PROJECT DESCRIPTION:

2009 Service Initiative Grant Competition “The Engaging Race” Proposal Plan

  1. PROJECT DESCRIPTION –

Capabilities, Inc. Day Habilitation Program

           a.   Brief statement of problem to be addressed

Auglaize County unemployment rate hits 9.3 % in January of 2009!  Now imagine as a MRDD individual the only sheltered workshop in the county has lost many of its jobs due to the declining economy.  Additionally, in 2009, the State of Ohio cut Mentally Retarded and Developmentally Disabled subsidy over a million dollars annually.   With the economic downturn and the lack of funding more and more Mentally Retarded and Developmentally Disabled individuals are in need of a day habilitation program to provide a fun and educational environment.

Obesity among Mentally Retarded and Developmentally Disabled individuals is prevalent.  According to Karen Fox, “This population faces disproportionate challenges in staying healthy and accessing appropriate care in the community, their needs historically neglected by society.”1  This is why there is such a need to provide such a day habilitation facility in our area.

          b.  Target audience

The Mentally Retarded and Developmentally Disabled individual must rely on caretakers, friends, and locally run facilities to assist in providing a sense of independence and accomplishment which has been made more difficult with lack of funding.  The additional financial and emotional strain on caretakers creates a negative environment for the Mentally Retarded and Developmentally Disabled individual. 

          c.  What is the benefit to your audience

Capabilities Day Habilitation Program will provide Mentally Retarded and Developmentally Disabled individuals with a fun, safe, and structured learning environment for health and life skills.   This program will provide a sense of belongingness and affiliation with others to the community. 

1 Fox, Karen. 2005. The MRDD Community Support Network (Revised). http://ntiaotiant2.ntia.doc.gov/top/docs/nar/pdf/476003015n.pdf 

II.  Goals and Objectives

          a.  Motivate and teach participants healthy living skills including grocery  shopping and cooking skills, food proportion, and exercise.  Based on each individual’s abilities, monthly goals will be set, daily journals will be kept on consumers to mark milestones on the progress the consumers are making.  Group sessions on feelings of accomplishment.

          b.  Provide potential milestones such as– creating grocery lists, understanding what foods are healthy for the consumer, making easy to prepare lunches/dinners, freezing food versus refrigerating it, and daily exercise regimen.  Incorporating the local Farmers market to assist in starting a garden at day habilitation facility.

          c.  Work with families/caretakers to get healthy checkups for each consumer.  Work with local hospital/gym/YMCA to bring in dietician/fitness trainer to assist in setting up appropriate goals based on individual’s health check.  Day trips to grocery stores to practice healthy shopping.  Daily exercise program using fun activities both inside the facility and day trips, incorporating such activities as swimming, aerobics, therapeutic horseback riding, Wii Fit, walking, and other seasonal activities.    Provide audio and video materials as well as incorporating games on healthy living.

          d.  Initiate a volunteer program where Mentally Retarded and Developmentally Disabled individuals will volunteer at the local food pantry, senior citizen center, animal shelter, etc. to provide a sense of accomplishment while assisting others in need.

          e.  Key staff -

All staff members will be required to have and maintain CPR and First Aid certification.  Continued training/seminars will be necessary prior to and during employment at the day-hab.

Continuing education programs through local community seminars and/or online classes to provide staff with the most up-to-date learning tools in the education of clients.

III.  PROJECT DURATION

Timeline –

May 5, 2009 – May 31, 2009: 

Visit day hab programs throughout state to get a better understanding of strengths and weaknesses each program provides.

Contact out of state day hab programs to gather statistics and to generate further ideas on meeting the needs of the clientele.

Visit West Central Ohio Special Education Resource Center for materials and information on educating MRDD individuals on health and wellness.

Create and mail out survey to MRDD individuals and families to compile what areas that would best serve them while in a day hab program.

June 1, 2009 – June 30, 2009

Meet with Board of Directors to discuss and implement strategic planning of healthy living program at day hab facility based on previous month’s findings.

Meet with dieticians, local grocers and farmers to see if they are willing to participate in this process.

Meet with County Board of Mental Retardation and Developmentally Disabled to discuss the program, gather insight into specific needs the county feels is needed.

July 1, 2009 – July 31, 2009

 Buy and generate donations for exercise equipment and Wii Console and Wii Fit.

Set up exercise room in day-hab facility. 

Buy and generate donations for kitchen needs.

Prep kitchen with utensils, pots, pans, and all other kitchen supplies.

Through research with local dietician come up with easy to prepare healthy meals.

August 1, 2009

Open day habilitation facility.

IV:          Projected $1000 budget:

Visit day-hab programs in Ohio $200

Buy used exercise equipment such as aerobics and exercise DVD’s, weights, used TV, outdoor equipment such as basketballs, and softball equipment. $400

Buy any needed kitchen supplies (already have appliances and most cooking/baking supplies). $50

Operating costs to include but not limited to, buying used computer/printer, buying and setting up QuickBooks, paper, ink, $350

Total Expenses:  $1000