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Host Home Provider of the Month!

We would like to congratulate Michele Valdez for being nominated as our December Host Home Provider of the Month! The below information was provided by her Residential Team:

Michele recently became a Host Home Provider for PW who had never been in host home services before, and Michele is doing a phenomenal job! Michele has excelled at every task, including Therap and Relias, but most importantly, Michele has built a strong and meaningful connection with PW.

PW had a very rough start when he first came into services and initially required emergency respite. While he did well in that setting, it became clear that a more one-on-one, person-centered placement was important to PW, and Michele provided that level of support from the very beginning. Michele took the time to learn PW’s preferences, routines, and comfort level, intentionally creating a welcoming environment that helped PW feel right at home. Because of this individualized approach, PW was able to open up, build trust, and begin gaining confidence.

Michele has further supported PW by involving him in meaningful experiences and holiday traditions such as Halloween, Thanksgiving, and celebrating his birthday—experiences that PW had not had for many years. PW is now beginning to dream about different possibilities for his life, and we truly believe this growth is a direct result of Michele’s support and encouragement to try new things.

PW is joining the Special Olympics basketball team and has expressed interest in starting college at CSU Pueblo and becoming a ThunderWolf. We want Michele to know that her dedication, commitment, and hard work are truly making a difference and are not going unnoticed. Thank you, Michele, for all that you do and congratulations on being named our December Host Home Provider of the Month!!!

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Quality Assurance News & Updates

Personal Property Inventory

This month we are focusing on personal property inventory and some tips to maintaining inventory.

Why is it necessary to maintain an inventory?

  1. Waiver members receive personal needs funds from social security. Colorado regulations require that when a person receives these funds there must be a complete, accurate and current inventory of all the persons’ belongings. Members living in a host home or apartment setting are required to have personal property inventory logged and maintained.
  2. Maintaining an accurate and current inventory reduces discrepancies over who an item belongs to and assists in the resolution of disputes and/or missing belongings.
  3. If your home ever experienced a natural disaster such as fire, flooding, tornado, etc., this inventory may serve as documentation of the person’s possessions which would assist in the recovery/ reimbursement of destroyed items.

Tips to maintain the person’ inventory:

  1. At the end of each month, when collecting the person’s receipts to turn in, go into the person’s Therap personal property inventory and log each new item they purchased.
  2. Each month, review the inventory with the person. If there are items they have donated or thrown away, update the inventory to indicate the date and reason.

Personal property inventory FAQs:

  1. All belongings must be recorded regardless of cost of the items. This includes all clothing, collectable, crafting/ hobby supplies, clothing, furniture, etc.
  2. It is fine to indicate counts of items such as socks, shirts, and pants. However, if there are any items that are of financial value (such as a signed sports jersey) or are of particular importance/ value to the person (that T-shirt from their favorite vacation) these should be listed as their own line item.
  3. All adaptive equipment the person has should be listed on their inventory.

If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to reach out to your Residential Program Coordinator.

 

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Residential Team News & Updates

✨ Holiday Cheers and a Big Thank-You ✨

As the year winds down, we’ve been reflecting on everything that’s happened—and wow, it’s been a year of constant change. Through every update, shift, curveball, and new idea, you’ve shown steady commitment and a whole lot of heart. We notice it, and we appreciate it more than you know.

A huge thank-you as well to everyone who completed the survey and shared thoughtful feedback. Your voices are guiding our next steps, and we’re excited to turn your insights into meaningful improvements. Stay tuned—our action plans for 2026 are on the way.

Based on the feedback from the 2024 survey, as you know we have been focused on regionalization and opening more Day Programs along the front range. With this in mind, we have some big news to share; we’ve secured leases for a new Arvada, Colorado Springs, and Littleton offices! These spaces will be used as offices for some of northern Denver and Colorado Springs residential teams and will also become home to a brand-new day programs.  Renovations are already underway, and we can’t wait to welcome you into the finished spaces soon—grand opening details will be coming your way.

Working in residential services isn’t just about providing support; it’s about creating moments of comfort, safety, humor, and humanity. You do that every day, even when things are in motion around you, and it’s what keeps our homes feeling like true communities.

As the holidays roll in, we hope you find time to breathe, enjoy, reconnect, and recharge. Thank you for adapting, for showing up, and for bringing your best—through all the changes and all the seasons.

Our Residential staff and providers make a real difference, and we’re truly grateful for all of you!