HCBDD needs our help educating the public in 3 ways:

First-- we need to help the public understand that CLI and HCBDD are completely separate. HCBDD has a renewal levy on the ballot this November. HCBDD provides funding to ALL DD provider agencies-- including CLI.

Second-- because of how Ohio is funded, at least .40 cents of every dollar spent in Huron county on adult DD services comes from HCBDD. If the levy fails, this means that HCBDD will not have enough money to pay providers like CLI to provide those direct services to people with DD.

Third-- CLI is an independent agency from HCBDD. HCBDD is no longer the boss of CLI. CLI has made a number of business decisions such as using bank loans to buy the bowling alley, 38 West Seminary, and 16 West Main Street because CLI feels that this was our best strategy to improve services AND survive as an independent agency. HOWEVER, many average citizens don't understand. We heard 2 people last week talk about how they wouldn't vote for the levy because they didn't want the levy money used for the bowling alley. Let's all help HCBDD by constantly working to correct this mistaken impression!

Thanks to Paula Case for sending in these pictures of Monica actually working!

Monica works at The Freighthouse, where we're sure that she qualifies for an employee discount . . .

John's Usual Excuses & Apologies--

We had some questions about our isolated adult day service groups bowling. There seems to be some confusion about what goes on during the nighttime bowling leagues vs. what CLI does during the day.

First-- full disclosure, many bowlers in the night adult bowling leagues are not always compliant with the rules. This is the same anywhere you go in public. It is a concern for us too since CLI helps people participate in some of those leagues. At this point, what we've been doing about that is:

I think that this is a good example of how community membership can be a conflicted thing. Peer pressure is real and each of us have to choose their own path. However, choosing CLI as a provider also means following Ohio's laws and best practices.

The second and more important takeaway is that leagues are totally different than what happens during CLI's day programs. We take our responsibility to keep people safe very seriously. Our adult day groups only bowl at times when nobody else is in the entire bowling alley AND ONLY AFTER all tables, counters, and other surfaces have been sanitized. We also use electric fans and the furnace air handler to try to ventilate the entire space as much as possible between uses. We feel that the small risk of using this space once a week is worth it because it breaks up the routine of being stuck in a single box all week.

CLI will accommodate any personal concerns by our clients or on their behalf. Please don't be shy.

On a positive note-- CLI was awarded 2 grants last week by the Ohio Department of DD! Because these are grants not gifts, we have work to do in order to get the money. The upside is that DODD is paying CLI to do 2 things already on our strategic plan.

The first grant is to create 2 new positions specifically to expand/coordinate new STEPS service. The 2 part goal is to facilitate better person-centered services AND enable ambitious staff (Direct Service Professionals or DSPs in bureaucracy-speak) earn more money. Our system must do better to make taking care of people a job that pays enough to feed & house your own family. CLI proposed a new staff pay model that we think creates an opportunity for good staff to earn more and be more in control of those earnings.

The second grant I like to call the "Kick James to the Curb Grant." I can't tell whether he likes that or not. This money is to help CLI & Firelands completely separate our operations over 3 years. We believe this will allow Firelands Local to be a stronger business and will allow CLI to be a more focused provider. The trick is that neither CLI or Firelands Local has that much reserve cash. As long as we are together, we've been able to loan each other money. For instance, sometimes CLI needs cash to get us through winter because we have so many days off (and CLI is only paid when we provide a service). Firelands Local needs money at different times between contracts and/or they need to buy something big. For instance in August, CLI loaned FL money for a new (ish) towmotor.

I'm glad to have forward-facing goals right now. The worst thing about the pandemic is that so often it feels like we're all just waiting around for it to be over. Feel free to hit me up with questions. Stay positive & wash your hands!

Firelands Local LLC Update:

Zoom Olympics is still going strong. Want to bring your A game and verbally harass others in a physical threat free visual format? Well, we've got your venue!

Ben found a particularly cool painted rock at Sofias Park. Both parts of this activity are fun-- painting the rocks and walking (or biking) around looking for artistic treasures.

CLI OT Room Update:

STEPS services anyone?

Spread the word!