Annual Report for the Year Ending June 30, 2014: Our Mission

Gary Lind
Executive Director
Kathy Broderick
Associate Executive Director
Amy West
Chief Financial Officer
Michael Decker
Chief Operating Officer
Alden Kaplan
Senior Policy Advisor

Laura J. Kennedy

During the past year, various AHRC New York City stakeholders—members, staff, people served and Board—took a fresh look at how we support individuals with intellectual and other developmental disabilities. We wanted to ensure that our Mission Statement reflected the myriad of ways our organization supports people. In doing so, a Mission Statement was re-written to reflect the goals of AHRC today.

Since our organization founder, Ann Greenberg, reached out to other parents in 1948 to form a play group, AHRC New York City has continually evolved to meet the growing aspirations of people with I/DD. For over 66 years, AHRC has embraced a set of values that has been the foundation that defines who we are, what we do and how we do it. Each person served has the supports and services designed around their individual desires, hopes and dreams. Working together, the AHRC family ensures that dreams come true. The vibrancy and energy of our organization will continue as we carry out our mission for many years to come.

Gary Lind

AHRC NYC represents the very best of family governed and professionally managed supports and services for New Yorker’s with intellectual and other developmental disabilities and their families.

Among this year’s accomplishments was our accreditation by the Council on Quality and Leadership. This is a major milestone along our journey to being a more person centered organization that is committed to improving the quality of the supports that we offer. Accreditation was achieved after several years of internal reviews and hard work by staff with Board oversight. In preparing we identified areas for improvement and accomplished better policies, procedures and practices throughout the agency. We are committed to continual quality improvement and our accreditation is more a symbol of that commitment than a badge of any singular accomplishment.

The redrafting of the Agency’s mission statement was a process that renewed our commitment to person centered excellence. The mission statement speaks to our shared identity and expectations for the future. As always, I am deeply proud to be associated with this fine organization and the people we support.

SIXTY-SIX YEARS OF FINDING ABILITY IN DISABILITY

The organization that created the first school, workshops, day treatment programs and community residences continues to meet the needs of the individuals served in its programs. We offer individuals with intellectual and other developmental disabilities a menu of supports, programs, and services tailored to meet their specific wishes and needs.

For toddlers and children, AHRC New York City offers: preschools; services for children with autism (HOPE preschools, elementary and middle/high schools) utilizing Applied Behavioral Analysis (ABA), TEAACH, as well as other methodologies; related services; psychological services; Head Start classes; inclusive programs; and educational advocacy to ensure that all school-age children with disabilities receive appropriate services.

For adults services include: opportunities with varying degrees of support where adults—from young adults to seniors—engage in activities that will enhance their skills of daily living, work for pay, volunteer in the community and engage in community exploration; supported employment in AHRC-run and competitive businesses; services for people with traumatic brain injuries; chemical dependency prevention/treatment; domestic violence prevention; residential opportunities in a variety of settings; and residential services for medically frail individuals.

For individuals of all ages, and their families, services include: day camp and sleep-away camp; recreation programs; clinical services such as speech, physical and occupational therapies; case management and service coordination; behavior management, counseling and mental health services; home care services; community habilitation; respite opportunities to give families a break from the job of caretaking; sibling services for typical children who have sisters and brothers with disabilities; guardianship and future care planning; family education; and information and referral services.

HIGHLIGHTS OF THE YEAR ENDING JUNE 30, 2014

In 2013 and 2014, AHRC New York City continued to provide a wide array of services and supports to individuals with developmental and intellectual disabilities, and their families. In addition, new services and supports were developed to meet emerging needs and existing programs were enhanced and expanded. Individualized planning and person centered values have been integrated into existing program design, allowing individuals to have a far greater say in what they do every day, and how they do it.

• AHRC New York City received official accreditation from the Council on Quality and Leadership (CQL). This accreditation recognizes that AHRC NYC stands out in its commitment to quality and person centered excellence. In receiving CQL Accreditation, AHRC has demonstrated our commitment to person-centered excellence, basic assurances, and personal outcome measures (POMs). It is not commonplace that an organization as large and complex as AHRC NYC has attained this milestone.
• AHRC New York City self-advocates have greatly increased their efforts in promoting an agenda to better meet their needs throughout the organization. They have worked with AHRC staff on articulating their opinions, needs and desires; they are serving on Committees of the AHRC Board; and, advocating on their own behalf with New York State Legislators to name a few initiative.
• AHRC New York City, one of the five Metro-Arc partners of Partners Health Plan (PHP), the first managed-care company specializing in providing care for people with intellectual and other developmental disabilities, has been part of the PHP Enhanced Care Coordination Pilot contracted by OPWDD. This pilot aims to examine the PHP model of care coordination and the use of an electronic care record system.
• AHRC New York City has added to its already large menu of services with the following additions:
  • a Universal Pre-K program contracted by the New York City Department of Education at AHRC’s Francis of Paola preschool in Brooklyn;
  • a new Mellissa Riggio Higher Education program at Hostos Community College, with negotiations under way to open an additional program at the Borough of Manhattan Community College;
  • a newly implemented OPWDD Self Direction offering allowing people with intellectual and other developmental disabilities who are interested in directing their own supports to do so;
  • the expansion of AHRC New York City’s partnership with Specialisterne a global enterprise to assess, train and employ individuals with autism as consultants in IT and other technically oriented sectors of the business world; and,
  • the implementation of a Balanced Incentive Program grant focused on producing a technology tool kit to support people with developmental disabilities in their move to independence in their daily lives
• AHRC New York City has continued operating the largest supportive employment program in New York State with 1,743 individuals employed and an additional 1,000 people in training and internship programs.

AHRC New York City looks forward to offering people with developmental and intellectual disabilities, and their families, greater opportunities to lead self-directive fulfilling and productive lives in the community in the years to come.

Program Services

The complete financial statements, including the related notes and auditor’s report, are available upon request.