Greene County, New York



Ulster-Greene ARC (UGARC) serves one of the largest groups of individuals with intellectual disabilities in Greene County. To ensure each individual is matched appropriately with their skills, interests, and environment; cross county services are provided. Currently, we support more Greene County residents in Ulster County, than the other way around. We serve 19 Greene County residents in Ulster County, versus 11 individuals from Ulster County served in Greene County.Individuals come to us in order to take advantage of a variety of services. These would include:Access to over 25 certified residential settingsInterest based day services which offers programming in the arts, music, and wellness servicesCareer services with the largest pool of assisted employment opportunities in the communitySpecial designed clinical servicesService coordination services skilled at promoting the newest opportunities towards self-determination programming (such as Individualized Support Services (ISS), Portal, and Consolidated Support Services)Recreational ServicesFamily support ServicesRespite servicesSince we are a member of the New York State ARC (NYSARC), we offer the additional advantage of guardianship services through our statewide organization. In addition to court appointed guardian, our guardianship program offers additional personal support and advocacy for individuals who have little attention in the way of family and friends. This support often ranges from the simple ways (a gift or card for special occasions) to the more complex ways (assistance with healthcare or end of life decisions) if needed. Because UGARC strives to support a person’s individual needs and choices, several specialty programs have been developed to enhance a person’s quality of life and promote independence. We offer a full range of cognitive support technology through our technology partner known as AbleLink. This technology is designed to further enhance an individual’s existing independence. It helps enhance an individual’s ability to complete a series of routine tasks (for average daily living skills) or further their independent traveling skills for the purpose of making people more independent. If a better career or job was desired, UGARC has one of the largest assisted employment services in the region. Whether employment is offered at McDonalds, Price Chopper, Roy Rogers (New Baltimore rest area), Tip Top Furniture, Wal-Mart, Windham-Valero Gas Station, Curves, United Stationers, or UGARC, our Pilot Industries program is there to help train and place the people we serve.In addition to employment with host companies, UGARC also supports employment outcomes for Greene County residents through our Work Center located in Catskill, and at enclaves for competitive employment with various local businesses. UGARC uses local and state funds to support employment outcomes of Greene County residents; specifically Greene County funds are utilized to transport County residents to and from the various employment sites (which Medicaid will not pay for).Work Center: (Pilot Industries, 311 West Bridge Street, Catskill):In 2012, Our Work Center provided employment to 57 (total enrollment) individuals with development disabilities. They performed 35,195 hours of work and earned $91,793.43. The average wage for 2012 was $2.61 per hour.For individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities, our work center is often the first opportunity to experience meaningful work. Work is set up in a large open environment with individuals sitting around small tables or operating sealing machines. In the Work Center we complete light assembly work, packing and re-packing of various items including magnets, make-up, batteries and office supplies. We have done work for local companies such as Sullivan Industries, Milecrest, Paperhouse, A&W Worldwide, Qosina and Funworld. The rate of pay is determined by their ability to perform the assigned tasks. Our Work Center business in Greene County is significant and in 2012 we provided a total of $81,800.00?in gross sales.Supported Employment: Supported Employment is a service for an individual with intellectual and developmentally disabilities where he or she is able to obtain community based employment. There are two distinct types of opportunities; enclaves and competitive employment. Enclaves: In 2012, our Enclaves in Greene County employed 34 individuals. They performed 24,994.00 hours of work and earned $122,483.63. The average wage for 2012 was $4.90 per hour.The enclaves consist of one staff member along with 4-6 individuals who provide a contracted service for a host company. Individuals work 2-5 six hour shifts per week. The rate of pay is determined by their ability to perform the assigned tasks. We had two large enclaves (NYS Thruway rest area and United Stationers) and two small enclaves (Catskill School district and a lawn crew). In June 2012, we opened our newest enclave the Bottle and Can Redemption Center. The redemption center is located at our 311 West Bridge street facility and employs 4-7 individuals per day. The redemption center is open 5 days a week and has grown from a few thousand bottles and cans per week to an average of 3-5000 thousand a day. We have collaborated with Greene county solid waste to keep Greene county green by processing the bottles and cans. The individuals sort, count and redeem the bottles and cans. We processed in 6 months 84,881 bottles and cans from county residents. The individual’s rate of pay is determined by their ability to perform the assigned tasks. The average wage for 2012 was $3.50 per petitive Employment Competitive Employment is when an individual is placed at a host company and earns typically at least minimum wage. Currently we have 16 individuals employed and another 5 individuals in job development. Ulster-Greene ARC provides the initial job training and then continues to support the individual through bi-weekly visits. Work ranges from part-time to full-time and the average wage for all individuals competitively employed is $7.25 per hour. The employers in Greene County include the following: McDonalds, Price Chopper, Roy Rogers (New Baltimore rest area), Tip Top Furniture, Wal-Mart, Windham Valero gas station, Curves and UGARC.By highlighting the abilities of those we serve and finding a niche that was needed, new partnerships were built and employment opportunities were found in 2012. Our priority always remains that the individuals supported by Ulster-Greene ARC feel a sense of true wealth of working. ?In order to provide the level of support needed to safeguard individuals, train them in areas that match their interests, and concurrently ensure that the community stakeholders who employ them have the appropriate education, a significant amount of resources are required. Transportation Costs (Medicaid does not cover these expenses):Our continued concern is the total cost associated with providing transportation to the employment sites where our individuals work. ? There is the natural assumption that those who are capable of working are inherently capable of getting themselves to and from work. ?Unfortunately, the majority of Greene County area can be categorized as rural and is lacking the necessary mass transportation systems to allow many of our individuals to accomplish this simple task. ?In order to accommodate our individuals in their pursuit of employment, Ulster-Greene ARC provides this support by either having a job coach pick them up at their home or enlisting the help of the Agency’s Transportation Department. The Transportation department for Ulster-Greene ARC operates 7 vehicles per day, Monday through Friday, and 1 vehicle on Saturday and Sunday. Transportation is provided to the following Greene county locations: Athens, Cairo, Catskill, Coxsackie, Earlton, East Durham, Greenville, Kiskatom, New Baltimore, Norton Hill, and Round Top. The total miles annually are approximately 45,840 in 2012. Total Transportation costs for Greene County in 2012 are included in the attached P&L report. In addition, to continue to meet the needs of Greene county residents, Ulster- Greene ARC in 2012 has provided and maintained the following other services:ADAPTT Family Campout:Ulster-Greene ARC held its first ever ADAPTT (Advocacy and Personal Transition Training) weekend family campout, designed for children and young adults with autism or Asperger’s and their families. This event was held on Friday, August 10 through August 12 starting at 5:00pm at the Brookside Campground, 4952 Route 32 in Catskill, NY on August 10 and ended on Sunday, August 12 at 10:00 am.ADAPTT is a group formed specifically for families with junior high and young adult children with autism or Asperger’s who do not qualify for OPWDD services. The group offers opportunities for families to come together for supports and for young adults to have a club designed to meet people and have fun. This event was generously funded by the Hudson Valley Autism Society and NYSARC, enabling our agency to offer this event for free to the 20 people who attended. All food and beverages were included! We purchased all of the games and equipment needed for this event. Activities included Nerf wars, camp games, swimming, fishing, campfire (with s’mores), sing-alongs, and so much more.Assistance with accessing OPWDD services:Ulster-Greene ARC is one of the few agencies in the entire Taconic region who offers this service. Our agency offers Greene County residents the following services (often at no cost to them):Assistance with applying for eligibility for OPWDD services (Medicaid does not pay for this)Clinician for Testing for eligibilityGuardianshipPartnering with Greene County SPOA to facilitate transition to OPWDD services.Recreation Recreation is a waiver program for families who have children with developmental or intellectual disabilities. The recreation group meets every Tuesday and Thursday afternoon from 3:00 pm - 5:30 pm at our 311 West Bridge street location. In addition, the group has special activities and group events. Examples of the 2012 program include: A healthy eating and exercise program with yoga, music and drumming at Potential unlimited DEC fishing trip 4 day trip to Lake George Day trips to North Lake Weekend trip to Pine Grove dude ranch Professional sports games including Harlem Globetrotters, Albany devils, Hudson Valley Renegades Gaming Night for individuals on the Autism spectrumFamily support group for families of individuals on the Autism spectrumLoft parties.Day Hab. Our Day Hab. programs provide volunteer services to Greene county residents through collaborative relationships with community partners. In 2012 services provided includes: Sorting at Pay it forward Thrift storeDeliver Meals on WheelsGardening at Thomas Cole HouseClean Greenville Norton churchGreater northern Catskill chamber of commerceGardening at Dutchman’s landingGardening at Miracle Mountain resortDonate crafts to local nursing homes. Family Support and Clinical services:Multi-Sensory Room for AutismCognitive Support TechnologyFamily Support TrainingSelf- Advocacy GroupSchool to Work Program: We work with various school districts to offer transitional servicesOffer opportunity to students to explore various career possibilities, and experience on the jobs training and learn real world job skills. Intensive Behavior Supports:Offers clinical supports to individuals living in their natural homes.Greene county residents receiving services from Ulster-Greene ARC:?(Un-duplicated numbers)Residential :? ???????????????????????????????????????????????????????41 IndividualsPilot ( this number includes individuals who do not get any other services: An unduplicated number, total employed are 57)?????????????? ??????????????26 Individuals Supported employment: ???????????????????????????????? 23 IndividualsDay habilitation Catskill day Hab: ????????????????????????????????????????12?IndividualsCairo day Hab: ????????????????????????????????????????????????12 IndividualsCase management (MSC) 14 IndividualsRecreation - Waiver: ??????????????????????????????????????????????????? 5?IndividualsClinical services: ???????????????????????????? 8?IndividualsCommunity habilitation: ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? 14 Individuals Waiver Respite 2 IndividualsVoucher Respite: ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? 16 IndividualsSchool-to-work:?????????????????????????????????? ????????????????????????? 3 Individuals Intensive Behavior Supports: ?individuals???????????????? ??? 2 IndividualsTotal 178 IndividualsUlster-Greene ARC has been a true partner and leader in meeting the needs of Greene County residents. This has been made possible only with the collaborative efforts of our agency, county, and our community partners. ?Our daily efforts are centered not only on providing high quality services, but also on minimizing program, department, and agency losses. ?However, without the support of the county funds, the rising costs of our Work Center, Supported Employment, and Transportation Services could put the entire program in jeopardy, or at the very least lead to a significant reduction in the total available opportunities for the individuals we serve to achieve their goals of independence, authentic inclusion and full wealth within their lives. In order for Ulster Greene ARC to provide these much needed services to Greene County residents continued support from Greene County is crucial. ................
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