read - One Sky Community Services

Family Support Newsletter
September 2015
ONE SKY is a private,
non-profit agency
serving Northern
Rockingham County
(Region VIII) since 1983.
We assist people with
developmental disabilities
or acquired brain disorders
and others in need
of support to live as
valued and participating
members of their
communities.
From Our Director of Family Services
Did you Know ?
One Sky is now on Face Book and Twitter !
Inside this Issue
Regatta
2
What is Respite?
NHBDS Complaint
Process
3
Introducing Yabidu
4
Creating
Emergency Kits
5
Cinderella
6
This exciting new change will allow us to reach out to families
in real time with resource material, community events,
news on events here at One Sky, family fun activities,
legislative updates and other important information.
Check us out at:
www.facebook.com/OneSkyServices
and
Pumpkin Picking
7
Directions to
One Sky
8
Family Support
Advisory Council
9
www.twitter.com/OneSkyServices
We would love to hear from you~let us know what you think.
For now, we will continue to do a newsletter quarterly while we
explore this new option, so please keep in mind our efforts to
“go green” and either sign up for our electronic newsletter or
contact Amy with any updates to your email address at:
A.DiPetro@oneskyservices.org.
Family Support Newsletter
Challenger’s Cup Regatta Looks Forward to 24th Year
One Sky Community Services of Portsmouth and the Portsmouth Yacht Club will sponsor the 24th Annual Challenger’s Cup Regatta, beginning at 11 a.m. on Sunday,
September 13th at the Portsmouth Yacht Club in New Castle, NH. The Challenger’s
Cup is a unique seacoast event that provides an opportunity for people with developmental disabilities and acquired brain disorders to be crew members on seagoing
boats.
Each year, some 20 local boat owners and 100 individuals with disabilities participate
in the Regatta. According to Regatta co-founder and organizer Jesse Gage, “Local boat
captains have shown a lasting commitment to volunteering their boats for this event.
Each year is new and exciting for some people who’ve never been on a boat in the
ocean. For many more, it’s a chance to reunite with skippers and crew from previous
years.” Others who may not want to go on a boat will have a picturesque setting in
which to sit on the deck and enjoy the high spirits of the day.
Gage is busy enlisting boat owners, while One Sky matches up crew members and
boats. Each vessel must be at least 16 feet long, and there is no fee to enter. All boats
participate in a seagoing scavenger hunt with prizes donated by Regatta sponsors.
Following the ‘race’, all gather at the Yacht Club, where members of the Portsmouth
Rotary Club prepare a barbecue.
For 32 years, One Sky and the nine other area agencies across the state have enabled
folks to live in and be participating members of their local communities. The Regatta
showcases the inclusion of people with developmental disabilities in the greater
seacoast community. One Sky serves 24 cities and towns in upper Rockingham County.
Local businesses help support the Regatta each year through donations of time,
services, or prizes. Financial donations help provide ongoing support to people who
receive One Sky’s services.
For more information about entering a boat, volunteering or making a donation to the
Regatta, please contact Jesse Gage, Regatta chairman. (603) 436-6111 ext. 111
Email: j.gage@oneskyservices.org
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Family Support Newsletter
What is Respite?
Respite is a unique service that provides caregiving families of individuals eligible for One Sky Services with
the gift of time—time away from everyday challenges that come with caring for loved ones with special needs.
Who is eligible? Those who have an eligible family member living at home will be given a Respite Family
Assessment form to complete. This form asks questions about your family so we can get an accurate
picture of your needs. Based on the information given on this form, the Respite Review Committee will
decide the number of hours per month and the hourly rate. Families are reimbursed for out-of-pocket
expenses paid to respite providers.
Respite Care Limits: Respite care is not intended to be a substitute for an after-school or recreational
program, but a short-term break for families. The number of hours a family may receive varies, based on
need, and is reviewed annually. If you want more information, please contact your service coordinator at
(603) 436-6111 or the Respite Coordinator at (603) 436-6111 x 147.
NHBDS Complaint Process
Individuals who receive services in the developmental services system have a right to be free from abuse,
neglect and being taken advantage of. If you receive services and believe your rights have been violated, you
have a right to file a complaint. In addition, staff, providers and others who work with individuals who receive
services in the developmental services system must file a complaint if they are aware of or suspect that an
individual is being abused, neglected or exploited.
The process in the State of New Hampshire as of September 1, 2011 for filing a complaint:
In the past, complaints were handled by the Area Agency. Now, as a result of changes to administrative rule
He-M 202, complaints are made directly to the state. To file a complaint, please call this toll free number at
any time: 1-855-450-3593.
For more information about your rights, visit http://www.oneskyservices.org/learnmore/yourrights/ or
contact your One Sky service coordinator at 603-436-6111.
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Directions to One Sky
From the North: From Maine, take I-95 S into NH. Take Exit 5-Spaulding Turnpike/US-4/RT-16 toward
Newington/Dover. Merge right onto NH-16 S. Merge right onto NH-16 S/Spaulding Turnpike toward US-1
Bypass/Portsmouth. Enter Traffic Circle, take second exit onto US-1 Bypass South. Stay on this road for
about 2 miles. After you pass Water Country, go through one set of lights & turn right onto Constitution Ave.
Take Constitution almost to the end (1 mile). Take a right at the Sheds USA sign into our parking lot.
From the South: From Massachusetts, take I-95 N into NH. Take Exit 5 toward US 1 Bypass/Portsmouth
Circle, take the first exit onto US 1 Bypass South. Stay on this road for about 2 miles. After you pass Water
Country, go through one set of lights and turn right onto Constitution Ave. Take Constitution almost to the end
(1 mile). Take a right at the Sheds USA sign into our parking lot.
From the West: Take NH 101 East toward Seacoast/Portsmouth. Get onto I-95 N. Take Exit 5 toward US 1
Bypass/Portsmouth Circle, enter circle, take first exit onto US 1 Bypass S. Stay on this road for about 2 miles.
After you pass Water Country, go through one set of lights and turn right onto Constitution Ave. Take
Constitution almost to the end (1 mile). Take a right at the Sheds USA sign into our parking lot.
From the West via Route 4: Take US-202/US-4/NH-9 E. In Lee NH enter the traffic circle, take 2nd exit to
continue on US-4 E. In Newington, merge onto NH-16 S/Spaulding Turnpike S. Pass Pease exit, stay left toward Portsmouth Traffic Circle. Once in Circle, take 2nd exit onto US 1 Bypass S. Stay on this road for about
2 miles. After you pass Water Country, go through one set of lights and turn right onto Constitution Ave. Take
Constitution almost to the end (1 mile). Take a right at the Sheds USA sign into our parking lot.
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Family Support Newsletter
Family Support Advisory Council
FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE TO CAREGIVING FAMILIES
Our Family Support Advisory Council (FSAC) receives annual funds from the state to assist care
giving families served by One Sky. The challenge is to stretch the funds in order to help as many
families as possible. To do this, Council funds are used as a last resort. FSAC assistance is for
needs that are specific to the family member with a disability.
The Council requires us first to explore community resources before requesting their funds, and
each family’s service coordinator will help with this step. Service coordinators are knowledgeable
about government benefit programs, local civic and church groups, and other resources in NH that
offer financial assistance. Some of these organizations are especially interested in assisting
children and families or persons with disabilities.
If, after looking into community resources with the Service Coordinator, a family has not found
resources to assist, we encourage them to submit a written request* to the FSAC. The request
should state what other programs were approached for assistance and should be mailed to the
service coordinator at One Sky. The Council will consider the request at its monthly meeting.
Family Support Advisory Council members all care for a family member who has a developmental
disability at home. They are glad to talk with you about your needs and concerns, and your ideas
regarding support.
FSAC Council members :
Kathy Ennis (603) 964-9740
Paul Butler (603) 642-7996
Andrea Kaneb (603) 394-0174
Jeff Jackman (603) 686-1915
Kate Portrie (603 205-6371
Michele Woltering (603) 759-5732
*FSAC funding request forms can be found on the Downloads page of our website, at
oneskyservices.org/learnmore/downloads, or from your family’s service coordinator.
755 Banfield Road, Suite 3
Portsmouth, New Hampshire 03801
Ph: (603) 436-6111 Fax: (603) 436-4622
Office Hours: M-F 8:30 AM – 4:30 PM
Return Service Requested
Visit us online!
www.oneskyservices.org