2022 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 2022 Strategic Plan Progress Report here, or scroll down to read the report:


A Message From The Superintendent

2022 was a year of continued growth here at Portage DD. We added additional staff and programs and expanded programs already in existence. We increased staff in the SSA department, Early Intervention, and Management staff due to the rising number of people that have become eligible for services. We now serve approximately 1065 people here at Portage DD. We have seen a sharp increase in people applying for our services, partly due to our expanded services. Adding more staff at Portage DD allows us to assist the providers, community, families, and the individuals we are fortunate enough to serve.

We added a youth respite program for the kids and families we serve and will expand on it in 2023. We also started a social recreation program for youth ages 12 to 17. Portage DD began a transition program for youth. This program is called Building Independence. We work with the local school districts to make this happen. We added a lending library. It has adaptive equipment, sensory-related needs, and assistive technology. This is loaned out to the Early Intervention kids and the school districts. The list of items continues to grow. We have a Partnership with the Station MD Program funded by the Ohio Department of Developmental Disabilities to provide free Tele-Health Services to 239 of our Individuals. We partnered with Brady Lake Park to fix the softball field, add soccer goals, and add three bocce courts. This allowed the Special Olympic Athletes to have a place to practice and a home field for games since they didn't have a place to call home. We offered a one-time grant to show appreciation to all the independent and agency direct support professionals (DSPs). We appreciate all they do to improve the lives of the individuals and families we serve. We are now partnering with the Mental Health and Recovery Board and Probate Court to develop a Guardianship Services Board to give access to anyone in Portage County that needs a guardian. Portage DD has contracted with We Thrive Together to bring virtual social outings for the people we serve. We had the Ohio Association of County Boards (OACB) do an all-day training. OACB created an Ohio Police Officer Training Academy (OPOTA) approved course for law enforcement officers that would enable them to increase awareness and safety when interacting with people with developmental disabilities. Thanks to partnering with North Water Brewing Company, we added an art night to show off the individuals' artistic abilities in the community.

We added swimming programs to our current family swim program. We now offer water aerobics and swimming lessons to individuals. We increased our Family Support Services to allow kids 0 to 3 to access it more. We increased the respite and financial support we can offer and have it open to anyone eligible for services but still needs a waiver. We increased our annual Trunk or Treat program for the community and expanded our activities for March to bring awareness to people with developmental disabilities.

We will discuss some of the achievements as you read our report. Portage DD strives for continuous improvement and ways to improve lives for the individuals we serve. Our mission is to assist and support individuals in developing their abilities through advocacy, inclusion, and empowerment. That continues to be what we will do! Our excellent staff ensures we are always looking for ways to continuously improve to meet the needs of the people we serve. We always want to be better and value your partnership in helping us do great things here at Portage DD. We are fortunate to be a small part of making a difference in many people's lives. Portage DD will continue to strive to meet and exceed your expectations. We cannot do it alone, but together, we can! Stay strong! Believe in People!

John Vennetti
Portage DD Superintendent

Services & Supports

Service and Support Administrators (SSAs) support individuals in determining and pursuing their goals and maintain the individual as the focus while coordinating services across multiple service delivery systems. SSAs assist the individual and families in supporting, empowering, and advocating for the individual. Services provided through the SSAs are person-centered. SSAs work with families, guardians, and natural supports to access, deliver and enlist whatever support is needed and coordinate services among different agencies serving as individuals' primary point of coordination.

In conjunction with Portage County Children Services and the Mental Health and Recovery Board, the Portage DD SSA Department continues to improve multi-system services for youth aged 3-21 in Portage County. We continue to meet regularly and discuss how our agencies' joint efforts and resources can be utilized to serve Portage County youth and families better.

The SSA Department was pivotal in developing the Youth Respite program for Portage County Youth ages 6-17. The Youth Respite Program is a facility-based program that runs every evening from Wednesday through Sunday. We also operate a Youth Respite Home that is available for Youth to be scheduled for overnight or emergency respite stays. We have also instituted changes to the Family Support Services Program to include an additional $3,000 in-home Respite if requested. We have also added the Parent Education Empowerment and Resource Program and in-person Parent Support Group to assist families with additional Support. The SSA Department also worked diligently to train and prepare for the Ohio ISP process.

The SSA Department successfully transitioned to an entirely new software system in preparation for the Ohio ISP. It underwent significant training from the Ohio Department of Developmental Disabilities to begin the OISP process. The State of Ohio chose Portage County as one of the first Counties to begin the OISP process.

We have continued developing and offering the 2022 Transition Booster Series. This series was created to assist families of transition-age youth with important information. The SSA Department participated in enrolling 239 people in the Station MD Tele-Health program funded by the ODODD; this service offers TeleHealth Medical Care free of charge to our Individuals enrolled in the program.

Community & Provider Relations

The Department of Community and Provider Relations focuses on enhancing the quality of services to persons served by Portage DD by developing and implementing initiatives to support providers in the county. Support includes a variety of training classes and background checks at no cost, certification support, DSP recruitment assistance, and a Success Coach for Independent and agency provider staff. The Department supports persons receiving services through Self-Advocacy, Employment, Special Olympics, and a contracted recreation program with Unified Resources Recreation. Support includes Advocacy meetings/Talks, Portage Advocate Players, Transition and Employment Explorers programs, 10 Special Olympic Sports, and Hike Club.

  • Employment Explorers for adults in day programs considering employment

  • Created an Interview Boutique, a place for persons to receive interview-appropriate attire at no cost

  • Fashion Show in conjunction with National Disability Employment Awareness Month Event

  • Inaugural LIMITLESS Art Show

  • Documentation Matters class

  • Two staff trained as Sexuality Educators for I/DD, families, and providers.

  • 17 persons served went from “wanting a job” or “being unsure” to being employed

  • Cardio Drumming

  • Fall Into Fitness – 6-week group exercise challenge.

  • Special Olympic USA Games – Powerlifting Athlete and Coach selected as part of the Ohio Delegation

Educational Services

EARLY INTERVENTION SERVICES

Utilizing a coaching model, families have access to strategies from our multidisciplinary team, which includes Developmental Specialists, a Speech-Language Pathologist, a Physical Therapist, Occupational therapists, a Registered Nurse, a Vision Specialist, a Hearing Specialist, and a Mental Health consultant through their one primary service provider that serves as the families’ coach.

SCHOOL-AGE SERVICES

In 2022, Happy Day School served SIX (6) medically fragile students with multiple disabilities from four school districts within Portage County. Happy Day students received instruction in academics, communication, self-care, socialization, vocational, and leisure areas. Happy Day staff were able to deliver in-person instruction while observing strict safety protocols.

SCHOOL-AGE TRANSITION SERVICES

In 2022, school districts, including Ravenna, Crestwood, Waterloo, Windham, and Field, have signed on to have our Coordinators present Social Emotional Learning Classes to 11 of their groups.

Our Building Independence Class is very popular! In 2022, Ravenna, Field, Crestwood, and Streetsboro classes received instruction, hands-on activities, business tours, and recreation through this class designed to meet many transition goals.

In 2022, our Transitions Explorers Club became so popular that we decided to have 2 clubs. Each club has 12 members! Way to go, EXPLORERS!!! We explore different kinds of jobs, we practice skills we need in life, like cooking, and we make vision boards.

Special equipment is expensive. At Portage DD, we want to assist school districts……. contact us and let us know what you need, we may have it. Kent, Ravenna, Streetsboro, James A. Garfield, and Aurora City Schools have already found our Lending Library useful.

Crisis Prevention Institute (CPI) is a training to address all levels of risk encountered in a school setting/workplace. How to reduce violence, feel safe and be safe, resolve conflict safely, and tips to prevent a crisis. In 2022, the Portage DD Educational Services Manager fully trained 125 staff in CPI (close to another 100 were trained in certain aspects of CPI) from the staff at Waterloo, Streetsboro, Aurora, Field, Windham, families, and a variety of independent providers and provider agencies.

Fiscal Management

The Business Department works with every agency and board department to ensure fiscal responsibility so funding is available to support the health, safety, and quality of life of the people we serve well into the future. We strive to allocate resources and align the budget with the Board’s mission and vision while furthering Portage DD’s impact on those we serve, families, providers, schools, the community, and countless others.

The Business department ensured the agency’s payroll's accuracy and processed over 1,600 invoices and numerous journal entries. Continued accuracy in coding and reporting expenditures of nearly $20 million across multiple funds, which directly and indirectly benefit the people of Portage County.

Here is a breakdown of our 2022 funding sources.

Expenditures for Portage DD in 2022 totaled $19,063,720.59, while our revenues totaled $19,471,001.70.