CSS Connections Newsletter 10/09

The new face of
ICF/MR Homes
The power of
CSS moves into
CSS
receive perfet
Music Therapay
new locations
surveys
PAGE 1
PAGE 2
PAGE 4
PAGE 3
CONNECTIONS
focus
FINANCIAL
Newsletter
October 2009
F E AT URE A RT ICLE
Incentive
Programs
:
V O L U ME
YEAR
EMPLOYEE
APPRECIATION
W elcome to the first edition of the “CSS Con-
CSS is offering a wide variety of Incentive Programs
both new and old to its employees. Here are a list of
those programs:
Years of Service
Program, (2010) rewards employees for
their years of dedication
Compliance Review
Program, (2010) rewards employees who
contributed to exceptional survey results that
are completed by state.
Safety Incentive
Program, rewards employees who are safe in
the workplace.
Attendance Incentive
Program, rewards
employees that have
exceptional attendance
records.
nections”. What an exciting time for our company!
The fact that this company newsletter has finally
become a reality and the fact that the revamping
of the CSS Website is progressing famously is
great news, but the development of other new
programs that will be addressed in this edition is
what is really exciting to me.
CSS continues to grow at a controlled pace that
allows us to assure that we are providing quality
care to the consumers we provide supports to. As
of November 1st CSS will be providing services to
over 530 individuals in
19 counties throughout
Ohio.
For the last couple of
years during our employee “Town Meetings”
I have talked about the
development of an Employee Recognition Program. I am pleased to let
you know that this program is nearly finalized
and details of the process will be provided to staff within 30 days via
detailed memos and staff meeting presentations.
We are quite pleased with the development of this
program for you as employees and we hope that
you will be also. Recognition for outstanding results on certification surveys, licensure reviews,
and state compliance reviews are also going to
become a reality very soon.
I referred to the company’s continued growth above
and I just want to reiterate again that Randy Nipps,
myself and all members of management understand
that the Direct Contact and Site Supervision Staff are
those individuals who really make services happen
for those individuals who rely on us for assistance 24
hours a day and 7 days a week. The leadership provided by the Directors and their staff under the guidance of COO Mary Jane Switzer and her team continues to improve and expand in helping all staff. All of
this is evidenced by the fact that individuals and
guardians continue to request our services, the quality of the reviews that we receive
from monitoring agencies, and
the general perception of how
others think we do business.
Being an agency the size that we
have grown to providing services
at over 200 separate sites means
that errors will take place. We do
not want them to occur, but they
are inevitable and we want to continue to minimize them the best
we can and continue to learn and
improve services as a result of addressing and correcting areas of concern. As I have said in the past,
we do not say this enough, but you all continue to do
an excellent job and we want to state that for the
record again. Continue to keep up the good work
and a Big Thank You goes to each of you no matter
what your position with the company might be.
- Daniel Swickard, President/CEO
5
WAYS TO
BE SAFE AT
WORK
October is Fire Prevention
Month, remember YOU can make
a difference. Here are some tips
to make October a safe one.
Replace the batteries in
all smoke alarms
CSS:
AROUND
THE
CSS has had a great deal success and expansion across the state of Ohio and
would like to recognize some of those achievements
ICF/MR’ S RECEIVE PERFECT SURCSS Licking County received four perfect Licensure surveys and CSS Tuscarawas County received two perfect Licensure surveys of their
ICF/MR facilities from the state of Ohio giving
them each three year licenses.
Assure the furnace filters
are changed
Assure no flammables are
around heating deceives
like the furnace and stove
Check electrical cords for
frays or tears
Review your fire evacuation
plan and complete a drill
S T AT E
NEW CERTIFIED HOMES TO OPEN UP
MONTGOMERY COUNTY
CSS recently acquired two certified homes
that house 14 individuals with Developmental
Disabilities in Montgomery County that will
open as soon as November 1, 2009. CSS is
looking forward to the expansion in Montgomery County that is being lead by County Director, Nicole Bowers.
CSS UNVAILS NEW WEBSITE
Pictured is CSS Kerns in Tuscarawas County
whom received one of the perfect surveys
TUSCARAWAS, CLARK, CUYAHOGA AND
LAKE COUNTIES HAVE NEW LEADERSHIP
CSS would like to welcome three new County
Directors to its team. Loren Kalt is the new
leadership of Tuscarawas County. Elizabeth
Hickle is the new leadership of Lake County.
Patty Grigsby a long time employee has taken
over the leadership of Clark County. Jennifer
Atrim has been promoted from a Program Coordinator to a County Director to take over the
leadership in Cuyahoga County.
CSS recently updated their website to include
all updated services and supports, videos of
staff training and when CSS was featured on
“Inside Health” 2005, as well as it gives interactive mapping to each county office.
CSS plans to keep expanding the site so to
make it interactive with our employees. To
view the website visit us at: www.cssohio.org
UPDATE POLICY AND PROCEDURE
TO BE RELEASED
CSS recently updated all of its
policy and procedures. The updated policy and procedure has
been a big project that has been
well worth the time. The update
should help streamline the services and supports in which we
provide.
REMINDER: November is open Enrollment
November is Open Enrollment month at
CSS. All qualifying employees have an
option to enroll in select CSS benefits
programs. See Your local HR Coordinator
for eligibility and details.
Licking County held there
annual client/ family picnic
at the Moose Lodge on
August 28, 2009
Visit us on the web at: WWW.CSSOHIO.ORG
E MPLOYEE S POTLIGHT :
B ECKY W EST
Becky started working for Dan Swickard when he was the Program Director
for the ANMAC Foundation, that was prior to him purchasing it to become
Community Living Concepts, Inc. Becky started working for what is CSS
today in May of 1986. Becky has worked in a variety of positions for
CSS over the years, Starting her career as Home Manager for ICF/
MR Facilities in Licking County, then becoming the Program Coordinator in Licking County, then becoming the Regional Director for
multiple counties across the state that include: Licking, Tuscarawas,
Fairfield, Franklin, Clark, and Stark Counties. Becky then became
the full– time County Director for Licking in 2004 and then took the
position of Corporate Operations Coordinator in 2008, in which is
position that she holds today. When Becky was asked what is the
best part of working for CSS she states, “the care that is given to
consumers and the dedication to that care that is given by my co-workers.”
Introducing:
Music Therapy
Recently, the James Street Day Habilitation Center in Licking
County has been fortunate enough to obtain a portable keyboard,
keyboard stand and sustaining pedal. Kate Bricker, a Habilitation
Instructor at James Street, is a highly talented piano
player. Kate’s background in music includes; teaching piano lessons for over 20 years, playing musical instruments such as the
bassoon, clarinet, saxophone and guitar as well as uses music as
therapy for many different populations. She also was the lead
singer in a rock and roll band for awhile.
On any given afternoon if you walk into the James Street Center
you might hear the sound of a beautiful sonata or the beat of
drums. If you follow your ears to where the music is coming from
you will see a
talented lady with sandy blonde hair and a huge bright smile behind the keyboard while consumers of
all sorts are gathered around listening, singing perhaps or laying their head on the speaker so to feel
the vibration of the music.
It is evident that Kate really enjoys playing music for and with the consumers. The music has stimulated many various emotions, and reactions from our consumers at James Street.
While talking to Kate, she expressed interest in forming a James Street Choir as well as offering and
song writing sessions.
Funtastic Friday is a HUGE Success!
The James Street Center - Pine Street Recreation Building in Licking County offers Funtastic Friday every second Friday of the
month from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m.
Funtastic Friday is a program where both consumers and staff enjoy socializing, eating pizza, playing BINGO and trying their hand at
a new craft each month.
Sometimes we even sing on and off key with karaoke songs!
One thing that you are sure to have at Funtastic Friday is FUN!
For the most up to date happenings at CSS
become a fan of
Consumer Support Services, Inc. on
4
TIPS FOR
SUPPORTING
OUR CLIENTS
Consumer Support Services, Inc.
takes great pride in the supports
that it provides to Developmentally
Disabled Individuals around the
state. Here are some tips to continue that services excellence.
Staff Role in Support
The emphasis of support is honoring the individual’s choice and decisions and helping that individual
pursue a life that is meaningful to
them and to be as independent as
possible.
Role Modeling
The individuals we assist learn
mostly by examples and demonstrations by staff. The individuals watch
what staff are doing and then model
what they see.
Choices and Options
Offering choices and options puts
the individuals in control of their
lives. When staff demonstrate the
process of explaining and informing
the individual about the choices and
options, this will allow the individuals
to learn and continue to build on
their decision making skills.
Client Rights
Client Rights must be respected at
all times. Staff must be advocates
for the individuals that we provide
services to in order to assure that
individual rights are never violated.
CSS:
N EW D AY
H ABILITION
C ENTER :
Tuscarawas County has
recently opened a Day Habilitation Center. The Center
is called the HOPE Center
and will start out serving 20
individuals with disabilities
in variety of ways from
teaching daily living skills,
arts and crafts to leisure
and recreational activities.
For more information please
contact Loren Kalt, County
Director.
SERVICES A R O U N D
THE
S T AT E
CSS currently is certified by the State of Ohio to provide the following
services:
·
·
·
·
·
·
Individual Options (I/O) Wavier Services
Level 1 Wavier Services
Support Living Services
Intermediate Care Facilities for the
Mentally Retarded (ICF/MR) Services
Children's Group Home Services
Day Habilitation Services
·
·
·
·
·
·
·
Transportation Services
Non Medical Transportation Services
Behavior Management Services
Respite Services
Adult Foster Care
Medical Services
Interpreter Services
CSS currently provides services in the following counties:
·
·
·
·
·
·
·
·
·
Allen County
Clark County
Cuyahoga County
Delaware County
Erie County
Franklin County
Lake County
Licking County
Madison County
·
·
·
·
·
·
·
·
·
Mahoning County
Medina County
Montgomery County
Sandusky County
Stark County
Summit County
Trumbull County
Tuscarawas County
Wayne County
* CSS is currently able to provide services in every county in the state of Ohio
CONTACT US AT:
1-800-290-6013
OR ON THE WEB AT:
U PDATE :
O FFICE CHANGES
N EW L OCATIONS :
WWW.CSSOHIO.ORG
O FFICE M OVES :
Please email any article suggestions
to Chris Swickard, Director of Marketing and Development at
chris.swickard@cssohio.org
CSS has opened two new offices.
CSS Sandusky/Erie County
906 West State St.
Fremont, Ohio 43420
CSS Montgomery County
5900 North Main St.
Dayton, Ohio 45415
CSS Clark County moved from:
1411 Sunset Ave., Springfield, OH 45505 To
1200 Home Rd., Springfield, OH 45503
CSS Franklin County moved from:
1300 Dublin Rd., Columbus, Ohio 43215 To
3660 Corporate Dr., Columbus, Ohio 43231
CSS Stark County moved from:
721 30th St. N.E., Canton , OH 44714 To
4184 Holiday St. N.W., Canton, OH 44718
CSS Tuscarawas County moved from
1260 Monroe Ave. N.W., New Philadelphia, OH 44663 To
1127 Bowers Ave. N.W., New Philadelphia, OH 44663
New
Addition