C O N N E C T I O N S

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1 C O N N E C T I O N S JUNE 2017 Volume 4 Issue 6 Community Options exists to help people live individually and be active in their community. CELEBRATING 20 YEARS No one ever imagined, least of all Bryan Wetch, that on a July day, twenty years ago, what started in a basement with one part-time employee, would grow to become a statewide company, serving approximately 1200 people, and employing over 400 staff. Bryan s vision was to create an organization that supported people s dreams of living a lifestyle of their choice. Services driven and directed by each person, while at the same time surrounding them with a team of individuals who would help carry out the support plan to achieve their dreams. Twenty years later, that is still who INSI DE THI S I SSUE Picnics 2-7 Success Story 8 Shining Stars 10 Survey Results 11 Milestones 12 UPCOMING EVENTS June 18 Father s Day July 4th Independence Day we are as a company, supporting people to live their dreams. While our programs continue to evolve, the mission has always remained the same: Community Options exists to help people live individually and be active in their community. Join in and attend your picnic celebration as we celebrate 20 years of making a difference! CONNECTIONS JUNE 201 7

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8 BIKE SAFETY EVENT IN MINOT On June 6 th, Community Options and the Minot Police Department partnered up to sponsor a bicycle safety event. The course was geared towards younger children to help them become better bikers, and teaching bike safety. The police officers registered bikes and showed children correct biking techniques. Bike helmets, and popsicles were given out and participants were included in a bicycle raffle. CONNECTIONS JUNE 201 7

9 SUCCESS STORIES Lisa O., Grand Forks June 2017 My freedom! My life is forever changed for my son and me because of Community Options and Wheels for Work. I was given hope through the program for me and my son at a time in my life that was heavy and bleak. I ve become a driving, mobile, independent person in society, stable, employed, with daycare and positive goal setting. I found employment and daycare and I continue to meet monthly goals. Community Options and Wheels for Work found a donator, and now I m on my feet with a car. I can transport my son to daycare and get to and from work effectively. I m able to think about the future in a more realistic way, now that I have a car. I feel that my son is safer, and with this independence comes the freedom to function in society and progress. Monthly goal setting with Community Options has kept me focused on the future and has given me hope. The extra money for transportation, phone minutes, as well as work clothes and shoes has helped tremendously in making ends meet. CONNECTIONS JUNE 201 7

10 SHINING STARS TERRI ELLIS Program: Residential Nurse- Fargo and Grand Forks Terri goes above and beyond to ensure staff is properly trained and that all questions are answered. This has made it easier for staff to learn and be the best at their job when passing out medications. Terri has adjusted her personal schedule to make trainings work for staff in outer lying regions and has traveled to these regions when needed. By making herself available, our customers and staff didn t have to adjust their schedules. JUST ASK HR Q U E S T I O N 1 What is an HSA*? Answer Health Savings Account (HSA*) is a tax-exempt trust or custodial account established exclusively for the purpose of paying or reimbursing qualified medical expenses of you, your spouse, and your dependents. Monies that you contribute personally are taken out of your monthly paycheck before taxes, so it is a great way to save money along with having money set aside for those unexpected health related circumstances. Q U E S T I O N 2 What expenses can my HSA* pay for? Answer Your HSA* can only pay for eligible medical expenses which are too numerous to mention in the newsletter. For a complete list of HSA* Eligible Medical Expenses, contact the HR Department for a copy of the list. MAKE SURE YOU KEEP ALL OF YOUR RECEIPTS WITH YOUR YEAR END TAX INFORMATION, AS THIS WOULD BE CHECKED IF YOU ARE AUDITED BY THE IRS ON YOUR TAX RETURN. Q U E S T I O N 3 Who is eligible to have an HSA* account and how much can someone contribute? Answer If you currently have a Blue Cross Blue Shield health care plan through Community Options and are not enrolled in any other plans that are not high deductible plans, you are eligible. The company will match your contribution each month to a maximum amount depending on the plan you are enrolled in. The maximum amounts per month of matching company contributions are as follows: Employee only plan = $50 matching contribution Employee + Dependents plan = $75 matching contribution Family or Employee + Spouse plans = $100 matching contribution The company match is like getting 100% interest on your money!!!!! *You must meet all of the eligibility rules of an HSA* account. Check with HR for any questions regarding HSA* eligibility rules. If you have a question you would like to ask HR submit it to BradW@coresinc.org. CONNECTIONS JUNE 201 7

11 THE SURVEY RESULTS A RE IN! For the lucky ones that responded to the newsletter survey, here s what you won! Backpack - Liz O. (Bismarck) Lenore K. (Fargo) Rebecca K. (Minot) Kellie D. (Fort Yates) Alicia J. (Devils Lake) Folding Stool - Brittany C. (Bismarck) Diana M. (Bismarck) Sam K. (Bismarck) Katie B. (GF) Bianca B. (GF) Water Bottle - Sargianna W. (Bismarck) Kelsey S. (Bismarck) Lacey H. (Fargo) Austyn K. (Fargo) Leanne R. (GF) Zach B. (GF) Dawn W. (Minot) Fanetia C. (Dickinson) Sara R. (Devils Lake) Chelsea K. (Williston) Coffee Cup - Cindy M. (Bismarck) Sara K. (Bismarck) Val G. (Bismarck) Lynnie M. (Bismarck) Heather G. (Jamestown) NEW SLETTER SU RV E Y DA TA May respondents Recently Community Options surveyed the employees about the newsletter and how to make it better. Here are the results. Keep in mind that each person could have selected more than one answer per question and they were not required to answer every one. Thank you to all the participants! Do you currently read the employee newsletter each month? Always 65% Occasionally 26% Rarely less that 1% Never less that 1% Are you more/less likely to read the newsletter if it were to be published in the time increments listed below? Monthly 51% Bi-monthly 25% Qtrly 26% Semi-annually 23% Annually 21% If there was an employee webpage about events, reminders, shining stars, and other employee information, would you visit it? Yes 54% No 0% Every once in a while 31% Only if sent a reminder 12% What are you interested in reading about in the employee newsletter? Please choose at least three. Client Success stories 70% Events 70% Employee Spotlight 68% Regional Updates 65% Shining Stars 61% CCO Updates 49% Legislative updates 47% Location Spotlight 39% Anniversaries 37% Safety Information 23% DD Certification 14% CONNECTIONS JUNE 201 7

12 Bismarck community garden project to benefit the Love Your Neighbor Food Pantry The Friendship Garden Club in Bismarck has been planting a Hunger-Free ND garden in Bismarck for the last five years and has donated over 2,000 pounds of food to non-profit organizations. This year, the garden club has added CCO Inc. as a recipient of their harvest in September. The gardeners met on May 30 th to plant potatoes, onions, carrots, beets and acorn squash. Produce will be available for families who use the LYE Pantry located in the Bismarck Shelburne I building this fall. DD CERTIFICATIONS Steven H., ISLA and Family Support, Devils Lake MILESTONE ANNIVERSARIES M A R G A R E T D S P Bismarck, 15 R O S S A Y S / D S P Bismarck, 10 B I L L D D / O S Bismarck, 7 S A N D R A A Y S / D S P Bismarck, 7 S T A C Y D D / Q A A S S T. Bismarck, 7 N A N C Y F S / D S P Minot, 7 M A R C I A J E A N I S L A / D S P Bismarck, 7 S A R G I A N N A A D M I N Bismarck, 7 C A S S A N D R A I S L A / P D S P Jamestown, 3 T E R E S A I S L A / D S P Minot, 3 *Milestones will be recognized at 3, 5, 7, 10, 15, etc. years of service. CONNECTIONS JUNE 201 7