To the wonderful Direct Support Professional Care Champions at Incompass:
We are proud to join with many of our fellow human services agencies around our country to recognize the importance of our workforce during National Direct Support Professionals Recognition Week.
Out of utmost admiration and respect for your work, I wanted to take this opportunity to recognize you for the immeasurable difference you make in the lives of the people you support. Your dedication has been especially noteworthy throughout the pandemic and was on full display during the visit from DDS surveyors who were conducting the recent licensing and certification review. The successes we achieve every day at Incompass occur because of the commitment of our Care Champions!
I am pleased to share that we are going to have a bit of fun celebrating this special recognition week. To begin with every weekday, in the afternoon we will randomly select two names from the pool of dedicated Direct Support Professional Care Champions to each receive a $50.00 cash prize. Stay tuned, as we will announce the winners each day. At least two of the drawings will be on Facebook Live or over zoom so that you can see the fun in real-time or as we share on social media, so watch for the announcements, and good luck! Later in the week, there will be a few more messages from members of the leadership team with other surprises for you!
On behalf of our board of directors, the executive leadership team, the program directors and managers, and assistant managers- all of us at Incompass, thank you for your dedication and commitment to the Incompass mission and the unwavering support provided throughout the year.
We were thrilled to finally welcome back our annual Talent Show as an in-person event this summer. CEO Jean Phelps noted that this was the most impressive show to date.
Each performance was remarkably cohesive with thoughtful themes, props and costumes. You can tell how much time and practice went into it.
Each year, the show is almost entirely organized by Urban Youth interns with the support of Incompass staff. The Urban Youth Collaborative Program is funded by the Department of Developmental Services (DDS). Individuals in the day program rooms decide whether they want to perform as a group or rock it solo. Either way, those in the audience can attest that it is always a joy to witness.
Sending off a longtime Care Champion in style! Today we laughed, cried, and said goodbye to Melissa Curley, who has been with us for 22 years. The “Morning Farewell Field Day” and “Memories of Melissa” activities wouldn’t have been possible without the contributions of day program staff and participants. Shout-out to Cathy Brunelle for helping design the beautiful bowl and platter at Time To Clay that was gifted to Melissa. Special thanks also go out to Bianco’s Catering Inc. for supplying the pizza, Lisa D’Orsi for making Melissa’s favorite strawberry shortcake, and music brought to us by our own room 4 staff Bernard Mutua and his helper Hallie! We wish you the best of luck, Melissa
Last week we celebrated Nurses Week, and if you ask us, one week just doesn’t seem like enough!
What would we be without our tremendous team of Incompass nurses? We’d be falling apart quite literally! We are indebted to them for their gracious dedication to supporting the vulnerable people in our programs and group homes.
The timing also couldn’t have been better to award Kate Burk, part of the nursing team, with an ADDP Continuing Education scholarship. A big thanks to Seven Hills Foundation and Justice Resource Institute, the sponsors who make this type of aid available to our care champions. Well deserved, indeed!
Kate Burk and Incompass COO Al Frugoli pose together.
Today was an exciting day at Omni Way, as we welcomed participants to the first-ever Incompass Acquired Brain Injury (ABI) Community Center. The ABI Community Center seeks to empower participants to maximize their level of independence, self-confidence, and dignity so they can experience full lives in their communities.
Incompass staff enjoyed coffee and breakfast with participants and their families before moving into the main room for more formal introductions. Heather Mantell, Assistant Director of Family & Community Services, is acting as an interim program manager until we welcome our newest care champion, Stephanie, in June.
The Center is still in its development phase as far as the activity schedule, but there was a strong emphasis on self-advocacy during the orientation. More than anything, we want the folks joining us from the ABI community to shape the Center into a place that will meet their unique needs.
A full continuum of community-based supports will be accessible to participants, comprised of skilled clinicians and care champions that serve on an interdisciplinary treatment team. Staff will encourage participation in the Center’s operations through a variety of work units such as:
Administration
Governance
Programming
Maintenance of physical site
Food service
Human Resources
Center development
We look forward to what the future holds for this new group joining us. Welcome to Incompass!
I am pleased to share that we are going to have a bit of fun celebrating this special recognition week. To begin with every weekday, in the afternoon we will randomly select two names from the pool of dedicated Direct Support Professional Care Champions to each receive a $50.00 cash prize. Stay tuned, as we will announce the winners each day. At least two of the drawings will be on Facebook Live or over zoom so that you can see the fun in real-time or as we share on social media, so watch for the announcements, and good luck! Later in the week, there will be a few more messages from members of the leadership team with other surprises for you!
What would we be without our tremendous team of Incompass nurses? We’d be falling apart quite literally! We are indebted to them for their gracious dedication to supporting the vulnerable people in our programs and group homes.
