The power of relationships by Drew Bielemeier, senior vice president of operations

 As an agency, we are dedicated to education as a way to improve the quality of our support and ensure the safest environment for those we support and our employees. We know how to safely support someone in receiving complex medications and perform CPR, how to support people with evacuating for fire drills and how to properly fasten safety q-straints for those requiring wheelchairs.

While education is an important part of our success, we need to talk more about something that also has proven to keep people safer and happier: relationships. We know that when the support professionals and the people we support become friends, advocacy increases and mistakes decrease. We know that when people genuinely care about one another, they’re less likely to cut corners or rush. And we know that those friendships open up a greater opportunity.

We call that social capital, and study after study shows that stronger social ties translate into better mental and physical health for people of all abilities. Relationships are that powerful! It all begins with the genuine and authentic relationship of two. 

Noah served as an usher at Drew and Jennison’s wedding. “I was shaking in my boots,” he said, but he wanted to do a good job for himself and for his friends. Now, he’s excited about moving to an apartment of his own with support that’s customized to his individual needs. “It’s going to be good for me.”

Joanne likes to visit with Drew at Rotary Sunshine Camp -- and she especially likes it when he brings shrimp for her. Their friendship is good, she said, adding that she always hugs Drew.

Heritage Christian – in partnership with Lifetime Assistance – recently brought in Al Condeluci to Rochester to talk about social capital. Condeluci has been an advocate and catalyst for building community capacities and understanding culture since 1970. He has worked as an attendant, caseworker, advocate, planner, program director and now, CEO of his organization, UCP/CLASS.  He has emerged as a national leader and consultant on human services and community issues, and he has some great talks on YouTube. Each session runs about seven minutes. Check them out to learn more.

Al Condeluci on building community, part 1:

Al Condeluci on building social capital:

Heritage Christian Services opens new home with help from Rochester community

Brighton, NY – Feb. 11, 2013 – Thanks to hundreds of volunteers and community supporters, six people with developmental disabilities have a new home that better fits their medical needs. Schools, churches, businesses, Rotary and government agencies pulled together to build the new home near Twelve Corners in Brighton, and many of those supporters celebrated the grand opening with Heritage Christian Services today at nearby Twelve Corners Presbyterian Church. 

The new home is adjacent to a two-story apartment building that’s operated by HCS and is currently home to 10 individuals with developmental disabilities. Five of those individuals have moved to the new one-level home, and they have been joined by one person from the community who was waiting for residential services. The five units on the second floor in the current apartment building will be converted into apartments for people who are ready for more independence.  

“By keeping the apartments and new home together, we’re able to preserve the family network that has grown among the people living here these past 20 years. We’re also able to be efficient with our resources – whether that means sharing land resources or staff support,” said Ron Little, the agency’s vice president of finance and agency advancement.

This model will help pave the way for HCS and other agencies to serve more people across New York state, chipping away at the waiting list of more than 11,700. The new reality is that agencies and parents can no longer count on Medicaid funding to completely pay for residential, comprehensive clinical care and vital programs like respite. Heritage Christian is being proactive by engaging the community and offering solutions so people can get the support they need and the quality care they deserve. Each solution offers the chance for another family to be served, another person to have the chance to experience independence. And each new solution chips away at the waiting list.

 

A sampling of community partners:

Twelve Corners Presbyterian Church; Perinton Presbyterian Church; Webster Presbyterian Church; St. Catherine’s Church (Mendon); First Baptist Church and Society (Rochester); Twelve Corners Men’s Bible Study; Pen-Web Rotary; Brighton Rotary; Rochester Rotary; Irondequoit Rotary; Charles J. & Burton S. August Family Foundation (Rochester); Davenport-Hatch Foundation, Inc. (Penfield); Kilian J. & Caroline F. Schmitt Foundation (Rochester); Flower City Habitat for Humanity; Brighton Central School District; KeyBank; Wegmans; Morse Sash & Door; Solid Surfaces (Rochester); Accurate Acoustical, Inc. (Victor); Empire State Carpenters Apprenticeship; Turner Engineering  (East Rochester); Taylor, the Builders (Penfield); DDS Engineers (Rochester); SWBR Architects (Rochester); Hoselton Auto Mall; Toyota Dealer Match Program; DDSO; Monroe County

About Heritage Christian Services

Heritage Christian Services supports more than 1,700 children and adults with disabilities; provides high quality child care; and matches business owners with talented workers who have developmental disabilities. The agency now operates more than 70 neighborhood homes; offers service coordination, respite, community habilitation and 27 day programs; has been recognized by the Office for People With Developmental Disabilities as one of New York state's top service providers to people with special needs; and recently earned national accreditation from the Council on Quality and Leadership.

Successful communication starts with authenticity

By Marisa Geitner, president & C.E.O. of Heritage Christian Services

Great communication is key to the success of any organization – especially one like ours with such an important mission. But long lasting success rarely comes from large corporate communications plans. It comes instead from authentic conversations, the kind where all those invested in our mission not only receive information but feel that they, too, have been heard. 

These conversations – planned or spontaneous, between two or among many – set the tone for an entire agency. They are where we learn from one another or push each other away. They are where we strengthen our culture and our commitment to the people we serve or shut down innovative ideas.

So, what can we do?

We can turn off our automatic responses and listen more. We can show emotion and make it easier for people to read us and our intentions. We can talk about what is going right and plan how to make it work even better. We can offer specific feedback that helps people grow and learn. We can take risks and share what’s most important to us and to the people we serve, always with tact so we’re offering dignity and showing respect.

We can model courage and honesty in all that we do because that is the kind of communication that strengthens a great organization.

The importance of tradition

A guest post from Marisa Geitner, president & C.E.O. of Heritage Christian Services

 

My kids and I are always in the kitchen. At the holidays we bake pies and Christmas cookies, and in the summer we try new ways to use the vegetables from our garden.

It’s our tradition. It’s one way we spend time together.

At Heritage Christian, we have traditions, too – things we do that make us family. 

We celebrate important milestones. 

We cheer as people cross finish lines and learn to do more than they ever thought possible. 

We care.

We talk a lot about treating people with Christian compassion, about becoming love in action. Love says that we must open our hearts to the people we serve and the people we work with. It requires us to be patient, humble and kind, and it encourages us to see the good in every situation.

That’s a tradition I’m especially proud of.

What Heritage Christian traditions mean the most to you? What helps you feel like family?