To view our newsletter for May, please follow this link. We have our provider of the month, quality assurance information and a write-up on our Customer Appreciation Parade. Good stuff!
Join us for some upcoming virtual events! Please follow the links included in the descriptions to participate.
Tuesday, May 18
LIFE Club: Dance Party or Game Night
When: Tuesday, May 18 from 5:00pm-6:30pm
What: Join us for an evening of friendship, discussion, and learning! These interactive groups will focus on developing skills and confidence for social situations in a way that is fun and informative! LIFE Club is open to all. Last week we asked for your thoughts, and we heard you loud and clear! There will be the option of a dance party, playing games, or both! We will take the time to hear everyone’s choice and end the night in a fun way!
Instructions: In order to participate, please follow https://us02web.zoom.us/j/95856274486 at 5:00pm to participate. Contact christopher.sharkey@supportinc.com or gwen.bonilla@supportinc.com for any questions. Everyone is welcome!
Wednesday, May 19
Moving and Grooving: Disco Dance Party
When: Wednesday, May 19 from 12:00pm-1:00pm
What: We will join together to discuss life’s stressors while improving the physical health of our bodies to create a healthy lifestyle by learning helpful social and exercise habits. Thisgroupwill incorporate a different movement activity every session. This week is all about disco! Learn how funky dance moves can be a fun form of exercise. This is a great opportunity to be active during a virtual time. Adaptable for all abilities!
Instructions: In order to participate, please follow https://us02web.zoom.us/j/642887012 at 12:00pm to participate. Everyone is welcome! Contact ashley.treiber@supportinc.com for any questions.
Thursday, May 20
Touching Stories
When: Thursday, May 20 from 11:00am-12:00pm
What: Touching Stories is a unique therapy model, specifically designed for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities, that pairs the social and emotional learning of story with sensory integration activities in a way that is educational, engaging, and simply, a lot of fun! We have adapted our Touching Stories for at home use. Gwen will first lead participants in a scavenger hunt for the sensory items needed for the stories (all items are common items found in every home) and then will tell the sensory-based stories to the group. Please see the attached list for scavenger hunt items. If you are curious to learn more, please watch this video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EcjzvevJ9_w&t=67s.
Instructions: In order to participate, please follow https://us02web.zoom.us/j/91755803139 at 11:00am to participate. Everyone is welcome! Contact gwen.bonilla@supportinc.com for any questions.
Everyone is welcome!
BIG News: We have our Customer Appreciation Parade coming up next week, with 10 routes along the Front Range!
With the recent circumstances regarding COVID-19, we know how difficult these times can be. We miss the people we serve and hope you all are doing well.
We want to thank everyone and show our appreciation. We thank you for your diligence in staying safe and taking care of yourself. We thank you for continuing to maintain social distancing standards. And most of all, we thank you for trusting us with your residential services. It is an honor and a privilege to care for the people we serve.
For route details, please contact your coordinator—we’re so excited to deliver gift bags and to see you from a safe distance!!
Join us for some upcoming virtual events! Please contact the clinicians below to participate in any and all of the groups. They will provide additional information and instructions.
Tuesday, May 12
LIFE Club: Finding Your Inner Betty Crocker
When: Tuesday, May 12 from 5:00pm-6:30pm
What: Join us for an evening of friendship, discussion, and learning! These interactive groups will focus on developing skills and confidence for social situations in a way that is fun and informative! LIFE Club is open to all. This week we will be making our favorite snacks! This is a great opportunity work on social skills while having fun in the kitchen. We will provide a recipe with common ingredients! Please contact gwen.bonilla@supportinc.com for more information!
Instructions: In order to participate, please contact gwen.bonilla@supportinc.com by Tuesday, May 12 at 4:30pm. A link will be sent via email. Please follow the link at 5:00pm to participate. Everyone is welcome!
Wednesday, May 13
Moving and Grooving
When: Wednesday, May 13 from 12:00pm-1:00pm
What: We will join together to discuss life’s stressors while improving the physical health of our bodies to create a healthy lifestyle by learning helpful social and exercise habits. Thisgroupwill incorporate a different movement activity every session. We will focus on stretching, mindfulness and inner and outer strength. This is a great opportunity to be active during a virtual time. Adaptable for all abilities!
Instructions: In order to participate, please contact ashley.treiber@supportinc.com by Wednesday, May 13 at 10:00am. A link will be sent via email. Please follow the link at 12:00pm to participate. Everyone is welcome!
Thursday, May 14
Touching Stories
When: Thursday, May 14 from 11:00am-12:00pm
What: Touching Stories is a unique therapy model, specifically designed for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities, that pairs the social and emotional learning of story with sensory integration activities in a way that is educational, engaging, and simply, a lot of fun! We have adapted our Touching Stories for at home use. Gwen will first lead participants in a scavenger hunt for the sensory items needed for the stories (all items are common items found in every home) and then will tell the sensory-based stories to the group.
Instructions: In order to participate, please contact gwen.bonilla@supportinc.com by Thursday, May 14 at 10:00am. A link will be sent via email. Please follow the link at 11:00am to participate. Everyone is welcome!
Scavenger Hunt Items for Touching Stories:
We’ll do three stories:
The Monster on Grandma’s Bed Scavenger Hunt:
Mixing Bowl
Wooden (or other large) Spoon
Pillow
A piece of dark fabric (towel, blanket, sheet, etc) big enough to go over your head
Something furry (stuffed animal, etc)
Flashlight
Piece of dark paper or cardboard
A small blanket
Rapunzel:
An herb or spice that smells fresh (basil, dill, mint, etc)
A LONG piece of yarn, string, or rope (REALLY LONG if possible)
Something with a smooth, flat surface — a dinner plate, a picture frame, or a mirror would work
A small piece of silky fabric (a necktie, a silly handkerchief, etc.)
Scissors
The Stonecutter:
(no scavenger hunt for this story)
With the holiday weekend approaching, we want to take a moment to thank our Family Care Givers that so often care for their loved ones without a second thought. The strong Mothers we serve have been committed since day one, and we thank you for the care you continue to provide during these tumultuous times. The bond a child shares with their Mom remains unmatched, regardless of age and time. We see you, we appreciate you and we will continue to be here for you when you need additional support.
Happy Mother’s Day and take care.
Quarantine fatigue has been described as the restlessness we feel from staying home so often. We’re itching to get out and for life to return to normal.
While we continue to practice social distancing, please remember to go easy on yourself. Rather than denying how we feel, often times it is best to acknowledge the things outside of our control so we can focus on the things we are able to control. It’s okay to feel sad, tired, bored and depressed. Allow yourself some time to identify these feelings before turning to coping mechanisms.
This is your weekly reminder to allow yourself some grace. It’s totally normal to not feel normal right now, and the least we can do is be kind to ourselves and one another.
Should you need some ideas of things to do at home, please refer to the list below. We continue to support our individuals in services and will be here if you need anything.
We know that routines like Host Home Provider pay day can be confusing with all of the current shutdowns. In an effort to honor the government requests for social distancing as well as our client’s fragile health, we will be mailing Host Home checks this month. Repeat, we are not handing checks out to any HHP, nor will anyone be able to pick them up at any office. HHP checks will be placed in the mail on Friday, April 24th. The intent is that Host Homes will receive the checks on or before May 1st. Providers may cash the checks as early as April 30th but remember the bank will reject any checks presented before April 30th.
We are aware that some HHP paychecks may be incorrect due to early check printing. We want to assure you that we will issue (and mail) corrections immediately when notified for any under payments and that we will reduce next month’s payments for any over payments.
We also want to let you know that we are mailing client personal needs funds (both cash and checks) along with bus passes too.
One final reminder, we are not sending bus passes this month because we mailed the passes to providers with the last pay day. We do not intend to send bus passes until the Access-A-Ride services are up and running for a full month.
We will be available if you have any questions. And thank you for bearing with us while we navigate new routines and solutions together.
Join us for some upcoming virtual events! Please contact the clinicians below to participate in any and all of the groups. They will provide additional information and instructions.
Tuesday, April 14
LIFE Club: Finding Your Inner Betty Crocker
When: Tuesday, April 14 from 5:00pm-6:30pm
What: Join us for an evening of friendship, discussion, and learning! These interactive groups will focus on developing skills and confidence for social situations in a way that is fun and informative! LIFE Club is open to all. This week we will be making our favorite snacks! This is a great opportunity work on social skills while having fun in the kitchen. We will provide a recipe with common ingredients! Please contact gwen.bonilla@supportinc.com for more information!
Instructions: In order to participate, please contact gwen.bonilla@supportinc.com by Tuesday, April 14 at 4:30pm. A link will be sent via email. Please follow the link at 5:00pm to participate. Everyone is welcome!
Wednesday, April 15
Moving and Grooving
When: Wednesday, April 15 from 12:00pm-1:00pm
What: We will join together to discuss life’s stressors while improving the physical health of our bodies to create a healthy lifestyle by learning helpful social and exercise habits. Thisgroupwill incorporate a different movement activity every session. We will focus on stretching, mindfulness and inner and outer strength. This is a great opportunity to be active during a virtual time. Adaptable for all abilities!
Instructions: In order to participate, please contact ashley.treiber@supportinc.com by Wednesday, April 15 at 10:00am. A link will be sent via email. Please follow the link at 12:00pm to participate. Everyone is welcome!
Thursday, April 16
Touching Stories
When: Thursday, April 16 from 11:00am-12:00pm
What: Touching Stories is a unique therapy model, specifically designed for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities, that pairs the social and emotional learning of story with sensory integration activities in a way that is educational, engaging, and simply, a lot of fun! We have adapted our Touching Stories for at home use. Gwen will first lead participants in a scavenger hunt for the sensory items needed for the stories (all items are common items found in every home) and then will tell the sensory-based stories to the group.
Instructions: In order to participate, please contact gwen.bonilla@supportinc.com by Thursday, April 16 at 10:00am. A link will be sent via email. Please follow the link at 11:00am to participate. Everyone is welcome!
With the recent barrage of information, this link remains important. Please click below for Plain Language information regarding COVID-19, available in 11 languages. This critical information explains how COVID-19 is contracted and how to stay healthy.
We applaud the Self Advocacy Resource and Technical Assistance Center for putting this resource together. Should you need further assistance talking with a loved one regarding COVID-19, please reach out to your team for additional support.
March 26, 2020
To All Support, Inc. Staff, Families, and Providers:
By now you have heard that the entire state is now under a “stay at home” order as an additional measure to mitigate the spread of COVID-19 across the state. This means that individuals are required to stay home, except when completing essential tasks. To clarify, our operations are considered essential tasks and services, and we will continue to operate under the modified arrangement that we have for the last several weeks. To summarize, this has included:
We will continue these practices for the foreseeable future and constantly seek creativity in service delivery. As always throughout this time, our aim is to operate fully to support everyone around the organization as best we can given the circumstances, using creative methods developed by our staff and precautionary practices outlined by the Centers for Disease Control and the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment.
Should you have difficulty navigating the community under this order when working with our individuals in care, or traveling to and from locations, a letter has been circulated that you can use to show that you are providing essential services. If you have not received this via email, please contact Idania Ochoa, Human Resources Manager at idania.ochoa@supportinc.com or 303.340.0322 to get a copy.
I have been impressed with everyone’s commitment despite the challenges we all face. I cannot express the gratitude I have for each of you during this time of need to support each other and the individuals in our care.
Regards,
Bentley Smith
Chief Executive Officer
Important Links:
Link to State of Colorado Stay at Home Order
Link to COVID-19 Information by the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment
Link to the Support, Inc. Website News Feed, Including our Facebook Page
PHONE: (303) 340-0322
FAX: (303) 340-0385
HOURS: Mon – Thurs: 8:00am – 6:00pm
EMAIL: info@supportinc.com
15591 E. Centretech Pkwy
Aurora, CO 80011
Phone: 303-340-0322