Saint Rose Center
Annual Report #7
June 30, 2004

Click here for 2009 Annual Report
Click here for 2008 Annual Report
Click here for 2005 Annual Report

Table of Contents

• Mission Statement
• The 2003-2004 Year in Review
• The St. Rose Center Program
  • The Living Domain
  • The Personal Domain
  • The Social Domain
  • The Achievement Domain
  • The Community Domain
• CARF Survey Summary
• Characteristics (Descriptors) of Individuals Served for 2003-2004
• Family Survey
• Individuals Served Survey

The aim of our program is to provide persons with developmental disabilities with the best in methods and procedures so that they might reach their fullest potential in spiritual, emotional, and functional growth. In short, our aim is to help them become all that God intended them to be.

1997...my lucky year. I came to St. Rose Center in June to begin the Developmental Training Program. A wonderful challenge!

Our services to young people with developmental disabilities and their families began to grow and continues to grow.

This year we saw speech therapy, physical therapy, and occupation therapy added to the program (at no cost to St. Rose Center). A new Program Guideline (to become all that God intended) was developed. It was presented to the Governance Board and Advisory Board. It will be presented to the staff and the families this Fall. The three year C.A.R.F. re-evaluation was successfully completed as well as the annual Department of Human Services survey.

I have been privileged to have the opportunity of working side by side with wonderful, dedicated staff which has brought stability to the Center.

Like all other non-profit organizations, St. Rose Center makes every effort to spend the available dollars wisely for the direct services to our young people. A transition from grant to fee-for-service is in the process and will become effective July 1, 2004. It will be interesting to see how it will affect our funding.

Parent fund raisers have grown, however, we need more growth in this area. New outside resources must be explored. Department of human Services funds provide for some of the daily operation costs. Monies must be raised for continued development of program and staffing needs.

I would like to acknowledge the various board members, staff and families for their assistance, support and ongoing commitment to our young people. Everyone's input is the reason for our current level of success.

I look forward to the continuous support of ALL and to serving our young people with a high level of services in the future.

God bless everyone,
Gratefully,
Sr. Theresa Tamburo

The five program domains at St. Rose Center are Living, Personal, Social, Achievement and Community. We are a community from which to safely practice optimism of self, others, and the environment. This occurs through sharing time and attention with individuals one-on-one or in small and large groups. We encourage responsiveness in learning opportunities within the training program such as enjoyment, observation, interest, caring, orderliness, patience and direction.

St. Rose Center believes the whole person grows and develops intellectually, emotionally, physically, economically, civically and religiously. We feel that given the provision of least restriction, our secure and structured atmosphere becomes a breeding ground for the development of life quality, satisfaction and dignity. The individuals serviced come to accept and believe in natural laws that include order, tolerance, charity and respect. We approach self-sufficiency and self-awareness through consciousness of life and life processes.

For most of us, life is sensing, feeling and thinking. However, we can become more exceptionally aware and present. Dispositions affect our mental processes. For example, we might look with fear, sadness and anger, or with joy, hope and thanksgiving. Positivism is a well nurtured disposition developed with care. Although, some individuals are predisposed to favorable dispositions and can expand through them; others need assistance in defining goals, objectives and outcomes. Individuals are challenged to think in general and believe in their rights and responsibilities specifically. The response of the treatment is that individuals become more interested in their surrounding and find themselves choosing more uniquely.

The varying day by day experiences at the center allow individuals to know trust. Trust is a gatekeeper between idleness and movement. Trust allows support and strength where we might otherwise feel inept. With support, we can safely step out onto fields of what is known and what is unknown. We can help to restructure commonly misconceived patterns; we look for working avenues of knowledge that may be new or dormant. We model bridges to new characteristics and roles that work in adulthood. Through willingness, the individual's talents emerge to decipher how "things" ought to be. Independence develops through the individual's recognition of self discipline, effort and success. Mind puzzles give way to confidence, competence and sense of empowerment. The individual freely breathes in accomplishments, builds healthy relationships in the community and matures in love and spirit.

The Living Domain includes the program areas of Self Help and Living Skills. In Self Help the individuals are assisted in several areas such as cause and effect relationships. This is basic sequencing where the individuals learn how what just happened affects the next, or to predict what will happen next. Object relation is another task learned. This is learning about the individual's identity through intra-psychic, interpersonal and group experiences. The task of tolerance is a matter learned of accepting self and the differences of others. Life Skills include home management. In home management, individuals learn care of materials, supplies, and tools. Through skill development and directions the individuals are prompted to become familiar with technology and encouraged to choose life styles that are suited to their independence. The individuals learn respect.

The Personal Domain includes the program areas of Health/Safety/Science (H/S/S), personal responsibility, physical fitness and motor skills. In H/S/S/, individuals are assisted in reality orientation which is a structural form for individuals who are confused or disorientated in identity, time/place orientation, and in need of consistency in safety or other daily routines. The individuals gather, analyze, and respond to information in their environments. In Personal Responsibility, individuals learn how to think critically through forms of analysis and synthesis. They are reinforced to better their self-image and self-control through completion of tasks, conflict resolution, handling of emotions and goal setting. Physical fitness includes loco and non locomotor skills by participation of various athletic means. Motor skills assist the individuals to learn through imitation, differentiation and object permanence which is the ability to know objects are there for them (including people), when they are not there physically. With the help of prompts and cues, individuals practice trust.

The Social Domain includes the program areas of Social Responsibility and Speech/Communication. Social Responsibility develops around skill building in inter-personal relations and comprise of listening, respect for others, sharing, accepting differences, communicating, peer pressure, reputations, and development of roles as individuals, peers, family members, neighbors, and community liaison. The individuals practice self-advocacy and self-determination amongst others who are similar or different. Speech/Communication involves the imitation of auditory and verbal stimuli, pre-speech, receptive and expressive language, articulation, and word recognition, identification of images, discussions and speech making.

The Achievement Domain includes the program areas of Functional Math/Money, Functional Reading/Writing, and Enrichment. The first of the two functional areas prepare the individual for relationships and concepts, time management, and budgeting processes. The second functional area assists in developing comprehensions, resource, symbols, self presentation and publishing. Enrichment includes services, celebration and holiday programming and general interests such as crafts, decorating, leisure activities, singing and dance. Each of these program areas develop and encourage self-resourcefulness, wonder and awe. It is a swelling of pride of not only themselves, but in their relationship to God.

The Community Domain includes the program areas of Community Knowledge, Work Readiness, and Community Placement. During events of Community Knowledge, individuals become aware of a broad range of values, equity, dignity, interdependence, resourcefulness and enjoyment. Vocational readiness teaches skill building in many goals such as speed, accuracy, confidence, order, concentration, self control, production, effort, efficiency, attitude, boundaries, and work ethic. Community placement is an orientation of all the above toward acceptance of self in a large scale working environment of unlimited potential. Then the individuals have opportunities of returning to contribute and integrate with life-learning processes found and shared at the Center. The circle of persons becoming, rejuvenates itself as a gift of eternal friendship and camaraderie to one another. It is the sense of belonging.

St. Rose Center (SRC) has strengths in many areas.

• The organization's efforts on behalf of persons with disabilities have been enhanced by its willingness to listen to the persons served as well as parents, guardians, and funders of services. SRC has shown a strong history of receiving and utilizing the input it receives from its various publics.
• The organization has knowledgeable and professional staff members who are responsive to the needs of the persons served. There is a commitment to improving the quality of the lives of the persons served and assisting them in becoming active members of their communities.
• Persons served and other stakeholders express a high degree of satisfaction. Persons served are clearly benefiting from the services and programs offered by SRC.
• Well developed policies and procedures for services guide management processes on a day-to-day basis.
• An experience and committed safety committee and an excellent health and safety program promote a safe and secure training and learning environment.
• SRC demonstrates great deal of respect for the rights and choices of the persons served. This philosophy seems to permeate every aspect of the organization.
• Persons and families served by SRC consistently express a high level of satisfaction with the services they receive.
• The organization maintains a positive financial status. Although SRC has had fiscal challenges, it has maintained appropriate support for all service delivery.
• The excellent handbook for persons served is easy to comprehend and is available in a printed form as well as graphically interfaced, utilizing pictures and designs to enhance communication.
• The organization maintains comprehensive and well-organized records that provide documentation of requested services and include relevant medical, psychological, and referral information.
• SRC is commended for having a person served on the board of directors.

In the following area St. Rose Center demonstrates exemplary conformance to the standards.

• The organization is highly commended for developing and utilizing a comprehensive business improvement plan. The plan, which was carefully and systematically developed, collects information from a variety of sources. It is apparent that this information is analyzed, and the results are used to make organizational decisions.

St. Rose Center is awarded a Three-Year Accreditation. The board, management, and staff members are commended for this accomplishment and are encouraged to continue their efforts in cooperation with other community services to provide quality services to persons with disabilities. The organization is encouraged to monitor its operations and ongoing conformance to the CARF standards and policies and to continue to use the standards as tools to improve its service delivery.

Question #1: Are you satisfied with the overall programming? 97% of the families said, "YES!" Comments were:

• I am gratified to see my son doing more writing, reading, and critical thinking.
• I like it because the Catholic faith gives lots of love.
• Doesn’t have enough activity in her classroom
• I am satisfied.

Question #2: Are you satisfied with the staff? 100% of the families said, "YES!" Comments were:

• Wonderful! Very personally concerned and helpful.
• Very much so.

Question #3: Are you satisfied with the communication between yourself, staff and Administration at Sr. Rose Center? 97% of the families said, "YES!" Comments were:

• When I make the effort it’s great. It would be nice to get something more regular, especially from Group 1 - like a newsletter showing what they’ve been doing.
• I would like more communication in Spanish
• I think the Center communicates very well with parents

Question #4: Are you satisfied with the physical environment at St. Rose Center? 100% of the families said, "YES!" Comments were:

• How could it be better?! The stuff up in the halls shows the dynamic nature of the place.

Question #5: Did you have satisfactory input into the Annual Review? 97% of the families said, "YES!" Comments were:

• Yes, although I think it will be even more satisfying now that he is in Group 1.
• Never received a copy however.
• She was evaluated as if she can’t do anything. My daughter has a positive side. Not everything she does she does poorly.
• I found it very comfortable talking to the psychologist

Question #6: Do you agree with the recommendation proposed by the IDT at the Annual review for the person’s goals/objectives? 97% of the families said, "YES!" Comments were:

• So-so I thought them a little low and nondescript.

Question #7: Did you consider future placement? 62% of the families said, "Yes."

• Not sure what this means – are you referring to within St. Rose Center or outside.
• I feel my daughter is very happy at Sr. Rose Center and so am I.
• No, no need.
• If necessary.
• No, I have no plan for future implementation at this time.
• No, not at this time.
• We did not really talk about this issue, because I haven’t thought about placing my son any where.

Question #8: Comments?

• My daughter’s goals are being met, telling time, using money, math. Great teachers, she enjoys the field trips.
• I would like info on dieting so that my daughter does not gain weight
• She loves art & craft, painting
• My son loves science and music. Doing more with those areas, even understanding categories could be very fruitful for expanding cognitive capacities, as well as sheer enjoyment. We probably could help here with some resources, mostly basic, like sending in seashells and rocks or musical instruments. Another idea – booking up with a school band that could show their instruments and give a concert.
• She indicated nothing. Later stated would like more trips since she loves to visit various sites.
• I would like for you to expand my sister’s reading and writing.
• Understanding others when they don’t agree with her. Controlling her temper better. Art is very important to her, also cooking healthy.
• Reading, math, speech
• My sister always seems to enjoy the art projects. Her impaired vision keeps her from some forms of self-expression that she used to enjoy. I appreciate the creative energy of Ms. Susan. My sister gets enthused with her various projects that her group has been doing e. the persona history with pictures.
• I wish my daughter to have more things to do throughout her day at St. Rose Center. Things that help her learn and keep busy. She can’t stay all day long sitting on a chair. Her fellow classmates and she needs more activities in their environment/classroom.
• My son seems to be happy going and participating in the program at St. Rose Center.
• I’m very happy, but I would like my daughter to be more sociable with others.
• My son is much improved – He can count better and can recognize words. He tells me of many experiences in food prep. I am very happy when he is happy.
• Job preparation and part time 2 days/4 hrs per day. Trial placement in an appropriate job that understands her limits.
• My daughter has incredible shopping skills (which includes buying tapes and cd’s). She has bargaining skills and a quick sense of humor. During sad times, she’ll cheer you up. She is kind and sometimes that works against her. Simple puzzles, taking pictures is one of her hobbies. She loves collecting pens, pencils, and papers. My daughter loves museums (field trips), walking downtown and being with her respite worker. She loves St. Rose Center, especially Rosa. She believes one of her peers talks too much and takes things from her like notebooks, pens and combs.
• My son has improved his social life. He is very happy after coming from St. Rose Center. He really enjoys the workshop.
• Well, I am very happy in respect to all the services and programs with everyone who has been working alongside my son. Thank you.
• I would like my brother to learn a little more English, but he has come along way thanks to everyone of you. Thank you.
• Actually everything my son enjoys doing; you all have the activities at St. Rose Center. I’m very pleased with St. Rose Center and there’s really nothing I would change about the program.
• We would like our sister to expand her communication skills and also her vocabulary skills.
• I would like my daughter to use the microwave with assistance also to use the computer, like games, matching pieces.
• My daughter’s interests/likes are limited. Exposing her to new things may help her develop new likes. This is something the program continues to do for her.
• To read, count, write. These are the main things as of now.

The question was asked, "What is your favorite activity of the month?"

Throughout the year, there were 611 responses to this question. 19% of the individuals stated they liked community, 18% liked work, 15% liked food prep, 15% liked enrichment, 8% liked life skills, primarily computer, and 7% liked Physical fitness and leisure.

The remaining program areas fell at 4% interest or lower: math/money, personal/social responsibility, motor skills, reading/writing, language/communication, and health/safety/science.

The question was asked, "What was your least favorite activity this month?"

Throughout the year, there were 422 responses to this question.

21% of the individuals stated they did not like some aspect of the workshop, 19% liked everything in the program, and 15% didn’t like housekeeping (wiping tables/sweeping). 8% did not like some aspect of computers, 4% didn’t like writing, and 4% did not like money or clocks.

Six program areas were combined to equal 4% of areas least liked (motor, health/safety/science, language/communication, personal/social responsibility, and community).

4% of the individuals had stray comments such as not wanting to work, worry of being in trouble, having problems with peers or personal conflicts.

The question was asked, "Is there something more you want to do?"

Throughout the year, there were 434 responses to this question. 27% of the individuals stated they wanted more field trips. Their wanted to have fun by visiting museums, zoos, stores, restaurants, bowling, haunted trails, pizza, parks, beach front, fishing, mall, circus, park, McDonalds, Aquarium, Burger King, dollar store, Ice Capades, Target, Bulls, and library.

One wanted to learn where garbage trucks go, and others wanted to eat Chinese or in a car, shop, play ball, walk and exercise, go out to lunch and buy shoes, books computers/laptops and CD’s.

19% couldn’t think of anything more they would like to do, but 18% wanted to work more in either the workshop or the community.

They were willing to clean tables, help kids, clean floors, use screwdrivers, stock shelves, and move shopping cart, pack groceries, and wrap blue bags.

9% wanted to cook and volunteered items such as polish sausages, spaghetti, pizza, lasagna, Christmas cookies, soups, salads, and pasta.

7% wanted to participate in athletics, particularly baseball, basketball, swimming, soccer and gym. They wanted to picnic and work puzzles. 6% wanted to work on functional math/money and 6% wanted to work on computers or help with housekeeping. The remaining time they wanted to spend with art projects and reading books.

The question was asked, "What would you like to tell the staff?"

Throughout the year, there were 421 responses to this question. 58% of the individuals stated they did not have anything extra to add to their survey.

35% had very complimentary things to tell their staff. They conveyed staff was nice and they wanted staff to hear they were doing well. A few individuals were worried about their behavior being good enough, finding good jobs, missing their staff when absent, and liking/disliking a particular peer.

Other thoughts that were conveyed by the individuals were, sadness in thinking of someone special having died, wanting to go on a diet, helping out in another Group, wanting to go back to the soup kitchen, enjoying a special project, wanting to make recipes, making progress, being a good listener, riding a bus independently, and not enjoying when people argue, fuss and seem negative.

The question was asked, "Do you have any additional comments?"

Throughout the year, there were 160 responses to this question. 49% of the individuals stated they had no further comments.

20% wanted to say they really liked the program. In addition, 8% stated they were happy, practiced smiling, and were excited, proud, and thankful. They enjoyed everything including peers, making money, getting jobs and going on trips.

8% thought they really showed improvement in some aspect.

6% wanted to complain or request help with their emotions.

When asked, "Are you satisfied with serviced you receive at St. Rose Center? 98% said, "Yes."

When asked, "Are you making progress on your goals? 99% said, "Yes."