September 2017 - In This Issue:
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Honoring Direct Support Professionals
Celebrating and sharing success stories!

Pete DiBenedetto enjoys his time as caregiver for Marie
September 10-16, 2017 was Direct Support Professional Recognition Week. We kicked off the celebration during our UCP Staff and Family Picnic (see Staff without Limits below). And we continued celebrating our everyday heroes throughout the week in a variety of ways:

STAFF WITHOUT LIMITS
Work hard. Play hard.
Staff picnic

We kicked off DSP Recognition Week with the UCP Staff and Family Picnic on September 9 at Adventure Park in Mechanicsburg. The fun-filled day gave staff and families from various locations the opportunity to come together and enjoy food, fun and fellowship... along with rocking tunes from spectacular DJ Harry Perlmutter... and AWESOME inflatables from Dillon Strouse of Strouse Entertainment!

Click here to see a video slideshow of photos from the event!
CALL TO ACTION ALERT
Three ways you can help

The fun times and heartwarming stories we've shared in this issue don't just happen on their own. They are the result of determined, intentional efforts by dedicated, caring staff and volunteers--our extended UCP family.
 
Now, our family is in need of some additional support. 
Will you respond to the call?

  • Ask for Full Funding of ID/A Services.  At the Federal level, the Graham-Cassidy bill contains per capita caps for Medicaid that would be devastating to IDD supports.  Unfortunately, the bill is gaining support among some of the Senate leadership. You do not need to be a subject matter expert to take a stand on this critical issue. In fact, we've made it easy for you to advocate on our behalf:
Here is the link to send a pre-written message to your Senators. (Note: the link will determine your legislators by zip code and automatically create an email to send.)


Please take action as soon as possible; we expect the bill to come up for a vote as soon as the week of September 25.

  • Fulfill a Family Services Need. Family Support Services is in need of supplies (pantyhose and toddler clothes and hats) for fall activities at the October 1 Family Fun Fair. Contact Family Support Services Staff at familysupportservices@ucpcentralpa.org or 717-836-0673 to arrange drop-off. They could also use some additional volunteers to make the day as fun-filled and meaningful as possible for our young consumers and their families. If you can help, sign up here.
  • Give a Career Assist. Help us fill a need for quality team members in our top three "most wanted" positions: Program Aides, Residential Advisors, and Personal Care Attendants. See the Careers Without Limits article below for more details, or view our full list of current openings at www.ucpcentralpa.org/jobs
 
Please take action on at least one of these three items today.  It will go a long way toward ensuring that individuals of all abilities have every opportunity to experience a life without limits.  Thank you!
CAREERS WITHOUT LIMITS
We are excited to see our UCP team growing!

Please join me in welcoming 35 new UCP team members who within the past month have begun what we hope will be a long and rewarding career with us. 

At this time, our top three "most wanted" team members are:

Program Aides : Assist the Program Instructor in carrying out instruction and activities in our Day Programs.  Provide personal care and assistance to consumers as needed; participate in program development; maintain program records; maintain program area, equipment and supplies. Part-time opportunities available. 

Residential Advisors : Care for UCP consumers in community homes.   Help create a comfortable living environment, provide personal care and assistance, assist with mobility and transfer; provide home maintenance such as cleaning and laundering, assisting with menu planning and food preparation, and ensure our consumers get to doctor's appointments and day programs safely. Part time and Full-time opportunities available. 

Personal Care Attendants : Provide attendant care services for people with disabilities in their home or community setting.   Includes personal care, meal preparation, transportation, respite, and other services as needed. Part-time and PRN positions available.

We are looking for people with enthusiasm who desire to be in the community, making a difference every day in the lives of our consumers. 

If any of these positions is a match for you, contact Lindsay Unger, HR Recruiter, for more details. 717.737.3477, x 151 or  Lindsay.Unger@ucpcentralpa.org

Or check out our full list of current openings at: www.ucpcentralpa.org/jobs

If you know someone who is in the job market and might be a good fit for UCP, please forward this message on to them.
Upcoming Events



Adventure Park Golf Tournament
Saturday, October 14
Registration at 8AM
Armitage Golf Club
800 Orr's Bridge Rd, Mechanicsburg
Parent Presentation: Estate Planning
October 19
6:00PM to 8:00PM
Glenn Patrick Hoffman Conference Center
55 Utley Drive, Camp Hill


It is the mission of UCP Central PA to assist infants, children, youth, and adults with disabilities and their families achieve their goals of development, growth, independence, and full citizenship.