Building Better Tomorrows Annual Report 2015 Table of Contents 2 Table of Contents 3 Our Mission, About SRVS 4 Letter from SRVS’ Chairwoman and Executive Director 5 Note from Incoming Chairman 6 SRVS Kids & Families 8 SRVS Learning Center - Collierville 10 SRVS Community Employment Services 12 SRVS Family Support 14 SRVS Community Living 16 SRVS Elderly and Adult Disabilities Services 18 Community Relations 20 Financials and Funding Sources 21 Annual Donor Listing 26 Business and Volunteer Recognition 27 SRVS Board and Executive Staff 28 Contact SRVS Cover: The faces of SRVS each representing the agency’s six distinct programs: SRVS Kids & Families, SRVS Learning Center, SRVS Community and Employment Services, SRVS Community Living, SRVS Family Support and SRVS Elderly and Adult Disability Services. 2 Our Mission To enhance the lives of people with disabilities in a way that brings peace of mind to families and unmatched stewardship for our benefactors. About SRVS Memphis based and locally grown non-profit; began in 1962 One of the largest private employers in Memphis with more than 1,200 persons supported and 850 employees Largest comprehensive service provider for people with disabilities in Tennessee providing residential, employment, elder care, adult and family support services and learning centers Only disability agency in Shelby County to support individuals with disabilities no matter how severe, from birth throughout a lifespan Awarded Person Centered Excellence accreditation from the Council on Quality and Leadership Award winning agency of distinction includes the national Association of People Supporting Employment First Best Practices and Employer (AutoZone) Awards, Arc of Tennessee Exemplary Educator and Agency of Distinction Awards, Memphis Business Journal’s Healthiest Employer Award, United Way of the Mid-South G. Bradley Wanzer Award, and the national ANCOR Direct Support Professional Award, among others 3 Letter from SRVS’ Chairwoman of the Board, Executive Director and Incoming Chairman of the Board Dear Friends of SRVS: Closing the workshop wasn’t easy. A special thank you goes to the families for giving us a chance to make the Fiscal Year 2014-2015 opened and closed with mile- transition successful and to SRVS employment depart- stone setting events for SRVS. On July 7, 2014 the ment staff for being determined and innovative in their agency’s first early intervention program was created thinking. We were honored to have our employment through a merger with Special Kids & Families to create efforts nationally recognized by APSE, the Association SRVS Kids & Families. Also, our founding program set of People Supporting Employment First. a standard and came full circle on June 30, 2015 when SRVS Industries, which began in 1962 as the Sheltered Last fiscal year we also opened a satellite learning center Occupational Shop closed in a move to full community in Collierville. It is the second one, following the center based employment for the people we support. previously opened in Covington, Tennessee. It is an important part of SRVS mission to bring our services to With the addition of SRVS Kids & Families to our as many people as possible. already comprehensive services, SRVS now provides supports to people from birth throughout life, creating Disability supports providers face significant changes a powerful resource for individuals and families over the next few years as we seek the best ways to throughout the community. It can sometimes be a achieve our mission and deliver services effectively and daunting task for families to find the help they need. efficiently. SRVS is fortunate to have an expert, com- We hope our expansion into early intervention is mak- passionate and dedicated staff to help meet a bold new ing the process more manageable and with greater future as we equip people to build better tomorrows results for the many people who can now access at a and maintain the skills they need to live their lives to single agency children’s services, employment and resi- the fullest. dential supports, learning skills development and more. That’s along with our newly added community-based services that specifically focus on exposing people to a wide variety of community engagement, including job exploration. Employment was an important part of SRVS’ founding. Tyler Hampton The group of concerned parents who started SRVS Executive Director wanted a way for young adults to contribute meaning- fully to society by being part of the community, which included gainful employment. That’s why they put all their efforts into establishing a sheltered workshop. Fifty-three years later employment remains a linchpin in Laura Tumminello the growth and development of many people with dis- Chairwoman of the Board abilities. We’ve progressed considerably. It’s not just a few small jobs. It’s competitive paying work with some of the city’s top companies where SRVS-placed employ- ees make impactful contributions to the workforce, feel accomplished and are wholeheartedly embraced by their colleagues – while earning their own money. No doubt SRVS founders would be proud that their employment vision has come full circle. 4 Laura Tumminello and Tyler Hampton surrounded by children at the SRVS Kids & Families Play, Do, Learn inclusive preschool. Mike Harless From Mike Harless, Incoming Chairman of the Board: It is an exciting time to serve as chairman of the SRVS board of directors. I am honored to help steer the agency during unprecedented challenges and change for disability services providers across the country, and at a time when the supports we provide are in immense demand. For more than five decades, SRVS has been about empowering people. It’s in the agency’s organizational DNA. The SRVS board is committed to keeping SRVS strong, viable and driven by its mission to help people live their lives in meaningful ways that bring growth and personal fulfillment. I am proud to be part of an agency where people are valued, treated with dignity and respect and ensured the opportu- nity to be part of their communities. The board eagerly looks forward to another stellar year of accomplishment as our outstanding staff of professionals deliver life impacting supports to more than 1,000 children and adults. (Mike Harless became SRVS board chairman on July 1, 2015) 5 SRVS Kids & Families Makayla, Jude and Cora’s Stories Providing the help and resources needed for families and “Makayla is doing just great,” said Angela Ervin, Develop- their children born with developmental delays can give par- ment Specialist and Intake Manager. “We are working on ents confidence to envision a future for their children just moving her from crawling to sitting. A big step for both like their typical peers. has been transitioning Makayla from the bottle to eating When SRVS merged with Special Kids & Families (SKF) in puree.” Brown is given her share of homework to do, focus- July of 2014, more than 130 families were given a lifetime ing on baby moves like knee bounces and sitting up, to of supports for their children. The merger created a new strength training. “I have to do my part to help my child,” program for SRVS called SRVS Kids & Families and estab- said Brown. “She’s made a lot of progress and that gives lished SRVS as the only service provider in Shelby County me a lot of hope.” offering a birth through lifetime resource. The merger so- Ervin is a Board Certified Behavior Analyst with a Master’s lidifies SRVS mission and growth plans to be “The Family in Education and six years of experience with SKF. She Answer for Disabilities.” At the time, Special Kids & Fami- helps develop fine and gross motor skills, language skills as lies had served more than 2,000 children since 1986. well as social, self-help and cognitive abilities for the chil- “SKF is a very inclusive learning environment,” said Shontie dren in her care. SKF’s developmental therapists provide Brown, mother of Makayla, who is enrolled in the program. families with parent training, daily activities, and the goals “I brought Makayla to SKF when she was a newborn and and strategies needed to increase their child’s functional the information, referrals and resources, the encouragement independence and social interaction. “Our staff know that and the knowledge of the staff have given me what I need we are first and foremost, family centered,” said Cyndi Lou to help my child grow and thrive.” Brown says the family Griffin, SRVS Director of Children’s Services. “We equip oriented program not only supports the individual child, it both the child and parent with the supports necessary for involves teaching families how to nurture their children util- the child to reach his or her full potential. We play with a izing practical skills. purpose to make it more meaningful for the children.” SKF offers several services to young children including Early intervention therapy usually takes place in the home Early Intervention, Early On parent and children classes, an involving the family in the most natural type of environ- inclusive pre-school and pediatric therapies (Applied Behav- ment from birth to age three. The shift away from facility ior, Occupational, Physical and Speech). Brown is receiving based therapy to therapy in the home allows a child to focus the services of an early interventionist and is a member of on skills development that are part of a normal routine at home. the Early On group. 6 Early On takes place at the SKF facility located at Independ- “I looked at other schools and felt more at home with PDL,” ent Presbyterian Church. It is a support group for families said Carla Dunn who enrolled her daughter in PDL at 18 going through similar situations. They fellowship and meet months of age.