according to nationaldaycalendar.com it might be:

Past newsletters with pictures are on our website at: www.CLIsupports.com

The question this week is about CLI's CLIMB service and the answer touched on the new Ohio rules that will give more control to individuals about how/where their allocated individual budgets are spent. This is a positive change. Another positive change is the new rule that allows "self-directed transportation". This means that your waiver dollars can directly reimburse your friends, family, and/or coworkers if they can help you with rides to things you do in the community. CLI knows that transportation is often the biggest barrier to competitive employment and/or real integrated activities in the community that people with developmental disabilities face. CLI helps with rides as much as we can, but we just don't have enough staff to help people get everywhere they want to go-- especially at the best times on evenings & weekends. Hopefully, this new rule will help.

CLI is launching a new apprenticeship program this spring open to high school Juniors interested in working in the DD field. EHOVE recently shared a survey of students in our area and there seem to be many that are interested in working in a human/social services career. However, CLI does not get many applications from graduating students, so there seems to be a disconnect somewhere. One of the obstacles is that many people really don't know what we actually do each day. There are some really cool aspects of our jobs with CLI. We get to help people work on life goals that they pick to be in their annual plan. A lot of the actual activities are just fun-- and both our clientele & the public we interact with give us lots of positive feedback. These new apprenticeships will give 17 year olds a paid opportunity to get on-the-job training so that by the time they graduate they really know whether this field is for them. CLI will learn whether these young people can work independently, providing meaningful, person-centered services. After high school graduation, there would be a clear path for CLI to either offer full-time employment with benefits-- or a flexible part time job that will work around college classes. This should be a win-win.

Looks like we're getting just a bit more winter weather this week, which will mean icy walkways. Be careful. On the upside, as it warms up and the virus numbers keep dropping statewide, CLI is reviewing our mask policies so that maybe we can only wear them in vehicles and other situations where we have to be super close together. Be patient as we sort this out. It will take us a minute.

Have a great week!

A: Yes they are. CLIMB services are designed to be intimate groups so the staff to client ratio is smaller. Traditionally the old-style workshop services had a staff ratio of 1 staff per 12 clients. CLIMB services never have more than 4 clients per 1 staff. We understand that people are worried about running out of money in their annual budgets. This is why we've built an array of large-group activities that we can flex around the small-group, community-integrated CLIMB services. This way people can get a whole day of service that complies with Ohio law, but doesn't break the bank.

James Johnson james@firelandslocal.com 419-921-6400