Our Bright Flame of Community Connection | |
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DDRC’s Adult Vocational Services has participants whose caring and curiosity about the world around them is wonderfully facilitated by our Direct Support Professional staff.
Four participants felt strongly that they wanted to learn about and thank area firefighters for all they do to help keep people safe. Pam, Missy, Roxanne and Jennifer had the wonderful idea of making firefighters a care package with granola bars, popcorn, and mini candy bars. They delivered the care package to Fire Station 6 in Arvada and were thrilled when the firefighters graciously gave them a tour of the station and a look inside the ambulance.
| Kimberlee Barela, AVS/ Walters Program Assistant observed, “This is a perfect example of our community connections, and having participants lead the way in deciding how they want to pursue their interests.” To find out more about our Community Connections contact dayprogram@ddrcco.com. | DDRC and Disability Employment Awareness Month | |
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For most people, “participating in society like everyone else,” is a key part of feeling accepted and connected to the people around you. Employment is one gateway to fulfilling that feeling. Importantly, working alongside people representing the community as a whole, brings those feelings up a notch. That’s what integrated competitive employment for people with disabilities is all about. And that’s also DDRC’s Employment Services team's passion, mission and drive! See them here in this video! (If prompted to sign-in to Facebook, just close the pop-up and the video will show. Turn on the volume)
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October is Disability Employment Awareness Month, a time to recognize the contributions of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) in their workplaces, and promote inclusive hiring practices. Besides a paycheck and the associated ability that a paycheck facilitates to make life choices, being employed in a competitive, integrated job improves overall quality of life, and contributes to social connections and a sense of purpose. Yet too many people with IDD who want to and can work are still not employed – more than 80% by some estimates. | |
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DDRC’s Employment Services Team helps people navigate the challenges and obstacles to employment, uncover their passions, sharpen their skills, gain confidence, and explore career and job possibilities to land a good job match. This team also includes our technology learning services that enhance a person’s work and personal life. Listen to Marti share how Erlen Marsh, DDRC Technology Services Specialist, has helped her (video link).
Interested in employment but have some concerns? Maybe you are wondering about how working and earning a paycheck might impact your other benefits. Or maybe you're considering whether you could take a promotion or a new job. Fortunately, DDRC has a certified employment benefits planner, Lee Sylvester, who can help you navigate those questions or how they may affect your benefits. Lee is incredibly knowledgeable, insightful and caring. He is a resource, alongside our entire Employment Services Team, to help you on your career journey. Give them a call at 720-544-8114 or email Heather.Hagen@ddrcco.com if you or someone you know with a disability wants to explore working and a career.
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Employment First Summit Begins Oct. 8 – Register Soon! | |
October is National Disability Employment Awareness Month, a perfect time for a learning confab about Employment First, the movement for competitive, integrated (inclusive) employment for people with disabilities. That opportunity is happening this October with the 2024 Employment First Summit organized by the Colorado Office of Employment First (COEF) and the Colorado chapter of the Association of People Supporting Employment First (APSE). The deadline to register is Friday, October 4. There will be three sessions, each virtual, focusing on elevating Employment First across Colorado and sharing resources. | |
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DDRC, an early and strong advocate for Employment First, is honored that our Assistant Director of Employment Services, Heather Hagen, has been invited to present at the Summit.
During Session 3 (Oct. 24), noted below, she will be expanding upon DDRC’s evolution in becoming an Employment First organization, and our innovative approaches in integrating employment services and day programs.
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Sessions will cover three topics areas:
- Employment First policy, philosophy, innovative practices, and progress.
- Skill building and knowledge acquisition for job seekers, Employment Specialists and Benefits Planners.
- Services and resources for employers/companies, people with disabilities, families, and direct care providers.
Virtual Colorado Employment First Summit dates:
- Session 1: October 8th, 2024, from 9:00am-12:00pm MT
- Session 2: October 16th, 2024, from 1:30,pm-4:30pm MT
- Session 3: October 24th, 2024, from 9:00am-12:00pm MT
Deadline to Register: Friday, October 4th, 2024 at 11:59pm MT.
Cost: $50 for non-ASPE members, $30 for ASPE members. Registration also includes the opportunity to attend upcoming Employment First Resource Fairs later this fall (details forthcoming).
More information: 2024 Colorado Employment First Summit website
Questions: email coloradoapse@gmail.com or info@employmentfirstcolorado.org
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Case Management Agency Open House - Oct. 9 | |
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Participants, families and others interested in the new Case Management Agency (CMA) are invited to an open house to learn about Jefferson County Human Services' newest division. The open house will be held Wednesday, Oct. 9 from 4 - 5 p.m. at the Human Services Building at 900 Jefferson County Pkwy, Golden, CO 80401.
Come to the open house to visit with CMA staff, learn about the CMA’s services, have your questions answered, and hear brief remarks at 4:45 p.m. followed by a tour of the new CMA space.
Please RSVP via the QR or web link: https://surveymonkey.com/r/cmaopenhouse.
DDRC has been pleased to collaborate with Jefferson County during the transition of case management services from DDRC to the newly established Jeffco CMA. We encourage participants to take advantage of this open house opportunity to become more acquainted with the new CMA.
| DDRC and Others Come Out Stronger with the Leadership Institute | |
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Brittney Owens, DDRC Residential Services Team Lead recently participated in an intensive week-long leadership development program called the Leadership Institute, led by the National Leadership Consortium, and hosted at DDRC. DDRC made the investment of time and resources for seven of our staff to attend the Institute because we support our staff’s development as people, as leaders, and as service providers who carry new ideas to best serve each individual and family we support.
Brittney said the Institute was energizing and valuable, especially as DDRC’s Residential Services thinks about addressing new opportunities. Society changes and circumstances change, and new opportunities lay ready to be discovered. The participants of the Institute were coached on ways to take on change and journey through its uncomfortable aspects to create something good.
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Increasingly across the country there is a move to a “self-direction” model of residential care and support. DDRC has already been moving in this direction, but Brittney says it was enlightening to see the different angles on this that the Institute presenters and attendees discussed.
Participants are being asked “How do you want your life to look” and then providers are finding models of residential care and other supports that help individual move in that direction. When DDRC talked about what we’ve been doing for person-centered services, participants from other states said we were ahead of where they were. Additionally, DDRC has a “host home” model and some states/providers don’t offer that. “We’re excited to continue to expand that option and explore other options and approaches to help people find the life they want,” Brittney said.
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During the Leadership Institute it became clear that DDRC is a bit unusual because a good portion of our Direct Service Professionals (DSPs) have worked with DDRC for a long time. Brittney said, “I felt proud about that and thought we are doing things right to have that loyalty and commitment.”
For more information about our Residential Services, including host homes, apartments, group homes or Housing Choice Vouchers contact: Ixsa.Shea@ddrcco.com
or visit https://ddrcco.com/residential/home.
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DDRC's Annual Awards Reception - Oct. 23 | |
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Attention participants, families, donors, friends and people interested in getting more involved with DDRC: We are hosting our Annual Awards Reception on October 23rd from 6:00- 7:30 p.m. and you are invited.
Come help us celebrate our wonderful awardees and see why they are so deserving, enjoy dinner and conversations, and hear reflections from our leadership. It's a touching, inspirational and informative evening!
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Be our guest. The event is free but advance registration is required. Please register by Oct 14.
Register via the QR code or via the Eventbrite link: https://ddrcawards24.eventbrite.com
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Jeffco Ballot Issue 1A Supported by DDRC Board | |
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DDRC’s Board of Directors recently voted to support Ballot Issue 1A which will come before Jefferson County voters on their upcoming fall ballots. The Jefferson County Commissioners unanimously referred the ballot issue to assist with the funding challenges associated with escalating costs to maintain essential services and the growing population.
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Ballot Issue 1A is titled “Notice of election to collect, retain and spend the full revenues from authorized revenue on a referred measure.” The main points of the measure specify that:
“ Without increasing any tax rate or mill levy rate, and to fund:
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Public Safety (wildfire and flood mitigation and response, addiction and mental health programs, crime prevention programs and strategies, and other county public safety functions) and
- Transportation and infrastructure (building, maintaining, and repairing roads, bridges, potholes, and other county infrastructure).
Shall Jefferson County be authorized to collect, retain, and spend the full revenues from authorized revenue sources beginning in fiscal year 2024 and each fiscal year thereafter.
Readers are encouraged to consider this issue carefully as they vote. Please refer to the official “Blue Book” for more information, and pros and cons on this ballot issue, by clicking here.
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Connecting at the Legislative BBQ | |
About 140 people gathered for the 24th Annual Legislative BBQ, an opportunity for constituents, elected officials, and candidates to meet and converse ahead of the elections and enjoy delicious BBQ together. The event was organized and hosted by DDRC, Seniors Resource Center (who led the event this year), Family Tree, Jefferson Center and The Action Center. | |
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Jefferson County Commissioners and candidates for open Jeffco Commissioner district seats were invited to speak, and other Jefferson County candidates and officials were introduced and highlighted in event materials. A panel discussion among the nonprofit event hosts gave the audience and candidates a chance to hear about the host nonprofits’ work and impact, the importance of partnerships, and the purpose and need for connections with elected officials.
We thank all the officials and candidates for sharing their valuable time to join us at this event!
See more photos on our Facebook Page here.
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DSP Recognition Week - Sweet! | |
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What fun and great admiration we felt as we celebrated DDRC’s Direct Support Professionals (DSPs) Recognition Week held Sept. 8-14 at DDRC and all across the country. We celebrated our terrific teams of DSPs, their passion, and the work they do to support people with disabilities through our Day Program/Community Connections, Residential Services, Support Services and Employment Services.
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Our dedicated Board of Directors donated gift cards, made gift bags and delivered them to DSPs at our various sites. They also issued a proclamation to recognize the full impact of these crucial staff. To round out the week, DDRC hosted a morning coffee cart and afternoon lunch for DSPs to give them some of the same nurturing and care that they so beautifully extend to the people they support. | |
If you would like a career as a DSP with an organization who values you and your work, then consider joining our team! See open positions at DDRC on our careers page. | |
Having a Good Meal – Mark Nov.14 to Join Us | |
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Thank you to everyone who made it to Mod Market in Lakewood last month to purchase lunch or dinner, with proceeds going to support the work of DDRC services and programs: giving meaning to "meals that do good.”
We invite you to mark your calendars for Thursday, Nov. 14 to join us for another fundraiser - at Beau Joe’s in Arvada, when proceeds of meals purchased (with a mention of DDRC) will support our services. Deliciously good!
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Community Outreach: Out & About | DDRC had the pleasure to be part of the well-attended provider resource fair at Children’s Hospital Colorado (Aurora) held for their professional and medical staff. Our Early Intervention, Pediatric Behavioral Health Clinic and Community Relations staff spoke with many caring and knowledgeable members of the Children’s Hospital team. It was a great opportunity to learn from each other and make connections. | |
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There were enthusiastic crowds at the “Hope Ink” tattoo events to benefit Jefferson Center’s Suicide Prevention /Awareness efforts. With temporary and permanent tats there was something for everyone to show they care. DDRC was glad to be there as a supporter and in appreciation of everything Jefferson Center does to nurture positive mental health, and in recognition of our partnerships with them.
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We’re committed to meeting the highest standards for charitable operations
and giving, and are proud of the ratings we've achieved!
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Set Your Email Preferences for Emails from DDRC
People served by DDRC and their families:
DDRC sends important information via this “Constant Contact" email platform, including information about DDRC services and supports, announcements of emergencies, etc. Please do not unsubscribe from Constant Contact emails since our communications will be restricted to U.S. mail and will take longer to get to you.
If you prefer not to receive e-newsletters, invitations or donor opportunities please use our “Online Form” to indicate that you do not want to receive such emails. Official notifications about services and supports may then still be sent via Constant Contact. Thank You.
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