Publications
Winter 2009 Touchstone
Trinity Episcopal Church has invited artists from Stone Belt to inaugurate its new fine arts gallery with a holiday-inspired exhibit of original art pieces. Artists spent the last several months exploring "light" from different perspectives in honor of the holidays. The "Light & Life" exhibit opened November 15 with a reception and "Meet the Artist" event. Client Robert Pate talks about his piece with Rev. Virginia B. Hall, Assistant Clergy of the church, at the event. Stop by the exhibit through the end of January.
Special Olympics: Athletic Connections
Walk into Bloomington’s Classic Bowling Lanes any Tuesday or Sunday evening and you will find smiles, loud cheers, high-fives and hand-slapping, especially when there is anything resembling a strike or a spare. On these nights the lanes are full and the pins are falling. Welcome to a weekly Special Olympics bowling practice, regular but definitely not run of the mill.
Bowling is merely one of the six sports offered by the Special Olympics Indiana-Monroe County program.
Special Olympics Indiana-Monroe County is a not-for-profit organization that offers year-round sports training and athletic competition for children (8 years and over) and adults with intellectual, cognitive or learning disabilities. The group offers training and competition in eight sports including: Basketball, Bowling, Equestrian, Golf, Softball, Swimming, Tennis and Track & Field.
The group is part of the international network of accredited Special Olympics Programs that reaches more than 2.5 million athletes with disabilities worldwide. Eunice Kennedy Shriver started the organization in June 1962. The group receives no federal or state appropriated funds, is not a United Way Agency and relies entirely on corporate, civic and individual donations.
Special Olympics is not only about athletic competition but it is also an opportunity for athletes to develop physical fitness, demonstrate courage, experience joy and share gifts, skills and friendship with others in our community. Athletes of every skill level and experience are welcome. Participants have opportunities to compete and practice weekly and athletes use these practices to prepare for a variety of competitions including regional and state tournaments as well as the Special Olympics Summer Games held each year in Terre Haute, Indiana.
Stone Belt has approximately 50 clients participating in a variety of Special Olympics sports. Meet four of these amazing athletes below.
track star: marcus odum
Marcus Odum particpates in Special Olympics track & field, bowling and basketball.Why do you participate in Special Olympics sports? My favorite thing is meeting new people. I love to talk to them, tell them good luck, congratuate them. Plus it’s a great exercise outlet.
How did you make the decision to join Special Olympics? My love of sports started when I played football a long time ago and I wanted to play sports again. I can’t live without sports.
Who are your biggest sports influences? Tom Brantley (my roommate), Michael Jordan, Peyton Manning. Manning is my favorite because of how good he is. Every time I watch him play I always think I should continue doing sports.
What makes a great athlete? Good sportsmanship. Telling others that they did a good job.
What is your proudest sports moment? When I made it to the state tournament for basketball. That made me happy.
What is the most challenging thing about sports? I have asthma, so learning how to manage my breathing has been a struggle. My legs also get tired sometimes, but I keep pushing myself.
What is a personal sporting goal for you? To always do the very best I can. To make it to the State tournament each time. To beat my bowling score of 258.
Who has had the most influence on your sporting career? Back when I was playing football, my coach said, “When on defense, always keep your eye on the quarterback.” This is something I never forget. You can apply it to any sport. Like in bowling I always stay focused on the pins.
water siren: angie deel
Angie Deel participates in Special Olympics swimming and bowling.Why do you participate in Special Olympics sports? Because I love sports and the Special Olympics is for everyone. I also love the torch.
What is the most challening thing about swimming? Winning medals. My proudest sporting moments have come when I won my medals.
How has sports personally changed your life? It makes me feel good about myself.
What would people be surprised to learn about you? That I have worked at IU for years.
How do you focus during a competition? I don’t pay attention to anyone around me and just do my best.
What makes a great athlete? A good competitor.
How did you get into swimming? My mom encouraged me into the sport. I love being in the water. It’s my favorite.
What is your biggest challenge faced during your sporting career? I have trouble with my ears when I swim or go under water for a long time.
What sporting event would you most like to see? An Indianapolis Colts football game.
Who has had the most influence on your sporting career? The Special Olympics organization and Peggy and Maria (my coaches).
king pin: misty lawyer
Misty Lawyer participates in Special Olympics bowling, basketball and softball.Why do you participate in Special Olympics sports? Because I like playing with all my friends. My favorite thing about Special Olympics is the nice people I meet.
Who are your biggest sports influences? My friends.
What is the most challenging thing about competing? Learning how to play the sports and getting good at specific skills. For bowling, my biggest challenge is learning how to keep my wrist straight when throwing the ball.
What is your proudest sports moment? Scoring 150 in bowling. This year I’m going to the State tournament. I’m so excited to see my friends and take my game to another level.
What is a personal sporting goal for you? I would like to learn how to play flag football. One of my friends in Crawfordsvile plays it. It would be great to start a league in Bloomington.
What makes a great athlete? Listening to the coaches and learning what they have to say. It is important to respect their knowledge about the sport.
How has sports personally changed your life? I’ve played basketball and softball since I was little. I have so many friends now; it has really increased my social life.
What is your favorite team? My favorite basketball team is the IU Hoosiers. I’ve been to a few games and would like to go to more.
What would people be surprised to learn about you? How I influence other people. I’m a big cheerleader during our activities and support my friends in achieving their goals.
How do you focus during a competition? I block out everything else going on and focus on the sport.
horse whisperer: robert pate
Robert Pate participates in Special Olympics equestrian and basketball. Here he focuses on his equestrian sports through People and Animal Learning Services (PALS).What is your horse’s name? John.
What is the most challenging thing about riding horses? Learning the names of all the horse’s parts.
What do you like most about riding horses? I love to feed John hay and peppermint candy. We also play red light/green light together. He’s really good at it.
What is your proudest sports moment? I’ve won a lot of first prizes. I have a trophy with my name and picture on it.
How did you get involved in the Special Olympics? I was six when I rode a horse for the first time. PALS is the perfect outlet to ride and compete.
What is a personal sporting goal for you? To train John to run between poles.
What makes a great equestrian? I tell John that I’m the boss and his ears perk up. He knows when I’m talking to him and he listens extra carefully.
How has sports personally changed your life? It makes me happy being with the horses. I feel good about helping take care of them.
Do you have any good luck charms before you compete? I put on my helmet and I tell John he’s a good horse. Then I tell him if he does a good job, then I’ll do a good job.
How do you focus during a competition? I pay attention to John and try to not get distracted while riding.
What is the biggest challenge faced during your sporting life? Participating in exercises on top of the horse. The coaches have me ride John and hold my arms out in the air and make circles. This makes my arms tired.
Quarterly Donors
Donations to our general fund can now be made online using PayPal. Click here to make your gift today.
CORNERSTONE SOCIETY LEVEL GIFTS ($10,000 – $24,999): Davee Foundation
PILLAR SOCIETY LEVEL GIFTS ($5,000 – $9,999): Lennie’s Restaurant; Edward & Mary Lou Otting
BUILDERS SOCIETY LEVEL GIFTS ($1,000 – $2,499): Harold & Claudia Lindman
ADVOCATE LEVEL GIFTS ($500 – $999): Alan Abbitt; David & Jane Dunatchik; Beth Gazley & Carl Weinberg; Robert & Sara Lebien; Stuart & Ellen Mufson; Brian Rebel
STEWARD LEVEL GIFTS ($100 – $499): Bill C. Brown Associates; Dr. Ruthann Berck & Associates; Shirley Boardman; David & Judy Devore; Maureen Gahan; GoodSearch; Leslie Green & Ed Maxedon; Indiana Running Company; Jason & Amy Jackson; Miles & Marjorie Kanne; Kappa Kappa Sigma, Iota Chapter; Jim & Kathie Lazerwitz; Ken Gros Louis; Dennis Organ; Larry & Peg Pejeau; Don & Beverly Warren
FRIEND LEVEL GIFTS ($1 – $99): Miriam Alpert; Jim & Marge Belisle; Lee Buskirk; Stephanie Davenport; Douglas Evans; Margaret Gilbride & Claire King; Trish Ierino; Patrick & Sharon Robbins; Doug & Stacey Ryner; Jami Sargent; Kathleen Sideli; Nancy Smith; Joseph & Tonya Vandivier.
IN KIND GIFTS: Bedford Public Library; Ward & Amanda Brown; Hannah Hinchman; Jimmy Johns; Monroe County Parks & Recreation; Patty Rocco; Smithville Telephone Company, Inc.
From the CEO: The Revolving Gears of Stone Belt
One of my favorite things to do is to give tours of our Stone Belt facilities to members of the community. I love showing them the hustle and bustle of individuals learning life skills in our career advancement classes, creating beautiful pieces of art in our multiple studios, and creating life-saving equipment in our Life Sciences Manufacturing area.
What I most enjoy of this experience is the opportunity to explain to people that what they are seeing in any of our buildings – be they in Columbus, Bedford or Bloomington – is only a tiny fraction of the overall programming of excellence that is happening each day through Stone Belt. I share that in addition to all of this we also support hundreds of individuals in community employment, provide thousands of hours of mental health supports annually, and organize the resources needed for hundreds of individuals to live independently in their own homes. We employ 500 dedicated staff, who all experience on-going training so that they may truly excel in their work. Our clients volunteer hundreds of hours each year in social service agencies, exhibit their professional art work in galleries and exhibit spaces around the community, and experience all that the community has to offer civically and recreationally. And we, as an agency, build relationships within the larger community to insure that we are well informed about external factors that play a role in the field of disability supports.
I’m often asked how I keep track of all of the myriad things that we do as an agency, and how all of the parts work together. My visual for all of this is a set of gears, where there are many independently moving parts, yet they all connect with one another and cause one another to stay in motion; they activate one another creating a single, seamless movement with one goal in mind – to create opportunities for individuals with disabilities to live self-determined lives in which they are able to fully participate in the life of the community. All the pieces of the “Stone Belt gear” – education, volunteerism, creative exploration, community involvement, mental health and employment supports – are critical in reaching toward this vision.
This season’s issue of the Touchstone reflects this image of the gears in motion, moving the entire machinery forward toward an exciting future. In these pages you’ll read about individuals expressing their creativity through the next installment of I AM YOU, and keeping their bodies healthy through various athletic passions. You’ll read about the exciting advances we are making in Milestones to provide the most cutting-edge mental health resources, and the steps we are taking to stay informed about legislative and state-wide programmatic changes that impact the lives of individuals with disabilities. You’ll learn about the experience of working for Stone Belt through the voices of some of our most talented and dedicated staff. Each of these activities is one of the gears of Stone Belt – touching and impacting the others.
And of course, we cannot forget about our many friends, advocates, community partners and visionary supporters. It is our collaboration with them that makes all of this possible. Working together, we are all stronger.
Thank you for being an important part of our forward movement!
Leslie Green,
Stone Belt CEO
Upcoming Events
I AM YOU
MARCH 6 @ 8 pm
March 7 @ 2 pm
Bloomington Playwrights Project (107 W Ninth Street, Bloomington)
• Stone Belt clients present monologues at the Bloomington Playwrights Project. Tickets are $20 and will be available for purchase beginning January 20, 2010 through the Buskirk-Chumley Theater Box Office. In Person: 114 E Kirkwood Avenue, Bloomington. By Phone: 812-323-3020. Online: www.buskirkchumley.org. For more information contact Amy Jackson at 812-332-2168, ext. 314 / ajackson@stonebelt.org
ANNUAL AWARDS CELEBRATION
JUNE 28 @ 4:30 pm
Bloomington High School North (3901 N Kinser Pike, Bloomington)
• This annual awards ceremony recognizes Stone Belt clients, staff and community partners. Features include awards and a catered reception. For more information contact Amy Jackson at 812-332-2168, ext. 314 / ajackson@stonebelt.org.
RUN WITH ME
Thank you to all of our past participants and supporters of Stone Belt's Annual 5K. Beginning in 2010, this event will no longer be taking place.
People Make the Difference
leslie green @ 30
On a September day 30 years ago Stone Belt was changed forever, when Leslie Green walked through the door for her first day with the agency. Her plan was to spend two years at Stone Belt while her husband finished his studies at Indiana University. She never could have predicted that supporting the wonderful clients of Stone Belt would become her life’s career and passion.Over the three decades that Leslie has been a part of Stone Belt she has held numerous positions, including: Recreation and Inservice Coordinator; Sheltered Work Coordinator; Coordinator of Development and Training; Coordinator of Client Supports; Director of Adult Services; and her current role, Chief Executive Officer.
Much has changed over the past thirty years and Leslie has played a truly significant role in shaping the agency and moving it forward into what it is today. Leslie’s vision, dedication and drive have impacted not only our Stone Belt community, but also individuals with disabilities throughout our entire state. Her tireless commitment to advocacy and to program excellence has paved the way for many exciting developments in the field. Leslie’s unwavering belief in the right to self-determination for all people has touched and changed countless lives.
As Leslie embarks on her thirty-first year with Stone Belt, please join us to say thank you to her for all that she has done.
maureen gahan @ 25
Twenty five years ago in November, Maureen Gahan had been hired by Stone Belt, but had not yet started working when she received a call saying that she should come in because the State was coming for a survey. She worked from early that morning until well into the night. That was the first of many productive days that Maureen has worked for Stone Belt. During her tenure, she has played an instrumental role in the growth and development of Stone Belt’s expansive residential and Milestones programs. As Assistant Residential Director, Maureen helped oversee two major group home building expansions that grew the program from two adult “cottages” and a children’s group home to 12 homes that supported over 70 individuals living in the community. Upon her promotion to Residential Director she started and vigorously grew the supported living program. All along the way she kept developing a talented group of clinical staff to provide behavioral, nursing and social work services. After completing her Masters Degree in Marriage and Family Services, she had the vision for creating a program where these professional services could be offered not only to Stone Belt clients, but to the whole community. Milestones has grown to serve more than 2,500.
The impact Maureen has had on Stone Belt can be measured by the countless lives that have been changed because of her vision, work ethic and uncompromising belief in our mission. We thank her for help making Stone Belt the agency of excellence it is today.
Arc of Indiana Honors Area Legislators
Two local members of the Indiana General Assembly have recently been honored by The Arc of Indiana.
Representative Peggy Welch received the Public Policy award at The Arc’s Awards Celebration October 1 in Indianapolis. Since 1998, she has represented District 60 which includes part of Monroe, Greene and Brown Counties. Stone Belt nominated Welch for the award because of her ongoing commitment to supporting individuals with disabilities. In her key role in the Ways & Means Committee, she has been a staunch supporter of legislation that provides and protects funding for developmental disability services. She has been a State leader in advocacy efforts to call for improvements in the Medicaid Eligibility Modernization and in the closing hours of the special session in June, Peggy helped to champion and restore language in the budget bill that allows developmental disability centers to receive funding from their local county.
In a separate ceremony, Senator Vi Simpson received the Lifetime Achievement Award from The Arc of Indiana. At the breakfast event, held October 2, Simpson spoke of the accomplishments that have been made in Indiana and of her dedication to continuing to support individuals with disabilities in the legislature and beyond. Simpson was elected to the Indiana Senate in 1984 to represent District 40 including Monroe and Brown Counties. She holds many leadership roles in the Senate and authored legislation that created the Indiana Children’s Health Insurance Program. In her former role as Senate Finance Committee leader, she made sure the state invested in the 317 plan, which has opened doors for thousands of Hoosiers with disabilities to receive Medicaid Waiver funds. Simpson has also helped secure more than $140 million to expand the availability of home and community-based services to individuals with disabilities.
Stone Belt is fortunate to be represented by these two outstanding legislators. We are pleased that The Arc of Indiana chose to honor each of them for their outstanding support of Hoosiers with disabilities.
Remembering Client George Kirles
George William Kirles, 60, of Bloomington, IN died October 25, 2009. He was born in Indianapolis, IN April 6, 1949, the son of George and Joan Kirles.
George was employed by the Indiana Institute on Disability and Community (IIDC) for 14 years until his retirement earlier this year. He was a parishioner of the All Saints Antiochian Orthodox Christian Church where he often served as a greeter. George was an active and outspoken advocate for the disabilities community. In the early 90s he successfully challenged the State of Indiana’s guideline that dictated that person’s living in nursing homes were prohibited from receiving services from outside day programs. He was an active member of Indiana Self-Advocates, attending both local meetings and statewide conferences.
George had a zeal for life and pursued his interests with passion. His interests included art, swimming, good food and travel. George leaves a host of people who were happy and proud to have called him their friend. Many of these are associated with Stone Belt and Residential-CRF, organizations most recently involved in assisting George in his daily and life long efforts toward greater independence and involvement in his community. Many are also associated with Indiana University, and IN-APSE, both which worked with George for many years, and truly saw his skills, abilities, and passion.
All those who have had their lives touched by him will dearly miss George Kirles. He has inspired, amused, humbled, informed, comforted, and enriched each of us. George knew each barrier was simply something to chuckle at on the way around it; each challenge was a joy because at the end he always believed he would find hard won success.
Lawrence County Guardianship Program
For the past year, Stone Belt has served as the lead agency for the Lawrence County Guardianship Program (LCGP) by meeting with key community stakeholders to formulate the mission, goals and structure of the program. Conceptualized by The Arc of Indiana and modeled after two projects in northwest Indiana, the Lawrence County program is one of seven pilots around the state. LCGP will provide trained volunteer guardians for at-risk and incapacitated adults who are elderly or disabled. The project has had strong local support including from Judge Andrea McCord, who is providing office space in the Lawrence County Courthouse to house the staff.
In October, the program was officially launched by the chosen project operators, Southern Indiana Center for Independent Living in Bedford. Chris Meadows has been named as the Program Director. He has started recruiting volunteer guardians and arranging required training.
Individuals with disabilities and the elderly often have difficulty managing their personal affairs. LCGP will provide information, training and support to volunteer guardians so they are better equipped to help.
For more information, contact Chris Meadows at 812-275-4130 / guardianshipdir@msn.com.
Stone Belt Wins at CCA Awards
The City of Bloomington Council for Community Accessibility (CCA) recognized organizations and individuals committed to making Bloomington more accessible to indidividuals with disabilities at their annual awards ceremony at Chapman’s Restaurant on October 26. Two of the honorees included a Stone Belt staff member and a Stone Belt employer. Read about these winners below.Business Service Award
Presented to Katrina Bardsley & Monroe Hospital, a Stone Belt Community Employer who currently employs four Stone Belt clients. Awarded to a business significantly employing people with disabilities or going beyond minimum requirements in having accessible buildings, parking and services.
The Mayor’s Award
Presented to Elizabeth Hall, retiring Stone Belt Marketing & Training Consultant. Awarded to an outstanding individual, business or organization who has improved the community for people with disabilities.
This October Elizabeth retired from Stone Belt after more than 20 years of working on behalf of individuals with disabilties. She began her tenure at Stone Belt in 1988 as a Work Supervisor, then moved to the children’s program. In 1991, she became an Employment Specialist and began her career helping adults with disabilities find jobs. For the past 10 years, she has filled the role of Marketing & Training Consultant and utilized her gift of being able to see potential in all. Elizabeth recognizes abilities, translates these abilities into employable skills, and then sells these abilities to an employer.
Over the years she has also been involved in many community committees including Diversity Works (a local Business Leadership Network) and the Council for Community Accessibility. She has also planned Business Recognition Ceremonies for Disability Awareness month, which honor community employers.
Stone Belt salutes Elizabeth and the work she has done in the course of her career; she has made a tremendous impact on many lives and in the community for more than 20 years.
Other Award recipients included Alexandra Rosenberg (Self-Advocacy Award), Area 10 Agency on Aging Handyman Program (Housing Service Award), Monroe County Parks & Recreation Karst Farm Park Playscape (Professional Service Award), Vanessa McClary (Special Recognition).
Milestones: Lights! Telemedicine Debuts
In the fall of 2009, Stone Belt expanded its efforts in Bartholomew County by relocating its programming to the United Way Center in Columbus, Indiana. Included in this move was an increase in space for Stone Belt’s educational Programming. In addition, Stone Belt expanded its outreach efforts to the community by establishing offices for both Community Employment and for Milestones: Clinical and Health Resources.
Prior to the opening of the new Columbus office, Milestones already provided clinical supports through its Bloomington office to several hundred individuals from Bartholomew and surrounding counties. Individuals and families traveled great distances to receive crucial and difficult-to-acquire mental health services. Maureen Gahan, Milestones Director, recognized the growing need in the Bartholomew community for localized resources. “When people are in need of mental health supports, it is terrible to add extensive travel to their burden. Our goal is to bring the supports where they are needed, and to create opportunity for individuals to live healthy and happy lives.” As in Bloomington, Milestones now provides psychiatric and counseling supports for children, teens, families and adults with disabilities in Columbus and beyond.
Milestones employs two board-certified psychiatrists, Drs. Melinda Weakley and Lia Kettenis, practicing predominantly out of the Bloomington office. With the opening of the Columbus office, Dr. Kettenis now travels to Columbus two days per month to meet with patients. However, with the creation of Milestones’ new Telemedicine Program, the doctors are now able to provide even greater clinical resources to the Bartholomew Community through the use of cutting edge technology.
Telemedicine is a rapidly developing application of clinical medicine, where medical information is transferred through the internet and video conferencing for the purpose of consultation and examination. It is a combination of communication and information technologies for the delivery of clinical care. It is extremely beneficial for communities where specific health related resources are not readily available, and it is now being applied internationally in virtually all medical domains. With the installation of Milestones’ Telemedicine stations in both the Columbus and Bloomington offices, Drs. Weakley and Kettenis have immediate access to patients and families being treated at a distance.
Milestones’ Telemedicine Program consists of life-size Video Conferencing systems which are utilized to conduct two-way, interactive clinical services. These systems allow real-time interactions between a patient and a physician using rich, high definition video and Voice-Over-IP audio technology. The system removes obstacles to accessibility when a doctor’s primary practice office is at a distance.
During diagnostic and mental status examinations and assessments, it is critical that the doctors be able to see facial expressions, monitor motor coordination and movement, and engage in face to face communication. Each camera in the Telemedicine system transmits many frames per second for incredible motion handling. The pan, tilt and zoom functions can be controlled remotely, allowing the physician to closely observe gestures, facial expressions and mannerisms. Telemedicine sessions are routed internally within the Stone Belt network to maintain secure, encrypted conferences. Policies and procedures have been designed and implemented to insure protection of all HIPAA laws, including privacy and confidentiality of a session and the secure storage of the video files.
Milestones’ new Telemedicine Program provides the agency with a means to maximize available staff resources and reduce the amount of time both patients and doctors spend in travel. And it allows the agency to provide services to significantly more individuals across a greater geographic area without greatly increasing the financial burden to the agency.
The new Telemedicine Program not only provides opportunity for diagnostic and therapeutic treatment; it also allows for urgent care outpatient visits, assessments of medications and medication management, electronic prescriptions, and immediate supervision and training for off-site staff. Services provided via telemedicine are reimbursable through Medicaid, Medicare and most insurance companies, with equipment that meets the standards set by insurers.
Leslie Green, Stone Belt CEO, recently shared the story of the new Telemedicine Program with the agency’s board of directors. “We are extremely proud of the services we provide through Milestones. With our new Telemedicine system, we will be able to improve the lives of many more people, helping them to live self-determined lives as full participants in the community.”
Annual Report: Camera! 2009, A Year of Celebration
JANUARY
- Art & Craft Web site launches.
- Stone Belt awarded two grants totaling more than $16,500 for use in the creation of an Artist in Residence program for clients.
FEBRUARY
- Stone Belt offers its first Artist in Residence class to clients.
- Stone Belt corporate sponsors donate over $96,000 to support the agency throughout its 50th Anniversary.
MARCH
- Stone Belt hosts Employer Recognition Awards recognizing local business partners.
- Stone Belt hosts Leadership Appreciation Dinner for community leaders who have held a past or current position in the agency.
- Stone Belt hosts Agency-Wide Birthday Celebrations on Stone Belt’s official day of incorporation.
- Stone Belt hosts Awards for Excellence Luncheon celebrating the outstanding achievements of five employees.
APRIL
- Stone Belt hosts fourth annual Run With Me 5K.
- Two Stone Belt affiliates are honored during the City of Bloomington’s Be More Awards.
- Stone Belt launches its anniversary celebration “wrapped” bus in the City of Bloomington.
MAY
- Stone Belt wins Dancing With Celebrities in Bloomington by raising over $21,000.
- Two Stone Belt staff members graduate from Indiana’s Direct Support Professional (DSP) Development Training & Educational Program through Ivy Tech.
JUNE
- The City of Bloomington hosts a Community Birthday Party in honor of Stone Belt and MCUM.
- Stone Belt offers 10-week Artist-in-Residence class to clients in its South region.
JULY
- Stone Belt opens a new expanded Life Sciences Manufacturing Area at its 10th Street facility in Bloomington, and relocates its Owen County activities to its Central Region; a ribbon cutting ceremony is held.
- Stone Belt is awarded a three-year term of accreditation from CARF-CCAC.
- Stone Belt South client employer, Dunn Memorial Hospital, wins Large Employer of the Year award at the National APSE conference.
AUGUST
- Stone Belt hosts Annual Awards celebration to recognize the achievements and contributions of its clients, staff, community partners and volunteers.
- Stone Belt completes NAP Tax Credit Campaign, raising close to $33,000 in one week.
SEPTEMBER
- Stone Belt services and programs in the East region move into new space in Columbus, the United Way building.
OCTOBER
- Stone Belt hosts Belt Out Laughing!, an evening of comedy featuring Josh Blue. More than 400 people attend.
- Stone Belt hosts an agency Fall-o-Ween Party in Lawrence County featuring Pi Kappa Phi fraternity members.
- Two Stone Belt affiliates recognized at the City of Bloomington Council for Community Accessibility Awards.
NOVEMBER
- Stone Belt artists inaugurate Trinity Episocopal Church’s new fine arts gallery.
- In celebration of the restaurant’s 20th Anniversary,
- Lennie’s Restaurant in Bloomingoton donates $8,700 each
- to Stone Belt, Hoosier Hills Food Bank and WonderLab.
DECEMBER
- Stone Belt Art & Craft hosts a holiday gallery sale.
The Arts: Action! I Am You Returns
What do you get when you combine four dynamic volunteer directors, fourteen energized and creative performers, and three dedicated community partners? Stone Belt’s original theatrical production, I AM YOU!
Now in its second season, I AM YOU was originally the brainchild of Michelle Davenport, a former Indiana University student volunteer who worked with clients in 2008 to write and perform stories of their lives. The first production of I AM YOU featured nine individuals sharing their stories, along with a powerful slide show and outstanding musical accompaniment provided by a client musician. The performance took place in November of 2008 at the Bloomington Playwrights Project, a local professional theatre with a mission to encourage playwriting in the community. The sold-out show drew a crowd of more than 100 audience members, with several dozen unfortunately turned away at the door once the theatre had reached capacity.
Audience members heard stories that touched on the whole gamut of the human experience – love, loss, independence, work ethic, family dynamics. There was a tremendous range of emotion shared, from great sadness to joyful humor. Performers invited the audience to learn about their lives, and to understand who they are as multi-faceted, self-determined individuals with many interests, goals, and accomplishments. The evening was an inspirational success, and the agency immediately recognized the powerful possibilities of sharing this program annually with the community.
In October of this year, Stone Belt began working with four new volunteer directors for I AM YOU. Two of the directors joined the project via Theatre of the People, a new inclusive theatre company located in Bloomington. Hannah Moss and David Nosko bring great knowledge and experience to the project, having worked both in front and behind the curtain in many theatrical productions. With the establishment of Theatre of the People, their goal is to create theatre that is accessible to everyone, including actors and audience members. Joining Hannah and David are two Indiana University students, Jami Patton and Sara Rebmann, who were recruited by outgoing volunteer director, Davenport. They bring wonderful background in creative writing and programming for individuals with disabilities.
Performing in the second season of I AM YOU will be fourteen individuals who utilize Stone Belt services, representing all facets of the agency’s programs, including educational programs, residential life, and community employment; and performers represent all of our service areas, including Bedford, Columbus and Bloomington. The agency is thrilled to have such a broad representation of individuals in the production.
Client performers and directors will spend 15 weeks working together to craft their monologues and work on the dramatics. They will then take the stage for two performances of I AM YOU in March of 2010.
Partnering once again with Stone Belt this year is the Bloomington Playwrights Project (BPP). The Theatre was very pleased with the professional production last year, and was eager to invite Stone Belt back for a return engagement. They have extended an entire weekend to Stone Belt for performances, allowing the production to have both a Saturday night show and a Sunday matinee the first weekend of March. In addition to the partnership with the BPP, Stone Belt is honored to be collaborating this year with both the Theatre of the People (providing volunteer direction), and Trinity Episcopal Church, which is providing all rehearsal space. Working with three supportive community partners on this production strengthens Stone Belt’s outreach and educational efforts.
I AM YOU provides individuals with disabilities with the opportunity to share their stories and showcase their talents. Participation in a professional theatre production is an exciting chance to demonstrate to the community that all individuals have impactful stories to share, and that all people have artistic skills, dreams and aspirations. Audience members will surely be moved by the experience, and will come away with a greater understanding of the ways in which all people contribute to the building of community.
If You Go
I AM YOU is a joint fundraiser for Stone Belt and the Bloomington Playwrights Project (BPP). There will be two performances of this year’s I AM YOU monologues at the BPP located at 107 W 9th Street, Bloomington, IN. Join us:Saturday, March 6 @ 8 pm
Sunday, March 7 @ 2 pm
Tickets are $20 and will be available for purchase beginning January 20, 2010 through the Buskirk-Chumley Theater Box Office. In Person: 114 E Kirkwood Avenue, Bloomington. By Phone: 812-323-3020. Online: www.buskirkchumley.org.
First Person: DSP. An Inside Look at the DSP Workforce
Stone Belt’s Direct Support Professionals (DSPs) are the backbone of its services for individuals with disabilities. DSPs make up the majority of Stone Belt’s workforce. Close to 80% of its employees (425 out of 500) work as DSPs. DSPs provide guidance and support to those individuals with disabilities, those with chronic illness or those in other circumstances where assistance is essential to live a self-directed and independent life. People who provide direct support are found in hundreds of different settings and job titles yet share many skills and approaches common to direct support work. The title is nationally recognized and the federal government has recently declared the second week in September each year to be Direct Support Professional Appreciation Week.
Who are the professionals in this field and what challenges and successes do they experience as they advocate for the field? In the article below a dedicated Stone Belt DSP takes an in-depth look at answers to these questions.
By Shannon Gilbert
Direct Support Professionals (DSP) ensure the safety, health and well-being of those they support — individuals living with a developmental, physical, and/or mental disability. A DSP assists these individuals in planning a variety of activities such as going to the movies with friends and attending special events. A DSP must encourage the individual to complete daily tasks, such as grocery shopping, personal hygiene, setting the table, and doing laundry. Because each individual is unique and has different levels of need for support, a DSP must get to know the individual as a person and learn what will help him or her to be most successful.
It is a DSPs responsibility to be an active listener to those she supports. Some individuals that require supports are able to communicate with spoken word and can verbally articulate their needs; however others communicate only non-verbally, so a DSP must be able to recognize when the individual is sad, happy, unwell or upset. A DSP must think quickly on her feet and be able to address situations as they occur.
A DSP carries a lot of responsibility on his shoulders. He is the one who provides transportation for individuals to doctors’ appointments, and completes medical procedures. These tasks require specialized training, which is offered in abundance through Stone Belt for every DSP. It is crucial that professionals providing these critical supports demonstrate high levels of competency to insure the health, safety and well being of all individuals.
A DSP must be valued as so much more than just a person merely “filling a shift.” We are trained, competent individuals who choose to support those with disabilities in order to ensure they have meaningful days — just as any member of our society wishes to have. It is often said to me that it takes a “special person” to do the job I do; I usually smile and say, “I am just doing what I love to do.” There are many misunderstandings of what a DSP is. DSPs are not babysitters, we are not caregivers, and we are not buddies. We are Professionals! We support adults who do not need to be taken care of; we offer the supports they need to live self-determined lives. And although it is often the case that DSPs will form close relationships with individuals they supports, it is also the case that we are trained to establish and maintain healthy boundaries to provide for the greatest opportunity for success.
If I were to suddenly become in need of daily supports to maintain my quality of life, and I needed to rely on someone to come to my home to help me, I believe that I could count on a friend for a day or two to provide these supports; but probably not more than that. I don’t know that any of my friends would be able to come to my home daily in order to wake me up, help me pick out my clothing, assist me with my personal care, assist me in making my breakfast and provide me with transportation to my workplace. Then return later in the evening to help me make my dinner, take my medications, and get ready for bed. Not to mention, I may have a medical appointment or another event I need to attend in the middle of the day. I recognize that it would require the dedication of a professional to accomplish these tasks, in an on-going way, in my life. And this is the role of the Director Support Professional.
Recently there have been several initiatives begun to train and support area DSPs, and I am honored to be able to take a leadership role in some of these projects:
In 2008 the State of Indiana instituted the “Foundations” training, in order to provide DSPs the recognition of a profession by offering college classes through Ivy Tech. Last year I participated in this program and graduated with a certificate degree in May. Participating DSPs were able to enroll in classes and receive learning materials at no cost, and once they had completed the program were given a certificate and a wage increase — all provided by the State. Through the training I was pushed to try new techniques in the workplace. I feel tremendously grateful to have had the opportunity to participate in this important endeavor to professionalize the field; unfortunately, due to budgetary shortfalls, the State of Indiana felt it necessary to cancel this program. Many DSPs, and therefore the individuals they support, would have benefited greatly had this effort continued. We will continue to advocate for its reinstatement as quickly as possible.
Locally, service providers Stone Belt, Options and Christole partnered together to create the Direct Support Professional Association (DSPA) in Bloomington. The group was established to demonstrate support for the agencies’ DSPs. DSPA has hosted several events this year including a retreat in June that provided DSPs with informational sessions, and an appreciation barbecue in September in honor of DSP Appreciation Week. Another retreat is in the works for 2010.
On the State level, DSPIN (Direct Support Professionals in Indiana), an organization associated with the NADSP (National Alliance for Direct Support Professionals), has been established. DSPIN is being organized by DSPs throughout Indiana with the purpose of providing the community with a better understanding of our workforce. The group is currently searching for members. Membership will allow the collective DSP voice to become stronger and more effective in awareness raising, will provide professional network opportunities. DSPs, agency professionals, clients, families, guardians and friends in the community are encouraged to spread the word about the importance of professionalizing the direct support field!
If you would like more information on DSPA or DSPIN contact Shannon Gilbert at sgilbert@stonebelt.org. If you
would like to know more information about the NADSP go to www.NADSP.org.
Working @ Stone Belt
Stone Belt is fortunate to employ approximately 500 individuals to fulfill our mission to prepare, empower, and support individuals each day. As one of the largest employers in south central Indiana, we strive to provide support, development opportunities, and jobs that bring intrinsic value and lead to greater satisfaction.Finding quality individuals is the first step. In 2009, Stone Belt received nearly 900 applications for positions with the agency. These applicants first go through a screening process to determine if they qualify for a position currently available. After a successful screening, applicants have an interview at one of Stone Belt’s facilities. After that, applicants visit the work location so that a supervisor can perform a second interview and the applicant can meet Stone Belt clients and get a sense of the daily work required.
After the site visit, references and the required background checks are completed and, assuming all is positive, an offer of employment is made. After the offer is accepted, a pre-employment drug screen must be passed before a start date and training is scheduled.
Defining what Stone Belt seeks in a new hire is as variable as the individuals we serve. Certainly, a caring spirit and desire to provide support to others is needed. The interactions during a home visit are key to seeing if an applicant can succeed. Because of Stone Belt’s extensive training program, a related degree and/or previous experience in the industry is not required.
The point person to Stone Belt’s hiring process is Adam Hamel. Although new to the position of New Hire Coordinator, Adam brings direct care experience as he screens and interviews new applicants. Adam joined Stone Belt in July 2008 after completing culinary school in Chicago. “The hospitality-like aspect of the job,” was the initial draw for Adam. Adam has worked in both Stone Belt group homes and in the 10th Street Day Program and wants to hire individuals who will not just come to work, but will take their responsibility toward our clients seriously.
If you are interested in a career at Stone Belt, a list of open positions can be found on Stone Belt’s Web site, www.stonebelt.org. You can also fill out an application on the Web site or stop by any Stone Belt administrative office to fill out a paper copy.
For more information about working at Stone Belt call 812-332-2168, ext. 242 or email hireme@stonebelt.org.
Development: Anniversary Year Brings Great Success
Fiftieth Anniversary Recap
As 2009 comes to a close, we celebrate the end of a very exciting 50th anniversary year for Stone Belt. This anniversary has provided Stone Belt with a wonderful opportunity to share the story of our agency – including our history, the impacts we make on the community today, and the initiatives we are putting in place as we move forward toward our next half century.
Our anniversary celebrations began in March with birthday parties in all of our regional offices and a leadership recognition dinner at the Fountain Square Ballroom in Bloomington for all current and past board and committee leaders. Throughout the year we recognized our anniversary with open houses, athletic events, dance competitions, stand up comedy and even a wrapped bus – still making its way around Bloomington. In myriad ways we educated the community about the importance of creating opportunities for individuals with disabilities to live lives of independence and meaning.
Our many 50th anniversary activities would not have been possible without the wonderful generosity of our many corporate and private contributors: Cook Medical; B97; Bill C. Brown Associates; Crowder’s Pharmacy; Evans Scholars; Internal Medicine Associates; Innovative Financial Solutions; Mallor Clendening Grodner & Bohrer; Metlife Metdesk; Monroe Bank; Ed & Marylou Otting; People’s State Bank; United Commerce; IU Credit Union; Bradley & Associates; SIHO; Smithville Telephone; Carlisle Brake & Friction; Southern Indiana Pediatrics; Ivy Tech Community College; JA Benefits; CFC; Oliver Winery; Taylor Imprinted Sportswear; World Arts; City of Bloomington Buskirk-Chumley Theater Grant Program; Uptown Café; One World Enterprises/Lennie’s.
Recent Grants & Gifts of Note
Stone Belt has received a grant from the Community Foundation of Bloomington and Monroe County to support the implementation of the Incredible Years program. The close to $7,000 grant provides for training and certification for two Milestones therapists, as well as all curricular materials. The Incredible Years is a cutting-edge group therapy program for children and parents, designed to cultivate healthy social skill development.
Stone Belt received a grant of $10,000 from the Davee Foundation to support the expansion of its Artist-in-Residence Program. The third grant the agency has received from the Davee Foundation, these dollars will support the implementation of ten courses offered to clients throughout 2010. Each course will be taught by a local arts educator, and will take place over ten weeks. Clients will have the opportunity to explore all aspects of the arts, including music, theatre, visual arts, dance, and culinary arts.
Stone Belt has received a gift of close to $9,000 from Lennie’s Restaurant and Brew Pub in Bloomington to support programming of excellence. Lennie’s dedicated its 20th anniversary celebration to a fundraising effort on behalf of three cornerstone not-for-profits. Stone Belt, Hoosier Hills Food Bank, and WonderLab Museum were the recipients of much generosity, as the restaurant donated all dollars brought into their registers over a three day period. Stone Belt is honored to have such a tremendous community partner in Lennie’s.
Stone Belt Appreciates its Donors
As the holiday season approaches, we hope that you will consider Stone Belt in your end-of-year giving. A gift to Stone Belt allows every aspect of our agency to flourish, including residential services, educational and employment opportunities, art and manufacturing programs, and Milestones Clinical and Health Resources. Through the work of Stone Belt, individuals are able to establish meaningful relationships, live independently, experience professional employment, contribute to the building of community, and development new life skills.
Support for Stone Belt creates lasting impact and touches thousands of lives. With your help, we can stretch our diminishing funding much further and promote the highest quality of services. Your gift will go directly to programs of excellence that support people with disabilities in their quest for personal fulfillment.
Giving to Stone Belt is an investment in the future of our entire community – we all benefit when every individual is acknowledged as making contributions, is supported in a self-determined life, and is encouraged to reach her greatest potential.
To discuss giving opportunities please contact Stone Belt Development Director, Amy Jackson, at 812-332-2168
ext. 314 / ajackson@stonebelt.org.
Did You Know?
Bloomington Mayor Mark Kruzan recently announced that the area surrounding Stone Belt’s Animal Island B-Line Trail Art Installation (Morton Street, Bloomington) will be called “Charlotte’s Plaza.” Named after former Stone Belt board President and local Bloomington celebrity, Charlotte Zietlow. Kruzan said, ”As a gathering point for the community, the place where children and families come to enjoy downtown, and the crossorads of city, county and university, this is a fitting tribute to an iconic woman.” Congratulations Charlotte!
Legislative Update: State Makes Changes to Waiver, FSSA Vendor
A Look at the 2010 Medicaid Waiver Changes
On October 1, 2009 the State of Indiana renewed its Medicaid Waiver for Developmental Disabilities. After months of gathering input from clients, family members, providers, and other stakeholders, the new waiver reflects some positive changes. New services have been added including Electronic Monitoring; Facility Based Support; and Workplace Assistance for people receiving Supported Employment. In addition, documentation standards for day services have been revised, which could provide some relief to current over burdensome requirements. However, two of the critical areas of concern in the waiver renewal are changes regarding Supported Employment Follow-Along (SEFA) and Pre-Vocational Habilitation. Both of these services now will have time limits that will go into effect upon the date of the individual’s annual renewal plan. For Pre-Vocational services the time limit is 12 months and for SEFA the time limit is 18 months. Each client’s “clock” will begin at the time of their annual review. After the time limits elapse, these services will no longer be authorized and alternative services will need to be chosen to replace them. If these regulations remain as currently stated, clients whose services are funded by Medicaid waiver will soon not have many options for work available to them.
Realizing the significance of these limitations, our advocacy groups – The Arc of Indiana and INARF – began immediately to address the concerns with State officials. In response the State agreed to take input on how to resolve these issues. A day services work group, headed by Stone Belt CEO Leslie Green, as president of Indiana Arc Executives, and Patrick Cockrum, chair of INARF board of directors, has been meeting intensively to provide alternatives for the State to consider. As of this writing the final proposal from the group is being refined and readied for presentation. The State feels they have some limitations on what they can accept due to federal regulations and funding limits; however, we are hopeful that this situation can be resolved to the benefit of the many individuals currently served by the Waiver.
We will make every effort to keep clients and families informed of the possible resolution of these issues. It goes without saying that these are tough times for the State economy. We are working diligently to continue our focus on client-centered and effective services.
If you have any questions or concerns, please contact Stone Belt CEO Leslie Green at 812-332-2168, ext. 249 / lgreen@stonebelt.org.
FSSA Ends Contract With IBM as Service Vendor
In October the State of Indiana decided to end its problem-plagued $1.34 billion deal with a team of vendors to automate the application process for the delivery of welfare services including Medicaid. The contract was canceled because the company did not make satisfactory progress to improve services to welfare applicants and recipients under a plan to correct deficiencies. The system has been highly criticized for lost documents, slow processing times and a lack of face-to-face interaction between caseworkers and recipients.“I commend Governor Daniels for having the guts to do this,” said state Rep. Peggy Welch, D-Bloomington. “It’s gutsy for him to admit that ‘Oops, it didn’t work,’ and for taking responsibility for that decision.”
In its place, the Family and Social Services Administration (FSSA) will go to a hybrid system that will incorporate successful elements of the system run by IBM and FSSA’s old system of intake. This system will include more face-to-face contact and more localized team-based case management.
“It is now important that we maintain diligent oversight of the transition and this new hybrid system as it is tested,” said Indiana Senate Democratic Leader Vi Simpson, D-Ellettsville.
Since March 2007, IBM has led a coalition of companies which were charged with improving Indiana’s welfare system, long plagued with fraud, high error rates, extensive customer wait times, and the nation’s worst record for moving people from welfare to work. Earlier this year, the company entered into a corrective action plan to address many issues with its system. FSSA reviewed progress following a September 30 deadline, and after consultation with FSSA Secretary Anne Murphy, the Governor directed that the contract must be terminated.
The IBM system suffered from two fundamental flaws in concept. The system tried to remove the burden of required face-to-face meetings and it used a task-based approach rather than a case-based approach to process applications.
Face-to-face contact and team-based case management in county offices will again be key elements of the revised welfare delivery system. Additional contractor and state staff will be moved into county offices to increase the number of employees available for case management. The state will continue to shift to paperless case files, rather than the burdensome paper files that clogged the eligibility system.
General information about the new approach can be found at this link: www.in.gov/gov/files/Press/101409_FSSA.pdf.
GoodSearch & GoodShop
www.GoodSearch.com
What if Stone Belt earned a DONATION every time you searched the INTERNET? Or how about if a percentage of every purchase you made online went to support our cause? Well, now it can! GoodSearch.com is a new Yahoo-powered search engine that donates half its advertising revenue, about a penny per search, to the charities its users designate. Use it just as you would any search engine, get quality search results from YAHOO, and watch the donations add up!
www.GoodShop.com
GoodShop.com is a new online shopping MALL which donates up to 30% of each purchase to your favorite cause! Hundreds of great stores including Amazon, Target, Gap, Best Buy, ebay, Macy’s, Barnes & Noble, Walmart, have teamed up with GoodShop and every time you place an order, you’ll be supporting your favorite cause.