It is hard for me to believe that I have been at Tri-Valley for over ten years now. It seems just like yesterday that I drove into the Administrative Building parking lot in Chanute for my interview with several board members and staff. I remember doing research on the organization and asking others their opinion on how well the organization functioned, its financial status, and lots of questions on southeast Kansas in general. I wanted to make sure I knew what I was getting into.
Ten years later I can say with some confidence that we have made great strides in ensuring that our neighbors with intellectual and developmental disabilities receive quality services. We are not perfect, far from it, but we do recognize when we make a mistake, we correct it and move forward. The people we serve have always come first since I have been at Tri-Valley. I do not make a decision without determining how it will affect the people we serve, our staff and finally the bottom line. If it affects them negatively, we dont do it unless we are required to by regulation. So, what have we accomplished during that time frame? Below is just a fraction of what has been completed.
First, we have improved our quality assurance system several times over the years from a paper system to a full-fledged database that tracks everything from goals, demographics, medical issues, appointments, etc. That data allows us to make changes to our system when we see problems developing. We can track by person served, employee, location and department as well, which makes it easy to pinpoint issues.
Second, we continue to increase the number of beds available for people with disabilities that are accessible and affordable. Since 2008, we have added five new homes to our inventory. Those homes are designed for people with disabilities and include walk-in showers, wider door frames, handrails, storm shelters, etc.
Third, we have made facilities improvements in Chanute and Ft. Scott by renovating and creating more functional space. We established a Service Center in Iola in February of 2010 so that individuals from Iola would not have to spend an hour on the bus to and from Chanute. We consolidated our administrative and CDDO buildings into one, saving costs on insurance, utilities, etc.
Fourth, we expanded our Horticultural Therapy program in Ft. Scott by building a greenhouse in 2008, storage unit in 2016 and adding raised beds for persons in wheelchairs. We added volunteer opportunities for the individuals in the program to help plant and water flowers across the city of Ft. Scott.
Fifth, we have increased our focus on community integration and employment to ensure that we continue to strive for 100% employment for the people we serve. During the last few years we have increased total client earnings from supported employment, thereby improving their purchasing power. We have also increased the number of community activities they participate in.
Sixth, in 2008 and 2009 we created computer labs for the people we serve. Here they can enjoy movies, play games or do educational activities. At that same time, we introduced art therapy classes.
Finally, we expanded our services to include children in Supportive Home Care. This was a new service that has helped provide parents with the extra care their children may need.
Although this is only a small sample of what we have achieved over the last ten years, it gives you a sense of our mission and vision, and our dedication to the people we serve. Caring for someone who is less fortunate than yourself is not an easy job, nor do you become wealthy providing the support, but when you see the smile on the face of someone who has just completed the simplest task that you and I take for granted, you feel that warm fuzzy feeling inside. I look forward to ten more years of that warm fuzzy feeling.
