AUGUST
2014
T
Garden Center Services
HE LEAFLET
The View From My Chair A MESSAGE FROM OUR EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
Keeler CILA
INSIDE THIS ISSUE THE VIEW FROM MY CHAIR Page 1 GARDEN CENTER FAMILY Page 2 NEW PROGRAM OFFERINGS Page 3 AROUND GCS Page 4
I remember the evening of June 30th, around 9:30 p.m., Cindy and I carted out the last loads of refuse to be disposed of and closed the door for the final time to the 16-bed Intermediate Care Facility for the Developmentally Disabled located in Berwyn that the agency administered for 4 years. Garden Center Services had been asked to take over the management of the facility in order to improve the quality of care for the individuals that resided there, and to get the program re-certified under federal and state guidelines which would allow
the state to be reimbursed by the Medicaid program fifty cents for every State dollar spent to fund the facility. Through the valiant efforts of our staff we were able to certify the facility within 45 days, and over time greatly enhance the condition of the services provided, as well as the relationships with the families and guardians. That being said, the introduction of the Ligas Consent Decree, which mandated persons residing in congregate ICF/DD residential settings must be offered the option to use their funding to move
into smaller community integrated living arrangements, allowed us to work with the Division of Developmental Disabilities and the local PAS agency, Suburban Access, to transition ten persons from the ICF/DD into two wonderful group living situations, one in Oak Lawn and one in Worth. The individuals have been residing in their new homes for a while now and it is wonderful to see them enjoying the closeness and wellbeing their new surroundings sustains, and the friendships they are establishing with their new neighbors. I want to thank all the staff, family members, and friends that worked so hard and contributed in so many ways to assist these individuals with this next phase of their journey. We could not have done without you.
Neenah CILA