a flaire for - unity house of cayuga county, inc. · • unity house of cayuga county inc. winter...

34 WRIGHT AVENUE • AUBURN, NEW YORK 13021

Unity House’s Wellness Committee hosted its first health fair last fall. In keeping with the agency’s efforts to promote wellness

and healthy lifestyles, the goal of Health Flaire was to connect local citizens with health care providers, provide networking opportunities

for these constituents, and build awareness of the services and resources that are available in Cayuga County.

Health Flaire took place on October 22 at the Auburn Holiday Inn. A sold-out number of presenters and vendors were on hand to share health and wellness information. The free open house event featured healthy refreshments, a Zumba

class, several break-out sessions, and more than 30 vendor booths.

“The Wellness Committee was pleased by the turnout at its first Health Flaire, an awareness raising event for the entire community,” said event coordinator Melissa Schwartz. “Health

Flaire introduced attendees to many of the services that are available to assist local resi-dents in their daily lives. Topics included nutrition, exercise and movement, health care options,

essential oils, therapy and counseling, and Oriental medicine; we even focused on financial wellness too.”

Because wellness isn’t one-dimensional and many factors can impact a person’s health, the planning committee focused on a wide range of health-related topics at Health Flaire. More than 175 individuals showed up to learn more, collect free giveaways, and enter for prize drawings.

“2014 was a great year in terms of wellness for our agency,” continued Melissa. “Unity House hosted a successful agency-wide weight loss program, won an award from the American Heart Association, and put on its 3rd annual Unity House Challenge, an activity for employees that encourages exercise and camaraderie among staff. We believe that each employee’s health and wellness is an essential component to providing our consumers with the best possible ser-vice, and we wanted to share our belief and knowledge with the greater community through Health Flaire.”

A Flaire for HEALTHY LIVING

Many thanks to our Health Flaire sponsors:

Their financial support helped make Health Flaire a success!

LIZ SMITH - EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

2 www.unityhouse.com • Unity House of Cayuga County Inc. • Winter 2015

Executive Director’sP E R S P E C T I V E

Unity House continually strives to remain nimble and current in its operations, while providing the best possible resources and services to its consumers. Those resources and services are con-tinually changing.

Governor Andrew Cuomo has recently implemented a number of initiatives that directly impact Unity House and the people we serve. One of those initiatives is a movement towards self-direc-tion and integration in keeping with the Olmstead Act.

Part of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), the Supreme Court’s 1999 Olmstead decision basically stated that putting people with disabilities in institutions, when they can benefit from community integration, perpetuates the notion that these individuals are incapable or unworthy of participating in community life. The ruling also declared that “confinement in an institu-tion severely diminishes everyday life activities of individuals, including family relations, social contacts, work options, economic independence, educational advancement, and cultural enrich-ment.”

Unity House has long held the vision that all individuals are respected and lead lives of personal fulfillment and acceptance within our community. Since 2009, the Civil Rights Division of the U.S. Department of Justice has launched an aggressive effort to enforce a similar vision across the board.

This is a big shift from the way the state and some private agencies have been operating. To be successful with this transition, we all must work with the people we serve and their families, teaching them how to advocate for themselves so that they may get their desires and needs fulfilled.

Unity House has already established a consumer-led self-advocacy group called We-ACT in conjunction with SANYS, the Self Advocacy Association of New York State. Together, they help ensure that our services are consumer-driven and individuals receive what they need in the most integrated setting possible.

I’m excited because there are more opportunities out there for folks with intellectual disabilities than ever before. I always believed we had overbuilt the system, almost enabling these individu-als to become too reliant on us. Now we are stepping back and really looking at their personal skills and abilities and what they can do for themselves, encouraging them to be as independent as possible.

Financial support from the state is more consumer-centered than ever. More and more, the process is being driven by the consumers themselves instead of the agencies that serve them, so self-advocacy is critical. We need to give them the education and resources they need so that their voices are heard.

We’re On Did you know that Unity House has a Facebook page?

This social media outlet allows the agency to share news

and increase awareness of its services and activities in the

community. You’re invited to check it out and “Like” our page:

www.facebook.com/unityhouseofcc. If you feel so inclined, please

also share our page with your Facebook friends. Let us know what you think!

Like Us!

Spirit is published three timesa year by Unity Houseof Cayuga County, Inc.

34 Wright Avenue, Suite CAuburn, NY 13021

www.unityhouse.com

EditorKelly D. Buck

Director of Marketing& Development

315.253.6227 x [email protected]

To be added to the Spirit e-mail list or to opt-out, please call

315.253.6227 x 313 or [email protected]. Learn more about Unity House’s

services and how you can support Unity House at

www.unityhouse.com.

AdministrationEXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

Elizabeth Smith

CHIEF OPERATING OFFICERPaul Joslyn

Board of DirectorsPRESIDENTCindy Wilcox

Southern Cayuga Instant Aid

VICE PRESIDENTBetsy Sterling

Attorney at Law

SECRETARYKenneth Knight

Cayuga Health Assoc., retired

TREASURERBradley Chapman

Oswego Health Services

Members-At-LargeAndrew Cuddy

Elane DalyTerry Kupp

Cynthia MottJohn O’Connor

Christopher RyanChristopher Sweet

James Vivenzio


P E O P L EAmazing

Sherrie Flowers, residence counselor at Sheffield Road IRA, was one of five outstanding Tompkins County employees to receive the Ithaca Rotary Club’s 17th annual Pride of Workmanship Award in October. The award recognizes area employees whose

outstanding work performance in their organization is “above and beyond the call of duty” and is “instrumental in the achievement of the organization’s performance goals.”

Sherrie has worked for Unity House for 11 years, serving seven residents of the Sheffield Road group home for individuals with developmental disabilities. She was nominated by her supervisor Elspeth Peterson, who said that “Sherrie exemplifies our mission by empowering and enriching the lives of those she works with. She is willing to cover shifts for other overnight staff, not only at her own site but also at other Unity House sites; there are not many people willing to work extra overnight shifts. Sherrie Flowers treats all of our residents with honesty, integrity and respect.

Here, Sherrie shows off her award with Assistant Director of Residential services Aaron Brozon and Program Manager Elspeth Peterson.

Congratulations, Sherrie!

Unity House employs some pretty incredible staff whose efforts and activities inside and outside of the agency are worth sharing:

Medicaid Service Coordinator Melissa Schwartz was chosen to make a presentation at the 35th annual ACLAIMH confer-ence in November. The Asso-ciation of Community Living Agencies in Mental Health conference attracts hundreds of mental health professionals and administrators from across the state to Lake George every year.

As a member of Unity House’s Wellness Committee, Melissa was selected to present on the topic of Health Planning and Evaluation. Her presenta-tion, “Employee Wellness Program: Laying the Foundation from Start to Now,” discussed the journey of Unity House’s Wellness Program over the last five years.

“Throughout the presentation, I discussed the Precede-Proceed model, currently the most-used formal planning tool in health education,” said Melissa. “Everyone was willing and eager to share. My attendees learned a lot and I received a lot of targeted feedback.”

The Precede-Proceed model embodies two key aspects of intervention: planning and evaluation. Melissa’s presentation ended in a roundtable discussion. Unity House Executive Director Liz Smith was in attendance, which made for further dialogue surrounding the formation of the agency’s Wellness Program in 2009 and the importance of executive administration buy-in.

Melissa holds a bachelor’s degree in wellness management, and in April 2014, met the standards of competence established by the National Commission for Health Education Credentialing and successfully passed the Certified Health Education Specialist Examination.

Award Nominations I N V I T E DNominations are now being accepted for the 5th annual Fred Atkins Community Service Award. This award is given by Unity House each April in memory of Frederick J. Atkins, a beloved Cayuga County volunteer and Unity House board member who passed away in 2009 at the age of 95. The award recognizes an outstanding individual who volunteers in Cayuga County and who exemplifies Fred’s high moral standards and philanthropic spirit. The winner receives a $250 cash prize, and $250 to give to a Cayuga County non-profit of his or her choice. The award will be presented at Unity House’s annual dinner on April 27.

Nominations are due on Friday, March 6. Learn more and find the nomination form at www.unityhouse.com/about or call 315-253-6227 ext. 313. 2014 ATKINS AWARDEE BRUCE SHERMAN

3


Many people remember the sensational headlines Geraldo Rivera garnered in 1972 when he conducted a series of investigations at the Willowbrook State School on Staten Island. At that time, Willowbrook was the biggest state-run institution for people with mental dis-abilities in the United States, designed to house 4,000 developmentally disabled children. At the time of Rivera’s report, 6,000 were living in deplorable conditions rampant with overcrowding, neglect, abuse, malnutrition, lack of stimulation, and unscrupulous testing.

Called a “snake pit” by Senator Robert Kennedy, Willowbrook was finally closed in 1987, and federal civil rights legislation was enacted to protect people with disabilities.

From this snake pit came one of Unity House’s consumers who has defied the system. Jimmy Severino was sent to Willowbrook as a toddler. Diagnosed with cerebral palsy, he lived in the institution from 1963 until 1974, when he was transferred to Broome County, NY to receive better care. He began receiving

services from Unity House in 1988.

Now 58, Jimmy represents the epitome of successful independent living. Non-verbal due to his disability, Jimmy utilizes an app on his iPhone that allows him to piece together messages in a quick visual format. He lives on his own in a rented apartment, and is a paid hourly worker at Challenge Workforce Solutions. As a custodian at the Challenge offices in Ithaca, Jimmy is well-respected throughout the building.

“I’ve seen a lot of growth in Jimmy over the years,” said Greg Gizewski, Jim’s employment specialist at Challenge. “He has taken on responsibil-ity and is gregarious, sociable, and likeable. Jimmy wants to be judged on the work he does, not on his disability.”

Greg’s sentiments are echoed by Challenge’s Director of Marketing Emily Parker, who says that “Jim is a gentleman and a sweetheart with a long history on our staff. Given his background, Jimmy could be cynical and bitter, but he’s anything but that. There is no reason why a person with a disability can’t be a meaningful part of a successful business. Jim exemplifies that beautiful integration into the workplace.”

In addition to his job, Jimmy is actively involved in a number of recreational activities, especially bowling and dancing. He is also a member of the Church of the Rock. But perhaps his greatest achievement and love is participation in Special Olympics. Jimmy boasts more than 100 medals, won in competition in basketball, track, snowshoeing, bocce ball, bicycling, volleyball, bowling, and more.

In the end, Jimmy’s attitude of gratitude has gone a long way towards a fulfilling life. Says James Beaumont, Jimmy’s Unity House Without Walls coordinator: “Jim appreciates that he did not get here alone. The natural support of friends, Special Olympics coaches, service coordinators, job coaches, day hab managers and direct support professionals alike have helped him with his long journey. Jim’s appreciation for that help is one of his greatest attributes, saying ‘thank you’ repeatedly to let people know that he is grateful, but also putting a focus on what he can do for others and what he has to offer the world.”

JIMMY SEVERINO (LEFT) IS PRESENTED WITH A SIGNEDTOM BRADY FOOTBALL JERSEY BY HIS FRIENDS AT ITHACA SPORTS, WHO ARE “CRAZY ABOUT JIM,”ACCORDING TO EMILY PARKER AT CHALLENGE.

Beautiful Integration

Gale Campbell and Tony Amerman were married on July 4, 2014 in Genoa, NY. The couple lives in their own apartment in Ithaca and receive independent housing support from Unity House. Here they are shown on their wedding day with their residence counselor Jacquie Bailor. The bride tells their story:

“Tony and I met each other through school at T-S-T BOCES. We started dating each other in 1996, when I was only 16 years old and he was 20 years old. We have been together for 19 years and now happily married for 6 months. Still going very strong and extremely happy that we’re husband and wife and finally living together.”

Wedding Bells

C O N S U M E R S U C C E S S - J I M M Y S E V E R I N O

Beautiful IntegrationBeautiful Integration


New art classes at Cornell’s Johnson Art Museum have become so popular, Ithaca Day Hab Assistant Program Manager James Beaumont has had to add an addi-tional class this winter.

“We started last fall with one class, and seven consumers have graduated Art 101,” says James. “They will move on to Art 201, and because several others want to participate, we have added a second class on Thursday afternoons.”

Led by Johnson’s Coordinator of Public Pro-grams Sara Ferguson, day hab consumers first tour parts of the museum and experience the world class art, and then paint and draw in a private setting under Sara’s tutelage.

James continues: “The consumers have en-joyed the museum and creating their own versions of the art. We talk about social boundaries like ‘don’t touch the art’ and then do some sketching and drawing. We devel-oped the classes so there is a progression and a sense of achievement upon completion.”

HE’S A WINNER!

Auburn Day Hab consumer Chris Dygert’spainting, “Snowy Christmas Night,”

was chosen out of 13 submissions to befeatured on Unity House’s 2014 holiday card.

Chris shows off his beautiful framed piecewith his mother Noreen.

Neither rain nor snow shall stay Auburn Day Hab folks from completing their Meals on Wheels rounds! For the past several years,

teams from ADH have volunteered to deliver hot food to home-bound folks in Auburn

through the Meals on Wheels program. Here, Theresa Visconte and Deb Overstreet make a

delivery during a snowstorm.

SHAWN MINER SHOWS OFF THE ARTHE CREATED DURING CLASS

MEALS ONWHEELS

Art & ETIQUETTE

Join Our Team!Seeking meaningful employment

with competitive salary and excellent benefits?

Join our team! Unity House is looking for caring individuals who are

interested in working with those with mental health illnesses, devel-

opmental disabilities, and/or chemical dependencies.

A nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization, Unity House partners with these

individuals to develop their personal skills and potential, enabling

them to live more full and independent lives.

View our current job listings and completean online application at:

www.unityhouse.com/employment/employment.asp


Welcome NEW BOARD MEMBER – ELANE DALYElane Daly of Auburn has joined the Unity House board of directors. She began her duties in Decem-ber.

Elane is currently the manager of East Hill Medical Center’s school-based dental program. She previously was the director of Health and Human Services for Cayuga County, where she served for 15 years. She brings 30 years of county government experience to Unity House – 24 with the health department and 14 years in health and social services – as the County Health Director and Commissioner of Social Services.

In addition to her work at East Hill Medical, Elane sits on the boards of Auburn Commu-nity Hospital and Lifetime Care. She was instrumental in the creation of the Cayuga County Long Term Care Access Office, and was responsible for the oversight of the Early Intervention and Education of Physically Handicapped Children programs.

Elane holds a B.S. in nursing from Niagara University. She is interested in serving on the Unity House Corporate Compliance and Special Incident Review committees where she can apply her experience in health services and quality assurance.

Unity House sponsored two volleyball teams – the Crunch and the Smash – through the Auburn YMCA this winter. The league gave employees a chance to interact, exercise,and have fun together outside of the workplace.

WINTERVOLLEYBALL

The Unity House We-ACT self advocacy groupis hosting its first Spread The Word event!

Saturday March 72:00 – 5:00pm

Center Ithaca, The Commons

The goal of the event is to get 1,000 pledges frompeople who agree not to use the “R” word (retard). Self advocates will share their stories of being called

the“R” word throughout their lives, reminding peoplehow hurtful that word can be.

Spread The Word is a collaborative effort of We-ACT, the Self Advocacy Association of NYS, Level Green Institute, Camp LEAF, and the Best Buddies program at Cornell.

PLEASE JOIN US FOR

ANNUAL BOARD / AWARD DINNERMonday, April 27, 2015

Hilton Garden Inn, 74 State Street, Auburn, NY$35 per person

5:30 pm Cocktails & Conversation; Cash Bar6:15 pm Dinner7:00 pm Program: Remarks by guest speaker TBA Presentation of the Atkins Community Service & Open Arms Awards Annual Fund campaign kick-off

RSVP by April 17315.253.6227 x 310 or email: [email protected]

Corporate Sponsor: Key Bank

Table Sponsors: MEDENT, Reagan Companies, Lynch Furniture

Community Foundation of Tompkins County - $2,900Unity House is in the process of replacing 37 outdated computers that run Windows XP, a program no longer supported by Microsoft. Through the Community Foundation, the agency received $1,400 from the Tompkins Today and Tomorrow Fund, and $1,500 from the Community Enrichment Fund towards the purchase of four new computers for Ithaca area offices.

Cayuga Community Fund - $2,100Similar to the CFTC grant above, these generous funds from the Cayuga Community Fund will enable Unity House to replace three computers for staff offices located in Cayuga County.

McDonald Foundation - $5,000Unity House is opening three, three-bedroom homes in rural Tompkins County this winter to house nine men who are being displaced by the closure of the Broome Developmental Center. The McDonald Foundation is supporting this project with funding for office furniture at these new sites.

Tompkins Charitable Fund - $4,550Also in support of the agency’s new group homes opening near Ithaca this winter, the Tompkins Charitable Fund awarded Unity House $4,550 to purchase seven desktop computers for the employees who will manage these new Tompkins County IRAs.

Allyn Foundation - $8,760The Allyn Foundation awarded a grant to furnish living rooms at Unity House’s Grace House supported living program (SLP). Grace House provides the only residential treatment program in Cayuga County for those in recovery from drug and alcohol addiction. The SLP celebrates its 20th anniversary in 2015.

United Way of Cayuga County - $2,000The United Way contributed generously to the refurnishing efforts at Grace House. Unity House has been a partner agency with the United Way for nearly two decades. These monies will also replace some older bedroom furniture in the supported living program.


Grants & GiftsUnity House is the grateful recipient of funding from these sources:

TAXADVANTAGEWould you like to decrease your 2015 income taxes? Unity House might be able to help.

Our Planned Giving Program pro-vides several options for thoughtful gifts to Unity House. Planned gifts carry on your legacy and are mutu-ally beneficial. They are a creative giving strategy that enhances your and your family’s well being and help Unity House as well. Plus many are tax-deductible and cost nothing during your lifetime!

Your financial advisor or attorney can help you choose from many options, including bequests, insurance policies, real estate, trusts, and other giving methods. Learn more at www.unityhouse.com/plannedgiving.html. Your planned gift can make a big difference – to us and to you – right now.

Change a life

by making a gift to the Unity House annual fund. The next time you’re online,

simply go towww.unityhouse.com/supporter.html

to make a donation with yourcredit card.

It’s that easy!

34 Wright Avenue Auburn, New York 13021

NON-PROFIT ORG.U.S. POSTAGE

PAIDAUBURN, NY 13021

PERMIT NO. 128

Unity House of Cayuga County seeks high-endartists and crafters to exhibit and sell their artworkat the 2nd annual Art Flaire fundraising event.

Please include two representative photos of artwork andnon-refundable payment with application. Acceptance/non-acceptance letters will be mailed immediately.

$60 for 10’ x 10’ booth space.

Accepted artists are also asked to donate one piece of theirartwork to the silent auction. All proceeds from Art Flaire willbenefit Unity House and the individuals with disabilities the agency serves.

Show information, art standards, and the applicationforms (due May 15) are available online: www.unityhouse.com. For more information, email [email protected] or call 315-253-6227 x313

Saturday, June 1310:00am – 4:00pmFirst Presbyterian Church Grounds

112 South Street, Auburn

APPLICATIONS DUE: FRIDAY, MAY 15

Seeking Artists for2nd Annual Art Flaire!

a flaire for - unity house of cayuga county, inc. · • unity house of cayuga county inc. winter...

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