Your March 2020 ACLD employee newsletter

WELCOME From the Executive Office ‌

Dear ACLD Colleagues, Over the past two months there has been a growing concern nationwide regarding the COVID-19 virus (Novel Coronavirus). Recently, there have been several confirmed cases in the United States, and last week, the first cases in New York State. ACLD is committed to ensuring the health and safety of every person supported, all families, and employees. As such, staff trainings, policies and procedures, and precautionary measures have been implemented in all programs throughout the agency. We have provided educational materials and training to all staff to ensure that they understand how the virus is spread and what preventative measures can be taken to decrease exposure. Policies and Procedures regarding exposure and containment are being implemented. ACLD’s Nursing Department has been diligently monitoring the updates made by the World Health Organization and the Center for Disease Control to ensure that all proactive and reactive measures are taken. We are taking our lead from the CDC, WHO and local government offices, to ensure we have the most updated information. Please read the article, Coronavirus Update to learn more on the steps ACLD is taking to inform our workforce.   In this edition of the Limelight, we have information on upcoming events, highlights from programs, news from the Organizational Care Committee, milestones and much more!   Sincerely, Bob, Rob and Kim   Robert C. Goldsmith , Executive Director Robert Ciatto , Chief Operating Officer Kim Leonard , Chief Financial Officer

Coronavirus Update

ACLD leadership is aware of the growing concerns regarding the Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) and we are taking proactive steps to provide you with guidance and information. We want to ensure that all employees understand how the virus is spread and what preventative measures can be taken to decrease exposure.

Faith Mazzone, Director of Nursing, has been working with her team of nurses and administrative staff putting together literature and education for the agency. We have created an initial mandatory training with information from the World Health Organization about this virus. The new course has been assigned to all ACLD employees in an effort to address any concerns and answer questions people have. You can access this training on the Litmos Platform by clicking the link below. Click here for Novel Coronavirus Trainings This is the first of many proactive measures that ACLD is currently exploring. The one thing that is a constant, like with all viruses, is to ensure we all wash our hands and have a clean environment to work and live in. This is not something new for all of you but please become even more consistent with these practices. As more information comes out we will continue to update you. We are confident that we will stay ahead of this as best we can thanks to Faith, her team and the Health and Safety Committee. If you have any questions, please reach out to your nurses or executive staff.

Bright Idea Box Winner Every quarter the Organizational Care Committee selects a winning "Bright Idea" submission from the agency's Bright Idea Boxes. This quarter's winner is MaryJo from Hauppauge Day Program. MaryJo suggested that our social media platforms be shared with all new hires at NHO, and encourage them to follow us at that time. Each quarter's Bright Idea Box winner receives a gift card. Don't forget to submit your Bright Ideas to either your site's box or email them to brightideabox@acld.org

Talented staff creates mural for Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio Cortez

Art Studio Program & Community Coordinator Diane Salomé-Diaz and her husband Eliot , also an artist, were asked to create a mural for Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez , on the theme of the Green New Deal. The mural started outdoors at an event at Astoria Park and was then completed in Diane’s home studio. It is now on display in the congresswoman's new Bronx headquarters.

Diane and her husband surprised Ocasio-Cortez with the unveiling of the mural at a reception for the opening of her Bronx headquarters on February 15 th . The mural was done with acrylic paint on 2 wood panels, sized together as an 8’x8’ final mural. In addition to this, Diane and Eliot have worked on numerous community projects in Queens, New York City and Long Island over the years. Amazing job Diane and Eliot!!!

Congratulations Graduates!

A cross section of ACLD's Leadership recently completed the Crestcom International Leadership Development Program, The Bulletproof Manager. Twenty employees participated in the six month, intensive training program. The program graduates are Director of Residential Services Anastasia Brillis , Chief Operating Officer Robert Ciatto , e-learning Specialist Joe Cipriano , Employee Relations Manager Alex Cohen , Senior Director of Administration Gerard DiMuro , Assistant Director of Residential Services Matthew Fayda , Administrator of Vocational Services Shannon Gorlesky , Controller Sandi Gutmanstein , Director of Development Aimee Keegan , Senior Director of Adult Services Anne Marie Sime , and Director of Business Operations Rich Van Dyke . Not pictured are: Director of Day and Community Services Donna Celardo , Senior Coordinator of Vocational Services Scott Wysocki , Associate Director of Regulatory Affairs Sabine Maynard , Day Services Administrator Jacqueline Ditman , Residential Administrator Tonya Seaton , Director of Regulatory Affairs  Joel Santana , Assistant Director of Day & Community Support Services Joann Leavy , Senior Residential Manager John Campsey , and Assistant Principal Robin Stevens .

Employee Engagement Days Don't forget to Wear your favorite sport team apparel for March Madness Day next week

Organizational Awareness Days

The Organizational Care Committee is proud to announce that in 2020, in addition to our engagement days, will be celebrating awareness days as well.   Awareness is the ability to directly know and perceive, to feel, or to be cognizant of events. Our organization is a family, however, too often are we inundated with the day to day functions and our overflowing plates to have that cognizance.   Awareness days are designed to help raise awareness to a myriad of health conditions, medical illnesses, social issues etc. We hope an increase in public awareness surrounding these topics will foster a family rich environment – leading to a happier work life and ultimately benefiting the people that we support. Check out the first awareness video with our Chief Medical Officer Dr. Christine Brown speaking about Heart Disease for Heart Disease Awareness Month last month.

Pictures from Wear Red Day

March is National Nutrition Month

Ballroom Dancing at ACLD!

Two weeks ago the 5th Grade Class at Covert Elementary School in Rockville Centre came to our Bethpage campus and performed Ballroom Dancing for the men and women we support in Day Habilitation. The adults we support and staff enjoyed the show and were very impressed with everyone's dance moves! Great job everybody! Click and watch the video below.

New ACLD Community Residences

ACLD Residential Services certified the two new community residences of Blake IRA in Bohemia and Nichols IRA in Hauppauge to open next week. The residents of Rainbow 923 will be moving out of their home and into these IRAs. Both homes have 6 beds and are 24-hour supervised residential programs.

International Visit

This month, members of the ACLD Executive Management team will be meeting with representatives of St. Christopher Services in Longford, Ireland. St. Christopher’s provides support services to people with intellectual and physical disabilities in County Longford, Ireland.

The visit will include a tour of ACLD’s programs including a visit to the Bethpage campus, Broadway Bethpage site, the Plainview IRA, the Art Program, RewearAble and Oyster Bay Gardens. This introduction and visit will enable the two organizations to collaborate on meeting the needs of people of all abilities both in the U.S. and in Ireland.

Bowling for an Enviable Life

3 WEEKS AWAY!!! Join the ACLD Foundation for the 5th Annual Bowling for an Enviable Life event on Sunday March 29th. Children and adults from ACLD’s programs, their families, friends and staff come together for a fun day of bowling while raising awareness and funds to benefit ACLD. This event is limited to the first 300 bowlers. Rubber soled shoes can be worn in place of bowling shoes if necessary. Awards given for Individual Highest Score and Team Highest Score, Most Strikes and Most Spares. Le Selfie Photo Booth available.

Affordable Housing on the Bethpage campus : Oyster Bay Gardens

Oyster Bay Gardens, LLC, created by ACLD, is an integrated community for income-eligible seniors and adults with developmental disabilities, located on our Bethpage campus behind the 857 building. Please share this information with anyone who may fit the criteria. For more information or to view the application - Click Here

Human Resources Reminder: Please help a coworker in need with a donation to our  Vacation Donation Bank . Our vacation donation bank helps employees who needs to be out more than ten days for a medical crisis or personal hardship. Our funds are running low, and we need more donors! If you have one or two accrued vacation days that you don’t expect to use, please   click here ,   complete the form and forward it with your program’s approval to Michele Reisner at   reisnerm@acld.org . We appreciate your kindness and donation!

Employee Assistance Webinars

The National Employee Assistance Programs INC. (EAP) offers monthly educational seminars for free to all ACLD employees with topics such as "Financial Goals", "Conflict Resolution" and "Work and Family Balance". Click here to access these webinars and login with the following credentials: Username: acld Password: acld Then click on "Online Seminars". A schedule of the seminars for 2020 is below.

Safety Update

ACLD’s Safety Committee has been very busy over the past 10 months implementing and upgrading safety features at all of our locations in Nassau and Suffolk and is working very closely with both Nassau & Suffolk’s Homeland Security Police.

The Nassau County Police have already provided us with Security Surveys, Situational Awareness Trainings and assisted us with conducting actual live drills here on the campus in Bethpage. We have also begun the same trainings with Suffolk County Homeland Security Police and they will all be completed in the next couple of months. The Safety Committee has also put in place the use of the RAVE app, which is used by members of the Safety Committee and other key staff. This app would be used during any actual Active Assailant Event. It provides direct contact with designated police operators who deal specifically with these types of emergencies and improves our internal communication amongst Committee members and key staff at all locations.

Things all staff can do to improve safety in the workplace: • Wear your badge as required while at work. • Don’t let anyone walk in behind you into your workplace.. • When you see something suspicious call 911 or report it immediately to your supervisor. • Be AWARE of your surroundings at all times.  Additional Safety Features will be put in place over the next year. We will continue to keep you posted about them as they are implemented.

WELCOME ACLD NEW HIRES FOR FEBRUARY 2020 Ely Arav - Registered Nurse Suprervisor - Bethpage 857 Leslie Becerra - Day Habilitation Specialist - Bethpage 837 Marjorie Benoit - Direct Support Professional - Bethpage 857 Guerline Cherenfant Cazeau - Direct Support Professional - Bethpage 857 Aallayah N Cox - Direct Support Professional - Phelps Michederline Delva - Direct Support Professional - Autumn Dorine Fleury - Direct Support Professional - Roslyn Heights Katherine M Geiger - Behavior Support Specialist - Kramer Learning Center Crystal B Gentile - Teacher Aide - Kramer Learning Center Samuel Kavanagh - Direct Support Professional - Bethpage 857 Dahana Marette - Direct Support Professional - Wildwood Mayra C Mera - Social Worker - Kramer Learning Center Shakeya Z Mickens - Direct Support Professional - Ontario Hedaya M Moussa - Respite Counselor - Bethpage 807 Sikima Napper - Day Habilitation Specialist - Program Without Walls Shykim L Rich - Direct Support Professional - Rainbow 921 Franchesca V Samuel - Day Habilitation Specialist - Bethpage 837 Amanda T Sexton - Lead Day Habilitation Specialist - Hauppauge Ann T Thottam - Registered Nurse - Bethpage 857 Ndukwo U Ugwa - Direct Support Professional - Oyster Bay Kathleen Will - Residential Assistant Manager - Sejon Jennifer Williams-Cunningham - Respite Counselor - Bethpage 807 Urszula Wszeborowski - Accounts Payable Assistant - Bethpage 807 Misty A York - Registered Nurse - Bethpage 857

Mary Beth Nifenecker, manager of Healy House, is celebrating her 15th year at ACLD! Our Art Studio Program & Community Coordinator, Diane Salomé-Diaz's children are incredible artists just like their mother. Her son Iysaiah Salomé-Diaz, a senior in High School won the Scholastic Silver Key regional award, and will be in his senior art exhibit on March 10th as part of his International Baccalaureate program. Her daughter Laiyla Salomé-Diaz, is getting recognized on March 4th, as part of her artwork getting chosen to be showcased in the elementary school exhibit at Freeport library. She also recently was announced one of the winners on Long Island for the “Reflections” contest for her grade level, 5th grade.

" the limelight " is an initiative of the Communications Committee and is produced by the Development and Community Relations Department. Thank you to all who have submitted information and photos. Keep them coming! We welcome your comments and suggestions.