EPIC SMVI STAKEHOLDERS BULLETIN EPIC SMVI. Inside Reading. Edition 6: Pressing Forward. Empowering People with Intellectual Challenges

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1 EPIC SMVI E M P O W E R I N G P E O P L E W I T H I N T E L L E C T U A L C H A L L E N G E S EPIC SMVI Empowering People with Intellectal Challenges Inside Reading The Board s Letter Events at EPIC SMVI Department s Rond Table Director s Corner Mike & Molly March 2014 Alert - Minimm Wage/Direct Spport Staff Edition 6: Pressing Forward Vocational Center Employee Spotlight 2014 Training and Holiday Calendar Nrses News Special Thanks to Kathleen Le Hew STAKEHOLDERS BULLETIN

THE BOARD S Letter MEMORANDUM To: Prospective Members From: Bradley L.

Directors. We are looking for board members who believe in or mission and are willing to be active in their governance roles. We believe that this work has never been more important than it is today.

EPIC SMVI is entering a challenging and exciting time, as economic pressres on adlts with intellectal challenges increase and the demand for or spports contines to rise.

A copy of or board member job description is available pon reqest for interested parties.

2 THE BOARD S Letter MEMORANDUM To: Prospective Members From: Bradley L. Carson, Board President Date: March 18, 2014 Sbject: Invitation to the Board of Directors Within the next cople of months of this year, EPIC SMVI will be electing several new members to or Board of Directors. We are looking for board members who believe in or mission and are willing to be active in their governance roles. We believe that this work has never been more important than it is today. If yo feel that yo are someone whose experience and involvement in the commnity wold be an asset to or organization we hope that yo will consider becoming a nominee. EPIC SMVI is entering a challenging and exciting time, as economic pressres on adlts with intellectal challenges increase and the demand for or spports contines to rise. We have a belief that high qality service and activism relates to economic secrity and commnity engagement of the adlts we spport, and we invite yo to become a part of or team. A copy of or board member job description is available pon reqest for interested parties. While we do ask that or board members play an active role, we pride orselves on spporting each other as a team and believe that we offer an opportnity for or members to learn and grow with the organization. A member of or Board, Jdy Graham, will be contacting yo by phone to discss or invitation and to answer any qestions yo may have. If, once yo have spoken to Jdy, yo wish to be considered, we ask that yo complete or brief response form. If yo have any qestions, please don t hesitate to contact or Exective Director, Clarissa Mitchell at (301) , ext Bradford L. Carson President Board of Directors, EPIC SMVI EPIC SMVI s mission is to empower adlts with intellectal challenges to maximize their independence. For more information, please visit EPIC SMVI s website at

EPIC SMVI EVENTS Fitness Fridays Fitness Friday was introdced in October of 2013.

Lately the focs of the class has been Zmba and all of the participants trly enjoy the class. Fitness Friday is open to whom ever wants to participate, bt each participant will be charged $5.

Family Form The Qarterly Family Form was held Satrday, Febrary 22, 2014 in the remodeled Training Room at EPIC SMVI s Main Office.

We want to thank parents/ gardians for their contined spport. April is Atism Awarness Month EPIC SMVI s Day Program will be celebrating Atism Awareness month.

3 EPIC SMVI EVENTS Fitness Fridays Fitness Friday was introdced in October of Each Friday at 3:30 pm a fitness instrctor comes to the training room in the main office to condct an exercise class of some type. Lately the focs of the class has been Zmba and all of the participants trly enjoy the class. Fitness Friday is open to whom ever wants to participate, bt each participant will be charged $5.00 and mst sign a waiver form. Anyone that wishes to attend class shold contact Cartier Allen or Atai Nyambi at the main office. Family Form The Qarterly Family Form was held Satrday, Febrary 22, 2014 in the remodeled Training Room at EPIC SMVI s Main Office. The hot topics of this form were commnication of events and highlights and the Day Program s transition to a wallless division. All and all it trned ot to be a sccessfl meeting with a great trn ot. We want to thank parents/ gardians for their contined spport. April is Atism Awarness Month EPIC SMVI s Day Program will be celebrating Atism Awareness month. The team will be showing their spport by wearing the color ble on April 2nd. Dental Services for Persons w/ Disabilities DHMH Office of Oral Health has provided the following website as a resorce tool for parties interested in obtaining dental services for their loved ones. Gide.pdf - Additionally, Grop 1 Mobile Dental Services provides mobile services to persons with disabilities. They can be contacted at (240) or at grop.1mds@yahoo.com Commnity Meetings Commnity meetings concerning PG Conty s Primary Healthcare Strategic Plan are being held at different locations within the conty. The schedle is as follows: March 31st - Wayne K Crry Sports & Learning Complex April 1st - Larel Beltsville Senior Center April 2nd - Sothern Regional Technology & Recreation Complex April 3rd - St. Margaret Chrch All meetings are from 6:30 pm to 8:30 pm - All residents are encoraged to attend. Classes at Prince Georges Commnity College PGCC is holding classes now throgh May Classes inclde: Line Dancing, Steps to Sccess, Personal Health and Ntrition, Meal Planning and Preparation, Commnication Skills, and Introdction to Yoga. All classes are taght by Instrctors certified in their sbject matter. REGISTER TODAY! For frther information, call or contact Nancy Forsythe, EdS at forsythe.n@gmail.com EVENT PHOTOS Family Form Visit to NIH Medical Msem Fitness Fridays

THE HEART OF EPIC SMVI Department Rond Table WE MAKE IT HAPPEN C. Rivers, Residential L. Ceasar, DS A. Nyambi, QA D. Chekan, Finance G.

This spring and smmer we are sponsoring events to inclde a flea market and day trips. One of the trips (Fn Day) will be to Brandywine Picnic Park (BPP) in Pennsylvania on Jly 19, 2014.

Or Vocational/Spported Employment program is working to secre paid positions within the commnity sing the skills and trades the participants learn daily.

So far 28 employees have been trained or retrained. The next training is set for April 11, 2014 at 9:30 AM in the Training room.

Finance The finance department is crrently pdating the consmer acconts to reflect the new PCIS2 cost of care gidelines, Reviews of the internal consmer database are being condcted and reqired

We expect to have this project completed within the near ftre. Facilities The Facilities Department wold like to extend a hearty thank yo to some of or vendors.

Her recent repairs at Thorpe hose (replacement of all windows and installation of steps and handrails on both sides of the deck) allowed the hose Ready for Press On Febrary 27, 2014 several hman

Or esteemed leader, Clarissa Mitchell was involved in a press conference and even testified on behalf of those hardworking Direct Spport Staff whom, despite the proposed minimm wage increase, are not

4 THE HEART OF EPIC SMVI Department Rond Table WE MAKE IT HAPPEN C. Rivers, Residential L. Ceasar, DS A. Nyambi, QA D. Chekan, Finance G. Marshall, Facilities Residential The Residential Department is looking forward to a wonderfl year. The theme this year is Key to Sccess. This spring and smmer we are sponsoring events to inclde a flea market and day trips. One of the trips (Fn Day) will be to Brandywine Picnic Park (BPP) in Pennsylvania on Jly 19, Families will receive invites to come and share a great day with their loved ones. Stay Tned! Day Spport Day Spports contine to grow. Or Vocational/Spported Employment program is working to secre paid positions within the commnity sing the skills and trades the participants learn daily. Lanham s Day program is moving fll steam ahead with integrating in the commnity. Qality Assrance QA is condcting monthly Incident Report training on the 2nd Friday of every month. So far 28 employees have been trained or retrained. The next training is set for April 11, 2014 at 9:30 AM in the Training room. Director s Corner Monthly Qality Assrance Committee (QAC) meeting, made p of 50% staff and 50% commnity volnteers, is ongoing every 2nd Tesday of the month at 1 PM in the Conference Room. Finance The finance department is crrently pdating the consmer acconts to reflect the new PCIS2 cost of care gidelines, Reviews of the internal consmer database are being condcted and reqired adjstments are being made, especially in regards to spending for the individals personal needs. Finance is also focsed on E-time software pdates and pnch recording. We expect to have this project completed within the near ftre. Facilities The Facilities Department wold like to extend a hearty thank yo to some of or vendors. First, thank yo to Se Davis, (contractor that handles maintenance at EPIC SMVI sites). Her recent repairs at Thorpe hose (replacement of all windows and installation of steps and handrails on both sides of the deck) allowed the hose Ready for Press On Febrary 27, 2014 several hman service organizations, particlarly those that assist individals with disabilities, joined forces in spport of SB 890 and HB Or esteemed leader, Clarissa Mitchell was involved in a press conference and even testified on behalf of those hardworking Direct Spport Staff whom, despite the proposed minimm wage increase, are not adeqately compensated for the dedication and care they provide to individals with disabilities. Mrs. Mitchell represented these amazing workers well and contines to advocate by helping to increase pblic awareness and spport for this worthy case. She also encorages everyone to contact their local Maryland officials to vote for both the Hose and Senate bill. Read the following page for more information on this pressing isse. to pass its final inspection. Additionally the Department wold like to thank Daryl White (plmbing & heating), for qickly resolving the heating isses at some of the residential homes. The homes have sfficient heating and the individals and staff are well prepared to comfortably make it throgh the extended winter. Finally, thank yo to AT Serrano Pest Control for their diligence in maintaining schedled treatments. Hman Resorces Hman Resorces is focsed on recritment. Crrently there are positions available in both Programs (Residential & Day Spports). Staff shold look for postings at the main office and if interested shold sbmit an interest/ reqest letter (whichever applies) to HR. External parties shold go to the agency s website to view open positions or attend EPIC SMVI s job fair at the Department of Labor s One Stop Shop in Largo, MD on the 3rd Wednesday of the month. Interested applicants can download an S. Knight, HR E. Johnson, Training application on the company s website and flly complete and sbmit it to Hman Resorces Office via , fax, or in person. Training The Training Department of EPIC SMVI is committed to ensring that the staff that spport or individals are well trained and properly eqipped to spport or individals in enjoying a high qality of life. As sch the department works to ensre that staff certifications and skills remain crrent and address the needs of or individals. Training is ongoing and follows the calendar as set ot at the beginning of the year. This calendar is available on the Carematic system and staff is encoraged to register for their classes online. To date all direct care staff has been trained on the DDA reqired trainings.

EPIC SMVI s QA Director, Atai Nyambi s son Nyambi Nyambi co-stars on the show. She wold like to thank everyone that spports her son by tning in Monday evenings at 9 pm EST to watch the show.

5 Mike & Molly -Season 5 CBS s Mike and Molly is abot a working class Chicago cople who find love at an Overeaters Anonymos meeting. The comedic series follows the cople throgh their jorney for companionship and allows viewers to enjoy the circmstances, family, and friends they enconter along the way. EPIC SMVI s QA Director, Atai Nyambi s son Nyambi Nyambi co-stars on the show. She wold like to thank everyone that spports her son by tning in Monday evenings at 9 pm EST to watch the show. The network recently annonced that the hit comedy has been renewed for its 5th season. We wold like to congratlate her son along with the rest of the cast and wish them all a great rn. - CONGRATULATIONS! Action Alert regarding minimm wage and direct spport staff! As state lawmakers debate whether to raise Maryland s minimm wage, another directlyconnected battle has begn to brew. It centers on boosting pay for caregivers of the disabled. Matt Rice is an advocate for the disabled. He says the vital role of caregivers cannot be nderestimated. I wold not be able to speak with yo today if it was not for the impact of a direct spport worker, Rice said. Rice and others say if Maryland s minimm wage is increased the horly wages paid by the state to agencies that help the disabled mst also be raised. Whitney Ellenby is the mother of a 12-year-old boy with atism. She says all she wants is to see that the workers are fairly compensated. This is not a minimm wage job, Ellenby said. If anything, these people every single day otperform the lawyers and the attorneys and the doctors with what they do. Bt lawmakers face a financial dilemma. If they increase the minimm wage and increase the so-called reimbrsement rate for caregivers it cold wind p costing the state millions of dollars. It has a very steep fiscal note and this is also emblematic of the domino effect of any type of increase in the minimm wage, State Senator David Brinkley said. (Read More at: With only a cople of weeks left of the Legislative Session, we mst fight NOW to increase fnding so that direct spport staff do not become minimm wage workers. There is mch work being done on this isse and tremendos spport growing. Tell yor representative to vote for SB 890 and HB 1266, the bills to address the need to keep the wage factor for DSPs at least 50% above the minimm wage. URGENT - YOUR S AND PHONE CALLS ARE NEEDED IMMEDIATELY! Contact: GOVERNOR Martin O Malley LT. GOVERNOR Anthony Brown Call: (410) Call: (410) ALSO... Contact Members of the Hose Health & Government Operations and Hose Appropriations Committees NOW:

V O C A T I O N A L C E N T E R Introdcing EPIC SMVI s new

Located at the main office, this center is dedicated to the

The goal with this new space is to provide a separate area

the division can improve their compter skills and internal

Sch classes inclde carpentry, work readiness, interview

This is jst the start for or Day Spports Program.

willing to volnteer their time to teach the individals we

extend a warm welcome to Mr. Klas Connolly-Leven.

Administrator for the Employment/Vocational Division within the

He has years of indstry experience which he has already shown

The entire organization spports Klas as he acclimates to his

6 V O C A T I O N A L C E N T E R Introdcing EPIC SMVI s new Vocational Center! Located at the main office, this center is dedicated to the Employment Services Division of the Day Spports Program. The goal with this new space is to provide a separate area complete with it s own entrance where individals can enhance their job skills. Compter work stations have been installed so individals within the division can improve their compter skills and internal classes are being created to teach additional trades and skills. Sch classes inclde carpentry, work readiness, interview techniqes, arts and crafts, etc. This is jst the start for or Day Spports Program. EPIC SMVI encorages those with a trade or skill, who are willing to volnteer their time to teach the individals we spport, to contact the Director of Day Spports, Lawrence Caesar at ext Employee SPOTLIGHT KlasConnolly-Leven EPIC SMVI wold like to extend a warm welcome to Mr. Klas Connolly-Leven. Klas has joined the EPIC SMVI family, as the Program Administrator for the Employment/Vocational Division within the Day Spport Services Program. He has years of indstry experience which he has already shown with the creative ideas that he has broght to the table. The entire organization spports Klas as he acclimates to his new role and we look forward to seeing his creative ideas and leadership florish as Day Spport Services contines to strengthen and grow. Klas is based in the vocational area, so we encorage staff and visitors to take some time to stop by and say hello. Again, we congratlate and welcome Klas!SMVI - Over 20 y ears of advocating and inspiring

2014 QUARTERLY TRAINING SCHEDULE & YEARLY CLOSING INFORMATION April DDA (Part 1)...................... Tesday, April 1st & 15th from 9:30 am 4:30 pm DDA (Part 2).

............... Friday, April 4th from 9:30 am 4:30 pm OSHA............................ Monday, April 7th & 21st from 9:30 am 12:30 pm BPS (Part 1).......................Tesday, April 8th from 9:30 am 4:30 pm BPS (Part 2).

............... Friday, April 11th from 9:30 am 12:00 pm New Hire Orientation............. Monday, April 14th & 28th from 9:00 am 12:00 pm BPS (Refresher).

........................... Monday, May 5th & 19th from 9:30 am 12:30 pm DDA (Part 1)...................... Tesday, May 6th & 20th from 9:30 am 4:30 pm DDA (Part 2).

............... Friday, May 9th from 9:30 am 12:00 pm New Hire Orientation............. Monday, May 12th & 27th from 9:00 am 12:00 pm BPS (Part 1).......................Monday, May 12th from 9:30 am 4:30 pm BPS (Part 2).

7 2014 QUARTERLY TRAINING SCHEDULE & YEARLY CLOSING INFORMATION April DDA (Part 1) Tesday, April 1st & 15th from 9:30 am 4:30 pm DDA (Part 2) Wednesday, April 2nd & 16th from 9:30 am 4:30 pm DDA (Part 3) Thrsday, April 3rd & 17th from 9:30 am 4:30 pm Defensive Driving Friday, April 4th from 9:30 am 4:30 pm OSHA Monday, April 7th & 21st from 9:30 am 12:30 pm BPS (Part 1) Tesday, April 8th from 9:30 am 4:30 pm BPS (Part 2) Wednesday, April 9th from 9:30 am 4:30 pm CPR/First Aid Thrsday, April 10th from 9:30 am - 4:30pm Incident Reporting Friday, April 11th from 9:30 am 12:00 pm New Hire Orientation Monday, April 14th & 28th from 9:00 am 12:00 pm BPS (Refresher) Monday, April 28th from 9:30 am - 1:30pm CPR (Refresher) Tesday, April 29th from 9:30 am - 4:30pm May Defensive Driving Friday, May 2nd from 9:30 am 4:30 pm OSHA Monday, May 5th & 19th from 9:30 am 12:30 pm DDA (Part 1) Tesday, May 6th & 20th from 9:30 am 4:30 pm DDA (Part 2) Wednesday, May 7th & 21st from 9:30 am 4:30 pm DDA (Part 3) Thrsday, May 8th & 22nd from 9:30 am 4:30 pm Incident Reporting Friday, May 9th from 9:30 am 12:00 pm New Hire Orientation Monday, May 12th & 27th from 9:00 am 12:00 pm BPS (Part 1) Monday, May 12th from 9:30 am 4:30 pm BPS (Part 2) Tesday, May 13th from 9:30 am 4:30 pm CPR./First Aid Wednesday, May 14th from 9:30 am 1:30 pm BPS (Refresher) Thrsday, May 15th from 9:30 am - 1:30pm CPR (Refresher) Tesday, May 23rd from 9:30 am - 4:30pm MAT (Part 1) Tesday, May 27th from 9:30 am 4:30 pm MAT (Part 2) Wednesday, May 28th from 9:30 am 4:30 pm MAT (Part 3) Thrsday, May 29th from 9:30 am 4:30 pm MAT (Part 4) Friday, May 30th from 9:30 am 4:30 pm Jne OSHA Monday, Jne 2nd & 16th from 9:30 am 12:30 pm DDA (Part 1) Tesday, Jne 3rd & 17th from 9:30 am 4:30 pm DDA (Part 2) Wednesday, Jne 4th & 18th from 9:30 am 4:30 pm DDA (Part 3) Thrsday, Jne 5th & 19th from 9:30 am 4:30 pm Defensive Driving Friday, Jne 6th from 9:30 am 4:30 pm New Hire Orientation Monday, Jne 9th & 23rd from 9:00 am 12:30 pm BPS (Part 1) Monday, Jne 9th from 9:30 am 4:30 pm BPS (Part 2) Tesday, Jne 10th from 9:30 am 4:30 pm CPR/First Aid Wednesday, Jne 11th from 9:30 am 1:30 pm Incident Reporting Friday, Jne 13th from 9:30 am 12:00 pm MAT (Renewal) Friday, Jne 20th from 9:30 am - 4:30pm CPR (Refresher) Thrsday, Jne 24th from 9:30 am - 4:30pm FY 2013/2014 Holiday Schedle Independence Day Thrsday, Jly 4th, 2013 Labor Day Monday, September 2, 2013 Thanksgiving Day Thrsday, November 28, 2013 Employee Appreciation Day Friday, November 29, 2013 Christmas Day Wednesday, December 25, 2013 Winter Break Thrsday & Friday, December 26-27, 2013 New Year s Day Wednesday, Janary 1, 2014 Martin Lther King Jr. Birthday Monday, Janary 20, 2014 Memorial Day Monday, May 26, 2014 The above schedle is tentative and sbject to change - Stay tned to the alerts for schedle changes and cancellations. CLOSING INFORMATION Please note the following resorces will be sed to commnicate delays and closres to people we spport and the commnity: School Closing System with News Channel 8 (ABC 7) Schools Ot electronic commnication system EPIC SMVI s Facebook Page Carematic One Call Now Messaging system that sends mass messages via call, text, and EPIC SMVI ot going answering message from the main office phone line Nrses News Spring is Here What to do to prepare for allergy season Allergy Season Springs Into Bloom!!! Spring is here and the temperatres are rising, flowers are blooming and the grass is growing. The pleasantries of spring will bring discomfort to millions of people who sffer from allergies, asthma and other respiratory disorders. Here are some things yo can do to protect yorselves and the individals yo care for: 1) Take allergy medications as prescribed by the MD 2) Monitor pollen cont and stay indoors when it is high 3) Wash hands, hair and clothing after spending a great deal of time otdoors. 4) Keep windows and doors sht in the home and vehicle dring allergy season 5) Use air conditioning which helps to clean the air 6) If symptoms persist or become worst contact yor healthcare provider as soon as possible so that adeqate treatment may be provided.

fonding member of SMVI (now known as EPIC SMVI).

of Directors since it s inception in 1985.

8 EPIC SMVI 8000 Parston Dr. Forestville, MD Rest In Peace Special Thanks Kathleen LeHew was a fonding member of SMVI (now known as EPIC SMVI). She was a parent with an adlt child that needed assistance transitioning into adlthood. Not only was she a fonding member bt she also served on EPIC SMVI s Board of Directors since it s inception in In 2006 she took on the role of Board Secretary, which she diligently served in ntil her passing. The commitment and dedication that she has shown over the years have been appreciated. On behalf of the organization we wold like to say THANK YOU to Ms. LeHew. She will be missed. In Loving Memory of Ms. Kathleen LeHew for her years of Dedication and Service March 28, Janary 11, 2014

EPIC SMVI STAKEHOLDERS BULLETIN EPIC SMVI DECEMBER Inside Reading. Edition 5: Key to Success. Empowering People with Intellectual Challenges

EPIC SMVI STAKEHOLDERS BULLETIN EPIC SMVI DECEMBER Inside Reading. Edition 5: Key to Success. Empowering People with Intellectual Challenges 20 13 E M P O W E R I N G P E O P L E W I T H I N T E L L E C T U A L C H A L L E N G E S Empowering People with Intellectal Challenges STAKEHOLDERS BULLETIN DECEMBER 2013 Edition 5: Key to Sccess Inside