Recently the SACL property on 10th Avenue SW was sold.

We will be moving ALL our Services from BOTH of our locations (the main location at 4590 10th Avenue SW, and the Employment Services location at 191 Shuswap Street) to one new central downtown location.
Although the majority of the move will be done between Friday February 22nd and Monday February 25th, the Recreation Program will continue to run at the 10th Avenue location until the week of February 25th – 28th.
We are aiming for a smooth transition, with no interruption of services.

NEW LOCATION:

371 Hudson Avenue NE (Andover Place across from the Post Office)

SACL Administration, Employment Services & CVP = Suite #301
SACL Recreation Services = Suite #103

We will be keeping our MAIN PHONE NUMBER at 250-832-3885

Mailing Address: PO Box 153, Salmon Arm, BC  V1E 4N3

 

 

 

On December 13th 2012, the Shuswap Association for Community Living received a generous grant from the Salmon Arm Savings and Credit Union in the amount of $1,448.75.

This grant award, combined with a grant from the Shuswap Community Foundation earlier in the year will allow SACL to move into the future and on to the next 50 years of service to our community by updating outdated technology systems and venues.

Jo-Anne Crawford, Executive Director of SACL expressed her appreciation for the continual support that the Salmon Arm Saving & Credit Union provides many non-profit agencies in our community that are in such need. The choices in determining who will be recipient(s) for the available funds must be an extremely difficult decision.  We are honoured and grateful to have been the recipient of SASCU’s continued support.

 

Salmon Arm Observer – December 12, 2012

The times they are a-changin’ – again.

The Shuswap Association for Community Living has found a buyer for their property at 4590 10th Avenue SW.

The new owner will take possession March 1 so SACL will be looking for new digs downtown

The move means the ass0caiation will be giving up their Environmental Solutions program that employs several clients with intellectual disabilities.

While she admits some of the older clients are anxious about losing the recycling program, SACL executive director Jo-Anne Crawford says changes are being made to better reflect current client needs.

“There are no young people coming into the (sheltered) programs anymore,” she says. “They are coming out of high school and have made it very clear they don’t want to be working in sheltered workshops. They want to be out in the community, they want to be with friends, to be working, volunteering, going to school, to live in their own places.”

Crawford says there was anxiety too, when, several years ago, the province closed institutions, and services moved to sheltered programs.

“And now the whole thinking about disabled people has really changed,” she says. “Most of the people we support now are supported in the community. They don’t get programs here, they get support to live alone, receive help with grocery shopping, budgeting, socializing, going out and finding things that interest them…”

Crawford says the recreation program has become a health and wellness program – another reflection of clients’ requests to have meaningful programming.

“Working with a consultant, parents and caregivers, we asked them what they valued,” Crawford says of a recent meeting. “At the core of it was belonging in the community and everything that revolves around that.”

Crawford adds that, like most people, clients feel good about volunteering and that SACL has a strong volunteer program.

“They said they don’t want to be entertained; they want to come away at the end of the day, knowing their time was well-spent,” she says. “We’re heading off into new territory and this will give an opportunity to the community to continue their relationship with the people and allow the community to see more of the clients, she says.

As giving up the paper recycling program, Crawford says the province’s mandate for producer’s mandate for producers to take cradle-to-grave responsibility for their packaging will mean companies with large capacities will be needed, says Crawford.

“We simply don’t have the capacity,” she says. “Our plan is to move into the downtown core and to bring that program we could need a larger space. And because we know it’s going to shrink and shrink and shrink, we’re making the move at this time.”

Crawford insists current sheltered clients will continue to be well-supported during the day and SACL is hoping to find jobs for many more clients. Some clients already work anywhere from one to 20 hours per week.

But for some of the sheltered clients who may not be able to fit into other employment options, losing the pay they receive through the recycling program is a real concern. “What we’re hoping is the people who have been our customers will continue to have them (clients) visit by hiring them,” she says, noting staff members are ready to meet with employers to find suitable paid work that benefits clients and businesses.

If you or your business can provide paid opportunities to clients, call SACL’s employment services at 250-832-7665.

 

Community Living BC (CLBC), a provincial crown agency, engages people and organizations to create safe and welcoming communities for adults with develpmental disabilities. CLBC is pleased to provide you with information and materials about or “Start with HI 2” Initiative.

START WITH HI 2

Start with HI 2 initiative builds on the successful ‘Start with Hi’ program first introduced in 2009, by reinforcing the original key messages while adding information about why starting with ‘Hi’ is important and what we can all achieve with this simple greeting.

The Start with HI2 initiatives about helping people to understand that small actions like saying ‘Hi’ can be the first step toward making a connection. This connection can give people with developmental disabilities a greater sense of safety, belonging, and welcome in the community. The poster message asks all British Columbians to say ‘Hi’, as it is a great starting point; then a smile’ a greeting; and a short conversation can often follow. These efforts of inclusion make our communities safer for people with developmental disabilities.

“Just like you, when someone greets me, I feel good. So start a good feeling with HI,” – says Amy, who is one of the six self-advocate spokespeople for the initiative.

Please join in and help raise awareness about how to build safe, welcoming communities for people with developmental disabilities. The call to action for Start with HI 2 is:
1)   To ask British Columbians to acknowledge people with developmental disabilities in our communities with a simple greeting.
2)   To raise awareness so that all British Columbians can increase the safety and sense of belonging for a person with developmental disabilities by simply saying HI!
3)   To encourage British Columbians to visit the Start with HI 2 website at www.startwithHI.ca to learn more about the initiative and contribute to the list of things; that we all can start a “hi”.

WHY WE ARE DOING THIS INITIATIVE

*   Many British Columbians see people with developmental disabilities in their daily lives. However, Many people may not be aware that very simple actions could enhance the lives and feeling belonging for individuals with disabilities and their families.

*   Start with HI 2 addresses the need for informal safeguards (the connections we all have and use to help us feel safe and secure) in the lives of individuals with disabilities. When people regularly acknowledge someone with a developmental disability, it can help them to identify certain people as a ‘safer’ person to talk to if they ever feel confused, afraid or threatened by others.

HOW YOU CAN PARTICIPATE

1.   Place a poster in your office or facility in a visible location.
2.   Copy and distribute this letter to your co-workers and colleagues.
3.   Take a poster to an office of facility that you and others regularly visit (e.g. doctor, dentist, bank or even your hairdresser)
4.   Take time to talk with someone whom you may see reading the poster and discuss with them the message in this initiative. (See the key messages below)
5.   Visit the website and a page, watch the videos and PARTICPATE by making your own poster message. Distribute the website address to friends and family or other people you may think would be interested.

KEY MESSAGES

1.   We are ALL responsible. – We all have a role in the safety of our fellow citizens who live with developmental disabilities. Bus drivers, bank tellers, store clerks, letter carriers, neighbours and others who might encounter the same person regularly, have a particularly important role to play.

2.   A small action can have a big impact. – By simply acknowledging an individual with developmental disability, it can help to make that person feel included and therefore safer when they are in the community.

3.   Start something with “HI”. – Don’t worry about saying the ‘right thing’ to someone with a developmental disability. Just start with “HI”. You might find that you will start a good day for someone with hi, or start being a good neighbour with his, or even start a feeling of belonging with hi.

If you have any questions about this initiative, please contact Jule Hopkins, CLBC Director of Service Accountability and Safeguards at: [email protected]

Thank you for reading and distributing this important information. We appreciate your help in supporting CLBC’s goal toward inclusive and welcoming communities for all British Columbians.

The Ministry of Social Development is hosting community engagement workshops from October 30th to November 27th in 14 Communities throughout the province to get feedback on the proposed integrated service delivery model.

See attached flyer for information, times and locations.

CommunityEngagementWorkshops

 

On August 20th 2012, the Shuswap Association for Community Living received a generous $2,500 grant from the Shuswap Community Foundation. There were many applications for the available grant money, and difficult decisions had to be made, but Deborah Chapman, Chair of the Grant Selection Committee noted “the important role SACL plays in the mental health of our community”. The grant was made possible by the Mary Douhaniuk Memorial, the Turner Orchards Endowment, and the Shuswap Community Foundation General Endowment Funds.

Jo-Anne Crawford, Executive Director of SACL expressed her appreciation for the extra help that the Shuswap Community Foundation provides non-profit agencies that are in such need. Funding is always limited, and the grant funds will be put towards much needed technology updates that will help “kick-off” the agency’s 50th year of service to the community.

Shuswap Association for Community Living has received a $1,000.00 donation from the Daybreak Club which will be used for the purchase of a new computer.  The Association appreciates the ongoing support of the Daybreak Club who really does exemplify “Service Above Self.”

Shuswap Association for Community Living (SACL) was informed in early March that the City of Salmon Arm Grants-in-Aid Adjudication Committee awarded the association with a cheque for $1,850.00.  There were many worthy submissions for consideration.  While requests for funding totaled $100,222 the committee had only $45,250 to disburse.

The members of the committee commended our organization for our work providing employment support for adults with intellectual disabilities. The City of Salmon Arm Grants-in-Aid Adjudication Committee stated that they see this as a great benefit to our community.

SACL will be using those funds to pay for the water, sewer and garbage bills for the property at Salmon River Road – 4590 10th Avenue SW,  and for our low income housing tri-plex.

 By Barb Brouwer – Salmon Arm Observer Published: February 18, 2012 6:00 AM

They’re the tops and it shows.

Shuswap Association For Community Living (SACL) has just received a three-year accreditation that allows them to continue to provide top-notch opportunities for people with developmental disabilities.

Accreditation came from CARF International, an independent, non-profit accrediting body whose mission is to promote the quality, value, and services in order to best enhance clients’ lives.

A three-year accreditation is the longest available and reflects on SACL’s performance in providing community integration, respite services, supported living and for its community employment services – job development, job supports and job-site training programs.

“An organization receiving a three-year accreditation has put itself through a rigorous peer review process,” says SACL executive-director Jo-Anne Crawford.

Located on 10th Avenue SW, SACL has been providing services to persons with intellectual and diverse disabilities in the Shuswap since 1963.

Founded in 1966 as the Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities, and now known as CARF International, the accrediting body establishes consumer-focused standards to help organizations measure and improve the quality of their programs and services.

“We’re required to be accredited in order to get contracts with Community Living BC,” says Crawford, noting the numerous standards to be met are contained in a huge manual. “They also look at everything we do, that we are actually achieving outcomes of service, not squandering the money.”

The CARF team went over SACL with a fine-tooth comb in November and their recommendations at the end of the two and a half days, were to add more detail to their risk-management plan.

“Basically, they’re saying ‘we believe you offer an excellent service,’” says Crawford. “That’s  why we are accredited for three years, but we want you to show us with more paperwork – detailed written proof that we’re meeting required standards.”

Thrilled with the accreditation, Crawford says she has heard Community Living BC staff have said SACL’s employment program could be a model for the province.”

“And that’s a credit to this community’s employers.”

JMSACLaward0213col.jpg

Shuswap Association for Community Living clients James Spada, Diane Saint and Janice Hildebrandt shred papers at the SACL facility on 10th St. SW.

James Murray/Observer

Dreams Continue to Come True for Community Members…

Marcus Purdaby works 4 hours a week at the RCMP, realizing a lifelong dream. Businesses and Individuals are carefully matched through Made to Order Employment Service info at 250.832.7665.

 

Click here to read more!