FOCUS

ON

October/November 2004

    One of the cornerstones of Four Rivers Resource   Services has always been service to adults in our   communities who experience challenges in life because of disability or special needs.   Last year, a total of 217 people came to Four Rivers for adult day programs alone through the four locations that provide those  services.  The challenge and the commitment is to help each and every individual add fulfillment and meaning to their life.

 

   Four Rivers takes a multi-faceted approach to adult day services that is as diverse as the population it serves, in order to meet individual needs, capabilities and preferences.  Participants in Four Rivers adult day programs range from teenagers to the elderly, and deal with a wide range of disabilities, including vision and hearing impairments, learning disabilities, and physical disabilities.  Intent on making sure that agency efforts are truly meeting individual needs, an annual satisfaction survey is conducted, this year yielding a 99% consumer satisfaction rating.

 

   A successful,    fulfilling life means different things to different people, but for most adults, work is part of the equation.  Many program participants want a job in the community.  During the past year alone, Four Rivers staff were able to support 81% of the people who wanted to do so, in finding and/or maintaining employment situations in the community.  This includes 89 new job placements— 56 of those through the sponsorship of Indiana’s Vocational Rehabilitation—  resulting in an increase in job placements for the third year in a row.  Staff have set an even higher goal for next year. 

 

    Most adult day service clients are actually supported by Four Rivers staff entirely in the community, either in work, volunteer or recreational settings, or a combination thereof.   Less than half of last year’s 217 participants received any segregated services at all.  For those that do, on the average, just a little over half of their time is spent in segregated activities where the only other participants are other people with disabilities.  The remainder  of their time is spent in activities and settings where they are connected with their community.  And for individuals who do choose some segregated time as a part of their services, the  average percentage of time spent in paid, work activities compared to non-paid activities has  increased every year for the last three years.

 

 

 

Services for Adults Reach New Goals