Dear Staff,


As we kick off this New Year, we take a moment to both reflect on 2022, as well as look ahead to the opportunities we have in 2023 to continue to focus on our mission and strengthen our programs and services. If you haven't seen our year-end recap video yet, click here to watch it now.


Employees received a letter last month on behalf of the Board of Directors and the Executive Leadership Team announcing a salary increase for ACLD employees. If you are an employee who is a Direct Support Staff (codes 104, 201 and 207) your base salary will be increased by $1 per hour. This increase will be for any current employees who are in a direct support role. The new salary scale for direct support professionals will be $16 to $18 per hour, including differentials when applicable.


All other staff outside these codes will be eligible for a 3% increase on your base salary. To be eligible for the 3% salary increase, you must be employed for at least one year as of November 1, 2022. Both increases will be effective on December 24, 2022 and reflected in your pay check on January 20, 2023. Click here to read the full letter about the salary increase.


In this edition of The Limelight, you will see a recap of the Staff Holiday Party on December 14th, a spotlight of an employee who was featured in Newsday, holiday celebrations in our programs and administrative offices, and other news and highlights from across the agency.

 

Sincerely,

 

Rob, Gerard, Anne Marie and Kim

 

Robert Ciatto, President / CEO

Gerard DiMuro, Vice President of Administration

Anne Marie Sime, Vice President of Adult Services

Kim Leonard, Chief Financial Officer

Staff Holiday Party

Last month we had our Staff Holiday Party at The Mansion at Oyster Bay to say thank you to all of YOU, our staff, for your dedication and commitment to the people we support!


This special evening brought together employees from every program and department in the agency, and had raffle prizes, employee awards, dancing and celebrating! 10 lucky employees won the raffle drawings, each receiving a $500 TD Bank gift card. The winner of the Exemplary Service Award was Chuck Lau, Day Habilitation Specialist at Bridges Levittown, and the winner of the Gail White-Rison Scholarship was Oyin Yeku, Assistant Manager at the Lynbrook community residence.


Be sure to check out the party's photo album below, and watch the recap video of the night.

See photos from Holiday Party

Giving Tree Presents

Shout out to all of our staff who supported our ACLD Giving Tree this year by getting presents for adults in our residences without family, and families in our Children's Services. This year there was a total of 165 gifts donated, and as always, our Program Without Walls and Facilities crew delivered the gifts to our preschools and residences.


Thank you to our staff for helping make the season bright for the children and adults we support!

Holiday Sweaters

The Organizational Care Committee organized an employee engagement day last month called Holiday Sweater Day. Check out some shots of our staff getting into the holiday spirit!

Holiday Door Decorating Contest

Last month we held a Holiday Door Decorating Contest across the organization with staff in Residential Services, Day Habilitation, Children’s Services and Administration all creating some awesome holiday designs!


Congratulations to our winners:


Residential: Phelps IRA


Day Habilitation: Choices-Hauppauge Room 1 & 2, and Bridges Levittown


Children's Services: Kramer Learning Center Room 15


Administration (807 Building): Stacey Chimenti, Maria Huynh, Sarah Klaum, Rosalia Peniera, Dawn Mahoney, Marilynn Tapia and Curtis Umlauft. (857 Building): Jill Gonzalez, Christine Grimes and Suzie Sferrazza


Thank you to everyone who participated!

Day Habilitation Holiday Parties

Shout out to all of our direct support staff and supervisors for throwing awesome holiday parties in December for the people we support! See photos from the parties at Bridges Levittown and Bridges Bethpage below.

ACLD Staff in the News!

Lead Art Studio Specialist Frenal Mezilas was highlighted in Newsday last month for a mural he painted that is now hanging up at the Uniondale Public Library.


Frenal’s beautiful mural depicts his home country of Haiti, and is part of the library’s initiatives to create a community space where the growing Haitian population in the area can connect and celebrate their culture. Click here to read the full article.


In other exciting news, on December 29th it was announced that Frenal was promoted to Team Coordinator at B.L.U.E. in Deer Park.

New Home Opening

ACLD’s newest residence, Johnson IRA, is now open and will be transitioning all individuals to their new home over the next several weeks.


If you need to contact the Johnson IRA, please utilize the information below:

19 Johnson Avenue N

Kings Park, NY 11754

Phone: 631-292-2786

Fax: 631-292-2787

The covering manager for the Johnson IRA is Ismaila Abdul-Karim and she can be reached at abdul-karimi@acld.org.

Updated Employee Handbook

Message from the Human Resources Department:


ACLD has updated the employee handbook and the current version is dated December of 2022. Specifically, there were updates to the following polices:


  • Corporate Compliance Standards of Conduct (page 8)


  • Employee Resignation/Separation policy (page 47)


  • Time Management Policy (page 56)


  • Paid Family Leave (page 81)


Both documents are available on Microsoft Teams (link below), ADP homepage and Litmos for review.  

Read the updated Employee Handbook

Safety Corner

Employee Referral Program

Don't forget about the EMPLOYEE REFERRAL PROGRAM! You can now earn up to $6,750 when you refer people to work at ACLD. See the flyer below for details.

Help the people we support find employment

Do you know of a job opening in your area that would be a good fit for the men and women we support who are seeking employment in the community?


If so, please send an email to the Vocational Services department at Millerl@acld.org

Discounts for ACLD Employees

Did you know that by being an employee of ACLD, you can take advantage of exclusive discounts at different businesses such as Splish SplashVerizonP.C. Richard, Six Flags and a lot more?


You can also register as an ACLD employee on PlumBenefits.com to get even more discounts on vacations, entertainment, online shopping and other services. Use company code ac0825520 to register.

See list of employee discounts, and sign up for Plum Benefits

Shout Out Board

Don't forget to give a SHOUT OUT to recognize someone at your location for something special they did for you, your department or a person we support.

Bright Idea Box

The Organizational Care Committee is always looking for new ideas and suggestions from all of YOU to continue to make ACLD one of the best places to work, and for children and adults to receive supports and services.


Now it is easier than ever before to share your bright ideas. Just click here and your Bright Ideas will be sent directly to the Organizational Care Committee. A representative from the committee will respond to you promptly, and if your idea is implemented, you will earn a $25.00 gift card!

Anniversary Milestones - January 2023

5 years


Crystal Arrington-Bailey Day Habilitation Specialist, Hauppauge

Kwadwo Asante Residential Manager, Plainview

Myrtha Castagne Day Habilitation Specialist, Bethpage 837

Esther Forestal Direct Support Professional, East Islip

Esther Garraud Direct Support Professional, East Meadow

Brian Kellar Facilities Manager, Bethpage 857

Sophia Timo Direct Support Professional, Straightpath


10 years


Jonise Johnson Residential Assistant Manager, Northport

Anne Liggio Respite Counselor, Bethpage 807


15 years


Patty Hopkins Vocational Coordinator, Bethpage 857

Chuck Lau Day Habilitation Specialist, Bridges Levittown

Shari Walz Direct Support Professional, Bethpage 857

Welcome December New Hires!

Annamarie Z Barajas Direct Support Professional, Wildwood

Frederick W Brewster Direct Support Professional, Autumn

Jonathan CM Brewster Direct Support Professional, Nesconset

Sarah Brulotte Direct Support Professional, Chichester

Alyssa A Crespo Teacher Aide, Kramer Learning Center

Noldy N Etienne Direct Support Professional, Bethpage 857

Ergens Fleurantin Direct Support Professional, Yorktown

Alyssa C Gonzalez Teacher Aide, Kramer Learning Center

SahJae A Haskins Teacher Aide, Kramer Learning Center

Neal A Kleinman Job Coach, Bethpage 857

Jennifer M Leogrande Behavioral Intervention Specialist, Blue Day Hab

Justin T Meneses Residential Manager, Oyster Bay

Myriam Munoz Respite Counselor, Bethpage 807

Alexandra Orneus Direct Support Professional, Wildwood

Charlie Robinson Direct Support Professional, Long Hill Road

Judythe A Slade-Stewart Job Coach, Bethpage 857

Submit YOUR stories for the Limelight

Each month we include stories in this newsletter about YOU and all of the incredible staff here at ACLD!


BUT WE NEED YOUR HELP to find out about these stories. Please send us anything to include such as:


  • A story about how you or someone else went above and beyond to help the people we support, organized any fun or educational activity, or did anything to further our mission in any way


  • Information on any staff member or team who you would like to see spotlighted for their exceptional work.


  • Information or news useful for staff across the agency. Anything important or fun.


  • Proud moments for you or your family (Personal or professional milestones, awards, weddings, educational degrees or works in the community)


  • Employee Engagement day photos of you and your team.


  • Or anything else you can think of!


AND - if you submit a story that is also appropriate for Social Media, we can post it on our pages too!


DON'T be shy about submitting stories - we need new ones every month!


DON'T worry about writing it perfectly. Just give as much information as you have.

Send a submission
Read December's issue

The Limelight is produced by the Development and Community Relations Department.


For questions, comments or suggestions, please email the Editor, Jonathan Dolan at dolanj2@acld.org

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Adults and Children with Learning and Developmental Disabilities, Inc.

807 South Oyster Bay Road, Bethpage, NY 11714

516.822.0028 ~ www.acld.org

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