Message From The Superintendent - September 2021
Greetings!
We hope everyone is staying safe and healthy! Here are updates on what's going on at Portage DD.
The number of COVID cases has steadily risen again, unfortunately. We had three people that we serve test positive in August. Fortunately, the three of them appear to be recovering.
We welcomed back the students of Happy Day School on August 25th. We are excited to kick off another school year. Like the 2020-2021 school year, staff and guests will keep masks on to protect the students since they cannot wear masks. Our maintenance staff continues to sanitize all facilities to help protect everyone that works here and the students. They do a great job!
One of our main goals for Portage DD is to create and improve services and programs for providers, school districts, families, and the people we serve. Here are some of the things we are currently working on:
- PEERS (Parent, Education, Empowerment, Resources, and Support) program. The PEERS program is for all families that have children eligible at Portage DD. Parent Advocates will assist them if they want this new service. We have finalized a contract with Greenleaf Family Center for this program. The PEERS will receive extensive training this month, and referrals will be open for this program starting October 1st.
- A Success Coach who will work with the Direct Support Professionals to help them retain their employment by supporting and assisting them when they have concerns. This program should also be in place by the beginning of October.
- We are partnering with NEON to provide recruitment and onboarding for Direct Support Professionals. We hope this will help providers find more direct support professionals since there continues to be a shortage. We are hoping this will occur within the next few months.
- Provide crisis training for providers, our school, families, and possibly other districts. Our Education Services Manager, Vincent Valerio, has already done two of these sessions for the school districts (Waterloo and Field). We have been attending open houses at districts to tell parents what we do.
- We have picked Kaleidoscope to team up with us to do a short-term/long-term respite for youth. Kaleidoscope is in the process of looking for a house for its program now. We are looking for a place that has some land that would be beneficial for the kids. We would like to have this up and running at the beginning of 2022. We had three providers express interest in being a provider for a social recreation program for kids ages 12 to 17. The new youth social recreation program will be similar to the program we do for our adults. Currently, the adult social recreation program ran by the Unified Resources Recreation program and funded by Portage DD. The objective would be to provide youth with Developmental Disabilities to have social, recreational opportunities outside of their home to assist with learning and exploring appropriate skills. We have received one proposal thus far. The other two providers haven't sent in their proposals yet. We will be looking to schedule a meeting with the provider that sent the proposal this month.
- We are exploring getting IPADS in the hands of kids with developmental disabilities that need them in certain school districts. We are looking into partnering with mental health experts to assist people with developmental disabilities who have significant mental health issues.
Portage DD had a staff appreciation luncheon on August 24th. It was a great day and a time to show them how fortunate we are to have such great people working here at Portage DD, to enhance our mission to assist and support individuals in developing their abilities through advocacy, inclusion, and empowerment! Thank you to the entire Portage DD staff!
Thank you again for your continued support. We are incredibly grateful for all your help! Portage DD will continue to strive to meet and exceed your expectations.
WE ARE HERE FOR YOU.
Sincerely,
John Vennetti