We were so grateful to have Jeff Rice with the Journal Advocate join us for the Sterling Open House and BBQ last week!
Feel free to check out the story below- and thanks again to Jeff for the appearance and the write-up!!
Support, Inc., expands services for those with disabilities into Sterling
Please join us in welcoming our new Director of Day Services, Brandi Rende! Brandi will be reporting through the Senior Director of Operations, as we work to expand our day services offerings outside of the Metro area and Pueblo. This is a new position, created to help provide community access services to all our individuals in services throughout the front range and not just at our current site-based facilities in Aurora and Pueblo, CO.
With over 20 years of experience, Brandi has dedicated herself to supporting individuals with diverse abilities, empowering them to lead fulfilling and purpose-driven lives. She is excited to partner with Support Inc. to continue to build a community where individuals can access quality services to support them in living every day to the fullest. Brandi is a devoted wife and proud mother of two amazing kiddos. Her son Jaxon is 13 and daughter is 11. She spends most of her free time with them, whether they are enjoying time at home or soaking up the sun on a beach vacation, family time is her favorite!
Support Inc. individual in services, Kelly, recently completed the Highline Canal Race! Kelly was able to participate in this 5k race with the help of Ainsley’s Angels a group that recruits runners to push riders in specialized wheelchairs to give them the experience of racing. Our very own, Kelly, raced in this year’s event! Congratulations to Kelly on this special accomplishment and thank you to Ainsley’s Angels and all the volunteers that made this possible!
Greetings from the Intake Department! We are excited to introduce you to our new team structure and provide an update on the Support Inc. Intake Team.
New Team Structure:
Director of Intake and Public Relations- Brian Slusarz
Lead Intake and Marketing Specialist- Cathy Kellogg
Intake Specialist- Cindy Cridlebaugh
Intake Specialist- Kristin Kemp
Intake Team Updates:
The Support Inc. Intake Team continues to work hard with a focus on bringing new individuals, families and providers into our wonderful services. Our job is to make the onboarding process into our services as seamless and as simple as possible. Are team is dedicated to ensuring a smooth transition with a heavy focus on customer service. Our new team structure, with added staff resources has hopefully, enhanced the customer experience when enrolling in our services.
In addition to the above core function, we continue to search for in-home respite providers! If you live anywhere along the Front Range and are open to providing respite in the family’s home, please email us at placement.team@supportinc.com. We also continue to recruit host home providers in Jefferson, Pueblo, El Paso, Larimer, Boulder, Weld, Washington, and Yuma counties. We are also searching for providers with behavioral experience. We will pay a one-time $300 referral bonus to anyone that refers friends or family to us! (For placements that last 90 days or longer). We are also providing sign on bonuses to HHPs in certain locations. Please visit Support, Inc. – Career Page (applytojob.com) for more information.
Lastly, the Intake Team is excited to announce the opening of our new office in Sterling, CO!!! We have been serving individuals and families in Northeastern Colorado for over a decade and we’re excited to finally have a physical location in Sterling. We will be hosting an Open House BBQ Party on June 13th. For more information, please contact info@supportinc.com
June is National Safety Month, and this year the focus is on safety in the workplace.
Preventing injuries at work.
The Hive Community Center is a new, inclusive space in Parker! Through Mill Levy funding, Developmental Pathways is sponsoring individuals residing in Arapahoe, Douglas, and Elbert Counties to utilize The Hive. Funding is available on a first-come, first-served basis and only for a limited time. Even after sponsorship funding expires, all Health First Colorado members will always receive 50% off reservations. Check out the link below for more information.
https://files.constantcontact.com/b48dec08001/5b77235c-7aae-4f84-8fbe-e3c325afd60a.pdf?rdr=true
May is Prader-Willi Syndrome Awareness Month! Diane Sheeran has been with Support Inc for over a decade and living with her current Host Home Provider (HHP) for over 5 years. Dianne has a diagnosis of Prader-Willi Syndrome, and her Siblings would like to share a positive story and resources for anyone with or supporting a loved one with this diagnosis.
Prader-Willi Syndrome Association USA – Supporting Families
https://www.pwsausa.org/
PWSA | USA’s Residential Providers Conference – Prader-Willi Syndrome Association | USA. This is info on a Residential Providers Conference Aug 18-Aug 20 In-person and Virtual
https://www.pwsausa.org/event/pwsa-usas-residential-providers-conference/
“A positive story is Diane’s success with Support Inc, RPC Richard Shaw and HHP. Richard was with us before our mom passed. Mom pretty much overruled many suggestions and only allowed certain things to happen. Diane could go very few places in public, yet alone to a grocery store or restaurant. Diane only lasted a few months with the first HHP. It was her first time as an HHP so had no experience with anyone, yet alone a person with a diagnosis of Prader-Willi and definitely not Diane! When her HHP was first introduced to her, Di was coming out of the hospital, weighed over 285 lbs, diabetic, diagnosed with congestive heart failure and was given 6 months to live if there were not drastic changes. HHP had a plan, said it will take time, but she needed the family support, so we gave her our 100% support. Now admittedly at times there were questions and concerns, I’m sure HHP had them too, haha, but the results became apparent quickly. Diane is in the best health she has ever been because of her current HHP”.
-Tim Sheeran
“Richard has been with us for so long, he is like part of the family! He knows the family, our quirks and uniqueness. I remember the time Diane was in a play sponsored by Support Inc. and Richard and I just stood there sobbing as Diane actually participated and was so proud of herself. He’s been with us and helped us navigate the death of our mother and again at the death of our brother from COVID.
I can’t express enough gratitude to the HHP for opening her home to accept Diane. We fondly call her Saint HHP. There was more than one time I was sure we would be hunting for a new provider, but HHP would come back and say she and the boys discussed it and they wanted Diane to come back to their home. Prader- Willi Syndrome is very difficult as it changes the life and patterns of everyone living with the person. HHP and her family had to make drastic changes to help Diane. The current HHP has learned how to control Diane’s food and behavior issues but still let’s Diane be Diane! I am so grateful to Matt for being adamant that we enrolled Diane into Support Inc services when we did. There is not a cure for PWS but thanks to the HHP and Support, Inc Diane does have a quality life.”
-Linda Sheeran
Seldom do you see this young man without a smile, JD is one of the most joyful people you will ever meet. He is a curious, bright, sweet, and polite guy to everyone he meets. He works hard at his job and is the most proud, enthusiastic janitorial expert ever. He looks forward to sharing bits about his day at work with anyone who will listen. When the opportunity came along to add some extra excitement to his life, there was some mild hesitation as he is very rarely without his host home provider. They are the best bonded pair, but JD got to have a dream from TV come true, with a trip to see the monster trucks at Monster Jam. This was his first experience at a large venue and his first time taking in a show with this level of excitement and let’s face it… noise. He loved every second of it all!! The car trip to Colorado Springs, the pizza and souvenir cup, meeting the drivers, seeing the trucks up close, the noise from the fans, and then seeing the stunts and the times when trucks flipped over were some of the highlights of the day. His delight continued when the day wrapped up with a blended coffee drink topped with whipped cream. There is something amazing and so special about seeing someone experience new, thrilling events in life when they work so hard and are so deserving of great experiences like this. JD has overcome so many obstacles in his life with support from the ones who care most about him, he gets to shine and it’s the sweetest thing. Congratulations, JD, and thank you to the Pueblo Community Resources team for making this dream possible!
Please join us in congratulating our April Host Home Provider of the Month- Jackie Muniz of Pueblo Community Resources! There are so many of our providers that stand out as just all-around amazing humans. Miss Jackie Muniz is just that, an amazing human. She lives next door to her ageing father, who we all affectionately call, Mr. M. He has been a host home provider with Pueblo Community Resources since nearly the beginning, worked with many different people in services and has been a haven for CR for a long time. When Jackie noticed her father was really struggling with his health, she called us at the office to do a little wellness check right away. CR was safe and happy, but it was clear that it was time to make some changes for Mr. M to be able to focus on his own health. Jackie was more than willing to take CR in her home, having been in this field for over 30 years, she knew that she could offer a similar lifestyle and safe place that CR is most used to. He moved in with Jackie, right away and she has worked so hard to make sure he has everything he needs to feel at home. She caught on to our software quickly, she never hesitated to jump right in and has been able to nourish the relationship the CR and Mr. M have. They maintain their close friendship with daily contact and Jackie makes sure neither of them feels the changes too hard. Her home is comfortable, he is very well fed (Jackie is a stellar cook!) and she has CR out running around with her all the time. He is living his best life with Jackie! We are forever grateful to her for her attentiveness to everything with CR and Mr. M. Her care and concern are truly why CR continues to thrive. Thank you, Jackie, and congratulations on being named the April Host Home Provider of the Month!!!
Introduction
As a caregiver in Colorado, you play a crucial role in providing support and care to your loved ones with disabilities. Whether you’re caring for a child, an adult, or both, you may have heard about programs like IHSS (In-Home Supportive Services) and PASA (Program Approved Service Agencies). In this blog post, we’ll take a closer look at these valuable resources and how they can help you in your caregiving journey. So, let’s dive in!
Understanding IHSS (In-Home Supportive Services)
IHSS is a state-administered program designed to provide assistance to individuals with disabilities, allowing them to remain in the comfort and familiarity of their own homes. It’s a lifeline for caregivers and their loved ones, offering support in various aspects of daily life. Support, Inc. specifically works with those who qualify for the Developmental Disabilities (DD) Waiver. We provide residential services to adults and their families over the age of 18.
To qualify for IHSS in Colorado, your loved one must meet certain eligibility criteria, including:
Once eligible, your loved one can access a range of services under IHSS, including:
IHSS isn’t just about the care recipient; it also greatly benefits caregivers. By providing necessary support, IHSS:
Understanding PASA (Program Approved Service Agencies)
PASA is another valuable resource for caregivers in Colorado, offering a wide range of support services for individuals with disabilities. These services are aimed at improving the quality of life for both caregivers and care recipients.
PASA agencies provide a variety of services, including:
When selecting a PASA agency for your loved one, it’s essential to consider:
Combining IHSS and PASA: A Comprehensive Approach
Many caregivers in Colorado find that combining IHSS and PASA services offers a well-rounded approach to caregiving. By utilizing both resources, you can create a customized care plan that addresses your loved one’s unique needs and your own.
IHSS and PASA can complement each other in various ways:
As a caregiver, you’ll need to coordinate the services offered by IHSS and PASA. Here are some tips:
Navigating the Application Process
Getting started with IHSS and PASA may seem daunting, but Colorado offers resources to help you through the process:
Reach out to your local county department or human services office to initiate the application process for IHSS. They can provide guidance on eligibility criteria and the application procedure.
Explore the different PASA agencies in your area. Conduct interviews, ask for references, and make an informed decision based on your loved one’s needs.
Don’t hesitate to seek support from caregiver support groups, online forums, or local advocacy organizations. These resources can offer valuable insights and emotional support.
Conclusion
As a caregiver in Colorado, you have access to a wealth of resources like IHSS and PASA to support your loved ones with disabilities. By understanding the eligibility criteria, services offered, and the potential for combining both programs, you can create a comprehensive caregiving plan that enhances the quality of life for both you and your care recipient. Remember, you’re not alone on this journey, and there are numerous organizations and support networks ready to assist you every step of the way. Caregiving is a rewarding endeavor, and with the right resources, it can be made more manageable and fulfilling for everyone involved.
PHONE: (303) 340-0322
FAX: (303) 340-0385
HOURS: Mon – Thurs: 8:00am – 6:00pm
EMAIL: info@supportinc.com
15591 E. Centretech Pkwy
Aurora, CO 80011
Phone: 303-340-0322