For the past few months the Progress Center has worked on stage one of our three part project to to create a linking trail to the Rail Road Trail of Norway Maine. This project included our starting point "The Matthew Record Park". This park was part of a promise made to Matthew Record's family upon his death just two years ago. Money was donated to the Center for a memorial garden and as you can clearly see that has grown into a beautiful park and trail. The trail is wheel chair accessible and is a short loop through the woods on the Progress Center property.

The Records, Jean and Merle, Matthew's parents have spent many hours on this project; and their company Record Lumber, donated all the materials necessary to build the loop. Many thanks go out to Merle and Jean for their support of this project and the many hours of labor they gave to help finish the first part of this trail.

Pam Williams and Mary Ackley, both employees of the Progress Center have lead the "Garden Club", a group of over ten consumers and volunteers to build up wooded gardens, fill flower pots and beautify the park and trail. Many thanks to all of the members of the Garden Club.

The wooden benches were created by the wood working crew, Bruce, Shawn and Fred.  They made several beautiful hand made benches which are scattered about the trail. The overall effect is peaceful and natural.

Keep your eyes open for phase two and three. Thank you also to New Balance and the Stephens Memorial Hospital whose grant support has been invaluable.  Without these community friends many of the flowers, structures and future needs of the park would be impossible to address. Thanks to both of these wonderful community businesses.

Home Life at the Progress Center

Shared Living has grown over the past months and we are pleased to see so many new faces in our services. The sharing of life and home for people we support is a great step away from their childhood home or group home living. We have seen people experience tremendous growth living in our community shared living homes. People we serve are now living on working farms, in beautiful country homes, with small families or single adults. Each home life represents a well thought out match between the person receiving supports and those who

will offer it.

Summer fun, friendship and successes:
     
            Residents from Karla Jacobson home and Frederick Ave.took a trip to Lincoln New Hampshire to visit Clark's Trading Post.

             Residents of Frederick Ave.have been visiting with our dear friend Arthur at Market Square nursing home on a regular basis. Arthur appears to be adjusting well to his new surroundings. There are pictures posted on the bulletin boards at the nursing home of him attending the 4th of July parade in Waterford and riding in a boat on Norway Lake while on a fishing trip with some friends he's made at his new home. He is always happy to have company, and while we will continue to visit with him I'm sure he would love to see some other familiar faces. We all miss you Arthur be good and try not to give the nurses a hard time!

                  Fred invited friends and family to a spaghetti dinner prepared by himself using skills he learned at a cooking class that he attended at OHCHS Adult Ed. With some help from staff the dinner was lovely and Fred got to spend a few hours visiting with his sister whom he hasn't seen in over a year because she lives so far away. Fred's sister seemed very proud of Fred as was staff that he had done such a wonderful job. Thanks goes to Jean B. as well for helping Fred with invitations and preparations. Also Fred has been using his skills to help staff prepare meals, and bake goods for treats. Way to go Fred keep up the good cooking, your housemates love it!
              Folks also went on a deep sea fishing trip with staff and other members of the community. I hear the weather left a little to be desired, and that a few people turned a little green.    
              Debbie now rides independently to rotary breakfast with a friend she made there named Midge. No staff involved, seems to be working out great. Go Debbie!
              The three residential homes shared a wonderful lobster feed this summer put on by the folks at KJ. All people attending enjoyed the gift of summer and Maine lobster!
       Residents from TPC group homes attended a semi-formal dance, held @ The Ramada Inn in Lewiston . Family and friends of the residents were invited to attend. Staff, residents, and a few family members joined for a nice dinner, and then danced the night away. Fun was had by all, and they can't wait to get dressed up and do it again.

News from TCM & CCM
 
We would like to WELCOME aboard Ashleigh Andrews.  She will be working with our Targeted Case Management program mostly, along with carrying a few adults with our Community Case Management program.
 
Ashleigh has just completed her BS degree in Social and Behavioral Science from the University of South Maine.
 
Ashleigh has lived in the Oxford Hills area her entire life, bringing some wonderful resources and contacts to the agency. She is a proud mother of three children, Nick-age 7, Collin-age 4, and Grace - age 2.
 
Ashleigh is looking forward to working with the families and children as she helps them obtain the needed service. 
  
Debb Batting will be sliding over to work with adults in Community Case Management.  She is looking forward to the change and challenges of this new position as we continue to grow with the new Maine-care regs.  Debb will continue to work with a few families in TCM as this transition takes place.
 
So for now our Case Management Team consist of; Bette Woodbury, TCM, Ashleigh Andrews, TCM & CCM, Debb Batting, CCM & TCM, and Pam Williams, CCM & supervisor for both programs.


 

Lost Valley proved to be a wonderful place for the 2008 annual retreat. All staff were on board for two days of planning, visioning, learning and a little bit of fun. Team building exercises gave all of the attendees some insight into each other, nothing like a blind folded walk being led by your peers! Alice shared some wonderful Yoga Moments and we made human sculptures while supporting one another in some unusual positions.

Alice and Steve helped to lead us through a process of understanding outcome performance and strategic planning. Deb shared her vision for the agency and her personal path to the Progress Center. A vision statement was voted on and a small group of folks committed to word smith as needed over the next year.

All employees left the day with goals and success measures to help guide them through the next year.

The vision statement voted in was:

Weaving community into the lives of people with disabilities one person at a time enriching those we serve and the community.

Not bad for two days of WORK is it? All that and performance outcomes too. Great retreat and great two days.