NILP Opens Doors to Community Living

Your Continued
Contributions and
Support Help Make
This Possible
NILP Opens Doors to
Community Living
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WAYS TO GIVE
As a 501(c)(3) non-profit, the Northeast Independent Living Program, Inc.
(NILP), relies on the ongoing support of individuals, foundations, companies,
and organizations to continue to provide quality services to consumers with
disabilities throughout the greater Merrimack Valley.
If you would like to help NILP carry out its mission, please consider
donating in one of the following ways:
• Outright Gift – Funds donated through this method allow the agency to
continue to provide essential services and make improvements to the agency’s
physical infrastructure.
• Gift Program – A special tribute to honor a loved one, friend or colleague can
be paid through a memorial or celebration gift. Each gift is acknowledged to the
individual and/or family.
• Planned Gift – Gifts such as bequests, charitable gift annuities, trusts, and paid up
life insurance, are always welcome. These can be arranged through your financial
advisor or attorney.
• Special Events/Fundraisers – NILP hosts several fundraising activities and events,
which are always open to the public.
• In-Kind – We welcome volunteer contributions for special events.
June Cowen Sauvageau, Krista Brown, Mark Wheeler and
Steve Michelson at the NCIL Conference in Washington, DC.
Send a check to NILP, 20 Ballard Road, Lawrence, MA 01843. You can also make
contributions by credit or debit card by visiting our website, www.nilp.org and
click on the “DONATE” button for “PayPal” which is a secure site that handles our
credit card donations. You can print out a receipt after your donation is completed.
All credit or debit cards can be accepted. For further information, please contact
Kevin Farrell, Director of Development at 978-687-4288 ext. 141 or by email
at kfarrell@nilp.org. Thank you in advance for your donations. All gifts and
contributions are tax deductible as permitted by law. Please consult your
financial advisor.
Donate
NILP Staff Participating in the Lawrence, MA. St Patrick’s Day Parade
For more information about The Northeast
Independent Living Program, please visit our
website at www.nilp.org
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facebook
978.687.4288 (voice/tty) • 978.689.4488 (fax)
20 Ballard Road, Lawrence, Ma 01843
Greater Lowell Chamber of Commerce
United Way
of Massachusetts Bay
and Merrimack Valley
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Message from
Message
the
Executivefrom
Director
Executive Director
NILP LEADERSHIP TEAM
Nanette Goodwin – Assistant Director
In the beauty of the New England Fall and the onset of the Thanksgiving
Season, it is a perfect time to share our pride and thanks with our community.
Northeast Independent Living Program Inc., celebrates its 34th year of serving
people living with disabilities in our Merrimack Valley and beyond.
Lisa DiGiuseppe – Director of Finance
Several highlights of our work this year that we are proud and thankful for include:
Jim Lyons – Director of Community
Development & Advocacy
• Two new major new programs that are the result of disability advocates’
long hard work over many decades. They are 1) the “Money Follows the
Person”, a Medicaid Home and Community Based Waiver program and 2) the
“One Care” Program, a Medicaid/Medicare Waiver Program for dual eligible
individuals in the Commonwealth. NILP is very active in both programs and
recognizes the importance of “waiver” programs designed to demonstrate
that persons with disabilities have unique functions, abilities and preferences
and that these individuals are the best determinants of the kind of supports
and services that best match their community living needs. Both of these new
Medicaid Waiver projects have the potential to demonstrate that consumer
direction and choice will lead to better services and less health care costs.
June Cowen Sauvageau – Executive Director
Mark Wheeler – Marketing &
Communications Manager
Kevin Farrell – Director of Development
Laura McGrath – Human Resources Manager
Meghan McCann – Quality Project Manager
FY’ 2014 Board Members
Fran Kuchar – President
Kevin Hatch – Vice-Chairperson
Eric Pearson – Treasurer
Jami Cope – Clerk
Mike Alan
Richard Consoli, Esq.
Barbara Currier
Patricia Guerin
Chris McNeil
Lisa Visone
Kathleen Mulligan
Denise Murray
• A Rebranding Committee comprised of NILP Participants, Board, Staff,
and Community Partners to host focus groups with our constituencies to
determine if our Name, logo and tag lines are still best reflect our agency
mission vision and values. The question arose, “do we need a marketing
makeover as the term Independent Living is now used by so many different
types of Assisted Living facilities that there is such confusion in the
community”? The Focus Groups have been conducted and we will be
reviewing the data and feedback. Stay tuned for the results.
• NILP is proud to share the success of its new Training and Education Division of
the organization. The aim of the Training and Education arm of NILP is to bring
the message of disability awareness and the need to develop cultural competence
to our businesses, health care organizations, municipalities and community
members. This year we have conducted training to over 700 individuals and have
conducted speaking engagements to national and statewide audiences.
• NILP is proud and thankful to announce the Board of Director’s decision to
announce and support a Capital Campaign – Building Expansion Project to
start in Fy’15. NILP has outgrown its current space and is expanding into the
adjacent building space effective July 1, 2015.
• And last, but not least, NILP is thankful for the Enterprise Bank Celebration
of Excellence, Nomination for Non-Profit of the Year. We are proud of our
nomination into the Class of 2014 Celebration of Excellence.
I would like to share a very personal “thank you” to all of our constituents;
who as family, friends, supporters, and advocates continued the journey of
emancipation for all of us.
Yours,
Message from
Message
from
the President
the President
Your Continued
Contributions and
Support Help Make
This Possible
LETTER FROM THE PRESIDENT OF THE
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
WHAT YOU CAN EXPECT IN 2015
As I look back over this past year, I am humbled by the
progress NILP has made in increasing our participant
base, improving our programs and creating new
programs. It has been a banner year and as President
of the Board, I am overwhelmed with pride in our
organization and our staff. NILP continues to grow
in leaps and bounds, and yet, we are able to say that, again this year, we are a
financially stable and active charitable organization. We also could not achieve
this without the support of our state and local leaders, the business community,
and all of the wonderful contributors and volunteers that show up whenever there
is a need.
• July 1, 2015, NILP will begin Phase 1 of the
Building Expansion, Project
Being President of the Board is an incredibly rewarding role and our Board has
improved our contributions of oversight and service to NILP in so many ways.
Board Members have been able to increase member recruitment activities. We
have established a Board Training Program, so each new member can become fully
informed as to the NILP purpose, philosophy, and mission .
The Board’s major fundraiser was a huge success. It is our 2rd Board-Sponsored
Annual Music Fundraising Event, with with The Reminisants performed at the
Lawrence, B.P.O.E. Elk’s Lodge #65. Our Board and Staff combined forces to have
a booth at the Bread and Roses Festival in Lawrence on Sept 1st for the first time.
Most important of all, we have done our very best to make NILP more visible and
recognizable in our community, district and state.
• Capital Campaign Fund Launch
• NILP Re-Branding Committee
Results and Community Outreach and
Marketing Campaign
• The NILP Training and Learning
Collaborative developing more disability
awareness educational materials, products
and presentations
2015 CALENDAR OF NILP
SPECIAL EVENTS
• NILP Annual Legislative Forum
March 22, 2015
• NILP 12th Annual Golf Tournament
June 2015
• NILP 35th Anniversary Celebration
October, 2015
Recently, I had the opportunity to speak with our new Mayor of Lawrence, Dan
Rivera, regarding the re-activation of the Lawrence Commission on Disabilities. We
were able to connect with the appropriate city leaders and begin the process of
recruiting and re-establishing this most important Commission. Our citizens with
disabilities deserve to be represented within the workings of the City.
We have played a huge role in improving community life for everyone, with or without
disabilities through the combined efforts of NILP’s dynamic staff and the Board of
Directors functioning as a unified team committed to serving all people with disabilities.
I will be stepping down as President of the Board for the coming year. I have been
privileged to serve in this capacity for the last two years, and honored to serve and
participate in such a wonderful organization at this level. You have all touched my
life and I have grown. THANK YOU.
Table of Contents
WE DO WHAT WE DO, BECAUSE WE MUST AND WE CAN!
Mission Statement..........................5
I look forward to the new year and all its opportunities to serve our wonderful and
deserving participants.
Thank you all,
What to Expect in 2015 .................3
Programs ........................................4
Major Funding Sources ...................9
Financial .......................................12
Sponsors and Donors....................13
Volunteers....................................14
June Cowen Sauvageau
Executive Director
2 NILP Annual Report 2014
Frances Kuchar
President of the Board of Directors at NILP
In Memoriam ................................15
NILP Annual Report 2014 3
Mission
Mission
Statement
Programs
Programs
TRANSITION TO
ADULTHOOD PROGRAM
Throughout the 2013-2014 school year,
the Transition to Adulthood (TAP) staff
facilitated independent living groups in
six local schools: Methuen High School,
Lawrence High School, Greater Lawrence
Technical High School, North Andover High
School, the School for Exceptional Studies
in Lawrence, and Greater Lowell Technical
High School. Students are educated on
topics such as budgeting, communication,
socialization, disability awareness,
cooking skills, etc. The groups provide
a fun, educational and supportive peer
environment for the students. The students
Statement
who are involved in these groups are ages
14-22 and have an Individual Education Plan
(IEP) or a 504 Transition Plan. Additionally,
staff attended IEP and/or 504 Plan meetings
to provide advocacy and support to
students and their families. Students who
graduated or “aged out” of the TAP program
were invited to attend a transition meeting
to introduce the students and their families
to our Community Supports Program staff
who will assist them as they transition
into adulthood.
Attorney Mike Feinman of the Greater Lawrence Rotary Club awards the NILP Transition to Adulthood
Internship Program (TIP), a $500.00 check to NILP Director of Development, Kevin Farrell and NILP Assistant
Director, Nanette Goodwin. TOP: NILP Transition to Adulthood Internship Program (TIP)
4 NILP Annual Report 2014
TRANSITION TO ADULTHOOD
INTERNSHIP PROGRAM (TIP)
During the summer of 2014, we provided
a very successful employment training
and internship program for youth with
disabilities as part of our TAP program.
The students were between the ages of 16
and 22 and were either enrolled in high
school, recently graduated or had dropped
out of high school. They attended a six
week soft skills training program at NILP
throughout May and June in preparation for
their internships. They learned interview
skills, job search techniques, budgeting,
transportation training, communication
skills, workplace etiquette, etc. During these
sessions staff gained a better understanding
of the students’ interests and skills to assist
them in finding an appropriate employment
site for the students. Staff visited area
businesses, non-profit organizations, and
academic sites to educate them on the
mission and programs of NILP and the
TAP Internship Program specifically with
the intention of recruiting them as an
employment site. Once sites were identified,
staff then began the process of matching
students with sites by location and
student area of interest and skills. A
total of 32 students were then placed in
paid internships from July-September
within their home communities. Staff
visited each employment site one to two
times per week to offer support to the
student and establish a rapport with the
site representatives. Employers, students,
and their families were invited to attend
an end of the summer BBQ to celebrate
the students’ hard work and recognize
employers. A slide show was presented
illustrating the various program activities
as well as the students and their employers
at the worksites. Employers were presented
with a plaque for their support and
participation. Students were presented
with a certificate, a DVD of the slide
show, and a t-shirt. Feedback from
employers, students and parents was
overwhelmingly positive!
2014 COMMUNITY
DEVELOPMENT/ADA CONSULTING
Northeast Independent Living Program’s
(NILP’s) Community Development
(CD) Department provides community
and systems advocacy services that
bring about community, attitudinal,
and systemic change. CD monitors the
implementation of federal and state civil
rights disability related legislation for
the benefit of all consumers. By working
with NILP programs and activities, we
join together to accomplish community
change objectives. Specifically, we
provide civil rights training and
educational activities, Americans With
Disabilities Act (ADA) training, technical
assistance and consultation, Information
and Referral (I&R) on disability rights
and related legislation, and Community
Advocacy on Independent Living (IL)
areas such as public hearings, focus
groups, education, transportation,
employment, the legislative process,
information technology, assistive
technology, etc.
This year, NILP CD/ADA Consulting
delivered Independent Living Technical
Assistance in order to heighten
awareness and educate our community
about the ADA, Federal Fair Housing,
IDEA, and other civil rights laws. We
conducted activities for our ADA
technical assistance and advocacy
services including facility access
assessments at sites such as: Veterans
Memorial Park in Quincy, The Baseball
Tavern and The Galway House, (Boston),
Haverhill City Hall, Public Library,
Broadway Mini-Mart in Lawrence, and
dozens more. In terms of Community
Involvement, NILP consumers testified
at the State House public hearings such
as the House and Senate Ways & Means
Budget Hearings, and also participated
at the Commissioners’ hearings/
presentations this year, including all of
the disabilities services.
Seventeen NILP staff and consumers
joined in the Annual Lunch with
Legislators Day at the State House
in March. Together, we educated our
legislators that Centers for Independent
Living provide valuable services to the
citizens of the Commonwealth. We
joined with the Statewide Independent
Living Council (SILC) to raise our
officials’ awareness of the values
of Independent Living. NILP invited
our legislators’ & their staff who are
responsible for the region that NILP
serves including Senator Barry Finegold,
Senator Kathleen O’Connor Ives, Senator
Joan Lovely, Representatives Marcos
Devers, Diana DiZoglio, James Lyons,
Frank Moran, and Linda Dean Campbell
who joined us at The Great Hall.
Another example of our community
education and integration initiatives this
year included our testimony before the
Joint Committee on Health and Human
Services at The State House. We joined
together to educate our Senators and
Representatives about our Independent
Living (IL) needs. We also provided
outreach and education on NILP’s
programs and services, as well as IL
philosophy at dozens of Resource & Health
Fairs including the new Methuen Sons Of
Italy, the Haverhill Council On Aging, etc.
OUR MISSION
The Northeast Independent Living Program,
Inc. is a consumer controlled Independent
Living Center providing advocacy and services
to people with all disabilities who wish to live
independently in the community.
OUR PHILOSOPHY
Independent Living philosophy states that
individuals with disabilities are the best
determinants of their own needs and service
choices. Through role modeling and peer
counseling, with other individuals with
disabilities, they become empowered to
make changes in their lives and become
more self-sufficient and self-reliant.
OUR VISION
Northeast Independent Living Program
is known throughout the state for
helping individuals regain and retain their
independence and equality in the community
through Information & Referral, Advocacy,
Skills Training and Peer Counseling.
We are a community of people who open
doors to create an all-inclusive community
free of communication, attitudinal, economic
and architectural barriers for all people
with disabilities.
TOP: Rebecca Puentes, Long Term Support Services
Coordinator. BELOW: June Cowen Sauvageau awards
the ADA Champion Award, to North Andover
Building Inspector, Gerry Brown as NILP Community
Development Director, Jim Lyons looks on.
NILP Annual Report 2014 5
Programs
Programs
Programs
DEAF AND HARD OF HEARING
INDEPENDENT LIVING SERVICES
Our Deaf and Hard of Hearing Independent
Living Services (DHILS) Program staff works
with people who are culturally Deaf, late
deafened or hard of hearing offering a
comprehensive array of services to help
consumers live independently. These
services include Information & Referral,
Advocacy, Skills Training, Peer Counseling,
assistance acquiring assistive technology,
and housing. We believe that people with
disabilities are the best determinates of their
Programs
own needs and service choices. Through role
modeling and peer counseling, with other
individuals who are Deaf, late deafened
or hard of hearing, individuals become
empowered to make changes in their
lives and become more self-sufficient
and self-reliant.
In addition, we provide education and
advocacy to organizations, service
providers and the community at large to
eliminate communication barriers that
exist in society to ensure equal access and
participation for all.
INDEPENDENT LIVING VOCATIONAL
REHABILITATION
The Independent Living Vocational
Rehabilitation (IL/VR) program staff works
closely with the Lowell and Lawrence area
offices of the Massachusetts Rehabilitation
Commission (MRC) to assist people with
disabilities who receive services from MRC
in achieving their independent living goals.
By providing consumers with peer
counseling and skills training in areas of
financial management, benefits counseling,
applying for transportation services, and
assistance with housing applications
consumers become more confident,
self-sufficient, have more stability in
their lives, and are better positioned to
achieve their goals of employment and
independence. This past fiscal year, IL/VR
program staff provided independent living
services to 74 consumers.
PERSONAL CARE ATTENDANT
PROGRAM (PCA)
Nationally known disability rights advocate and former NILP employee, Pat Deegan (center) with
NILP staff members (left to right) Sam Chivers, Jo Bower, Maryann Miller, Adelaida “Judy” DeJesus and
Nanette Goodwin in foreground. TOP: March to the U.S. Capitol Building at the 2014 NCIL (National Council
of Independent Living) Annual Conference with Krista Brown, Mary Margaret Moore, Executive Director,
Independent Living Center of the North Shore and Cape Ann (ILCNSCA), and June Cowen Sauvageau.
6 NILP Annual Report 2014
NILP’s Personal Care Attendant Program
(PCA) is an integral support program for our
community participants living with chronic
disabilities who need special assistance to
live with a quality of life in their homes in our
communities. PCA consumers can receive
assistance with activities of daily living such
as bathing, eating, or dressing. PCA services
are available to Masshealth eligible persons
with permanent or chronic disabilities.
What makes the PCA program different
from other homecare services available is
that it is consumer controlled and the
person receiving the services manages
their program independently, or with the
assistance of a surrogate of their choice.
Since consumers manage their own program,
they can decide who they have working for
them as well as set the schedule that is most
convenient for their needs. Oftentimes
these services make it possible for the
consumer to remain living in their homes
with personal care help, as opposed to
hospitals or nursing homes.
From September 2013 to September
2014, NILP PCA Program has
continued to grow and currently serves
approximately 1,200 PCA consumers
throughout the Merrimack Valley and the
northeast area of Massachusetts.
MARKETING AND
COMMUNICATIONS
Marketing and Communications for
The Northeast Independent Living
Program, Inc. (NILP), has continued to
grow and expand over the course of
the past year giving more visibility and
awareness to NILP’s services, programs,
advocacy, along with the philosophy
that we evoke to our target audience
in the 52 cities and towns that NILP
serves in Northeast Massachusetts.
Through NILP’s social media, serving
as a great conduit to educate viewers
on what NILP is all about and what
we do in the communities that we
serve, we have been able to help to
increase the knowledge of our mission
and purpose in the region along with
showing the diverse range of services
and programs that we offer for all
people with disabilities who wish to live
independently in the community. Our
website at www.nilp.org has grown with
a more extensive and easy to use menu
with consistently updated and new
information of interest about NILP with a
good overview of our organization along
with related items of interest to serve as
a good and dependable resource center.
Our facebook page continues to grow
with “likes” in an ever expanding role
as a good timeline to view continually
updated information about NILP’s
staff activities as well as spotlighting
individual services and programs and
related information of interest to the
disability community. We have also
utilized facebook as a marketing tool
as a good way to reach people about
upcoming fundraising events as we have
accomplished with our 2014 music
fundraising event as an example. We also
have worked to improve NILP presence
on social media on LinkedIn as another
avenue to connect with the business
community. Other marketing efforts
have been accomplished via collateral
marketing materials via print as well as
visual aids to reinforce NILP’s brand over
the course of the past year. Additionally,
outreach efforts have been further
broadened to reach various chamber
of commerce meetings, functions, etc.,
in the area that NILP serves to further
heighten visibility and awareness of the
agency. NILP also continues to grow
its’ database with our CRM (Customer
Relationship Management) system that
will help to streamline and maximize
the potential of the agency’s outreach
to the region that we serve throughout
the business community. NILP is fully
committed to increasing the impact of
the region that we serve through our
marketing and communications efforts.
Donate to NILP today!
Go to www.nilp.org
Click on the PayPal icon
Thank you!
Top: Youth in the Transition to Adulthood Internship
Program (TIP), receiving “Soft Skills” training prior to
placement into job internships. Above: Rowan De Aza, NILP
PCA Skills Specialist and Sinath Chhoun, NILP TAP Skills
Specialist welcome participants to the 2014 Annual NILP
Participant Picnic. Summer Youth (TIP) Intern Fred Higgins
placed at All The Time IT, Billerica, MA
NILP Annual Report 2014 7
Major
Major
Funding
Funding
Sources
Program
Program
Spotlights
Spotlights
COMMUNITY SUPPORTS
Our Community Supports (CS) Program
assists people with all types of disabilities
in navigating the confusing, and oftentimes
difficult, process of obtaining benefits
and services on their path to living
independently in the community.
Providing Information & Referral, Peer
Counseling, Skills Training, and Advocacy,
individuals are able to apply and search for
affordable, and accessible housing, apply
for benefits such as MassHealth and Social
Security, or acquire assistive technology.
Very often we receive calls from people
who have no idea what they need or what
resources and programs exist; they just
know they need help. Our Community
Supports staff is that calming voice that
can empathize with the caller, relieve their
anxiety and provide them with the guidance,
support, and reassurance they need.
MERRIMACK VALLEY AGING AND
DISABILITY RESOURCE CONSORTIUM
The Merrimack Valley Aging and
Disability Resource Consortium (ADRC)
is a collaborative project between NILP and
Elder Services of the Merrimack Valley that
has a “no wrong door” entry point of service
for people with disabilities and elders
looking to access community based long
term services. Centralized information &
referral, intake and service coordination are
streamlined between the agencies to make
it easier for consumers to acquire services
regardless of age or disability in an efficient,
seamless manner.
A specialized service provided under the
ADRC is Options Counseling. Options
Counseling is an interactive, short-term
decision-support process that involves
providing individuals with information
8 NILP Annual Report 2014
Sources
about the full range of public and private
resources, services, and settings available
in the community. The Options Counselor
works closely with each consumer to
identify needs, values, outside supports
and resources while ensuring that the
consumer’s personal goals and preferences
are respected.
Examples of how NILP’s Options Counselor
(OC) has assisted consumers:
Susanna is a 57 year old consumer
who has been a resident in the city of
Haverhill all of her life. Because of financial
hardship and her disability, Susanna had to
give up her apartment to share an apartment
with relatives. The NILP Options Counselor
(OC) received a call from this consumer who
was desperate because her food stamps
benefits were cancelled and she was
hospitalized for a week with malnutrition.
After several phone calls to the Lawrence
Department of Transitional Assistance, the
consumer’s SNAP benefits were reinstated
after being without food stamps for a
month. The OC continued to work with the
consumer to find affordable housing and
also assisted with Title VII funding to pay
for a security deposit. Today, this consumer
is back living in the community in an
affordable apartment.
Michael, a 57 year old man with a physical
disability, was a patient at a local nursing
home for over two years. Our Options
Counselor assisted him in returning to the
community by helping him find affordable
and accessible housing. Michael is now
enjoying life once again and doing what he
loves to do most….fishing.
NILP’S 29TH ANNUAL
LEGISLATIVE FORUM
NORTHEAST RECOVERY
LEARNING COMMUNITY (NERLC)
We continued our tradition of
connecting legislators with their
constituents every Spring at our
Annual Legislative Forum that was held
at The Massachusetts School of Law in
Andover on March 21, 2014. The theme
of this year’s forum was “THE ONE
CARE PLAN: NILP’S ROLE IN THE
COMMUNITY”. Dr. Burton “Burt” Pusch,
Ombudsman for the One Care Program,
gave a presentation on the One Care
Program and what it means for people
with disabilities who are eligible for both
Medicare and Medicaid.
The Northeast Recovery Learning
Community (NERLC) has completed its
6th year serving 52 cities and towns
that include Everett and Medford, just
north of Boston, and extend north up to
Lowell, Lawrence, Haverhill, Amesbury
and Salisbury on the New Hampshire
border. This broad area is held together
by the NERLC’s commitment to creating
a strong peer-to-peer community
for persons recovering from extreme
emotional distress, trauma, psychiatric
diagnoses, addiction and a variety of
other challenges in life. The NERLC
supports individuals who have lived
experience with these life challenges
find their own paths to recovery and
wellness in the communities of their
choice. By offering trauma-sensitive peer
supports, we encourage each other to
lead meaningful and productive lives and,
together, create a welcoming and diverse
peer community.
The forum provided consumers with the
opportunity to express their concerns
directly with those who make decisions
that have an impact on the services
they depend on. Our State Senators,
Representatives, and local officials joined
colleagues in state, local and federal
government and met with nearly 100
program participants to discuss important
issues affecting the lives of people with
disabilities and their families. Elected
officials and aides in attendance were:
Chris Lango, Aide from Sen. Warren’s office;
Rep. Diana DiZoglio; Rep. James Lyons, Jr.,
and his Aide; Sen. Joan Lovely; Rep.
Linda Dean Campbell’s Aide; Rep.
Marcos Devers; Vanessa Gotlin from Sen.
Finegold’s office; Franklin Fernandez,
Legislative Aide; Mayor Stephen Zanni;
Phil DeCologero, Exec. Asst. to Mayor
Stephen Zanni; and Kate Machet from
Sen. Ed Markey’s office.
Mark your calendar for next year’s forum
scheduled for March 20, 2015!
A key piece of our mutual peer support
is sharing our recovery stories with each
other and with the broader community of
friends, family, mental health providers,
and the general public. These stories
offer hope and emphasize that recovery
is not only possible, it is probable. Mary
Jo Fortes, one of NERLC Peer Specialists,
described her own experience: “When
I first heard the term “recovery” used
in the context of mental health, my
reaction was: “not applicable!” My
understanding of recovery was that it
was reserved for people who have been
healed…fixed…cured… by some miracle
drug or visionary doctor. I was envious
of that elite group that “recovered”,
whole-heartedly believing that I did not
belong in their clique and never would.
After all, I’d been told by doctors (plural)
that I had this severe “mental illness”
which not only necessitated medication
for the rest of my life, but that even the
best-fitting drug cocktail could not keep
me “symptom-free”. My first NERLC
support group not only changed my
thinking, it changed my life! First and
foremost, it was such an indescribable
relief to be amongst others with shared
experiences—people who could really
relate to what I was going through! I
felt understood, accepted, and safe! As I
continued to participate in these groups,
I began to pick up ideas for coping and
managing from my peers. I even found
that I had valuable things to share and
that made me feel really good—to help
others. These days, I enjoy healthier,
more reciprocal relationships, including a
kinder relationship with myself. I am on
my own unique Recovery Journey which,
for me, is an on going process, rather
than a finite end-point. My journey is a
self-driven, active experience in which
I hold the reins and control the pace.
Not only have I realized that Recovery IS
most definitely applicable to me, I also
believe that it is relevant to anyone who
seeks it, regardless of where they are on
their journey.”
Through stories such as these, the
NERLC’s peer-to-peer community
continues to grow by reaching out
to those who have not yet heard our
stories and our message of hope. Our
goal is to break through the feelings of
isolation and discouragement that often
comes with a mental health diagnosis by
spreading the message that “Recovery
Is Real!” and we are the proof. In the
past year, we moved closer to this goal
each time a new member joined one
of our support groups in one of the 52
MAJOR STATE FUNDING SOURCES
Department of Elder Affairs
Department of Mental Health
Executive Office of Health and
Human Services
Massachusetts Rehabilitation Commission
GRANTS & PARTNERSHIPS
Boston Bruins Foundation, Boston, MA
D.E.A.F. Inc., Brighton, MA
Disability Law Center (DLC), Boston, MA
Elder Services of the Merrimack Valley,
Lawrence, MA
Essex County Community Foundation,
Betty Beland Greater Lawrence Summer Fund,
Danvers, MA
Essex County Community Foundation
NSCHN Community Health
Improvement Grant
Greater Lawrence Rotary Club
The TJX Foundation, Framingham, MA
The White Fund, Lawrence, MA
TOP LEFT: 2014 NILP Legislative Forum at the
Massachusetts School of Law, Andover, MA. TOP RIGHT:
NERLC Recovery Through Community at the Haverhill
Club House. RLC Staff Joshua Marcos and Rachely
Ramos. Above: NILP Annual Music Fundraising Event
with The Reminisants, November 8, 2013
NILP Annual Report 2014 9
Program
Program
Spotlights
Program
Program
Spotlights
Spotlights
cities and towns we serve. Many hundreds
of members of our peer-to-peer network
not only participated in NERLC peer-topeer support groups, we also organized
recovery-oriented events such as “Recovery
Through Community” presentations by Pat
Deegan and Dan Fischer, two pioneers in
the Recovery Movement , as well as picnics,
talent shows, and young adult dinners. Our
message of hope has been heard by up to
150 at a single event but more often it is
heard in smaller groups where peers can
safely share their unique challenges, hopes
and dreams. As Mary Jo Fortes expressed
in her story: ”I have held strongly to HOPE
these past years and it has made all the
difference in the world! I started to make
plans, set goals, and achieve milestones
again—first small steps, then larger ones. If
I can help to inspire even one person to find
HOPE—as I was through others’ Recovery
Stories—I have fulfilled my role, not just in
my job, but also on a much broader level!”
MONEY FOLLOWS THE PERSON, (MFP)
A NEW MEDICAID WAIVER PROGRAM
Money Follows the Person (MFP) is a 5
year demonstration grant from the Centers
for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS)
awarded to the Massachusetts Office of
Medicaid (MassHealth). Through the MFP
Demonstration, Massachusetts will move
service funding from facility based settings
to home and community based settings.
In FY14, the Northeast Independent Living
Program received funding from the Executive
Office of Health and Human Services to
participate in a demonstration project as
a Transitional Entity and as a Housing
Search Entity.
NILP’s Nursing Home Transition
Coordinators as well as Community Support
Staff assist MFP eligible participants to
10 NILP Annual Report 2014
Spotlights
transition from a nursing home or longstay hospital (example: Tewksbury State
Hospital) to an MFP-qualified residence in
the community and obtain communitybased services. The two MFP Waivers are:
• MFP Residential Supports
(MFP-RS) waiver – for individuals who
need supervision and staffing 24 hours a
day, seven days a week.
• MFP Community Living (MFP-CL)
waiver – for individuals who can move to
their own home or apartment or to the
home of someone else and receive services
in the community
In FY14, during its start up period, NILP
successfully transitioned four (4) individuals
back into the community from April 2014
– June 30, 2014. In FY15, approximately
twenty (20) individuals, who are MFP
qualified, are on track for placement back
into the community of their choice. NILP
staff has done outstanding work helping
individuals meet their goals of returning
back to their community and maintaining an
enhanced quality of life.
THE TRAINING AND LEARNING
COLLABORATIVE (TLC)
The Training and Learning Collaborative
(TLC) is the education division of NILP
geared toward educating all organizations,
whether large or small, in a customized
curriculum that provides disability
sensitivity awareness training as well as
consultation in all related pertinent areas.
TLC trainers and consultants are utilized as
a resource from various NILP staff members
as well as available qualified independent
consultants who share NILP’s philosophy
and perspective. The TLC vision is to
provide technical assistance, training, and
consultation to all appropriate entities that
need to invest in their knowledge level of
disability awareness and cultural competence
to be an all inclusive environment in their
workplace. The TLC approach is to provide
customized training and consulting services
by being a trusted Independent Living Center
for all organizations to deliver cultural
competence and technical assistance on the
Americans With Disabilities Act (ADA). The
TLC goal is to educate all entities around
their potential areas of misconception
that surround people with disabilities and
to de-stigmatize the language and initial
responses that may lead to critical missteps
when providing services for people with
complex needs. Over the course of the past
year, TLC has provided contracted full day
ongoing training sessions to Commonwealth
Care Alliance (CCA), as well as customized
training for Old Colony Elder Services and
additional training is being set up for the
Spinal Cord Injury Association and other
potential clients on the horizon. To aid in
the marketing of TLC, a promotional video
has been completed that should act as a
good catalyst in spreading the word on
how TLC can help educate organizations
about the uncommon capabilities it has in
training and consulting given our unique
perspective as compared with other similar
training organizations. Additionally, TLC
conducted a well-attended workshop at
this past summer’s NCIL (National Council
on Independent Living) Annual Conference
in Washington D.C. titled, “Creating a
New Training & Development Consulting
Business With Your CIL”, on how to create
a new revenue stream within a Center for
Independent Living (CIL) through training
and consulting while furthering disability
awareness in their respective communities.
Also, TLC will be conducting another
workshop at the Provider’s Council Annual
Convention in Boston in the late fall titled,
“Diversity in the Disability Community and
What Is Cultural Competence”, which
will further enhance the purpose and
vision of TLC. In the planning stages for
design and implementation going into the
new year is the TLC online module for
further client reach as well as for review
and remedial purposes for all participating
students. The future looks bright for TLC
as a significant growth arm within NILP.
NILP ANNUAL MUSIC
FUNDRAISING EVENT
NILP held its’ 2nd annual music
fundraising event on November 8th,
2013, at the Lawrence Elks Lodge
and featured the live music of The
Reminisants who were “Rockin’ The
Oldies For All People With Disabilities”
with their ‘50’s and ‘60’s music stylings.
Well over 200 people attended this fun
event and danced the night away while
also participating and bidding in the
raffle prize and auction items that were
generously donated by many individuals
as well as members of the area’s business
community to help support NILP’s
services, programs, and advocacy for all
people with disabilities who wish to live
independently in the region that NILP
serves in Northeast Massachusetts. In
addition, this music fundraising event
gave NILP the opportunity to show a
couple of videos about NILP and the
Independent Living philosophy. The 3rd
annual music event is scheduled to take
place on September, 26th, 2014, and
will feature the live music of the popular
regional group, The B Street Bombers,
who will play their “High Energy Music In
Support Of All People With Disabilities”.
We have found that not only is the
annual music fundraising event a good
event for NILP fundraising purposes but
that it also draws more visibility and
awareness to NILP’s mission and purpose.
TOP LEFT: June Cowen Sauvageau, Burt Pusch,
Independent Consultant and One Care Ombudsman;
and Mark Wheeler present a workshop “Creating a
New Training & Development Consulting Business”
at the NCIL Conference in Washington, D.C.
TOP RIGHT: June Cowen Sauvageau and Burt Pusch
conduct a seminar on Disability Awareness & Cultural
Competence for the Commonwealth Care Alliance
employees. Above: Volunteer Award to Nicole Fortier,
presented by NILP Youth Services Program Manager,
Alicia Thyne and NILP Administrative Assistant,
Zuleika Gonzalez. Left: Newly elected Lawrence
Mayor, Dan Rivera addresses the Annual Meeting of
the Lawrence Industrial Parks Business Association
(LIPBA) at NILP in December, 2014.
NILP Annual Report 2014 11
Sponsors
Sponsors
and
and
Donors
Financial
Financial
NILP 11TH ANNUAL GOLF
TOURNAMENT
Mother Nature provided us with a gorgeous
day to host our 11th Annual Golf Tournament
for Independence on Monday, June 23, 2014
at the Indian Ridge Country Club in Andover.
Over 90 golfers turned out for the event
along with 84 business sponsors and donors
to support the participants and programs of
the Northeast Independent Living Program,
Inc. (NILP). Through their participation and
generous business sponsorships, the event
raised over $31,000.
The funds raised by this tournament help
support and offset programs that have
received budget cuts to ensure that quality
services are provided to consumers with
disabilities in Northeastern Massachusetts.
Thank you all for a successful golf tournament!
Hope to see you next year at the
12th Annual Golf Tournament for
Independence in June, 2015.
Top Left: Significant support from members of the
Business Community helps make the 11th Annual Golf
Tournament a financial success. Top Right: Business
Community Volunteers, Attorney Tami Dristiliaris and
Laura Rocha watch the Hole-in-One Contest at the
11th Annual Golf Tournament. Below: NILP Board
member Chris McNeil enjoying the Putting Contest at
the 11th Annual Golf Tournament.
Donors
NORTHEAST INDEPENDENT LIVING PROGRAM INC.
Statements of Activities for the Periods Ended, June 30, 2013 & 2012
Assets
2014
Current
Cash and Cash Equivalents (Note A)
$382,417
Accounts Recievable (Note A), (Allowances for
Doubtful Accounts is $0 for both years)
438,798
Prepaid Expenses
27,469
Total Current Assets
848,684
Property and Equipment (Note A)
Building and Improvements
Equipment
Vehicles
Furniture
Computer Software
Land
Total
Less: Accumulated Depreciation
Property and Equipment - Net
929,001
85,807
97,113
101,489
8,000
78,600
1,300,010
(638,060)
661,950
Other Assets
Closing Costs (Note G), (Net of $784 & $429
Accumulated Amortization)
Total Other Assets
Total Assets
$338,016
289,192
37,702
664,911
929,001
58,876
97,113
101,489
54,606
78,600
1,319,685
(650,920)
668,765
6,315
6,315
6,670
6,670
$1,516,949
$1,340,345
LIABILITIES AND NET ASSETS
Current Liabilities
Accounts Payable
Accrued Expenses
Current Portion of Long-Term Debt (Note G)
Credit Line Payable (Note H)
Deferred Revenue
Total Current Liabilities
Long-Term Debt (Note G)
Total Liabilities
50,664
126,377
10,201
66,120
253,362
294,227
547,589
74,562
105,646
10,191
9,500
199,899
304,345
504,244
Net Assets (Note A)
Unrestricted
Temporarily Restricted
Permanently Restricted
Total Net Assets
969,361
969,361
836,102
836,102
$1,516,949
$1,340,345
Total Liabilities and Net Assets
*Financials are in draft format and are subject to change.
12 NILP Annual Report 2014
2013
50 Warren Restaurant &
Lounge, Lowell
ACT II Salon, Salem, NH
Adam Proto
Adam Rowley, All The Time I.T.
Ale House Barking
Dog & Grill, Amesbury
American Training, Tom Connors
Appleby & Wyman
Insurance, Beverly
Ashland Farm, at North Andover
Asian Center of Merrimack Valley
Athens Pizza, Lawrence
B.P.O. Elks Lodge #65, Lawrence
Barbara Currier
Bates Insurance Agency, Medford
Benchmark Senior Living
Best Western Plus Inn, Chelmsford
Bill and Kumi Martin
Bob Kanzer, York, ME
Borrelli’s Italian Deli, Methuen
Boston Bruins Foundation
Boston Celtics
Branco The Florist, Lawrence
Burtons Grill, N. Andover
C.O.M.E.C.
Candia Woods Golf Course,
Candia, NH
Capri Italian Restaurant,
Salisbury Beach
Carleen’s Coffee Shop, Lawrence
Caroline Matterson, Boston
Duck Tours
CBG Benefits, Woburn
Center for Living & Working,
Worcester
Charles LaMothe
Chelmsford Dental Associates
Commonwealth Care
Alliance, Boston
Community Crossroads, Atkinson, NH
Community Teamwork, Lowell
Conlin’s Pharmacy, Methuen
Consoli & Wilhusen, Attorneys,
N. Andover.
Corey Gelormini
CranCom,Taunton
Dalia Diaz, RUMBO
David Gulezian
Davio’s Northern Italian Steakhouse
Deborah Ritcey
Diane Crimmins
Diane Shawan-Luken
Diego’s Catering, Lawrence
Ed the Plumber, Andover
Elder Services of the
Merrimack Valley
Elizabeth Grady, Andover
Enterprise Bank
Eric Pearson
Erika Guilbaut, Outback
Steakhouse, Methuen
Exeter Country Club, Exeter, NH
Family Pools, Lawrence
Ferncroft Country Club, Middleton
Fireside Restaurant & Pub, Methuen
Four Oaks Country Club, Methuen
Fran & Paul Kuchar
Gary & Lynn Hale
Golden House Restaurant, Lawrence
Golfer’s Warehouse, Danvers
Golfsmith International, Watertown
Greater Lowell Chamber of Commerce
Hanover Insurance Group
Herb Chambers Chrysler, Jeep
Dodge RAM, Danvers
Hickory Hill Golf Course, Metheun
Hilton Oil Co., Lawrence
Hirsch Roberts Weinstein, LLP,
Boston
Holiday Inn, Tewksbury
Indian Ridge Country Club, Andover
J. Brians Pub & Grille, Lawrence
Jami Cope
Jay Gee’s Ice Cream &
Fun Center, Methuen
Jim’s Original Subs, Lawrence
Joe Couture
John Gallinato, Cambridge
Jules By The Water, Methuen
Julia Tiernan
June Cowen Sauvageau
Kathleen & Kenneth G. Mulligan
KDSA Consulting, Methuen
Keith Hill
Kevin M. Hatch
Kevin T. Farrell
Kingston Fairways Golf Club
Kitty’s Restaurant, N. Reading
Krueger Flatbread & Olivia’s,
Haverhill
LAER Realty Partners, Chelmsford
Larry Kajen
Lawrence General Hospital
Lisa Visone
Lowell Five, Tewksbury
Luna Rosa, Tewksbury
Mann Orchards, Metheun
Mark & Tricia Whitehouse
Massachusetts Providers Council
Massachusetts School of Law
McLarney & Company, Chelmsford
Meghan McCann
Merrimack Valley Federal
Credit Union
Merrimack Valley Golf Club, Methuen
Merrimack Valley Magazine
Merrimack Valley Wellness Center,
N. Andover
Methuen Firefighters Local #1691
Methuen Health &
Rehabilitation Center
Mike & Charlotte Alan
Moore Staffing Solutions, Methuen
Neighborhood Parcel, Lowell
New England Gutter Kings, Lowell
New England Office Supply, Braintree
New Tokyo Japanese Restaurant,
Methuen
Ninety Nine 99, Haverhill
North Shore Golf & Tennis
Magazine
N-Tek, Inc., Lawrence
Olive Garden, Methuen
Omni Digital Printers, Lawrence
ORZO Café & Trattoria, N. Andover
Patrick Grant, Splash Shield
Paul Brouillette, LAER Realty
Partners, Chelmsford
Pentucket Bank
Pentucket Medical
Philip Ciampa Salon, Andover
Piccirillo the Florist, Methuen
Pinnacle Private Wealth,
LLC, Woburn
Plaza Asteca, Methuen
Portrait EFX, Methuen
PRIDEStar EMS
Primos Liquors, Lawrence
Pro Tire and Tune, Billerica
R&J Specialty Wines, Lawrence
Raid, Inc. Andover
Riverside Press, Metheun
Robert Ingala
Russ Bock
Sage Bank, Lowell
Salem Co-operative Bank, Salem, NH
Salon Forza, Andover
SEIU NCFO Local #615
Firemen & Oilers
Sheila & Chris McNeil
Showcase Cinemas, Lawrence
Staples, N. Andover
Stephen R. Peterson
Stonebridge at Burlington
Sue Comeau
T Bones & Cactus Jacks, Salem, NH
Tekila’s, Methuen
The Old Court, Lowell
The Reminisants
The Savings Bank, Methuen,
Andover & Wakefield
The White Fund, Lawrence
Three Dogz Diner, Lawrence
Tompkins Corp, Landscaping,
N. Andover
Tony Goodnough
Trattoria Amalfi, Salem, NH
Tuscan Kitchen, Salem, NH &
Burington, MA
Union Office Supply, Wilmington
United Parcel Service (UPS)
Willam & Yoli Harmuth
Wyndham Boston-Andover
Hotel, Andover
NILP Annual Report 2014 13
Staff
Staff
Recognition
A Special
A
Special
Tribute...
Recognitions
2014 NILP VOLUNTEERS:
Barbara Currier
Bill Kent, UPS
Carla Renny
Carol Rebeenacker
Chris McNeil
Christing Grennan
Christopher Ortiz, UPS
Cortney Richards, UPS
Denise Murray
Diane Lightbon, UPS
Eric Oliveira, UPS
Eric Pearson
Fran and Paul Kuchar
Francis Sauvageau
Franklin Perez
Gary Hale
German Galvan, UPS
Jami Cope
Jim Mercier, UPS
Julieanne Stein
Kathy & Kenneth Mulligan
Kevin M. Hatch
Krista Brown
Laura Rocha
Lisa Crider, UPS
Lisa Visone, UPS
Mark Kelley, UPS
Michael & Donna Higson
Mike and Charlotte Alan
Nicole Fortier
Patricia Guerin
Patti Copley, UPS
Paul Brouillette
Paul Castiglione
Ray Rannikko, UPS
Richard P. Consoli, Esq.
Rosemary Dunlop, UPS
Sue Comeau
Tami Dristiliaris, Esq.
Tom Cope
Tony Brooks
Walter Miller
William L. Paige, Jr., UPS
14 NILP Annual Report 2014
Tribute...
EACH YEAR AT THE ANNUAL MEETING, NILP RECOGNIZES STAFF
AND MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY FOR THEIR OUTSTANDING
EFFORTS ON BEHALF OF THE NORTHEAST INDEPENDENT LIVING
PROGRAM, INC. (NILP).
At the 2013 Annual Meeting, the following were recognized for
their accomplishments:
• ADA Champion Award to Gerry Brown, Building Inspector for the Town of
North Andover, MA.
• Community Partner Award to Chet Szablak, Jr., Executive Vice President,
Enterprise Bank, Lowell, MA.
• David E. Ray Award awarded posthumously to James “Jim” Kelly, Jr.
longtime member of the NILP Board and Disability Advocate.
• Staff 110% Award to Krista Brown, ASL Interpreter for
outstanding achievement.
• Volunteer Award to Nicole Fortier for many long hours of service to NILP.
Top: NILP Staff member, Vida Whitcomb, NERLC WRAP Coordinator, receives her 5 Year Service
Award at the 2013 Annual Meeting. Above: Volunteers from the United Parcel Service (UPS) have been
volunteering at NILP for over twenty years.
In
In
Memorium
Memorium
Elmer Bartels
Martina Carroll
Juan Cosme
Michael Cripps
Debbie J. Frizado
Alberta Gomez
Lucia Hernandez
Beatrice Johnson
Henry Lacostic
Eric Landry
Virginia Larochelle
Judith Lee
Michael McLaughlin
Baltazar Quiles
James H. Richards
Rosa L. Rivera
Khamsone Silavong
Robin Stewart
Wayne B. Subatch
Eileen Thorpe
Jennifer Torres-Pagan
Above: The NILP Board recognized the hard work that the NILP staff do throughout the year, with a
picnic and a boat ride on the Merrimack. Right: NILP Board Member, Jami Cope marketing the Annual
Music Fundraising Event.
NILP Annual Report 2014 15