Super Hero of the Month for November!

Every month, Innovations presents the “Super Hero of the Month” award to the employee or provider who has best demonstrated excellence in one or more of our Innovations Quality Standards:

• Health, Safety, and Wellbeing
• Effective and Efficient
• Respect and Dignity
• Opportunities
• Integrity
• Care

This month, the award was presented to Fran Batts, who is a Coordinator for our Host Home program.

Fran was nominated by one of the Host Home Providers she supports, who wrote:

I wanted to take the time to highlight Fran and the outstanding job she does.  I can definitely say that without her support I probably would not have been as successful being a Host Home Provider. I feel that she goes above and beyond to help support not only me, but the also the people I take care of.  Even though I have been a host home provider for 7 years, she continues to educate me on various changes so that I can continue to support my clients to the best of my abilities.  As an example, she helped me with the new DentaQuest system.  I appreciate her as a member of the Host Home team, and just wanted to let you know she has always and continues to do an outstanding job. Throughout the years and the various clients I have supported, she has always been available when I needed support, and was always offered encouragement when it was greatly needed.  Thank you for allowing me the opportunity to work with her as a member of your Host Home team.

If you see Fran around, please congratulate her on being our Super Hero of the Month!

Super Hero of the Month for October!

Every month, Innovations presents the “Super Hero of the Month” award to the employee or provider who has best demonstrated excellence in one or more of our Innovations Quality Standards:

• Health, Safety, and Wellbeing
• Effective and Efficient
• Respect and Dignity
• Opportunities
• Integrity
• Care

This month, the award was presented to Tim Johnson, who is the Program Manager for our Host Home program.

Tim was nominated by one of his direct reports, who wrote:

I’d like to nominate my supervisor, Tim Johnson, for the Super Hero of the Month Award. Tim spends a lot of time meeting with providers/guardians/coordinators to make sure that we are all acting in the best interest of the individuals that we serve. He is extremely empathetic, understanding and he communicates effectively with everyone. He always responds to crises with calmness and tact and helps coordinators to deal with these crises around the clock. He goes above and beyond to make sure everyone is happy, especially the individuals in services, and he is an amazing supervisor.

If you see Tim around, please congratulate him on being our Super Hero of the Month!

Super Hero of the Month for September!

Every month, Innovations presents the “Super Hero of the Month” award to the employee or provider who has best demonstrated excellence in one or more of our Innovations Quality Standards:

• Health, Safety, and Wellbeing
• Effective and Efficient
• Respect and Dignity
• Opportunities
• Integrity
• Care

This month, the award was presented to Christina Raynes, who is a Program Specialist for our Nursing Services.

Christina was nominated by her co-worker, who wrote:

Christina has really gone to bat for a number of individuals in the Family Models. She is helping two families navigate the process of getting a new wheelchair through Medicaid – but to add to the difficulty, both requests for equipment have been for a specialty item. Christina has made herself an expert. I know that she has taken a load of stress and anxiety off of the shoulders of those families. In addition, she is helping two other families get the disposable medical supplies that they want and need. Our Family Recruited Employees/Parents don’t often have a lot of back up, but Christina is helping to fill the gap. By getting individuals the equipment and supplies they need, she is directly contributing to their health, safety and wellbeing. I’m very thankful for all of her help.

If you see Christina around, please congratulate her on being our Super Hero of the Month!

Innovations and the Imagine! Leadership Development Group!

We are thrilled to announce that one of our Innovations Group Home Site Supervisors, Cameron Navis, has been named to this year's Imagine! Leadership Development Group!  The Leadership Development Group is an annual program to find people at Imagine! who want to accelerate their growth within the company.  Cameron, along with four other Imagine! employees, will study leadership techniques, and will learn about how Imagine! functions within the broader system of services for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.  The program will culminate with a group project aimed at improving an aspect of how we do business at Imagine!  We at Innovations are excited for Cameron, and look forward to the creative ideas he will bring both to this Group, and back to Innovations in return.

Click here to check out Imagine! CEO Mark Emery's post on this year's Leadership Development Group.

If you see Cameron around, congratulate him on being a member of this year's Imagine! Leadership Development Group!

A Special DSP Recognition Week Shout-Out to Our Innovations Super Heroes!

As part of our appreciation for our Innovations Direct Support Professionals (DSPs) this week, we wanted to highlight all of our Super Heroes of the month for this past year!  A huge thank you again to the following staff and providers who have best exemplified the quality standards we strive for here at Innovations.  THANK YOU for doing amazing work every day to provide exceptional support and care to the people we serve.

Marie Handlin - Program Specialist for our Host Homes program
Jennifer Carr - Site Supervisor II for our Family Model program
Martha Heimbaugh - Administrative Assistant for our Innovations for Children program
Ryan Brennan - Residential Counselor for our Manhattan Group Home
Alex Prokop - Primary Residential Counselor for our the Charles Family Group Home
Mike Fischer - Primary Residential Counselor for our Satellite Apartment Program
Margaret Kuwata - Primary Residential Counselor for our Bob and Judy Charles Group Home
Amy Brissette - Foster Care Placement Worker for our Innovations for Children program
Jamie Crawford - Residential Assistant Site Supervisor for our Manhattan Group Home
Diana Stobbe - Coordinator for our Host Home program

Happy DSP Recognition Week!

This week is National Direct Support Professional (DSP) Recognition Week, and we wanted to take a moment to give a big thank you to all of our Innovations DSPs!

To our DSPs: thank you for the hard work you have done to enrich the lives of individuals with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities. Innovations would not be the amazing organization that it is without our staff and providers, and we appreciate everything you do to assist the individuals we serve to lead fulfilling and meaningful lives. Our first company value here at Imagine! is that "Our workforce is our number one asset."  Truly, our success as an organization depends on our staff and providers— THANK YOU for all that you do!

Click on the image below to view the Colorado DSP Week Proclamation:

Thanks again to all of our DSPs, and if you see an Innovations DSP this week, thank them for the great work they do each and every day to fulfill our mission!

Super Hero of the Month for August!

Every month, Innovations presents the “Super Hero of the Month” award to the employee or provider who has best demonstrated excellence in one or more of our Innovations Quality Standards:

• Health, Safety, and Wellbeing
• Effective and Efficient
• Respect and Dignity
• Opportunities
• Integrity
• Care

This month, the award was presented to Diana Stobbe, who is a Coordinator for our Host Home program.

Diana was nominated by her supervisor, who wrote:

Diana has consistently gone above and beyond to support the program, clients and her co-workers time and time again.  She regularly makes herself available and offers support during times of unexpected emergencies and crisis situations.  She is reliable, confident and always willing to go the extra mile.  She does her job quietly and competently with very little oversight or need for attention.  She is easy to work with and I know I can count on her to always do what needs to be done to support not only her own caseload but offer her assistance to others.  Diana is really a phenomenal person, coordinator and co-worker, we’re lucky to have her as part of our team.

If you see Diana around, please congratulate her on being our Super Hero of the Month!

Innovations Exciting Upcoming Events!

Innovations has two exciting events coming up, and we hope to see you there!  Check out the details below.

September 9: Innovations Advocacy Council 

Hot Dog Fundraiser 

The Innovations Advocacy Council will be hosting a Hot Dog Fundraiser in support of the Innovations Advocacy Council Fall Formal. The fundraiser will be held September 9 from 12pm-3pm in Imagine!’s John M. Taylor Conference Center, 1665 Coal Creek Drive in Lafayette. There will be hot dog lunches – including vegetarian offerings – as well as games and contests. All of the proceeds will benefit the Innovations Advocacy Council Fall Formal, which is scheduled to take place on October 21. All Imagine! employees, individuals receiving services, and friends of Imagine! are invited to attend. For more information, contact Jennifer Carr at 720.544.6914 or jcarr@imaginecolorado.org.

September 22: Innovations for Children 

Foster Care Open House

On Thursday, September 22, from 4pm – 7pm, Innovations for Children will be hosting a Foster Care Open House. The event will be held in Imagine!’s John M. Taylor Conference Center, 1665 Coal Creek Drive in Lafayette.  It is a great opportunity to learn more about the program and what being a Foster Care Parent is all about. For more information, contact Belinda Chirinos at 303.457.5642 or bchirinos@imaginecolorado.org. If you can't make it, but are interested in the Innovations for Children Foster Care program, check out the video below.

Super Hero of the Month for July!

Every month, Innovations presents the “Super Hero of the Month” award to the employee or provider who has best demonstrated excellence in one or more of our Innovations Quality Standards:

• Health, Safety, and Wellbeing
• Effective and Efficient
• Respect and Dignity
• Opportunities
• Integrity
• Care

This month, the award was presented to Jamie Crawford, who is a Residential Assistant Site Supervisor for our Manhattan Group Home.

Jamie was nominated by her supervisor, who wrote:

Jamie has been a tremendous resource during the Site Supervisor transition process and consistently goes above and beyond by taking individuals to appointments, shopping, as well as keeping up with her primary work. She has been great with helping me fit into the position as the new Site Supervisor and has been a wealth of knowledge with policies and procedures.   Jamie is a joy to work with, and I appreciate all of her support, assistance, and positive attitude.

If you see Jamie around, please congratulate her on being our Super Hero of the Month!

New Innovations Facebook Page, and Website Update!

We're excited to announce that we have updated the Innovations website!  Click here to check out the redesign.  The new website has information about the variety of options offered by Innovations, as well as links to Innovations documents and resources.  You can even fill out an application to be a Contract Provider with us, right on the website!

We've also created a Facebook page for Innovations, which will feature stories about the people who accept our services, as well as useful information and tips for our stakeholders.  Click here to view the Innovations Facebook page, and click here to view the Facebook page we created for our Innovations for Children program.

These changes will help us keep you better informed about what we are doing at Innovations, and we hope you LIKE them :)

Super Hero of the Month for June!

Every month, Innovations presents the “Super Hero of the Month” award to the employee or provider who has best demonstrated excellence in one or more of our Innovations Quality Standards:

• Health, Safety, and Wellbeing
• Effective and Efficient
• Respect and Dignity
• Opportunities
• Integrity
• Care

This month, the award was presented to Amy Brissette, who is a Foster Care Placement Worker for our Innovations for Children program.

Amy was nominated by her supervisor, who wrote:

Amy recently made a home visit for one of her foster children, and while she was at the home, an adult that is in services became escalated and the police had to be called.  While Amy had only planned a short visit, Amy stayed at the home for over four hours waiting for the individual to calm down and she stayed outside with the foster child so that they were protected from the situation.  Amy did an amazing job comforting and reassuring the foster child throughout the incident.  Amy did not leave until she was sure that her foster child was safe.  Amy truly exemplified excellence and dedication in this situation, and I would like to commend her for her hard work.

If you see Amy around, please congratulate her on being our Super Hero of the Month!

New Logos for Innovations!

We are excited to announce that Innovations has a new logo!  Actually, two new logos to be exact: one for our Innovations for Children program, and one for Innovations in general.  These new logos were designed as part of an effort by Imagine! to unify brand standards across all of Imagine!'s Services.  The new Innovations for Children logo illustrates the focus we put on supporting the children we serve.  The new Innovations logo shows how we create opportunities for people both in their homes, and in the broader community.  You should expect to see the new logos on all Innovations documents, communications, and on our new website (coming soon!).

Super Hero of the Month for May!

Every month, Innovations presents the “Super Hero of the Month” award to the employee or provider who has best demonstrated excellence in one or more of our Innovations Quality Standards:

• Health, Safety, and Wellbeing
• Effective and Efficient
• Respect and Dignity
• Opportunities
• Integrity
• Care

This month, the award was presented to Margaret Kuwata, who is a Primary Residential Counselor for our Bob and Judy Charles Group Home (one of our two Smart Homes).

Margaret was nominated by her supervisor, who wrote:

Due to some management and staff changes, Margaret is currently working extra hours each week to help take over most of the assistant site supervisor responsibilities at the Bob and Judy Charles Home. This has been a great help to me and the house. She has been able to accomplish all the extra tasks completely, and this is really helping me keep the Bob and Judy Charles Home stable. She has also taken the initiative to help solve any issues that occur, and report back to me that things have been handled. She has done a fantastic job this first week of being the "interim" assistant supervisor.  Also, Margaret is always willing to plan outings that are meaningful to the individuals at the home, and recently took four people by herself for a girl’s day out.

If you see Margaret around, please congratulate her on being our Super Hero of the Month!

Super Hero of the Month for March!

Every month, Innovations presents the “Super Hero of the Month” award to the employee or provider who has best demonstrated excellence in one or more of our Innovations Quality Standards:

• Health, Safety, and Wellbeing
• Effective and Efficient
• Respect and Dignity
• Opportunities
• Integrity
• Care

This month, the award was presented to Mike Fischer, who is a Primary Residential Counselor for our Satellite Apartment Program.

Mike was nominated by his co-worker, who wrote:

I just wanted to let you know that I was really impressed by Mike's work ethic and multi-tasking skills. Due to being short-staffed for part of a Saturday, there was a lot of extra work to be completed by available staff, and Mike really stepped up to the plate and did an amazing job.  Mike stepped in and single-handedly completed the entire care routines for three people, of which they were the three hardest personal care routines in the house.  Not only did he complete the three routines, but he helped with dinner, medication administration, and was a joy to work with.  I just wanted to let you know since I believe he really deserves recognition!

If you see Mike around, please congratulate him on being our Super Hero of the Month!

New Mission Statement for Imagine!

We are excited to announce that Imagine! has updated its Mission Statement!  The new Mission Statement is short and sweet, while still clearly identifying what we are trying to accomplish here at Imagine!.  One notable change is that the word "disability" is no longer part of our Mission.  We determined that the word "disability" is limiting both to Imagine! as an organization, and in regards to the people we serve.  We choose to focus on the things people can and want to do, instead of what they struggle with.

Thank you all for everything you do to help Imagine! fulfill this important mission!

To learn more, click here to read CEO Mark Emery's blog post, and watch him talk about the new Mission in the video below.

Super Hero of the Month for February!

Every month, Innovations presents the “Super Hero of the Month” award to the employee or provider who has best demonstrated excellence in one or more of our Innovations Quality Standards:

• Health, Safety, and Wellbeing
• Effective and Efficient
• Respect and Dignity
• Opportunities
• Integrity
• Care

This month, the award was presented to Alex Prokop, who is a Primary Residential Counselor for our the Charles Family Group Home (one of our two Smart Homes).

Alex was nominated by his supervisor, who wrote:

I would like to nominate Alex Prokop as the Super Hero of the Month.  He has done numerous things recently to help out at the Charles Family Group Home, which have made a big difference for the individuals he serves as well as his co-workers.  One night while I was working with Alex, another staff was not able to work their shift and Alex stepped up to the plate.  Alex and I worked the shift together and he was amazing.  He was organized and efficient with everything that he did.  He passed meds, cooked dinner, and did bedtime routines - and all with a smile.  He also agreed to fill in at the last minute for a co-worker who was having a family emergency.  Alex exemplified everything that makes an employee a Super Hero and it is very much appreciated.

If you see Alex around, please congratulate him on being our Super Hero of the Month!

Super Hero for the Month of December!

Every month, Innovations presents the “Super Hero of the Month” award to the employee or provider who has best demonstrated excellence in one or more of our Innovations Quality Standards:

• Health, Safety, and Wellbeing
• Effective and Efficient
• Respect and Dignity
• Opportunities
• Integrity
• Care

This month, the award was presented to Ryan Brennan, who is a Residential Counselor for our Manhattan Group Home.

Ryan was nominated by his supervisor, who wrote:

On Thanksgiving, Ryan was scheduled to end his shift at 9:30am, but when a guardian didn’t come to the house as planned at 9, he contacted them. When they told him they would not be driving due to the weather, he offered to take the individual we support to the guardian’s home in Longmont so that they could enjoy Thanksgiving with their family. I’d like to nominate him for his trouble shooting skills and taking initiative to come up with a solution that worked in everyone’s best interest. I’d also like to nominate him for taking things in stride and keeping a positive attitude during all situations.  Ryan is a great counselor and we are happy to have him at the house.  

If you see Ryan around, please congratulate him on being our Super Hero of the Month!