Lifeworks 2022 Annual Report

2022 ANNUAL REPORT

Board of Directors

Dennis Carroll, Chairperson Norwood

Kevin Murphy, Vice Chairperson Mansfield

Paul Falvey, Treasurer Dedham

Marilyn Howley, Clerk East Walpole

Alan Adams Wrentham

Ira Biggar East Falmouth

Senior Leadership

Daniel Burke President & Chief Executive Officer

Christopher Page Chief Operating Officer

Brenda Calder Chief Financial Officer

Sheila Coakley Westwood

Paul Cummings Dedham

Karen Durham Dedham

Thomas Erhard Mansfield

Robyn Garth Dedham

Carolyn Gombosi Newton

Heidi Haggman Norwood

Richard Henderson Westwood

Jane McClellan Canton

Karen Norton Norwood

Garrett Traylor Westwood

Daniel Sullivan Vice President, Quality & Community Services

Sarah Charbonneau

Vice President, Day & Employment Services

Danielle Warzecki

Vice President, Residential Services

Stephen Cantine Vice President, Human Resources

Dawna Gyukeri

Director of Development & Communications

A Message from Our President & CEO, Daniel Burke

As we look back over the last few years and take stock of our progress, one thing is clear: Everyone in our Lifeworks community – our outstanding employees, the individuals we serve, their families, and our many partners and supporters – all have played a part in our success. Overall, 2022 was an outstanding year, despite the ongoing challenges such as the workforce crisis that has impacted all aspects of our lives. Our programs continue to welcome back participants in increasing numbers. We are grateful for the flexibility and resilience of the people we support, which is matched only by the dedication of our staff, who have truly been superheroes.

Our staff had to be flexible on where, when, and how they work. They have shown repeatedly their innovative and creative spirit to meet the needs of the individuals and families we serve. Equally heroic during these last few years are our Lifeworks families. Their patience, flexibility and dedication has been beyond belief. They have endured program interruptions, screenings, testing affecting their loved one in our care while managing through their own lives as well.

We are looking ahead to the coming year with much excitement. We continue to take strong measures to increase hiring and grow our staffing levels to meet the demand for services, to continue to expand our programs, and to increase access and opportunities for more the people we serve. The additional state and federal support we have received over the past two years has allowed us to make much-needed investments in staff compensation, but we must advocate to make these increases permanent. We must also recognize the financial support of our donors and our community and business partners. Your impact has been invaluable.

We have worked with our Board of Directors on a strategic plan that will outline our direction and goals for the next three years, both in the provision of services to those we serve and as a chapter of The Arc, continuing to be a leading advocate for increasing services to the people we support and their families as well as and advocating for the needs of our employees.

Finally, we are especially excited for the return of in-person events, especially the Lifeworks’ signature Empower gala celebration in May 2023 for the first time since 2019 and our Employment & Life Enhancement program banquet in the fall of 2023.

Whatever your role is within our Lifeworks community, thank you for being a part of our success and we look forward to working with you on our future!

Day Habilitation Programs

Lifeworks Day Habilitation Programs, for adults aged 22 and older, focus on health and well-being through access to a wide array of therapeutic and educational programs with the assistance and encouragement of our high-quality staff. Programming takes place at two sites: the William F. Abel Therapeutic Day Program located at our Westwood location and Connections at our West Roxbury location.

As the challenges and restrictions of the pandemic continue to decline, the number of individuals Lifeworks can serve in person is steadily increasing. This past year, the Abel Therapeutic Day Program in Westwood was very active. The Center has the capacity to serve up to 108 participants daily. In West Roxbury, the Connections Program currently provides day habilitation programs and activities for up to 24 participants with goals to increase and expand the program in the near future.

In-person activities offers include music therapy. Weekly art classes are offered in-person and via Zoom. Cooking classes, a gardening program and group walks, including a spring marathon walk are provided as well.

Volunteer and cause projects were plentiful. May 2022 saw the return of Red Day, with volunteers from Keller-Williams Realty participating in a full day of gardening and yard work, sprucing up the grounds around the Westwood campus. Students from neighboring Xaverian Brothers High School can regularly be seen on site fulfilling their community volunteerism curriculum. The Day Habilitation Programs also hosted Pink Day to promote Breast Cancer Awareness.

Residential Living

Lifeworks maintains 18 community-based residences throughout Norfolk County and the surrounding area. Currently, 92 individuals live in these wonderful homes that focus on ensuring an inclusive, community-oriented environment for residents, and provides access to local resources. The residences are staffed around the clock and professionally supervised by program managers and residential directors. Each home provides activities and programs that are unique to the needs and requests of its residents.

Our array of homes include features that support people with medical needs, those on the autism spectrum, and people with aging related challenges. Lifeworks is proud of each of the homes we own and grateful that they are also supported by our generous benefactors who provide funding to enhance the residences. One such project, is the Forsberg Beautification Program that supported the addition of raised garden beds at nine residences, and provides annual holiday decorations, lights, and craft programs for the homes.

Adult Social & Recreation Program

The Adult Social and Recreation Program provides opportunities for individuals to take part in clubs, activities, and sports they love, as well as explore new interests – all of which are centered on dignity and inclusion. Sports-related programs included hockey, basketball, bowling leagues, bocce, cornhole games, yoga, hiking, horseback riding and Drums Alive. The annual “Polar Plunge” was held at Nantasket Beach, on February 26, 2022, raising funds for individuals served by Lifeworks who participate in the Massachusetts Special Olympics.

In addition to sports, other activities taking place throughout the year included educational classes, discussion groups, paint nights and movie nights. Volunteer opportunities included preparing VFW Halloween care bags, making tie blankets for nursing home residents, creating teacher gift bags, and writing letters of encouragement. Club activities included a Massachusetts Audubon Society Club, a Music Club and “Our Club,” a self-advocacy group that hosted six Hip Hop Café fundraisers and was able to award $500 in scholarships.

Participants also had a variety of online programming to choose from, including Zoom bingo, Zoom trivia, and an online escape room activity.

During the year, 160 people were served and four new staff were added, ensuring there was never a dull moment!

Employment & Community Day Services

Lifeworks Employment Services (LES) operates two program locations, in Norwood and West Roxbury. LES provides a dynamic array of employment and Community-Based Day Services (CBDS), including job placement, employment and vocational training, and job coaching. Our CBDS program, also called the Life Enhancement Program (LEP) provides small group activities focused on skills development, volunteer experiences, community connectedness, education, and wellness.

In 2022, LES served over 230 individuals and successfully placed 45 individuals in competitive community employment locations. In addition, enthusiastic LES work crews were welcomed back by Siemens Healthineers, Babson College, and Wellesley College, supported work sites that had paused operations due to COVID.

Our talented and dedicated staff responded creatively to individuals’ interests within LEP by developing a partnership with the Apple Store in Dedham, the Norwood Library, the Artist Studio and Gallery at Patriot Place, and local gyms. In addition, the program now provides a variety of new volunteer experiences including New Life Furniture Bank of MA, Healthy Waltham, and My Brother’s Keeper. LES Norwood’s Leadership Group is ever expanding and now includes an empowering Women’s Professional Growth group. Its newly renovated space is the perfect backdrop for a variety of opportunities and interests including employment skills training, art and music, health and wellness activities, and collaborative fun.

Individual & Community Services

Lifeworks Community Services Programs, for adults aged 18 and older, focus on health and well-being. Individual and Community Services comprises three areas:

Adult Family Care Program

The Adult Family Care Program is designed to allow individuals we serve to live in their homes with their families, allowing them to thrive. Funded through MassHealth, the family receives monthly visits by either a care manager or a registered nurse, and the designated caregiver receives compensation to support the individuals who are unable to attend a daily program in the community, but there are also those who hold jobs, volunteer, and access community events.

Individual Home Supports Program

The Individual Home Supports Program fosters independence and inclusion for people we support who live in their own home or apartment. Funded by the Department of Developmental Services, case managers support individuals who have varying levels of independence in the community with transportation training, job support, getting to medical appointments, shopping, and other activities of daily living as needed. The IHS team must be very flexible and ready to handle any type of situation. Case managers provide 6-12 hours of weekly support, which varies by individual.

Shared Living Program

The Shared Living Program supports individuals who live in a home setting with people in the community who are trained and compensated to become providers. Many individuals do not want to live in a traditional group home; they want the ability to become a part of a family and their community. Shared Living is a great way to allow an individual the ability to live with a non-family member and have 1:1 attention in a home setting. Many Lifeworks individuals have gone on vacations, become affiliated with local churches and neighbors through their Shared Living provider. A case manager supports both the individual and the provider with any needs or issues. One of our gentlemen says that he finally has the brother that he has always wanted! One of our ladies went to Hawaii with her provider and their family this past year!

Autism Support Center

The Autism Support Center (ASC) meets the needs of children and adults diagnosed with autism spectrum disorders by offering specialized recreational programs, information and referral services, clinical support, educational services, and parent and sibling support groups. The Autism Support Center annually serves more than 1,200 individuals.

In late spring of 2021, the Autism Support Center was awarded the state contract to provide adult services for individuals on the Autism Spectrum with no intellectual disabilities across the entire Metro Region. The contract afforded Lifeworks the opportunity to hire additional staff for the Center: an Associate Director and two additional Autism Support Specialists for the Adult ASC.

Each month the Center offers two in-person groups and four Zoom groups. Group highlights included attending a Boston Celtics game, Boston Comic Con, Anime Boston, and Canobie Lake Park. Online groups included Star Wars and Sports & Movies, as well as a Trivia Night.

The Autism Support Center also began offering additional contracted adult services, such as Adult Companion, Coaching and In-Home Supports.

The Center’s Children & Families service area established new community partnerships with Ursuline Academy, We Rock the Spectrum, an Adaptive Photographer, and The Lark Center, to expand family activities and foster community inclusion. Vacation and gap week family programs are steadily increasing, with the Center hosting events for children and families like the Ursuline Halloween Party; a New Year’s party at Norwood VFW that included photography, adaptive woodworking and cookie decorating; a family barbecue; magician; outdoor movie; and our first post-pandemic trip to Patriot Place, in which 75 people participated.

Family Support Center

The Family Support Center offers a wide range of services and activities to families of children and adults who are eligible for support through the Department of Developmental Services (DDS) and living at home with their families. Family support may include intensive family intervention, in-home respite care supports, case management services, emergency supports, clinical services, information and resource referrals, support groups, family training services, and overall assistance with navigating the human services systems.

Last year, 469 individuals were served, an increase of 43 over the previous year. In September 2021, the Family Support Center added the much-needed position of Family Support Financial Coordinator, whose primary responsibility is processing the documentation required for reimbursement of appropriate expenses for families who have DDS funding. The Financial Coordinator assists with processing the documentation for both the Family Support Center and the Autism Support Center.

Family Support received funding from DDS specifically designated for programming, and it was spent on a combination of drop-off activities and family activities. It also went toward take-home kits – activities implemented during the pandemic that are designed to be enjoyed at home – which continue to be offered. We also offered new training seminars for parents and caregivers that were hosted on Zoom. Popular topics included Special Needs Trusts, Causes and Approaches to Picky Eating, and Behavioral Strategies to Use in the Home.

Harbor Counseling

The Harbor Counseling Center, located at our Westwood campus, offers direct behavioral and psychological counseling and psychiatric support specifically for people diagnosed with intellectual and developmental disabilities. In 2022, Harbor Counseling served more than 300 individuals with the highest quality mental health services including outpatient psychiatric services, psychiatric evaluation, and psychopharmacological treatment.

The Center specializes in individual and group behavioral health care supports and uses a variety of evidence-based approaches to therapy for adults including, but not limited to, art therapy, music therapy, and psychopharmacological supports. In addition to providing office-based therapeutic services, Harbor Counseling clinicians also provide home- and work-based services for treatment support and consultation.

Autism & Law Enforcement Coalition (ALEC)

The Autism & Law Enforcement Education Coalition (ALEC) educates and enlightens first responders on how to respond to crises involving individuals with autism spectrum disorders using a nationally recognized and specialized training.

Lifeworks’ ALEC team collaborated with Bristol County Arc to train 119 Bristol County police officers. ALEC also expanded its campus police training with sessions held at Merrimack College, Lasell University, and Northeastern University in Massachusetts and at Roger Williams University in Rhode Island. We also conducted trainings for police agencies throughout New England with funding from Bailey’s Team. And by establishing an online program, we were able to conduct ALEC training through the Utah Valley University for police officers in Utah and Wyoming.

Since its launch in 2003, the ALEC program has trained 52,600 first responders.

Development

In FY22 (July 1, 2021 - June 30, 2022), Lifeworks received gifts totaling $876,060 from 229 donors. These gifts included an unrestricted $383,654 bequest, $301,483 supporting the Forsberg Beautification Program, $23,705 for in memoriam and in honor of gifts. The balance of giving, $167,217, was received as annual appeal and grant donations.

Thank you to our generous donors. Lifeworks is extremely grateful for your support. Your gifts help make a difference!

Donors in FY2022

Thank you to our generous Lifeworks donors. Your gifts make a difference. This list represents gifts received in Fiscal Year 2022 – July 1, 2021 to June 30, 2022.

Anonymous (4)

William Abel

Helen Abril

Susan M. Adams

Susan E. and Robert E. Akie

Pauline Allen

Srinivasa and Neelima Alluri

AmazonSmile Foundation

Amica Companies Foundation

William Anderson

Aqueduct Technologies, Inc.

Arch W. Shaw Foundation

Scott E. Austin, Sr.

Mary Avakian

Edward Bain

Sandra Baird

Judith Barr

Barbara Barrett Zappia

Christopher Barrow

Mary E. Barry

Mike Bastianelli

Debbie Bastoni

Carol A. Bavaro

Nicole Bavaro

Elena A. Bean

Eileen & Milos Beck

George Bell

Benevity Community Impact Fund

Mark and Deborah Bernabei

Bruce and Jane Berriman

Louis and Helene A. Bier

Big Y - Community Bag Program

Gene Bloch

Mary E. Boucher

Leah Bradley

Sheila Brennan

Donna M. and Joseph P. Brine Sr.

Carol A. Brown

Matt Brown

Colin A. Browning

James and Nancy Bryan

Daniel & Susan Burke

James Burns and Ellen Sthika Burns

Janice M. Burns

Kevin A. Butler

Charllene Butts

Brenda Calder

Robert J. and Catherine M. Callaghan

Andrew and Claire Cameron

Suzanne K. Capozzoli

Kellie Carey

Barbara Carroll

Dennis W. Carroll

Edmund C. Case

Carol Cawley

Roger Christian

Barbara Clark

Patricia and Jon Clements

Jeffrey M. and Heather S. Collins

Combined Jewish Philanthropies

Kristin Shea Conley and Russell J. Conley

Joanne Connolly

Anna, Loreto and Paolo Coppola

Robert Coppola

Paul Corboy

Paul E. and Cynthia L. Cote

Dennis M. Jr. and Priscilla B. Cronin

Paul Cummings

Kathryn Czyryca

D.P. & Sons, Inc.

Mary S. and Dan M. Davis

Fadua DeAlmeida

Dedham Exchange

Sam DeLois

John Dervan

Susan DeVeuve

Mary Devine and Patrick J. Bentz

Amanda and Willard Dickerson

Kristen Diebus

Elaine Dion

Frank DiTucci

Nancy Donovan

Doug Flutie Jr. Foundation for Autism

John D. and Delia R. Drake

James S. and Carol A. Driscoll

Kimberly and Edward Driscoll

Kathleen and Anne Drummey

John G. and Linda M. Dunn

Patricia A. Dunn

Richard S. and Shirley K. Dunphy

Kristine S. Dupuy and John D. Dupuy

Andrew L. Eisenberg, Esq.

Robert L. and Phyllis M. Eklund

Patricia and Geoffrey S. Ellis

Thomas F. and Lucy Erhard

Lynette M. Erlach

Estate of Aubin Sander

Fred and Julie Falcucci

Paul Falvey

Robert J. and Catherine Falvey

Elayne Farinella

Joseph and Constance Farren

Frank Farricy

Ashley Fawcett

Ned and Fay Fawcett

Holly Felicetta

Ferlazzo Family

Edmund J. Ferrara

Tricia & Steve Findlen

William and Michelle Fiola-Reidy

First Parish of Westwood United Church

Roger MacKay and Nancy Fischer MacKay

JoAnna Fischman

Maureen T. Flemming

Isabelle Florek

Jeffrey and Jane Folan

Kevin and Janel Folan

Foley Palenscar Schortmann Insurance Agency

Richard P. and Marie Teresa Foley

Tyler Forgeron

Robert Forsberg

Douglas L. and Virginia Foster

Louis Framarini, Jr.

Suzanne Frazer

Francis and Pamela Fruci

James L. and Rosemarie Gallagher

Dale N. and Robyn M. Garth

Peter and Sara Gebhard

Peter F. and Mary E. Geraghty

Carol Getman

Betty Gilson

Graham Golbuff

Beth Goldman

Carolyn Ferris Gombosi

David Gombosi

Paula Goodwin

Joanne Gravell and Christopher Ebacher

Nancy J. Greeley

Deirdre Hamilton

HarborOne Bank

Nancy Harding

Hartford Evergreen Lodge #88

Louise Haughn

Nancy Haven

Samuel and Barbara Hayes

Louise Haughn

Nancy Haven

Samuel and Barbara Hayes

Amy Hearne

Robert D. Hellweg, Jr.

Claire Henderson

Richard N. and Diane Henderson

Brian Hendrix

Kathryn M. and Edward P. Henneberry

Bayard Henry

Karina Herrera

Bridget Hession

Robert Hicks

Dennis M. and Katharine Hines

George W. and Christine L. Hoffmeister

Sharma Horsch

Elizabeth Howard

Charlene and Vincent Howley

Marilyn A. Howley and Kenneth M. Hunt

Samantha Hurley

Catherine M. and Patrick W. Hussey

F.Joseph Iannoni and Susan E. Wild Iannoni

IBM International Foundation

Catherine M. Ierardi

Mary & Peter Ittig

Marianne Jackson

Jim and Kelly O’Rourke

John N. and Jaynellen Walsh

Jean Paul Joseph

Leslie & Alan Kaplan

Afrodita Katsis

Francis T. and Julia B. Keally

Preston and Nancy Keith

Frances Kemp

Elizabeth Koehn

Julie A. Koeninger

Carol Kosicki

Marjorie Largey

Carlene and Joe LaVita

Patricia Lawrence

Allison Leichtman

Germaine and Barbara Leston

John and Nancy Levanchy

Joshua and Dora Levin

Sara R. Levine

Germaine and Barbara Leston

John and Nancy Levanchy

Joshua and Dora Levin

Sara R. Levine

Gary Levy

Jack Lewars

Joseph and Marsha Lewicke

Paul F. and Susan A. Linehan

Local RI-202 ADTECH Union

Gene Londergan

Loren Owens and Mary Moran

Ken and Anne Lowey

Rosamond H. Lownes

Susan Lubitz

Kathleen MacDonald

Robert and Martha MacDonald

Robert B. MacDonald

Joshua M. and Merilee Maeir

Joan Mahoney

Eli and Anne Manchester

Paul and Nancy Marandett

Paul Marinelli

M.J. Martinson

Jacqueline Mason

Katherine Mason

Christine R. Mayer

Eli and Anne Manchester

Paul and Nancy Marandett

Paul Marinelli

M.J. Martinson

Jacqueline Mason

Katherine Mason

Christine R. Mayer

Deborah McCarthy

Jane and John McClellan

Kerry McDonough

Margaret McDonough

Peggy McDonough

Wayne Kessler and Karen Meginsky

John and Margo Mello

Virgina A. Merino

Kathleen and James P. Milmoe

Christopher and Catherine Milton

Richard Mobley

Kathy and Russ Montal

Paul and Marlene Moore

Kathleen and Stephen Morreale

Peter Mouris

Peter Mouris

Robert Murphy

Network for Good

Norman C. and Eleanor B. Nicholson, Jr.

Mary Norton

Edwin Ohl

James A. and Elsie A. Olivett

Kathie and Dan Olsen

Perry Ormiston

Judy Padden

Ursula Page

Robert Paglia

Partners in Patriotism Fund

Nancy Pawluczonek

Robert Paglia

Partners in Patriotism Fund

Nancy Pawluczonek

Maureen Pepin

Richard M. Perlmutter

Thomas and Karen Perry

Lorraine Petinge

Maria and Ronald Pettis

Michael and Anne Podolski

Deborah Poesepp

Catherine M. Powell

Deborah Poesepp

Catherine M. Powell

Margaret A. Quinn

Katherine C. Raymond

Fran Reich

Patricia S. Reisert

David Rice

Arthur and Janet Rico

Paul Ridikas

Nicole Riley

Lisa A. Rockett

Rockland Trust - Blue Hills Charitable Foundation

Desmond Civic Rohan

William and Paula Rollins

Frances A. Rork

David Rowinski

L.James and Jackie Roy

Steven Ruggieri

John Runnette

Carol Ryan Ertz and David B. Ertz

Robert Sample

Santander Bank, N.A.

Heather Sargent

Vincent D. and Barbara M. Sarro

Laura Schmatzler

Wendy Segel

Joan Serdensky

Maria A. Sharpe

Shaw’s - Give Back Where It Counts Program

Mary Shea

Henry and Joyce Shepherd

Lesley Shore

SimpliSafe

David and Jill Slye

Anne Hughes Smith

Una Smith

Richard H. and Ann Snow

Julie L Spaan

Miriam Sprague

Stephen O. Sprague

Stephen and Deanna Springer

Richard Stanley

Patricia and Thomas Starr

Patty Starr

Station Road Auto Body & Garage, Inc.

Charles H. and Elaine B. Steeger

Nadine Stephenson

Douglas W. and Edith B. Stevens

Atorrie L. A. Stewart

Edward and Helen Stewart

Linda R. Stikeleather

Robert W. and Nancy D. Stoll

Stop & Shop Giving Tag Program

Marie-Theresa and Paul Norman Story

Ronald A. and Joy U. Sudduth

Claire M. Sullivan

Richard M. and Janie S. Sylte

Margaret Sylvester

L.Robert Taeger

Sullivan Family Foundation

Patricia M. Therrien

Jim & Cindy Thompson

Joan Thompson

Mary Tracey-Walsh

Eddie Tramontozzi

Bonnie Traylor

Trethewey Brothers, Inc.

Susan Tufts Kagan

United Way of Massachusetts Bay and Merrimack

Valley

Diethard and Meta Unterweger

Ralph R. and Susan E. Valente

Fred Van Liew

Christine Van Zadelhoff

Cindy Wadon

Carol Walker

Peter and Mary Wallan

Michael C. Walsh and Margaret T. Sullivan

Fred and Karen Warchol

Christopher and Karen Warren

David Warshay

Weymouth Police Association Inc.

Greg D. and Catherine Wilde

Gerard Wilson

Mathew Wong

Natalie Woodward

Max Young

Rabbi Henry Zoob and Barbara S. Zoob

Lifeworks Statement of Financial Position as of 6-30-2022

Total Assets for Lifeworks were just shy of $40 million and comprise cash, investments, and accounts receivable listed as current assets that are approximately $26.5 million. The remaining assets represent real estate holdings, net of depreciation, and long term investments of $23.5 million.

Total Liabilities were $10 million and are made up current liabilities that include accounts payable, accrued salaries & expenses, and current portion of long-term debt that is approximately $4.5 million. The remainder of the liabilities represent long-term debt in the form of a Mass Development Bond financed through Dedham Savings bank and other long term liabilities equaling $5.5 million.

Organizational net assets/fund balance is a little less than $30 million ($29 million without donor restrictions and $1 million with donor restrictions).

Lifeworks ended FY22 with a surplus shy of $1.5 million. Investments over the year were a net loss of $2.9 million, which was made up of both realized and unrealized gains and losses for the year, which is consistent as the markets shifted. Lifeworks received forgiveness of its Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans in the amount of $3.9 million in August 2022. That coupled with strong donations led to the surplus. Those two combined for a little over $1 million in income equaling 3% of our revenue.

Important Percentages to Note:

Revenue is primarily made up of program service fees, which results in 92.5% of the total revenues.

On the expense side, Employee Compensation is 71% of this year’s expenses, followed by program support of 11%. Lifeworks administrative rate is 8.8% which is a very good rate. It means for every dollar Lifeworks spends, less than 9 cents is spent on the administration and overhead.

*Includes unrealized gains and losses, and PPP loan forgiveness

Total Expenses: $30,314,164