From time to time I get asked where the revenue comes from to

support the services of OC. So even though this is a little dry,

please bear with me in this explanation. Our funding is not a

secret but it is a little complicated. Business finances are not

like your personal finances, we have three different departments

and they all have their own budgets, with revenue and ex-

penses.

The Commercial Department is straight forward in that it basi-

cally contracts with other businesses to provide services.

Becky Looney retires from OC.

Page 5

Director’s Corner: Warning,

the following is pretty dry, but essential!

Continued on page 2

The Employee Advisory Team recently put out a series of four

surveys with topics ranging from benefits to employee apprecia-

tion. From these survey’s, we found that we needed one place

for employees to get the information they need to stay informed

about the all three of the companies departments as well as

benefits and training information.

As you can see, the title of the newsletter is Direct Connect: Em-

ployee News and Information. The title is courtesy of our own

Dan Baxter, Behavior Specialist. Publication will be bi-monthly

starting in September and will include information from all three

departments, Residential, Commercial and Vocational. Articles

will include trainings, celebrations, a note from the Director,

fundraising and other information needs expressed in the em-

ployee surveys. We welcome any thoughts/ideas or submissions

from anyone on staff at Opportunity Connections. Items can be

emailed to Katie Maple at kmaple@opportunityconnections.org.

OC Launches the Direct Connect Newsletter

What’s Inside ?

Direct Connect : Employee News and Information

Volume 1, Issue 1,

September 2012

www.facebook.comoppopportunityconnections

Why is this bird biting Matt

Alley on the ear? Read “A Call

to Action” on page 3.

www.opportunityconnections.org

Project Connect is our new vocational training program that was implemented this year at

all our vocational facilities. In May of 2012 we were awarded a grant from the Jack R. and

Mary B. Dant Special Disability Fund of The Oregon Community Foundation (OCF) in the

amount of $22,000 for a part-time coordinator to integrate clients with disabilities into the

community by building their social skills and connecting them to volunteer or job opportu-

nities. The Project Connect program is built around the 13 skills to employability, a list

that was compiled through vocational staff input. The program has three core modules; work, community

involvement and life experiences. Each client finds their own balance of the three. Work includes voca-

tional trainings, facility based and/or community employment. Community Involvement includes

“Community Connect” which is very small groups going out to meaningful activities and/or volunteering to

help others at our local non-profits. Life Experiences include life skills, health and wellness, and com-

puter use just to name a couple things from the huge list of possibilities. With the hiring of a new art co-

ordinator, we will now offer fine art skills classes. The end goal of the Project Connect program is support-

ing clients to live as independently as possible, which includes, competitive employment if they choose.

The State of Oregon is quickly making changes in the field with their Employment First Initiative and new

payment structures. They are also redefining what Day Supported Activities should look like to make sure

everyone has a meaningful day. With Project Connect, we are already on track and aligned with State

goals and expectations.

Project Connect

Directors Corner– continued

These commercial endeavors support themselves, at least as a whole, because the revenue from the com-

mercial contracts is used to purchase the commercial supplies, utilities, rent, and pay clients employees and

commercial staff. Mostly the commercial side breaks even; it sometimes provides a little subsidy to the or-

ganization as a whole.

Residential really only has the State funding for staffing, however, due to a rate restructure by the State

five years ago, Residential has the most consistent funding.

Vocational has several types of State funding, including Comprehensive, Brokerage, Vocational Rehabilita-

tion, Transitional Services, and Washington DSHS. Client provided services are paid at different rates with

different rules and expectations. Currently there is a lot of pressure to provide clients more opportunity for

community integration, this pressure is being primarily exerted by the Disability Rights Office lawsuit against

the State of Oregon. This is another topic we will be taking up at the Annual Meeting on the 25th. As of Oc-

tober of last year, all billing for vocational services switched to a daily rate. That is why we now have to

have daily attendance and the vocational revenue changes from month to month, depending upon atten-

dance. The State is now looking toward developing an hourly rate model for next July. We have been asked

to do a “simulation” in October or November, although our payment will still be based on the daily rate, we

will provide the State information on what would have happened if we had had an hourly rate. Our time

clocks should come in handy.

We will be talking a lot about funding at the Annual Meeting, September 25th at the Heights Office in Hood

River, around 5:30 pm. Ted Wenk an attorney from Disability Rights Oregon will also be there. All clients,

families, staff, and stakeholders are invited. Postcards will be going out. If you have questions as to how

this all works together or why a specific service can or cannot be funded, feel free to send me an S-Comm.

If you don’t understand something, chances are it is a good question.

Page 2

Vocational

Matt Alley and Randy Bell from vocational just completed a two day training to learn the fine art of Job Devel-

opment. This was a FREE workshop paid for with a United Way Grant and staffed by a Portland Employment

First Team and OTAC. Katie Maple, our Job Developer from Hood River, was there to help with the training.

The first day was spent profiling Centennial High School transitional students for job resumes. They asked

questions about their work interests, skills and volunteer or assessment work they may have done. By the

time they left, the students had a photo resume and power point presentation all saved on a personalized

memory stick.

On day two, future job developers were put through a very long day of visiting businesses and talking to peo-

ple. To be a job developer you need to be able to speak to strangers in person, and on the phone. With the

Centennial students in mind, calls were made to possible places of employment in the area to set up tours.

Matt Alley ended up at the Bird Hut where he got a “bite” more then he expected, as you can see from the

photo on the cover. The trainees went to afternoon tours and came back with information about business

and possible positions for the students. The information was passed on to Centennial Staff.

Opportunity Connections is an Employment First Organization and we are ready to provide support to people

who choose to work a competitive job in the community.

“A Call to Action”

OIS Training Show Me Your Hands

The Oregon Intervention System (OIS) for 2012 is quite a bit different than its

original iteration. In the last year the company that previously developed and

issued the OIS curriculum since its inception in the nineties decided to pull back

and focus in other areas. Alternative Services (ASI) now has the Oregon con-

tract for OIS and develops and presents the OIS curriculum. Scott Sleeman is

the executive director of the company and is now the face of OIS in Oregon.

There have been some changes in the physical elements but for the most part

the core curriculum is much the same. The OIS steering committee still oversees OIS and approves any

changes.

Opportunity Connections (OC) is now trying to get as many people on a schedule that will allow for slightly lar-

ger classes about every two months. Larger classes allow for more varied interaction, more diverse experi-

ences to share and for some savings on the costs of training. Some of the staff will find their invitation to an

OIS class might be coming a month or two earlier than the certification requires due to this scheduling. Of

course, new staff will still need to take the class as soon as possible and this always throws a kink into the

scheduling.

It has worked out well to have classes at the new building, “The Heights,” on the heights in Hood River. It is a

small classroom but the front office has lots of room for learning and practicing the physical elements of OIS.

And finally a huge thanks to all those who have taken the class in the last couple years. It has been a huge

learning experience for me and hopefully a valuable experience for attendees and, just maybe, a bit of fun

along the way. I am now teaching the second round of OIS for many staff and hope that I have kept it inter-

esting and active enough that staff are leaving feeling good about what they have learned.

Page 3

Dan Baxter,

Behavior Specialist

Training

Celebrations Board / All Staff Get Together

This years Board/ Staff get together was held on August 14, 2012 at the American Legion in Hood River. This

was a free BBQ supplied by Opportunity Connections Board Members to thank the staff for a job well done.

The BBQ was delicious hamburgers, hot dogs and salads and the outside patio was just the right temperature

to enjoy it all.

After everyone was full, Rita presented awards to the different departments based on the organizations core

values. Board members then offered their own personal heart felt thanks in all that we do and give.

(Right) Tom Morgan receives an award

From Executive Director, Rita Rathkey

in Environmental Responsibility

for the use of Green Products in our

OC Janitorial Business.

(Right) Staff eating outdoors at the

American Legion in Hood River.

(Left) Kathleen Wickman and Janelle Child

receive a values award for being well

qualified staff that can meet changing needs.

Page 4

Values:

Healthy and safe activities, surroundings and people,

Being a resource to the community and especially to the people

with disabilities, their families , friends, neighbors and co-

workers,

Individual personal choice, integration and self worth,

Environmental Responsibility,

Collaborative relationships with partners and communities,

Tolerance, respect, honesty, simplicity and equality,

Work Opportunities,

Well qualified staff to meet changing needs.

Opportunity Connections

Mission: Maximizing potential for people with disabilities.

Vision: A community where people with disabilities participate in satisfying lifestyles based on the same aspirations as all citizens.

Residential Personnel Changes

There are two retirements from Residential and they will both be greatly missed.

Becky Looney (pictured below left) retired as Residential Director after 15 years of service. Everyone had a

good chuckle when it was mentioned that she might not ever get out of her pajamas.

Kenupe Afa (pictured above right) is also retiring after 8 years at the 14 street residence, and also at another

residential home of ours for 7 years before that! After a few weeks of well deserved rest and relaxation she

has agreed to be “on call” part time.

_________________________________________

Nicole Deaville (below) is our new Residential Director. She has been the house manager at Kropp Court for 4

and 1/2 years and has been with the company for ten years.

_________________________________________

Cheryl Durham (right) is the new

House Manager at Kropp Court. She

has been working Direct Care in the

house since December of 2009.

_________________________________________

Oscar Enriquez (left) has been hired as the

Warehouse Manager in Pine Grove. He started as a warehouse trainer. He has been

busy organizing and restructuring the warehouse and its looking great.

Page 5

Your vision care is an important part of being well. Opportunity Connec-

tions has vision insurance through CIGNA. Here is what’s covered:

Eye Exams—Plan pays 100% up to a $60.00 maximum benefit amount

Lenses, contact and frames—Plan pays 100% up to $150.00 maximum

benefit amount

Additional lenses and frames—Covered

Benefit Period— Eye exam every 12 months. Lenses, contacts and

frames every 12 months.

If you have questions please contact Charlotte Hess at 541-386-3520.

Read the smallest row you can see!

Residential Happenings on the “Home Front”

Kropp Court : The residents have had a fun filled summer. In June, Kim went to

the Portland Zoo and Wayne went to the Glenwood Rodeo In July Wayne and Ron

went to The Dalles Rodeo. In the heat of August, Ron went to the Skamania

County Fair and Wayne went to the Kliciktat County Fair and Rodeo. We have also

been on several picnics around Hood River Valley and one at White River Falls w/ Taylor St. Then there is

nothing better then getting with friends from Taylor Street for an old fashioned BBQ!

Nevada: Clients and Staff at Nevada Street Group Home have had a wonderful summer. Clients have en-

joyed outdoor activities such as BBQ at home, picnic at the park, walks along the river, and special 1:1 out-

ings. Just recently, we went on an outing to the Oregon Zoo. The day was absolutely thoroughly enjoyed by

everyone who went. Our favorite animals were the leopards and the polar bear. We also enjoyed the Washing

Park and Oregon Zoo Train Ride. The one client who did not prefer to go to the zoo had a special day with a

staff member and a visit with her own family. NSH Clients and Staff will “end” the summer season with a

group outing to Seaside, OR. We hope your summer has been as great as ours.

Taylor: Taylor St is still looking for 2 houses to move into since the sale of the Taylor Street Home. We have

made a few trips to The Dalles this summer for some shopping and sight seeing. We are enjoying the social

scene as we hang out and eat great BBQ with our friends at Kropp Court. Coming up in September is the an-

nual fishing excursion and a trip to the zoo.

Page 6

Benefits