The past year has seen many wonderful accomplishments at Berkshire County Arc. Following a very competitive process, our agency was awarded the 2001 Berkshire County Mass. Excellence Award. This award is given out annually to a business, based on outstanding quality outcomes. Because we competed with many other businesses from within the county, we are very proud to have received this great distinction. Recognition also came to two of our most experienced Residential Supervisors for their outstanding work. Chris Melski, who has been employed at BCARC for 16 years, was awarded the "Mass. Distinguished Citizens Award" presented by ARC Massachusetts at a ceremony held at the statehouse. He also received recognition from Senator Andrea Nuciforo, Jr. and Representative Peter Larkin. Rhodora Higgins, a 17-year employee, was awarded the "Massachusetts Supervisor of the Year Award" by the Massachusetts Council of Human Service Providers. As Rhodora accepted her award before an audience of more than 1,000 people at the Boston Sheraton, she was cheered on by her colleagues for this great honor. Other exemplary honors came within the year, with a special award being given to Joan Hobart of the Advantage Employee Network by the Mass. Rehab. Commission for her outstanding work in community employment. In addition, the BCARC float won the "Best Patriotic Award" in the Fourth of July Parade. This was an exciting day with over 100 family and friends marching behind our beautiful float.

The Department of Mental Retardation recognized the high quality of our programs with a two-year Certificate With Distinction, the highest award given. In addition, our national certification survey by The Rehabilitation Accreditation Commission (CARF) took place. Once again we received the best-possible certification of three years.

We have made important new alliances during the past year by collaborating with Elder Services of the Berkshires, with whom we presently have three projects in the works. We also began work with the Statewide Head Injury Program, which has awarded us a new residential contract for people with traumatic brain injury. Two men will soon be living in their new home in Pittsfield. Our "Families Helping Families" group held an outstanding Advocacy Workshop at Eastover in November, which was attended by over 75 families. Workshops were presented on School Advocacy, Sexuality, Seizure Disorders, and Conflict Management. Once again, our golf tournament raised over $20,000 with all of the funds going directly to the individuals we serve and to high school scholarships awarded to students majoring in Human Services.

We are most grateful for the wonderful support we have received all year from the individuals we serve, our families, and particularly our hard-working staff who have given their all, day in and day out, to assure that the people we serve receive the best possible services. We look forward to the year to come with many exciting, new projects ahead.

Sincerely,

Kenneth W. Singer                                       Dr. Mark Pettus

Executive Director                                       Board President

Program Highlights 2001

Personal Development Day Programs: Center for Development, Social Development Center, Southgate, Habilitation Center, and Community Access & Training Services

Day Habilitation programs, including the Center for Development, Social Development Center, Southgate, and the Habilitation Center provide supports to 102 individuals in Pittsfield and Great Barrington. Those involved with day programs spend their time in volunteer activities, in community outings, and in learning new skills that help to increase their independence.

In addition to services available at the centers, eight people with developmental disabilities who live in nursing homes get specialized services from day hab staff. Staff go to nursing homes throughout Berkshire County to assist people in improving socialization activities, fine and gross motor skills, and communication skills.

Community Access and Training Services is a unique program where 7 individuals spend their days using community resources, completing volunteer activities, and doing paid work. 

These individuals require more assistance and supports, one staff works with one individual throughout the day.

Employment Services:

The Advantage Employee Network continues to assist over 150 individuals in obtaining and maintaining jobs throughout Berkshire County. AEN has individuals working with over 50 employers from Williamstown to Great Barrington in a wide variety of careers. AEN assisted students with special needs from area school districts to make successful transitions into the world of work this past year. 

AEN’s nomination enabled Jiminy Peak, The Mountain Resort, to win the 2001 Exemplary Employer Award from Governor Jane Swift this past year. 

The AEN Vocational Evaluation Department, which has staff with over 35 years of experience in the field, continued to conduct evaluation of 24 individuals referred by MRC and local school districts.

AEN is funded by the Department of Mental Retardation, Massachusetts Rehabilitation Commission, Massachusetts Commission for the Blind and school districts. 

Zip N’ Sort Mail Services, currently serving over 150 companies, continued to expand its services and develop its customer base. Major customers include: Berkshire Life Insurance, Crane & Company, Excelsior Printing, Quality Printing, Berkshire Community College, General Electric, Berkshire Bank and Greylock Federal Credit Union. The 15 individuals with disabilities employed through Zip n’ Sort Mail Services are achieving their highest productivity and earning levels ever, while helping to meet the demands of our business customers. First Class Mail Pre-Sort Services, a major expansion, was offered to customers in January, 2001. The volume of growth in this service has been consistent with the business plan projections. 

Residential

The Residential Department, currently providing supports to approximately 145 people in Berkshire County and the Westfield area, is comprised of 28 group homes providing 24-hour support, a Co-op Apartment Program, where people receive less than 24-hour support, and four shared living arrangements where people live with, and receive supports from, a shared living provider. The department also tailors and delivers support to a number of people who live independently in their own apartments in the Pittsfield area. Additionally, the department has oversight responsibility for day supports for people living in group home settings in Lenox, Lanesboro and Southwick, MA.

We continued to face the challenges of an aging population. In an effort to assist staff in supporting people with these specific support needs, we began a collaboration with the American Red Cross to provide training in Alzheimer's Disease and basic skills training in ways to assist people who need more support with daily living skills while they age in their own homes. An Aging Committee was established with representatives from Hospice, Elder Services, American Red Cross, DMR and agency staff from both day and residential services. The main focus is the provision of services through collaborative training and utilization of resources. This committee will help to shape the services of the future.

Once again the strength of the Residential Department lies with the staff members who support the people we serve everyday. Staff support falls into many areas including assisting people not only in accessing their communities but also in becoming members of those communities and in building and sustaining relationships with the people in their communities, their families and their friends. The commitment of all our staff in the residential Department is truly remarkable and is reflected in the supports we are able to provide on a day-to-day basis.

The agency worked in collaboration with five other agencies and DMR to establish the Ventures program. This program assists individuals in nursing homes to move into living situations within the community. The agency was able to assist three individuals in attaining a better quality of life during the year.

The Massachusetts Rehabilitation Commission's Statewide Head Injury Program selected BCARC to establish a home for 2 gentlemen, currently living in a residential school and hospital setting.

This home is slated to open in May of 2002. We hope this will lead to more services being available in Berkshire County in the years ahead for individuals with this type of disability. 

The Residential Department will continue to provide meaningful connections to family, friends and the community in the year ahead through the efforts of a dedicated and committed staff. 


Advocacy: Intake and ISP Coordination, Respite Services, Public Benefits. Family Advocacy, Educational Advocacy, Citizen Advocacy, Human Rights, Family and Individual Satisfaction Surveys, VISIONS Newsletter, Training, Families Helping Families Support Group, African American Family Support Group 

The intake process is a way of obtaining information regarding an individual's strengths, abilities, needs, and personal preferences. All internal and external referrals for BCARC services are made through the Advocacy Department. The Advocacy Department has the very important responsibility of initial contact with individuals and families at their request for services. This year 69 individuals were intaked into BCARC programs. 
This past year, 101 individuals, children and adults, received respite services. Respite provides temporary respite care at Respite House, Respite Outreach or The Family Directed Project. In 2001, Respite House was utilized 326 days or 89%. 


The Berkshire Advocates and The Southern Berkshire Self-Advocacy Group continued to enjoy active and successful operations during the past year. Attendance remained steady throughout the year. Both groups continued their involvement in regional and statewide self-advocacy activities. The Southern Berkshire Self- Advocates celebrated their 5th Anniversary this past year. A major highlight of the year was the election of one of Southern Berkshire's members as president of the Western Massachusetts Regional Self-Advocacy Planning Team. 


The Advocacy Department staff continued to support families in 2001 through family and parent groups. Families Helping Families, in collaboration with other agencies in Berkshire County hosted the First Annual Family Conference in the Berkshires titled Advocacy into Action. The conference was a major success. The department's Educational Advocates supported 14 families in obtaining appropriate education services for their family members. 


To increase community partnership and provide opportunities for individuals to develop friendships and have relationships, BCARC has a very strong and committed volunteer program. There were 8 new matches made this year. There are a total of 37 current matches. 

This year BCARC's Human Rights Committee met 4 times and continued its exemplary efforts to promote and safeguard human rights on behalf of individuals with disabilities. In 2001, 174 staff were trained in Human Rights and Abuse, Mistreatment Neglect Reporting. In 2001, 265 individuals were trained in Human Rights and Abuse, Mistreatment and Neglect Reporting. 

The Advocacy Department's ISP Specialist is responsible for insuring that all BCARC services indicated in the ISP are delivered according to standards and time lines set by the Department of Mental Retardation. In 2001, 235 ISP's and 3,544 Quarterlies were developed for individuals receiving BCARC services. 

The Advocacy Department's Training Specialist continued to ensure that the Orientation and In-Service Training for all new staff was of high quality and met agency standards. This past year in collaboration with the Quality Assurance Department, "Walk A Mile In My Shoes" Sensitivity Training was implemented. The Training Specialist is also part of Berkshire County's Nonprofit Training Collaborative which reviews all trainings available to human service workers in the county. 

Satisfaction Surveys and family meetings occurred to ensure we are providing high quality services and satisfaction to the individuals we serve and their families. In 2001, 38 families responded to the Respite House Family Survey, 91 BCARC families and guardians responded to BCARC's Annual Family Satisfaction Survey and 197 Individual Satisfaction Surveys were completed. Survey results showed high satisfaction in services across all settings. 


Additional activities Advocacy Department staff participated in included: developed 4 VISIONS Newsletters and served as Operations Chairperson for the Fifth Annual Disability Pride Day. The most exciting accomplishment this year has been the bringing to fruition of the Berkshire County Arc Master Special Needs Pooled Trust which will be available for the benefit of both our individuals and the entire regional disabled community. 

Clinical Services: 

The Clinical Department now consists of three full-time Behavior Specialists who serve as a support to staff in the Day Services, Residential, and Employment programs. Behavior Specialists assist individuals by developing plans that help staff manage behavior, acting as liaison between BCARC and psychiatric and counseling services, and providing training to staff throughout the agency. 

Quality Assurance: 

The Quality Assurance Department continues to be an integral component of overall agency risk management. The process is values-based and comprehensive while maintaining a positive focus. The department strives to assist all staff in implementing the mission of the agency through ongoing values training and making recommendations based on site visit observations and documentation review. Other functions of the department included facilitating focus groups of individuals receiving supports, coordinating CARF accreditation and DMR services processes, chairing the Incident Review Committee and maintaining the incident database. 


Highlights this year include a presentation on values training at the Association of Developmental Disabilities Providers Annual Conference in March and contributing to the success of the DMR Survey and Certification outcome (two years with distinction). In the upcoming year, the department looks forward to expanding trainings presented for staff and facilitating a series of information sessions for individuals receiving services, based on topics identified by the focus groups. 

Fiscal Accountability

BCARC is a nonprofit organization. All donations are deductible for income tax purposes to the extent allowed under Section 501 of the Internal Revenue Code.

BCARC - 395 South Street-Pittsfield, MA 01201 - Phone 413.499.4241 Fax 413.445.7863
email: bcarc@bcarc.org

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