Bridges to Faith coordinator Heather Dextradeur was honored to speak at the Ruderman Foundation interfaith meeting on June 26^th, before a full room of clergy members and representatives from all major religious groups. The meeting, held at Northeastern University in Boston, served to educate attendees about community resources that facilitate faith-based social inclusion.

Founded in 1995, the Bridges to Faith program has found tremendous success uniting individuals with disabilities with the faith community. The program pairs persons with willing members of local congregations who wish to offer support as Faith Companions. Faith Companions arrange for the individual to fully participate in the life of the congregation. For the individual, this offers an opportunity to have not only their spiritual needs met, but it also provides a sense of belonging, friendship and value not easily obtained. Further, it also helps to enrich the lives of the congregations who welcome them.

Heather presented the goals, values, and successes of the program, specifically as she has witnessed it in her role as Coordinator for the last three years. Joining her was Sharon Costa, a participant of Bridges to Faith, whose moving story helped demonstrate the true impact of the program.

“When I first met Sharon, she was living with a Shared Living Provider in Fall River. She was referred to me through Bridges to Faith to help her meet her spiritual needs.  Like most referrals, I received a packet of need-to-know information, such as medications, allergies, a list of doctors and basic history. The piece that often seems to be missing is the information that makes a person who they are. When I met Sharon, there were two things she wanted to be sure I knew. One, she was of Cape Verdean descent and two, she was a Christian. She also felt it was important for me to know how proud she was that she had a Bible and read it every night. Soon after that, I discovered that Sharon could not read but I understood how significant it was for her to look at the pages and the strength that it gave to her.

“Sharon then informed me that she was attending a Portuguese Catholic Church with her caregiver every Sunday.  Although she was not Catholic, nor did she speak or understand Portuguese, she stated, “it is better than nothing.” Sharon was hungry for God and wanted the experience of faith, God and church so much that she was willing to settle and attend a service she didn’t understand and that was not her faith. I immediately found a faith companion who began taking Sharon to a local catholic church in the Fall River Community. Sharon seemed to enjoy this new church and would often go out to eat with her volunteer. She met the volunteer’s family and was even invited to a Bruins game.  Sharon seemed to enjoy the church and it became a Sunday ritual. I always had it in the back of my mind that Sharon’s true faith is Christian and she was hoping for a more inclusive role in her church.

“Due to medical issues with her caregiver, Sharon was transferred to a new Shared Living home in New Bedford.  Sharon had lived in various homes through multiple agencies for the past ten years. Now residing in New Bedford, Sharon inquired about a New Bedford area church where she attended a Bridges to Faith Christmas event. Sharon said she enjoyed the church very much because it had lively Christian music, singing, dancing and she recognized many of the members as there was a large Cape Verdean population.  She said she “knew them when she lived with her parents.” Sharon began to attend the new church and the agency helped to support the change. Her respite provider would drive twenty minutes each way to bring her each Sunday. The Program Manager would also provide transportation as this became the highlight of Sharon’s week.

“Sharon developed many natural friendships at church and before long she met a new friend Christina.  Christina not only became her Faith Companion, she became so much more. Christina was an active member of the church. She was part of the choir, the coordinator of events and missions for the church, and leader of Woman’s Group. Sharon wanted to participate in religious activities offered by the church and not just attend Sunday Service. Sharon asked if Christina could take her to Bible study and Christina agreed. Sharon started to go to Bible study every Thursday. The pastor would often have someone read the verses out loud as he understood that Sharon could not read. When I asked Sharon how she was reading the Bible every night, she explained she was holding it and looking at it. “God made the words clear for me,” she replied.

“The next thing Sharon wanted to do at her church was become part of the choir. The church took their choir very seriously and only the most devoted church members were allowed to even audition. Sharon was DETERMINED to be on the choir. She asked if she could attend the practice as she knew that would be the only way she could learn the dances and the words to the songs. Christina picked up Sharon every Wednesday to attend choir practice. For six months, Sharon NEVER missed a practice. Any time there was a new song, Christina would ‘YouTube’ the song for Sharon so she could learn the words as she knew she could not read. Sharon practiced day and night listening to the videos. The day had come where Sharon became an official member of the choir. Sharon extended an invitation to all she knew to watch her sing on stage for the first time. Sharon filled the church with all her friends she invited to see her sing. It is a very small church and the pastor joked that he would invite his friends and family but Sharon seemed to have a gift, as she was able to pack the chairs.

“Sharon now has a new family. This is not a “paid family.” It is not paid staff support, but people who embrace her for who she is.  Sharon attends all the parties, cook out and birthday parties. Sharon has never missed a Sunday, a Bible study or choir practice. She rang in the New Year attending a party on New Year’s Eve with all her new friends. Sharon no longer has to say, “I want you to know I am a Christian.” She has forever marked her identity, made her religious preferences known, paved her own way and she is a Christian.”

Meeting attendees welcomed Sharon’s story with great affection and full appreciation for the continued success of the Bridges to Faith program. It’s mission of social inclusion in the faith community is a central piece of effectively serving persons with disabilities across all facets of life. Further, Heather also discussed her efforts to consistently put social inclusion at the forefront of the program’s mission. In addition to its already large network of partners and opportunities, Heather discussed various recent expansions. This includes a new partnership with North Baptist Church, and the hosting of a monthly pot luck and movie night. Several program participants also volunteer weekly at a local soup kitchen, while others help to host coat drives for the homeless. Actions such as these, according to Heather, have opened the door for natural friendships and inclusion in the community.

To learn more about the Bridges to Faith program, click here.

At Better Community Living, Inc. (BCL), great emphasis is placed on offering integration, independence, and relationship building to adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities. All of these are central to helping these individuals lead fulfilling lives. While BCL is known for providing homes to its consumers, the agency also offers another valuable option – Shared Living.

Shared Living engages families and individuals to fully open their homes to BCL consumers. These providers then support an individual’s daily living skills, and help them to fulfill their personal goals.

Individuals are welcomed into the home as a member of the family. They are fully integrated into daily routines and the family’s social life. They attend events together, help run errands, participate in meal planning, shopping, and prep as much as they are able to do so. Providers also help the individuals to engage better in community and social activities, develop self-sufficiency, and build strong relationships, as well as assist with transportation and medical appointments.

Further, the individual who lives with a provider has great autonomy and independence. They’ll have their own bedroom with a bed and bureau, a dresser for their clothes, and a lock on their door.  They have a right to invite family/friends over to visit. With the assistance of their provider, they attend events and participate in outings of their choice – and even plan out vacations! Overall, shared living aims to help BCL consumers achieve greater quality of life.

BCL’s Placement Services Director visits a potential provider’s homes to learn more about them, know their personality, inspect the home, and determine if their house qualifies. The best possible provider is someone who has the physical space, as well as the time and availability to provide quality companionship and support.

If selected, Shared Living Providers then receive training and a memorandum of understanding. By the time their individual moves in they’ll be fully trained in first aid, CPR, home safety, how to deal with intellectually disabled persons, and how to be an effective provider to reach certain goals. Providers will also understand medication, money plans and money management, and how to approach ISP’s.

An ISP, or Individual Support Plan, outlines each individual’s unique goals. One of BCL’s existing Shared Living Providers says, “My guy’s goal is to interact with friends and interact in the community. Another thing is that he likes photography, so one of the goals is to build a collage and set up a place for his pictures.”

This is exactly what Shared Living is all about. It’s about supporting a person’s interests, and helping them to further their goals. It’s also about skills development and enhancing one’s social abilities and comfort. Many, over time, come out of their shell. They become more trusting. They become more open to trying new things, meeting new people, and at the same time, they learn more about who they are and what they enjoy.

Shared Living Providers are Independent Contractors through BCL and receive a monthly stipend, which is tax free as allowable by law. As an added support, Providers also weekly support if they cannot help with an individual’s transportation, and they also receive two weeks of respite per year. Learn more at www.bettercommunity.com.

To learn more about the Shared Living Program, contact Tenina Ramos at 508-999-4300 Ext. 220 or tenina_ramos@nullbettercommunity.com.

March is National Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month! We’re proud to honor those we serve and to celebrate the work that we do. Take a look at some of our hopes and goals, and the events we have planned throughout the month!

BCL HOPES AND GOALS FOR MARCH

• To highlight the value offered to our communities by persons with developmental disabilities
• To demonstrate how these individuals come together to form strong and diverse communities
• To raise awareness of persons with disabilities and reduce stigma and stereotypes
• To raise awareness of Better Community Living’s resources and support services
• To engage all in embracing this population of individuals as members of the community

HAPPENINGS & EVENTS

• March 1, 8, 15, 22, 29 – NYACause
  • Not Your Average Joe’s, 61 State Road, Dartmouth, MA 02747
  • 11am-10pm, dine-in or takeout, Wednesdays all day, 15% of bill will benefit BCL

• March 12 – BCL, Disabilities Awareness, and Caregiver Self-Care Day at NB Well Sundays
  • NB Boys and Girls Club, 166 Jenney Street, New Bedford, MA 02740
  • Free, collaborative event with the New Bedford Wellness Initiative
  • 10:30am Qigong and 11am fitness class
  • 12pm awareness “walk” and rally in the gym with food and prizes
  • 1pm all-levels yoga
  • 1pm suicide prevention training with Rev. David Lima
  • 2pm mindfulness guided group meditation
  • chair massages, SouthCoast Health Van, a hypnotist, and more!

• March 17 – Access Dance
  • VFW Poirier Post, corner of Ashley Boulevard and Appleton Street
  • Open to the public, 7pm – 10pm, DJ, snacks and soda, $10 entry
  • St. Patrick’s Day themed – wear your green!

• March 22 – 99 Dining for a Cause
  • Pub 99 Restaurant, 34 Sconticut Neck Road, Fairhaven, MA 02719
  • 4pm-9pm, dine-in or takeout, 15% of bill will benefit BCL

• Bookmark distribution
  • Bookmarks will be distributed to every area library with information that supports disabilities awareness and provides a link to Better Community Living’s website

The mission and purpose behind Better Community Living is to provide opportunities that support independence for adults with disabilities. In order to fully accomplish this mission, BCL emphasizes the importance of integrating skilled individuals into the workforce.

For more than 20 years, Better Community Living has collaborated with the New Bedford Area Chamber of Commerce to provide work opportunities through its “Supported Employment Network.” The program bridges a connection between chamber members and job seekers with disabilities who wish to secure employment.

The program has found tremendous success, assisting hundreds of skilled adults with disabilities to obtain meaningful employment. In addition, the program has achieved great strides by simply educating the business community on the benefits of hiring a person with disabilities.

Joanne Rego, Coordinator of the employment program, assists BCL consumers, as well as others served by Lifestream, M.O.Life, and the Department of Developmental Services.

“My role is to link the Chamber membership with the agencies, and to try to inspire businesses to hire an individual with developmental disabilities. Part of that process is we have an article in every Chamber Focus newsletter. We either highlight an individual who’s looking for employment, or someone who has been successfully employed.”

When asked about the benefits she communicates, Joanne says, “I let them know we have a very skilled and eager workforce that is looking to be a valuable employee to businesses. Individuals with disabilities receive top job support and job development training.”

“They’re eager, very loyal, and we don’t have a high turnover. A lot of times they’ll work in positions that typically do have a high turnover, whether it’s packing in a supermarket or working in a fast food restaurant, or general maintenance. Many will stay for 20 years… so employers aren’t constantly training and retraining for a particular job.”

Joanne says that the program provides incredible value to the individuals it serves. “For the same reasons that you and I want to have a rewarding job,” she says, “There’s a feeling of self-worth… and everyone likes a little money in their pocket.”

Many jobs also fulfill the individual dreams and wishes of BCL consumers. “There’s one lady with BCL that said she always wanted to work in a bakery, in a restaurant, and she’s doing that… which is exactly what she wanted. She wanted to be in food service.”

Not only has the Supported Employment Network impacted individual lives, it has made a major impact locally, nationally, and even globally. Over the years, the program has received widespread recognition and has even been used as a model program for other locations.

The development of a video highlighting successful job placements titled, Supported Employment: Make it Work For You, was shown at the ADA’s 10th Anniversary Celebration resulting in the Network receiving an Outstanding Program Award. In addition, the program was reviewed by the National Technical Assistance and Research (NTAR) Leadership Center to which it was then listed as a “STAR” program and utilized as a case model in the U.S. Department of Labor’s Handbook on hiring employees with disabilities.

The Network was also highlighted in an issue of the United States Chamber of Commerce’s newsletter, and a collage of photos in the New Bedford Chamber of Commerce’s newsletter highlighted 46 employees with disabilities that had been employed for five years or more.

The Supported Employment Network Program also had the opportunity to provide a presentation to Rotary members who were visiting New Bedford from Russia. The visiting Rotarians were so impressed with the Supported Employment: Make it Work for You video that they requested to use it in Russia during seminars in the larger cities in Russia, including Moscow, St. Petersburg and Novosibirsk.

To learn more, contact Joanne Rego, Supported Employment Network Coordinator, at 508-999-5231, ext. 28 or email jrego@nullnewbedfordchamber.com

The mission of Better Community Living is to support and enhance the lives of those with developmental and intellectual disabilities. Though known for its quality services for adults, Better Community Living serves the unique needs of children with disabilities, and their families as well.

The Children’s Program at BCL provides support to individuals ages 3-22, who are at home living with their families. The goal is to assist the family to maintain the family unit and avoid the out-of-home placement of a child. Several programs are offered, ranging in services from advocacy and support, to direct in-home assistance, and recreational programs. Supports are also catered to meet each individuals’ needs in areas that include medical, social, educational, housing and transportation.

Cathy Tremblay, Coordinator for the Children’s Program, has devoted 11 years to BCL, and says she particularly enjoys her work with children and families. She cites the many successes across all three programs offered, helping youth to grow and develop and helping families during challenging processes, changes, and new experiences.

One program, Intensive Family Flexible Support (IFFS), provides direct family outreach and home visits on a weekly basis, typically for a short amount of time ranging between 6-12 months. During this time, Cathy works with families who may be in crisis, those who may have multiple children with disabilities, or those who simply struggle with the challenges of a child with limitations and/or challenges.

“It can include referrals, PCS services, maybe the family needs Mass Health… Children with IDD qualify for all those services,” says Cathy, who then assists the families with obtaining access to anything they need. She visits weekly, then bi-weekly, and then monthly, until the family is able to continue and support their child without further help.

An additional program offered to children and families by BCL is their DESE/DDS Program. Families served in this program, unlike the IFFS program, receive support for an unlimited amount of time. In fact, the ages range from 6-22, and individuals remain in the program until they are 22 years old.

“We provide family navigation, different supports and assistance, and we provide staffing 6-8 hours per week, focusing on goals, providing ABA services…” says Cathy. Visits are monthly and parents are able to play a role in who is staffed to assist the family and the child. “Parents have a say in who is hired,” Cathy says. She will then also assist these families with guardianship, DDS eligibility and application processes (especially when individuals must reapply at age 18), and any needs pertaining to MassHealth, food stamps, and housing. The program also focuses on each individual’s IEP (Individualized Education Program).

The third, and perhaps most fun program offered to children by BCL is their Children’s Recreation Program – a collaborative initiative with the Arc of Bristol County. The program is held on Friday evenings right at BCL, offering everything from dance to gymnastics, tae kwon do, and more.

BCL also utilizes their Day Hab room two Fridays per month for their “Friends Nights” where 20-30 consumers will get dropped off, ranging in age from 3-26. “Parents will say, my kids have real friends now… It’s opportunities that they wouldn’t have been able to find without these facilitations,” says Cathy. “Parents also connect with each other. They are isolated so often. The entire evening really comes together nicely.”

Cathy truly is a wealth of information on area resources and offerings for these families. She notes that even the local AMC Dartmouth Mall offers monthly sensory-friendly films. Child and family-friendly movies occur on the 2nd Saturday of every month, and films for adults are offered on the 2nd Tuesday of month. These sensory-friendly movie nights cater to the needs of those who have various disabilities, including welcoming those who need to get up and move around mid-film.

Since facilitating the Children’s Programs Cathy says, “We’ve had a lot of successes.” Starting in the field 21 years ago, Cathy began working with adults with ADD and helping them with job development. She then started working with families, and then in family support. This, she says, is rewarding and defines what she loves about her work.

“I really enjoy working with families and giving them the tools to succeed and grow… best part of my job. Even though I start off helping, it’s getting them to continue that on their own… Giving them the tools and putting all those pieces together.”

Better Community Living’s Children’s Program serves individuals from Dartmouth to Wareham. The program helps children and young adults with any type of intellectual disability, including autism. For more information, call 508-999-4300 or email cathy_tremblay@nullbettercommunity.com.

On behalf of Better Community Living, Inc. (BCL) and our Board of Directors, I would like to extend a heartfelt “Thank You” to Bob Contreras and his staff at the Seaport Inn and Marina located in Fairhaven, MA for their continued support and commitment to BCL and the individuals we serve.

Since 2009, Bob has generously donated the use of the Grand Ballroom, one of their function spaces, at the Seaport Inn and Marina and provided a delicious dinner for over 125 people for BCL’s Annual Holiday Dinner and Dance that is held each December. Bob and his staff are warm and welcoming making everyone feel as if they were invited into their homes for these Holiday Dinner Celebrations. This gift is priceless and a sign of the true spirit of Christmas giving.

Bob keeps the Spirit of Christmas alive throughout the year offering rooms for shelter when emergencies arise that effect individuals served by BCL. Whether it is a power loss or heat loss at one of our homes the staff at the Seaport Inn have warmly accommodated us usually with very short notice.

Better Community Living is dedicated to supporting and serving individuals with developmental disabilities in the Greater New Bedford area as they strive to develop relationships and greater independence in the community. Bob and his staff are dedicated to supporting BCL. Again, thank you Bob for the kindness, generosity and time and effort that you and your staff put into our Annual Holiday Dinner and Dance; it means the world to us!