2008 Annual Report
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Annual Report Believing We Can 2008 Our Mission MISSION ARISE’s mission is to work with people of all abilities to create a fair and just community in which everyone can fully participate. BRIEF HISTORY One of New York State’s eight original Independent Living Centers, ARISE was founded in 1979 by advocates dedicated to the idea – which was revolutionary at the time – that people with disabilities should have equal rights. ARISE quickly grew to meet the demand for services, opening satellite offices in Onondaga, Oswego, and Madison Counties to support people with disabilities living in Central New York. In 1999, ARISE merged with Child and Family Service of Onondaga County – an agency that had provided social services to the community for more than 100 years – to become one of the leading agencies in Central New York that addresses the interests of people with all types of disabilities. Today ARISE has over 500 staff members who advocate for the interests of people with disabilities, and who work to deliver more than 40 different programs and services. 2 2008 BOARD OF DIRECTORS Our Message Tania Anderson, President Don Scholl, MESSAGE FROM THE BOARD PRESIDENT & EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Vice President If there was one news story that captivated the national media in 2008, it was the presidential election. Mitch Mitchell, From early primaries and caucuses in Iowa and New Hampshire in the beginning of the year, to the Treasurer party conventions, and finally to election night in November, the campaigns and candidates dominated Agnes McCray, the news. Secretary At ARISE, we know that voting in elections is one of the most important ways a person can advocate Liat Ben-Moshe for himself or herself, and we encourage everyone to register and vote. To further that goal, we made available for testing a new ballot-marking device that Onondaga and Oswego Counties used in the Matt Dadey 2008 election to assure an independent and private vote by people with disabilities. John Donovan On January 20, 2009, Barack Obama was inaugurated as the 44th President of the United States, and Gary Forbes his message was one similar to one we encourage at ARISE. In his inaugural address, Mr. Obama Janet Haskins outlined problems and hardships currently faced by America, but he also encouraged citizens to over- come the challenges with their combined commitments. Sue Judge People with disabilities face challenges every day. We at ARISE work to ensure that people of all abili- Michael Klaehn ties have the opportunity to eliminate barriers and reach their fullest potential. We offer programs that Steve Martell maximize independence, advocate for people with disabilities, and believe that all people have the right to work towards their personal goals. Teresa Melnick This annual report will show that throughout the year, the spirit at ARISE is the same as the message in Keith Mulcahey Mr. Obama’s presidential campaign: Yes we can. Ernie Wheeler Executive Director Board President 3 Our Programs & Services ARISE promotes the social, economic, EMPLOYMENT INDEPENDENT LIVING SERVICES educational, and individual interests of Benefits Advisement Accessibility Resource Center people with disabilities. Supported Employment Consumer-Directed Personal Assistance We are guided by the philosophy that Vocational Peer Mentoring Program individuals with disabilities have a right 635 Staffing – Services for Business Day Habilitation – Group & Individual to dignity, personal responsibility, and Housing self-determination. High School Transition Program • Home Accessibility Start-Up NY Our programs and services include: • Homeless Services RECREATION • Housing Search Assistance ADVOCACY ARISE at the Farm (accessible recreation • Rental Subsidies Individual Advocacy (helping individuals facility for people of all abilities) Independent Living Skills Training develop self-advocacy skills) ARISE & Fish Information and Referral • Benefits ARISE & Ski Medical Equipment Loan Closet • Education • Health Care MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES Peer Counseling • Housing Child Abuse Prevention Services Regional Resource Center for Persons Systems Advocacy (helping to change Counseling for Persons Who Are HIV+ with Brain Injury policies & remove barriers) Crisis Pregnancy Counseling Residential Habilitation Project Emerge – Working to End Domestic Violence Counseling Respite Program – After School Violence Against Women with Individual, family & group therapy Service Coordination Disabilities School-Based Mental Health Program Advocacy & Support Groups 4 2008 In Review 2008 IN REVIEW DID YOU KNOW? Independent Living Services 5 Independent Living Services, the largest programmatic area Outpatient Mental Health Clinic 5 at ARISE, served over 1,800 consumers in Onondaga and ARISE and Ski 6 Madison Counties and nearly 700 in Oswego County. These Regional Resource Development Center 6 numbers include only the individuals who received more Habilitation for Life Opens in Oswego 6 intensive services, often requiring one-on-one time with ARISE ARISE at the Farm Winter Camp 7 staff. Many more people received information and referral ARISE at the Farm 7 services. Breast Health Awareness and Outreach 7 Grand Opening of New ARISE Oswego Office 8 DID YOU KNOW? Residential Habilitation Program 8 With support from the United Way of Central New York, Americans with Disabilities Act Anniversary March 9 ARISE’s Outpatient Mental Health Clinic saw a 25% Advocacy Groups 9 increase in admissions in 2008, and added a new psychiatrist Assistive Technology for Employment Access 10 to the staff. Programs within the Clinic continue to grow. START-UP NY 10 Service Coordination 11 The Clinic partners with the SUNY Upstate Medical UNIQUE 11 University’s Designated AIDS Center (DAC) by providing two Candidate Forum on Disability Issues 12 therapists who work with individuals and families to stabilize Voting Accessibility 12 and adjust to their HIV status and related illnesses. Consumer Directed Personal Assistance Program 12 As part of the School-Based Mental Health program, a 21st Forty Under 40 Honorees from ARISE Oswego 13 Century Grant at Dr. Weeks Elementary supported an Oswego Housing Accessibility Project 13 afterschool program facilitated by an ARISE Play Therapist. Broadway Stars Program 13 5 2008 In Review January ARISE & SKI HABILITATION FOR LIFE OPENS IN OSWEGO January 12—February 17: ARISE & Ski enjoyed another successful year January: The Oswego office launched with 70 participants during this winter’s Habilitation for Life, a program that ski season. ARISE & Ski takes pride in serves individuals with disabilities, its ability to offer accommodations to focusing on consumer needs through people of all ages and all abilities. A individualized long term and short term three-year $10,000 grant from Alliance life goals, community integration, self Bank helped ARISE & Ski purchase new empowerment, and self advocacy. equipment, increasing significantly the DID YOU KNOW? Services include social/communication opportunity to include downhill skiers The Regional Resource Development skills, recreational opportunities, travel who have disabilities. Center (RRDC) at ARISE coordinates training, life safety skills, money In addition to the grant from Alliance services for adults with brain injuries in management, housekeeping skills, and Bank, the program is made possible an eight-county area. strategies for behavior modification. through the dedication of 150 people In 2008, the RRDC served almost 250 ARISE is partnering with the Psychology who volunteer their time each ski people on the Traumatic Brain Injury Department of SUNY Oswego to season, and an ongoing partnership and Waiver program, added two new evaluate outcomes and develop best support from Jim Hickey and the staff of providing agencies and expanded the practices. Toggenburg Winter Sports Center in services two existing agencies provide. Fabius, NY. 6 2008 In Review February March April MORE FUN IN THE SNOW BREAST HEALTH AWARENESS & OUTREACH TO WOMEN WITH DISABILITIES February 18—22: ARISE at the Farm hosted our annual Winter Camp, a week-long integrated horsemanship camp that also April 1: The Central New York features general recreation. Eight children from Madison County Affiliate Susan G. Komen for the were able to attend through sponsorships from the Central New Cure awarded ARISE a grant to York Developmental Services Office Family Support Services. increase breast health awareness and education for women with disabilities. Research DID YOU KNOW? shows that women with disabilities are at a greater risk for not detecting breast cancer at an early stage. ARISE at the Farm is an accessible integrated recreational facility Obtaining a screening exam can be a significant located on a 76-acre working horse farm in Chittenango, NY. In challenge for many women with disabilities in part addition to adaptive and therapeutic horseback riding, ARISE at the because of inaccessibility of the medical equipment, Farm includes integrated recreation programs and camps year round! lack of transportation, or the lack of education focused on women with disabilities. ARISE’s Breast Health Awareness and Outreach for Women with Disabilities provides small group education sessions and an intensive outreach program across a three-county area. Our goals are to increase the number of women with disabilities over the age of 35 who receive annual mammograms and to increase the number of women who perform regular monthly breast self-examinations. 7 2008 In Review May June July GRAND OPENING