Message From The Superintendent - February 2023

Greetings! 

We hope everyone is doing well! Here are the updates.    

Portage DD is working diligently on the goals and objectives of our brand-new Strategic Plan for 2023-2025. To see the complete Strategic Plan, please visit the following link: https://www.portagedd.org/latest-news/2023-2025-strategic-plan   

We are adding two people to the Portage DD staff soon. We are interviewing for an Administrative Assistant and have a job posting for an additional Service and Support Administrator (SSA).   

The new youth residential and respite home will start operating in February 2023. We are happy and excited to offer this service to Individuals and families here in Portage County. Thanks again to Buckeye Residential Services Inc for partnering with us!   

We want to shout out Jen Dippel (Nursing Support manager). Jen has worked diligently to get a Little Free Library at Portage DD. A Little Free Library is a "take a book, return a book" free book exchange. Little Free Library is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that promotes neighborhood book exchanges, usually in the form of a public bookcase. More than 150,000 public book exchanges are registered with the organization and branded as Little Free Libraries. Adults need access to books, too, so the little libraries can serve all ages in a community. Little free libraries also help strengthen community connections and encourage neighborliness.  

We started a new program called The Groovy Garfoose. They do music therapy services. They began on 1-23-23. They will be at the Happy Day School Services building on Mondays from 10 to 10:30. They will do a 30-minute class for the Early Intervention (EI) program and a 30-minute lesson for the school-age kids. We are excited to partner with The Groovy Garfoose. They will provide an early intervention, caregiver, and child music program designed to encourage exploration, learning & growth for children of all abilities ages 0-3. Led by a board-certified music therapist, each 30-minute class is chock full of original and familiar songs that engage your child's senses and encourage language development, & socialization through structured music making, instrument exploration, finger plays, movement, and singable stories. Classes are designed to provide the child and caregiver with a positive bonding experience while working toward important early childhood developmental milestones in a natural, fun, and engaging way. 

If you know any children ages 0 to 3 that want to attend, please let them know. It is for kids whether they have a disability or not. 

We continue to offer our Social Emotional Learning classes in the districts. We have provided more Crisis Prevention Training and expanded our Lending Library. We have increased transition services through our Building Independence and Transition Explorers Club.  

We are incredibly grateful for all the families, providers, staff, community, and people we serve! Portage DD will continue to strive to meet and exceed your expectations.  

We wish everyone a safe and happy New Year. We are excited to accomplish great things together for 2023!  

WE ARE HERE FOR YOU.

Sincerely,

John Vennetti