29 Years of Unwavering Dedication

 

Marisa Geitner and Anne Scoppa have known each other for close to two decades. They are proud of Heritage Christian's history -- and look forward to its future.

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

This month we celebrate 29 years as an agency – 29 years of relationships, accomplishments, and advocacy. 

Our numbers have grown, and our properties and programs have expanded. But the real measure of our agency’s success has been its unwavering dedication to the people we support.

At a time when people with developmental disabilities rarely traveled, we took people to Disney World. At a time when people spent their days assembling widgets, taking them apart and reassembling them, we created day programs that offered meaningful activities and opportunities to learn and give back by volunteering. 

In a country that barely recognizes its citizens with disabilities; we’ve been teaching and modeling with each mission trip. Every year, teams of volunteers travel to Guatemala with close to 900 pounds of gifts in their luggage – and love in their hearts for all of God’s children. Last year we sent 250 wheelchairs, along with crutches and walkers, to Hope Haven International for distribution to people in need around the world.

And at a time when Medicaid is changing and funds are shifting? We’re at the table with decision makers and we’re shaping policy.

It’s who we are and who we’ll always be. We have a history to be proud of and a future of innovation to look forward to.

The greater the measure of our accomplishment is the greater the Glory to our Lord.  It is through Him and with Him that this ministry grows.

Creating a future that's mission-focused

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

Any time your budget is tied to government funding, there will be fluctuations in funding.

This year we’re facing a budget cut, and our reimbursement rates haven’t been adjusted for inflation in several years. We’re also figuring out how to adapt to a Medicaid system that’s being completely redesigned, meaning how care is coordinated– and what it will pay for – will be vastly different than what we’re used to. Plus, the state is working on standardizing its reimbursement rates. So, for example, an agency that provides the bare minimum in its day programs and an agency that enriches its day programs will be paid the same.

It’s natural to have concerns about changes in our funding. It’s healthy to wonder. But we need to focus on the task at hand – creating a future that’s as much about our mission as it is about the numbers.

• We have many people in need; we must create supports and services that remain relevant as the system changes.  Our services must be individualized, flexible and affordable.
• We are collaborating differently with similar agencies to prepare for the Medicaid redesign and may begin to share services as a means of directing even more dollars to our care.
• We’re fortunate we have employees whose high quality of care makes it possible for the Heritage Christian Foundation to continue to grow.  That money, a savings account of sorts, is a resource for the agency now and will steady us in the future.
• We will continue to invest in those employees because they create the culture that is the Heritage Christian difference.

Employees at Heritage Christian often support people as they build relationships and volunteer in the community.

Our competitive advantage is the power of prayer and commitment to a common purpose. Together – with God’s guidance – we’ll weather this change and thrive as we meet the demands of those in need with the highest quality supports and services.

Any ministry that’s not constantly reforming isn’t living up to its full potential. And we won’t settle for anything less.

What Really Matters

 

Heritage Christian is proud to announce it has earned a national accreditation for Person Centered Excellence from The Council on Quality and Leadership. As part of that accreditation process, a group of people invested in the success of the agency – including self advocates, direct support professionals, families of people served by HCS, various community partners and agency leadership – gathered to explore how people could have more authority to plan and pursue their personal vision for their lives.

The group focused on creating a plan called “What Really Matters.” The plan identifies four key areas to focus on: making sure individuals have easy access to their money; working to improve transportation options so people’s rides can be available when and where they want them; offering opportunities to participate in community experiences so lasting, natural relationships can form; and advocating so people can have greater control over choosing their service providers.

Bobby Terry, a self advocate, talks about the importance of focusing on the things that matter most:

Hi everyone. My name is Bobby Terry. I'm going to talk about people having more access to their money and how they spend it and how – as an agency – we can make service better for the people that we support by listening differently to the things that matter most to each person.

For me, it’s important that I be included more in the banking process, so I can go the bank with or without my support person. I also need easier access to my own money. I think that is what we mean when we say having money when we need it or want it.

The last thing I want to cover is helping people getting to and from places no matter how many staff members are working that day.  

These are some of the things that matter most to me and that’s why I advocate for them to improve, but I’m glad the agency is focusing on what matters to each person so each person is valued. All these changes I think will help people understand what’s happening in the agency and also let them know their voices are being heard and help them see they make a difference.

About The Council on Quality and Leadership

CQL works with organizations across the country to help improve the quality of life for people with disabilities, mental illness and older adults. CQL helps organizations focus on the person served, ensuring that the person defines the outcomes that are most important to their life.

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.