RSS Feed
|
|
|
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
CCARC: Celebrating 35 years of success To be successful at what you do you need to learn to evolve with whatever changes need to be made. That's exactly what Clarke County ARC has done. That has led to a success that has carried the organization through many changes during its 35- year history serving people with cognitive disabilities. During the past few years The South Alabamian has featured a number of personal profiles of people who have reached the level of success they desire. These clients are prime examples of how CCARC has evolved into what it is today--an organization that focuses its services on the goals and desires of the people it serves. In reaching this milestone, what began as a unique way of approaching the services provided for people with cognitive disabilities, has now become the trend in that particular service industry. "The funders and regulators are beginning to catch up with their research," said CCARC Director Graham Braswell. "We have always been ahead of what is actually happening. Several years ago when we adopted the philosophy of personal outcomes, 'what they want to do' became the center of our mission statement." According to Braswell, now that focus is changing from person-centered to person-directed. "The terminology more accurately describes what the trend in the industry is," he said. "Ten years ago we began the transition from the developmental model of just providing care and services for people to personal outcomes. Now our funding source is looking at changing that to personal-directed." He went on to explain that currently the agency providing the services is allocated money to provide a list of supports, then renders a bill for payment. The change, when it comes, will be more directly affected by the choices of the person receiving the services. In other words, if there is dissatisfac- tion with the services being provided the client can take his or her business elsewhere and payment to the service provider will be stopped. "This is going to happen," said Braswell. "The payment for services will be set up like a trust or an account and will go through a physical agent for rendering payment. We must meet the criteria. They (the clients) make the decisions. This will force providers to render a higher quality of service. The important piece is the client. Before taking their business elsewhere, give us a chance to make it right." Braswell said if more than expected is provided, then the quality of service will only continue to climb. Part of that includes fulfilling CCARC's mission statement by helping its clients understand that if they want to be included and accepted in the community they have to be a part of it. "One way for them to accomplish that is to volunteer," said Braswell. Such opportunities are available through the statewide organization People First. The Clarke County chapter of People First has won the organization's statewide volunteer award for three of the past four years. "The organization helps them realize they have a responsibility to give back to their community and become a viable part of it. "This community has supported us greatly," continued Braswell. "We are fortunate to have our community's support. At the same time, we feel we have worked to earn our reputation."
One area of concern, as always, is funding. "While we are encouraged at the direction in which our industry is moving, the financial limitations we face are discouraging," said Braswell. "There will never be enough money to provide for all needs. Our concern is funding for the continued progression of our customers here at CCARC. That's why having the community's support is so important."
|
for larger version       |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
