www.alliedgroup.org

Asnuntuck partnership enhances
Allied's Transitional Services program

Allied Rehabilitation Centers has established a partnership with Asnuntuck Community College in Enfield. This partnership will benefit high school students and graduates enrolled in Allied's Transitional Services Program called "LIFE" (Learning Independence, Fulfilling Experiences).

According to Edward LaMontagne, Vice President of Community Programs, the partnership provides access to classroom space two times a week for vocational training.

"Even more importantly," Ed states, "it integrates our students into the college community.  They will access a variety of college services, such as the library, book store and cafeteria, and will interact with Asnuntuck students." Students from the Suffield and New Haven School Districts are currently participating in this program.  Allied has served many school districts over the years.

Allied's LIFE Program is designed for students who need further assistance with the transition to adult life. Although these students have met the high school requirements for graduation, they would still benefit from further opportunities to meet identified goals and objectives deemed appropriate on their IndividualizedEducation Plan.

The curriculum for the LIFE Program consists of three major areas: Vocational Training, Life Skills and Recreational/Leisure Programs.  Students attend Allied on a full-time basis during the school year.  Allied's programs are conducted by Esther Samuelson, Manager of Transitional Services and Jennifer Bishop,Transitional Services Instructor.

Information about Allied's LIFE Program is available from Ed LaMontagne, VP of Community Programs, at (860) 741-3701, ext.  221.

Sisters become U.S. Citizens

In 2001, sisters Phuong and Nhu Nguyen came to the United States from Vietnam to join their mother and two other sisters living in Windsor.  A few years later, job-hunting brought them to Allied Community Resources in Enfield.  Phuong was hired in 2004 and was promoted to Accounting Assistant.  Nhu joined us in 2005 as a Data Entry Clerk.  On November 3rd, the sisters followed in the footsteps of their mother and other sisters by taking the oath to become American citizens.  Congratulations!

ACR Employer Trainers help individuals
live at home and gain independence

When you meet the Employer Trainers of Allied Community Resources (ACR), you quickly realize that these individuals are putting Allied's vision of "Creating Opportunities for People" into action virtually every day.

They contact senior citizens, individuals with physical disabilities and individuals with developmental disabilities, who have been approved to receive in-home, non-medical services under one of the state's Medicaid Waiver programs and pilots.  These program participants are about to become home-based employers. 

"They're so thankful when we call," says Employer Trainer Michele Boucher.  "Some have been waiting almost a year to qualify for services and funding.  We often hear 'God bless you.' It's nice to know you're helping someone out."

Scheduling home visits
After the initial phone contact, the Employer Trainer schedules an in-home visit.  They travel all over the state, spending anywhere from one to two hours helping each new program participant fill out paperwork, answering questions and making suggestions about finding, hiring and paying caregivers, obtaining worker's compensation insurance, requesting background checks, working within a budget, etc.

"I enjoy meeting a person I've been talking to on the phone." Employer Trainer Kristy Jones agrees.

"When you see their environment, you can also begin to appreciate some of the challenges they're facing."

Home visits can be very interesting.  The trainers have encountered a wide variety of pets, including friendly but very large and scary looking pit bulls and dogs with muddy paws.  One trainer visited an individual with more than 40 cats.  Thankfully, she wasn't allergic.

Amy-Beth Sirard, ACR's Services and Training Manager, supervises the Employer Trainers.  "They play a significant role in simplifying the transition to household employer," she states.  "They directly impact the lives of the consumers.  They are the gateway to independent living.

Allied provides training in three waiver and pilot programs
Allied provides employer training and fiduciary services for three waiver programs: the Department of Social Services (DSS) Personal Care Assistance (PCA) Waiver and Elder Home Care State Pilot programs; and the Department of Mental Retardation (DMR) Self-Determination and Family Support Waiver program.  A fourth program, the DSS Acquired Brain Injury (ABI) Medicaid Waiver program, does not have an employer training component.

Trainers Kristy Jones and Michele Boucher contact all PCA and Elder Home Care participants.  They visit 8-10 new individuals every week.  Patricia McKenzie is responsible for training DMR participants.  She usually makes three visits a week.

"The Employer Trainers are the first people program participants come in contact with," states ACR Executive Director Carol Bohnet.  "Their professionalism and compassion set the tone for each individual's experience with Allied.  They set the bar for the work that the rest of us do.

"Without the assistance of the Employer Trainers and the entire Fiduciary Services Team performing the paperwork and payment end of the employer responsibilities," Carol adds, "most of these 1,600 individuals would not be able to live in their own homes, in their own communities.  It's the key to their independence."

Allied awards 2006 Human Service Scholarships to Gatcomb and Desilet

Allied Community Services awarded its 2006 Human Service Scholarships to Crystal Gatcomb of Stafford Springs and Ashley Desilet of East Windsor.

Crystal is a 2003 magna cum laude graduate of Springfield College who majored in Rehabilitation &Disability Studies.  She is continuing her studies there toward a graduate degree in Occupational Therapy.  Crystal works as a residential and day program counselor at Tri-County ARC in Columbia, CT, and volunteers her time as an America Reads supervisor.

Ashley is a junior at Springfield College, majoring in Rehabilitation & Disability Studies with a minor in Psychology.  She is an active member of S.A.V.E.  (Stop All Violence Everywhere) at school and volunteers hert ime as an academic tutor.  Ashley is a 2004 graduate of East Windsor High School.

Crystal and Ashley each received $750 scholarships.

Allied awards scholarships annually to college students in their junior, senior or graduate years who are pursuing degrees that will assist individuals with disabilities.  The awards are presented in honor of Evelyn Baron, who served as Executive Director of Greater Enfield ARC from 1974 to 1988; and the late Mildred Kilty, a former Enfield teacher, Special Education coordinator and a member of Allied's Board of Directors for many years.