Untitled-Design-11

New Residential Program Coordinator!

by Information & Resources

Please join us in giving a warm welcome back to Denver Metro-4’s newest Residential Program Coordinator (RPC), Brett Lopez!!

“Hello everyone! My name is Brett Lopez, and I am excited and grateful to be back. I previously worked at Support Inc. from 2011 to 2019. I worked in Day Program as a DSP and eventually worked my way up to the RPC position. After 5 years away, I realized how much I missed being with a company that truly cares about people. My hobbies include a lot of dancing. I currently dance with a Bollywood/Bhangra dance company, and we do different gigs throughout Denver. I am also in the process of being a dance instructor for the studio I dance at. When I’m not tied up with that, I enjoy being up in the mountains hiking or camping. 2024 is going to be a great year and I’m excited to be working with such a great team!”

Untitled-Design-11

Operations News & Updates

by Information & Resources

Hello and Season’s Greetings from the Operations Team. As the year comes to a close, if you’re like us, the holiday season is a time to reflect on the year that was and start setting goals for the year to be. It’s a time to celebrate our accomplishments, be thankful for our blessings, remember those we lost, and look forward to the new year. In whatever way you are connected to the Support, Inc. family, we appreciate you and look forward to taking on new things with you and on your behalf in 2024. May you find peace in this season and take time to be with the people you love. Thank you to everyone for all you do to support our individuals in services!

Untitled Design (37)

Alea Steals the Show at the Library!

by Information & Resources

We want to highlight one of our individuals in services recent success! Alea has recently fallen in love with the library and their staff. She really gets out of her comfort zone when she is there. She now enjoys story/song time, whereas before she was unsure of it. Alea recently put on a puppet show for a few other kids at the library! Whereas before, she would only observe from a distance. She also recently got her own library card independently and will check out her own books! Congratulations, Alea, and thank you to all the Support Inc. staff who have helped her along the way. Special shout out to Direct Support Professional, Raina (featured in the picture), her family and the Colorado Springs team.

 

 

HR Corner

HR News and Updates

by Information & Resources

We are very excited to announce our benefit change for 2024. This transition has been many years in the making.  Even though we have been generally happy with Kaiser, as we have grown, we have had the desire and the need to move to a plan that does not have as many restrictions, offers national coverage, and at an affordable cost to participants and the company.  After careful review by the committee, Cigna was chosen to be our employee health partner moving forward.  Below is some of what you can expect with this transition:

 

  • Cigna will allow you the opportunity to access a significantly larger network, which is nationwide and one of the largest networks in the country.
  • You will have less restrictions on access to care.  For example, you will not need a referral to see a specialist.
  • Cigna offers a transfer of care team that can assist in transferring prescriptions, finding doctors, and matching you with comparable care.

The HR Team is happy to answer questions and help as we make this transition and do everything in our power to make sure you’re able to access our employee benefits with ease!

Untitled Design (43)

New Staff for Eastern Plains!

by Information & Resources

Please join us in welcoming new Residential Coordinator, Jennifer Schutz to the Support Inc. Family!! Jennifer will be joining our Northern Region team and supporting our individuals and families on the Eastern Plains. We’re excited to have a team member with local knowledge to help serve our many individuals and families in Eastern Colorado. Learn more about Jennifer below.

“Hello Support Inc., My name is Jennifer Schutz. I have joined Support Inc. as a Residential Program Coordinator. I have a B.A. in Psychology and have been a Case Manager for 8 years with Eastern Colorado Services serving individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities. During my time there, I worked with ages 3-17 and adults. I have also worked with 6 different long term Medicaid waivers. When I am not working, I am at home with my husband and 3 kids (6-year-olds *yes twins* and an 11-year-old). Also, can’t forget the pets as well- 2 kittens, 1 dog and a hedgehog. We enjoy playing video games and I enjoy reading. I am excited for this opportunity and can’t wait to meet and work with everyone!

 

Untitled Design (37)

Support Inc. Client Featured in Local Art Show!

by Information & Resources

Café Show by Local Artist and Support, Inc. client- Maria

Maria has many talents. She is an athlete, baker, dancer, skilled with animals and very charismatic. She is also a prolific painter, using art therapy as one way to calm her busy mind. While flamingos in funny situations are a common theme, she also paints other marine life, horses, flowers, holiday settings and landscapes.

During the month of October, Maria was the featured artist at the French Press Café in her neighborhood on Iliff near Buckley. If you have not been there, they have the regular coffee and tea-related faire, as well as an incredible kitchen. (Their chilaquiles are THE BOMB!) Maria’s paintings covered an entire wall, which is really saying something in the small space the café holds. She wrote her own bio, which had a lovely photo of her with a horse attached and even sold two paintings!

Maria’s accomplishments are a source of pride for herself, her family and our community. Here’s to the next show where we have our eye on a certain flamingo wearing a pool floaty and carrying a cocktail. Congratulations to Maria on this amazing accomplishment!

HHP of month image

Host Home Provider of the Month- November!

by Information & Resources

Please join us in congratulating our November Host Home Provider of the Month, Lisa Mugalu!! Lisa was nominated for Host Home Provider of the month by the Support Inc. Denver Metro 2 Team. According to Residential Coordinator, Malika, “I have been working with Lisa since February 2022, and although there have been ups and downs with the health of the person in services in the home, she has remained resilient, patient, and most importantly kind. Coming from living in a home with her sister was a huge transition for not only the person in services, but the entire family, and Lisa has always had an open-door policy and treats them like family too! When the individual in the home experienced some health issues last year, she made sure to be proactive, ask questions, and be an advocate for the person in services to finally receive physical therapy, which helped tremendously. With thanks to physical therapy and Lisa, the person in services got so much healthier, stronger, and her lively personality was back. Every time I see the person in services, she is smiling, giving everyone hugs, laughing, and talking about pizza (inside joke). Lisa is extremely hard-working, and always does her best to make sure the individual in her home is getting the absolute best care. It has truly been a pleasure working with Lisa and I appreciate her positive attitude and kindness always. Thank you for all that you do, Lisa and congratulations on being the November Host Home Provider of the Month!!!

 

Untitled Design (43)

Family Caregiver Town Hall

by Information & Resources

Please join our Operations Team on November 30th, 11am for our Family Caregiver Town Hall. This meeting will occur virtually on Zoom. The agenda is filled with updates regarding Support, Inc., and Pueblo Community Resources news, as well as reminder for upcoming events, staff appreciation and recognition, and an opportunity to connect and ask questions. For more information and the zoom link please contact info@supportinc.com

LN

Quality Assurance News and Updates

by Information & Resources

As summer ends and cold weather settles in so comes cold and flu season. Colorado has also seen an increase in COVID-19 cases. Protect yourself, the person you serve and your family. As a reminder, please do not send people to work or day program if they are sick. If people arrive to day program/work showing signs of illness, you will be asked to pick the person up.

Healthy habits to help protect against illness:

  1. Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
  2. Stay home when you are sick. Please do not send people to work or day program if they are sick.
  3. Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when coughing or sneezing.
  4. Wash your hands often to protect yourself from germs.
  5. Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth.
  6. Practice other good health habits such a cleaning and disinfecting.
  7. Getting a flu shot and COVID-19 vaccine. Contact your primary care physician, local pharmacy or use Colorado’s get vaccinated website to find vaccine providers near you.