Check Out Imagine!'s Annual Report

An electronic version of Imagine!’s 2015 Annual Report is available online. An overview of our year, along with stats, stories, and successes to celebrate, are just a mouse click away. Click on the image below to check it out.

Can’t see the image? Click here.

Introducing Cassandra Rogers

Today, we’d like to introduce Cassandra Rogers. Cassie recently joined our Out & About program as a coordinator. We hope that you enjoy this fun little video that introduces Cassie as she worked on a note to Santa.

December 2015: Case Management Unsung Hero

Case Management Unsung Hero Submitted by Meagan Rountree Imagine!’s Case Management department works with a lot of great people. To show how much they are all appreciated, each month they choose “Unsung Heroes” within the department. Case Managers, support staff, and Case Management supervisors all put in nominations describing what the person has contributed to Case Management to go above and beyond to support those we serve.

For December, we’d like to recognize Marissa Tabak as our Case Management Unsung Hero.

Marissa was nominated because:

In Case Management, we have many forms of documentation that must be completed that are tied to the funding of services that support people accepting services from Imagine!’s provider network. Some documentation must be entered online on the Medicaid website (also known as the “BUS”) annually. Marissa writes entries for consumers she is Case Manager for, and includes so much valuable information that Case Management Supervisors often use Marissa’s documentation to train new Case Managers.

Great Job Marissa!

Support Imagine! by Shopping Online

Think of Imagine! when you are shopping today and throughout the year. When you shop online at AmazonSmile, Amazon donates 0.5% of the purchase price to Imagine! (aka Developmental Disabilities Center).

Bookmark this link and support us every time you shop.

Innovations Super Hero for December 2015

One of Imagine!’s Innovations department’s recognition programs is to name staff members each month who have gone above and beyond in providing services.  This program was designed to recognize and thank employees and providers in the categories of:

• Health, Safety, and Well-being;
• Effectiveness and Efficiency;
• Respect and Dignity; 
• Opportunities;
• Integrity; and
• Care (HEROIC).

All employees who are given a Heroic Award within a month time period become eligible for being named the “Super Hero of the Month.”

We are very proud to announce that this month’s Innovations “Super Hero of the Month” is Jennifer Carr, who works in our Family Model program as a Site Supervisor II.

Jennifer was nominated by her supervisor because:

Jennifer does a terrific job working to support the individuals accepting services in the Innovations family model residential program. She is dedicated to the people she supports. Jennifer has created comprehensive training plans that are robust and innovative and assist the people she serves to acquire new skills that improve their independence. She tailors supports towards the individual’s preferences and is integral in expanding person-centered-practices. Jennifer is always willing to go the extra mile to advance learning. She is responsive to the needs and family dynamics of the unique people she supports.

Jennifer has been an active member of the Innovations Advocacy Council and assists the Council in projects such as our 2015 Fall Formal. She took the lead towards acquiring a photographer and photo booth for the Fall Formal, as well as helping with setting up the event. Jennifer’s input has been invaluable to the council and her creativity is contagious.

When you see Jennifer, please congratulate her for her hard work and dedication.

Introducing the 2015 Imagine! Employees of Distinction

Today, I’d like to congratulate the 2015 Imagine! Employees of Distinction.

This year’s Employees of Distinction were selected from an impressive list of nominees because of the great work they do every day to ensure that Imagine! is able to meet its mission of providing opportunities for the individuals we serve.

As you undoubtedly know, we are so fortunate to have so many dedicated, talented, and passionate people working here at Imagine!. Even among this impressive group of employees, there are workers whose work ethic, compassion, and creativity allow them to stand out in a very gifted crowd.

They are truly Employees of Distinction, and I am honored and humbled to call them colleagues. All of our Employees of Distinction will be honored at Imagine!’s Holiday Party tonight. In advance of the ceremony, I’d like to introduce them to all of my blog readers via the short video below.

It is my pleasure to offer a hearty “way to go!” to this group of superstars!

Can’t see the video? Click here.

Colorado Gives Day Success: Thank You Donors

Thanks to you, Colorado Gives Day was a great success for Imagine!. We created a short “thank you” video below to let you know how much we appreciate your support. Enjoy!

 

Can’t see the video? Click here.

Today Is Colorado Gives Day!

Can’t see the video? Click here. 

Imagine! believes in the potential of all. We believe in babies, toddlers, families, and adults at work and at play.

Colorado Gives Day is today, and it is a great opportunity to support everyone's potential through a donation to Imagine!.

The Colorado Gives Day $1 Million Incentive Fund will boost your donation, making your dollars do more to help people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. The Incentive Fund is a pool of dollars, provided by Community First Foundation and FirstBank, to boost every donation made through ColoradoGives.org on Colorado Gives Day. For example, if Imagine! receives 10% of the total donations made on Colorado Gives Day, Imagine! also receives 10% of the $1 Million Incentive Fund.

Make your donation today, and thank you in advance for your support!

Congrats, Bella!

Congratulations to Bella Auger-Larson, who receives services from Imagine! and is a member of Imagine!’s Board of Directors she is appearing in "It’s a Wonderful Life: A Live Radio Play."

This live radio play will run for three days on December 11 at 7PM, December 12 at 2PM, and 7PM, and will wrap on December 13 at 2PM. You can get more information about this beloved American holiday classic and purchase tickets by clicking HERE.

Imagine! Excellence in Customer Service Award: December 2015

Congratulations are in order for Kristin Cowin, who works for Imagine! Behavioral Health Services, on being selected as the December 2015 recipient of the Imagine! Excellence in Customer Service Award.

Below is some information from Kristin’s nomination, which ably demonstrates why she was selected as this month’s recipient:

In Kristin’s role as a Behavior Therapist, she provides behavioral services to individuals in the community and behavioral supports to CORE/Labor Source at the Longmont location.

Kristin has an amazing work ethic. She keeps a consistent client schedule and produces outstanding clinical outcomes. She is thorough and lives up to the behavior analytic principles. She is flexible, open minded, and creative.

She is passionate about her clients’ needs and motivates the teams she works along with encouraging wrap-around services and teamwork. Kristin has been practicing Behavior Analysis for a little over two years but already she is proving to be a skilled practitioner. She learns quickly. She takes feedback and follows up on it immediately. It only takes once to make a request of her and she just does it. Kristin is a mother of two beautiful children and even though her schedule is busy, you will never hear her make excuses about not catching up with emails or arriving late for appointments. That’s because she is always on top of things.

Kristin has a tough case load but can be trusted to handle difficult situations responsibly. Most of all, she smiles through it all and ALWAYS carries a positive attitude, no matter how difficult her day has been.

Great work, Kristin, and congratulations on this well-deserved honor!

Thank You Strider Sports International

Strider Sports International donated two Strider bikes to Imagine!’s Out & About department as part of their Rider Fund program. Last year, Strider donated a total of more than $300,000 through the Rider Fund, of which more than 75% went to individuals with special needs. Strider representative Marty Martinez even came out to Lafayette to give a clinic on the bikes for Out & About participants.

“Out & About is thrilled to have received the donation of two Strider bicycles to use in both Children and Adult programs,” said Megan McKean, Out & About Therapeutic Specialist. “We believe the use of these Strider bikes will help our participants increase balance, stability, and confidence. We are so thankful Strider has shared the learning tools with us to help our participants achieve success in this wonderful and fun experience.” To learn more about how Strider’s bikes may benefit individuals with special needs, click here.

Support Imagine! While You Shop This Holiday Season

The Holiday Season is upon us, which also means the shopping season is upon us.

Here’s a super easy way to bring in money to Imagine! every time you shop online at Amazon through the AmazonSmile program. Amazon will donate 0.5% of the price of your eligible AmazonSmile purchases to Imagine! (listed under our legal name as the Developmental Disabilities Center). AmazonSmile is the same Amazon you know. Same products, same prices, same service.

Just sign in to this link when you want to shop at Amazon and start earning money for Imagine!: http://smile.amazon.com/ch/84-0526620 

Once you have signed in, a percentage of all of your future purchases will automatically go to Imagine! unless you change your designation.

Thanks in advance for helping out!

Jensen Guitar Company and The Willow River Music Emporium: Thank You!

Today, we're thankful to Jensen Guitar Company and The Willow River Music Emporium, they made a generous donation of a guitar to Imagine!’s Charles Family SmartHome as part of their "Gift of Music" Giveaway program. Music is a staple at the Charles Family SmartHome, and the new guitar will be a great addition. The residents made a special “Thank You” video just for the good folks at Jensen Guitar Company and The Willow River Music. Enjoy!

Can’t see the video? Click here.

Support Imagine! this Colorado Gives Day

Can’t see the video? Click here. 

Imagine!, and the many people like you who support our mission, believes in the potential of all. We believe in babies, toddlers, families, and adults at work and at play.

Colorado Gives Day is December 8, 2015, and it is a great opportunity to support everyone's potential through a donation to Imagine!. The Colorado Gives Day $1 Million Incentive Fund will boost your donation, making your dollars do more to help people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. The Incentive Fund is a pool of dollars, provided by Community First Foundation and FirstBank, to boost every donation made through ColoradoGives.org on Colorado Gives Day. For example, if Imagine! receives 10% of the total donations made on Colorado Gives Day, Imagine! also receives 10% of the $1 Million Incentive Fund.

You can even preschedule your donation! When prescheduling, be sure to select “Dec. 8” as your donation date to have your contribution qualify for the Incentive Fund boost.

Preschedule your gift today, or think of us when making your donation on December 8! 

Thanks!

“Programming Hope” Premieres In Denver

You are encouraged to check out the upcoming premiere of "Programming Hope" this Wednesday, November 18, 7:30PM at the Mayan Theatre in Denver. The film deals with unemployment and independence for adults on the spectrum, and one unlikely man's mission to change the future for his son and many others with an innovative solution. The Denver screening will be one night only.

Can’t see the video? Click here.

Out & About with . . . OZO Coffee

Fall was showing its full colors for Imagine!’s Out & About department’s third “Thank Goodness it’s Saturday” (TGIS) event! Last month, participating parents took to the trails near Boulder for a morning hike, and later warmed up at OZO Coffee with treats and drinks. Participating kids made their way to Cottonwood Farms in Boulder. At the farm, participants enjoyed exploring the pumpkin patch, corn maze, and looking at some of the animals on the farm. On behalf of Imagine! and Out & About, I’d like to extend a huge thank you to Justin Hartman and Adam Westlake, at OZO Coffee Company’s Arapahoe Avenue location, for their kindness and support!

Celebrating Imagine!'s Care Coordination Team

Today, we'd like to congratulate and thank Imagine!'s Care Coordination Team on their efforts to end the waiting list for services in Boulder and Broomfield County's.

Can't see the video, click HERE!

Preschedule Your 2015 Gift for Colorado Gives Day

Now that November has begun, prescheduling your Colorado Gives Day (Dec. 8) gift is available.

The Colorado Gives Day $1 Million Incentive Fund will boost your donation, making your dollars do more to help people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. When prescheduling, be sure to select “Dec. 8” as your donation date to have your contribution qualify for the Incentive Fund boost. The $1 Million Incentive Fund is a pool of dollars, provided by Community First Foundation and FirstBank, to boost every donation made through ColoradoGives.org on Colorado Gives Day. For example, if Imagine! receives 10% of the total donations made on Colorado Gives Day, Imagine! also receives 10% of the $1 Million Incentive Fund.

Preschedule your gift today!

Imagine!'s Family Support Services Program

Learn more about Imagine!'s Family Support Services Program by viewing the brief video below!

Can't see the video, click HERE!

Congratulations Mandy!!!

Mandy, who lives in Imagine!’s Bob and Judy Charles SmartHome, has published another book – this time it is about Halloween. Yes, the holiday just passed, but why not get it now to beat the rush for next year?

You can check out each of Mandy's books by clicking HERE.

Imagine! Excellence in Customer Service Award: November 2015

Congratulations are in order to the staff members at Imagine!’s Foothills Group Home for being selected as the November 2015 recipients of the Imagine! Excellence in Customer Service Award.

Though this honor is usually given to one Imagine! employee per month, the team at Foothills is incredibly deserving of this award as a group. Check out some information from their nomination to learn why:

The Foothills Group Home staff members have shown incredible resiliency and determination in recent months. Although they were confronted with a sudden, unexpected change in leadership they did not let their standards or ethics of care waiver. They used this change as an opportunity to make improvements to their work, as well as in the lives the individuals they serve. Being able to handle change proactively and with positivity is an especially difficult, and important, part of our work, and I would like to recognize these actions in the Foothills staff.

Great work, Foothills Group Home team, and congratulations on this well-deserved honor!

Team members pictured above include: (left to right, front-row) Josh Semba, Pete Dwyer, Stacey Rooney, Courtney Looser, and Anh-Hong Huynh, (left to right, back-row) Chris Eddington, Cameron Navis, Claudette Maloney, and Mallory Webb. Team members not pictured are: Shira Diamond-Malka, Dipak Kansakar, Chelsea O'Day, and Taylor Welsh.

Innovations Super Hero

One of Imagine!’s Innovations department’s recognition programs is to name staff members each month who have gone above and beyond in providing services.  This program was designed to recognize and thank employees and providers in the categories of: Health, Safety, and Wellbeing; Effectiveness and Efficiency; Respect and Dignity; Opportunities; Integrity; and Care (HEROIC). All employees who are given a Heroic Award within a month time period become eligible for being named the “Super Hero of the Month.”

We are very proud to announce that this month’s Innovations “Super Hero of the Month” is Christie Talkington, who works in our Innovations for Children program as a Foster Care Placement Worker.

 Christie was nominated by her supervisor because:

The past month has been very challenging for two foster children who Christie is the placement worker for, involving an investigation, a move, safety planning, interaction with caseworkers, schools, guardians, and the foster parents.  As soon as things settled down, one of the children had a health crisis and needed emergency care and surgery, and Christie coordinated everything. She drove all over the metro area, and even stayed at the hospital until midnight with the kiddo so that the child would not be alone in their hospital room. It was tough work for everyone during this crisis, and it involved a great deal of problem solving throughout. This crisis was eventualy resolved when a new foster family, with children of their own, opened their hearts and created a safe place for the children in crisis.

Through it all Christie maintained her smile, contageous laughter, and a sense of calm. Christie does a phenomenal job, and the children are fortunate to have her as their advocate and placement worker. Christie, you ROCK!

When you see Christie, please congratulate her for her hard work and dedication.

Case Management Unsung Hero

Imagine!’s Case Management department works with a lot of great people. To show how much they are all appreciated, each month they choose “Unsung Heroes” within the department. Case Managers, support staff, and Case Management supervisors all put in nominations describing what the person has contributed to Case Management to go above and beyond to support those we serve.

For October, we’d like to recognize James Staiger as our Case Management Unsung Hero.

The nomination for James came from a parent who emailed the ACL after meeting with James. Here is what the ACL shared:

I received some really great feedback from a parent the other day regarding James Staiger, from a mom who was so relieved to have such a competent Case Manager that she was in tears! As she related it, James was able to gather and forward her all of the resources and information she needed for her daughter before she was even off the phone with him. It was a great relief to her and her family to know that they’re in such capable hands.

Congratulations James and thank you for representing all of us at Imagine so well.