HamaspikHamaspik GazetteGazette DecemberNov. 2009 2005 . • Issue Issue No. No. 6524 News of Hamaspik Agencies and General Health Hamaspik Hosts Fifth Annual Sukkos Holiday Concert Over 1,000 consumers, family members enjoy medley of live performances at College of Staten Island’s Center for the Arts Picture this: one thousand chil- organized a grand festival-style con- dren and adults with special needs, cert event for the greater Hamaspik family members and caregivers family for five years running now: to exulting in the spirit of the Sukkos make consumers feel they truly holiday just like their enabled belong to their community—as they peers—exhilarating live band, elec- do, of course. trifying singers, a boys’ choir, light and fog effects and all. Setting the stage In the midst of the “Feast of the Tabernacles” otherwise simply This year’s event, which contin- known as Sukkos, this feast for the ued the concert’s trend of progres- senses was the stage scene at the sive audience-size growth, saw pop- College of Staten Island’s Center for ular Jewish radio personality the Arts this past Tuesday, October Nachum Segal return as emcee for 6, 2009. the second consecutive year. Sukkos is traditionally marked But before up-and-coming by a buoyant, invigorating atmos- singer Yoni Zigelboum took the phere that contrasts with the somber stage to open the event—about six formalities of Rosh Hashanah and months before, as a matter of fact— Yom Kippur. Ask any family venue Hamaspik Projects Coordinator Mrs. operator in the greater Tri-State Area Brenda Katina was hard at work and they’ll tell you of the fall-time behind the scenes. Sukkos crush of Jewish fathers and Beginning in May of 2009, Mrs. mothers seeking to spend quality Katina contacted no less than 40 col- time with their children. is a question commonly heard of children with special needs, espe- stream Sukkos spirit can be very leges, halls and other venues to find Once the holiday is over, among Jewish co-workers returning cially those with special transporta- challenging. a setting suitable and sizable enough “Where did you go with your kids?” to the daily grind. But for families tion needs, immersing in the main- For this reason, Hamaspik has to accommodate last year’s overflow Flu Preparation and Protection, Flu Season 2009 Continued on Page E7 A look at the facts—and how to keep yourself and your family healthy The fall season is upon us—and Normally, the flu season in the irresponsible, hype-driven and sen- Because Flu Season 2009/2010 INSIDE with it, the onset of the little sniffles, United States runs from November- sationalistic media, a statistically will consist primarily of the Novel coughs, runny noses and outright December to March-April. Each small outbreak of the Novel H1N1 H1N1 virus, and because the pub- * colds that strike our precious kids season, roughly 5% to 20% of flu virus was turned into a national lic’s immune systems are only resist- throughout these weeks and on America’s population gets the flu, crisis. ant to other strains of the flu virus, New Group Home, through the winter. and about 200,000 people are hospi- There was no national crisis. the government is expecting a pan- New Manager — E2 Part and parcel, of course, of the talized from flu-related complica- The roughly 170 deaths caused by demic, or infection of a large propor- fall/winter cold-weather season is tions. Novel H1N1, a new strain of the tion of the world’s population—and the “flu season”—that period of year Tragically, the flu claims about influenza virus, were far less than is preparing heavily for it. * when the influenza virus is most 36,000 lives in the U.S. each flu sea- the thousands who died of the sea- In the meantime, the Gazette has Orange County Res Hab likely to spread and infect the gener- son. sonal virus. exhaustively researched the flu— al population. Last April-July, because of the However, the U.S. government creating a comprehensive Q&A- Audit Success — E4 considers Novel H1N1 a serious style article on what the flu exactly problem simply because it is a new, is, how to protect against it, what to * stronger strain of the flu virus. This do if you, your children or your co- means that the coming flu season’s workers get it, and, most important- Kings County Day Hab primary virus will be the Novel ly, what the so-called “Novel H1N1” H1N1 virus, not other strains of the and “Swine Flu” are. Marks 4th Ann’y — E8 virus. It also means that most people’s What is the flu? * immune systems are not as prepared What’s Happening for Novel H1N1 as they are for other Influenza, commonly referred to strains of the flu virus, simply as “the flu,” is a contagious disease In Your Health — E12 because their systems have never caused by the influenza virus. It is a been exposed to it. Continued on Page E5 Hamaspik Launches Two New State-Approved Programs Supported Employment Program (SEMP) and Enhanced Supported Employment Program (E-SEMP) to help work-ready consumers train for, retain employment An adult with minimal disabili- VESID “offers access to a full range benefits-managing Hamaspik posi- designed to invest a higher quality Hamaspik’s SEMP and E-SEMP ties can live a fairly independent life, of services that may be needed by tions that form the bulk and back- and quantity of training, coaching programs will also give consumers employment and all. Likewise, with persons with disabilities through bone of Hamaspik’s office staff. and therapy into consumers seeking job interview and workplace per- appropriate assistance, an adult with their lives”—including its SEMP Like the Service Coordinators, to enter the workforce. formance training, as well as train- serious disabilities can also enjoy a program. future SEMP staffers will work “The program basically has the ing to employers in securing and considerably high quality of life. While the New York State Dept. equally in the office and out in the state pay for coaches who make sure providing consumers’ medications as But what about individuals indi- of Education announced its SEMP field, giving SEMP consumers job the consumer is working,” explains necessary. viduals too capable to join state- program in March of 2009, development and job coaching, as Mr. Lowy. “The coach monitors the Said skills development would funded day programs—but not suffi- Hamaspik only attained its initial well as communicating with worker and fills out daily, weekly include the all-important travel- ciently empowered to hold down a SEMP provider approval in June of employers and providing consumers and monthly paperwork that must be skills training too, allowing con- gainful job? 2009, diligently submitting follow- with transportation coaching. “The submitted to the state.” sumers to eventually get to and from For far too long, such individu- up paperwork in late August and goal is that they should be independ- The Enhanced Supported work on their own. als were caught between a rock and securing final approval this past ent” in getting to and from work, Employment Program allows Using a graduated introduction a hard place. That’s why two New September. explains Mr. Friedman. Hamaspik to help consumers that the to independent mobility, Hamaspik’s York State government bodies, the Currently, Hamaspik is state- With even enabled job-seekers VESID SEMP program cannot. staff will initially provide consumers Department of Education and the approved to offer SEMP to its con- struggling today, securing employ- “The OMRDD thinks there are peo- with door-to-door transportation OMRDD, created Supported sumers beginning October 1st, ment isn’t easy for job-seekers with ple who could work with more sup- from home to workplace and back. Employment Programs. These pro- 2009—and for Mr. Zishe Lowy, special needs. “No one is hiring port,” Mr. Lowy explains. “They The program will then introduce grams allow agencies like Hamaspik Hamaspik of Rockland County’s now,” observes Mr. Friedman. “It’s must be good enough to go to work, consumers to using public trans- to help moderately- to severely-chal- Director of Day Services, it’s not a ‘unemployment time’—but we’re but not good enough to go to portation such as buses and trains, lenged and Medicaid-qualifying moment too soon. “I see it as a great looking forward to the challenge.” VESID.” accompanying them on the commute individuals transition from adult care need,” Mr. Lowy says. Potentially qualifying consumers Hamaspik’s new E-SEMP pro- to acclimate them to navigating busy programs to the mainstream work- Mr. Lowy describes a large, are first transported by Hamaspik to gram dovetails with the OMRDD’s and train stations and paying fares. force. overlooked and underserved popula- VESID’s offices to be interviewed mission, working as it will with As the consumer acclimates to pub- With SEMP and E-SEMP, tion finally meeting its financial and for program acceptance. Should seven current Hamaspik of Rockland lic transportation, accompanying Hamaspik now hopes to help con- economic needs with a robust new they be accepted, consumers select County Day Hab consumers. staff will have the consumer cover sumers leap toward the greatest Hamaspik program, complete with Hamaspik as their SEMP provider. Another critical difference progressively larger legs of the daily independence possible—and attain the hiring of several new staffers to A detailed Individual Plan of between the two programs, as Mr. journey alone, eventually building that invaluable sense of self-worth. show consumers the ropes of Employment, or IPE, is then created Lowy puts it, is that the Enhanced up complete transportation inde- rewarding employment.