make any needed
additions to Consumers’ ISPs well in advance so that their
attendant care and travel needs are taken care of.
The spotlight will be on Governor Corbett and Harrisburg
on October 17th and we want LRI and our Consumers to
outnumber any other CILs and shine at this event.
Join the CRI Family!
Become a Direct Care Worker! (PCA)
Open Interviews: Tuesdays 9 AM - 12 PM and Thursdays 1 PM - 4 PM
Visit www.crinet.org for more information!
Other formats of the Connection are available upon request. Please contact CRI at 814-838-7222.