Message from the Superintendent - Stark County Board of Developmental ...
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Read our quarterly newsletters
online.
Message from the Superintendent
Punxsutawney Phil did not see his
shadow promising us an early
spring, Demi Lovato belted out the
National Anthem, Shakira and J.
Lo danced their way through the
half time show and the Kansas City
Chiefs toppled the 49ers in Super
Bowl LIV. A lot has happened in
February thus far, not to mention
that it was an unprecedented 60
degrees on Monday.
When I think of this month, I see it
The January Provider Meeting focused on as a time for doing. In January, we
employee safety. review the previous year and set
goals and resolutions, but
February is about sticking to them and getting things done. Now is the time we
buckle down. We implement plans. We work on accomplishing goals and objectives.
However, in the haunting words of Robert Burns' 1786 poem, "The best laid plans of
mice and men often go awry."
The tragic killing of Lisa Isom, a dedicated caregiver at a United Partners in Care
home, by a person with a disability began the year and has left us deeply saddened
for the Isom family. It also has focused our attention on safety protocols for those
working in home and community based settings.
At our monthly provider meeting held on Tuesday, January 28th, Tim Dimoff, national
security expert, spoke to over 110 providers and gave them tips on being safe. We
videotaped his training and it will be available on RELIAS for the next 45 days (an
agreement we have with him) so that as many direct support professionals (DSPs)
can receive his teaching. We will also be making it available for our employees to
view as a safety refresher. We expect that Tim Dimoff will also be doing additional in-
person trainings and we will be complementing them by offering Mandt or other crisis
management training systems to ensure the people we mutually serve and DSPs are
safe as they can be.
Internally, we are assembling a lone worker safety committee that will be led by
Connie Poulton, Director of Human Resources. Although we have safeguards, we
know that they can be enhanced and universally implemented for our employees
working in Early Intervention, Provider Compliance, Registered Nurse Quality
Assurance (RNQA), and Investigative Services. The employees on the committee
will have first-hand knowledge of measures that they would like considered. What we
are learning is that lone workers require their own set of safety policies and
procedures to protect them from the inherent risks of working alone in the
community. This committee will be assembled and complete their work by no later
than April. This work is intended to complement our existing safety and security
initiatives, which includes our monthly safety meetings.
This is the final year of our 2017-2020 strategic plan so we will be developing a new
one for 2021 - 2023 in the late summer. Regardless, a goal for us is to make sure
everyone in Stark County not only knows our name, but is aware of what we do:
support people with disabilities and their families.
I thank our readership for supporting the Stark County Board of Developmental
Disabilities as we serve over 3,859 people and their families.
Sincerely,
2019 Progress Report now available
"Without continual growth and
progress, such words as
improvement, achievement, and
success have no meaning."
Benjamin Franklin
With our four year strategic plan, we
are actively pursuing "continual
growth and progress" so that we
fulfill our mission of "supporting
people with disabilities and their
families." We supported 3,859
people with disabilities in 2019 and
we did it one person at a time. What
guided us are the 37 goals and
objectives that make up our
strategic plan.
Our 2019 Annual Progress Report
tells our story from the past year:
what we have achieved and what
we still want to accomplish in the
final year of our 2017-2020 Strategic Read our 2019 Annual Progress Report
Plan.
Once you have reviewed our 2019 Annual Progress Report, we would like your input.
Please take a few minutes to complete our online survey by clicking the link below.
Your feedback can influence our work this year, and help us focus on the future as
we look to creating our 2021 - 2023 Strategic Plan.
Survey: Stark DD 2019 Annual Progress Report
Free movie event focuses on advocacy
Rated - PG-13. Run Time - 93 minutes
When: Wednesday, February 26;
Doors open at 5:30 PM, Show starts at 6 PM
Place: Canton Palace Theatre
605 Market Ave, North, Canton
The Stark County Board of Developmental Disabilities invites self-advocates,
families, friends and our community to a FREE showing of "The Peanut Butter
Falcon" followed by small group discussions about self-advocacy efforts for people
with disabilities in our community. Help us fill the theater!
Movie viewing will be sensory friendly; concession stand will be open AND we will
offer a Combo Meal Special (pizza, chips, small drink) for a small cost.
Admission is free, but reservations are encouraged. Reserve your ticket here.
Not familiar with downtown Canton? There are several parking options around the
Palace.
Second Annual Mall Walk for Awareness
Second Annual
Walk for Awareness
When: Friday, March 6
Time: 10 AM - 11 AM
Where: Belden Village Mall
4230 Belden Village Street NW, Canton
Meet us at center court as we join the Stark community for a little bit of exercise,
conversation, information and a whole lot of awareness!
Talk with Stark DD specialists, as well as visit our interactive stations:
Stark DD services I Early Intervention Assessments I
Become a Direct Support Professional I Check your Body Mass Index (BMI)
Looking Ahead
February 11 / 6 PM / Walthers Twin Tavern, 440 Applegrove
St. NW, North Canton
Sharing Solutions, an intellectual/developmental disabilities
support group for families, caregivers and professionals. Topics:
Josh Cook, The Arc of Ohio, and Elizabeth Bailey, Safe at Home,
present "Newest Technology Devices Available to the I/DD
Community" and Suzanne Dugan, Siffrin Academy, Kent State
University - Stark Campus. This Academy is an a unique
opportunity of classroom (education) study and field experience in
a university setting. RSVP to Jodi Broom. *Social hour from 5-6
PM*
February 13 / 7-- 9 PM / Massillon Knights of Columbus, 988
Cherry Rd. NW, Massillon
Adult Social Night. Must be 18 years of age and over, and
follow the Adult Social Night Guidelines to attend. Plan ahead, see
the 2020 Adult Social Night Calendar.
February 18 / 12 PM / Stark County Board of DD - Whipple-
Dale Centre
Stark DD Monthly Finance committee meeting. Open to the public.
February 21 / 3 PM / Stark County Board of DD - Whipple- Dale Centre Stark DD Monthly Personnel committee meeting. Open to the public. February 25 / 6 PM / Stark County Board of DD - Whipple- Dale Centre Stark DD Monthly Board meeting. Open to the public. February 26 / 5:30 PM -- 8:30 PM / Canton Palace Theatre, 605 Market Ave. North, Canton Stark DD hosts a "Movie & Conversation" featuring the 2019 hit "Peanut Butter Falcon" followed by small group discussions about self-advocacy efforts in our community. Cost is FREE, but ticket reservations are recommended. Visit Canton Palace Theatre to reserve your tickets. March 6 / 10 AM -- 11 AM / Belden Village Mall, 4230 Belden Village St. NW, Canton Meet us as center court for the Second Annual Walk for Awareness. Get a little exercise, information and awareness. Talk with Stark DD staff and visit our interactive displays about Early Intervention assessments, Direct Support Professionals, checking your Body Mass Index (BMI). March 19 / 5 PM -- 7 PM / Walsh University - Cecchini Center, 2020 E. Maple St., North Canton Unified match-up with Stark County Special Olympians teaming up with Stark DD staff. Admission is FREE.
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