CURRENT NEWS
Ver-A-Fast Named Employer of the Year
5/6/2010
Ver-A-Fast Wins
United Cerebral Palsy of Greater Cleveland
Employer of the Year
Ver-a-Fast Corporation, a locally owned small business in operation since 1976 has been an incredible partner with United Cerebral Palsy during the past 5 years. The company has supported both the Organizational and Community Employment programs in a number of ways.
Ver-A-Fast’s President, Robert “Bob” Bensman, generously allowed two members of the company’s executive leadership team, to serve multiple terms on UCP's Business Advisory Committee. Through this service on the BAC, they have contributed valuable ideas and, most significantly, Ver-a-Fast has provided many employment opportunities for UCP clients.
The company has hired five UCP clients, referred by our partners, the CCBDD and Ohio Rehabilitation Services Commission (BVR/BSVI), at their offices in Rocky River. They have been open to making necessary accommodations and to working with UCP job coaches to support the individuals hired.
Ver-a-Fast has also provided valuable and much-needed and appreciated work opportunities (in the form of shredding) for clients within our Organizational Employment Program. They have also spread the word about UCP’s shredding services to neighboring businesses in Rocky River, which has led to additional shredding contracts. This has allowed numerous individuals to earn a paycheck on a daily basis.
In addition to hiring people with disabilities from UCP’s Community Employment Program and providing work for Organizational Employment, one Ver-A-Fast Employee, Cathy Soprano, sponsored a special event at her home for Business Advisory Committee members. Cathy also has volunteered much of her own time and talent with our agency, working directly with Organizational Employment clients by helping to plant the UCP clients’ vegetable garden and assisting with various cooking projects.
Moreover, Ver-a-Fast has sponsored agency events and actively assisted in UCP fundraising, including the triathlon and the annual golf outing. We are pleased and honored to name Ver-a-Fast as UCP’s Employer-of-the-year.
Vote YES for Issue 15
United Cerebral Palsy of Greater Cleveland is committed to providing the most up-to-date and quality services to the 1,200 clients that we serve.
5/4/2010
United Cerebral Palsy of Greater Cleveland is committed to providing the most up-to-date and quality services to the 1,200 clients that we serve. It is through partnerships and collaborations with other local agencies that we can continue to maintain a high level expertise and knowledge of the services we provide.
Please renew your support for Cuyahoga Country's Health and Human Services issue that ensures that children, seniors and families will continue to receive the critical services that make out community strong and healthy.
Join UCP as we vote FOR the Cuyahoga County Health and Human Services Issue on
TUESDAY, MAY 4, 2010
RENEWING THE HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES LEVY DOES NOT INCREASE TAXES!
For more information on how you can become involved, contact Anita Gray at (216) 778-0110
Renewing the
Reese Pharmaceuticals Named Employer of the Year
Paul Soprano, Director of Vocational Services
5/20/2008
Reese Pharmaceutical Named 2008 Employer of the Year
Submitted by Paul Soprano, Director of Vocational Services
May 20, 2008
When Sterling Manufacturing announced its closure in summer 2006, four hardworking individuals, referred by the Cuyahoga County Board of Mental Retardation and Developmental Disabilities and employed at United Cerebral Palsy’s supported employment site at Sterling, were left with few options for finding new jobs. With the manufacturing economy in northeast Ohio struggling and no prospects for a new host employer, things looked grim.
United Cerebral Palsy’s community employment team, under the leadership of Sharon Meixner, Employment Services Manager, sprang into action. Program Coordinator, Greg Zaryk, remembered a “cold call” visit he made many months earlier to a family-run manufacturer in the neighborhood, Reese Pharmaceutical Company. He met the President of the company, George Reese, and explained the various options to assist the company with its staffing challenges while also employing persons with disabilities. Mr. Reese listened intently, but did not see a pressing need for United Cerebral Palsy’s community employment services at that time.
When Greg re-approached Mr. Reese in the wake of the displacement of our four associates in summer 2006, circumstances had changed. Business at Reese was booming, and the crew of summer workers, hired from among young persons in the neighborhood, was getting ready to return to school. Reese faced a serious labor crunch. Mr. Reese assigned Tony Lamonica, Controller, and Russ Slaby, VP of Operations at Reese, to negotiate how United Cerebral Palsy could help the company achieve its increasing production goals. They visited some of our other established supported employment sites and learned more and more about the value of hiring dependable, skilled persons screened, trained, and supported by United Cerebral Palsy staff.
After some initial trepidation and concern about whether our consumers would be able to handle the demands of the job, Reese Pharmaceuticals agreed to open a supported employment site in September 2006, initially with three associates. The fourth member of the team was added after some modifications were made to the 90+ year-old building to accommodate her wheelchair.
The value of the supported employment model quickly became apparent to the management at Reese. New workers were added as the business continued to flourish. Today, our newest community employment site employs eight associates, plus UCP Site Supervisor, Sue Ester, an eight-year employee of United Cerebral Palsy. Our team, located in the production department, performs quality control functions, assembles boxes, and packages and shrink wraps shipments of over-the-counter medications. Reese also permits a temporary slot for Situational Assessments. New consumers are given a 2-4 week chance to demonstrate their skills and determine vocational interests, goals, and needs while doing real work at Reese, all at no charge to the company.
Reese Factory Supervisor, Monique James, who works closely with the UCP team on a daily basis, had this to say: “We are grateful to have such goal-oriented individuals to work with. It is a joy working with ‘Sue's Crew,’ as we call them.” Other Reese managers have mentioned the work ethic and positive example that our associates set for regular Reese employees. Mr. George Reese recently commented, “As Reese Pharmaceutical celebrates 100 years in our community, we are pleased our partnership with UCP is helping us to contribute toward our social responsibilities while also helping us to remain competitive in our business.”
United Cerebral Palsy is proud to be associated with such a committed corporate partner and to name Reese Pharmaceutical Employer of the Year for 2008!
Taking Steps to Maximize Therapy Gains
(Steps to Independence ®)
Bonnie Boenig, MEd,OTR/L
6/15/2007
Maximizing therapy time is a popular topic of discussion among therapists as insurance benefits become more limited and children’s needs become increasingly complex. With medical technology’s ability to offer expanded information about the development, interactive functions, and plasticity of the systems of the human body, and with therapy skills becoming more sophisticated and precise, therapists want to offer best practice service to assist the child of today to be the productive adult of tomorrow. “This article first appeared in the May-June 2007 issue of Network, the journal of the Neuro-Developmental Treatment Association. It is used with permission.”
United Healthcare Children's Foundation Offers Medical Assistance Grants
2/13/2007
The UnitedHealthcare Children's Foundation is offering support to meet the needs of children across the United States with assistance grants for medical services not fully covered by health insurance.
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