Author: New Hope

30 Apr - A Note from Allison: A Successful Silver Cup Celebration

Posted at 17:29h in A Note from Allison, Community and Corporate Partners, Events, The Year of Creativity 0 Comments

THANK YOU! THANK YOU! THANK YOU! Because of you we had a great Second Annual Silver Cup Celebration! I certainly appreciate everything everyone did to make this event a success! The event raised over $80,000 and netted more than last year! Thanks to our matching grant, donations, pledges and artwork purchases, over $27,000 will go directly to the art therapy room renovation and programming. A new door will soon be a reality! The committee led by Sarah Stone, New Hope’s Manager of Development, did an exceptional job planning the event. Thank you all! Thanks...

30 Apr - Spring 2019 Legislative Update

Posted at 16:53h in News 1 Comment

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The Indiana General Assembly ended last Wednesday, April 24, 2019, without a waiver rate increase which New Hope had been strongly advocating. This is very unfortunate because the increase would have largely gone to increase DSP wages which is so important to the wonderful DSPs working at New Hope. The legislative session’s priorities were funding for Department of Child Services (DCS) and schools and that is where the bulk of the new money went. First Steps did get an increase, because it was closely tied to the opioid crisis and DCS funding. Even though there was no new...

30 Apr - Unbridled Creativity

Posted at 16:49h in New Hope Stories, The Year of Creativity 1 Comment

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by Denise Caudill Irons I am a control freak. Everyone who knows me is quite aware of my problem. I no longer go through the trouble of trying to hide it. My self-diagnosed condition worsened after learning of my daughter’s diagnosis. Part of the issue stems from the regret and guilt that I feel for not pursuing answers to her delays and seeking treatment at an earlier age. Some of the problem is the fear that if I drop the ball, she will not receive the best care possible nor achieve her potential. The rest...

30 Apr - Dan the Man

Posted at 16:35h in Client Profile, New Hope Stories 0 Comments

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Dan Devries' life profoundly changed in 1978 when he was involved in an accident and sustained a traumatic brain injury, requiring a lengthy hospitalization and significant rehabilitation. However, throughout the years, Dan has not let that define his outlook on life. Prior to the accident, he was a loner, which is hard to believe for those who know him to be very social and outgoing today. In 1988, Dan moved into the residential facility and he resided on Beta Hall, which was the designated unit for persons who had experienced a traumatic brain injury. When the facility was downsizing to...

30 Apr - Seeking Volunteers!

Posted at 16:20h in News, Volunteer Highlights 0 Comments

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The NHI Day Services Program is looking for volunteers to help with several interesting and fun activities. Do you garden or know someone who does? We have a garden club, which enjoys growing vegetables and reaping the harvest to make fresh and healthy recipes, and could use some gardening assistance. Perhaps you enjoy crafts and could share your talents with some fun, simple craft activities. The individuals who attend day services love crafts of all types, especially holiday related. Also popular is a weekly bible study and the importance of faith in every day...

15 Apr - Service Spotlight: Lashawnda Wright

Posted at 17:00h in Service Spotlight, The Year of Creativity 0 Comments

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Associate Lashawnda Wright's New Hope journey to her current position in the AIM Program started about three years ago. At that time, Lashawnda was working for another agency when an associate encouraged her to apply at New Hope. New Hope is so thankful for that referral because we have gained a terrific associate in Lashawnda. At the time Lashawnda started working at New Hope, no residential shifts were available, so a position Day Services at Payne Road was suggested. Conducive to her family obligations, Lashawnda accepted the Day Services position. It was a perfect fit...

15 Apr - Mission Minute: Talent Acquisition Demands Innovative Strategies

Posted at 15:15h in Mission Minute, The Year of Creativity 0 Comments

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by Kathe Rae, Manager of Mission Integration and Volunteers Thinking back to all of those years ago when I was hired at New Hope of Indiana, immediately following the interview, I was offered a position and started just two days later. While those were certainly simpler times, our employment world is now complex, dynamic and competitive. For a thriving, mission-focused future, it is essential that New Hope take advantage of innovative recruitment practices. The New Hope recruitment process, referred to as talent acquisition, involves a vast toolkit of strategies essential in addressing a competitive market while attracting a competent and...

26 Mar - New Hope Presents John Pearson with Partner in Service Award

Posted at 19:44h in Community and Corporate Partners, Events, New Hope Stories 0 Comments

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At New Hope's inaugural Silver Cup Celebration, emcee Anne Marie Tiernon recognized New Hope's event sponsors and reminded the audience that these sponsors are investing in the good of their communities. A great way to decide where to shop is to learn which companies care about the things that are important to each of us. New Hope has been fortunate to have countless partners in the Indianapolis community who have offered their time, talent and treasure to support our mission, and we have been searching for a way to honor them as outstanding corporate and community partners. We are so excited...

26 Mar - Zeller, Speak!

Posted at 19:16h in The Year of Creativity, Zeller, Speak! 0 Comments

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Happy Spring, Everyone! Isn’t it fun to see the crocuses and daffodils pushing through the ground? Oh, it is such a great time to play outside. One of my favorite things to do is to roll in the grass on my back. Try it, you’ll like it. I'd have to say my favorite things to do in the spring are rolling in the grass, smelling the ground where all the underground critters have made their homes, chasing a stick and then shaking my head back and forth when I catch it, laying in the sun, digging in the dirt and did I...

26 Mar - A Note from Allison: Spring Cleaning

Posted at 19:10h in A Note from Allison 0 Comments

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Greetings from New Hope of Indiana! Spring has sprung at New Hope and just like you we are looking forward to warmer days that make it easier for everyone to get around! New Hope has lots going on, but this month I want to highlight and thank New Hope’s Board of Directors who have been especially busy. Ron Mead, Hendricks Regional Health, Director of Mission Integration is the Chair of the Board; Liz Hoover CPA/AFS, Hoover Financial Advisors, Inc. is the Vice Chair; José Lusende, VP Strategy and External Relations, Indianapolis Recorder, is the Secretary and Jen Scroggins, Director,...

26 Mar - The Most Famous Singer at New Hope

Posted at 18:52h in Client Profile 1 Comment

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by Caitlin Bernhart, Music Therapist In my nearly 5 years of being a Music Therapist at New Hope I’ve had the privilege of working with so many of our clients and have witnessed a wide variety of amazing passions and musical abilities. This has included some individuals quickly learning how to read and play music on the piano (something that takes most people years to master) as well as several clients who enjoy writing their own songs and then recording them. Each individual I’ve worked with has been memorable and influential in their own way, but one person in particular...

26 Mar - Actions Speak Louder than Words

Posted at 18:25h in New Hope Stories 0 Comments

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by Denise Caudill Irons Before I had a daughter with a diagnosis, I was not familiar with the special needs community. My education had a slow beginning, but grew as I needed more information. I am fortunate to have access to knowledgeable people who helped guide me along the way. Now, by being open and transparent about our experiences, I hope that we are enlightening others who are not as directly impacted. My approach to providing awareness has evolved over time. Before I could become an advocate for my daughter and the special needs community, I...

26 Mar - Community Resources

Posted at 17:59h in Community and Corporate Partners 0 Comments

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In our ever-changing, sometimes instantly-changing, world, it can be hard to know where to look for reliable, current information and resources for our individuals with disabilities. A couple great ways to stay up-to-date on topics and changes in our community are to become involved in community activities, visit websites, and join mailing lists of various agencies within our community. What community activities are available? To start, New Hope is expanding our Transition Services! We are currently taking interviews for a new AIM group based at our Castleton Day Services site. Also, we are actively interviewing for...

15 Mar - Celebrating Disability Awareness Month

Posted at 15:30h in New Hope Stories 0 Comments

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by Adria Schrock, AIM Client Disability Awareness Month means a lot to me since I have a disability. Imagine if you had a disability, what would you think and how do you think others would treat you? In this article I will tell you what to do and such. First things first, just be yourself. Make new friends and hang out with people. We don’t want to be alone in the world. People with disabilities are just the same as everyone else and we want to be included as well. Disability Awareness Month means so much more to me since we...

15 Mar - Service Spotlight: Kathy Ballard

Posted at 15:04h in Service Spotlight 3 Comments

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If you have ever had the opportunity to meet or work with Kathy Ballard, Ph.D., Director of Community Outreach, you learned very quickly how passionate she is about building community, especially by supporting vulnerable persons who have faced multiple barriers and prejudices in their lives. This has been her life work, and we have been fortunate to work with her for the last 18 years at New Hope where she strengthens and expands our mission of service. When Kathy first came to New Hope, she managed the CYCS program, now called Family and Community Services (FCS). It did not...

15 Mar - Mission Minute: Exploring Creative Expression through Music Therapy

Posted at 14:55h in Mission Minute, The Year of Creativity 0 Comments

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by Kathe Rae, Manager of Mission Integration and Volunteers While there are certainly many differences in cultures throughout the world, music is something shared by all and is often referred to as the universal language. Music inspires powerful connections in so many wonderful ways: providing a means of expression, evoking positive emotions, stimulating the senses and elevating moods. Most importantly music is fun! Five years ago, New Hope recognized the need to provide one-on-one therapy, and our Music Therapy program was implemented. The program began at our Payne Road location with one board-certified music therapist and eventually expanded to our...

26 Feb - Zeller, Speak!

Posted at 20:49h in Zeller, Speak! 0 Comments

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Hi Friends, Even though February is often cold and dreary, it is one of my most favorite months! It is my service anniversary and my birthday! This year, on Valentine's Day, I celebrated eight years of service with New Hope of Indiana and on February 17th, I turned 10 years old! I still love coming to work every day and getting lots of head pats and tummy rubs! I also love seeing the great things that are going on here at New Hope of Indiana and in our community. AIM (Achieving Inclusion and Meaning) groups are out and about. This...

26 Feb - We need your help!

Posted at 20:45h in News 0 Comments

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Increasing wages for New Hope’s Direct Support Professionals (DSPs) is always at the top of the legislative priority list. This year is no different. We came into this legislative session hoping to get an increase which would allow the average hourly wage for DSPs to be $15 an hour. We were told early by the legislature that this was too high, so the ask is down to $13 per hour on average. This still requires an investment of over $20 million from the Indiana General Assembly each year of the two-year biannual budget. Unfortunately, the first half...

26 Feb - A Note from Allison: Hoping for Spring

Posted at 20:31h in A Note from Allison, News 0 Comments

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Who is ready for spring? I know we at New Hope are! It has been a tough winter because of snow, freezing temperatures and wind. Our wonderful New Hope associates have worked tirelessly so that all of the individuals we serve are safe and warm. Thank you to all of them! Can you believe New Hope of Indiana, Inc., a stand alone not-for-profit, is entering into its sixth year? Lots of very positive things have happened in the last five years and the New Hope Board of Directors and New Hope’s Operating Council are working on a...

26 Feb - Free Legal Aid for New Hope’s Clients

Posted at 13:51h in Community and Corporate Partners, Volunteer Highlights 1 Comment

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Do you know Nick Parker? His name may sound familiar, but how is he connected to New Hope? Nick is an attorney from Indiana Legal Services who provides free legal services to New Hope’s clients particularly in areas of decision-making supports such as the preparation of wills, healthcare representative designees, and guardianships; benefit appeals; landlord-tenant issues; and expungement of conviction records. In 2016, through a generous grant by the Lilly Endowment and the Governor’s Council for People with Disabilities, Indiana Legal Services and New Hope began the PLAID (Providing Legal Assistance to Individuals with Disabilities) Partnership. Nick is...