Reaching for the Stars a publication of Mosaic in South Central Iowa | 405 E. McLane St., Ste. 200 | Osceola, IA 50213
Summer 2013
n People achieve more of their personal goals.
Host Homes – A Proven Solution
Mosaic conducts the match process slowly to ensure there is the best match between provider and person served. The steps include: n Assessing routines of the host home provider to ensure their routines are similar to the person served n Assessing the safety of the home n Setting up several visits between the person served, guardians, and host home providers. In Ron’s case, Mosaic feels like the match between him and the Golly family is a perfect one. Ron enjoys many of the same things that the Gollys do such as camping, playing pool in their game room or hosting a barbeque for family and friends. One of Ron’s greatest joys is playing the organ While new to Iowa, Host Homes have been a service that he received from the Gollys. Ron cannot read music option for people with disabilities for several years. Host because he is legally blind but is able to listen to a song once Homes provide services to people with intellectual and play it from memory. His musical talent is also enjoyed disabilities in family-like or “Ron is a member of our family! He is a by members of the Methodist church roommate settings. This service in their community where Ron plays offers the least restrictive, most joy to be with. He has actually brought more the piano during the after-church natural living environment and to the quality of our lives than we think we coffee hour. helps people achieve the highest have to his.“ – Joyce Golly, Mosaic Host If you are interested in learning degree of life satisfaction and Home Provider. more about host homes, please contact personal goals. Rhonda Willcox, Associate Director, at rhonda.willcox@ A loving and supportive home environment, one that mosaicinfo.org or at 641.342.6015 x 223. mirrors a natural family, is proven to have multiple benefits for people with disabilities. Various research studies and organizational experiences have shown that the Host Home Model is one of the most effective residential services, based Thanks to all of the staff, family members and friends on costs and personal outcomes, that are available for adults who attended our third Track and Field Day in June. We with intellectual and developmental disabilities. appreciate your support. Benefits for a person with a disability and their family Congratulations to all of the athletes who competed! include: n Natural, home-like setting n Personalized attention on a daily basis n High degree of independence with close supervision for safety and guidance n Consistent training and support from the same person n Regular monitoring for those with health care needs n One-on-one contact between provider and family member or guardian n May live close to family and friends n Good choice for transitioning from family home or a group home n Less structured lifestyle for older adults Kari and Jenny race across the finish line with staff in the 25-yard n People report consistently higher life satisfaction rates wheelchair dash.
Mosaic Track and Field Day
South Central Iowa
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Reaching for the Stars
Letter from the Executive Director
in Iowa and Illinois have just finished 10 months of class learning how to use our mission to better prepare us for our future. Four of these attendees were from Mosaic in South Central Iowa - Shanda Hiatt, Human Resources Manager; Tammy Fulkerson, Day Services Program Coordinator; Rhonda Willcox, Associate Director and Stephanie Gehlhaar, Executive Director. This fall six additional South Central Iowa staff will begin the classes. Looking at new ways of supporting people with disabilities. This comes in the form of Host Home services and Project Search job development. More details are in this newsletter. Using technology to ease workloads. Mosaic has invested in new programs. For the people we support, Mosaic has started doing documentation electronically. Staff have currently been charting shift notes. This fall, staff will chart all programmatic information and in the spring of 2014 we will have all medical supports charted electronically. Improving communication. Mosaic realizes that it is critical to maintain good communication with all stakeholders – people served, staff, families, case managers and the community. As with most people, as we’ve gotten busy we missed a few things. We are sorry and are concentrating on this. Whether it is focusing on today or planning for tomorrow, your input is very valuable. Please feel free to share your concerns, celebrations, and/or ideas. You can do that by reaching me at stephanie.gehlhaar@mosaicinfo.org or by phone at 641.342.6015 x 222.
by Stephanie Gehlhaar
Today’s world is full of changes. This includes regulations, technology, privacy, the economy, etc. Like other businesses, Mosaic is routinely facing new challenges and regulations to work within. We must be prepared for new expectations while maintaining consistent support for the people we serve and our employees. Mosaic in South Central Iowa is maintaining consistent supports by: Being financially stable. We are proud to say that we have finished with a financially strong year. Compensating our employees. Through financial planning we are glad to be able to increase pay to our employees. They definitely deserve it! Maintaining quality. The agency continues to do well on our Basic Assurances® quality review each six months. We continue to look at ways to continue improving supports within the agency. Mosaic in South Central Iowa is preparing for changes in the following ways: Investing in our future leaders. Fifty Mosaic leaders
Reaching for the Stars by Mosaic in South Central Iowa
Relationships Mosaic is an affiliated social ministry organization of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America and a member of Lutheran Services in America.
405 E. McLane St., Ste. 200 | Osceola, IA 50213-0484 P 641.342.6015 | F 641.342.7281 www.mosaicinsouthcentraliowa.org Executive Director Editor
Non-discrimination Mosaic will not discriminate in matters of employment or service delivery on the basis of race, creed, age, color, sex, religion, national origin, ancestry, physical or mental disability, marital status or veteran status.
stephanie.gehlhaar@mosaicinfo.org karen.irwin@mosaicinfo.org
Mission Embracing God’s call to serve in the world, Mosaic advocates for people with intellectual disabilities and provides opportunities for them to enjoy a full life.
To be added or removed from the mailing list for Reaching for the Stars, or to receive information via email, please contact Mosaic at the address given.
Integrity at Mosaic If you have a concern, call our national Confidential Reporting Hotline at 800.443.4899, or email integrity@mosaicinfo.org.
Reaching for the Stars
©2013 Mosaic. All rights reserved. Mosaic is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization.
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South Central Iowa
Aktion Club –Service in Action
is a joint project of Kiwanis International and UNICEF to eliminate maternal and neonatal tetanus worldwide. Our club has been participating in the project for the past two years. Because serving in our community is part of the mission of Aktion Club, we have been supporting community food and clothing drives. We helped pack bags for the Back Pack Buddies program, collected food for the local food bank and helped with the Socks and Shoe Drives. We are also currently gathering diapers for the Crisis Center in Ottumwa. We had our Tootsie Roll and Peanut Day Drive in July and did a great job bringing awareness of Mosaic as well as raising money. Through the generosity and support of our local communities we raised $278.12. We also raised $250 during the 4th of July celebration in Chariton by monitoring and cleaning the bathrooms at the courthouse. Our fundraisers help support Aktion Club activities such as our dances and other events as well as covering the cost of sending our leaders to the upcoming regional conference.
by Ann Bigger, Aktion Club Advisor
About Aktion Club Aktion Club is a service club for adults with disabilities, with more than 11,000 members worldwide. Aktion Club allows adults living with disabilities to participate in community service projects, gain leadership skills and become more involved in society. The mission of Aktion Club is: n To provide adults living with disabilities an opportunity to develop initiative and leadership skills; n To serve their community; n To be integrated into society; and n To demonstrate the dignity and value of citizens living with disabilities. Service and Fundraising Aktion Club members strive to return to their communities the benefits, help, and caring they have received, as well as develop important skills in the process. Aktion Club members give an estimated 92,484 hours of service each year, performing a variety of community services, such as environmental projects, park beautification, food drives, nursing home visitations and assisting Kiwanis clubs with their projects. To date, Aktion Clubs have raised more than $36,000 for Sleeping Children Around the World, which provides bed kits to children in developing countries. Bed kits consist of a mat or mattress, pillow, sheet, blanket, mosquito net (if applicable), clothes outfit, towel and school supplies. Aktion Club of South Central Iowa A Kiwanis club, composed of like-minded, serviceoriented people from the community, serves as the club’s sponsor. The South Central Iowa Aktion Club is sponsored by the Chariton Kiwanis. As we begin our second year, our Aktion Club of South Central Iowa is moving into greater hands-on leadership. Our club elected a Board of Directors to work alongside our officers as we go forward. Club members have decided to hold one general meeting with speakers, activities or community volunteer programs each month and one leadership meeting each month. In addition, other events such as dances, picnics and fundraisers will be added to our regular monthly routine. We currently have planned a picnic for the Thursday after Labor Day as well as a Halloween dance and a bowling outing in March. The leadership team is planning to attend the Kiwanis District Convention on August 10 in Altoona, Iowa. We will be attending two breakout sessions. One is strictly for Aktion Club leaders, and the other is about Project Eliminate, which South Central Iowa
Centennial Celebrations As many of you know, Mosaic is celebrating 100 years of service this year. Mosaic in South Central Iowa has joined the celebration with activities throughout the year. You may have seen newspaper articles in both the Osceola and Chariton newspapers, along with photos of staff and individuals wearing our centennial T-shirts. We also recently sponsored Thursday Night in the Park in Osceola where we served cake and lemonade to the community. A DJ provided musical entertainment and many of the people we serve and Mosaic staff enjoyed dancing the night away! We will also be co-hosting Lunch on the Square in Chariton on September 13 from 11:30 - 1:00 p.m. We will provide cake decorated with our logo and the centennial logo for participants to enjoy.
You are Invited Plans are also under way for a Friends and Family Picnic to be held on September 28 at Jericho Hills Camp in Lucas, Iowa. We are planning a short church service followed by a picnic lunch. The camp has a variety of activities for guests including roller skating, volleyball, a zip line and walking trails, to mention a few. Please RSVP to Karen Irwin at 641.342.6015 x234 or karen.irwin@mosaicinfo.org if you are planning to attend so we can make sure to have enough food for everyone! 4
Reaching for the Stars
While both sides have valid points, the reality is that there is a push to change services. Mosaic has wanted to be proactive in supporting people with disabilities and their work preferences. We are very excited to be starting a new program – PROJECT SEARCH. Project Search is a one-year internship program for people with disabilities whose goal is competitive employment. The program takes place at Lucas County Health Center in Chariton where total immersion in the workplace facilitates the teaching and learning process as well as the acquisition of employ-ability and marketable work skills. Interns participate in three internships to explore a variety of career paths. The interns work with a team that includes their family, case manager, and their provider (Mosaic) to create an employment goal and support the person during this important transition to competitive work.
Visiting Axtell: Where it all began by Karen Irwin, Community Relations Manager
Benefits of the Project SEARCH Model for the intern: n Participate in a variety of internships within the host
Community Relations Managers from across Mosaic gathered in Kearney, Nebraska at the end of June for our fifth annual workshop. Following the workshop, we were taken by bus to Axtell, Nebraska to visit the place where Mosaic (Bethpage) was started. The campus there at Axtell hosted a two-day Centennial Festival for Mosaic staff, people in service, families, friends and members of the community. One of the highlights of my visit was viewing the hundreds of photographs of Mosaic through the years at the Tabor museum. It was an awesome experience to get a sense of the history of this wonderful organization through these photos and displays of clothing, furniture, wheelchairs and other items. Another highlight was visiting the Zion Chapel with its beautiful stained glass windows. The time passed all too quickly and soon it was time to board the bus back to Kearney. If you are ever in the Kearney area I strongly encourage you to take the 20 minute drive south to Axtell to learn more about the origins of Mosaic and get a sense of our history.
hospital/business n Acquire competitive, transferable and marketable job skills n Gain increased independence, confidence and self esteem n Obtain work-based individualized coaching, instruction and feedback
Mosaic Offers a New Vocational Program – Project Search
Mosaic is very grateful for the partnership with Lucas County Health Center. Together we believe that this will provide individuals with opportunities to learn work skills that promote independence, self-esteem and ultimately lead to meaningful employment with local businesses. Mosaic will be looking for additional business locations and for people interested in the internship program. For more information on this program please contact Stephanie Gehlhaar, Executive Director, at stephanie. gehlhaar@mosaicinfo.org or at 641.342.6015 x 222.
The service delivery system for people with disabilities is changing. Vocational opportunities for people with disabilities are definitely under review federally, within the state and locally at the county level. In regards to changes in vocational regulations, the two hot challenges are: 1. Traditional sheltered workshops segregate people with disabilities. 2. People with disabilities are not paid fairly and should earn wages equal to the general public. Reaching for the Stars
Benefits for the business: n Access to a new, diverse talent stream with skills that match labor needs n Gain interns/employees with disabilities who serve as a role model for customers n Access to a demographic of the economy with intense buying power: people with disabilities represent one of the fastest growing market segments in the US n Experience increased regional and national recognition through marketing of this unique program n Performance and retention in some high-turnover, entry-level positions increase dramatically
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South Central Iowa
Mosaic in South Central Iowa would like to send you our newsletter via email!
Volunteer Needs Become a Friend of Mosaic Help spread the word and be a Friend of Mosaic for our Discover the Possibilities tours. It’s as simple as inviting friends and colleagues to attend one of the informative one hour gatherings. You choose the location – a Mosaic facility, your home or the location of your choice. Committee Membership Join one of our committees – Recruitment and Retention, Community Advisory Council or Human Rights. Friend and Fundraising Team Member Join this team to help Mosaic achieve our friend and fundraising goals. As a member of the team you would play a vital role in the long term sustainability of the agency by helping to introduce the Mosaic mission to people in the community. Ongoing training is provided, including a trip to Dallas in November.
If you would prefer to receive our newsletter via email please go to our website www.mosaicinsouthcentraliowa.org and click on Contact Us. Complete the form and check the box for receiving our newsletter via email.
Get Social Mosaic in South Central Iowa is now on Facebook! Join our page and keep up on the exciting things going on in the agency. Don’t forget to share our page with your Facebook friends, too! www.facebook.com/MosaicinSouthCentralIowa
Mosaic Marchers Raise Money To Fight Cancer
A Perfect Day at Mosaic
The Mosaic Marchers, staff members and people in service, participated in the first Relay for Life of Clarke County on Friday, June 6 in Osceola. The team held
What is your perfect day? Spending the day at the state fair? Going to a ball game? Spending time volunteering at a school or organization that you love? We can all imagine what our own “perfect day” might be – and most likely, it is not much different than the perfect day that the people we support would enjoy. One of our goals is to provide a meaningful life for all of the people we serve – whether it is connecting with people in our com mu n it y, pursuing a dream or goal and experiencing the joy of achieving success – even if it is just the pursuit itself. Recently, Mosaic produced a video that illustrates what a meaningful life is for someone supported by Mosaic by showing what a “perfect day” is for them. This video titled Perfect Day shows you Mosaic’s mission through the eyes and voices of the people we serve. Watch this video at www.mosaicinfo.org. We hope you enjoy!
Mosaic staff members Vickie, Jessica and Holly during the “super heroes” lap at Relay.
fundraisers prior to the Relay and team members also collected donations. The evening began with the introduction of cancer survivors and the Relay teams. Unfortunately, Mother Nature was not cooperative and the Relay had to be moved from the high school track to the gym. Despite the weather, everyone had a great time and the Mosaic Marchers raised $1,317 for the fight against cancer.
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Reaching for the Stars
405 E. McLane St., Ste. 200 Osceola, IA 50213-0484
A life of possibilities for people with intellectual disabilities.
Discover the Possibilities
Upcoming Dates:
Have you had a chance to attend one of our Discover the Possibilities tours? The tour opens our doors to help our guests learn how Mosaic partners with people with intellectual disabilities to create a meaningful life in a caring community, giving a voice to their needs. Those who attend are given a tour of Mosaic’s mission and work through stories and testimonials told by the people who know it well – the people we serve, their families and our staff members. After experiencing this powerful testimony, many guests have invited others to attend the program or have hosted a program for their club or organization. Discover the Possibilities are held once a month in Osceola and Chariton.
Osceola
September 17, 4:30 p.m. October 3, 7:45 a.m.
Chariton
September 11, 4:30 p.m. October 2, 7:45 a.m.
Even if you’ve known Mosaic for years, you will likely learn something new about us and the services we provide. We encourage everyone to attend to help raise community awareness for the people we support. If you have any questions, would like to get involved or to attend one of our Discover the Possibilities, please call Karen Irwin at 641.342.6015 x238.