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Month: September 2015

Thank you for supporting our Wine, Beer & Food Festival

Posted on by Kerrie Mason

On behalf of everyone at Venture Community Services, I’d like to thank you for contributing to the overwhelming success of our 11th Annual Wine, Beer, and Food Festival. We are so grateful for the support of the many generous members of our community.

The support you provide for our fundraising events allows us to enhance the quality of life for individuals with disabilities and other challenges in our community.  With many new projects on the way, your generosity helps us to expand our services.  During the upcoming year, we will be opening two new group homes for adults who are transitioning into more independent living for the first time.  We have also begun working with another agency to offer children’s service for the first time and we are exploring new business development in day habilitation.

Again, thank you for your generous contribution.  We recognize that the work we do would not be possible without considerable support from local businesses and individuals.  We appreciate your dedication to assisting people with disabilities live independent, fulfilling lives.

We hope you will join us again next year!

Paige Mador

Director of Development

 

Event Sponsors:  Ted’s Package Store, Southbridge Savings Bank, TD Bank, Forensic Risk Alliance,  Interior Resources, Wayside Youth & Family Support Network & Ogletree & Deakins.

 

VIEW THE EVENT PHOTOS

IMG_68186156   terek horizon

IMG_68366156  osv chefs (1024x683)

 

Direct Support Professionals Week – Thank you!

Posted on by Kerrie Mason

The week of September 13-19 provides an opportunity for all of us to recognize a group of dedicated individuals who do an extraordinary job under challenging circumstances every day of the year: Direct Support Professionals Week is a time to honor the commitment of those who dedicate their time, skill, and compassion to helping others.  The needs of countless children, individuals with disabilities, and the elderly are met on a daily basis by a workforce that still does not get the credit they richly deserve.

Every day in our country there are people who go to work so that individuals who need help can remain safe and connected to the community.  These professionals bring with them an abundance of skill, patience, and kindness, all vital tools when doing a job that is often accompanied by long hours and insufficient pay.  Whether working in a group home or a hospital or in the home of someone who needs help, these people create a safety net that is ultimately what protects a vulnerable and too often marginalized population.   Direct Support Professionals do this with little glory but with astounding results.  They are truly the lifeline that people who need assistance depend on every single day.

The work done by each of these professionals is difficult and often trying, but yet this large portion of the American workforce continues to make a difference in so many lives.  It would be unfortunate if the community did not take the time to recognize the incredible work being done by Direct Support Professionals on a daily basis.  I shudder to think what we would all do without them and I hope everyone will take the time to offer a quiet thank you to those who selflessly support so many in need.

 

Mike Hyland

Venture Community Services

President and CEO

Posted in Uncategorized

Direct Support Professionals Week 2015

Posted on by Paige Mador

September 13 – 19, 2015 is Direct Support Professionals Recognition Week! Direct support professionals are people who work directly with individuals who have an intellectual, social, or physical disability and assist them with many different areas of their lives, including activities of daily living, jobs, volunteering, community involvement, social skills, recreation, self-expression, relationships, and more.   With this week of appreciation upon us, we would like to call on our supporters to recognize the value of the direct support professional – that they are just that, a trained professional that provides vital services to people in our communities. Many DSPs come to us with backgrounds in psychology, nursing, education, behavioral health, early childhood development, and more. They are teachers, military veterans, parents, college students – the list goes on. So this week, we are asking our supporters, families, friends, and guardians to say “thank you” to an exceptional Direct Support Professional.

At Venture Community Services, we believe the opportunity to enhance the lives of individuals with disabilities has great personal rewards. However, we know how important it is to recognize the accomplishments and talent of our direct support professionals. These employees are the face of our agency – without them, we would never be able to realize our goals or offer the high quality of support services we provide. We are very proud of our incredible work force. If you would like to join the professional, highly-trained team of direct support professionals at Venture, click here for current job opportunities.

If you know a Direct Support Professional who excels at their job, nominate them for the 2016 Direct Support Professional Recognition Award through the American Network of Community Options and Resources (ANCOR). ANCOR’s National Advocacy Campaign advocates for the resources necessary to recruit, train, and retain a healthy, sustainable direct support workforce. Their issues include the promotion of awareness, professionalization, and fair wages for direct support professionals.

To learn more about DSPs, visit the National Alliance for Direct Support Professionals.