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Nonotuck’s Neighborhood SEPTEMBER 2026

As part of their Take Your Kid to Work Day celebration, visitors to our Lee office created flowers with their names at the center and petals representing the people, activities, and other things that support their well-being. Learn more about how Nonotuck celebrated Take Your Kid to Work Day at offices throughout the state in this month’s enewsletter!

etter ro eischner

eorge

ood day, ne of the great privileges of being part of Nonotuck for so many years is seeing how our organi ation continues to grow and change while remaining connected to the values and relationships that have shaped us from the beginning. This month offers several wonderful e amples. ur longtime on treet, Northampton team has moved to a new home at erry treet in asthampton. or Nonotuck, this is more than an office move. ur connection to asthampton reaches back to our earliest days, when our first program and first administrative office were located there. ore than years later, it is meaningful to see another chapter of our history begin in the same community. We also welcomed children, grandchildren, nieces, and nephews into our offices for Take Your Kids to Work Day. At Nonotuck offices across the state, they had an opportunity to learn about the work their loved ones do and, ust as importantly, about the values of kindness, inclusion, wellness, and community that guide that work. Those values are also evident in our ongoing series about the DD licensure process. Licensure involves an e traordinary amount of work across Nonotuck, but it also provides an opportunity to reflect on why that work matters ensuring that the people we support receive services grounded in uality, dignity, safety, and respect. And eptember - , we celebrated Direct upport rofessional ecognition Week. ur D s understand something fundamental to our work good support begins with knowing the person their strengths, needs, hopes, preferences, and the life they want to lead. These stories may seem very different, but each speaks to something that has sustained Nonotuck for more than five decades people, relationships, and a shared commitment to caring for one another. hope you en oy this month’s Nonotuck’s Neighborhood. Warmly, eorge . leischner resident

Nonotuck e ebr tes ke our id to ork ’ Nonotuck was proud to celebrate Take Your Kids to Work Day across assachusetts this August. ur lymouth and rockton offices came together to celebrate, as did our asthampton and Northampton offices and our Lowell and Lynn offices, while our Lee office hosted its own celebration. hildren, grandchildren, nieces, and nephews of Nonotuck staff got a firsthand look at their family members’ workplaces, participating in activities centered on wellness, creativity, teamwork, and inclusion. articipants learned about Nonotuck and the work employees do through office tours, staff introductions, scavenger hunts, and hands-on activities. n lymouth and rockton, children heard from hared Living staff about their roles, learned about , and even helped with everyday office tasks such as making copies. isitors in Lowell and Lynn toured the offices and took part in scavenger hunts, while children participating in the asthampton and Northampton celebration learned about Nonotuck’s mission and values as they searched for pieces of a wellness wheel and assembled it together. Wellness and creativity were also woven throughout the celebrations. hildren decorated name badges, created crafts, participated in e ercise activities, and e plored what well-being means to them. n Lee, children created flowers with their names at the center and petals representing the people, activities, and other things that support their well-being.

Nonotuck e ebr tes ke our id to ork ’ lymouth and rockton participants created hand-tracing artwork centered on kindness, while younger children in asthampton and Northampton put their creativity and teamwork to work building towers from cups. Lowell and Lynn added plenty of fun to the day with crafts, snacks, a shaved ice station, a photo booth, and certificates for the young participants. ome activities gave older children an opportunity to e plore Nonotuck’s commitment to inclusion more deeply. anet Yurko, ice resident of esidential ervices, Western egion, led an interactive niversal upport Team T discussion in which children considered a scenario involving a young person with developmental disabilities who wanted to oin an after-school music group while navigating concerns about noise and unfamiliar stimulation. The children offered ideas about how the young person could be supported in participating in something meaningful to them, bringing Nonotuck’s values of choice, community, and belonging into the conversation.

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Nonotuck’s on treet e o es to Ne sth ton tice Nonotuck esource Associates is e cited to announce that our longtime N has moved to a beautiful new office at erry treet in asthampton. The move gives the team a new home while carrying forward a remarkable history in ampshire ounty. Nonotuck was founded in the county in by parents of children with disabilities who sought alternatives to institutional care. ver the decades, our local presence has grown alongside some of the longest-standing relationships in Nonotuck’s history. Nonotuck’s connection to asthampton dates back to its earliest days the organi ation’s first program was located in asthampton in the early s, and its first administrative office when the organi ation was still known as ommunity omes for hildren was also located in the city. The on treet team includes multiple employees who have been with Nonotuck for more than years some for more than as well as caregivers with decades-long connections to the organi ation. Nonotuck’s roots are in ampshire ounty. There are people who we support and caregivers who have been here since the very beginning, says ice resident of esidential ervices anet Yurko. Now, that history continues in asthampton.

AN Located within the ne erry treet pro ect, erry treet is a fully refurbished former mill building that combines modern workspaces with th-century industrial architecture. The move also places the team alongside another part of the Nonotuck community Nonotuck already has an office at nearby erry treet, making asthampton home to two Nonotuck locations. EO the on treet team as representing our history, our values, and the deep relationships that have shaped us for more than fifty years. Those relationships now enter a new chapter at erry treet.

Nonotuck icensure rt icensure egins we e plored the months of preparation that make every Department of Developmental ervices DD licensure review possible from year-round uality nhancement efforts to the organi ation-wide commitment to keeping records, homes, and supports continuously review-ready. ut preparation is only half the story once DD selects homes and records for assessment, the licensure process truly begins. rogram Director Dylan ukowski of Auburn had a direct message for his staff as licensure began f you fail, fail. f fail, you fail. We’re in this together. t was a mindset reflected throughout the organi ation, where licensure became less an individual responsibility than a collective effort. nce DD selects the homes and records that will be evaluated, staff across Nonotuck mobili e. are anagers, hared Living providers, nurses, clinicians, uality nhancement staff, operations staff, and office teams all play a role in preparing documentation, supporting providers, and ensuring people are ready for interviews and home visits. As teams prepare the selected records and homes for review, provides another set of eyes, e amining records, answering uestions, identifying gaps, and helping teams correct issues before surveyors arrive. During home visits and record reviews, DD surveyors e amine medication administration, financial documentation, health records, and home safety, including water temperatures, smoke detectors, carbon mono ide detectors, and other environmental safeguards to ensure both uality services and safe living environments. They do everything from finances to safety stuff water temperature They turn over every stone, Dylan says. or Dylan, that scrutiny is also an opportunity for Nonotuck to demonstrate the standards staff work toward throughout the year. We have our own standards here that are above and beyond the licensure standards. or us, it was more about showcasing our work to DD . We should be proud of the work we put forward, he says.

Nonotuck icensure rt icensure egins ont At the same time, Dylan says licensure creates opportunities to identify where the organi ation can improve. t brings out the best in people, but it e poses areas where maybe we thought we were better than we were, and areas we can improve on. Doug Watts, ice resident of uality nhancement astern ervices, says the success of licensure ultimately belongs to frontline staff. We try to guide, support, consult, rally, control, but it’s the people in the programs that are doing most of the work, he says. rogram Director Nichole ourke was inspired by the support provided across departments at Nonotuck. When every are anager in her program was selected for review, she found herself relying on colleagues from across the organi ation. The willingness of colleagues across the agency to step in and help was truly remarkable. Their dedication, teamwork, and generosity with their time made a significant difference and is something will always appreciate, she says, naming Lee rogram Director essica chram as someone whose support left a lasting impression. During the site visit itself, DD surveyors visit offices, e amine records, meet with staff, and conduct home visits that include safety checks, medication and financial audits, and conversations with the people receiving services and their hared Living providers. Throughout the process, Nonotuck staff remain in close communication with one another and with DD , responding uickly to uestions, addressing immediate action items, and identifying trends that may re uire follow-up. Throughout it all, the department maintains an active presence. ne of the best things about being in is being able to be the sounding board for people when they have uestions. ow can you direct them ow can you help them ow can you support them says Kari arschdorf, uality nhancement pecialist. rogram Director essica chram of the Lee office participated in her fifth licensure review and her first as a rogram Director this year. he says licensure is our time to shine. t is an opportunity to demonstrate how we, as an organi ation, not only meet regulatory e pectations but often e ceed them, all while supporting people to live authentic, meaningful lives, she says.

Nonotuck icensure rt icensure egins ont ore importantly, it allows us to reflect on the purpose behind the regulations and recogni e how they ultimately promote the health, safety, rights, and well-being of the people we support, she adds. uality nhancement pecialist raig anning has e perienced licensure as both a are anager and a member of the staff. e similarly sees the process as an opportunity for reflection and accountability. ’ve always welcomed other people’s input and feedback when assessing my work because always want to be in compliance, he says. Licensure was always a positive e perience for me. welcomed people talking with the families supported, getting to know them, and making sure their services were where they needed to be. t was accountability in the best sense of the word. After the survey, DD shares its findings, beginning with organi ational strengths before identifying areas that may need improvement. Nonotuck then evaluates those findings, provides follow-up training, updates systems when needed, and reports back on corrective actions. n that way, licensure doesn’t end when the surveyors leave. very piece of feedback becomes another opportunity to strengthen systems, support staff, and improve services. While the process is demanding, staff across Nonotuck say it also reinforces the values and practices that guide their work every day. n art , we’ll e plore how DD Licensure informs and enhances the services we provide to the people we support.

e ebr ting ro ession

irect u ort ecognition

This year, from eptember , Nonotuck oins communities across the country in celebrating Direct upport rofessional D ecognition Week and recogni ing the D s whose work supports people with disabilities to live full, authentic lives. At the heart of great direct support is something that can sound simple but re uires patience, commitment, and care knowing the person. t means understanding each person’s uni ue strengths, needs, goals, and desires. t means learning how someone communicates, what brings them oy, what makes them feel comfortable and secure, what they want to accomplish, and how they want to spend their time. ost importantly, it means recogni ing that no two people want or need e actly the same kind of support. D

s put that understanding into practice every day.

Their support can take many forms, from assisting with personal care, meals, and mobility to helping someone build new skills or pursue a personal goal. ometimes it means providing hands-on assistance other times, it means knowing when to step back so someone can make a choice, try something independently, or take the lead in their own life. That support e tends beyond someone’s immediate needs. D s help people build full, community-based lives through employment, volunteering, education, recreation, friendships, relationships, and the everyday e periences that make life meaningful. A meaningful life looks different for everyone, and D s help ensure that the people they support have a voice in defining what it looks like for them. Working alongside are anagers, rogram Directors, nurses, clinicians, caregivers, families, and others throughout Nonotuck, D s bring perspectives shaped by the time they spend with the people they support. That collaboration helps provide the continuity and stability people need while keeping each person’s preferences, goals, and voice at the center of their support. At Nonotuck, this work is closely connected to our mission of providing people with the opportunity to live genuine lives in their homes and communities. t is also grounded in one of our most important beliefs care is not one-sided.

e ebr ting ro ession

irect u ort ecognition

We believe in interdependence and in relationships rooted in mutuality of love and respect. D s and the people they support share e periences, learn from one another, celebrate accomplishments, navigate challenges, and build relationships in which each person can affect, support, and enrich the life of the other. That is why Direct upport rofessional ecognition Week is an opportunity to recogni e not only the work D s do, but the relationships they build, the understanding they develop, and the ways they help people e ercise choice, pursue what matters to them, and live authentic lives. To the D s throughout the Nonotuck community thank you for taking the time to know the people you support, for listening to their voices, and for helping each person build a life that reflects who they are.

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nni ers ries

mma owitch Integration Specialist, Lee — September 8 Winnie asika Direct Support Professional, 3 Ferry Street, Easthampton — September 29 Kaleigh endo a HR Coordinator, 425 Prospect Street, Northampton — September 29 osephine ivera Direct Support Professional, 3 Ferry Street, Easthampton — September 30 ridget Arciero Registered Nurse, Lowell — September 16 arie Dorvil ernet Direct Support Professional, Brockton — September 17 oshua ustafson IT Technical Support-Project Specialist, 5 Ferry Street, Easthampton — September 18 amela Atu uayfio li abeth arpenter aureen urran

Care Manager, Auburn — September 6 Care Manager, Lee — September 12

Program Administrative Assistant, Plymouth — September 7

ohn lmsted

Direct Support Professional, 3 Ferry Street, Easthampton — September 21

anine onklin

Program Director, 3 Ferry Street, Easthampton — September 19

Nichole ourke Program Director, 3 Ferry Street, Easthampton — September 14 arrie usted Assistant Program Director, 3 Ferry Street, Easthampton — September 14 onalisa mith Assistant Program Director, 3 Ferry Street, Easthampton — September 29 obert ngstrand Training Coordinator, Plymouth — September 18 aureen mith Care Manager, Plymouth — September 22 haron as ue Registered Nurse, Lowell — September 26 ill allagher Assistant to the VPs of Operations, Lee — September 12 anet Tr aska Info Technology Project Coordinator, Auburn — September 20 Deena Winneroski aggy Walto

Integration Specialist, Lee — September 20

Care Manager / Special Projects, Lee — September 15

Angela rocopio- ahilly

Executive VP Operations, Lee — September 20

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