NAPA VALLEY SUPPORT SERVICES
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Mission Statement
supports quality of life for individuals with disabilities through a person-centered approach to self-discovery, community-engagement, employment, and education.
About This Cause
Our Programs In 1985 NVSS launched its Napa Personnel Systems (NPS), a supported employment system. NPS provides training and instruction to enable individuals with disabilities to participate in employment of their choice. In 2008 the program began to serve people with other disabilities. Annually NPS provides services to over 150 adults with developmental and other disabilities and provides four distinct services: Employment Services, Supported Employment, Situational Assessment and Work Adjustment. The program also provides job site training and advocacy, ongoing support and maintenance to provide customized support to ensure the individual’s long-term success in employment. Group services are provided three times weekly through the Napa Personnel Systems Job Club. One-to-one services are provided on an as needed basis. NVSS offers two Day Programs, Imperial Way and Brown Street Gallery. Both programs offer similar services; both operating for six hours daily Monday through Friday between the hours of 8:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m on a 1:3 or 1:4 staff to client ratio. Individuals receive training and support in developing and improving self-care skills when needed. This may include basic grooming (e.g., hand washing), using a checklist to determine work readiness, or cleaning the table after eating lunch. Individuals may also have cooking classes, developing skills in food preparation and using the microwave. Socialization skills include communication, making a choice and participating in conversation. Health, nutrition and exercise are also areas where individual goals may be identified. Community based training focuses on teaching individuals how to use community services, institutions and activities. Some examples are using public transportation, taking a college class, ordering food from a restaurant menu, checking out books and videos at the local library, purchasing items at local stores and using community facilities for exercise and recreation. Interested clients may develop their reading and writing skills in basic education classes or by using computers at the library or in the NVSS computer lab. Individuals have the opportunity to explore their creativity through art, crafts, music and movement, according to their interest. With support, clients develop their personal style in medium, color, and texture. Drumming classes develop rhythm and counting as well as musical skills. Our Imperial Way program provides daily services to 105 adults with developmental disabilities. 25% are over the age of 50, 45% are between the ages of 30-49 and 30% are under the age of 30. 10% live in their own home, 47% live in a licensed care facility and 43% live with their parent or a family member. 100% of individuals have developmental disabilities (mental retardation, autism, cerebral palsy, epilepsy); most are diagnosed with mental retardation. The program provides training and instruction in vocational skills to enable adults with developmental disabilities to participate in work (many who traditionally would not be considered), allowing them to make choices regarding available opportunities. Over 90% of the individuals attending Imperial Way earn a wage; over 60% are regularly working in the community. Working as little as an hour a week to as much as twenty hours weekly, individuals earn an average of $95 per month. Individuals are all very proud to receive a paycheck, some earning as much as $700 per month. The Culinary Institute of America, Wendy’s Restaurant, Devlin Road Recycling Center, etc., employ crews. NVSS also offers individuals the opportunity to work at the program site subcontracting with businesses to shred confidential documents, assemble items, fold, and stuff and sort mail, etc. Individuals at Imperial Way also have the option to volunteer in the community, including volunteering at local animal rescues, helping to clean kennels and care for pets, and participating in the Recycle Club. In 2003 the Brown Street Day Program opened its Adult Development Center, and in 2005 began its Brown Street Gallery It provides daily services to 28 adults with developmental disabilities 21% are over 50, 47% are between the ages of 30-46 and 32% are under the age of 30. 14% live in their own home, 25% live in a licensed care facility and 61% live with a parent or family member. 100% of individuals have developmental disabilities (mental retardation, autism, cerebral palsy, epilepsy) most are diagnosed with mental retardation. The program provides adults with developmental disabilities the ability to earn an income in a non-traditional way, through the sale of art. We have four shows a year with opening receptions, which give artist an opportunity to show and sell their work. We also have artwork at various community sites to further expose artists and their work. Professional artists from around the Bay Area volunteer to work with studio artists. Our collaboration projects have brought together community artists along with studio artists to create and sell pieces. This provides unique experiences for both community and studio artists, developing strong relationships and mutually respectful bonds. This continues to further both artists’ creative practice. In some instances community artists have continued to be active members of the studio community by attending fieldtrips, scheduling community classes, curating exhibitions, providing mentors and friendships. The impact of these relationships with studio artists has enhanced individual’s social and mental health by increasing their interpersonal and socially acceptable behavior, which equates to general social acceptance throughout our community. NVSS continues to provide a vocational education program for selected eligible students through an agreement with the Napa Valley College. The Napa Valley College provides $.65 per student hour (up to the contract limit which has recently been significantly reduced due to state budget cuts) to Napa Valley Support Services to provide this education. NVSS staff that supervises this educational program must meet Napa Valley College standards to retain funding. NVSS also teaches individuals with developmental disabilities to advocate for themselves. We promote feedback and choice. Behavior supports seek to provide each individual with the skills needed to manage his/her behavior in a socially acceptable manner. Individuals receiving behavioral services have written communication plans developed by a team of people who work closely with the individual to identify what makes sense to them, and what helps them be successful. All communication plans are overseen by a licensed behavior consultant and reviewed by the Human Rights Committee. Some individuals attending NVSS need specialized services and therapeutic interventions that are often unavailable through other resources. Our occupational therapist provides over 100 sessions monthly, partnering with individuals’ physicians by providing therapy from a physician’s prescriptive plan. The treatments involve maintaining and increasing both mobility and strength that ensure the prevention of further health issues. For our clients staying mobile means the preservation of independence. Many have degenerative diseases that take away important physical capabilities. They need ongoing therapy to keep their bodies from atrophying. Our therapist helps in keeping them limber and in assisting with accommodations for daily activity. The interdisciplinary team that consists of the individual, regional center staff (funding agency), day program staff, and significant others, develop goals and objectives that are implemented in scheduling each person’s daily activities.