CHANGING

LIVES

Spring 2015

A NEWSLETTER OF CATHOLIC CHARITIES DISABILITIES SERVICES

Individuals We Support

Chuck and Jeremy — 20 years of working together Page 2 Cathy Torbitt is living her dreams

Page 2-3

Staffing Stars

Jim O’Herien — Certified Trainer Page 3

Peter Catal— New Director of Residential Services Page 3

Ways to Help

Vehicle Donations! Page 4

Upcoming Events

NYS Prader-Willi Conference Page 3 Hop Into Spring Page 4

CCDS is pleased to announce our Car/Vehicle Donation Program. To donate your car, truck, RV, boat, motorcycle or other vehicle to Catholic Charities, please call 844-405-GIVE or 844-405-4483 and a rep will help you with your donation or visit the website at WWW.CCRCDA-CARDONATIONS.ORG. Funds from the sale of donated vehicles support our programs and are tax deductible. Free pick-up is available anywhere in the U.S. and vehicles do not need to be running.

From Anne’s Desk

Welcome to the Spring 2015 Catholic Charities Disabilities Services (CCDS)

newsletter! Last year was a busy year for CCDS and we have many exciting plans for 2015. We are grateful for the feed-back and contributions of the many fami-lies and friends of those we are privileged to support and from our community. CCDS has always been focused on the needs of the individuals we serve and we continually strive to improve our services. To that end, this past fall we were accred-ited by the Council on Quality and Lead-ership (CQL) as an agency of person-centered excellence. In order to be accredited, we needed to conduct an evaluation of our agency to assure CQL that we met their ten basic assurances for quality care, which include such measures as dignity, respect, and safety. We were also required to utilize specially trained staff to conduct interviews with individuals we serve, and the significant

people in their lives, to identify what was most important to them and their quality of life in 21 separate areas. Finally, a group of stake holders representing the entire CCDS community produced a plan of action for the agency which provides us with a road map for improving person-centered excellence. Person-centered excellence is about em-powering people to direct their own lives and strive for their own valued outcomes, whether it’s as simple as deciding on a paint color for one’s room or complex as directing one’s own ISP meeting. Over the next four years, under the guidance of CQL, CCDS will develop and implement our plan to enhance our ability as an agency to support the individuals we serve to live the lives they want. Please visit our website www.CCDServices.org for more information on CQL and for re-ports on our progress towards person-centered excellence. It is an exciting time in our agency as we continue to give our very best for those we support and their families!

Anne Ogden, Executive Director

Catholic Charities Disabilities Services is hiring Community Support Professionals (CSPs) and Direct Support Professionals (DSPs). If you are looking for a second income, or are seeking a position in a re-warding field, a CSP or DSP position could be a good fit for you.

Catholic Charities Disabilities Services was named a Top Work Place by the Times Union two years in a row. The agency offers paid training and a generous benefits package.

You can learn more about our open positions online at

www.CCDServices.org

Work at CCDS - Turn Disabilities into Capabilities

UPCOMING EVENT — JOIN US

Hop Into Spring

Changing Lives | Catholic Charities Disabilities Services 4

IN THIS ISSUE:

Vehicle Donation Opportunity

CHANGING LIVES | Catholic Charities Disabilities Services 2 CHANGING LIVES | Catholic Charities Disabilities Services 3

On October 28th, 1994, one of the first matches between a provider and a young man was made at CCDS. Twenty years later Chuck Monson and Jeremy are still working together!

For Jeremy, Chuck was the first com-munity supports professional that he was matched with, and he is proud to say that they’ve been “stuck like glue” ever since.

Jeremy is also the only individual that Chuck has worked with in these 20 years, so it’s clear that the right match was made! Jeremy’s mom, Cindy said “Chuck is awesome! He’s dependable and always there for us! A positive role model for my son.”

The pair has included their families in their support system. Jeremy and his mother are close with Chuck’s wife and daughter, and they all share a love of animals and community ser-vice.

Some of their most memorable days have been involving their families in special oc-casions, such as cele-brating each other’s birthdays, which they will soon be doing for the 20th consecutive year! Chuck’s daughter has grown up with her fa-ther’s close relationship with Jeremy; she has graduated college and begun to show the same love of giving back to the community.

For providers and individuals who are just beginning to get to know each other, Chuck and Jeremy advise sitting down with a calendar and planning out your time together. This way, the individual has a clear voice in planning, and together you can do all the things you want to do. Just

remember to be flexible and have a sense of humor as even the best laid plans can change at any moment.

As for the two of them, they intend to keep doing all of their favorite things together. Maybe you’ll see them at the Times Union Center, catching a monster truck show. They’ll be easy to spot: Jeremy will be the one with the big smile, and Chuck will be the one with the ear plugs!

By Kaitlin Lewis, Community Supports Administrative Assistant

Jeremy (left), and Chuck (right) pose for a quick picture

Two Decades Going Strong Chuck and Jeremy Celebrate 20 Years of

Working Together Through Community Supports

Living Her Dream (Cont.)

We are thrilled to announce that Peter Catal has accepted the position of Director of Residential Services here with Catholic Charities Disabilities Services. As evidence of following our new CQL plan, Peter’s interview process included individuals we serve, making it a truly inclusive decision.

Peter is a graduate of the University at Albany and holds a Masters in Psy-chology from Long Island University. He has a robust resume of over twenty years of experience at every level of residential services, including work as a Direct Support Professional, House Manager, Behaviorist, Psy-chologist and Director of Residential Services. Peter joined CCDS the last week of January 2015. Please join us in welcoming Peter aboard!

Cathy Torbitt is part of the CCDS family and lives in one of the CCDS IRA residences. Cathy has many interests, but about three years ago she realized her most favorite thing was Zumba!

Cathy signed up for Zumba classes a few nights a week and began training. She tried teaching the dance moves to the staff in her home. Soon she realized this was not just a great exercise program, but it was her passion! She is proud to share that she has been attending Zumba classes for almost three years.

Ultimately Cathy decided to begin the process of becom-ing a Zumba instructor. She enjoys Zumba because each instructor brings their own flavor to the class. “It’s usual-ly latin, pop, salsa, or meringue music,” she says. She also gets to make her own playlist. Her favorites beats

are by Bruno Mars and Pitbull. During her classes she uses some visual cuing, relying on hand motions or ver-bal cues to give her instructions. Most classes are 45 minutes to an hour, and she says, “Most often I don’t even recognize that the hour is up and I am ready for and want to do more!”

Cathy’s training uses dances and moves taught by her trainer Laura at Vent Fitness. She has learned breathing techniques as well as many dance moves.

NY STATE PRADER-WILLI CONFERENCE May 1-2, 2015

CCDS is proud to support the Prader-Willi Alliance of New York in its 2015 Annual Con-ference. This year is a special occasion as it marks the 25th anniversary of this confer-ence! Among the many great presentations expected, our very own Stacy Ward, Associ-ate Director of Residential Living at CCDS, will be presenting on “Teaching Social Skills and Improving Interpersonal Relationships.”

As you know, CCDS supports many people with PWS, both in CCDS residences and in the community. You can find more infor-mation and register online at the Prader-Willi Alliance of New York website www.prader-willi.org

Living Her Dream: Cathy

Becomes A Zumba Instructor! Congratulations, Jim O’Herien!

Shortly after joining the Quality Assurance team, Jim O’Herien was selected to pursue the creden-tials to become certified as a Strategies for Crisis Intervention and Prevention trainer for CCDS.

The purpose of the training is to give staff the tools they need to help individuals they support through difficult or emotional days, in a safe and supported way. Over the last year Jim has been

co-training with Rowena Smith, Quality Assurance Manager/Trainer, and on February 3, 2015, Jim became certified by OPWDD.

Jim is looking forward to assisting the staff in promoting a positive atmos-phere for the individuals we serve. Please visit our website at www.CCDServices.org for the complete story on Jim’s achievement.

Welcome, Peter Catal!

Cont. on page 3

Cathy is now taking CPR and First Aid training as part of her Zumba instructor training.

Cathy’s hard work and dedication paid off when she was certified as an instructor on January 30, 2015, in Basic Steps Level 1. “I was so happy!” she said. Next, she will learn hip hop and jazz Zumba and will shadow those classes for a little while. “It’s made me more in-dependent and self-reliant,” she said. Cathy schedules and arranges her own transportation to and from her classes and appointments.

Cathy is looking forward to teach-ing her own Zumba classes. She feels confi-dent that she is ready for the chal-lenge. “It’s the first thing I’ve ever done that I’ve stayed committed to and has kept my focus; I love it and it’s so much fun!”

Cathy, center, with her Zumba Trainers

CCDS Director of Residential Services

Peter Catal