Summer/Fall 2005 Volume Four, Number One ith the addition of four new changing. “It made me think more clearly members, the ILA Board is the All A-Board: and appreciate things much more.” Wbiggest it’s ever been. Exuding Meet the New ILA Blum is equally enthusiastic about energy and enthusiasm, our newest board Board Members his new role on the ILA Board. “I take this members, David Blum, Carlton Butler, position seriously. I’d love for us to Audrey Pearson, and Marsha Wilner, all made it clear that become bigger,” he relates. He considers ILA to be a “class they’re happy to be here. THE SPECTATOR met with them not operation” and hopes to explore non-governmental funding long after their appointments and learned some interesting sources and “what we can do to become more economically aspects about their lives and their visions as Board Members. self-sufficient.” David Blum remembers first being approached Family also means the world to Dave. “Most important in by former colleague and ILA Board Chair- my life are my wife, Barbara, and my daughter, Meredith.” In man Mike Kass in Spring 2003 at the retire- addition to spending time with friends and family, he also ment party of the late Board Chairman, enjoys movies, reading, coin collecting, and an occasional Judge Jay Tinter. “Mike started to pull me glass of red wine “for my heart,” he beams. in,” he recalls. “We talked on the phone a lot, Like the other new board members, Carlton and soon he started sneaking in the topic of Butler is a native New Yorker. He now David Blum ILA. Little by little I was hooked.” resides in Staten Island. Carlton, who joined With his impressive military background and 30-year ILA in October 2004 at the urging on ILA career with the New York State Division of Parole, the Board Secretary Marvin O. Holloway, Jr., Brooklyn native brings strong experience to the Board. “The brings to the Boardroom an impressive military prepared me for everything in life,” he explains. “I résumé. Among the city agencies for which Carlton Butler was always in charge—from a platoon of 43 men to a compa- the Columbia Law graduate has worked are ny of 172 men. It prepared me make decisions and assert the Department of Sanitation, Department of Consumer myself as a leader.” Affairs, the Board of Education, and the Brooklyn and Queens Growing restless after his retirement from Parole in 1996, District Attorney Offices. He is currently an Assistant Blum put to use his psychology degree from Hofstra University Commissioner in the NYC Department of Finance. and was soon hired as a senior case manager at the Sunrise Butler’s experience working at Staten Island’s Project Psychiatric Center in Amityville, Long Island. In November Hospitality, a private, not-for-profit organization which provides 2003, he next landed the job of special consultant to the Deer services for the hungry and the homeless, and New York City’s Park Transitional Learning Center, where he continues today. Family Court, gave him the necessary skills to handle his service Blum’s personal motto is to “survive and never give in.” for ILA. “I learned about compassion, sympathy, and patience,” That survival theory was put to the test about two years ago says Carlton. “When dealing with people, you must develop a after he suffered a massive heart attack behind the wheel of his measure of understanding.” Listening, following-up, and deci- car. “I always thought I’d be shot in the Army or at Parole. I sion-making are other important traits that he has acquired wasn’t ready to go then,” he recalls. The experience was life- throughout his impressive career. continued on page five Message from the Executive Director: On the Side of Quality Living Before I entered the working world, I heard the term So far, the Committee has engendered enhance- “suggestion box,” a mailbox-like receptacle affixed ments for residential care in three essential ways. to a wall, usually near the time clock. I thought this 1. Foster interagency cooperation. If the field of was a great idea to make companies better—and human services has ever had one unremitting kudos to the person who first suggested the sugges- strength, it has been our sense of community. We tion box. For all its good intentions, though, the see ourselves as a large family working as advo- suggestion box became a misused process by cates toward common goals. which employees could vent their discontent. The 2. Expand options available in consumers’ social Arthur Palevsky, suggestion box was much maligned, and became lives. Consumers who have participated in the QOL ILA Executive fodder for comic relief, thus never realizing its have expressed a desire to create their own social Director full potential. agendas. This is a welcomed declaration of self- In this field, though, we have revolutionized determination resulting from consumers living and ...ILA is excited to and legitimized the suggestion box. It has many learning in a setting which has already cultivated incarnations. We’ve come to know it as the consumer their judgment and confidence to decide what’s best be working toward satisfaction survey, as consumer advocacy and as for them. Much more can follow, such as smaller, real solutions to the labor management committee, just to name a more community-interactive trips or expanded vol- our consumers’ couple. Each of these modern-day suggestion boxes untary programs like Best Buddies. Whatever the has achieved a great deal of success and, in fact, has form, social development is at the center of the con- quality-of-life improved the lives of consumers, workers and, ulti- sumers’ expressed interest—and we would not have concerns, and to mately, the agencies. it any other way. be contributing From this field comes a new and ambitious 3. Participate in a best-practices conference. ILA suggestion box, one which was established by the has a history of directly linking improvements in genuine ideas to our Residential Quality of Life (QOL) Committee of the staff development to advancements in consumers’ staff’s professional Staten Island Developmental Disabilities Council, lives. To this end, the QOL Committee wants to development goals and I am pleased that ILA was asked to play a vital ensure that we’re doing all that we can to provide role in its development. Rather than nailing a box qualified, competent, and ethical management. A on a wall, the QOL Committee has established best-practices conference can (1) bring to the table forums which have opened dialogues between con- quality-of-life dialogue that is invaluable to con- sumers, staff, families and agency administrators. sumers and care givers, (2) develop models of THE ILA SPECTATOR The QOL, spearheaded by co-chairs Dr. Christine excellence to gauge an Agency’s quality of care, (3) Volume 4 Issue 1 2005 Cea and Linda Coull, is dedicated to enhancing the train staff to measure up to those standards, and (4) quality of life in group homes on Staten Island. And examine emerging issues that affect our consumers. • Business Corner p4 of course, any innovation that emanates from this Additionally, the QOL members have pledged • A Serviceman and an suggestion box to help Staten Island residents will to develop training curricula leading to a “certifi- appeal p5 likely spread to other boroughs. So we are eager to cate” in direct care and supervision in order to ensure • Staff Watch . be a major contributor in this endeavor. that the care consumers receive is second to none. Tanya Ginyard p6 The QOL Committee comprises the full com- Sounds ambitious? I’d say. But having the • NYC Regional Office fiscal Staff Honored p7 plement of stakeholders—consumers, staff, and privilege of caring for individuals with develop- administrators. Each committee member is deter- mental disabilities carries responsibilities which • Board News 8 mined to sustain an environment—at home, in the test us to see whether we are up to the task. As a • Our Heroes at Ocean Avenue p9 community, and beyond—in which consumers may valued member of the QOL Committee, ILA is • Staff News p10 enjoy as much freedom and mobility as possible excited to be working toward real solutions to our without sacrificing their safety. Committee mem- consumers’ quality-of-life concerns, and to be con- bers offer suggestions, but equally important, tributing genuine ideas to our staff’s professional PAGE TWO committee members listen. development goals. A Bank With Our Business at Heart n these pages, we have often mentioned what it takes First Vice-President, the Bank has a knack for understanding the to create a safe, nurturing home for individuals with human services field and making its own management comfort- Odevelopmental disabilities: committed parents and able with investing in the not-for-profit sector. “We have a very guardians, dedicated and capable staff, sound management, significant portfolio that deals with nonprofit agencies,” noted financial and technical assistance from government agencies, a O’Leary. He gave the ICF conversion matter his immediate welcoming community, and most of all, consumers who want to attention, contacting OMRDD officials and guiding ILA through achieve their maximum potential. When reciting this litany of the credit line application process. stakeholders, we take for granted financiers, who are equally indispensable on the chain of collaborators who assure residen- Moving ILA through the Process tial success. This inadvertent omission is a lot like the way we Nicols and O’Leary maneuvered through the process with a rare rarely consider the blood pumping through our bodies—that is, expertise and professionalism that made this critical moment we forget as long as the blood is pumping efficiently.