SEPTEMBER
2015
Garden Center Services
The View From My Chair A MESSAGE FROM OUR EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
Gerry & Muffin
INSIDE THIS ISSUE THE VIEW FROM MY CHAIR Page 1 DSP APPRECIATION WEEK Page 2 ADOPT A HOME PROGRAM Page 3 AROUND GCS Page 4
It is only because of a court decision that our state funders have been forced to fund the services we have been providing over the last two months of this fiscal year. An order from the court mandated that all claims for services covered under the Medicaid program must continued to be paid during the Illinois’ budget impasse. All of the agencies’ day and residential programs have been under the Medicaid umbrella for several years now, so this order is a godsend. I know of a number of our disability providers in the state that were beginning to struggle with how they were going to make their next payroll. But the relief of this temporary court ordered funding fix is tenuous at best. Until the governors’ office and the legislative leadership can work together on behalf of the citizens of
this state which they serve, and negotiate and pass a budget for this 2016 fiscal year, we cannot be sure of what our rates will be, or of the level of service we can deliver throughout the remaining year. I therefore must ask you to continue your calls to your legislators, imploring them to challenge their leadership to craft and pass a budget that certainly contains no cuts to the already inadequate funding that we have received for years, and in fact would include additional revenue to provide the quality of care that persons with intellectual and developmental disabilities deserve.
“It is only because of a court decision that our state funders have been forced to fund the services we have been providing over the last two months of this fiscal year. ” One such service that our individuals deserve and that we need to figure out a way to provide, independent of whatever happens in Springfield, is the ongoing opportunity for our individuals to feel the satisfaction and meaningfulness of having real work experiences in businesses
throughout the community. We have a number of awesome shop and business owners in the Burbank/Mt. Greenwood/Beverly neighborhoods that truly embrace the persons that attend our programs, and have stated their willingness to provide work experiences for these individuals, if we can provide a staff to accompany and coach them. I would love to see a decent number of the individuals that spend their time at our day programs simply have the experience of working on site at a local business for even several hours a week. I can only imagine the immediate impact this would have on the pride, selfesteem, and true joy of the persons we serve. It would also bring a heck of a lot of happiness to the businesses and their customers! I have initiated an intense twoweek pledge drive to fund this position. Through the generosity of several individuals I have already received donations totaling $7,800! I am asking that you contact me directly at 708-560-4400 and let me know how much you can contribute to this worthwhile cause. Any contribution, at any level, can help us achieve something wonderful for the great people we support, and you will have my undying gratitude. Thank you, and be well.
GARDEN CENTER FAMILY DIRECT SUPPORT PROFESSIONALS APPRECIATION WEEK Successfully supporting individuals with intellectual disabilities to live community-based lives of their choosing requires support staff who follow the individual path suggested by the unique gifts, preferences, and needs of each person they support. Those staff work in partnership not only with the person, but also with those who love him or her, to move toward a life of opportunity, well-being, freedom, and contribution. Garden Center is proud to have an army of such staff persons who make an incredible impact in the lives of those they support everyday. Once a year, Direct Support Staff are recognized across the country through National DSP Appreciation week. September 13th through 19th, Garden Center will join agencies across the U.S. in honoring these invaluable staff who make a difference in the lives of others. Garden Center will celebrate the week with gift card raffles, drawings and many more surprises!
is P WEEK th 2 0 15 D S t h t h r o u g h 19 13 r e b m e Sept
We would love to hear your stories of how Garden Center support staff have made a difference in your life and the lives of your loved ones. Visit our facebook page to share your story or email Michele at mHula@ gardencenterservices.org. We will share your input with our staff!
We are so grateful by the requests of many of you to help make this DSP Appreciation Week even more special for our staff. If you would like to show your appreciation for the DSPs who support your friends/family by donating gift cards or other items for our raffles, by hosting an event, or if you have another idea you’d like to share, please contact Michele Hula at 773-941-4151 Ext. 212 or by email at mHula@gardencenterservices.org.
G C S
B U S I N E S S
C O R N E R
GCS’S MICRO-BUSINESSES NEED YOUR HELP! Kedzie DT is collecting a few recyclables to create items for our Micro-businesses. If you have any of the following you’d like to donate, please drop them off at our Kedzie location to Becca at the front desk.
Bottle caps
2
Glass Jars
Pop Cans
Do good when you shop... COFFEE Co.
. Tastes Good. Does Good. Feels Good
Used cards
Buttons
GARDEN CENTER’S ADOPT A HOME PROGRAM “Start by doing what’s necessary; then do what’s possible; and suddenly you are doing the impossible.” - Francis of Assisi
Last month we told you about the Wegner family who “adopted” the Austin house by making some needed repairs, starting a few gardening projects, and spending time socially with the men who live there. As a result of the impact the Wegners’ involvement has had for the individuals at Austin, Garden Center would like to bring a similar experience to more of the people that live in our homes. Kathy Wegner who, with her husband and son, started the Austin project, has written a proposal to outline a program for replicating the “adoption“ process in other GCS homes. ill ome Program w GCS’ Adopt a Hree GCS homes th start with
The goals of the program address four major areas; Social Involvement, Minor Maintenance, Major Renovation, and Household Item Updates. The pilot program will include three homes; Austin, Oak Lawn and Lombard with a goal of having the Adopt a Home program active at all Garden Center houses by December 2016. Stay tuned for more information on this amazing program and details on how you can get involved.
GCS FALL FAMILY FORUM Recently, members of our Board of Directors have been reaching out to our families in order to get their input on ways to make our membership gatherings more helpful, effective, and supportive. We are willing to try new formats, days of the week, and times, in order to have more of our family members in attendance so that we all can benefit from the shared information and fellowship. Along those lines, we will be holding the “Fall Family Forum” on Saturday, Sept. 26th, from 10:30 a.m. to noon, at our State Road facility. We are currently working to schedule a couple of outside speakers, and we will also be spending time that day in small focus groups to gain insights and perspectives on the future direction of Garden Center Services. It is very important that you make this event if at all possible. To kick off the season we will be serving hot and cold apple cider with doughnuts for refreshments. Hope to see you there!
Mark your calendar...
September 2015
August 2015
S
T
T F S
1 2 3 9
11
Sunday
30
Monday
31
6
Tuesday
1
Wednesday
2
Thursday
3
7
8
9
10
14
15
16
17
as
13
hio n
Grandparents Day
F
GCS’ 59th Annual NOV. Fashion Show 8 th
Sunday, November 8th
27
44 Stephen St. Lemont
T F S
1
2 3 9
Friday
4
Saturday
5
11
12
18
19
21
A P P R E C I A T I O N 22
23
W E E K ! 24
25
28
29
30
Fall Family Forum
26
10:30am to 12:00pm State Road Build. 8333 S. Austin Burbank, IL
First Day of Autumn
Second Chance Super Sale 12pm to 4pm
T
46th Annual Knights of Columbus Tootsie Roll Drive
D S P 20
October 2015
Patriot Day
un
Fo o d F
Labor Day GCS Day Programs/& Offices CLOSED
S
1
2
3
3
Growing dignity
SECOND CHANCE SUPER SALE
and independence 8333 S. Austin Ave. Burbank, IL 60459
SUNDAY, Sept. 27th
10444 S. Kedzie Chicago, IL 60655 phone 773-941-4151
12pm to 4pm
email info@gardencenterservices.org web www.GardenCenterServices.org
BOARD OF DIRECTORS President
Dr. Jenny Wojcik
1st Vice President
Annmarie Caulfield
2nd Vice President
Paul Krutulis
Treasurer
George Sterba
Secretary
Florence Head
Members:
Caroline Connors
Amanda, Carla & Destanee hang out with some friends at the Windy City Thunderbolts game!
TAKE 1/2 OFF EVERYTHING STOREWIDE!
Joan Strainis Representative Fran Hurley Sean O’Shea Dave Rauen Tom Beemesterboer
OUR MISSION Garden Center Services is committed to supporting and empowering persons with developmental disabilities through innovative and person-centered services. Our commitment to the excellence of our programs is surpassed only by our devotion to the people we serve and the communities in which they live.
ya ichard enjo Gary & R at the game day beautiful
www.iGive.com SAVE A TREE ...AND GCS MONEY
JULY
2014
T
Garden Center Services
HE LEAFLET
The View From My Chair A MESSAGE FROM OUR EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
by the referral agencies that require the person to take a number of assessments. The purpose of these assessments is to pinpoint those deficits in cognitive, physical, and lifeskill development that will
When you sign up to receive THE LEAFLET online their skills Jonathan & Pam show off tion para pre at healthy meal
State Street group visits Dunkin’ Donuts’ “Cop on Rooftop” for Special Olympics
Nicole & Gerry
INSIDE THIS ISSUE THE VIEW FROM MY CHAIR Page 1 GARDEN CENTER FAMILY Page 2 GCS WALKS, ROLLS & RUNS Page 3 AROUND GCS Page 4
Looking forward to this coming weekend and all the 4th of July celebrations leads me to think about the term “independence” and the struggles we’ve all gone through, as individuals and as a country, to become the people we want to be, spending our precious lives doing what we want to do. I would say the overarching goal we have as an agency that provides services and supports to adults with intellectual and physical disabilities is getting to know each person well enough so that we can accurately identify what their hopes and aspirations are and then doing whatever we can to assist them in realizing this potential. Before individuals are “awarded” state funding so that they can attend our programs, they must be screened
“It is only by spending quality time with an individual, deeply listening to them, observing them, that one comes to grasp their aptitude and ambitions. ”
verify they meet the criteria of having a developmental disability. It seems to be such a “what’s broken” way of looking at human beings, and does not give proper emphasis to the unique presence and contribution that each person possesses. It is only by spending quality time with an individual, deeply listening to them, observing them, that one comes to grasp their aptitude and ambitions. In both our day and residential programs we are continually working to improve the experiences and exposure our consumers receive driven by the approach described above.
We so appreciate the input provided by the families about their loved ones, and also the insights contributed by our caring staff that spends so much of their day engaged with our consumers. As an agency, as we become more aware and sensitive to the hopes and possibilities that are within each person we support, we must strive to make those changes necessary that will give them better access to full lives of participation. As much as I wanted to mention independence in this article, I also wanted to stress the need and benefit of “interdependence”. It’s truly only through the acceptance and support of one another that we can really become our best selves. I often think that one of the greatest gifts bestowed on us by the persons we support at Garden Center Services is their innate understanding of this principle, and the enviable way they open themselves to receiving and providing kindness. Enjoy the newsletter, and have a great summer.
We need your help to cut postage costs! If you would like to continue to receive the GCS newsletter, please contact Sandi at scoleman@gardencenterservices.org to
DoubleTree in Alsip 12pm to 4pm