August/September 2013 Newsletter

T RC
News
TRC is a chapter of NYSARC, Inc., and a member of The Arc, ACCSES, ANCOR, NISH, NYSACRA, NYSID, & NYSRA
AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2013
Campers, staff enjoy another fun year at Onyahsa
Mark Goshgarian, Public Relations Coordinator
The fact that this year’s camp schedule was cut down from a week to four days,
certainly didn’t cut down on the amount
of fun that was had by all recently at the
YMCA’s Camp Onyahsa located off Route
430 in Dewittville.
“Yes, the biggest change this year was
the condensed schedule. It was a cost issue,” said Kevin Anderson, Administrator
of the Individualized Services Program,
who serves as Camp Co-Chair. “But it was
better for the campers in the sense that it
allowed them to have all the fun without
being totally exhausted by the end of the
week.”
From Sunday, August 18, through
Wednesday the 21st, about 70 campers attended camp, with a majority of them staying overnight. They took part in a number
of the usual activities including riding the
pontoon boat, going fishing, doing arts and
crafts, playing sports, and taking nature
walks.
“It gives them an opportunity to get
away,” said Karen Silzle, a TRC Residence
Coordinator who is the other Co-Chair of
Camp Week. “It’s the only time they get to
go on vacation, the only time they get out to
see old friends and meet new people.”
“Being all together, we’re good
friends,” said camper Maria Jacobson. “I
liked going on the boat, fishing and tie-dye
shirts too.”
“I had a lot of fun, and the staff is
making it fun,” said camper Stacy Langheinrich. “I liked swimming, boating and
archery.”
“I think I love it more than I thought
I would,” said first-time camper Pam Robbins. “It’s a lot of fun, a home away from
home.”
Almost all of the campers live in homes
operated by The Resource Center. TRC
organizes the Camp Onyahsa outing each
year, renting the camp itself, hiring YMCA
camp staff and arranging for all of the staff
support — including nursing and dietary
services — required by the campers.
The community campers pose with their support staff hired by New Vision Services. Pictured are, from left, sitting campers Brenda Carlson, Allison Miller and Sydney Brown; counselor Jane Young; and camper Grace Ribaudo; and, standing, camper William Prince; Terri Johnson, New Vision's Administrative Director; counselors Melissa Rasmussen, Marla Gressley and
Bruce Main, and campers Paul Ribaudo, Elizabeth Ribaudo, Inelia Torres, and Ben Tillotson.
The Trustees of the NYSARC Trusts
provided TRC with a $6,000 grant to support recreational opportunities for TRC
service recipients. The money was used to
help offset some of the costs TRC incurred
in conducting the four-day camp experience.
The NYSARC Trusts administer supplemental needs trusts that enable people
who have disabilities to remain in their
home and community and retain their
Medicaid-eliglible services. The Trustees
utilize remainder funds to benefit other
persons with disabilities including Chapter Guardianship programs as provided by
statute. In addition to the recreation grant,
the Trustees awarded $1,225,5000 to support Chapter Guardianship programs. Information on how one may benefit from a
NYSARC Trust is available by calling 518439-8323 or 1-800-735-8924 or by emailing info@nysarctrustservices,org.
Thanks to the generosity of the Jamestown Rotary Club, nine individuals who
live in the community were able to attend
camp this year. Rotary awarded TRC an
$8,250 grant so that these community
campers could enjoy the same experience
as the campers who came from TRC
homes. A portion of the money was used to
hire four camp counselors who oversaw the
nine community campers. The counselors
were hired through New Vision Services,
Inc., which works with The Resource Center to improve the lives of people with disabilities.
“This has been a really fun experience,” said Marla Gressley, marking her
first summer as a community camp counselor. “I like the camaraderie of TRC, camp
and New Vision staff to support these guys
and have a good time. The Rotary money is
extremely important, because these campers wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t for that
money.”
“I enjoyed it, it was wonderful. It’s a
fun place for people to be in the summer.
I liked canoeing, playing basketball and
kickball,” said first-time community camper Inelia Torres. “I congratulate Rotary,
because they provided the money for us; if
they didn’t; I wouldn’t be able to come here
on my own.”
“It’s a great time, a great place. It’s
like a summer vacation away from home,”
said community camper Ben Tillotson.
TRC News
In Memory
Board Corner
TRC begins implementation
of STARS health care model,
Broad Scale System Integration
David Allen, 67, passed away June 22. He was
employed in the Work Center at the Mary Andrews Center on East Chestnut Street from October 2005 to March 2009 and again from June
2010 until May of this year. David was a big
supporter of Laurel Run and made sure he was a
part of Laurel’s Lap each year.
The Resource Center has begun moving into the future.
TRC's Board of Directors has authorized a strategic and
business plan for the agency's "Broad Scale System Integration." This initiative is based upon TRC's new STARS health
care model, which focuses on managing a person's five key life
dimensions: basic needs and family stability; quality of life and
satisfaction; health and medical needs; behavioral health; and
employment and meaningful activities.
STARS stands for System Transformation with Accountability, Results and Satisfaction. STARS is designed to make
the best use of TRC's various services in order to address an individual's overall well being. And STARS is not intended solely
for people with disabilities — anyone in the community can be
supported by STARS, and the Board approved the creation of a
STARS Healthcare Plan for certain TRC employees.
In other matters at its monthly meeting, the Board:
* was updated by Executive Director Paul Cesana on the
initiative to eliminate the funding cut that the Governor
and the Legislature had imposed upon voluntary service
providers for the 2013-14 fiscal year. Paul said that while
lawmakers claimed they were restoring the full $90 million in State Medicaid money that had been removed
from the budget of the Office for People With Developmental Disabilities, in reality the government agreed not
to cut any money from OPWDD in the event audits and
other cost-savings measures fail to add up to $90 million.
* was informed by Paul of new expectations regarding
Medicaid Waiver Pre-Vocational Services and the State's
decision to de-fund "sheltered employment" through a
mandate stating that, as of July 1, individuals with developmental disabilities no longer could receive Pre-Voc
Services in segregated settings. The Board then approved submitting to OPWDD a proposed reinvestment
plan based on converting Long-Term Sheltered Employment funding and Direct Contract funding to Medicaid
Waiver funding.
* was notified by Paul that, given OPWDD's denial of
TRC's request to undertake renovations at the Intermediate Care Facility on Foote Avenue, TRC will develop
a plan to consider options to serve Foote ICF residents
in settings that are better aligned with OPWDD's system
transformation.
* was updated by Paul on positive discussions between
TRC and The Chautauqua Center (a Federally Qualified
Health Center located in Dunkirk) to explore possible
collaborations in the provision of Primary Care Services.
* approved TRC's 2012 audited financial statements.
* authorized a commitment to partner with TRC Tactical to
generate additional work for Allied Industries, The Resource Center's employment and manufacturing division.
* authorized the renewal of leases for facilities TRC operates on East Second Street in Jamestown and East Chestnut Street in Dunkirk, as well as a number of Individualized Residential Alternatives.
* approved a five-year sponsorship of the Street JAM basketball tournament.
Cheyanne Hall, 41, passed away August 2. Cheyanne had received
supports from The Resource Center.
Barbara Jackson, 57, died August 6. Barb began working for TRC in September 2008, and in
her five years here she worked as a Bus Driver,
Transportation Aide and Direct Support Professional in Dunkirk. She received a Staff Appreciation Award for “always making herself available
to do anything that comes up, works well with
staff and consumers, is very reliable, and she can
be put in any situation and she will do fine."
Donald C. Johnson, 60, passed away September 3. Don worked at
TRC from 1994 to 2011, first as a Transportation Aide and later at
the home on Forest Avenue. In 2006 he was honored for his actions
to ensure the safety of the residents during an accident at the home.
John Logan, 81, passed away July 31. John began
participating in the Dunkirk Work Center Program
in 1973 and worked there for 37 years before retiring in 2010.
Barbara Nocek, 74, passed away August 20. Barbara worked as a Driver in the Transportation Department from 2000 to 2009.
Eleanor Rasmussen, 81, passed away September
13. She had worked as a cleaner at the Michael J.
Raymond Center since 1991, first as an employee
of New Vision Services, then as an employee of
Support Enterprises, and finally as a TRC employee
since 2008. Her son Corey and his wife, Melissa,
are TRC employees.
Brian Shampoe, 52, passed away July 5. Brian had worked as a
Machine Operator for Support Enterprises, Inc., since August 2007.
He was a shy person who liked cats.
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Kathleen Strasser, 71, passed away July 11. Kathleen was employed by The Resource Center from
January 1998 to January 2003, working as an Activities Aide and a Community Living Specialist at the
Individualized Residential Alternative on Fairmount
Avenue in Jamestown.
Carolyn Strom, 75, passed away August 13. Her son Steve and
grandson Matt work for The Resource Center, while her son Jeremy
receives supports from TRC. Carolyn's family has requested that
memorials in her honor be directed to TRC Foundation.
TRC News
TRC conducting campaign to increase awareness, support
With the many changes taking place in the delivery of services
to people with disabilities, The Resource Center believes it is important to more deeply engage its stakeholders.
Toward that end, TRC has launched a trial Membership Campaign and plans to roll out a more comprehensive campaign next
spring. While most Membership Campaigns focus on raising money for an organization, TRC’s campaign has as its main goal the
desire to increase the number of people interested in learning about
the agency and lending their support toward efforts to improve life
for individuals with disabilities.
Borrowing from the United Way’s successful strategy of dividing potential supporters into constituencies based on common
attributes, The Resource Center selected 10 “stakeholder groups” to
target during the ongoing mini-campaign:
* Individuals with disabilities
* Families of people with disabilities
* TRC employees
* Local employers who have hired individuals with disabilities
* Businesses that provide work to TRC’s Employment Centers
* Sponsors of TRC special events
* Service groups
* Education
* Religious groups
* Physicians
Individuals were approached about serving as co-chairs for the
various stakeholder groups, with members of TRC’s management
team assigned to support the co-chairs. The co-chairs and management team members comprise the Membership Cabinet.
Much like the United Way’s annual fund drive, which relies on
the use of community volunteers, TRC’s campaign is intended to
be led by the co-chairs, with TRC’s management team available to
serve as a sounding board, answer questions and furnish materials
needed for the campaign. And following the United Way’s formula,
the co-chairs for each stakeholder group are expected to recruit people to help them conduct the campaign for that group. It is hoped
that each person on a team will only have to contact a handful of
people, and that those people will be folks whom the team member
already knows.
The campaign focuses on the concepts of Engagement, Membership and Advocacy. The first step is Engagement, with team
members reaching out to people in their particular stakeholder
group. Those contacts can be done in person, by telephone, through
email, or via a letter, depending on which approach is likely to work
best for each individual stakeholder group. The main message is
simple – Are you familiar with The Resource Center and its mission?
From there, it is expected that some mutual sharing of information will take place as the team member and the contact discuss how
the contact may be able to support TRC, and how TRC in turn may
be of benefit to the contact. For the Religious Groups, perhaps an
outcome will be that a church will offer rides to people with disabilities who don’t have transportation to attend church; for Employers,
an outcome could be that a local business hires a person who is
disabled; for Education, perhaps a group of students will take part
in the Step Up for Autism walk. Engagement also can mean serving
on an advisory committee to TRC’s Board of Directors.
From Engagement, some of the people contacted will move
to Membership, in which someone makes a decision to financially
support The Resource Center’s mission. The Resource Center is a
membership organization, and membership is open to anyone who
wants to improve the lives of people with disabilities. Anyone who
pays TRC’s annual dues can receive a Membership Card that entitles them to discounts at more than 20 local businesses.
The step beyond Membership is Advocacy, which can take the
form of sending an e-mail to protest a planned cut in funding of
services to people with disabilities; or possibly serving as a member
of a disabled individual’s Circle of Support and taking an active role
in helping to shape a person’s ideal life.
TRC is undertaking this campaign because the agency needs
the community’s support. For many years, The Resource Center
has taken on the role of ensuring the welfare and personal fulfillment of individuals with disabilities. But with changes in the ways
services are delivered, and increasing expectations that people with
disabilities must truly be integrated within the community, TRC
wants to make people aware that EVERYONE must play a role in
making a difference in the lives of people with disabilities.
The current trial Membership Campaign will wrap up in October. Organizers will assess how the campaign went, then begin
preparing for the launch of a widespread campaign in March.
If you want more information or are interested in helping out
with the campaign, contact Nancy Ingram, Assistant Executive Director, at 661-1445 or Steve Waterson, Community Relations Director, at 661-4735.
TRC Night at the Ballpark
From left, Greg Peterson poses with Jamestown Jammers player
Harold Ramirez and John Constantino, who works in the Shipping
and Receiving Department at TRC’s facility on Jones & Gifford Avenue. As part of the festivities at the annual "Greg Peterson/TRC Night
at the Ballpark" on August 19, John was given the honor of throwing
the ceremonial first pitch. After he did so, Harold signed the baseball
and gave it to John as a souvenir. Also as part of TRC Night at the
Ballpark, The Resource Center’s Board of Directors held its monthly
meeting at the stadium, and TRC employees, service recipients, Board
members, and their families and friends could attend that night's game
for free. TRC Night at the Ballpark is named in honor of Greg, a local
attorney and baseball fan who has served on the Boards The Resource
Center and TRC Foundation since 1977.
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TRC News
TRC Symposium addresses changes in service delivery
Looming, radical changes in the ways
services are delivered to people with disabilities was the focus of The Resource Center’s
fourth annual “TRC Symposium at Chautauqua,” held July 23 and 24.
The Symposium’s first day was held inside the historic Athenaeum Hotel at Chautauqua Institution and featured five experts in
the disability field.
The first speaker was Jim Wilson, retired Executive Director of an agency like
TRC located in Schuyler County, NY. Wilson
began his career providing direct support to
people with developmental disabilities. “At
the time, I didn’t know much about people
with disabilities,” he said, “but I knew there
was something wrong with the way society
was dealing with them.” It was about that
time that society began to understand that
“institutional living was horrible and wrong,”
and states began to move toward closing institutions. In New York State, deplorable
living conditions uncovered at the Willowbrook State School led to a movement to take
people with disabilities out of institutions and
create community-based homes.
Yet 25 years after Willowbrook was declared officially closed — and 14 years after
the U.S. Supreme Court’s Olmstead decision,
which states that people with disabilities
must receive supports in the most integrated
setting possible — about 1,000 New Yorkers
with disabilities still live in institutions.
Wilson is wary of the pending move
from a fee-for-service approach to a managed
care system of providing supports. While
some government officials say the change is
being driven by a desire to improve services,
Wilson was blunt in his assessment: “This
transformation is about money.”
Decrying what he called a lack of leadership, he said disability advocates need to
make their voices heard and fight for their
rights. He said progress on disability issues
may quicken if people begin showing up at
political events with signs reading, “Where’s
the New York State Olmstead plan?”
Wilson ended his presentation with a
quote from Congressman John Lewis, one of
the leaders of the Civil Rights Movement and
a person who also was present in Selma for
the marches: “We’re too quiet. We need to
make some noise. We need to push and pull.
We need to have that sense of passion. Don’t
give up, don’t give in, don’t give out, don’t
become bitter, don’t become hostile, don’t
become cynical. Keep the faith, keep your
eyes on the prize, and walk with the wind.”
The next speaker was Martin Gerry,
an attorney who is the Executive Director of
NISH’s Institute for Economic Development.
His presentation focused on a project called
At the conclusion of the Symposium, guest speakers were presented with framed copies
of paintings made by individuals in the Creations Art Program. Pictured, from left, are artist Taynisha Lynch; speaker Beth Ann Vandenberg; speaker Martin Gerry, Esq.; artist Glenn
Miller; artist Mary Ford; and speaker Jim Wilson.
“Pathways to Careers” that seeks to create
an environment in which youths and adults
with significant disabilities “have both an
informed choice of competitive, integrated
employment options across a broad range
of community settings and access to ongoing career support.” Gerry believes that only
when this is achieved will people with disabilities attain “full citizenship.”
For decades, one employment option for
people with disabilities has been to work in a
“sheltered workshop” (also known as a Work
Center or an Employment Center), where
individuals with disabilities work alongside
one another and can produce at their own
pace, earning a paycheck and the self esteem that comes from having a job. TRC
operates Employment Centers in Jamestown,
Dunkirk and Buffalo, providing employment
and work training opportunities to hundreds
of people with disabilities. Some advocates
believe Employment Centers prevent people
with disabilities from entering the mainstream working world, and as a result the federal government and some states — including New York — have moved to eliminate
funding for Work Center programs.
Gerry likened this move to California’s
decision in the 1970s to close its institutions
housing people with mental illness — the
State believed community supports would
step in and support people once they had been
released from institutions, but that did not
happen. Instead, Gerry said, “people go to
prisons, hospitals or sleep under overpasses.”
He predicted New York State’s decision
to discontinue funding new admissions to
Employment Center programs, in the hope
people with disabilities will find competitive
jobs with community employers, will cost the
State a lot of money. “It is not cheap do to
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things badly,” he said.
Gerry said it makes economic sense to
find jobs for people with disabilities. He
noted that 14 million people of working age
in the United States receive Social Security
disability payments, and the vast majority of
them are individuals with intellectual, developmental or emotional disabilities. The United States will spend $650 billion this year on
disability payments and is projected to spend
$1 trillion in 2020, Gerry stated.
“That’s money we’re paying people not
to work,” he said.
Next to speak was Beth Ann Vandenberg, a Clinical Nurse Specialist who has an
in-home nursing practice near Buffalo, working with people who have behavioral health
challenges. As part of her job, she supports
the staff at homes for people with developmental disabilities, and she complimented
these employees for the work they do.
“I have to give kudos to those of you
who work in group homes,” Ms. Vandenberg
said. “I think it is one of the most complex
jobs that people have.”
One of the things she values in her own
job is the fact that, by going into people’s
homes, she gets to see where and how they
live, gaining insights she would not gain by
seeing clients in an office. There’s also a
“power shift” that occurs when a nurse visits
a person’s home — the care provider has to
respect the client and his/her environment.
Ms. Vandenberg focused her presentation on TRC’s mission of addressing an individual’s five key life dimensions: basic
needs, health, behavioral health, family and
social supports, employment and valued
community engagement. Flavoring her remarks with real-life examples of the clients
with whom she works, Ms. Vandenberg’s
TRC News
presentation was at turns poignant, humorous and sad as she described
people’s challenges, personalities and life situations. Many of the situations she described were familiar to TRC employees in the audience.
She spoke of people who don’t have the energy to clean their
homes, or who cook their meals and eat them standing at the stove
because it would take too much out of them to try to take their meal
to a table to eat while sitting in a chair. She spoke of people who are
estranged from their family and have no way to get to a medical appointment. She spoke of the family of a woman with developmental
disabilities who lives on her own — the family wants to help her, but
sometimes she won’t let them and then has to live with the consequences when, in exercising her right to make her own choices, she
spends her grocery money on chips and soda.
“Sometimes those rights can get in the way of what we think is
best for someone,” Ms. Vandenberg said.
She added that, as an in-home provider, she sometimes has to do
more than is expected in order to support someone, such as the time
she lifted a woman’s spirits simply by taking her to a cemetery so the
woman could tend to a family member’s burial site.
Providers need to “personalize our responses to marginalized
people as we provide care,” she said.
During lunch, a panel discussion took place in which three TRC
service recipients shared their personal journeys. The speakers were
introduced by Nancy Ingram, Assistant Executive Director, who noted
that “almost no one needs just one service; people tend to have multiple issues going on.”
First to speak was Elizabeth Sturdevant, who moved to Chautauqua County about 18 months earlier with little more than the clothes
on her back. TRC staff helped her get furniture, find a counselor and
a physician, and secure a job in TRC’s Employment Center. Ms. Sturdevant, who endured a childhood marked by physical, psychological
and sexual abuse, said she has learned to trust people and feels better
about her future. She wants to make a difference in the lives of others.
“My dream for life is to have enough money to help people,” she
said, mentioning a goal of starting a farm where people with disabilities can live and work. “I'm hoping and praying that it will come true.”
The next panel presenter was Amanda Bolinger, who talked
about her recent successful move into her own apartment thanks to
her “Circle of Support,” a group of people who came together to assist
Ms. Bolinger in meeting her goals. Now in her own apartment, Ms.
Bolinger values her privacy and is happy (despite some noisy neighbors). She has begun working to improve her life in other ways, attending self-advocacy classes and learning to cook.
The final lunchtime speaker was Christopher Cobready, who
in March 2011 endured “the worst possible thing that could ever happen” when his children were removed from his home. County officials
gave Cobready and his wife a list of things they needed to accomplish
before their children would be returned to them.
“The missus and I rolled up our sleeves and said, `Time to get to
work,’” Cobready said. “No matter how tough the road got, we never
gave up. Our children were the most important thing.” With support
from TRC, he went into counseling, got a job and found a new place to
live. Eventually, his children were returned to his custody.
The first speaker following lunch was Ann Monroe, the President
of the Health Foundation for Western and Central New York and a
member of New York State’s Medicaid Redesign Team. She spoke
about the dramatic changes coming as New York State transitions to a
managed care approach of providing services.
Ms. Monroe shared some stark statistics, showing that Chautauqua County ranks near the bottom in New York State in measurements
of health outcomes. This needs to change.
“Our job is about improving the health of people,” she told the
audience. “Your job collectively is to improve their health, mental
health and experience of living.” To drive home this point, she shared
the story of a janitor at NASA who, when asked what his job was,
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responded, “I helped put a man on the moon.” Her point was that
everyone in an organization plays an important role.
Ms. Monroe said that New York State Medicaid redesign and the
federal Affordable Care Act are focused on reducing costs and improving personal outcomes. New York State’s redesign is centered around
Medicaid Managed Care and the creation of regional Behavioral
Health Organizations (BHOs), Developmental Disabilities Individual Support and Care Coordination Organizations (DISCOs), Health
Homes, and Primary Care Medical Homes.
In this new environment, she said, agencies such as TRC must figure out how to deliver quality services while remaining financially viable. A key will be for agencies to identify what they do best, and then
align themselves with partners who can complement those strengths.
“We always say that we’re looking for collaboration, and I’m
not going to say that collaboration isn’t important. What we’re really
striving for, though, is connection. I think that is going to have to be
the glue that gets us all across this chasm to where we need to be,” she
said. “When you start to measure your work on a common standard,
you’ll find that some organizations are much better at certain things
than others, and the things you’re good at they may need help with.”
The final presenter was Adele Gregory Gorges, the Executive
Director of the New York Care Coordination Program, Inc., who expanded upon some of the topics raised by Ms. Monroe.
Ms. Gorges spoke about the Western Regional Behavioral Health
Organization, which is responsible for monitoring inpatient behavioral
health services for individuals within the 19-county Western region of
New York State, and how it has outperformed the other four BHOs in
19 of 20 quality indicators. She said BHOs try to determine “where
can we be getting better outcomes for our clients so we have a smoother transition into managed care.”
She explained that a Health Home is a care management service
model in which all of an individual’s caregivers communicate with one
another to address a patient’s needs in a comprehensive manner. This
is done primarily through a care manager who oversees and provides
access to all of the services an individual needs to assure that he/she
receives everything necessary to stay healthy. Ms. Gorges said Health
Homes help ensure that providers stay focused on a person's needs.
She also talked about HARPs (Health and Recovery Plans),
stand-alone plans for people with chronic mental illness. She said The
Resource Center is positioned well to become a HARP provider, if the
agency were to decide it is worth the effort.
At the conclusion of the Symposium’s first day, Dr. Todd Jacobson, the President of TRC’s Board of Directors, thanked all of the
speakers for their contributions, and applauded staff for attending the
Symposium to learn more about the changes that are coming.
“We certainly have a challenging future ahead of us, but I’m confident in our executive staff to develop a new path to address the dramatic changes coming.” Dr. Jacobson said.
The Symposium’s second day began with the guest speakers touring some of TRC’s facilities, then breaking into groups to dialog with
staff and service recipients. The groups then came together at the Administrative Offices on Dunham Avenue to recap the discussions.
Executive Director Paul Cesana was pleased with the way the
Symposium unfolded. He noted that while the goals of the system
transformation are laudable, the changes are being driven by cost concerns. He said New York State is using the system transformation as
“an opportunity to change funding using ideology as an excuse” and
that this could result in a lot of unintended consequences.
He added that to be successful, the new system will rely on relationships and new partnerships involving communities and municipalities. “We need to create relationships,” Cesana said. “We’ll be
asking people to help us.”
He concluded, “The evolution continues in terms of society’s understanding that everyone has value, everyone has dignity, everyone
has something to offer.”
TRC News
TRC celebrates DSP Recognition Week
The Resource Center recently took time to pay tribute to the
employees who are the backbone of the agency — those who provide direct support to individuals with disabilities.
The week of September 8 through 14 was National Direct
Support Professional Recognition Week. On September 12, TRC
recognized four employees during its annual “Celebrating TRC’s
Everyday Heroes” event inside the Conference Center at its offices
on Dunham Avenue.
The celebration began with Michele Albaugh, Assistant Director of Staff Training, sharing some of the qualities possessed by the
Everyday Heroes.
Joanne Bevan, Director of Residential Services, said that DSP
Recognition Week is an opportunity to show appreciation to all
TRC employees who provide direct support.
“If it wasn’t for them, the lives of the people we touch wouldn’t
have as much in them,” Joanne said. “We thank you every single
day for what you do.”
Debbie Brown, Director of Day Services, noted that while the
work performed by DSPs can be challenging, it also is rewarding.
“You do amazing things and support those we work with to
become the remarkable people we all care so much about," Debbie
said. "Your every interaction touches the life of someone, and what
you do means so much."
She added a quote from renowned newscaster Tom Brokaw:
“It's easy to make a buck. It's a lot tougher to make a difference.”
Executive Director Paul Cesana read some dictionary definitions of what a hero is, noting that characteristics such as “feats of
courage and nobility of purpose” and “special achievements in their
field or endeavor” apply to TRC’s DSPs.
“You have a type of commitment that’s so special and unique,”
Paul said. “Thank you so much for your dedication.”
The four employees honored as Everyday Heroes were:
Danielle Chase — Danielle, a DSP in the “Discoveries” Day
Habilitation Program on Jones & Gifford Avenue in Jamestown,
used to volunteer at TRC before becoming an employee in June
2010. Autumn Wilson, Manager of the Discoveries Program, said
Danielle “can motivate everyone to have a higher expectation for
themselves, and makes it their idea. She then revels in the fact that
people discover what they can do and that there is no limit to what
they can achieve.” In a videotaped interview that was played during the celebration, Danielle said the hardest thing about her job is
not knowing what each day will bring, because the people she supports have good days and bad days. But she relishes her job working with individuals who are disabled. “I love seeing them flourish
and get to where they want to be,” Danielle said. “If you want to
better someone’s life … this would be the job that you would want.”
Joelle Iuculano — Joelle, a DSP in the home on Whitehill Avenue in Jamestown, joined TRC in 2000. “Even though the residents of the Whitehill IRA view her as a family member, Joelle
always maintains professional boundaries and carries herself as
an employee working for the individuals at Whitehill," said John
Vogan, Residence Coordinator. "Joelle always appears bright end
energetic, and I have never seen her in a bad mood while at work.”
In her interview, Joelle said a challenging part of her job was learning to have patience and recognizing that everyone makes mistakes.
“The people who live here have a harder life than we could ever
imagine,” Joelle said. “I just see myself as a person who cares
about people.”
Jessica Mosher — Jess, a DSP in the home on Norby Road in
Kiantone, began working for TRC in October 2010. “Jess is dedicated to the residents,” said Karen Silzle, Residence Coordinator.
Jess Mosher, Joelle Iuculano, Danielle Chase, Tabatha Stenstrom.
PHOTO BY JANE YOUNG
“She steps in and takes on extra responsibilities as needed. She is
here for the consumers first, as we all should be.” In her interview,
Jess said that a DSP could easily get frustrated when someone with
a disability doesn’t want to work on goals or household tasks, but
that you “have to figure out another way” to motivate the residents.
Noting that a DSP’s job is “not just a paycheck,” Jess said that
the individuals she supports “are absolutely wonderful” and have
“probably taught me more than I’ve taught them.”
Tabatha Stenstrom — Tabatha, a Supported Living Specialist in the Individualized Services Department, joined TRC in 2006.
Kevin Anderson, Administrator of the Individualized Services Program, noted that Tabatha “works by herself out in the field,” supporting people with disabilities who live on their own or with their
families. He said that one of Tabatha’s biggest accomplishments
has been the effect she’s had on a young man with behavior challenges. Whereas Tabatha used to only be able to work with this
man in his home due to concerns of a behavioral issue occurring in
public, the man now regularly goes out into the community when
he's with Tabatha. In her interview, she said that one thing she likes
about her job is that, “The simple achievements that people make,
you feel good about yourself because you were a part of that.”
All four Everyday Heroes credited teamwork as a critical factor
in being able to do their jobs effectively.
Each of the Everyday Heroes received $25, a TRC jacket, candy, a frame bearing inspirational words, a copy of their videotaped
interview, and the opportunity to go to the Direct Support Conference in Keuka Lake next June. Their names have been added to a
plaque containing the names of Everyday Heroes from past years.
Serving on the Selection Committee to determine the Everyday
Heroes were Michele Albaugh; Tyler Case, Human Resources Administrator; Jessica Holmes, Supported Living Specialist Manager;
John Vogan; and Autumn Wilson.
A number of employees also received Honorable Mention:
Mickey Berlin
Melissa Cardone
Jennifer Edwards
Debra Hall
Shan-ti-ka Jessie
6
Karen Johnson
Jill Marsh
Margaret Meek
Jessie Mekus
Annie Melendez
Roberta Pratt
Ashley Randolph
Jeanne Slade
Brian Smith
Autumn Walters
To see the videos (which were shot by Don Traynor, Staff Development Specialist) go to http://resourcecenter.org.
TRC News
TRC Golf Classic enjoys another successful year
TRC Foundation's most successful
fund-raiser enjoyed another great year.
The 17th annual TRC Golf Classic
took place August 12 at Moon Brook Country Club in Jamestown. Despite persistent
rain and cool temperatures, the golfers had
a great day out on the course.
The winning team included members
of TRC's family. The winning foursome
of Mike Goldman, a member of The Resource Center’s Board of Directors; Randy
Ordines, the Chair of TRC Foundation’s
Board; Jason Stronz; and Bill Salter shot
a 115 in the tournament, which counts the
two best scores by a team's members over
the round of 18 holes. The team's score was
eight strokes better than the runners-up.
Other members of TRC's family did
well, too. Greg Krauza, a member of TRC
Foundation's Board, played on the team that
finished third, with a score of 125. Executive Director Paul Cesana's team finished
fourth (126). The fifth-place team (127) included Pat Smeraldo, Independent Service
Coordinator with Chautauqua Connections,
and Mike Cappa, a past Honorary Chair of
the TRC Golf Classic. Tournament Steering Committee members Brian Lydic and
Ron Sellers played on teams that finished
seventh and eighth, respectively.
After the tournament, the annual Special Olympics putting contest took place,
with a record number of competitors. For
the contest, each golfer had three chances
Executive Director Paul Cesana, left, and Dan Reininga, right, the President and Chief Executive Officer of Lake Shore Savings Bank, pose with the winners of the 17th annual TRC Golf
Classic: from left, Mike Goldman, Randy Ordines, Jason Stronz, and Bill Salter. Each of the
winners received a painting made by artists with disabilities in TRC's Creations art program.
to make a putt of about 40 feet. Darrell
Stein went first, with his final attempt coming to rest about 6 inches to the right of the
hole. He then had to sweat it out as 28 other
golfers tried to beat his mark. Several golfers hit putts that rolled over the top of the
hole, but none ended up closer than Darrell's.
The post-event reception included a
silent auction of paintings created by individuals in TRC's Creations art program.
The 2013 TRC Golf Classic is expected to net about $57,000. Over the years, the
tournament has raised almost $1.3 million
for TRC Foundation.
Paul and Dan pose with Darrell Stein,
who received a Moon Brook Country Club
pullover for winning the putting contest.
Gregg Bender, left, and Paul pose with the golfers who took part in the Special Olympics putting contest.
7
TRC News
Disability Awareness Awards
will be presented October 9
People with disabilities who have made significant accomplishments within the past year, as well as individuals and organizations that have supported those who are disabled, will be honored
at TRC’s 25th annual Disability Awareness Awards Celebration.
The event will be held Wednesday, October 9, in TRC’s Conference Center, located at 200 Dunham Avenue in Celoron. Hors
d’oeuvres will be served beginning at 7:00 p.m., with the awards
presentation beginning immediately afterwards.
A group of community volunteers served on the Selection Committee. After considering the nominations, the committee chose the
following as the recipients of this year’s awards:
Advocate of the Year
Josh Pietro
Allied Industries Customer of the Year
Whirley Industries
Bruce Walford Community Service Award
Brian Samuelson
Community Support Award
Lander's Men's Store
Employer of the Year
Premier Lakewood Inc.
Health Provider of the Year
Dr. James Campion
Edwin W. Roth Mental Health Award
Thaddeus Lund
Outstanding Achievement
Courtney Spencer
Personal Success
Christopher Cobready
Elmer J. Muench Volunteer of the Year
Michelle Wood
Tess Kerzner, Director of Children's Services, and Vince Liuzzo
look on as Thomas Claus adds some finishing touches to a Zumba hand
shaker in the Future Strivers room at the Day Habilitation Program on
Jones & Gifford Avenue in Jamestown. The shakers, as well as others
made in the Senior Adult Day Hab on Harris Avenue, were used by
some of the people who took part in a Zumba fund-raiser that Vince
helped organize. The event raised $200 toward Step Up for Autism.
Autism Walk set for Sept. 28
Plans are under way for the fourth annual Step Up for Autism
celebration, to be held Saturday, September 28, in Celoron. The
event is being coordinated by The Resource Center and Filling the
Gap, Inc., with support from parents and village officials.
The event will begin and end at The Resource Center’s Administrative Offices at 200 Dunham Avenue. Participants will walk to
Lucille Ball Memorial Park on the shore of Chautauqua Lake, then
return to The Resource Center (a total distance of about 1.5 miles)
for food, children’s activities, a cake auction, and prize drawings.
Step Up for Autism was created after local parents lamented
that there was no social skills training available in Chautauqua
County for children with autism spectrum disorder. So in July
2010, The Resource Center established SUCCESS (which stands
for Supporting, Understanding, Changing, Coping, and Everyday
Social Skills), a program that helps children and young adults with
autism learn social skills to enable them to better interact with the
world around them.
Besides raising money for the SUCCESS program, Step Up for
Autism provides an opportunity for community members to show
their support for people with autism by taking part in the walk.
The suggested entry fee is $20, but donations of any amount
will be accepted – organizers just want to have a huge turnout.
Those paying the registration fee will receive a 2013 Step Up for
Autism T-shirt and lunch the day of the event.
Registration begins at 9:00 a.m., with the walk scheduled to
start at about 10:15.
There also is an opportunity for people to earn prizes for themselves by raising money online for Step Up for Autism. Prizes
range from a $20 gift card for raising $150 for Step Up for Autism,
to a $100 gift card if you raise $550. For more information or to
create your personal fund-raising web page, visit www.firstgiving.
com/trcfoundation.
For more information or to register, phone 661-1057 or email
[email protected], or you can visit the web site —
www.stepupforautism.com.
8
Please join us for the 25th annual Disability Awareness Awards
Celebration as we pay tribute to the achievements of people with
disabilities and those who support them. A sign language interpreter will be on hand for those with hearing impairments.
The Awards Celebration is being sponsored by The Resource
Center, TRC Foundation and NYSID. Tickets are $15 each. Reservations are requested by Tuesday, October 1. For more information
or to obtain a reservation form, call Victoria Trass Bardo, 661-1477.
We had a strong pool of nominees this year, and we thank everyone who took time to submit a nomination. It is an honor just to
be nominated for an award. The rest of the nominees were:
Aktion Club/Jamestown Kiwanis Club Kyle Keller
Kevin Anderson
Josh Koch
Deja Aucoin
Crystal Peelman
Linda Burlingame
Tom Rhodes
Celoron Fire Department
Joniel Olivencia Rivera
Chautauqua County Health Network
Resa Rosen-Murray
Peter Conley
Rhonda Scott
Coty Croker
Village of Silver Creek
Bill Dorman
Christian Stenander
Renee Ferraloro
Peter Szynski
Greystone Nature Preserve
Michelle Tingue
Ron Hosken
Travelers Day Hab
Julie Jackson
Trudy VanDette
Beth Jermain
Jamestown YMCA
Shawn Johnson
Sue Yocum
TRC News
TRC joins effort to block NY State from eliminating Work Centers
As part of its plan to provide more integrated opportunities to individuals with
developmental disabilities, New York State
has proposed eliminating so-called “sheltered workshops” (such as TRC’s Work
Centers) as an employment option for people with disabilities.
While The Resource Center agrees
with the State’s desire to get more people
into integrated employment settings, we
know that eliminating Work Center Programs will negatively impact many individuals. This is because some people utilize the Work Centers as a stepping stone
to community-based employment, while
others simply prefer Work Center employment over a job in the community — Work
Center employment is the option that best
meets their needs.
In addition, individuals who lose their
community-based job often return to the
Work Centers so they can receive pre-vocational services that enable them to maintain
and increase their employment skills while
they look for a new job.
In Chautauqua County, people with
disabilities have participated in Work Center Programs at The Resource Center for
more than 50 years. Elimination of Work
Center Programs as an employment option
would mean that people with disabilities
who want to work no longer would have a
choice — community employment would
be the only option.
Time is running out to make your
voice heard on this important issue! By
October 1, New York State must submit a
draft plan to the federal government regarding what steps the State intends to take to
transform the delivery of services so that
people with intellectual and other developmental disabilities receive supports in the
most integrated setting appropriate to each
person. Currently, the elimination of Work
Center Programs is part of the State’s plan.
The Resource Center is joining with
other providers to protest the planned elimination of Work Center Programs. TRC
scheduled forums for September 24 in
Jamestown and September 25 in Dunkirk to
discuss this issues with service recipients,
families and staff.
To learn more about this issue and to
see sample letters that individuals with disabilities, families, TRC employees, and others can send to elected officials to maintain
Work Center Programs as an employment
option for people with disabilities, visit
http://employmentcoalitionofwny.com.
For more info, phone Nancy Ingram,
Assistant Executive Director, at 661-1445
or Cynthia Neu, Mobility Coordinator, at
485-4640.
Mental Health Programs
relocate as part of TRC's
system integration plan
The Resource Center's implementation of a broad-scale system integration has
begun with the relocation of the agency's
Counseling and Psychiatric Services.
On September 3, the Dunkirk office
moved from 186 Lake Shore Drive West to
51 East Third Street, where the "Gateways"
Program has been located for years. Leanna Luka-Conley, Director of Care Coordination and Behavioral Services, and Kristy
Lauer, Manager of the Dunkirk mental
health programs, report that the co-location
of Counseling and Psychiatric Services and
the Gateways Personalized Recovery Oriented Services has led to better care for clients and will create operating efficiencies.
Meanwhile in Jamestown, the Counseling and Psychiatric Services office will
be relocating from Fourth Street to the Carl
Cappa Building on Second Street, effective
October 1. Leanna and Steve Riczker, Director of Health Services, say the move will
result in better coordination of services, as
the Cappa Building already houses TRC's
Primary Care Office and Dental Services.
Other moves are anticipated in the
coming months as TRC enhances its
STARS (System Transformation with Accountability, Results and Satisfaction) plan
to provide better health care at a lower cost,
while improving the patient's experience.
Opening the Front Door
Surma Ayuso, left, and Jean Wesley were showcased at the Developmental Disabilities Regional Office's training on the "Front Door" initiative that was held August 13 at TRC's Administrative Offices on Dunham venue. Jean and Surma are interested in Consolidated Support
Services Plans to assist them in doing something different than they are currently doing during
the day, and they have initiated OTR (Other Then Residential) CSS plans. Surma is interested
in employment options in which she would select and supervise her own Job Coach; she also
would like to market the scarves and pot holders she makes. Jean is interested in going to different places and having new experiences with some of her friends. She is also interested in making
new friends and selling some of the merchandise she makes on her loom. Surma and Jean are
currently developing their plans with their Circles of Support, ensuring that the right supports
can be put into place for them to accomplish their goals.
9
PHOTO BY LESLIE FICKLING
TRC News
Employees of the Lakeview Shock Incarceration Facility lead the last group of runners up Central Avenue toward the finish of the Flag Relay.
PHOTO BY JANE YOUNG
Laurel Run enjoys another great year
It was the signature moment of the signature event at Laurel Run, and only a few
people were around to witness it. But Laurel Run co-founder Wayne Hotelling was
one of them, and it made him smile.
Laurel's Lap is the signature event at
Laurel Run each year, putting the spotlight
on people with disabilities as they make
their way around the track surrounding the
ball field in downtown Silver Creek.
This year, long after everyone else had
finished Laurel's Lap, Gretchen Holser was
still on the track, making her way around
the oval with support from staff. By this
time, the Laurel's Lap participants and almost all of the bystanders who had watched
that event and the children's Fun Runs had
walked over to the Village Square for the
awards ceremony for the running and walking races.
A handful of people stayed behind to
watch and cheer for Gretchen as she slowly
made her way toward the finish line . One
of those people was a man who was pretty
sure he had earned a medal, but he didn't
care that he may miss his name being announced during the awards ceremony.
"I don't know who she is," the man
said, gesturing toward Gretchen, "but I'm
not leaving until she finishes."
"THAT is what Laurel Run is all
about," thought Wayne.
The 17th annual Laurel Run took place
July 19 and 20. The event was created by
Wayne (a member of The Resource Center's
Board of Directors) and his wife, Elaine,
in honor of their oldest daughter, who has
Down syndrome.
The first day of Laurel Run featured
the traditional Jamestown-to-Dunkirk relay
run, in which TRC employees, representatives of area schools and community volunteers transport a Laurel Run flag 30 miles.
The relay starts with a kickoff breakfast at
the Michael J. Raymond Center and ends
with a victory celebration in Washington
Park, hosted by the City of Dunkirk.
This year's relay included a new twist
as two people — Paul Gavin of Dunkirk
and Keith Gregoire of Amherst — jogged
10
the entire 30 miles of the relay route, despite temperatures approaching 90 degrees
and high humidity.
As has become tradition, the final few
miles of the relay featured employees of the
Lakeview Shock Incarceration Correctional Facility in Brocton, jogging in cadence
as they led the last runners to the finish line.
The following morning, the action
shifted to the Village of Silver Creek, the
Hotellings' hometown. It rained briefly
as volunteers set up the Village Square in
preparation for the day's events, but then
the skies cleared and the rest of the morning was dry.
As he has done every year, TRC service recipient John Graham got the festivities started with a stirring rendition of
the national anthem. Shortly thereafter,
the 5-kilometer walking race and the 1K
fun walk began, followed 30 minutes later
by the 8K running race. Throughout the
morning there were activities in the Village
Square, including refreshments, live music,
prize drawings, and face painting.
TRC News
Tom Proper, left, an employee of the Work Center on East Chestnut Street, and Russ Beyer are stride for stride as they near the finish
of the 5K Walk. Tom was slightly ahead of Russ but then came to an
abrupt stop just as they reached the finish line. Although the official
results credit Russ with crossing the line first, Tom maintains that he
beat his nemesis. With the two unlikely to come to agreement over who
finished first, the dispute probably will carry over to next year's race.
PHOTO BY PAULA ARNTZ
A huge THANK YOU goes out to everyone who took part in
Laurel Run or supported the event in some way. The net proceeds
from Laurel Run goes to Filling the Gap, Inc., which works with
TRC to improve the lives of individuals with disabilities.
A few Laurel Run T-shirts are left — if you'd like one, contact
Kayla Bohall at 661-1465.
The 18th annual Laurel Run will take place July 18-19, 2013.
Riding her three-wheel cycle, Laurel Hotelling leads the group at
the start of Laurel's Lap.
PHOTO BY PAULA ARNTZ
This year's 8K race saw last year's champion, Chad Byler, and
his wife, Trisha, take the top spots. Medal-winning performances
were turned in by Bruce Main, Special Projects Coordinator in the
Individualized Services Department (second place among men age
55-59) and Wayne Hotelling (second among men over 70), as well
as former TRC employees Mariusz Klimczuk (third place overall)
and Adam Prentice (first among men 20-24).
In the 5K Walk, Russ Beyer, Production Coordinator at the
Mary Andrews Center on East Chestnut Street, was third among
men 40-44, while former employee Dave Scholand was third
among men 50-54.
The top overall finishers and the three fastest men and women
in each age group received a ceramic medal made by staff and program participants in the Future Strivers room at the "Alternatives"
Day Habilitation Program at the Michael J. Raymond Center on
Jones & Gifford Avenue. In a new initiative this year, everyone
who crossed the finish line in the walking and running races was
given a ceramic heart medal made by the Future Strivers.
Again this year, the Future Strivers also coordinated the kickoff
breakfast for the flag relay, then headed out to cheer on the runners
along the relay route. For their efforts, the Future Strivers received
the 2013 Laurel Run Spirit Award during the kickoff breakfast.
Following the awards ceremony in Silver Creek, it was time for
the start of the Motorcycle Dice Run. Because of the threat of rain,
only about 15 people showed up for the Dice Run, but those who
were there enjoyed a pleasant — and dry — tour of Chautauqua
County before arriving back in Silver Creek for a picnic and prizes.
During a community outing with Sydney Brown, center, Danielle
Tenamore, right, Supported Living Specialist, buys a newspaper from
Althea Maxwell, Habilitation Skills Instructor, outside Wal Mart in
Fredonia. Again this year, the Observer printed a special Laurel Run
edition, and volunteers (employees, service recipients, Board members, and community members) sold the papers at various locations in
the Northern Chautauqua County area Wednesday. More than 1,700
papers were sold, raising about $2,000 for Laurel Run. To read more
about the sale, visit www.laurel.run.com.
11
PHOTO BY STEVE WATERSON
TRC News
Staff Picnic winner
Celebrating Housekeepers
On September 13, TRC held its inaugural Housekeeping Olympics. In honor of September
8-14 as International Housekeepers Week, TRC's Housekeepers were given a celebration luncheon, then competed in activities that included bowling, glove mop race, concept 913 toss, toilet
paper toss, broom ball, and the yellow frozen rag game. Connie Parsons emerged as the winner
of the 2013 "Golden Plunger Award". The Housekeepers hope this becomes a yearly event. Pictured are, from left, front row, Kelly McLane, Supervisor; middle row, Maria Martinez, Wanda
Johnson, Penny Roberts, Becky Pond, and Kim Baxter; back row, Connie Parsons, Jen Magee,
Tanya Baker, Michelle Smouse, and Troy Hicks. Missing from the picture is Teresa Lopez.
Rhonda Boardman, Direct Support Professional at the Individualized Residential
Alternative on Harris Avenue in Jamestown,
shows off the lottery wreath she won at TRC’s
annual Staff Picnic on July 13. Almost 1.000
people registered to attend the picnic, which
again this year was held at Midway Park.
PHOTO BY JANE YOUNG
PHOTO BY DEJA AUCOIN
Ready for combat
TRC's 27th annual Staff Golf Tournament was held August 19 at Bemus Point Golf Club.
Posing with the trophy in the photo above are tournament winners, from left, guests Pete Morgante and Josh Herb; Joe Stravato, Assistant Manager at the home on Pardee Avenue; and
Jason Carnahan, Manager of the Pardee home. This year's tournament had a "TV reality show
theme", and the top prize went to the team of Deja Aucoin, Registered Nurse at the home on
Forest Avenue; TRC Pharmacy employees Erin Reeves and Tammy Rhodes; and guest Karen
Rhodes for their portrayal of cast members from Duck Dynasty.
Jeff O. strikes a boxer's pose during a
visit to Elevation Combat Sports Academy
in Fredonia. Participants in the Travelers
Day Habilitation Program and the Traumatic
Brain Injury Program had the opportunity
to don boxing gloves and work on the heavy
hanging bags and the speed bags; learn how
to flip large truck tires; and watch boxers in
the ring.
PHOTO BY KATHY PETERSON-VANHORN
PHOTO BY RITA VARNEY-SMITH
Staff Golf Tournament
12
TRC News
RETIRED BOARD MEMBERS RECOGNIZED
Two members of TRC's Board of Directors who retired in June were recognized recently for their years of volunteer service in participating in the governance of the agency. In the photo above, Richard Davies holds the painting
(called "Flower in Time" and made by TRC Creations program artists Nicolios
Kilpatrick and Taynisha Lynch) and plaque he received in recognition of his six
years of service on the Board. Dick received his gifts of appreciation at the August meeting of the Community Supports/Employment Services Board Advisory
Committee. Pictured with Dick are, from left, standing, Executive Director Paul
Cesana; Kathy Field, Associate Executive Administrative Assistant; Mike Volk,
PHOTOS BY STEVE WATERSON
Director of Rehabilitation and Employment Services; Virginia Vath, Assistant
Executive Director for Quality Assurance/Quality Improvement and Staff Training & Development; Leanna Luka-Conley, Director of Care Coordination and Behavioral Services; and Rich Kimball, committee member;
and, sitting, committee member Joseph Trusso Jr. and Nancy Ingram, Assistant Executive Director.
In the photo at right, William Haenggi sits in a chair that was refurbished by TRC’s Pickin’ Club, which acquires and restores antiques.
The chair, along with the plaque Bill is holding and a bowling ball lawn ornament (made by individuals in the Future Strivers room at the “Alternatives” Day Habilitation Program on Jones & Gifford Avenue), were given to Bill in appreciation of his 23 years of service on the Board.
Pictured with Bill are, from left, his son Jim, who receives supports from TRC; Bill’s wife, Donna, who joined the Board in June; and Paul.
PRIZE WINNERS
Brothers retire
June 20 marked the end of an era for the
Work Center located in the Mary Andrews
Center on East Chestnut Street in Dunkirk.
Mark Petersen, left, and his brother, Chris
(shown here with Althea Maxwell, Habilitation Skills Instructor), retired after many
years at TRC. A party was held to celebrate
the brothers’ retirement.
PHOTO BY PAULA ARNTZ
Retirement party
Greg Hyatt counts the money he was given as a gift during his retirement party July
11 at the Jackson Avenue facility in Celoron.
Greg decided to retire after working for 13
years in The Resource Center's Maintenance
Department.
PHOTO BY RAYELE BARTHOLOMEW
Heather Potter, left, and Rebekah
Swart won contests held by the Falconer
Public Library to guess the number of
candies in a jar. Heather won first, and
for a prize she had her choice of the candy or a stuffed bear; she chose the bear,
which she is holding in the photo. The
following week, Rebekah won the contest
and chose candy as her prize.
PHOTOS BY DIANA FODERO
Hurt your back? Recovering from knee or foot surgery? Want to improve your balance?
75 Jones & Gifford Ave.
Jamestown / 661-1541
TRC's Physical Therapy Services are here for you!
13
186 Lake Shore Drive W.
Dunkirk / 366-6125
TRC News
Grant funds new exam table for TRC School Based Health Center
Mark Goshgarian, Public Relations Coordinator
The School Based Health Center at
Jamestown High School received a $1,000
grant from a combination of funds at the
Chautauqua Region Community Foundation. The money was used to purchase a
new exam table.
“The one I had was broken. It’s one of
the two in the center” said Deb Piotrowski,
the Nurse Practitioner for the School Based
Health Center. “I am extremely grateful to
the foundation. The second exam table allows me to increase efficiency and see more
patients.”
“The Chautauqua Region Community
Foundation is concerned about the health
and welfare of our area youth. Several
years ago when The Resource Center expanded their services to the health clinic
at Jamestown High School, the foundation
was supportive of that approach to reach
the youth. The replacement of the exam
table with the grant from CRCF continues
the support of ensuring the area youth have
the opportunity to get the health care they
need,” stated Randy Sweeney, Executive
Director of the Chautauqua Region Community Foundation.
Steve Riczker, Director of Health
Services for The Resource Center, added,
"School Based Health Centers fill an important niche in providing essential health
care services to children. Unfortunately,
funding for these services is extremely limited, so I cannot stress enough the importance of the support we have received from
the foundation. We are deeply appreciative
of their generosity and will put these funds
to very good use."
To date, more than half of JHS students
are now enrolled in the SBHC. It is one
of more than 200 across the state, and only
the second one in Chautauqua County. The
other is located in the Pine Valley district.
SBHCs come equipped with a nurse practitioner and a medical assistant, with oversight provided by a physician.
Unlike the school nurse’s office,
which still plays an active role at both local
schools, the SBHC’s medical staff can give
yearly physicals, administer vaccinations
and prescribe medications. School Based
Health Centers, like the ones The Resource
Center operates at Jamestown High School
and Pine Valley Central School, serve as
equivalents to having a doctor’s office right
in the school. Located across from the
nurse’s office at JHS, the SBHC provides
care to kids who otherwise may not get the
Posing by the new exam table are, from left, Debbie Kubera, Licensed Practical Nurse; Jillian Zeolle, Medical Office Assistant; Deb Piotrowski, Nurse Practitioner; and Jamie Swanson,
grants member at the Chautauqua Region Community Foundation.
care they need. Thanks to the efforts of
The Resource Center's Health Services, the
SBHC works to expand a student’s health
care opportunities.
“The School Based Health Center is so
important for so many of these kids, allowing access to much-needed services,” said
Ms. Piotrowski.
All SBHCs are prevention focused,
meaning each one works to stop or catch
a condition early, before it gets too costly
or does more damage. To do that, in addition to prescribing medications, the centers offer primary health care services and
ordering of x-rays. Those who work in an
SBHC say there are several benefits to students and families, including the fact that
students can be seen on site without having
to leave school, and parents don’t have to
miss work to take their child to a doctor.
Unlike the nurse’s office, a SBHC requires parents to enroll their child into the
program, but there is no out-of-pocket expense to do so. There are also plans to soon
add preventive dental services to both local
SBHCs via a grant The Resource Center
will be receiving from the Health Services
and Resources Administration.
For more information on School Based
Health Centers, or to enroll your child in
Jamestown’s SBHC, please call 483-4373.
14
Or check it out on Facebook, JHS SchoolBased Health Center.
Exceptional artwork
This painting by "Creations" Program
artists Jeffrey Hudack and Jeffrey Stewart
was one of four pieces selected for inclusion
in the 2013 Exceptional Artworks exhibit that
is traveling across New York State. The other
TRC artists whose works are included in the
exhibit are Harry Klinefelter and Peter Joy.
TRC News
Locks of Love
Going Bald for Bucks donation
At the annual Street JAM basketball tournament in June, two TRC employees — Lisa
Champlin, Case Manager in the Rehabilitation Services Department and Jennifer Peters, Vocational Skills Instructor — had their heads shaved to raise money to benefit two causes: helping
people with disabilities through Filling the Gap, Inc., and supporting WCA Hospital’s Cancer
Treatment Center. Lisa and Jen recently presented a check for $426 to WCA. Pictured at the
check presentation are, from left, Kim Scoma, Rehabilitation Services Supervisor, who assisted
the two women in their fund-raising efforts; Jen; Lisa; Jill Northrup, Radiologic Technologist
at WCA; and Victoria Trass Bardo, Events and Development Manager for Filling the Gap, who
is the Director of Street JAM.
PHOTO BY KAYLA BOHALL
Elida Phillips, who lives in the C-5 home
at the Intermediate Care Facility on Foote
Avenue, smiles as she gets her hair cut in
preparation for donating it to Locks of Love.
Elida had been growing her hair out for two
years in order to donate it to Locks of Love,
which makes donated hair into hairpieces for
disadvantaged children who have lost their
hair. She was inspired by Sabrina Stevens,
a Direct Support Professional in her home.
Two years ago, Sabrina donated her hair to
Locks of Love, then had her head shaved to
raise money for Bald for Bucks. Elida was
glad to donate her hair and would do it again.
PHOTO BY SABRINA STEVENS
Landscaping magic
Members of TRC's Landscaping Crew (from left, Charles Pratt III, Frankie Vega and
Supervisor Randy Chamberlin) work their magic at the apartments om Benedict Avenue in
Jamestown. The Post-Journal published a story about TRC's Landscaping and Auto Detailing
services, which are available to staff as well as the entire community. (To read the article, go to
http://www.post-journal.com/page/content.detail/id/626582/Project-Oriented.html.) The Landscaping Crew's fine work is appreciated throughout The Resource Center. "The other day when
our `landscaping men' were featured in The Post-Journal, I never thought when daylight arrived
I would see their magic," said Ann Race, Direct Support Professional in TRC's home on Harris
Avenue, located next door to Benedict. "I work third shift at Harris, and in the morning when
they arrived they performed their magic in the front of our home. They perfectly manicured the
area. `Three cheers' for the gentlemen that did this, obviously enjoying themselves because the
smiles on their faces were as warm as the feelings that they brought to Harris."
PHOTO BY JANE YOUNG
15
Balancing act
Dr. Megan Tomassini, Physical Therapist, looks on as Tess Kerzner, Director of
Children’s Services, tests her balance on the
Biodex machine. The Physical Therapy Department held an open house August 8 to promote its services and demonstrate the Biodex,
which can help people improve their balance,
thus reducing the risk of falls. TRC's PT Services are open to everyone, including staff.
PHOTO BY JANE YOUNG
TRC News
Looking fabulous
TRC's annual prom dance was held June 19, and the staff and residents of the B-4 home at the Intermediate Care Facility on Foote Avenue
did the event in style. Eight of the home's 10 residents attended the dance, requiring a lot of planning, preparation and hard work. Staff banded
together to help the residents get dressed up and attend the prom, with some employees coming in on their day off to help. All of the residents
were dressed in formal wear — shirts and ties for the gentlemen, and dresses for the ladies. Staff also dressed in formal wear so that they could
accompany the residents in proper style. Staff also created a photo studio and took formal pictures of the residents. Those photos, plus a number
of fun and casual shots taken at the prom, were placed into a photo album for everyone at the home to enjoy. As Lela Berry, Residence Coordinator, phrased it, the pictures in the photo album "do not look like photos of `staff' and `residents' — they look like photos of people living fun and
full lives." Pictured outside TRC's Conference Center before going into the prom are, from left, Shondell Hartmann, Direct Support Professional;
Angela Taber; Neil Swanson; Meghan Dolan, DSP; Laverne “Luddy” Ludwig; Kelsey Kilmartin, Community Living Skills Instructor; Richard
Naab; Sarah Cleary, DSP; Jason Drake; Nekeisha Taylor, DSP; Paul Thomas; Monica Osborne, DSP; Dmitri Adamskyj; Magali Comancho; and
Cassaundra Horton, DSP.
PHOTO BY RANDY SAMUELSON
FOOTE ICF'S B-3 HOME SUPPORTS STEP UP FOR AUTISM
PHOTO BY TESS KERZNER
PHOTO BY SONDRA APPERSON
Residents and staff of the B-3 home at the Intermediate Care Facility on Foote Avenue in Jamestown have been working hard to raise
money in support of this year's Step Up for Autism celebration. On the photo at left, Shonda Leeper, Assistant Residence Manager of the
B-3 home, supports B-3 resident Chuck Maloney in washing a vehicle July 27. That fund-raiser generated about $170. In the photo at right,
Danette Herrick, who receives supports from The Resource Center, and B-3 resident Jeremy Grey help sell items at a bake sale that B-3 held
in TRC's Michael J. Raymond Center on Jones & Gifford Avenue on August 23; that fund-raiser generated another $280. A number of B-3
residents and staff plan to take part in the Step Up for Autism walk and have been raising pledges. All told, B-3 residents and staff have raised
more than $1,000 for Step Up for Autism, reports Trudy VanDette, Manager of the home. B-3 thanks everyone who has supported their efforts
by volunteering at the car wash, baking items for the bake sale and spending money at both events. Way to go, B-3!
16
TRC News
"Team Pam" still strong
The following was written by Pam Mintzer, who retired in August 2012 from her job
as Habilitation Specialist at the Day Program
on Hazeltine Avenue. To lift Pam's spirits as
she continues to battle ovarian cancer, her
former colleagues and program participants
made her a hat. Pam wanted to thank everyone as a group, so she asked that the following column be printed in "TRC News".
Recently, members of "Team Pam"
took on a project. They created a hat not
like any other.
I started a new chemo treatment on
August 5, and with this particular agent I
will lose my hair. I planted a seed that a
hat that would have everyone's name on
it would bring me comfort.
The team did not disappoint. It truly is a work of art and a labor of love.
This is what it did for me:
* You renewed my faith and filled my
bucket to overflowing. I was filled
with joy as I placed it on my head.
* You restored my faith and ignited
my hope that I can move forward
with a strength that will push me
through those hard places.
Sometimes it's hard to see me in the
image in which God made me (perfect,
whole and healthy), but your gift — the
hat — gave that image new life.
I see each individual serving as a
light, shining brightly along my path so
I don't lose my way. I have an unending
love for all of you. Each one of you is
special to me. Thank you for the muchneeded strength and encouragement you
gave me through the hat, to keep stepping forward. Please know that your act
of love will forever be cherished.
With deepest gratitude,
Pam
P.S. These thoughts were written at 4:00
a.m. I had to get up and wander to the
living room to see if the hat was real or a
dream. It is both.
Live Life Fearlessly!
Lighthouse fund-raiser
The Day Habilitation Program on Lake Shore Drive in Dunkirk held a chicken barbecue
July 12, raising $1,100 to help fund roof repairs to the Dunkirk Historical Lighthouse. Standing in front of the house the day the proceeds were presented were, from left, Mike Vinciguerra,
President of the Dunkirk Historical Lighthouse and Veterans Park Museum; Dave Briska, the
group's Treasurer; Becky Mirek, Dunkirk Day Services Supervisor; Day Hab participant Mary
Kowalske; Kristen Anson, Activity Leader; Day Hab participants Doug Adamczak and Theresa
Woloszyn; and Jody Roman, Activity Leader.
Quilt raffle winner
Darlene LaScola, Direct Support Professional in the Alternatives Day Habilitation Program at the Michael J. Raymond Center, poses with Barry Millspaw in front of the quilt she
won. This quilt, and one other, were made by Barry’s mother and donated for a raffle to raise
money to buy Barry a side-by-side vehicle so that he can resume his passion for the outdoors.
Darlene also won the movie-themed basket donated to the raffle. The raffle raised $1,438.
17
PHOTO BY JANE YOUNG
TRC News
Staff/Board donors
Congratulations . . .
Below are the names of employees, and members of the Boards
of Directors of TRC and its affiliated corporations, who have made
financial contributions thus far in 2013. Thanks for your support!
Michele Albaugh
Kevin Anderson
Julie Backus
Faith Baker
Vicky Bardo
Marion Battle
Heather Becker
Todd Becker
Daniel Bender
Gregg Bender
Rosanne Bertram
Joanne Bevan
Emily Blackwood
Jacquie Blackwood
Bill Brothers
Alda Brown
Bruce Brown
Debbie Brown
Heather Brown
Randy Brown
William Brown
Kimberly Burdic
Robert Burdic
Christopher
Theresa Butts
Katherine Byrne
Elaine Caldwell
Brittany Carlson
Marie Carrubba, Esq.
Tyler Case
Melissa Centi
Paul Cesana
Lisa Champlin
David Christ
Patricia Christina
Don Christner
Chris Clark
Heather Courtney
Coty Croker
Leisa Davis
Verna Dickinson
Amanda Dove
Martha Dove
Amy Drozdziel
Anna Dubej-Phillips
Jodi Eckman
Peggy Elofson
Paul Fardink
Michael Felice
Kathy Field
Mary Ford
Todd Frangione
Julie Gable
Rachel Gilbert
Dr. Harry Glatz
Mike Goldman, Esq.
Grace Gonzalez
Mark Goshgarian
Timothy Grissom
Bill Haenggi
Donna Haenggi
JoAnne Hagberg
Mary Jo Hamilton
Rebecca Hamlet Kapple
Ashley Hammond
Judith Handkammer
Samantha Harley
Joyce Harris
Madeline Haskins
Kala Herb
Thomas Holland
Wayne Hotelling
Nancy Ingram
Brenda Jabczynski
Todd Jacobson, MD
Tessa James-Beckwith
Beth Jermain
Carole Johnson
Paula Johnson
Terri Johnson
Denise Jones
Patricia Jones
Liz Kennedy
Rachel Kephart
Tess Kerzner
Nicole Kimball
Linda Knight
Greg Krauza
Christina Lanphere
Dr. Douglas Larson
Darlene Lascola
Jaime Lauffenburger
Jay Lauffenburger
Susan Lepley-Jenkins
Cory Leymeister
Steve Lindquist
Lilian Logan
Leanna Luka-Conley
Donna Lundmark
Dominica Luzzi
Kristen MacKenzie
Bruce Main
Cassandra Majecki
Tammy Mancuso
Pam Marchincin
Ryan Mayle
Tom McConnon
Michael McCoy
Ann McKillip
Sherry McMeans
Mike Metzger
Elizabeth Miller
Tina Miller
Renee Moffatt
Aracelis Morales
Bobby Morris
Brittany Morrison
Kelley Morton
Mark Morton
Karen Moynihan
Samantha Muntz
Lawrence Newbree
Heather Newton
Tara Nitkiewicz
Tammy Nuse
Randy Ordines
Laurie Passet
Brenda Pattison
Amy Pease
Alyce Peterson
Greg Peterson, Esq.
Cindy Phillips
Jessica Pietrkiewicz
Nikki Pitts
Tony Prinzi
Dr. Thomas Putnam
Debbie Rapp
Melissa Rasmussen
Benjamin Renzi
Marcia Restivo
Deseree Richter
Steve Riczker
Gordon Robbins
Liz Rothwell
Randy Samuelson
Joan Scalise
Mary Shelley
Jodi Sigmund
Mike Smallman
Patrick Smeraldo
Suzette Smith
Jaimee Spell
Angelo Spicola
Barb Stewart
Cindy Summerford
Carol Svensen
Kelly Szymanowicz
Nicole Tarr
Douglas Taulbee
Danielle Tenamore
Don Traynor
Donna Trusso
Charles VanGuilder
Virginia Vath
Michelle Vaughn
Carol Vinciguerra
Jerry Vinciguerra
Steve Waterson
Lori Watson
CodyAnn Weise
Wendy Wilcox
Autumn Wilson
Evelyn Wright-Kegelmyer
Jane Young
to Keith Gowan, a Cleaner on an Environmental Services crew,
who was selected to receive a 2013 NYSID Outstanding Performer Award
to Melissa Klenke, Manager of the "Randall" Individualized
Residential Alternative, who recently was inducted into The
Rotary Club of Jamestown.
to Mike Metzger, Treasurer if The Resource Center's Board of
Directors, who was named to the Western New York Regional
Economic Development Council.
to Greg Peterson, Esq., a member of TRC Foundation's Board
of Directors, who has been named to The Best Lawyers in
America 2014 list.
to Dr. Megan Tomassini, Physical Therapist, who received a
Coach of the Year Award from the Jamestown Area YMCA for
her work as an assistant coach with the Lakewood Y's gymnastics program.
Promotions
Casey DuBose to Site Supervisor
Marla Gressley to Day Services Supervisor
Holly Krueger to Administrative Secretary I
Kym Mason to Dental Assistant III
Renee Moffatt to Administrator
William Moore to Behavior Support Professional Trainee
Kelley Morton to Service Coordinator
Larry Newbree to Residence Manager I
Alicia Peterson to Service Coordinator II
Todd Rapp to RN Supervisor
Stephanie Runge to Assistant Residence Manager II
Cori Sanders to Service Coordinator II
Cheryl Scoma to Dental Assistant III
Cristina Smith to Service Coordinator
Desiree Sundquist to Registered Nurse Graduate
Shelby Surrena to Service Coordinator II
Jacquie Wiggers to Patient Registrar I
Staff Appreciation Recipients (5/30—8/28)
Elaine Adams
Suzette Benedetto
Mike Braxton
Chris Burger
Debra Butts
Theresa Caldwell
Roland Cartner
Jeremy Cooper
Johanna Cortes
Sandy Davis
Amy Delcamp
Jennifer Feldman
Kenley Goodwin
Becky Hamilton
Laurie Heeder
Jamie Intihar
Shawn Johnson
Josh Koch
Jay Lauffenburger
Donna Lisa
Kristen MacKenzie
Heather Maher
Jill Marsh
Veronica McClaran
George Mitchell
Sue Overend
Brittany Pelow
Kitty Pope
Lauren Ryan
Jackie Simpson
Jaimee Spell
Sheila St. John
Cheryl Stow
Laurie Strong
Mike Volk
Andrea Vullo
Robert Westfall
Denise Whisner
Denise Widmer
Karen Williamson
Michelle Wood
Danyele Wynn
Roxie Wynn
Follow TRC on the web:
www.resourcecenter.org
www.facebook.com/resourcecenter
www.twitter.com/TRCorg
18
TRC News
Green Corner
Garbage and decomposition
EDITOR'S NOTE: The following was written by Russell Fowler, who
is employed at the Jamestown Work Center. Russell has been a selfdescribed "greenie" since 1990. He is happy to share his thoughts on
how to help preserve the environment.
How long does it take for garbage to break down?
This is a question that's been posed many times, and the
answer would probably stun you.
Garbage has a tendency to end up in one of two places:
as litter, and in landfills. Would you be shocked to learn that
it takes longer for garbage to break down in a landfill than it
would be to just toss it aside? In no way am I advocating pollution, because that is a danger to not only humans but to other
species of life. But all things need sunlight, oxygen and moisture to biodegrade, and with landfills having been lined with
plastic liners and being layered week after week with tons of
waste, it's nearly impossible for anything to break down. And
again, I am not advocating littering.
Realize that even with that plastic bottle of Washu Spring
Water or that can of OnFire Cola, or even that disposable diaper,
decomposition takes a long time, and these products basically
add no nutritional value to the ground.
How they can come up with how long it takes for things
to biodegrade is beyond me, but it helps to look at the chemical composition of each product. Plastics are a petroleum (oil)
based product I will wholeheartedly advocate recycling, supporting not only local recycling programs but manufacturers
who also recycle goods because they're very beneficial — no
virgin material used, uses less energy, saves valuable space in
landfills, and has been known to create and maintain jobs. Anheuser Busch and Marcal paper are two prime companies who
purchase enormous amounts of aluminum (for beer cans) and
paper products, respectively.
We can also send less waste to landfills by recycling kitchen
waste, yard waste and, yes, even cigarette ash and left over coffee water, which can be used in your garden/yard. My garden is
full of all kinds of life, from plants to worms. I also line my garden with weeds I've pulled. (And a common misconception is
that if you compost weeds, they'll grow back. They'll grow back
whether you compost them or not.) For this reason, my ground
is very soft and quite black, and my plants grow very well
Aktion Club picnic
From left, Scott Cooper, Direct Support Professional at the home
on Falconer Street; Tristan Wassman, who lives in the apartments on
Benedict Avenue; Lori Carutis, Residence Coordinator; and Dennis
Bottomley, a resident of the Falconer home, enjoy dinner during the
Aktion Club's summer picnic at the Allen Park Men's Club in Kiantone. Aktion Clubs, developed and organized by Kiwanis International, are service organizations for adults with disabilities, providing
them opportunities to give back to the community. TRC's Aktion Club
is a partnership between TRC and the Kiwanis Club of Jamestown.
Lori facilitates the club members' activities in conjunction with Wendy
Wilcox, Behavior Support Professional in the A-1 home on Foote Avenue, who is a member of the Jamestown Kiwanis.
PHOTO BY TESS KERZNER
TRC NEWS
Readers' Contest
A total of 15 people submitted answers to last issue's quiz.
The randomly selected winner of the $15 Applebee's gift card was
Ashley Brown, Direct Support Professional in the A-2 home at
the Intermediate Care Facility on Foote Avenue in Jamestown.
Answer the questions below, based on information in this
issue, and send this form to Steve Waterson at Dunham Avenue.
1) What does the acronym STARS stand for?
2) Name one of the service recipients who spoke during the TRC
at Chautauqua Symposium:
3) Name a DSP who was an Everyday Hero or received Honorable Mention:
4) When is the deadline to make reservations to attend the Disability Awareness Awards Celebration?
5) Who provided money for an exam table at the School-Based
Health Center?
6) True or False: TRC staff can use the agency's Physical Therapy
Services.
7) Who threw out the first pitch at the annual TRC Night at the
Ballpark?
**************************************************
Your Name:
The summer of 2013
Leo Wisniewski, Dunkirk Work Center Program
Leo, who has been employed at the Work Center for more than 20
years and participates in the Self-Advocacy Association of New York State,
has developed an interest in writing. Below is a piece he wrote about this
past summer.
Summertime is having fun in the sun. Some people take suntans in the sun. Sometimes there's music by the lake. Some kids
like to go swimming to cool off when the weather gets very hot.
There's different kinds of events in the summer. Going to Darien
Lake for concerts is fun. The water parks are fun and going on
rides and looking around at different things and going in gift shops
to look or buy something. It's fun to go to Darien Lake. It's a great
place to go to have fun in the summer.
Work Site: 19
Phone: