It's hard to belive we're celebrating our Fifth Year Anniversary this year.  Five years of proving you can provide successful services within communities instead of in segregated environments.  As we look forward, we know the people we serve will be experiencing lives like never before.

 

We hope you'll join us throughout the year as we take the time to celebrate where we've come from and where we're going.  To start things off, we have put together a video to honor those individuals that have grown with us, the staff that have helped to make them successful, and the communities that have made it all possible.  Click here to view this video now and join us throughout the year for more to come!*

 

In September of 2007, The Agency for Persons with Disabilities received a $500,000 Real Choice Systems Change: Person-Centered Planning Implementation Grant.  APD's grant is based on a partnership with The Council on Quality Leadership, an international organization dedicated to excellence in the definition, measurement and improvement of quality of life for people with disabilities and people with mental illness.  You can get more information about CQL here.

 

CQL will focus on the continued education and training of APD's Area Quality Leaders on CQL's Community Life strategy to define, measure and develop quality enhancement activities around community issues.  What makes this exercise unique is that it isn't just talking about ideas - it's real action and change, inspiring people to make something happen. 

 

Henderson Haven is proud to have been chosen by APD District 4 to be the agency used during this training of their Area Quality Leaders.  We were chosen because of our commitment to choice and community inclusion.  This action will also help prepare us for our goal of being the first organization in Florida to receive full CQL accreditation.

 

Click here to read an exerpt of their report.  For a copy of the full report, contact Lee Henderson.

 

While we talk about choice, inclusion and community integration, our actions speak louder than our words.  With more group homes, day centers and sheltered workshops being built and segregated classrooms being filled, what is the real message we're sending?  We're even seeing excitement build over entire segregated communities being planned and funded.  Find out why we feel this action is moving Florida's services backwards by reading Lee Henderson's response to these actions by clicking here.