2019 Strategic Plan Progress Report
Each year, the Portage County Board of Developmental Disabilities (Portage DD) releases an annual progress report to update the community on the operations of our organization and how we’ve worked toward meeting the goals set in our Strategic Plan.
You can find a PDF copy of the 2019 Strategic Plan Progress Report here, or scroll down to read the report:
A Message From The Interim Superintendent
Portage DD has adapted to many changes in 2019. Our biggest change was that we no longer operate the County Board workshop. We do, however, continue to support individuals throughout the county at numerous private workshops. In addition, we assist them financially by paying for Medicaid waiver services which enables them to run the Adult Day and Vocational Habilitation service programs.
Portage DD supports and funds numerous programs throughout Portage County including Family Support Services (NEON), Trailblazer Camp (Akron Rotary Camp), the Unified Recreational Program (Family and Community Services) and Happy Day School. In addition, we continue to work collaboratively and fund residential services that support individuals in their home and community, including Homemaker/Personal Care (HPC) Medicaid waiver services.
At Portage DD we continue to strive to assist our individuals to achieve the outcomes that are most important to them. We now serve over 1000 individuals in Portage County. The staff, the Board and I consider it an honor to assist our individuals in having the best possible life they can have and feel fortunate to be part of their journey.
Thank you all for your continued support!
John Vennetti
Interim Superintendent
Services & Supports
Portage DD serves over 1000 individuals across Portage County. Approximately 700 of those Individuals have a Service and Support Administrator (SSA) to help them coordinate services.
The SSA coordinates an Individual Service Plan (ISP) that takes into consideration the unique needs of each person, promoting the satisfaction and achievement of desired outcomes. The ISP also works to maintain health and welfare, assesses known and likely risks, assists individuals on a path to community employment, and considers what is working well and where improvements can be made in the services provided.
We have 20 SSAs and four support staff that ensure individuals have the needed supports that assist them in their day-to-day life.
Remote Supports
Remote supports use two-way communication in real-time, including home-based sensors, cameras, and other technologies, to allow an off-site caregiver to monitor and respond to the safety and needs of people living in the community.
Remote supports is an emerging service model that combines technology and direct care to support people with developmental disabilities. We now have a remote support demo area at Portage DD funded through a grant from Ohio Department of Developmental Disabilities (DODD) and The Ohio State University Nisonger Center, allowing for realistic tours for individuals served, families and providers.
In 2018, only four individuals utilized remotes supports. Today, that number has grown to 25.
Community & Provider Relations
The Community and Provider Relations Department has spent the last year developing and implementing new and exciting programs, trainings and services for Direct Support Professionals (DSPs) and individuals served throughout Portage County:
We hosted Agency Provider Collaborative meetings eight times a year for providers to connect and network along with quarterly meetings for all providers to provide rule updates or presentations on various topics/services available for providers.
We began offering DSPaths/OADSP Frontline Supervisor Training and Trauma Informed Care Training along with continued training in UI/MUI/Client Rights, First Aid/CPR and Medication Administration Courses.
We offered opportunities for athletes ages 8 and up to participate in 10 competitive sports through Special Olympics.
We sponsored five Self Advocates to attend Project STIR, Synergy and ARC/People First Summer Conference.
We hosted an Employment Recognition Breakfast for community employed per- sons and their employers.
We continue to host county-wide self-advocacy meetings each month at Reed Memorial Library to empower the people we serve.
We hosted an Ohio Self Determination Association regional meeting for self advocates from all over Northeast Ohio.
We sponsored Speak Up, Stay Safe! Community Health & Safety Training through The Center for Disability Empowerment for self-advocates and their friend/ally.
We provided opportunities for self-advocates to participate in community organized volunteer activities.
We funded an adult recreation program operated by Unified Resources Recreation, which is open to all persons 18 years or older eligible for service from Portage DD.
Community Outreach
2019 was a great year for community outreach, education, and engagement! We hosted, coordinated, and co-sponsored more events than ever before, and saw record-breaking participation. We also launched an extensive rebranding campaign with Kent State University to make Portage DD more identifiable, inclusive and inviting.
The Kent State team worked very closely with our self-advocates to identify who we are as
an agency, to design a new logo and graphics brand, and to re-write our mission and vision statement. We then worked with individuals served, community stakeholders, and our direct support professionals to design a new online interface to bring all of our resources to one easy-to-navigate location. You can view our new website at www.PortageDD.org.
Educational Services
EARLY INTERVENTION SERVICES
Early intervention (EI) provides family-centered services for infants and toddlers from birth to age three with a medical diagnosis or developmental delay/disability. The Early Intervention model endorsed by Ohio focuses on the concept that young children learn best from familiar people and familiar settings.
Primary Service Providers regularly coach parents with specific strategies which allow the parents to integrate these practices into their child’s daily routine. This allows the child to develop the skills needed to make progress and move to the next developmental stage.
Specialists also provide support and advocacy advice to families. The home-based program, for children under three years of age, operates in cooperation with the Help Me Grow system in Portage County.
Portage DD’s Early Intervention Program served 269 infants/toddlers and their families during the 2019 calendar year. We served on average 124 infants/toddlers and their families per month and processed an average of 31 referrals per month during the 2019 calendar year.
SCHOOL-AGE SERVICES
In the 2019 calendar year, Portage DD through Happy Day School served medically fragile students with multiple disabilities from 7 school districts within Portage County. Happy Day students received instruction in academics, communication, self-care, socialization, vocational and leisure areas. Students also receive additional services including speech therapy, occupational therapy, and physical therapy.
Attention is focused upon aligning student programs to Ohio’s Learning Standards Extended, allowing students to have access to and to progress in the general curriculum. Students participate in field trips to community events and regularly visit school districts to collaborate with their peers in both academic and recreational activities. In the summer, eligible students with special needs throughout Portage County may attend a 6-week recreational camp fully funded by Portage DD.
SCHOOL-AGE TRANSITION SERVICES
Portage DD’s new Transition Program was created to build relationships with families, schools, and the community, reaching beyond our walls to help students across Portage County create a path to adult life through a coordinated set of actions and activities.
We have developed the Explorers Transition Bootcamp for students age 14-21 to help improve soft skills and employability goals. We meet once a month for an interactive classroom session and design career tours based on the responses and feedback we get in our classroom setting. The Transition Coordinator also attends student meetings at school or meets individually with families to discuss transition opportunities including education, employment, residential support, adult day programs, and vocational habilitation.
Building partnerships with community organizations and schools, we have created data collecting forms for student employment programs and visited employment, residential, and day programs to better refer to families of transitioning students.
We are actively involved with our State Support Team and helped to coordinate a county-wide three-part transition training for educators in Portage County, as well as ongoing transition education through seminars, conferences, and cohorts.
Fiscal Management
Portage DD is constantly working to maximize the impact of your tax dollars while continuing to provide the services and supports essential to the success and well-being of individuals with developmental disabilities.
Expenditures for Portage DD in 2019 totaled $25,132,118.96, while our revenues totaled $29,457,477.77.
Understanding Expenditures
Outlined below is information from our 2018 County Board Cost Report showing percentage of expenditures by program.
