2025 AHRC COMPASS Annual Report by AHRCNassau

AHRC Nassau COMPASS

Empowers people to live fulfilling lives. Together with Family-Friends-Community

January 2025 Annual Report

Recognized by CQL | The Council on Quality and Leadership with Person-Centered Excellence Accreditation With Distinction Working toward a world of dignity, opportunity and community for all people

Commissioner Visit—December 12, 2024

It was a pleasure to welcome OPWDD Acting Commissioner Willow Baer and her colleagues to AHRC Nassau’s Brookville campus this past December. Parents, siblings, self-advocates, and agency team members engaged in dynamic conversations about key priorities, current supports, and future services for adults and children with intellectual and developmental disabilities. The meeting was followed by a wonderful tour of AHRC’s Wheatley Farms and Arts Center.

Thank you to everyone who contributed to the day’s success. We look forward to continuing this important work for all members of our vibrant community.

Shown above are Stanfort Perry, Saundra Gumerove, Esq., Christopher O'Connor, Barry Donowitz, Sallyanne Burgess, Colleen Tapia, Matthew Hofele, Coleen Mackin, Mary McNamara, Nicole Zerillo, Brandon Semilof, and NYS Office for People With Developmental Disabilities Acting Commissioner, Willow Baer (center).

MISSION STATEMENT

Annual Review of the Mission Statement and Management Plan

AHRC Nassau empowers people to live fulfilling lives.

Together with Family— Friends

– Community

PART 1 – MISSION STATEMENT ANNUAL REVIEW:

There were no changes recommended to the Agency mission statement by the Councils, Compass Committee or Board of Directors.

PART II - MANAGEMENT PLAN REVIEW:

Below are a summary of approved changes to the management plan in 2025.

All Criterion:

1. Update document to include person-first language to emphasize the person before the disability.

Criterion #1 - Board and Management Commitment:

1. Continue: To assess and possibly add a second advocate as a board member.

Criterion #2 - Mission Statement and Commitment to the ISE:

1. Change Individual Service Environment (ISE) to Person Centered Environment.

2. Remove: Diversity training is offered to each person supported.

3. Add/Replace #2 Above: DEI Ambassador Council which is made up of people skilled in the most recent initiatives to create a kind, aware and inclusive environment. A manual was developed, and training is offered periodically to all people supported. In addition, the “Empowering You” series also offers DEI training.

4. AHRC was awarded the NYS Community of Practice on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in Developmental Disabilities grant. Training is provided across the state and is for NYS providers, self-advocates leaders and SANYS as one of the organizations that is part of our teams. This grant also offered a paid opportunity for two advocates.

Criterion #3 – Empowerment:

1. Change: Family Seminars to “Inform Me” seminar series to reflect/signify inclusion of all stakeholders.

2. Add: Rights that are important to a person are solicited through the Individual Questionnaire.

3. Change: A POM Rally is held twice a year. This rally was previously held once a year.

Criterion

#5 – Self-Survey:

1. Change From Exceptional Survey Reward to Exceptional Practices Recognition: In recognition of superior performance, three residential and/or day sites will be recognized for going above and beyond and displaying exceptional practices in relation to the people supported and/or the agency. This may include the person-centered initiatives, overall improvement at a site with citations or deficiencies from the prior year, etc.

Criterion #6 – Valued Outcomes:

1. Change: The Individual Questionnaire which was one standardized questionnaire for all supports/services and enhanced to a questionnaire for AHRC Residential Services and a questionnaire for AHRC Day Services. The questionnaire was revised for Day Services in 2024 to be more specific to services offered.

Criterion #7 – Quality Improvement:

1. Add: Grievance and complaint process for families and natural supports. To foster a supportive and pleasant environment for people receiving services with AHRC Nassau, the agency encourages parents, guardians and/or correspondents to communicate their complaints and concerns as they arise. Should resolution of the complaint escalate beyond the site manager or applicable supervisor, and require further intervention from agency leadership, the agency will track steps to review and resolve the complaint with the person making the complaint/concern. These complaints, including information regarding action steps taken and agency personnel involved, are stored on the agency network and tracked until resolution.

MISSION STATEMENT & GUIDING PRINCIPLES IN ACTION

AHRC FOUNDATION WALK A Celebration of Inclusion

On a crisp autumn day, over 1,200 participants of all ages came together at the AHRC Foundation Walk 2024 to celebrate inclusion, community, and the incredible power of collective action. The energy was electric as families, friends, and supporters gathered to walk in support of children and adults with developmental disabilities (I/DD). The day was a testament to resilience and a celebration of generosity raising over $100,000 to support services for more than 4,000 people across Long Island.

The morning kicked off with inspiring speeches from AHRC Foundation leaders and community advocates. Among them, this year’s Grand Marshal, Michelle Rudoff, stood out as a beacon of hope and determination. Michelle, a passionate selfadvocate and AHRC Nassau employee, has dedicated years to advancing person-centered supports and empowering others to live self-directed lives. Her story is a powerful reminder of the impact we can have when we come together for a common cause.

“This walk isn’t just about raising money,” Michelle shared. “It’s about showing the world the strength of our community and how we’re creating a future where everyone belongs.”

Participants were also treated to a warm-up session led by Nicole Nolan Brown, who ensured everyone was energized and ready to tackle the route. Walkers were cheered on by enthusiastic volunteers and community supporters along the way, creating an atmosphere of joy and celebration.

COMMUNITY RECONNECTIONS

AHRC Nassau Gives Back to Veterans at Borden Avenue Residence

On Saturday, July 20th, AHRC Nassau partnered with Compass Church and Billy McDowall to honor our local veterans. This heartwarming event took place at the Borden Avenue Veterans Residence in Long Island City.

Community Relations Liaison, Lynne Brewer, spearheaded this initiative by rallying Facebook followers to donate essential toiletries. Thanks to her efforts and the generosity of Howie's Hearts, AHRC Nassau was able to provide an abundance of toiletries to the veterans. The lovely ladies of Livingston Street, led by volunteer Barbara Cipriano, also joined the effort, ensuring all the donated items reached those in need.

The day was filled with gratitude. Every veteran received the toiletries they needed, responding with heartfelt thanks and blessings. In addition to AHRC Nassau's contribution, Compass Church generously provided lunch, clothing, and footwear. Crumbl Cookies also went above and beyond, donating over 600 delicious cookies! The event was a resounding success, leaving a positive impact on all involved. AHRC Nassau is looking forward to returning to continue supporting our veterans.

Interested in joining the team or donating to this worthy cause? Please reach out to Lynne Brewer at Lbrewer@ahrc.org

Missions

Michelle on a Mission to Spread Awareness & Empowerment

This year, the AHRC Foundation proudly recognizes Michelle Rudoff as the Grand Marshal of its annual Walk, taking place on Sunday, October 27. Michelle is more than a dedicated advocate she embodies the values and spirit of the AHRC Foundation through her professional work, volunteerism, and personal journey. Her commitment to empowering people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) and her leadership set a powerful example for others to follow.

As 2024 marks both the 30th anniversary of the AHRC Foundation and the 75th anniversary of AHRC Nassau, Michelle’s selection as Grand Marshal is particularly fitting. Through her advocacy, she exemplifies the progress and vision that have defined these organizations for decades. Whether it’s launching successful voter registration campaigns or advancing best practices in person-centered supports, Michelle is always pushing forward, guiding people in reaching for their dreams.

As a self-advocate and AHRC Nassau employee, Michelle has long been a vocal member of several councils. This includes the Compass Committee, which plays an important role in ensuring that services are always based on the needs and hopes of the person. Her commitment to living a self-directed life, working, and engaging in her community demonstrates the importance of the programs and services the AHRC Foundation supports.

Her recognition as Grand Marshal celebrates her ability to continually inspire. Mary McNamara, AHRC Foundation Director shared, “Michelle is an exceptional choice for Grand Marshal. Her lived experience and advocacy are the essence of what we aim to achieve through the Foundation’s funding providing opportunities for children and adults with developmental disabilities to have the supports and services they need throughout their lifetimes. Michelle’s leadership is a reminder of the power of perseverance and community.”

Even after reaching her $2,000 fundraising goal well ahead of the event, Michelle encourages others to walk and contribute. Her team, the Plainview Powerhouse, is one of the many ways she champions inclusion and support.

This year’s Walk is set to bring together over 1,200 people, united in their commitment to supporting the IDD community. The energy and enthusiasm from leaders like Michelle, and the countless others who join or contribute, demonstrate the power of community.

Wendy’s Community Recognition

Susan Limiti nominated Wendy’s of Merrick for promoting our Guiding Principles of “Demonstrating Dignity and Respect in every interaction.”

Sue shared that many people that chose Freeport as their Day Hab went for lunch at Wendy’s of Merrick. Most people require a receipt from their purchases to bring home and share with the House Manager. While this is time consuming, Wendy’s of Merrick stands out as they never complain at the process being time consuming and treat everyone with dignity and respect. The staff working there are wonderful and make dining out pleasurable.

PERSONAL MISSION

Community Connections

Members of AHRC Nassau marched in celebration of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., on Monday, January 20th in Glen Cove. The event was hosted by the City of Glen Cove and the Glen Cove City School District, 2025 will mark the celebration's 41st year and the event as the oldest, continuous MLK commemorative march and program in the country. It was a wonderful day!

For AHRC volunteers, this Martin Luther King, Jr. Day was also an opportunity to address food insecurity in our local community through a grant from the Arc of the United States AHRC volunteers collected non-perishable food at the event.

We're thrilled to announce the opportunity to apply for our Sunshine Scholarships, awarded quarterly to help people currently receiving services through AHRC Nassau discover new experiences, connect with others, and take on meaningful social roles in your community! Whether it's a fun class, a local event, or a special interest you’d love to explore, these scholarships are designed to enhance community engagement, build connections, and enrich your life.

What’s in it for You?

Each quarter, 3 scholarships will be awarded to people who are currently receiving services or support through AHRC Nassau.

This is your chance to explore something new – whether it’s a creative class, a fitness activity, or a community event that excites you and contributes to your personal growth.

Applying is easy! Tell us a little about yourself, the activity or class you want to participate in, and how it will help you connect with your community. Applications will be reviewed by a dedicated selection committee, and scholarships will be awarded based on how the activity fosters community involvement and personal growth. Everyone is encouraged to apply, and our process promotes diversity, inclusivity, and equal opportunity for all. Don’t miss this fantastic opportunity to grow, connect, and make a meaningful impact! Apply today and take the next step toward a more engaging and fulfilling life in your community. Questions? For more information or help with your application, please email sunshinescholarship@ahrc.org

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Meetings were held monthly, except for December and a summer break, consistent with the Management Plan.

From the Desk of the CEO

Dear Families and Friends,

I hope the holiday season left you refreshed and ready for an exciting new year. From the visit of OPWDD Acting Commissioner Willow Baer to heartfelt holiday celebrations and acts of service across our community, we are beginning 2025 with meaningful initiatives and a clear focus on our mission.

We’re starting the year with a powerful event: the Commemorative Program in Honor of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. on Monday, Jan. 20, in Glen Cove. Join us for the march and meaningful program featuring Quality Assurance Trainer and SelfAdvocate Michelle Rudoff. We also encourage community members to bring canned goods to the event and support our yearlong initiative addressing local food insecurity.

Coming together as a community of self-advocates, families, staff, and friends is how progress is achieved. This winter, we are advocating for a 7.8% increase in provider rates to ensure fair wages for DSPs and non-executive staff, while addressing the rising costs of essential services, from utilities and transportation to insurance. Send an email of support through our one-click campaign and join our call for funding in Governor Hochul’s upcoming Executive Budget.

Here’s to a year filled with progress, inclusion, and meaningful action.

Best regards,

Stanfort J. Perry

AHRC Board of Directors received annual Compass training on the Power of Speaking with Good Purpose presented by Pam Boyle, Quality Enhancement Specialist on November 18, 2024, Thank you, Pam for the education and insights into the power of language!

Board of Directors Physical Plant Inspections

Per the Compass Management Plan, physical plant inspections continued and the criterion remains an integral part of the Compass initiative and further strengthens the Board of Directors connection directly with the homes and day sites.

There were 68 Physical Plant Inspections completed since July of 2024. Positive Board Inspector comments include:

“Another beautiful HOME! It is well maintained, clean and orderly and a pleasure to visit. Well done and thanks to all staff members.”

“The house is kept neat and orderly. Staff are doing a great job.”

“Great site and super staff. Fabulous manager.”

“Citation free site; congratulations to staff.”

The annual Physical Plant Inspection meeting is scheduled for February 19th, 2025. Thank you to the Board members and Susan Dowling for coordinating this invaluable initiative! Members of the Board of Directors along with management staff.

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

SIBLING GROUP - AN AHRC NASSAU EVENT

On December 10, 2024, over a hundred people came together at Brookville for the annual sibling holiday party. Celebrating the unique and enduring bond between siblings. At AHRC Nassau, we recognize and deeply value the role that siblings play in the lives of the people we support. As parents age or life circumstances evolve, siblings often step into the role of primary caregivers and advocates, providing essential support and continuity. Their dedication not only strengthens their family connections but also enhances the broader AHRC Nassau community.

2025 SIBLING GROUP

Please join us!

February 6, 2025: Meeting 6:00 pm – 7:30 pm: Zoom

April 17 2025: Meeting 6:00 pm – 7:30 pm: Zoom

Sibling Barbecue: June 26 5:00 pm – 7:30 pm: Brookville Mansion

September 9, 2025: Meeting 6:00 pm – 7:30 pm: Zoom

Sibling Holiday Dinner : December 11th. 2025: 6:00 pm – 7:30 pm

Brookville Mansion

For more information, contact Colleen Tapia at ctapia@ahrc.org.

AHRC Nassau - Councils

Executive Council

Met Monthly (Except Summer Break and November)

The Executive Council Zoom meeting continues to be held every Wednesday at 10:00 a.m.

June 2024

Elise Olson presented to the council on PRIDE.

A voting campaign was initiated to offer people the opportunity to register to vote. All councils are participating.

Nyle Mohan, the Unit head of Campers and staff from Camp Loyaltown, came and spoke about his role is at Camp Loyaltown and the different activities planned.

Michelle Rudoff was awarded a $2,500-dollar grant from the True Link Foundation for Best Practices in Person-Centered Support. The Executive Council voted on how to best use the funds. Making people’s POMs come true was selected.

Sally Burgess, VP of Operations at Citizens, came to the council meeting and took questions and spoke about her role in the organization.

A video was viewed on the staffing shortage, encouraging all to act. July 2024

Jerri Walker came to the council meeting and spoke about the different volunteer opportunities people can sign up for.

A video on Person Centered Planning was shown to help spread PCP messages.

Coleen Mackin and Michelle Rudoff continued to visit the sites interested in a voting presentation. August 2024

Kate Cole from Nursing attended the council meeting and spoke about what she does, and she also explained proper hand washing, healthy exercises and good eating habits.

Colleen Tapia did a training course on social roles and a video was shown that further explained social roles.

A phone call campaign to local officials was completed to help raise awareness of the staffing shortage.

Delia Jaeger from transportation joined the council meeting and explained what she does for transportation, and explained how they make the routes and times transportation starts and how the system works.

We announced the SANYS Logo contest for the SANYS statewide conference.

We hosted a voting machine demonstration and voting registration rally in Brookville. The Board of Elections completed training on the application and brought voting machines so people could practice voting.

Justin Spitz is a behaviorist for the Day Hab program. Justin took questions from the council on how a plan is developed and when the plan is re-evaluated.

The Care Coordination survey was reviewed and a link for the survey was shared with the day sites and houses.

Coleen and Michelle did a voting presentation for Farmingdale 1&2.

Plans for the 2024 Rights Rally are on the way and the rally is scheduled for October 16th from 11-1 in Brookville.

September 2024

AHRC Mission statement and management plan review- Colleen reviewed the mission statement with the council with no changes recommended. We then reviewed this Agency’s management plan and checked for plain language. We ask that integration be replaced with inclusion.

We celebrated the DSPs and described what people thought about them during our ice breakers. We reviewed the final report for the OPWDD managed care assessment.

October 2024

2024 rights rally was held on October 16th from 11-1 in Brookville. Early voting deadlines were reviewed.

A NYDA Capitol Rally was attended on 11/19/24 at 11am in the Capitol State building in Albany. The SANYS cookie exchange is scheduled for December 4th

Everyone was excited and thrilled to see Pam Boyle. She is now working per diem for the Compass/QI department and will attend council meetings once a month.

November 2024

Fundraising ideas to help those affected by the hurricane were discussed. Colleen introduced our special guests, Michelle Flood and Marisol G. Michelle spoke to the council about the upcoming SANYS elections for the board. Michelle Flood showed videos of all the candidates that are running for the Suffolk County representative.

A fundraising idea to help those affected by the hurricane was voted on and it is a Clothing Drive.

December 2024

The 2025 SANYS conference is November 6th 7th and 8TH

We had the pleasure of having Dr. Mulqueen and AHRC Nassau’s newest Dr. Timothy Gandolfo attend the council meeting. Dr. Gandolfo is the doctor AHRC hired to take over for Julie Bates since she retired earlier this year.

Michelle Rudoff Presents “Beyond Person Centered Planning” at OPWDD Compass Providers Meeting Michelle Rudoff shared “Beyond Person Centered Planning” at the OPWDD statewide Compass Providers meeting on November 7, 2024. She shared this innovative initiative developed as a component of an Agency CQL personcentered excellence accreditation goal.

AHRC Nassau - Councils

AHRC Residential Council Leslie TenEyck

Making an Impact: AHRC Residential Council's Fundraising Achievements

The AHRC Residential Council has made significant progress this year, demonstrating a strong commitment to charitable giving and community engagement by supporting two outstanding organizations.

This past summer, the Residential Council hosted a vibrant Summer Luau fundraiser, complete with tropical-themed decorations and delicious island-inspired refreshments. The event successfully raised $600 for The Cohen Children’s Medical Center. On October 15, 2024, Council President Nijah White and Vice President Diane Wright presented the donation in person to Samuel Muffly, Special Gifts Officer at Cohen Children’s Medical Center. These funds will assist the center in providing critical care and support to children and their families.

Continuing their efforts, the Residential Council organized a lively Halloween party to support Paws of War, an organization dedicated to rescuing and training shelter animals to serve as support companions for veterans and first responders. As a result, a total of $700 was successfully raised. This contribution will be officially presented to Paws of War on December 20, 2024, furthering their mission to assist those who have served our nation, first responders, and their families, especially individuals facing unseen injuries such as Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), by offering them devoted service dogs that serve not only as friends but also as agents of recovery.

The AHRC Residential Council looks forward to organizing fundraising initiatives that make a positive impact and engage the community. They are dedicated to supporting causes at both the local and national levels.

Above Mike Kilano from Paws of War met with the Residential Council on 12/20/24 to receive a $700 check In this photo are Secretary Jason McKay, President Nijah White, Mike Kilano, Vice President Diane Wright, and Michelle Rudolph.

Advocacy and Councils

AHRC Day Hab Council Update

July

60 people registered to vote.

There was a concern about the price for lunch from Wheatley Farms. It was explained how the price of food has gotten so expensive that they are unable to reduce the prices.

A discussion was held on choking prevention and the council discussed multiple ways to prevent someone from choking.

August

Day Hab recently acquired a new volunteer site which is a food pantry. They held a food drive to help support this pantry. Dignity of Risk, Person Centered Planning, and Informed Consent were discussed at the meeting.

September

Assemblyman Edward Ra spoke to the council about the budget and the most effective ways for their voices to be heard when advocating for more money for the DSPs.

A moment of silence was observed for the people that lost their lives on 9/11.

Council members donated items to the rummage sale that was held in Plainview. The proceeds went towards the annual Day Hab picnic that was enjoyed by all.

The council reviewed the mission statement and made no recommendations for change.

October

October was Breast Cancer Awareness month and cards of encouragement were made for people going through any kind of cancer treatment. Additionally, people were encouraged to wear pink on Fridays in support of people that either had, have, or lost someone to breast cancer.

Fundraisers were held to raise money for people that were affected Hurricane Helene.

The AHRC Foundation Walk was well attended and enjoyed by many.

The Rights Rally in Brookville was a big success and council members were able to learn more about their rights and how to advocate for themselves.

A Halloween party was held at Levittown Hall and people enjoyed dressing up in costume and dancing to spooky tunes.

November

The council sponsored a food drive to help feed the needy for the holidays.

A discussion was held after the presidential election and people agreed that they need to support the winning candidate, even if they did not vote for them.

A rally was held in Albany, advocating more money for the DSPs. Mott St. sent a group to represent the agency. The council has started a new toy collection for families in need. The toys will be brought to a Toys for Tots collection site in Freeport.

December

Council members attended the SANYS cookie exchange in Hauppauge, where they had the opportunity to share a cookie and meet people from other agencies on Long Island.

Eileen Stuart Rooney and Stephanie Hodelin gave a talk on guardianship and how people can change their guardian if they are not happy or become their own guardian.

Council members have been enjoying a baking club where they have had the opportunity to bake various treats.

Freeport Workforce Council

In the last six-months, Community-Based Prevocational Services is growing rapidly based on the Councils advocacy for community involvement. Last Spring, changes in Community Prevoc began to take shape. Everyone was thrilled with the current sites such as eWorks, Wheatley Farms and The In addition, Community-Prevoc expanded its outreach into the community, developing numerous new business collaborations. New partnerships emerged with new sites developed at Panera Bread, Party City, JoANN Fabrics and Walgreens.

On May 13th, the first fully community-based group for people was launched. This group found immediate success, garnering praise from multiple worksite locations, with one business partner, offering to host the group on additional days. Other participants in the program began to learn about this group's activities and successes and began requesting more community-based opportunities and new experiences to be offered.

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AHRC Nassau SANYS

Freeport Workforce Council continued

While developing new business sites was ongoing, a new group was formed for the newly created “On-The-Go” program. In collaboration with Wheatley Farms Catering, people travel to the Plainview and Brookville offices to sell breakfast foods and take lunch orders, learning valuable skills necessary to enter the workforce in the future. Additionally, groups have collaborated with Big Tree Greenhouse and Gifts to run pop up sales, selling a variety of candles, plants, soaps, learning customer service and register skills.

The Workforce Council members are looking forward to the future and multiple new community-based groups on the horizon. With new partnerships being developed with Buffalo Wild Wings, and expanded collaborations with Walgreens and Panera Bread already cemented, 2025 is poised to be a great year! Many people look forward to enjoying these new opportunities, and the support it will provide them to take the next step towards employment.

EMPOWERMENT & ADVOCACY!

2024 Rights Rally

At the October 16, 2024 Rights Rally in Brookville, over a hundred people celebrated self-advocacy and self-discovery through presentations and activities exploring their interests and aspirations. Organized jointly by the Compass Department and the Personal Outcome Measures (POMs) Department, this year’s rights rally focused on understanding one’s role in society. Self-advocate and QA Trainer Michelle Rudoff, Compass and QA Administrator Colleen Tapia and Personal Outcomes Department Coordinator Susan “Sue” Gill-Orange led the presentation

Coleen Mackin, a QA trainer who also helped to organize the event, emphasized how the PCP process improved the trajectory of her life. Coleen is supported through a New York State program called Self-Direction and has access to services meaningful to her. She works three days a week, takes vocal lessons and is working toward her goal of starting a YouTube channel. She is also deeply involved in her community through advocacy and volunteerism.

“It’s important for people to use their right to speak up and find support,” said Coleen. “Have a good support team and know how to get transportation because without it you can’t get anywhere to meet anyone.”

Ensuring that people with disabilities have proper access to transportation can increase positive person-centered outcomes.

The presentation closed with an exercise for people to write down their aspirations, wants and needs to share with the POMs team. The department then shares this information with attendees’ support teams. Support teams are essential for all people who receive services through New York State including the person supported and anyone they deem important to assist them in life. Support teams may include natural supports like friends and family as well as their care manager and service providers. Coleen Mackin, a QA trainer who also helped to organize the event, emphasized how the PCP process improved the trajectory of her life. Coleen is supported through a New York State program called Self-Direction and has access to services meaningful to her. She works three days a week, takes vocal lessons and is working toward her goal of starting a YouTube channel.

She is also deeply involved in her community through advocacy and volunteerism.

Ensuring that people with disabilities have proper access to transportation can increase positive person-centered outcomes.

The annual rights rally is among a variety of events that provides people with the tools and resources to access and navigate supports. It is also a fun and engaging way to build an active community of people seeking to reach meaningful goals.

EMPOWERMENT A Self-Advocate’s Journey

From Thursday, October 24, to Saturday, October 26, twenty-six members of the AHRC community including self -advocates and staff attended the Self-Advocacy Association of New York State (SANYS) Annual Statewide Conference in Albany.

The conference provides workshops, activities, and networking for New Yorkers with developmental disabilities to meet, learn, share ideas, discuss challenges, and celebrate successes. People supported by the agency attend every year, looking forward to making their voices heard and becoming leaders in disability self-advocacy. Support staff also attend to assist people who benefit from the additional aid.

Among the attendees this year was 29-year-old Tuvia Naftali, who receives day services at AHRC Nassau’s Freeport Program Without Walls (PWW). He lives with his family in West Hempstead and has a love and fascination for technology, transit, and trains. He attended the conference for the third time with Direct Support Professional James “Jimmy” Flynn.

“We rode the Amtrak express on the yellow track,” said Tuvia. “I took a workshop on transit. I saw Dr. Elizabeth’s speech and learned about rights advocacy.”

Workforce Equity and DEI Specialist Tolulope Elizabeth Adenekan, Ph.D., led a presentation with self-advocate and Quality Assurance Trainer Coleen Mackin and Assistant Director Project Development Bridget Cariello discussing the New York State Community of Practice on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) initiatives.

Tuvia’s goals include learning to be a rights advocate, getting involved in SANYS and working toward traveling independently.

This year, Tuvia and Jimmy rode the train up to Albany, which added to Tuvia’s excitement as learning to ride the train and Long Island Railroad (LIRR) regularly is a significant part of his Personal Outcome Measures (POMs). During POMs interviews people supported are encouraged to discuss their goals and aspirations. The POMs department then shares this information with support staff to help them incorporate these goals into daily activities

As an agency designated with Person-Centered Excellence Accreditation, With Distinction from The Council on Quality and Leadership (CQL), AHRC Nassau maintains the most stringent standards for human services organizations. This is possible due to regular POM interviews conducted by our POMs department, which Tuvia participates in every three years.

With Jimmy’s assistance, Tuvia was able to work on his goals and grow as a self-advocate. “He had a great time, and I was so happy,” said Jimmy.

On Saturday they returned from the conference on the bus with the group of AHRC self-advocates. Next year, he is looking forward to taking the train both to and from the conference.

EMPOWERMENT

2024 Voting Registration and Machine Demo

By Michelle Rudoff

On Tuesday August 20th about 40-50 people attended the Executive Council’s annual voting machine demonstration and registration. Daniel and Anita came from the Board of Elections. Daniel and Anita went over all of the boxes that were on the voting registration form as people filled it out. After people filled out their applications. Everyone was handed a mock ballot where everyone was able to vote on pizza.

After they filled out their ballots everyone took turns in learning how to use the voting machine and got stickers after. We also had Danielle from the League of Women’s Voters come and she had different handouts about voting. After the presentation and casting their votes on pizza, everyone enjoyed nice cookies, fruit and salad from Wheatley farms.

Invest in Me! Albany Rally

A rally was held at the NYS Capitol in November. Over 400 advocates from around the state filled the War Room to rally for meaningful investment in services and staff, calling on Governor Hochul to include in her Executive Budget: A 7.8% Medicaid rate increase to stabilize non-proﬁt agencies as well as the creation of a Wage Commission to examine the roles/responsibilities of workers to help identify long-term solutions for the staffing crisis.

Person-Centered Planning Event

By Michelle Rudoff

On January 9, 2025, four people came together with their support teams to share their dreams and goals and develop their own person-centered plan. On Thursday January 9th Michael Arata, Matthew Futterman, Kevin Van Nuis, and Jason McKay (represented by Michelle Rudoff) invited their friends and family to Brookville where they presented their Person-Centered plans, which were developed during eight weeks .

All participated in an orientation to POM and Person Centered planning with Colleen Tapia, Susan Gill-Orange and Person-Centered Goal Leader Michelle Rudoff. They developed these Person Centered plans using power point and poster boards with pictures.

Person Centered planning helps us focus on what the person’s hopes and dreams are instead of what their team wants for them the people supported can then take these plans into their life plan meetings and tell their teams what they would like to work on or do. Each person chose their support team and learned about preplanning. They discussed what they did not like or were fearful of as well as what made them happy and what they wanted to do.

Work with the next group of people will begin in mid February, 2025.

PERSONAL OUTCOMES—VALUED OUTCOMES

Living the Dream Down Under!

By Samantha Rodonis

We all have dreams. There is always something that we want for ourselves. For example someone may share their goal is “I would like to spend more time with my friends and family” or maybe it is something like “I would love to travel to Outer Space.” No matter how big or small a dream seems, we all have them, and we all want to see them come true.

As a CQL certified POM interviewer, I get the privilege of asking people about their hopes and dreams and talking to them about ways to make their dreams a reality. When I met with Kyle Thompson in May of 2023, he shared with me his greatest dream which was to travel to Australia and visit the zoo there. He always idolized The Crocodile Hunter, Steve Irwin, and wanted to visit the amazing animals native to Australia that Steve had worked with in his career. While this is not an impossible dream (no dream is truly impossible), it was not an easily achievable personal goal, or so I thought.

After discussing this dream with Kyle I encouraged him to share his dreams and personal goals with others. By speaking up for himself, Kyle was able to share his dream of traveling to Australia with his grandmother, Georgeann. Georgeann Thompson is not only his grandmother, but also a nurse at AHRC and Citizens.

Kyle and his grandmother were able to plan a trip to visit Australia which included a cruise of the Great Barrier Reef. I learned of Kyle’s trip through a Facebook post that shared that Kyle, and his grandmother had just landed in Sydney, Australia. You can imagine my excitement when I saw the post, this was a dream trip, and he was taking it! Through their social media feed, I got to follow their adventures, which included Kyle’s dream and personal goal, a visit to the zoo. While at the zoo, Kyle even got to take a picture with a koala bear, an animal native to Australia. Once Kyle and Georgeann returned, they were so happy and shared about how incredible this trip of a lifetime was for them to share together.

This experience truly confirmed Kyle’s love of animals and fuels his future dreams and plans of having a career working with them. In fact, Kyle and his support team recently met to discuss how he can assist with animal care at the Wheatley Farms and Arts Center. I am beyond excited for Kyle and cannot wait to see what dreams he can achieve next!

Personal Outcome Measures Update By

In 2024, 373 people had a Personal Outcome Measures (POM) Interview of which 163 people had their first POM conversation. In 2024, the total highest number of outcomes met is found in the indicator “People are treated Fairly” with 91 % outcomes met, as well as People are Safe with 89.10% outcomes met and “People having Best Health” with 83% of outcomes met. This reveals that the emphasis on basic assurances continues to be a strong interest in the organization. In 2024, Supports met at 99.20% in the area of People are Safe and Healthy were 96.01%, as well as People Are Treated Fairly 94.95%. This is a clear indication that strong support enables personal outcomes to be met more readily as these support areas are attached to the higher outcomes met indicators. In 2024, Health, People being Treated Fairly, and People being Safe are areas that should continue to be reviewed for appreciative inquiry. The correlation between strong supports and positive outcomes is demonstrated within these sub-domains and indicators.

Bridget Cariello

In 2024, Choosing Personal Goals, Outcomes: 17.02% and Supports: 23.94%, Realize Goals, Outcomes: 14.36%, and Supports Met: 13.83%, Integrated Environments, Outcomes: 19.15% and Supports Met: 21.81%, Social Roles, Outcomes: 21.28% Supports Met: 21.01% , These indicator areas remain the least met and contain the least amount of supports met. This reveals that we must continue to build strong training and practices within this sub-domain.

Mentoring for Person Centered Excellence

By Susan Gill Orange and Sondra Baggott

In the spring of 2024, the POM department initiated a mentorship program within Day Hab where people supported were given the opportunity to develop and then present their person centered stories to others. Carle Place Day Hab was the first site to foster this initiative and they had the chance to present their stories to OPWDD representatives when they visited for our annual Compass review.

This was a very successful and heartwarming event that featured stories in poster board and PowerPoint. To go along with this, Carle Place displayed their POM book which helps to organize and emphasize the person-centered activities of each person who attends that site. The POM contains the latest personal outcome summaries of everyone accompanied by a weekly narrative that illustrates where and when that person was supported to achieve their dreams.

As this mentoring has been designed to be an ongoing process, Carle Place reached out to the Glen Head Day Hab. After a few meetings, Patricia of Carle Place and Sondra of Glen Head were able to inspire the person-centered philosophy in the people they support and focus on the stories of their lives.

On December 20th, a presentation was held in Plainview by the people involved in the mentorship initiative. This event was an opportunity for people supported at the Glen Head Day Hab to discuss what is most important to them in life. The posters exhibited will help to keep the focus on a person-centered approach to life planning for people supported through the day options.

It was inspiring to hear the goals and dreams of Pauline, Bryce and Mikey. They ranged from attaining a job in the community to a dream of making a million dollars!!! We heard about the important things in each person’s life, which centered around family and significant others. It was a terrific presentation and many thanks to Sondra Baggott, manager of the Glen head site, and to the people and staff of Carle Place and Sea Cliff for the help and attention.

It is interesting to note that one of Bryce’s personal “fears” is interacting with people he does not know. After his presentation, however, he shared that he was very “proud” of himself because speaking about his dreams helped him overcome this fear. Pauline was encouraged by the actual placement of her journey on a poster as she was able to visualize her goals and continue to work on them. Mikey showed his playful side by not only creating a unique poster but by laughingly reminding his audience to “Show Me the Money”.

At the close of the presentation Glen Head was awarded a certificate of appreciation by the POM Department for their leadership role and their enthusiasm for all things person

VALUED OUTCOMES

Individual Questionnaire Results 2024

AHRC Nassau provided people who receive services with a questionnaire to obtain their individual feedback regarding program services. This year, meeting were held to refine the Individual Questionnaires . Two questionnaires were developed. One to assess residential services and supports and one to assess day services and supports. Thus two questionnaires were distributed this year.

AHRC Nassau Individual Questionnaire results per program are shown graphically below. The results across programs noted the agency’s wide score to be 94% satisfaction. These are outstanding results which reflect the excellent supports and services AHRC Nassau provides. Trends are noted when scores fall below 90%. Each program addresses any questions, concerns or requests shared on the questionnaires. Follow-up action taken is documented on corrective action tracking sheets. As per the COMPASS Management Plan, these results are provided for Board of Directors review and Agency planning purposes

House, Family Meetings and Holiday Fun by Richard

Gladstone

House and family meetings continue to be critical for people and families choice, engagement and empowerment.

This Thanksgiving, Markiah Addison showcased her creativity by designing the center table displays for our Thanksgiving dinner. Markiah worked diligently, selecting festive colors, arranging seasonal decorations, and crafting designs that captured the warmth and gratitude of the holiday.

Her attention to detail and artistic touch turned each table into a reflection of her vibrant personality and love for the season. The displays not only added beauty to the event but also created a welcoming atmosphere for everyone to enjoy.

Markiah’s contribution highlights the unique talents and capabilities of our participants, reminding us of the joy that comes from fostering creativity and inclusion. Thank you, Markiah, for making this year’s Thanksgiving truly special!

AHRC Day Services

AHRC Residential Services 96%

VALUED OUTCOMES

Staff Recruitment and Retention Efforts By Jim Stock

The Talent Acquisition team continues to rely heavily on Indeed as a primary source for most of our hires. Employee referrals and LinkedIn have also proven effective, particularly for administrative positions. We participated in various community events to expand our outreach and connect with potential candidates from diverse backgrounds. These included the Long Island Pride Parade hosted by the LGBTQI+ Network, career fairs at Hempstead Works and ACLD, and a Veterans career fair. Additionally, we met with graduating students from the HHA Nassau BOCES program to discuss potential nursing careers.

To further enhance our recruitment efforts, we conducted weekly Zoom events, focusing on priority locations to engage potential candidates.

Employee Recognition and Retention

We implemented several initiatives to foster a positive work environment and retain top talent. Staff Appreciation Day and the Hero's Event were held to recognize and reward employee contributions. Additionally, milestones and end-ofquarter (EOQ) celebrations were organized to acknowledge achievements. In our milestones, we celebrated employees who have been with us for five years and up to 45 years. Our next milestone event will celebrate an employee who has been with us for 50 years!

DSP Manager and Manager EQ workshops were conducted quarterly to enhance leadership skills and promote effective teamwork. The workshops covered topics such as emotional intelligence, conflict resolution, and teamwork. Regular meetings with program administration were also held to share important updates and address retention concerns.

To gain insight into employee satisfaction and identify areas for improvement, exit surveys were carried out to terminating employees and those transitioning to sub-status positions. This data was shared with program directors to address negative trends and develop strategies for improvement. Stay surveys were also conducted to retain top talent.

NADSP Certification Program

In partnership with the National Alliance for Direct Support Professionals (NADSP) and the New York State Office for People with Developmental Disabilities (OPWDD), we are excited to offer a limited number of our Direct Support Professionals (DSP) and Frontline Supervisors (FLS) the opportunity to achieve NADSP Certification. Currently, 58 staff members are participating in this program. Upon successful completion of all three certification levels, staff will receive national credentialing as Direct Support Professionals and be eligible for promotion to the position of Certified Direct Support Professional (CSDP). Shown below are the badges that DSP and Frontline Supervisor earn in the program.

Hempstead Works Career Fair

AHRC booth at Long Island Pride Parade hosted by the LGBTQI+ Network

Staff Appreciation Day 2024

Hero Recognition Dinner 2024

2023 Milestones Event

VALUED OUTCOMES

America

Our ancestors came here from different places

This country has all different creeds and races. There were people living here before As years went by, there were more.

Lots of people came from a different kingdom

Who wouldn’t let them have religious freedom. Once we were ruled by a different kingdom ‘till we fought for our freedom.

This great country was once very small

But we do not have walls. Then our country had plenty of dreams And we do not have any Kings or Queens.

Rich with lots of history and dates

Our country has many states

And our flag has lots of stars

We had to fight in many wars.

Our country has elections every year For that privilege we had to pay dear. And we elect a president every four years.

Poem by Linda A.E. Callison

Regulatory Affairs by

Eric Rosen

Throughout calendar year 2024, the Regulatory Affairs Department completed one hundred and forty-seven (147) surveys. Surveys were completed for one hundred percent (100%) of the Agency’s sites / programs during this calendar year. Completed surveys include small IRAs, large IRAs, respite services, day habilitation programs, the community-based prevocational program, the supported employment program, and the community habilitation program. In addition, Person Centered Reviews were completed for a sample of people receiving services from AHRC Nassau.

Exceptional practices noted during surveys completed throughout the year included respectful / supportive interactions, bedrooms / homes decorated to each person’s likes / preferences, the promotion of independence, people being encouraged to participate in the routine of their home, and satisfaction with services.

VALUED OUTCOMES

2025 EMPOWERMENT & INFORM ME SEMINARS

Empowerment Series

Join for information and ideas to assist you to live the life you want!

January 31, 2025 10:00-12/Noon

Brookville Ballroom

DIGITAL LITERACY: USING TECHNOLOGY, COMPUTERS & MOBILE DEVICES

February 28, 2025 10-12/Noon

Plainview Conference Room D HOW TO CHOOSE YOUR PERSONAL GOALS

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March 28, 2025 10-12/Noon

Plainview Conference D HOW TO PREPARE FOR YOUR LIFE PLAN MEETING

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April 25, 2025 10-12/Noon

Brookville Mansion

DIGITAL LITERACY & CITIZENSHIP

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July 25, 2025 10:00-12:00/Noon

Brookville Mansion ONLINE SAFETY

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October: 24, 2025 10-12:00/Noon

Plainview Conference Room D

ADVOCATIING FOR SYSTEM CHANGE

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November 21, 2025 10-12/Noon

Plainview Conference Room D

EXPANDING YOUR WORLD, SOCIAL ROLES & YOU

December 12, 2025

Celebrating Your Life, Your Way

10am Plainview Conference Room D

Inform Me Series

Join us for future webinars via Zoom right from your own home!

Open to members of the community, family members and advocates

March 12, 2025 6:00-7:00pm HEALTH CARE DECISIONS FOR THE END OF LIFE & THE LAWS SURROUNGING IT.

Presented by: Nicole Ferrar

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June 3, 2025 6:00-7:00pm

AHRC & CITIZENS

SERVICES AND SUPPORTS

Learn about the full scope of services provided across a person’s lifetime through our family of organizations. Learn how leadership and services collaborate to ensure individuals and families benefit not only from our services but from seamless, comprehensive support.

Presented By

Shaun Weathers, VP AHRC

Sally Burgess, VP Citizens

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October 9, 2025, 6:00pm- 7:00pm

“The Culture of Language”

Presented by: Pam Boyle

For information or registration, please visit our website at AHRC.org or email lfanuzzi@ahrc.org or Call:516-293-2016, ext. 5369

VALUED OUTCOMES

The COMPASS Committee & The Quality Improvement Process

AHRC Nassau and Citizens: 2024 QUALITY ENHANCEMENTS

In 2024, there were 16 quality improvement goals as well as enhancements, with 31.25 % of the goals/objectives met. As we enter the New Year, it is wonderful to look back on all the efforts set forth and share some of the successes of 2024. AHRC Nassau and Citizens look forward to an extraordinary 2025!

Factor One: Rights Promotion and Protection:

Policy developed and submitted for approval on “How to Remove Rep Payee”.

One person engaged in financial education and applied to the Department of Social Services (DSS) to have Representative Payee removed. The initial request denied as physician did not fill DSS form correctly. An appeal has been requested and Dr. Schulte’s letter will be used.

Financial education provided two times in 2024 to offer people further education and exposure. There have been 0 referrals to the HRC for financial restriction.

The Rights Rally was held in October 2024 with a focus on social roles

Factor Two: Dignity and Respect:

Person Centered Experience Event was held twice in 2024. Current group is now meeting.

Michelle Rudoff’s role as the PCP Leader led to a nomination for a person-centered grant. Michelle, on behalf of the organization, received the 2023 Best Practices in Person-Centered Supports by True Link Financial this June. The True Link Financial grant aims to support the work of field-builders actively engaged in advancing person-centered supports and services through their work. The vision is to implement positive changes for people and inspire others to do the same. The grant money is being used to help people achieve their dreams, such as joining inclusive community activities and clubs or perhaps start a vacation fund to be used for travel in the future. Michelle will also educate graduating students this spring on Person-Centered Supports.

Enhanced training on PCP for professional staff was completed in June of 2024.

Factor 3: Natural Supports

AHRC, in partnership with Citizens, has increased day opportunities for people with unique challenges with very positive results. People formerly unable to participate at standard day site are now participating in and enjoying community-based activities daily.

The Manhasset ICF was converted to an IRA on June 1, 2024. In addition, the closure of the Rainbow Commons ICF’s which began in 2023, was completed in 2024 providing people with choice and opportunity for their new homes. The 915 Rainbow Commons Court ICF closed on February 1, 2024, and 919 Rainbow Commons Court ICF closed on June 24, 2024. All people supported at the ICF’s were able to choose new homes. People who transitioned from the Rainbow ICF’s are doing extremely well and continue to explore their new communities. The people of Manhasset are enjoying the increased community supports provided in an IRA setting and enthusiastically welcomed members of the COMPASS team to participate in their house meeting.

People at the Shoreham and Helen Kaplan ICF’s have increased community connections. The Shoreham ICF hosted a “Day of Belonging” on June 18, 2024, attended by members of the community, families, agency administration and staff. The Helen Kaplan ICF hosted a spring event including professional music, a petting zoo, members of the community and families. In June 2024, Helen Kaplan ICF hosted a multicultural event including community members, family and staff. The Shoreham ICF continues to make connections with the local school district, small businesses and farms on the East End. The Helen Kaplan ICF has increased community outreach to local salons, restaurants and churches.

Factor 5: Best Possible Health

Quality enhancements continued to be assessed, investigated and made to decrease medication errors. The Nursing staff continue to focus every month on supporting staff to decrease medication errors which was a trend in 2024. Unfortunately, the errors did not decrease. However, a direct correlation was seen with an increase in vacant nursing and DSP positions. Nursing recruiting has proven to be increasingly challenging throughout 2024. Thus, recruiting enhancements and administrative meetings to address recruiting challenges will be commencing in 2025. Another major continuing factor is the heavy reliance on paper systems which are highly vulnerable to human error. A goal for 2024 that is ongoing has been a committee investigating options for an electronic health record/MAR. The committee is currently narrowing down its choices and is doing second viewings of the systems currently on the market.

Emergency Drills: Each quarter, a team of nurses visits people’s homes and role play emergency scenarios that require the staff to respond. Staff are observed and debriefed on aspects that went well and aspects requiring improvement. This is a best practice that has been recommended by OPWDD’s Mortality Review Committee and the Justice Center’s Prevention Unit. This prepares staff for actual emergencies they may encounter while working in a residence. We are so pleased to see that our self-survey statistics show a decrease from 2 to only 1 citation across all agencies/programs which we attribute to this ongoing practice that we will certainly continue in 2025.

Covid and Influenza vaccination: The vaccination process is underway for people supported to be educated on the risks and benefits of receiving their influenza and subsequent Covid vaccines. 98% of residential population has been vaccinated for influenza in 2024 and the Covid, pneumonia, DPT vaccine process is ongoing in conjunction with people’s private MDs.

Medical Review Committee restructure: Due to personnel changes in 2024, the Nursing Departments will be continuing and overseeing the medical review committee process moving forward. The committee will be chaired by the VP of Health Services with participation from nursing personnel throughout our organizations including input from regulatory members and other clinical members as needed.

Factor 6: Safe Environments

Citation Reduction: The reduction in self-survey specific citations, including door safety, can be attributed to an increased focus on addressing interior door gaps and the procurement of specialized materials to resolve this issue. For plumbing safety, the decline in citations is due to targeted efforts to fix recurring problems. Similarly, the decrease in appliance safety citations resulted from onboarding additional appliances to meet appliance related requests effectively.

Factor 6: Safe Environments continued

Comprehensive Citation Tracking: The citation capture spreadsheet includes a workbook for each quarter, complemented by a cumulative tracker workbook that summarizes all statistics. This comprehensive resource aids in creating reports for QA, Compass, the Executive Committee, and for Program Management and Facilities Management to monitor and address critical issues effectively.

Enhanced Data Breakdown and Collaboration: This year, the spreadsheet was enhanced with a detailed breakdown of citations by type, making it easier to identify whether issues require attention from Facilities Maintenance or Program Management. The enriched data also highlights whether citations stem from inadequate training, incomplete preventive measures, or other factors. By leveraging this information, periodic collaborations between Facilities Management and Program Management can lead to strategies for reducing high-volume citations and addressing recurring issues effectively.

Factor 7: Staff Resources and Supports Hire and Retain Quality Direct Support Personnel

A professional pipeline was built to enhance DSP educational opportunities. These include working closely with Nassau and Suffolk BOCES programs and building pipelines with local high schools. Currently, we have strong relationships with the Hicksville and Westbury high schools. We have expanded brand awareness of the organizations throughout the community for those in and about to be in the workforce. Currently, the DSP Pathways Program is well underway. We have facilitated several informational sessions and have 14 interested staff.

Improvements were successfully made to improve program engagement before and during hiring process completion by establishing and implementing new protocols for TAT/LPD/Program crossover communication.

Created a communication form/profile sheet for new hires to be signed by TAT/LPD/Program, which includes critical new hire information such as hire contact, orientation date, shadowing date/times, etc.

To engage qualified candidates, we are utilizing various vehicles to communicate with applicants. We implemented the Text Recruit system where all candidates are engaged via text. An AI Chat Bot was implemented. This helps improve the candidate’s experience and engage candidates through new channels.

Factor 8: Positive Services and Supports

In 2024, a new Safety Equipment policy and procedure was approved and implemented. This policy enables safety equipment for medical needs to be removed as rights restrictions from Behavior Support Plans (BSP) thereby reducing number of restrictive BSPs. This reduction in restrictive BSPs, primarily in the ICF settings, was a major reason the Factor 8 goal was met in 2024 as total restrictive plans were reduced by 6.6%.

Among all restrictive BSPs, nearly half include only one rights restriction (46.7%) due to the continued efforts to ensure the least restrictive or intrusive approaches. For comparison, 44.8% of restrictive plans include 2-4 restrictions and 8.5% of restrictive plans include 5 or more restrictions.

Psychology and Behavioral Health staff increased their presence at preliminary meetings for new people joining AHRC and Citizens residential and day services in order to better assess and supports people’s needs in these new environments in the least intrusive and safest way.

Factor 9:

Continuity and Security

In 2024, the agencies developed a workgroup with a work plan of exploring integrated electronic health records services in effort to increase quality by improving training on supports, capturing of service provision documentation and tracking of trends on an easy to use digital platform. As many of the agencies’ current training and service provision processes still rely on paper, this would be a significant step forward in ensuring more competently trained staff are providing support to people. The work the committee has conducted thus far has revealed a number of viable options for the organizations to review for implementation throughout the next year.

There was also a significant increase in supports and outcomes for continuity and security from previous year based on POM survey results for 2024. We believe this can be partially attributed to the significant decrease in vacancy rate in the AHRC residences due to higher retention of qualified and dedicated staff to support people daily. Additionally, ongoing advocacy efforts with state legislation have allowed for all staff in both corporations employed with the agency to cost of living increase (COLA) in 2024, further strengthening retention efforts with the existing workforce.

Personal Outcome Measures (POM)

In 2024, the POM Department developed a new initiative to increase and support person-centered culture by way of a mentoring system to further highlight people’s goals and dreams. Carle Place Day Option was selected as a model location to initiate this mentoring program. People were supported to create PowerPoint presentations and posters that reflected their dreams and goals which they presented in May 2024. Later in 2024, Carle Place mentored the Glen Head hub site. As a result, on December 20th, people supported at Glen Head presented their personal goals, plans and dreams. In 2025, Glen Head plans to share what they have learned with another site who will again plan an event and pay it forward!

A POMABILITIES POM RALLY was held on May 8, 2024. Attendees had the opportunity to learn from people’s stories firsthand, gain exposure and ask questions about taking their own steps to meet their POM objectives and create the life of their choosing in 2025 and beyond!

A Choices Event was held in May and July 2024. Nearly 350 people attended these events. During the events, people shared a description of their preferred day choices. This initiative and others supported the quality improvement goal to increase people’s choice in services by 5% to be met in 2024.

In response to POM indicator on Social Roles, the Rights Rally held on Oct. 18th focused on educating People Supported on how to fill social roles and how to access them. The Compass team partnered with the POM Department and Volunteer Services. Opportunities at this event included an informational session presented by Quality Enhancement and Advocate Trainers, CQL Certified POM Trainer and QA Administrator. Afterwards, people were met by agency Volunteer Services and Community Liaison to learn more and sign up for opportunities for community service and volunteer positions at varied organizations across Long Island.

During the summer months, Camp Loyaltown employees enjoyed learning cultural objectives and how to use CQL Personal Outcome Measures as well as discovery tools to gain insight into people’s interests and how to support them to meet their life goals. Based on the great feedback received, this one-day training will also be provided to agency employees in 2025!

The “Empowering You” learning series and “Show Us your POMs” continued in 2024, providing people with education and skills to help them achieve their life goals! In 2024 people with lived experience facilitated these virtual sessions to offer advocacy tips and suggestions to those in attendance.

Brookville (Glen Head) New York, 11545

No.

TO:

Looking Ahead to 2025

We wouldn’t be where we are today if it weren’t for the relentless advocacy of self-advocates, families, and staff. In 2025, there will be many opportunities to make a difference in the lives of people with I/DD.

Take Action Today at AHRC.org

Congratulations to Cathy LoQuercio

Cathy was elected to the state-wide SANYS Board as it’s Vice President. Cathy will do an excellent job representing her contingencies across the state.