www.nhtc.org | Spring 2018

New DirectionsNHTCNorthern Hills Training Center

To enhance lives and achieve dreams.

Art Exhibit

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Seven people supported recently had the ex-citement of exhibiting their artwork to familyand friends. Sarah Hoffman, Sheila Davidson,

Todd Fossen, JC Barba, Kaylene Rost, Melissa Heckel,and Diana Treadway took part in a five-month long artclass, developed and taught by Elizabeth Mattson, DirectSupport Professional.

The students determined what they wanted to learn and were involved in every project decision.The class began in June as the students developed their drawing skills by studying technique, compo-sition, and color application. Throughout the class, the students learned how to work with media thatwas unfamiliar to them, how to apply color in har-monies and compliments, and how to view theirsurroundings with new perspectives, embracingtheir unique styles in the process. These sessions ledinto the fall, when students developed their paint-ing skills and built off techniques covered earlier inthe drawing unit. During one class, the group wentto a park and picked up sticks, paper, bottle tops,one plastic fork, and other objects to incorporateinto a piece of work. The class culminated with agroup painting project and art exhibit.

CommunitySupervisedArt Class

Artists and their project.

Northern Hills Training Center New Directions U www.nhtc.org2

Start of the Legislative Session and changesto Vocational Services are on the horizon!

Northern Hills Training Center (NHTC) and the other members of the SouthDakota Association of Community Support Providers (CSPs) are beginning theannual push to lobby our South Dakota State Legislature for more funding. Thisyear we met with the Division of Developmental Disabilities in an attempt to haveour need for increased funding included in the Governor’s statewide budget. De-spite our best efforts, this request was not included in this year’s budget. CSPswere told that a lack of revenue, along with the Governor’s preference for the StateLegislature to award any additional funding, were the reasons for this decision.

Currently the federal government will be reimbursing states through Indian Health Services, for thoseof Native American ethnicity, who receive Center for Medicare and Medicaid (CMS) Services. Thiswill be a cost savings to the entire system. We will advocate to legislators to reinvest those savingsback into CSPs, rather than placing those savings in the state General Fund or other programs. Thereare also legislative bills being proposed that may generate potential revenue that could be used to in-crease funding to CSPs, such as a proposed Tobacco Tax Bill. CSP agencies will continue to supportany of these forms of legislation that could potentially increase funding for the people we support,and increase wages for and retention of, our dedicated support staff.

On June 1, 2018, the Division of Developmental Disabilities will implement a statewide change inrules for employment of people with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities. Many of the peoplewe serve at NHTC will not be affected; however, some who work under our current 14c SubminimumWage Certificate will see changes. There will be time limitations of 18 months from the date of theirISP, for people working in sheltered workshops, with the potential for some extensions. The changeswill not affect our job crews; these changes only apply to facility based work. Preparing individualsfor work in the community is the goal of CMS; however, we realize that one type of employment op-tion does not fit all that we serve. Therefore NHTC’s Day Services Department is strategizing optionsto effectively offer work and recreation opportunities that ensure people have productive and mean-ingful days. We will continue to work closely with individuals and their teams, to determine the bestoption for those we serve. Treasures Thrift Store, our woodshop, job crews and assembly work willcontinue for the immediate future, but over the next two years, there will be gradual changes in theemployment options that we will be permitted to offer, under changing federal and state rules onemployment. If you have any questions about these pending changes, please contact myself or ourDirector of Vocational & Day Services, April Galea.

Richard S. Mulholland, CEO

If you would like to receive our newsletter electronically, sign up at www.nhtc.orgIf you are a member of Facebook, view the NHTC Facebook page

by searching for Northern Hills Training Center.

From the CEO

Blue Diamond Award Winner2017 Fourth Quarter: Elizabeth Mattson

Tori Anderson Elizabeth Mattson Lisa Spraitz

Nominees:

Congratulations are in order…

Simply the BEST…

3Northern Hills Training Center New Directions U www.nhtc.org

New Directions is published three times ayear for friends of Northern Hills TrainingCenter, a nonprofit organization that pro-vides vocational and independent livingservices to empower adults with disabilities,encouraging all to strive for their ultimatepotential in all aspects of their lives. Permis-sion to copy articles is granted, when appro-priate credit is given. NHTC does not givelegal or tax advice. For this information,contact your attorney or tax advisor.

NHTC Board of DirectorsGreg Kruskamp, President

Dana Sneesby, Vice PresidentJane Klug, Secretary / Treasurer

Russ Graesser, Josh Horak and Tracey Steinbach

Rich MulhollandChief Executive Officer

Sandra NelsonChief Financial Officer

Delana MoserDirector of Nursing

Cheryl Rohlf and Amy MackDirectors of Residential Services

April GaleaDirector of Vocational & Day Services

Ryan AalbuDirector of Human Resources

Deb LeigeDirector of Support & Quality Services

Chris DavisCommunity Relations Coordinator

Gary PummelProgram Manager, Tinton

Dean ReuerInformation Technology

Monte BercierMaintenance & Transportation Officer

Lynn GronvoldAdministrative Assistant

Joan KirschmanOffice Manager

Administration, Workshop625 Harvard Street

Spearfish, SD 57783-1897605-642-2785 Fax: 605-642-5069Email: mulholland@nhtc.orgWebsite: www.nhtc.org

NHTC Connections625 Harvard Street 605-642-2785

Treasures Thrift Store714 N. 5th St. 605-722-1046

Housing730 Harvard 605-559-0201Cypress Suites 605-559-0141

1005 Canyon Street 605-717-10051015 Canyon Street 605-717-1015

King Street Apartments 605-559-6503815 34th Street 605-717-81501620 Ryan Road 605-717-1620

Hill Street Main Floor 605-717-7287Hill Street Supervised 605-559-0363

NHTC NORTHERN HILLSTRAINING CENTER

10 YearsDarcy Bryant

5 YearsTeri RuzickaRobin PearceLaTisha WendtAimee Tyler

Rabecca Lauer

1 YearAshley Hall

Bayli TalkingtonMary RootLisa SpraitzAllanah HareLaura Nord

Caroline Mcvey

6 MonthsJerred TraceyKellie KephartKayse Labine

Jay FossLynn GronvoldSamantha JamesPeggy BrungardtShannon ZwetzigRebecca Bradley

6 Months continued

Whitney SchnaibleJosie HeinbaughHailey NewmanAubrey BeattieAndrea SipeDalton ErskinNickie ColeShaile Litzel

Madeline KurtzDan DziadekBillie Jo Kester

Samantha RobertsDeb Fritz

Morgan BlakemanJackie KuhnAngel BrittonKris LarsonTysha Muller

Years ofServiceNHTCNorthern Hills Training Center

Patty Davidsonand Amanda SailorPatty received the Excellence in Service Award for NHTC.

4

Halloween Party

Northern Hills Training Center New Directions U www.nhtc.org

Top: Room view Above: Treat line

Left: Ring Toss Right: Dressed for the party

Haunted house Tray of treats

Christmas Party

Northern Hills Training Center New Directions U www.nhtc.org 5

Coming to the party

Helpful reindeer

Mrs. Claus and friends

Brandi and Vonnie

Above: Santa’s Room

Left: Gingerbread house construction

UpcomingEvents

April 7AwardsBanquet

June 27Blood Driveat NHTC

October 16Chili Feed

Visit our website to find these buttons.

You may also donate directly to NHTC throughPayPal and the DONATE button on our website.

6 Northern Hills Training Center New Directions U www.nhtc.org

continued from page 1 ART

NHTC now has two ways that you cansupport us when shopping online:

Help savepostageandprintingcosts!Receive NHTC’snewsletter, “New Directions,” by emailor read it on-line. Either option is available by visitingwww.nhtc.org. Besure to let Joan know if you nolonger wish to havethe newsletter sent toyou at your postal address. joan@nhtc.orgor 605-642-2785, Ext. 201.

Elizabeth says,“Each student’s workis very unique and Iwas delighted to getto know new thingsabout everyone asthey talked abouttheir work. I am soproud to see howthese artists havegrown and learned.They all started outthe class having a fewart skills and finishedthe class with even more skills than they expected they were capable of.It was such a joy to see them try new things and for them to realize thatthey are able to achieve whatever they set their mind to with a little de-termination and teamwork. These artists became a tight knit group asthey encouraged each other and rejoiced in everyone’s success.”The art class is tentatively scheduled to resume in the fall.

Todd and his visitors.

Kaylene and her art pieces.

Thank you to our donors:October 25, 2017-January 9, 2018

Thank You forThinking of NHTC

and Donating to NHTC and Friends of NHTC Foundation

Northern Hills Training Center New Directions U www.nhtc.org 7

Builder ($1000-4999)Robert & Neely FoxSpearfish Walmart

Robert & Carmen Dolen

Sustainer ($500-999)Spearfish Electric & HeatingSteve & Lea Anderson

Our Savior’s Lutheran Church

Advocate ($150-499)Black Hills Federal Credit Union

Edwin BakerFirst Interstate BankSpearfish WalmartGreg & Cheryl LindJ.L. HarknessBoyd Waara

Friend ($50-149)Georgia Feist

Richard & Alice VoorheesMarcella GundersonGene & Diane Haivala

William JordanSCCC Ladies

John & Berna Dene BaumannHoward & Elaine Perry

Noah Hines

Neighbor ($1-49)Bruce & Connie EllingsonTom & Judy Hodson

Our Savior’s LutheranChurch Quilters

Awards Banquet42nd ANNUAL

Northern Hills Training CenterCordially Invites You to the

Registration and photos in the lobby begin at 11:30 a.m. Lunch served at noon.

Yes! I /we want to attend the Annual Awards Banquet Saturday, April 7, 2018 at 11:30amNHTC will make reservations for your NHTC-supported family member.

MEAL ORDERS WILL ONLY BE MADE FOR MEALS PAID FOR IN ADVANCE.

Name ________________________________________ Meal Choice: ___Roasted Turkey ___ Three Cheese Tortellini ___Baked Chicken (regular meal) (vegetarian) (special diet, no seasonings)

Address ________________________________________________________ City _____________________________ State _________ Zip ________________

Saturday, April 7, 2018 ~ Spearfish Holiday Inn & Convention Center

Reservation

s

may also be m

ade

online at…

www.nhtc

.org

And pay w

ith Paypa

l

625 Harvard Street | Spearfish, SD 57783-1897

Non-Profit OrganizationU.S. Postage

PAIDPermit No. 51

Spearfish, SD 57783

Are We Connecting?Please let us know if we need to correct or deleteyour address on our mailing list. Contact Joan at605-642-2785, ext. 201 or email your addresschanges to: joan@nhtc.org

This transit agency is committed to providing non-discriminatory service. To request more information or to file a discrimination complaint, contact this transitagency or the South Dakota Department of Transportation at (605) 773-3574.

This institution is an equal opportunityprovider and employer.

To enhance lives and achieve dreams.New Directions

NHTCNorthern Hills Training Center

Please reserve _______ seats for me.

Enclosed is payment of $__________ (number of seats x $17.00)

Please RSVP by Monday, March 12 to:Joan Kirschman, Northern Hills Training Center625 Harvard Street, Spearfish, SD 57783