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 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 Jennifer Carr, who is a Site Supervisor II for our Family Model program.

Jennifer was nominated by her supervisor, who wrote:

Jennifer does an amazing job working with the individuals that are on her caseload.  Jennifer is dedicated to the people that she supports and has built robust, creative, and comprehensive training plans to assist with skill acquisition and increased independence.  Jennifer has done an amazing job tailoring supports to the individual’s preferences and is integral in endorsing Person-Centered Practices.  Jennifer is always willing to spend additional 1:1 time with individuals and is always responsive to their needs and family dynamics. 

Jennifer has been an active member of the Innovations’ Advocacy Council and has assisted in various projects such as the recent Innovations’ Fall Formal.  Jennifer was responsible for finding a photographer for the event as well as assisting with the photo booth and helping set-up the event.  Jennifer’s input has been invaluable to the council and she is always willing to lend a helping hand.

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

The Innovations Advocacy Council

I want to use one of the first posts on this blog to give credit to the Innovations Advocacy Council, who identified the need for Innovations to share information more directly with its stakeholders, and inspired the creation of this blog. 

The Innovations Advocacy Council was founded this past year to give members of the Innovations network an opportunity to provide ideas and feedback to the Innovations Management team.  The Mission of the Innovations Advocacy Council is to “support and empower individuals with developmental disabilities to maintain full and independent lives. The Innovations Advocacy Council will work toward strengthening bonds in the community and its interaction with individuals with developmental disabilities, as well as advocating for individuals with disabilities within Innovations and governing agencies.”  The Advocacy Council consists of a diverse cross-section of people who are connected with our services here at Innovations.  Specifically, it is comprised of individuals receiving services from Innovations, family members and guardians of people receiving services, contract providers for Innovations, and employees of Innovations.   We continue to be grateful for the opportunity to get feedback from a group of people that cares deeply about the individuals we serve. 

If you have any agenda items for the Advocacy Council, or if you wish to learn more about the Council, please contact Lou Ella Price at lprice@imaginecolorado.org.