Boletín de otoño de 2020: nuestro camino a seguir
POSSIBILITIES REALIZED ™
Mensaje del CEO
Queridos colegas,
La situación del COVID-19 ha evolucionado más de lo que cualquiera de nosotros podría haber imaginado desde marzo de 2020 cuando UCP se vio obligada a cerrar sus puertas físicas por nuestra seguridad.
The World Health Organization has declared this outbreak a pandemic. Many governments around the world have taken stricter and more impactful measures to ensure the safety of their citizens. In addition to the immediate and grave health concerns, we are seeing a much wider impact on the lives of our employees and the families and individuals that we serve at UCP. Understandably, there is a great sense of unease everywhere.
Es desde esta perspectiva que me gustaría compartir mis pensamientos. En primer lugar, me gustaría agradecerle por lo que ya ha hecho para superar esta crisis y mantenerse comprometido con UCP y nuestra misión. Su compromiso marca la diferencia en las vidas que continuamos sirviendo en UCP.
También me gustaría asegurarles que, como organización sin fines de lucro con una historia muy exitosa de 70 años, somos resistentes. UCP tomó los pasos importantes para reabrir de manera segura en julio, adoptando un enfoque cauteloso y gradual y asegurándose de tener un plan de reapertura completo que se basara en las recomendaciones y pautas de los CDC.
Déjame agregar una nota personal. Junto con todos los demás en UCP, estoy trabajando arduamente para hacer frente a esta crisis. Como la mayoría de ustedes, también tengo una familia de la que preocuparme. En momentos como estos, la lista de preocupaciones puede ser larga para todos y no hay excepciones. Sin embargo, también estoy convencido de que superaremos esto si nos mantenemos diligentes y esperanzados. Por favor, cuiden de ustedes y de sus familias.
– Brenda Hanserd, CEO, UCP of Central AZ
¡Participe en nuestra gran rifa y podrá ganar cualquiera de los 15 premios increíbles!
We’re on a mission to raise $20,000 for our Laura Dozer Therapy Clinic. Your raffle ticket purchase will give the chance for a child to discover their full potential and will give YOU a chance to win. Some of the prizes up for grabs include a Louis Vuitton handbag, a Traeger grill, a drone, a fly fishing trip, a Troon North golf experience, and RYOBI tools.
Compre sus boletos ahora llamando al (602) 828-0950. ¡Tus probabilidades de ganar son altas! https://ucpofcentralaz.org/ucp-grand-raffle/
UCP’s National Research Committee
Congratulations to Dr. Michael Kruer, UCP’s Board member, and Valerie Pieraccini, UCP’s Director of Therapy Programs and Early Learning Center, for being elected as co-chairs of the UCP National Research Committee.The focus of the committee is early identification and early treatment of cerebral palsy and related disorders. The committee is devoted to promoting translational research for children by advancing biomedical and therapeutic research, including promotion of evidence-based initiatives that culminate in feasible care pathways for clinicians and families.
El viaje hacia la independencia no se detiene
Can you image what it’s like for someone with a disability to understand and make sense of what is going on in the world today?
From one day to the next you are being taken away from everything you know. You no longer have a routine nor the treatment and training needed to help you continue in your journey of independence…
On March 26, 2020, UCP was forced to close our Day Treatment and Training Program (DTA) abruptly due to the pandemic outbreak. Following the guidelines from the CDC, a total of thirty UCP members were sent home, most of whom have a developmental disability and who struggled to understand this sudden change. The closure caused a lot of disruption in the lives of our DTA members and their families, who were now faced with the challenge of having no extra help caring for their loved one.
Since then, UCP’s DTA program has made steady and safe progressions, thanks to funding from The Arc of Arizona and the Arizona Developmental Disabilities Planning Council, Engagement and Comfort during the COVID-19 pandemic. The funding allowed us to be able to engage with our members from afar with fun mailed activities. Shortly after we were able to extend our engagement virtually! The virtual sessions offered valuable social interaction and engagement to our homebound members. Best of all, it gave them a sense of comfort and joy to see familiar faces, whom they’ve missed so much.
One particular member is Sam. Sam has been coming to the DTA program for 5 years. He has intellectual disabilities and is primarily non-verbal. Prior to the DTA shutdown, Sam had been receiving speech therapy to help him vocalize simple words and communicate using basic sign language. His therapy was reinforced at DTA by his Direct Support Provider’s (DSP) who would practice sign language with him. Sam’s verbal progress was thriving and progressing. Then, the pandemic happened. Sam was told he would no longer be attending the DTA program, nor be able to see his friends and his providers. This was not easy for Sam and unfortunately had to be secluded in his group home for over 5 months.
Fast forward to August, UCP was able to partially re-open the DTA program, of course, Sam was one of the first to return! Because of so much change, Sam was assigned to a new classroom and a new DSP which caused for Sam to resort to old habits of pointing and making sounds rather than using the words he knew. Sam’s DSP quicky realized she had to think of ways to make Sam feel comfortable so that the skills Sam worked so hard in learning, would not be forgotten. It didn’t take long for Sam’s teacher to realized he loves SpongeBob! Right away she found fun activities for him themed around the cartoon character and sea creatures. She even brought him a gold fish for his desk. Sam’s response was astonishing. He used his words to name his new pet fish “SpongeBob”. Sam has taken full responsibility of caring for SpongeBob and enthusiastically shares with his friends at DTA all the silly things his fish does. Sam is feeling comfortable again and is so happy to be back to the DTA program with the familiar faces he knows and loves.
UCP Strong – Champion’s Virtual Event
UCP de Arizona Central tuvo su primera recaudación de fondos virtual el 18 de agostoth. Presentado por Jack Florez, de catorce años.
UCP de Arizona Central tuvo su primera recaudación de fondos virtual el 18 de agostoth. Emceed by fourteen-year-old Jack Florez, who’s cerebral palsy has never held him back from doing things like emceeing an entire event! UCP Strong: Champions’ Virtual Event featured a thirty-minute online program that took viewers through the importance of UCP’s work and shared testimonials from individuals and their families whose lives have been impacted by UCP.
Al llegar a más de 200 personas y recaudar más de $90,000, el evento fue un gran éxito. El evento demostró que en todas las circunstancias, UCP se mantiene fuerte.
Un enorme agradecimiento para nuestro patrocinador presentador Blue Cross Blue Shield of Arizona y muchos otros patrocinadores increíbles y donantes en especie que hicieron posible nuestro noveno evento Champions y nuestro primer evento virtual.
UCP involucra a familias en teleterapia para sostener cuidados intensivos durante una pandemia
For children with disabilities such as cerebral palsy, autism and other developmental delays, pausing therapy is not an option. Studies show that 90 percent of brain growth happens before age five. That’s why UCP of Central Arizona quickly launched teletherapy services, making virtual, one-on-one therapy sessions a reality for parents.
“Continuity is especially important for those receiving treatment and therapy,” said Brenda Hanserd, CEO of UCP of Central Arizona. “Our number one priority was to provide our families with alternative options to ensure that treatment and therapy would continue without interruption.”
During teletherapy sessions, a licensed UCP therapist virtually visits with families using a secure, two-way video call. The remote therapy sessions are held in close partnership between therapists, patients, and parents or caregivers at home. The sessions’ goal is to continue to maintain progress for a child or teen with special needs and maintain prioritized protocols without missing a beat. In addition, the virtual sessions gave UCP families ideas for using tools and objects around the house to help master new skills and assist in daily functions. Parents can now be more involved than ever, using hands-on techniques to help their child achieve everyday miracles at home.
“The families we serve depend on our ability to provide access to daily therapy, whether virtual like now or in-person like we’ve done for years,” said Hanserd. “Unfortunately, for some of our families, their insurance doesn’t cover services and are having to decide between paying out of pocket or they just simply cant afford it. I am grateful for our donors that have supported us throughout the years. Now more than ever, our families could use the financial support to be able to receive uninterrupted therapy.”
Become part of a child’s journey and help them continue the services they need and deserve. Done aquí.
Krista es imparable
Kathy was not going to let a pandemic stop Krista’s good work… Individuals do more than just daily care, they learn and grow together, practicing skills for living an independent and purposeful life.
22 year old Krista who was diagnosed with Down Syndrome, receives care from her mother Kathy through our Home and Community Based Services(HCBS). Although Krista is very independent, her success is owed to her care providers, including her mom Kathy who push her everyday to learn new skills and challenge her potential. Krista recently shared with us her most reason accomplishment. Krista has been volunteering in the kindergarten classrooms at four elementary schools since she graduated high school in 2016. She has helped with everything from bulletin boards to filing papers, bingo games and alphabet flashcards. With the support of her mother, Krista was working to gain sponsors to help transform her volunteer work into a part time job. Unfortunately, COVID-19 put a halt on that opportunity and her work in the classroom.
But Kathy was not going to let a pandemic stop Krista’s good work. Drawing on her own skills in teaching and technology, Kathy works patiently and persistently to create 45 second videos of Krista demonstrating “the letter of the week.” Several of the teachers Krista volunteers for now show her videos to their students. The kindergarteners not only learn the alphabet but also learn about persons who has different and unique abilities, like Krista.
“We all struggle with change. For individuals with disabilities, it can be harder to understand that this too shall pass, and that eventually, life will go back to what we remember or at least be a new, exciting norm we can embrace.” says Kathy.
UCP’s Home and Community Based program is available to both children and adults who are being served by the Division of Developmental Disabilities (DDD). The program’s objective is to provide highly personalized attentive and well-trained care. Individuals do more than just daily care, they learn and grow together, practicing skills for living an independent and purposeful life.
Cuando las empresas cerraron sus puertas en marzo debido a la pandemia, el programa HCBS necesitó más horas de apoyo en el hogar. La agencia reguladora estatal emitió algunas flexibilidades, autorizando más horas de atención para muchas personas. Antes de la pandemia, el personal de UCP trabajó colectivamente más de 2500 horas con nuestros miembros en el cuidado de HCBS. Durante el apogeo de la cuarentena, llegamos a casi 3.000 horas de atención. La demanda está cayendo levemente a medida que reanudamos algunas actividades fuera del hogar, pero la necesidad desde julio ha sido consistentemente superior a las 2.600 horas.
El apoyo comunitario cambia vidas
Thank you to our community partners whose funding supports UCP of Central Arizona and hundreds of children’s and adults with disabilities.
Arizona Lottery – $50,000 fondos para apoyar becas de terapia del habla y el lenguaje y alimentación para niños sin seguro o fondos estatales. Sin la capacidad de comunicarse con claridad, los niños pierden el acceso a muchas de las experiencias educativas que los convertirán en adultos.
State Farm – $2,500 fondos para el nuevo salón de clases de Pre-K del Centro de Aprendizaje Temprano y ayudar a garantizar que los niños estén listos para una transición exitosa al jardín de infantes.
Walmart Store #5330 – $2,500 fondos para el nuevo salón de clases de Pre-K del Centro de Aprendizaje Temprano y ayudar a garantizar que los niños estén listos para una transición exitosa al jardín de infantes.
Arizona Diamondbacks – $5,000 fondos para el aula preescolar de ELC para la compra de suministros y recursos necesarios en el aula.
Cardenales de Arizona– $3,500 funding that enabled the Early Learning Center to purchase four trikes and indoor and outdoor climbers that will allows children to improve their coordination and motor skills.
Fundación Rob & Melani Walton– $5,000 financiamiento que permitió a la Clínica de Terapia UCP comprar equipo nuevo y actualizado para nuestra clínica de terapia; colchonetas de terapia, escaleras de terapia, soporte para bolas de ejercicio, barras paralelas y una unidad de almacenamiento al aire libre para bicicletas y equipos terapéuticos.
The Arc Arizona – $1,182 funding for our Adult Day Treatment and Training Program to fund engagement and curriculum items for our adult members to help increase socialization, reduce anxiety, and decrease isolation during the pandemic.
Albertsons, Safeway y Vons- $3,000 funding to provide specialized foods for our Early Learning Center to help create healthy eating habits, and to replace and enhance necessary commercial kitchen equipment in the program’s kitchen.
West Valley Maverick Foundation – $500 fondos para comprar tecnología de asistencia terapéutica para ayudar a los niños pequeños con retrasos o trastornos motores a jugar y explorar su mundo.
MAG – $15,470 funding will allow UCP to maintain our vehicles in proper operation which are used to transport 100% of our adult participants to and from the Day Treatment and Training Program.
Como cliente de Circle K, eres parte de nuestra familia
You might not have noticed, but at one point you have supported our cause without even realizing it! How, you ask?Well, did you know that Arizona’s 630 Circle K convenience stores have been a place where UCP has reached the hearts of thousands of people? Thanks to Circle K, UCP has a prominent place on the checkout counters where millions of customers like you have been dropping in spare change and making miracles happen in the lives of people with disabilities! Thank you and we hope you will continue to support us. The needs of those with disabilities do not stop despite a pandemic.
Los residentes de Arizona tienen la oportunidad de asignar una parte de su obligación tributaria estatal a la UCP de Arizona central y recibir un crédito dólar por dólar al presentar su declaración de impuestos estatales. Los dólares se acumulan rápidamente y nos permiten ofrecer nuestros servicios y programas a más familias necesitadas.
Puede encontrar más información en el Página de crédito fiscal del Departamento de Ingresos de Arizona.
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Gracias a nuestra Junta Directiva for their commitment to our mission which is the foundation for independent living. Our board, staff and families work together to help each member reach their full potential.
Manny Cairo, Dan Williams, Gary Brennan, Nicole Almond Anderson, Brett Heising, Michael Kruer MD, Suzy Peel, Phil Barber, Juez Randall Howe, Son Yong Pak
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Centro Laura Dozer
1802 W. Parkside Ln Phoenix, AZ 85027
Llamada gratuita: (888) 943-5472
Teléfono: (602) 943-5472
FAX: (602) 943-4936
Correo electrónico: [email protected]
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Armando Contreras
¡Gran boletín y muy informativo!