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Support, Inc. Welcomes New Coordinator

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Please join us in welcoming our newest Coordinator in Colorado Springs! We are so happy to have you with us, Malcolm!

Hi, my name is Malcolm, I’m a Residential Program Coordinator for the Colorado Springs area.  I’m very ecstatic about joining the Support Inc. team! Before joining the team, I worked as an advocate and educator for teens with at-risk backgrounds as well serving our IDD community as a Direct Support Professional. Outside of working hours, I spend time as a studio music producer and mixing engineer. Outside of my attempts at creation I’m and avid fan of music and I enjoy consuming it and having conversations about it. I also enjoy trying coffee shops, trivia nights, watching sports and exploring. I’m excited to continue to serve this wonderful community and I look forward to learning and expanding my roles with a focus on people helping people!

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Support, Inc. Welcomes New Coordinator

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Please join us in welcoming Abeer Ramstetter to the Support Inc. family and team! Abeer will be our new Residential Program Coordinator on the Denver Metro 3 Team/Hypernova Team, and we are very excited for her to complete our group!

Hello Support, Inc., I am so very excited to join your team and to be one of the people who are helping people!

For so many years, I have served individuals with developmental disabilities through different roles! I worked as a special education teacher, a para educator, a direct support professional in a group home for individuals with significant behavioral and medical needs, a DSP with PCA programs, and a residential program manager.  I am looking forward to learning and growing with Support Inc.

I love hiking, fishing, camping, running and yoga, but that is enough about me; I look forwarding to getting to know each one of you!

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Support, Inc. Welcomes New Registered Nurse

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Please join us in welcoming our new Registered Nurse, Heather!!

My name is Heather Markham. I am thrilled to be joining Support, Inc! I was born in Colorado and moved back here from the Pacific Northwest after earning a bachelor’s in Biochemistry/Molecular Biology and International Affairs.  I went back to school for nursing at UNC along with your amazing Associate Director of Nursing Morgan Struck. Since graduating in 2018 I have been working in hospital bedside settings, most recently the Emergency Department.  I spend as much time in the outdoors as possible and enjoy skiing, swimming, climbing and hiking. I am quite thankful to be joining this team and can’t wait to use my current skillset as well as expand my nursing knowledge in this domain. Excited to get to know you all!

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Updates from the Finance Department

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The Support Inc Finance Team has gone through some changes since the last Newsletter!

Noelle Slocum has joined our team as a staff accountant!  Noelle’s enthusiasm and commitment to customer service has shined through these past 7 months.

Chris Neese also joined the team quite recently as our new assistant controller.  Chris is already making his mark at assessing processes and making improvements towards effectiveness and efficiency.

We wanted to take this opportunity to remind everyone that the best way to receive payment from us is to sign up for ACH (or direct deposit).  Please email us at accountspayable@supportinc.com to request a form to complete.

As the Tax Season is under way, below are some links to information related to Difficulty of Care Payments for Host Home Providers and Family Caregivers.  These can be shared with your favorite tax accountant.  I have also attached a memo here that provides more clarification.  This information does not constitute legal or tax advice.  Persons needing such advice should consult the appropriate professional.

https://www.irs.gov/individuals/certain-medicaid-waiver-payments-may-be-excludable-from-income

https://www.irs.gov/irb/2014-04_IRB#NOT-2014-7

Also, employees are reminded that should they need to make changes to their tax withholding election, address or direct deposit information they can do so directly in ADP workforce now or through the self-service app.

We also wanted to remind everyone that if you or a friend have interest in becoming a Host Home Provider or joining the Support, Inc. Team, you can follow this link: https://supportincjobs.applytojob.com/apply to complete an application.

IN THE SPIRIT OF GRATITUDE AND SHARING

We would like to thank all providers that continue to be diligent about submitting receipts that document the personal needs expenditures of their individuals in services.  This is very important as we are required to maintain these records up to date.

As some of you may know, receipts can be submitted as pictures or PDF format.  Some providers have discovered that the most efficient way to submit receipts is to use the Adobe Scan application.  This application allows you to take pictures of receipts and convert them into a PDF document.  Here is a link to information about the app, if you would like to research it before downloading:

Apple: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/adobe-scan-pdf-scanner-ocr/id1199564834

Android: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.adobe.scan.android&hl=en_US&gl=US

Lastly, don’t forget that our Day Services program provides varied experiences and connections that allow for the development and fulfillment of important life’s skills which become food for the spirit and the soul.

Boy With Down Syndrome Happy To Spend Day Among Family And Friends

Celebrating 33 Years of Support, Inc.!

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March 2022 represents our 33rd year in the industry! We are absolutely thrilled to reach this milestone- once Dennis Kirkman discovered the need to serve individuals with IDD back in 1989, we have been proud to serve families and individuals all along the Front Range ever since. Support, Inc. provides residential services to adults with intellectual and developmental disabilites. We also provide value-added services with access to our clinical team, nursing team, benefits specialist and more!

We asked a few of our long-standing employees to describe a few of their favorite memories through the years. Richard Shaw has worked for Support, Inc. for over 16 years. Kristin Kemp will celebrate 20 years of People Helping People in May, while Cindy Cridlebaugh takes the cake for longest-lasting employee, clocking in at nearly 21 years.

Rich relayed a few moments he remembers fondly while working at Support, Inc.:

One of my favorite moments with Support, Inc. would be in the first month I started with the Agency. They closed the office down in the early afternoon, and all employees took part in an internal dodgeball tournament.  Everyone (that wanted to participate) was divided into 4 teams with our own team shirts.  We then got to compete against the other teams.  Afterwards, we all were treated to a meal.  This was such an amazing way to start a career with the agency and team building.

Another favorite moment would be in the first couple of years working with the agency, many of the staff got together to watch a play production of OZ. This was so special because I had just a few years of working in the IDD field and got to share with my coworkers a play put on by Phamaly: Phamaly is one of the few professional theatre companies worldwide to feature performers with disabilities across the spectrum’. It was great to watch this performance live.

When Kristin was asked about her career at Support, Inc., she relayed several stories and funny moments through the years:

Cindy told me that we were going paperless.  I remember thinking that it would be impossible.  How would we be able to get our work done??!!!  I certainly do not miss the HHP files being in manila folders all over our desks. Deb was so proud that our paper order was drastically cut.

For favorite moments, Kristin relayed “I know I have so many more” and rattled off a few examples through the years-

  • When we first started accepting Family Caregivers and how it continues to help so many families
  • Hosting our first ever Talent Show
  • Dodgeball tournament
  • Game day at the office, when all the management were at a cabin in the mountains
  • 15-year anniversary golf tournament and dinner/dance
  • When Cindy and I reached a major milestone in the department, we asked Lynette if we could go to Bora Bora because of this (she said no). And it was hilarious!

Cindy shared a few of her favorite memories, as well-

  • Having dances in the day program. Watching all the clients and providers dance together.
  • Going for a scavenger hunt around Aurora, driving for different locations.  We were all driving around way too fast so we could win.
  • Getting the official Support, Inc. sign at the office
  • The vaccine clinic, feeling very thankful we could offer this.
  • Having all the staff pets visit the office.
  • The police following me in the Support, Inc. parking lot with the flashing lights and ticket I got while staff watched.
  • Playing Secret Santa with all staff- someone wrapped up their daughter’s retainer.
  • Painting the bathroom and office walls “ourselves”.
  • When the staff got to go outside and each take a turn hitting the old fax machine (that was always breaking down) with a hammer, complete with safety glasses.
  • Parents Night Out, DS’s family participating : )
  • Being so thrilled to add Kristin to my department after hearing her infectious laugh from the SLS side of the office .

Lastly, Brian Farestad, Vice President of Operations, relayed a few standout moments-

My favorite memory, in the five years that I have been with Support, Inc. would have to be the vaccine clinics that we held this year and last. During a time when we were so badly missing the face-to-face connection that we were used to, it was amazing to get to see all the families, providers, and individuals that we serve in person. It was very difficult not to just hug everyone but seeing those bright, smiling faces in person really filled a large hole that I didn’t quite know was there. And on top of that, to know that we were providing an invaluable service to people badly underserved and in need, made it all the more enjoyable.

Another favorite memory I have of Support, Inc. is the Talent Shows/Halloween parties that we used to have before the pandemic. To see our individuals and providers show off their creative costumes and talent on the microphone and dance floor is truly something to behold. I look forward to attending our first in person event in over two years sometime soon!

With so many individuals and families served through the years, we can only imagine the memories that others have throughout the organization. Support, Inc. has grown tremendously in the last several years, operating three locations along the Front Range. Although we started with humble roots, we continue to provide the best customer service in the industry. In our hearts, we will always be People Helping People and look forward to another 33 years in Colorado!

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Blanket Activity to Benefit Archway Communities

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The STAR Committee recently planned a Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) Project with the help of Human Resources. Lieke and Tammy, along with other members of the committee, helped gather materials for employees to each create a warm blanket. Agency employees came together one day over Zoom and spent a few hours on the project as a team. The blankets were then donated to Archway Communities, a non-profit that works with people with lower incomes. As they say it themselves: Archway Communities elevates lives by providing access to affordable housing, food security and the supportive social services people need to thrive. Our Mission – Archway Communities

This activity was rewarding for Support, Inc. employees, as they enjoyed giving back to their community. Lieke reports how much Archway Community staff appreciated the kind gesture-

They were very grateful for the blankets, and one of the residents happened to be there and received a blanket already. He is very happy with it, and wants to thank the Support Inc. employees for caring.

The STAR Committee Core Values include fostering a positive work culture, promoting employee appreciation and encouraging self-care. We understand how caring for others can often fill our own cups and for this reason, along with many others, we greatly enjoyed this project. Ultimately, the best part of this project was dropping off the blankets to those in need.

As Support, Inc. looks to host further CSR projects, we’re always open to ideas and suggestions! Reach out to us by contacting Cathy at Cathy.Kellogg@supportinc.com

Tammy hold one of the blankets while Luna (our faithful Support, Inc. mascot) has a sniff
Big thanks to Lieke for dropping off the blankets!
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Support, Inc. Welcomes New Assistant Controller

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Please join us in welcome our new Assistant Controller in the Finance Department, Christopher Neese!

My name is Christopher Neese. I’m originally from Alabama and moved to Colorado three years ago. I graduated from the University of South Alabama in Mobile, AL with a degree in Accounting. I worked previously with Carole Gaynor in public accounting and I am incredibly grateful to have another opportunity to work alongside her. I work in the Finance Department as the Assistant Controller. I accepted the position after an incredible interview with Carole and Bentley, who were very happy to work with a company that makes such a difference in their community. This was something incredibly important to me and was the deciding factor in my decision. So far everyone has been incredibly welcoming and I’m very excited to get to work providing support to Support, Inc!

A side-view shot of a father and daughter looking at Christmas decorations on a city street, they are wearing warm Christmas​ clothing.

March is Developmental Disability Awareness Month!

by COVID-19

March is Developmental Disability Awareness Month!

Ronald Reagan declared March the month for National Developmental Disabilities Awareness in 1987 after the deinstitutionalization movement of the 1970’s and 1980’s.

The campaign seeks to raise awareness about the inclusion of people with developmental disabilities in all aspects of community life, as well as awareness of the barriers that people with disabilities still sometimes face in connecting to the communities in which they live.

Throughout the campaign, individuals with and without disabilities will share their experiences through stories, photos and videos. This year’s campaign also highlights artwork created by individuals with disabilities and is featured in the Developmental Disabilities Awareness campaign imagery. For more information on Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month, visit https://nacdd.org/ddam/

This year, Colorado’s IDD Awareness Day at the capitol will be held virtually on March 23rd. The IDD policy webinar will be from 10am – 11am and IDD awareness day virtual luncheon from 12pm-1pm. If you missed this live event, check out Alliance’s posts throughout the day here.

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Support, Inc. Welcomes New Coordinator

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Please join us in welcoming our newest Loveland Residential Program Coordinator, Abby!

My name is Abby Beam, and I am the new RPC for the Loveland team. I moved to Colorado from Alabama about 2 years ago. Before coming to Support Inc., I worked as a DSP/Job Coach for a couple different day programs. After that I became a house manager for a small family run PASA. During this time, I also assisted with running a disability awareness nonprofit here in Loveland. In my free time I enjoy spending time with my partner and our dogs, and we frequently spend time going hiking, camping, or biking. I am very passionate about promoting independence in our consumers and helping them to live their best lives. I am very thankful for the opportunity to be here at Support Inc with a group of people who share the same mindset.

I look forward to working with all of you!

2019-coronavirus (1)

COVID-19 Communication

by COVID-19

To Support, Inc. staff, providers, and families

In this COVID-19 communication we will cover the following:

Support, Inc. Offices, and Hybrid Work Environment

More and more we are hearing medical experts talk about COVID-19 moving from a pandemic to an endemic. While there’s not a specific cut-off to determine the end of a pandemic, there are some broader general markers and the current data on transmission shows we are likely on the road to endemic. This leaves us all with a lot of thoughts and questions about what life after the COVID-19 pandemic will look like. Will we need to continue to get an annual vaccine like the influenza vaccine? Could COVID-19 spike again next fall/winter? Is it safe for me to return to activities I enjoyed before the pandemic? While we don’t know the answer to many of these questions, it’s safe to say we are all looking forward to returning to some ‘life as normal’.

As we look forward to returning to activities and social behaviors we have before the pandemic we have learned a lot over the last 2 years that we can carry with us into the future. One big thing we as a company and IDD services in general learned was how to utilize virtual technologies. While there were many pain points in this process, and at times there still are, this is a tool to have in our tool belt as we move forward. For many individuals in services the use of virtual technology meant they could continue to socialize with friends and family, get access to medical care and call a team meeting quickly while remaining safe at home. We learned how to hold meetings through various virtual platforms and adapted to working from home and setting up a home office.

Support, Inc. is looking forward to utilizing what we learned over the last two years as we move forward. We will continue to offer virtual and/or in-person clinical behavioral services to ensure we can meet each individuals needs and preferences. Our administrative staff will continue to have the ability to work from home. Utilizing virtual technology has allowed to build and maintain connections across our ever-growing geographical catchment area.

While utilizing virtual technology has been highly beneficial, we also recognize the importance and benefit of gathering in-person. Over the next couple months, we will begin having in-person meeting across teams and departments.  We will be working to redesign our administrative offices in Aurora to offer a comfortable place for people to work, host meetings and provide in-person trainings. Finally, we look forward to planning a ‘welcome back’ event to bring all our staff, contractors, families, and individuals together sometime this summer.

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to reach out to myself or your supervisor. We will continue to provide updates through email, our website and our Facebook page.