BCArc Annual Report 2021

2021 Annual Report

Against the Tide: Finding Success Amid COVID Resurgence and Staffing Challenges

Board of Directors Mike Ferry, Chair Debra Jarck, Vice Chair Thomas J. Hamel, Esq., Treasurer Bob Sinopoli Clerk

Board Members Linda Carnevale Kathy Clark Douglas Craighead Eric Harlow Michael Lyon Bruce Marzotto Anthony Mazzeo Dr. Mark Pettus

President & CEO Kenneth Singer

Officers Maryann Hyatt, Chief Operating Officer Blanca Durant, Vice President of Finance Jennifer Rush, Vice President, Residential & Clinical Services Cover: A photo of the new Brain Injury Community Center in Westfield shows individuals and staff in a classroom setting. They also host guest lecturers, participate in community activities, and explore career skills.

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2021 An n u al Repor t

Retiring After 42 Years: A Passion for BCArc and Those BCArc Serves After 42 years at BCArc I have decided to start transitioning to the next phase of my life. This has been an emotional, overwhelming, and difficult decision for me. I love this Agency, I love the work we do, I love the individuals we serve.

There is no perfect time to step down.

Challenges and opportunities remain. But I know I leave the Agency in talented and capable hands. We have been through it all together, and I am confident this staff can handle any situation put in front of them.

I look back with immense pride at the work we?ve all done together.

From when I started as Executive Director, this Agency grew from $7 million in annual revenue to its current $40 million. Together we have achieved so much. The amazing things we have accomplished together during these past years have made a difference in so many people?s lives.

The Board of Directors have hired a search firm to help the transition through new leadership. I am confident that they will select the right leader. I know that the new CEO will feel fortunate to be working with such a great community of individuals, families, and staff.

Many of you I have known for decades. You have supported me for a long time, through thick and thin, and I thank you all for that. There are individuals we care for who have been here as long as I have. It will not be easy to say good-bye. Many people look forward to their retirement. For me, working at BCArc is not work, it is a passion. This is a family, as many of our staff like to say.

I thank you all for your support. The BCArc community is a special group. It has been a privilege to have worked in this Agency, with this staff, the individuals we serve, and all our friends and partners.

Thank you.

Kenneth W. Singer President & CEO

Focus on Mission Keeps Agency Resilient, Agile, and Person-Centered Mission Statement: "Berkshire County Arc is committed to assisting and supporting individuals in their quest to identify and realize their chosen lifestyles.?

Dign it y

Su ppor t

Respect

Com passion

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Impact: Strengthening Community, Diversity, Economy $40 M illion

21%

Am ou n t of f u n din g BCAr c br ou gh t in t o West er n M ass. in 2021.

Size of t h e pay r aise f u ll-t im e dir ect su ppor t r eceived du r in g 2021.

80%

750

Per cen t age BCAr c pays of it s em ployee h ealt h car e ben ef it s.

Nu m ber of jobs--w it h pat h s f or advan cem en t --t h at BCAr c pr ovides in t h e Pion eer Valley an d Ber k sh ir e Cou n t y.

108

150

Fam ilies r eceivin g h om e su ppor t f r om Adu lt Fam ily Car e pr ogr am -m on t h ly st ipen ds, n u r se aid, an d m or e.

In dividu als r eceivin g su ppor t ed employment, t r ain in g, an d r elat ed ser vices t h r ou gh Em ploym en t Ser vices.

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192

5.6%

Nu m ber of in dividu als w h o at t en d a Com m u n it y-Based Day Program or a Day Habilit at ion Pr ogr am .

Per cen t age of an n u al pay t h at BCAr c con t r ibu t ed t o t h e r et ir em en t plan of eligible em ployees.

1,000

68

Nu m ber of in dividu als BCAr c ser ves t h r ou gh it s r an ge of pr ogr am s an d ser vices.

Nu m ber of year s BCAr c h as been ser vin g people w it h disabilit ies sin ce 1954.

2021 An n u al Repor t

Lasheika Moody

BCAr c Act ion High ligh t s f r om 2021 -

Aw ar ded $400,000 in Feder al Gr an t s

-

an d $1.3 M illion in St at e Hou sin g Fu n ds f or h om es f or in dividu als w it h

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

com m u n it y ? st af f an d in dividu als.

-

St af f an d f r ien ds gave $30,000 t o it s

Br ain In ju r y in Dalt on , Lan esbor o,

An n u al Cam paign t o pr ovide n eeded

an d Sou t h w ick .

t ech n ology an d r ecr eat ion al it em s.

Pr ovided n u m er ou s vaccin e clin ics f or

-

BCAr c h ost ed an d paid college

600 in dividu als an d st af f , an d h eld

su m m er in t er n s f r om Sim m on s

w eek ly su r veillan ce t est in g.

College, Roger William s, Sien a,

Aw ar ded $1 m illion dollar s f or a

UM ass Am h er st , M CLA.

f ive-year con t r act f r om t h e M ass.

-

Vaccin at ed 75 per cen t of t h e BCAr c

-

BCAr c pr ovided t u it ion assist an ce

Depar t m en t of Developm en t al

f or it s st af f at t en din g college; som e

Ser vices f or Fam ily Su ppor t Cen t er s.

em ployees r eceived f r ee t u it ion

Host ed a Vir t u al Fam ily Su ppor t

t h r ou gh a st at ew ide pr ogr am f or

Con f er en ce f or 100 par t icipan t s.

h u m an ser vice w or k er s.

Open ed a Br ain In ju r y Com m u n it y

-

Diver sit y Com m it t ee or gan ized a

Cen t er (BICC) in West f ield.

Sou t h Af r ican dan ce con t est , a

Expan ded t h e M en?s Gr ou p t o ser ve

speak er on r ace issu es, a Black Lives

in dividu als ou t side t h e BCAr c

M at t er post er con t est , an d a

com m u n it y.

per f or m an ce by a blu es m u sician .

Ret u r n ed t o in -per son pr ogr am s at

-

Aggr essively r ecr u it ed st af f by

t h e Day Habilit at ion Pr ogr am s.

of f er in g bon u ses t o em ployees w h o

Added 34 accou n t s t o t h e M ast er

r ef er r ed st af f , of f er ed $250 t o

Special Needs Pooled Tr u st ,

com m u n it y m em ber s w h o r ef er r ed

in cr easin g t r u st valu e t o $12.2 m illion

st af f , an d adver t ised on TV, r adio,

w it h 198 m em ber s.

n ew spaper s, In t er n et , billboar ds,

All in dividu als r et u r n ed t o t h eir

bu sses, m alls an d m or e.

Com m u n it y Based Day Ser vice Pr ogr am s.

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Thank You Staff

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2021 An n u al Repor t

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The Heart of BCArc

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Best Caretakers Anywhere

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2021 An n u al Repor t

Golf Returns, Raises $53,000

BCArc 2021 Income Against Expenses

BuddyWalk Rallies Community Supporters helped raise more than $53,500 at its 26th Annual Golf Classic at Berkshire Hills Country Club on Sept.

29. The funds go directly to the people who BCArc serves.

Corporate sponsors included: Berkshire Bank, Greylock Federal Credit Union, Health New England, Sheehan Health Group, CompuWorks, and The Notch Insurance Partners.

This year 's BuddyWalk -- virtual again -- raised more than $3000, and helped bring awareness to the community.

The Iovieno family, part of Sammy's Super Stars, were among 230 people who supported BCArc's Down Syndrome Family Group event.

2022 Annual Campaign

Raise the Roof for

Respite

BCArc's Respite House can be a lifesaver for the caretaker who has an emergency, or needs a rest.

Don at e Help u s r aise $50,000 so t h at BCAr c can of f er t h e Respit e Hou se t o f am ilies w h o n eed h elp.

bcarc.org/donate/ 9

Volume 3, 2019

A Commitment A Big Welcom e t o to Lifelong Friendship Julie and Francis have been dating for the past five years. A year ago Francis presented a ring, flowers, balloons, and proposed marriage.

Julie needed time to consider the commitment. They met again to discuss their future together, and agreed to a ceremony to exchange rings and commit their friendship to each other forever.

The ceremony--modeled after a wedding--took place on Francis?

80th birthday.

"The joy in the faces of Francis and Julie said it all."

Just prior to the event it was learned that Francis had been Staff and friends gathered for the friendship ceremony between determined to marry since his Julie and Francis. Not many eyes stayed dry through the ceremony. teen years. Now, 60 years later he finally took part in a ceremony.

Numerous people made the event possible: Joe Russo was the best man and officiant; Kate Ryan secured flower donations from Leah of the Valley Floral Design; Rachel Nicola-Jefferson scripted the ceremony, rented the tux, made the wedding cake, and assisted Francis with invitations; Theresa White made the food and provided the rings; numerous other staff helped.

Property Updates Ongoing on Homes & Vehicles In areas of safety and good living, BCArc strives for the highest grades with its individuals. This year BCArc invested in new vans and new appliances, painted homes inside and outside, updated carpeting, re-did bathrooms, and installed new generators and new fire alarm systems for numerous houses.

"Safety will always be our number one priority," said Chris Melski, who heads the maintenance program. Beyond safety, the goal is to enrich their lives, and BCArc also invested in assistive technology, ramps, lifts, improved egresses, large screens for viewing movies and for video meetings, and more.

10 2021 An n u al Repor t

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2021 Employees of the Quarter Staff members through the year are nominated by their coworkers each quarter for their exemplary work, such as filling critical shifts or keeping individuals safe during a trying time. BCArc thanks them all for their commitment to the individuals we serve.

Qu ar t er 4

Brenda Amuso Habilitation Specialist

Adelle Richardson Residential Support

Holly Van Beek Residential Support

Teresa Davenport Administration

Debbie Chaffee Zip 'N Sort

Employees of the Quarters listed below were pictured in previous issues of Visions during each quarter.

Qu ar t er 1 Augusto Soberano Helen Williams AnnMarie Cairns Kristen Myers Lisa McNally

Qu ar t er 2 Letitia Koomson Emanuel Mintah Tami Ellsworth Christine Bussolari Sharon Ireland Kasey Connors-Beron Nancy Cole

Qu ar t er 3 Leslie Potter Anthony Miezah Janet Stone Hayley McEachern Joyce Pellin Matt Fray

Employment Services Gaining Traction Employment Services was forced to shut down when Berkshire businesses shut down. Today, more than 150 individuals work at area job sites, receive training, evaluation, and related employment services.

While the program is not back to the level it was prior to COVID, it is gaining traction.

"Berkshire employers are eager to sign on, they are all looking for help," said Maryann Hyatt, BCArc's Chief Operating Officer. "But we are looking too, and need to hire staff to support the individuals at the job sites. As we hire more, we will continue to expand the program."

Walmart recently celebrated five years of employment for Katherine with a cake and party. Pictured here, Katherine shows the kind of printed dress she prefers. She prides herself at making her clothing section the neatest in the store. She also likes to draw, read, take art classes, care for her cat, and ride on the back of dad?s motorcycle.

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Non-Profit Org. USPostage Paid Pittsfield, MA Permit No. 121

Comments, edits?

Contact David Singer at dsinger@bcarc.org This publication is mailed by Zip 'N Sort, a BCArc Mail Service that offers pick-up and delivery for your business. www.zipnsort.com

Staff from multiple departments came together to provide another drive-through party for individuals to experience Halloween.

Ken, BCArc's CEO, also joined the party.