In This Issue:

  • Executive Director Lori Ropa Elected to The NCE Steering Committee
  • Apply to Join The Arc's National Sibling Council
  • Case Management Redesign Survey
  • Project Search is Recruiting
  • Tips to Stay Healthy During Flu Season
  • Mark Your Calendar - Don't Miss Coffee House!
Lori Ropa Elected to
NCE Steering Committee

We are pleased to share that Lori Ropa, The Arc – JCCGC’s executive director, has been elected to serve on The National Conference of Executives of The Arc (NCE) Steering Committee.

NCE is a dynamic peer membership organization of executive directors and management staff from The Arc’s network. NCE creates opportunities for exchanging ideas, providing training essential to professional development, and offering support and mentoring for successful leadership. Members work collaboratively to better serve their organizations and their constituents.

Lori’s role on NCE’s Steering Committee is member-at-large. She was elected for a two-year term. Her great wealth of experience and knowledge makes her an excellent addition to NCE. Direct involvement in NCE presents our chapter with opportunities to maintain its close collaborative relationship with The Arc U.S.

“The overall goal of NCE is to be a connecting point for great ideas to help our chapters serve people in direct alignment with our mission, vision, and our organizational values,” Lori explained. “The value of close relationships with other leaders can’t be understated. We all face the same challenges and having a group of peers to vet new ideas with, problem solve with, and learn from, will make our chapter stronger.” 
 
With membership across more than 600 chapters, NCE is a force to be reckoned with. NCE provides high quality programming, networking, and professional development opportunities to nurture the development of strong leadership throughout The Arc’s vast network and help chapters keep moving their organizations forward.
 
Lori is a compassionate leader whose lifework has been dedicated to positively impacting people. She considers her work at The Arc - JCCGC to be the highlight of her career. Regarding joining The Arc in 2010, Lori recalled, “I knew I wanted to take all the skills I had acquired and apply them to something that mattered deeply to me.”

“I believe in the value of people – all people,” Lori said. “I was drawn in by the values of The Arc and its mission and vision. They were and are so resonant for me. Underlying it all is the desire to make sure that everyone in our community counts. Everyone.” 

For a Q & A with Lori, click here.

Apply to Join The Arc's National Sibling Council

Are you interested in getting more involved in disability rights advocacy?
 
Siblings of people with intellectual and/or developmental disabilities (IDD) are an important part of the disability rights movement, and The Arc is looking for your perspective as we work to promote and protect the rights of individuals with IDD throughout the country.
 
For siblings to be the best advocates they can be, it is important that they have access to information and resources that can help them make informed decisions, whatever their involvement.

The Arc’s Sibling Council is one way for siblings of people with IDD to get access to resources and take part in The Arc’s grassroots advocacy efforts nationwide, according to an article, Get to Know The Arc’s Sibling Council by Susan Stonecypher-Hawkins. Members of The Arc’s National Sibling Council bring a wide range of expertise and passion, and they volunteer to serve a two-year term. The National Sibling Council also hosts sessions at The Arc’s annual National Convention for siblings to connect and learn about ways to get involved in advocacy. To read Stonecypher-Hawkins’ article about The Arc’s National Sibling Council, click here.

For more sibling resources, visit The Arc Siblings Scene by clicking here.
 
Interested in joining The Arc’s National Sibling Council? Click here to apply no later than February 5.

If you need help completing the application form or have questions, contact Robyn Linscott at [email protected].
Case Management Redesign Survey

If you or a family member receive Long-Term Services and Supports and/or Home and Community-Based Services, you are invited to give feedback about what is most important in a case management agency.

Case Management Redesign is coming soon, ultimately creating one agency in a service area to provide all waiver case management.

The Colorado Department of Health Care Policy & Financing is seeking participants in a Case Management Redesign Survey. The short survey should take only a few minutes to complete. The survey closes January 18.

For more information about the survey and to participate, click here.
Project Search is Recruiting

Project SEARCH, an innovative school-to-work transition program for high school students with significant disabilities, is starting recruitment for the 2023 and 2024 school year.

Students participating in Project SEARCH are fully immersed at the UCHealth hospital in their area to learn job skills with the goal of securing competitive employment. Programs are currently available at University of Colorado Hospital on the Anschutz Medical Campus, Greeley Hospital, and Memorial Hospital Central in Colorado Springs.

To be eligible to apply to Project SEARCH, according to UC Health, students must meet the following criteria:

  • Be at least 18 years old
  • Completed graduation requirements but deferred diploma or are willing to defer diploma
  • Currently enrolled in a local high school special education program or transition program
  • Have a strong desire to work
  • Willing to apply for services with the Division of Vocational Rehabilitation as well as enroll in services with the preferred Community Center Board
  • Open to travel training to gain skills to travel to the program independently via public transportation, Access-a-Ride, carpooling, etc.

For more information, click here.

Questions? Email to Stephanie Crookston at [email protected].
Tips to Stay Healthy
During Flu Season

Trying to stay healthy during flu season can be challenging.

The flu season lasts from late September to May, and typically peaks around February or March, according to The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE). 

These tips and resources from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention suggest actions to protect people from flu and help stop the spread of germs:

  1. Avoid close contact
  2. Stay home when you are sick
  3. Cover your mouth and nose
  4. Clean your hands
  5. Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth

Read more about healthy habits to help protect against flu by clicking here.

Some symptoms of flu and COVID-19 are similar, so it may be hard to tell the difference. It is important to get tested for COVID-19 if you have symptoms or if you think you may have been exposed. For more information about getting tested, see CDPHE’s Testing for COVID-19 webpage by clicking here.

To find out where you can get flu and COVID-19 vaccines, visit vaccinefinder.org by clicking here.
Mark Your Calendar - Don't Miss Coffee House

Imagine this: Friendly people. A welcoming environment. Great conversation!

Good news. Your imagination can lead to reality if you attend Coffee House – a social meeting of self-advocates presented by our chapter of The Arc.

Social connection is important for people’s mental and emotional health. Please help spread the word about Coffee House and make time to be there, even just to say hi.

Here are reasons to attend:

  • Everyone is welcome – we are an informal and inclusive group
  • Meet likeminded people
  • Reconnect with friends
  • Participating is fun and convenient
  • Socialize and build connections
  • Listen and learn from other people’s experiences – including skills to become a better self-advocate

Find your community, make friends, network and have fun.

Coffee House is scheduled from 5:30 - 7:00 p.m. on the third Thursday of each month at Panera Bread in Belmar -- 650 S. Wadsworth Blvd, Lakewood (Southeast corner of Wadsworth & Center Avenue).

Mark your calendar: upcoming Coffee House dates are:

  • January 19
  • February 16
  • March 16

For more information, email [email protected]. See you there!