Message From The Superintendent - November 2022

Greetings! 

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

We had ten people test positive for COVID in October. This a reminder that COVID is still around.    

Portage DD continues working on the Strategic Plan for 2023-2025. We are working with the Impact Group to ensure our goals and objectives align with our Portage County Community Stakeholders. Along with assisting with our Strategic Plan, the Impact Group will audit our communication and ensure we are effectively sharing information about our services, providers, and community work. We strive to communicate effectively, and this will ensure we are doing it the right way. We will have this completed by late November/early December. Once finished, we will put the strategic plan on our website.   

We finalized our provider grant to show appreciation for our tremendous providers in Portage County. We have received 182 applications. Everyone that applied and serves someone that lives in Portage County received grant money. Thank you, providers!  

We are excited to partner again with Buckeye Residential Services. We already partner with them for a youth respite program on the 2nd floor of their day program five days a week. Starting next year, we have agreed to expand that partnership. We have a 4-bedroom home that we are renting in Kent. Two youths will live there, and we will utilize the other two beds for overnight respite opportunities for kids and families and emergency respite. Very excited to enhance services for the children and families in Portage County. Thank you, Buckeye!    

We wanted to welcome Shane Kuberry to Portage DD. He was hired on 10-31-22. He will be our newest SSA. Shane brings a wealth of experience from working at Hattie Larlham for seven years and at the Mahoning County Board of DD for the last five years. Welcome, Shane.  

We have a new Happy Day Services building sign to announce our events. On October 21st, we had our annual NDEAM event at Parkside. We celebrate the individuals working in the community and all the inclusive businesses employing people with developmental disabilities. Thanks to Tiffany Jones Portage DD Community Employment Coordinator, for coordinating the event! We just finished our 4th annual Trunk or Treat on October 28th. Thank you to Tim Torch, Communications/HR Manager, for the tremendous job coordinating this event! We also wanted to thank all our community partners who passed out candy at the event and all who donated hygiene items to the Miller House. Thank you.  

November 3rd, we will welcome the Leadership Portage County program all day for their Human Services training. November 4th, we will have our agency in service and acknowledge the excellent staff at Portage DD for their years of service! On November 18th, we have (OACB) the Ohio Association of County Boards, coming to do an all-day training. OACB created an (OPOTA) Ohio Police Officer Training Academy-approved course for law enforcement officers that would enable them to increase awareness and safety when interacting with people with developmental disabilities. We are glad to have this here in Portage County.   

We also want to thank the providers, families, Portage DD staff, and community members who help improve the lives of the people we serve. Thank you!  

Thank you again for your continued support. 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 ARE HERE FOR YOU.

Sincerely,

John Vennetti