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dFs News 5454 East State Street Editor: Nancy J. Tusinac, M.Ed., Program Director P.O. Box 1027 Layout Design: Chris Maurice Hermitage, PA 16148 724-346-2123

www.diversifiedfamily.org Winter 2010

Diversified Family Services- Continued 2005-2010 By Marilyn Klemens

This is the last installment in the four-part series on the history and growth of dFs. In 2005 dFs was providing services to about 150 clients through the efforts of 100 employees with funding of almost 4 million dollars. Due to our agency growth, we were extremely crowded in our old office. In response to our need, many of our employees donated to the building campaign. Our board members also understood our need for more space and donated $15,000 as individuals, and additionally raised

$15,000 through our first Celebrity Doodles fundraiser. Through these efforts and other donations we raised over $100,000 towards the down payment on the building. We received tax-free financing for our project from the Mercer County Industrial Development Authority, through a mortgage with First National Bank. With our funding in place, we had a ceremonial groundbreaking in August of 2005 with our “gold” shovels. While construction was underway,

business continued as usual at our former site. Construction was completed in May, 2006. Then we had the overwhelming task of moving 10 years worth of belongings and records! We celebrated our new facility with an Open House on June 8th. An Honor Guard from Hickory VFW conducted a flag raising ceremony to start the festivities. Reverend Douglas K. Dayton, Board Vice-President, gave the invocation. James W. Stevenson, Board President, welcomed everyone and gave a brief historical overview of the building project. Members of the Board had the joy of cutting the ribbon to officially open our new building.

In This Issue

The Early Years 2005-2010 .......................... 1 Pink for Cause .......................................................... 4 Years 2005-2010 ........................................... 2 CHAPS Chatter ........................................................ 5 Star of the Month .......................................... 3 Client Holiday Party/Parade Info ............................. 5 New Employees ............................................ 3 Pictures .................................................................... 6 Summary of Surprise Staff Awards ............... 3 Dr. McElree Honored ............................................... 7 Open House ................................................... 4 Special Events .......................................................... 7

We Need Your Help......................................4

  

   

After the ribbon cutting, CHAPS clients invited the guests to watch them perform a skit about relocating to the new building. Employees gave guests guided tours of the new building and guests enjoyed refreshments. About 150 people attended the event. In July, 2006 we opened a 4 person group home in Venango County. This was quite an opportunity for dFs as we expanded our presence as a regional

provider. In 2007 dFs was the honored recipient of the Shenango Valley Chamber of Commerce Phoenix Award in the nonprofit division. During the past three years dFs has continued to grow as a regional provider as we now provide ODP services in Mercer, Crawford, Lawrence & Venango counties. We have also experienced significant growth in our Habilitation Aide services. Currently we serve 185 individuals and their families each year, employ 200 staff and have an operating budget of over 5.5 million dollars.

This has been a special year as we’ve reflected on our accomplishments and growth over these 25 years of providing services to people with intellectual disabilities & their families. Highlights of the past year have included: the commemorative agency calendar; the client appreciation picnic and carnival and the provider dinner. The most significant event was our 25th Anniversary Dinner at the Corinthian.

dFs was honored to receive both a citation from the PA House of Representatives and recognition from United States House of Representatives. It was my great pleasure to share our agency history with our guests and to publicly thank our board members and employees for all they have done to support this organization over these years.

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I’d like to close with this quotation from our recognition award from the US House of Representatives: “The United States House of Representatives does hereby honor Diversified Family Services as being an invaluable asset to the greater Hermitage community and hereby commends their endless humanitarian efforts, all their dedication, hard work and encouragement that have helped to guide countless families and individuals with intellectual disabilities toward a path of self-reliance, and consequently shown them that they can truly have a better life.”

Contributed by: Stacey Llewellyn, Personnel Assistant

Dave Guido, TAA was selected as August’s “Star of the Month.”

The “Star of the Month” for September was RPS, Michele Groover.

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Board Member, Dr. Frank McElree, was selected as October’s “Star of the Month”.

A certificate was placed in the office waiting area in honor of each “star.” Each “star” receives a token of appreciation. In addition, each “star’s” name was added to the “Star of the Month” plaque that is located on the “dFs Wall of Fame.” Congratulations to all recipients of this award!

Direct Care Professionals

Doug Aller Tom Durisko Deland Quarles Carmella Blackwell Whitney Hall Rhonda Reimold Lakisha Bridges Lynette Hartley Johna Rerko Ciara Buck Amber Kellner Theora Scott Durene Carter Kimberly Lampkins Brandi Shrawder Cindy Chambers Cassandra Minshull Erica Smallwood Nelsea Davis Keith Moulin Jeremy Spangler Jennifer Dixon Patrick O’Connor Linda Strickler Amanda Dollman Sam Plyler Patricia Zinz Steven Proctor

By Andrea Davidson, Quality Improvement Coordinator July, “Good Housekeeping” was a tie between Buhl Court and Clarksville, both received a score of 100% on the Infection Control Inspection.

August , “Best Use of the Digital Camera”-West First Street, Venango County

September,

Buhl Court for

“Kitchen Cleanliness”

CHECK THIS OUT !!! dFs is now on Facebook: visit us at www.facebook.com/diversifiedfamily

By Carol Medford Clients have been gathering together recently to learn about themselves as well as to share ideas with each other. Thank you to HCQU staff who assisted us with providing a series of trainings on relationships. This fall clients explored how they feel about themselves as well as others through topics such as understanding feelings and emotions, accepting themselves and others, and building relationships. These sessions were well attended, and the participation was very enthusiastic. This coming spring another series of classes, which will center on acquiring practical skills, will be offered. Diversified Family staff will lead these groups

on making good decisions, acquiring conversation skills, and learning about rights as well as responsibilities. We hope that the clients will continue to find these opportunities to be both educational and fun.

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By Carol Medford

On Thursday October 14, 2010, dFs held an open house at the main office. A sign out front announced that we were open to the public in the afternoon for tours. That morning, staff busily geared up for the festivities by creating informational displays and sprucing up their offices, while the clients and staff in CHAPS prepared food. Once everything was ready, staff greeted visitors in the lobby and took them throughout the building. The tours ended in the conference room, where our guests could learn about the variety of services offered by dFs as well as eat the scrumptious homemade treats arranged and waiting for them. Everyone had an enjoyable time. The day was one more way for us to show that we excel

On Friday, December 17th dFs will be at Macy’s from noon to 8 pm offering gift wrapping services to Macy’s Shenango Valley Mall customers. We will work in 3 hour shifts with 3 people per shift so we need 9 spirited souls to volunteer their time (the last shift 6-8 will be only 2 hours but will also include clean-up). The gift wrappings are $5.00 and $8.00 and dFs keeps all the proceeds. Macy’s provides the wrapping supplies. If you are a gift wrap guru please volunteer your time for this fund raising opportunity for dFs. To volunteer please call 724-346-2123 and give your name and phone number to the operator. THANK YOU !!!

at teamwork, and we are proud to work for the dFs family.

by Stacey Cannon,

dFs participated in PaFund. Employees contribut

RN

ssionately Pink for the Cure, raising $142.00 for the Susan G Komen st.

ohnson. r.

ed $5.00 to wear a pin and pink along with jeans on October 21There was also a raffle for items that were donated by Stacey Cannon and Tiffany J

The winner of the raffle was Residential Program Supervisor, Michele Groove

Written by Ken Avery, TAA

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Diversified Family Services’ (dFs) Community Habilitation and Pre-Vocational Services department (CHAPS) is a growing environment. CHAPS serves as a

the

e

gradually becoming

rtunity to

Currently, the most popular service omedia department is the Digital Phot h turns your memorable photos into data discs that can be

enjoy being able to view a history through pictures of the staff me

mpact discs, which clients especially

vice because VCRs are

ommunity; whether its problem

n is

l

By Christina Sheirer

Come and join us for our 2010 dFs Client Holiday Party! The party will be held this year at the dFs office on December 14th 2010 from be

es and activities along with festive holiday music! Jay Brenner, a magician will perform.

Support dFs this year at the Hermitage Light-Up Night Parade Saturd . Look for the Christmas Tree Forest Float sponsored by dFs and featuring handmade ornaments and decorations

If you are interested in making a tax deductable donation, please call dFs for

s to which are tax deductible to the fullest extent permitted by law.

way for clients to succeed in building the skills necessary to perform in a competitive employment setting, should they choose to pursue that opportunity. There are many ways the CHAPS staff preparesclients for a future in the work place, from knitting, vending machine sales, card making, and also sewing thtrendy Capri Sun bags.

Our media department is

a popular opportunity for the clients. This is a great opposupport their efforts by purchasing media services.

ffered through the o Converter, whic

viewed either on a computer or a DVD player. The clients not only enjoy performing the work, but they also

Another well-liked service includes our TEAC Multi Music Player/ CD Recorder that can convert old records and tapes into co

mbers.

enjoy this because they listen to a variety of different types of music ranging from Beethoven and Mozart to the Beatles and Beach Boys. Last, our JVC DVD Video Recorder serves as a cost efficient way to convert VHS home videos to a DVD disc. This is a very popular serbecoming increasingly outdated; this serves as a way to keep all your memories while keeping up with today’scurrent technology.

Each work station in the media department provides clients the opportunity to use skills needed to pursue employment in the csolving; such as finding the correct way to properly place an oversized picture into the scanner, or attentioto detail like focusing on the correct recording speed selected when attempting to fit a home video onto a DVD. Through working in the media department the dFs clients not only receive training to learn the necessary skills to perform in the work place, but alsohave the opportunity to be involved with technologicaadvances that we all enjoy.

11am-2pm.Lunch will be provided and there willgamPlease join us and remember to wear your favorite holiday attire! Please RSVP to the receptionist at the front desk by December 7th, 2010.

ay, November 20, 2010 at 6:00 p.m

made by the individuals we serve. a list of items that are still needed. The official registration and financial information of Diversified Family Services, Inc may be obtained from the Pennsylvania Department of State by calling toll-free, within Pennsylvania, 1-800-732-0999. Registration does not imply endorsement. Diversified Family Services is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization –

donation

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TTiiss`̀ tthhee SSeeaassoonn

Come be a part of the Holiday cheer.

Join Diversified Family Services

in our First Holiday Sing Along.

Tuesday, December 7, 2010 5:30p-9:30p, singing starts at 7:00p

Refreshments and Santa’s workshop (handmade merchandise by CHAPS

clients); a children’s activity table will be available free of charge, however

donations are welcome.

Holy Trinity Lutheran Church 3325 Morefield Rd. Hermitage, PA 16148

Dr. Frank McElree Recognized at Annual Meeting By Andrea Davidson Dr. Frank E. McElree has recently resigned from the dFs Board of Directors. At the agency’ annual meeting on September 28th, Board President Jim Stevenson and Executive-Director Marilyn Klemens presented him with an

Star of the

consultant. For the next sevencolumn for our agency newsle

Stacey Cannon, Health inator, remembers Dr. McElree as a physician who took extra time to really talk with both c nts an Dr

the

the

ment Committee. Dr. McElree and his wife Gerry purchased the flag pole for the agency, ters of all three Celebrity Doodles fundraisers.

sponsoring a food drive to benefit the Shenango  Valley Food Warehouse.  For every item brought in before November 12 for the drive, a coupon  

Camp 

chances………!

inscribed brick in his honor for our courtyard and also the agency’s “Month” award.

Dr. Frank began working with our agency in 1998 as our medical years, he provided oversight to our health services and also wrote a popular tter titled “Frank’s Suggestions.”

Services Coord lie d staff, frequently inquiring about the staff’s family and activities.

McElree’s warm personality, along with his generous deliveries of food for the office staff, endeared him toentire dFs family.

In 2005, when dFs no longer continued JCAHO accreditation, Dr. McElree resigned his medical consultant position and became a member of the board. He was a faithful, generous and valuable member of board. He actively served on various committees, including Building Committee, Audit/Finance Committee and Board Developcontributed to the building fund, and were staunch suppor

All of us here at dFs want to express our deepest appreciation to Dr. McElree for his years of dedicated service to our agency.

The Community Awareness Committee is 

will be given for a chance to win a dFs chair.   

The more items….. 

the  more 

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BOARD OF DIRECTORS President .................... Jim Stevenson Vice President ...... Audra Kosmowski Secretary .............. Andrea Davidson Treasurer ................... Carole Giroski Member ...................... Jennifer Cidila Member ............... Dana Frankenburg Member .............. Marilyn Heckathorn Member ............. Rosemarie Janosko Member ....................... Ken Johnston Member ................... Timothy Thomas Member ........................... Me irizio Member ...................... Jame Shaffer Member .................. Russell Swauger

g Ms

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