Spring 2016 Home Happenings - EHCA

Spring 2016HomeHappeningsErie Homes for Children and Adults, Inc.extraordinary people, extraordinary programsOur EHCA residents withcomplex medical conditionsthrive best with daily dosesof love and laughter.What’s Inside:Message from the CEOProgram NewsPeople and ProjectsA Little HavanaSpotlight on Support234-567

Message from the CEOA strategic plan is more than an organization’s list ofgood intentions. It is a detailed map showing wherewe want to go and how we plan to get there. LikeGPS, it enables us to travel new roads with confidencebecause we know we’re heading in the direction ofour goals.Home Happeningsis a publication of EHCAand is distributed three times a year.Board of DirectorsJeffrey J. Presogna, CPAPresidentJerry CannonOur initial discussions started with a thoroughexamination of EHCA’s current strengths and needs.Charles WalczakThis helped us clarify our agency’s values and setpriorities. Next, we identified goals for improvementand growth that will take us to the next level in helping every individual weserve live a rich and fulfilling life. Finally, we translated those goals into specificplans for action. In doing so, we defined the steps to be taken over the nextseveral years to transform our vision into reality.President ElectHere is a list of our primary strategic goals: The pursuit of quality, service, and safety is always our main priority Provide opportunities for growth and development for people with ID/DD Ensure the sustainability of EHCA long into the future through growth andexpansion that will address the state waiting list for services Foster a “best place to work” pro-employee culture Utilize strong financial practices to optimally manage our resources Further enhance communication among all EHCA facilities and programs Pursue strong advocacy efforts with our local and regional leaders tosupport EHCA and its mission Enhance community awareness of EHCA and the important work we do Develop a culture of continuous improvement and elimination of wasteProperty Committee ChairWe will soon be announcing initiatives that will enable us improve our facilitiesand specialized services while addressing the state waiting list for waiverprograms. A great deal of the time and energy has gone into finalizing ourplans, but we know what truly matters is the positive difference these goalswill make in the lives of the remarkable individuals we serve.As we implement the plan, we pledge to employ our best efforts and higheststandards every step of the way. Thank you for being with us on this journey.Management TeamCharles Walczak, MBA, FACHEChief Executive Officer (CEO)Donna HucknoVP of Nursing & Health ServicesShannon WeberChief Financial Officer (CFO)Bev KeepChief Operational Officer (COO)James R. McMannVP of Human Resourceswww.ehca.orgPeg Smith-RichVP of Residential &Community ServicesJonathan RillingDirector of DevelopmentBarbara RenkerExecutive SecretaryLorine BoboshkoAdministrative AssistantEllen MastellerSecretaryJames Thomas, Jr. MDTreasurerEdwin W. Smith, Esq.Strategic Planning ChairJeffery I. Blake, MDG. Nan MehlNominating Committee ChairBruce E. ArkwrightCarla BarnesCyndi CarterWilliam G. DeWittCathy FreschCarl LareseAngela L. LeasureElizabeth F. LechnerCarly ManinoLisa McChesneyFrances McCormick, Esq.Edison Nicholson IIIColleen ShafferErie Homes for Children& Adults, Inc. (EHCA)226 East 27th StreetErie, PA 16504Ph (814) 454-1534Fax (814) 452-6723www.ehca.orgThe mission of EHCAis to assist people withdisabilities to live richand fulfilling lives.Admissions, provision of services, andreferrals of residents or programparticipants shall be made without regardto race, color, religious creed, disability,ancestry, national origin, age, gender, orlimited English proficiency.2

A grant from the Build-A-Bear Workshop Foundationprovides childbirth, parenting supplies for PFSProject First Step (PFS), EHCA’s disabilityprevention program serving high-risk individualsand families, was recently able to upgrade infantsimulators and purchase training materials for itschildbirth and parenting skills classes thanks to a 4,000 grant from the Build-A-Bear WorkshopFoundation.Two of the program’s five RealCare Baby infantsimulator dolls were upgraded with new featuresso that staff members could collect and trackadditional care data. An infant simulator todemonstrate the effect of shaken baby syndromewas also purchased. The remaining funds wereused to stock the program’s training room with alibrary of printed materials, videos, and otherinstructional supplies used for teaching classes inboth childbirth education and parenting skills.Building stronger familiesone step at a timeHolding RealCare simulator dolls in Project First Step’s trainingroom are staff members (l-r) Jillian McCammon with a shakenbaby simulator, Sarah Dougherty with an upgraded babysimulator, and Lisa Kobusinski with a fetal alcohol syndrome babysimulator. In addition to providing experience with infant burping,changing, and feeding needs, the upgraded doll addresses flathead syndrome and other critical infant care issues.Options computer lab makes computersaccessible thanks to UPS grantIt’s nearly impossible these days to complete job applications, find a placeto live, or search for community services without going online. Forindividuals with disabilities, such tasks are not only physically difficult butalso pose a risk to their online safety. Without the rightfurniture and equipment, participants in wheelchairs can’treach the keyboard and operate a mouse.Staff members at Options, a community-based program,believed an on-site computer lab would enable clients togain computer skills while ensuring their safety. That dreambecame reality in November thanks to a grant from TheUPS Foundation. Touch-screen computers, adaptiveequipment, and accessible desks have created a welcomingspace that meets the online needs of Options participants.Valerie Benjamin, Director of In-Home Waiver Services, has seen a greatdeal of enthusiasm and interest in computers generated by the opening ofthe computer lab. “Thanks to our friends at UPS, our participants nowhave the opportunity to gain and enhance their technology skills in a safeand accessible environment,” she said.3www.ehca.org

EHCA honors the extraordinary commitment andcontributions of these retiring board members Timothy Wachter, Esq., joined theboard in 2006 and provided strongleadership as Board President2012-14 & President Elect 2010-12.He also served on the Finance,Executive, Foundation, FuturePlanning, and Legislative committees.Tim is a lawyer with Knox McLaughlinGornall & Sennett, P.C.Nancy Dolan, co-owner ofPostNet in Erie and a formerbank employee, joined the boardin 2006. She served on theNominating, Legislative, andFoundation committees. She wasalso a member of the SpringSwing Committee.Brenda Pasko, who recently retiredfrom HealthAmerica, joined theboard in 2011. She was a memberand former chair of the agency’sDevelopment Committee. She plansto remain an active member of THESpring Event Committee (formerlySpring Swing).Patricia Hause, OSB, joined theboard in 2011. She is theAdministrator of BenetwoodApartments and a member ofthe Benedictine Sisters of Erie.She serves on The Spring EventCommittee and remains theguardian of one of EHCA’sHarborcreek residents.Gold Award project creates garden, renews friendshipAllison Haraczy, a senior at McDowell High School, is an AmbassadorGirl Scout in Troop 30418 with loads of badges to prove it. She alsohappens to be a student with special needs. Allie loves to be involvedin her community and help other people.When Allie set the goal of earning her Gold Award, the highesthonor in Girl Scouts, she knew she wanted to create a project thatwould make a difference for others. She thought about Becky, herfriend from the Gliding Stars adaptive ice skating program, who livesin an ECHA community home. Allie once attended an EHCA butterflyrelease with her mother, and she loved meeting residents there. Herfriendship with Becky, her interest in EHCA, and her love of helpingAllie prepares the garden bed for the winter others all came together when she selected her Gold Award project:as her Gold Award mentor, Amy Meehl (left), she would build a raised bed vegetable gardenand her mother, Jeanne Haraczy, look on.in the backyard of the EHCA home whereBecky lives.One of the requirements of the Gold Award project is that it serves a usefulpurpose that extends into the future. House residents will be able to enjoy plantingand tending the garden each year. Allie assembled the raised garden bed by herselfwith adult supervision. When the time came to plant seeds in the garden bed, sheinvited Becky to come out and join her. She also provided seeds and gardeningbooks so the residents could learn about growing vegetables and flowers.In March, Allie received a letter congratulating her on receiving her Gold Award.The presentation will be held in Cranberry, PA, in May.www.ehca.orgAllie with her friend Becky,the EHCA resident whohelped inspire the project.4

Art Debut with MicrobrewsWhat started as an idea for a MOVE art exhibit hasblossomed into a full-blown art show and guest bartendingcontest all rolled into one happy evening.Join us at The Brewerie at Union Station on Thursday,April 7, from 4 to 7 p.m. for Art Debut withMicrobrews. You’ll view amazing art created by EHCAartists, employees, and families.Three teams of bartenders willbe competing for prizes. Mostimportantly, they will beencouraging guests to fill theirjars with “votes” to raise moneyfor MOVE’s creative artprograms.Community HomeCoordinator earnsstate recognitionAdmission is free. Come out andsupport the creative efforts ofour EHCA artists!Machelle Myers, a Community HomeCoordinator (CHC), had a surprisewaiting for her at EHCA’s fall All StaffMeeting.She was nominated by Peg Smith-Rich,Vice President of Residential andCommunity Services, for the FrontLine Manager Award presented by PAAdvocacy and Resources for Autism andIntellectual Disabilities (PAR). Machellereceived Honorable Mention honors forour region.“Machelle is a great advocate, alwaysresearching for a proper piece ofadaptive equipment to make someonesit better in a wheelchair or for acommunication device so that theindividual can express his/her wantsand needs,” Peg wrote in Machelle’snomination. “She is highly respected andvalued by the staff she supervises. It isthe residents, though, who benefit themost from having her in their lives.”5Volunteer extraordinaire Need paper shredded? Aaron’s your man. An EHCA resident who participatesin both the MOVE and Options programs, Aaron can be found Monday andFriday mornings at the Professional Building in Erie. First he collects paper fromthe EHCA program offices. Then he heads to the Staff Development office toshred, shred, shred. He earns a snack from the employees when he’s done, butthat’s not what keeps him coming back. His Options staff companion, KathyRuf-McMehan, says Aaron loves to stay active and help others.www.ehca.org