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The past year has seen many wonderful
accomplishments at Berkshire County Arc. Individuals we serve were
given numerous opportunities for work and recreation throughout Berkshire
and Hampden Counties. In our Residential Department, our second program
for individuals with Traumatic Brain Injury opened in a beautiful
house in Lanesboro. Opportunities to travel to Hawaii, Bermuda, Cape
Cod, Florida, and other distant and enjoyable places brought joy to
many of the people in several of our homes. Our Advantage Employee
Network has expanded and presently has more than 125 individuals working
in community jobs. Our Family Support Department continues to serve
families through our Outreach Respite Program, as well as through
our Respite House. Connie Hubbel, Director of Respite House, was awarded
the “2003 Outstanding Direct Support Professional Award” for Western
Massachusetts by the Association of Developmental Disabilities Providers.
Also this year we have begun to work with individuals on the Waiting
List who are now served through the Boulet Lawsuit. This will help
to ensure services during the coming few years.
Our Zip ‘N Sort Mail Services is now
the largest mail house in Berkshire County. In February 2003, we moved
into a state-of-the-art building located at 20 Taconic Parkway, Pittsfield,
and are now serving over 230 businesses throughout Berkshire County.
With 30 employees, it has become an important part of Berkshire County
Arc’s services.
The agency’s activated its Pooled
Trust, offering individuals and families a secure way to save money
and insure their benefits.
We have made many important alliances
during the past year, and continue our collaborations with Elder
Services of Berkshire County, United Cerebral Palsy of the
Berkshires, and Girls Incorporated, as well as many other
local agencies.
In these difficult times of large
state deficits and numerous budgetary cuts, we have found creative
ways to improve and expand our programs. We continue to provide high
quality services whose merit and worth have been recognized throughout
the years. In 2001, Berkshire County Arc was honored with the Berkshire
County Mass. Excellence Award, given annually to a business, based
on outstanding quality outcomes. Also in 2001, the Department of Mental
Retardation recognized the high quality of our programs with a two-year
Certificate of Distinction, the highest award given. In addition,
during 2000, our national certification survey by The Rehabilitation
Accreditation Commission (CARF) took place, and we once again received
the best possible certification of three years.
We are extremely fortunate to have
such dedicated, hardworking staff that have deep beliefs in our mission
and use all of their energies to ensure that we accomplish it. We
are most grateful for the wonderful support we have received all year
from the individuals we serve and their families. They are the backbone
of what we are about and continue to support us in striving to reach
our visions. We look forward to an exciting year to come with new
projects ahead.
Sincerely,
Kenneth W. Singer
Dr. Mark Pettus
Executive Director
Board President
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Personal
Development Day Programs:
Center for Development, Social Development Center, Southgate, Habilitation
Center
Day Habilitation programs provide supports to 116 individuals in Pittsfield
and Great Barrington. People who attend Day Habilitation programs
spend their time learning new skills in a therapeutic environment
that includes both the agency centers and the communities around them.
Occupational, Physical and Speech Therapy are the cornerstones of
service plans for many people in these settings.
Another important aspect of day habilitation programs is the number
of people who volunteer through their program in settings such as
nursing homes, Jacob’s Pillow, Berkshire Medical Center, as well as
other human service organizations throughout the county. This gives
the individuals an opportunity to give back to their community and
develop relationships with people they might not otherwise meet.
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Clinical and Nursing Services:
Two Behavior Specialists support staff in Residential, Day and Employment
programs to help individuals learn ways to cope with difficult situations.
They develop tools like Behavior Treatment Plans and Proactive Teaching
Strategies to help increase coping skills. Behavior Specialists also
work with prescribing clinicians to manage medication regimes for
those who require them.
BCARC nurses work throughout the agency to ensure quality medical
services for all individuals receiving our supports. Three nurses
work in the day habilitation programs providing medical oversight
and medication administration to individuals there. People living
in our residential programs receive medical case management by three
nurses who also oversee medication administration and other individual
needs.
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Residential:
The Residential Department currently provides supports to approximately
149 people in Berkshire County and the Westfield area. There are 28
group homes providing 24-hour support, a Co-op Apartment program,
where people receive support according to varying need, and shared
living arrangements where people live with and receive supports from
a shared living provider. The residential department also tailors
and delivers supports 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,
Massachusetts.
During the year Berkshire County Arc opened two programs, funded from
the Massachusetts Rehabilitation Commission’s Statewide Head Injury
Program, serving individuals with traumatic brain injuries. These
individuals came to BCARC from residential schools or hospital settings
and a need for individualized programming. One home opened in May
and the second in December of 2002. BCARC has also been selected to
provide case management and social supports to individuals with traumatic
brain injuries living in Berkshire County. Five staff have been selected
and trained to provide these services.
We continue to face the challenges of serving an aging population.
We are able to work closely with Elder Services, the American Red
Cross, Hospice and DMR in developing supports and provision of training
for staff in areas such as working with Alzheimer’s Disease, Dysphasia,
and other topics relating to aging health issues. The Aging Committee
continues to meet with representatives from numerous outside agencies
to address the challenges of providing appropriate supports to an
aging population. This collaborative venture has been beneficial to
the individuals as well as all agencies involved.
The strength of the Residential Department continues to lie with the
staff who support the people we serve every day. Comprehensive staff
supports include assisting people in accessing and becoming active
members of their communities. An increasing number of the individuals
we serve volunteer within their communities to build and sustain relationships
with their neighbors and friends.
To assure the continued excellence and efficiency of these supports,
all Program Directors and Assistant Directors received training in
supervisory and management skills by participating in the newly developed
Management Training program. This training will be ongoing throughout
the agency.
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Employment
Services :
The Advantage Employee Network (AEN) is a leading provider of vocational
services to individuals with disabilities in the state of Massachusetts.
AEN provides a comprehensive set of services that include vocational
evaluations, career planning, job placement, on-the-job training and
follow-up services. As a result of these effective and quality services,
AEN has helped many individuals become successful in jobs and, in
turn, life.
In 2002, AEN assisted close to 150 individuals in a variety of ways.
24 individuals received vocational evaluations referred to AEN by
local school districts and the Massachusetts Rehabilitation commission
(MRC). Over 110 individuals were supported in maintaining and/or obtaining
jobs through the employment contract with the department of Mental
Retardation (DMR). 4 individuals successfully transitioned from school
to work this past year. Finally, AEN assisted over 20 individuals
referred by MRC to obtain and maintain competitive jobs in Berkshire
County.
AEN is proud of its track record for assisting employers throughout
Berkshire County hire and retain good employees. More importantly,
AEN is pleased to help individuals become productive, integrated,
and valued members of society.
Zip 'N Sort Mail Services is a comprehensive mail business that employs
16 people with disabilities. The business continued its steady growth
in 2002; invoicing increased 16%, in spite of a challenging economic
climate. The customer base increased to 230 customers, a 24% increase.
The First Class Presort Service is now providing daily postage savings
to 32 companies. The savings realized from the presort service is
a tremendous advantage for companies during this difficult economic
time.
In preparation for continued growth, Zip 'N Sort Mail Services has
purchased a 17,300-square-foot, state-of-the-art industrial building.
The business relocated in February, 2003, to the Taconic Parkway Industrial
Park. The new building has improved production efficiency through
easier movement of materials, and positions the business to be ready
for continued expansion in volume and service over the next few years.
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Quality
Assurance:
The Quality Assurance department continues to be values driven and
comprehensive while retaining a positive focus. An integral component
of overall agency risk management, the department strives to assist
all staff and individuals served by the agency through ongoing values
trainings for new and established staff, quality assurance site visits
to all residential and day program sites, chairing the agency’s Incident
Review Committee, maintenance of the incident review database, and
facilitation of focus groups on quality of service for individuals
receiving supports from the agency.
Highlights this year include facilitation of a series of seven information
sessions for individuals receiving supports based on topics identified
by the twice-yearly focus group meetings. Topics included basic first
aid and fire safety, social skills, conflict resolution, interviewing
potential staff, relaxation and stress reduction techniques, and basic
nutrition. The department developed training curriculum for staff
on stress reduction/relaxation techniques, reinforcement/teaching
strategies, visual supports/total communication, community integration
(specifically for Community Advocates), and positive interactions
with families. Additionally, the Quality Facilitator was involved
in becoming certified by the Red Cross to teach CPR and First Aid
to agency staff, and presented a training on “Values” to United Cerebral
Palsy of the Berkshires. In the upcoming year the department looks
forward to participating in the implementation of Federal HIPAA standards,
coordinating preparation for the upcoming CARF and DMR survey, a new
series of informational sessions for individuals receiving supports
and continued expansion of training offered to staff.
Advocay:
Intake and ISP Coordination,
Respite Services, Public Benefits. Berkshire County Arc Pooled Trust,
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 for Berkshire County Arc to obtain 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 of services. This year 64 individuals
were intaked into BCARC programs
In 2002, we have continued to ensure that individuals with disabilities
were not at risk of losing their public benefits with the inception
of The Berkshire County Arc Inc. Master Pooled Trust. Berkshire County
Arc is also now in a position to act as trustee on private special
needs trusts. There are already several families who have agreed to
use this service and who are in various stages of this trust process.
We have also begun to market the trust to other agencies and professionals.
This
past year, 96 individuals, children and adults, received respite services.
Respite provides temporary respite care at Respite House, Respite
Outreach or The Family Directed Project. In 2002, Respite House was
utilized 356 days or 98%.
The self-advocacy groups sponsored by
Berkshire County Arc, The Berkshire Advocates in Pittsfield, and the
Southern Berkshire Self-Advocates in South County, had outstanding
records in the past year. Both groups continue to function well and
to advance their knowledge of and participation in self-advocacy.
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Four representatives
from Berkshire County Arc self-advocacy groups attend meetings of the
Western Massachusetts Regional Self-Advocacy Planning Group. All Berkshire
County Arc representatives are active participants in the meetings and
are efficient in bringing the groups’ ideas and policies back to their
local meetings. The group, meeting in Northampton monthly, sets the
agenda for self-advocacy in this part of the state.
The self-advocates continue to sponsor
their own fundraising events. The funds raised have given the members
of both groups an opportunity to enjoy other social occasions as well
as donating money to help social causes in the community. The Berkshire
Advocates contributed to the Eagle Fund in Pittsfield, and the Southern
Berkshire group contributed to the Laliberte Fund in Lee and to the
Watson Fund in Great Barrington.
To increase community partnership and
provide opportunities for individuals to develop friendships and have
relationships, BCARC has a very strong and committed volunteer program.
Currently, there are 38 Citizen Advocate Volunteers
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 2002, 130
new staff were trained in Human Rights and Abuse, Mistreatment & Neglect
Reporting. In 2002, 273 individuals were trained in Human Rights and
Abuse, Mistreatment & 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 2002, 220 ISP’s and 3,352 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 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.
BCARC continued to seek the opinions and
satisfaction form families through Annual Satisfaction Surveys and family
meetings. Survey results showed high satisfaction in services across
all settings.
Additional activities Advocacy Department Staff participated in included:
- Researching alternative funding through local and state Grants.
- Operations Chairperson for the Sixth Annual Disability Pride Day.
- Liaison to the Berkshire Family Toy Library.
- Hosted Futures Planning Workshop for Families & Professionals
with Attorney Terry Varnet.
- Presented “Walk A Mile in My Shoes” Disability Awareness Training
to new and current staff.
- Served on BCARC Committee on Aging and Allocations Committee.
- Served on statewide DMR ISP Assessment Workgroup.
- Developed 4 Visions Newsletters.
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