New Hope Stories Archives - New Hope of Indiana

For over forty years, New Hope of Indiana has been committed to supporting individuals and families, encouraging them to live their most independent, fulfilling lives. Through services for individuals with disabilities and advocacy efforts, New Hope of Indiana is making an impact in our communities every day.

disability, disabilities, waiver services, group homes, autism, I/DD, residential services, disability services, Indianapolis jobs, DSP, jobs, hiring, caregiver, CNA jobs, CNA, therapy, music therapy, recreation therapy, rec therapy, vocational services, vocational rehabilitation, voc rehab, VR, PLAY project, autism support, disability advocacy, day services, community based services, day program, adult day program, behavior services, behavior therapy

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New Hope Stories

20 Apr - Finding Inclusion and Meaning

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At New Hope, there is one group of individuals that just might have more fun than any others. Our AIM participants, affectionately called AIMsters, are making sure that they live up to their program's name - Achieving Inclusion and Meaning. These young adults spend most of their time together in the Indianapolis community, learning skills for independence, practicing philanthropy through volunteerism and teaching others what it means to be truly inclusive. Our AIMsters, like most of the people we serve, have various types of intellectual and developmental disabilities. This can sometimes make it difficult to live independently, make friends, get a...

12 Apr - Volunteer Appreciation at New Hope

Posted at 10:36h in Community and Corporate Partners, Mission Minute, New Hope Stories, Volunteer Highlights 0 Comments

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April is National Volunteer Month! In 2021, New Hope's volunteers provided nearly 1,000 hours of service to our mission despite the continued challenges of a global pandemic. From Board members and committee volunteers to corporate partners and friends of New Hope, our volunteers enrich the lives of the individuals and families that we serve. This month, we want to say a special thank you to a few of these dedicated volunteers. Kathe Rae Not only did Kathe Rae devote her nearly 40-year career to New Hope, she continues to serve our mission even in her retirement, coming nearly every week to work in...

29 Mar - A Community of Hope…and Social Workers

Posted at 16:18h in Mission Minute, New Hope Stories, Service Spotlight 1 Comment

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by Amy Flint This month marks my 37th service anniversary with New Hope of Indiana, something nearly unheard of among my younger colleagues. Not many people stay at the same employer for over three decades, but at New Hope, it isn't quite so unusual. New Hope's leaders, managers and even our Direct Support Professionals tend to stick around a lot longer than our counterparts at other organizations. I think it might just be because the people at New Hope are simply good people who share a great mission. I started at New Hope in 1985 as a social worker in the largest...

29 Mar - Consider a Career in the Nonprofit Sector

Posted at 15:48h in New Hope Stories 0 Comments

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Why Work for a Nonprofit? The first thing you'll learn about working for New Hope is that we are an organization with a shared mission. This is true at most nonprofits. If you're looking for a career change that will make a difference in your life and in the lives of others, you'll likely find the right opportunity somewhere in the nonprofit sector. So why should you consider a nonprofit career? Do a Good Job Whether you work for a small organization and where a lot of different hats, managing a variety of business functions and services, or you have a more specialized role...

22 Feb - A Note from Allison: Warm Spirits

Posted at 16:57h in A Note from Allison, New Hope Stories, News 0 Comments

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Happy 2.22.22! Doesn’t a sunny warm day in February always give you hope that spring is near? As I write this, my spirits are warmed by this great weather. At New Hope there is also hope! After a tough round of COVID infection with the Omicron variant, we are happy to say that we are currently COVID free for both individuals served and staff. During the most recent surge, we limited Day Services to only those individuals who can tolerate a mask all day. Last week, we began welcoming other participants who cannot wear a mask all day back to the program....

22 Feb - Raising Black Voices

Posted at 16:52h in Mission Minute, New Hope Stories, Service Spotlight 1 Comment

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At New Hope of Indiana, we value the many people of color who make up our community. We believe that the unique experiences and values that they bring to our mission are vital to the work that we do. New Hope is committed to amplifying the diverse voices of #TeamNewHope and of the individuals we serve. This Black History Month, we are proud to do just that for three amazing Black women who make an impact at New Hope of Indiana every day. Carolyn Short, DSP, 7 Years of Service I was born in Muncie Indiana and raised in Indianapolis. I was raised in a...

25 Jan - Choosing Caution, Not Fear

Posted at 12:50h in Client Profile, New Hope Stories 0 Comments

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By Denise Caudill Irons, NHI Board Member and Parent During the early weeks of the pandemic, I was surviving while providing some semblance of normalcy for my family. But as the days wore on, I began to feel insulated and comfortable existing in our bubble. I felt an overwhelming sense of relief when schools went virtual and the shelter in place guidelines were instituted. I live with a constant undercurrent of fear for my daughter’s welfare. As she matures, my fears also grow. It feels as if I have a news ticker of all of the bad things that could happen...

14 Jan - National Mentoring Month: Bringing Smiles

Posted at 15:06h in Mission Minute, New Hope Stories, Service Spotlight 1 Comment

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January is National Mentoring Month! At New Hope of Indiana mentorship is often an informal relationship and can be found woven throughout our mission. Much of the work that our Direct Support Professionals (DSPs) do to support the individuals in their care involves mentoring them - teaching life skills for independence, practicing good decision-making, and encouraging them to set, meet and exceed personal goals. This month, we are celebrating two important New Hope mentors who support individuals with disabilities in achieving their dreams. AIM's Community Mentor Lashawnda Wright I was referred to New Hope by a former coworker in September of 2016. When...

28 Dec - A Year in Review: 2021

Posted at 16:24h in New Hope Stories 0 Comments

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As we enter into the new year, we are celebrating some of our favorite 2021 moments. January - February 2021 New Hope's caregivers became eligible to receive the COVID-19 vaccine in January, a huge step toward better protecting the individuals we serve through the pandemic. Just a few weeks later, the individuals served in New Hope's residential programs began to receive their own vaccines. April 2021 Garden Club and other in-person volunteer activities resumed at New Hope's Day Services programs for the first time in 12 months. May 2021 The Indianapolis 500 Festival Princesses came to visit and gave some special pace car rides to the...

28 Dec - Voices of New Hope

Posted at 15:41h in Mission Minute, New Hope Stories, Service Spotlight 0 Comments

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Growing up I lived with my single mother, Kim, my older brother Coi, my sister Maisha, younger brother Larry and younger cousin, Ashley in the Butler- Tarkington neighborhood located on the Northside of Indianapolis. It was a close-knit community of neighbors, family, and friends where everyone looked out for one another. I loved playing Kickball games with my siblings and cousins and eating soul food - smoked pork chops, mixed greens, sweet potatoes, mac and cheese and my Mom's extra-hot chili. I graduated from Arsenal Technical High School, attended Ivy Tech State College. In 2021 I returned to...

28 Dec - Holiday Volunteers Bring Cheer to New Hope

Posted at 14:56h in Events, Mission Minute, New Hope Stories, Volunteer Highlights 0 Comments

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This holiday season, New Hope has been fortunate to have the support of dozens of volunteers to bring some holiday cheer to the individuals we serve. In our Day Services program, nearly 20 volunteers made the holidays bright with seasonal crafts, holiday bingo, sing-alongs and visits from Santa and his elves. Special thanks to New Hope's Maintenance team for their creativity and caring which made these holiday parties so extra special! Check out the photos on Facebook. Continuing a decades-long tradition, our partners at Ascension St. Vincent came together through the Hope for the Holidays program to deliver holiday gifts to...

17 Nov - A Strong Family Bond

Posted at 14:43h in Client Profile, Mission Minute, New Hope Stories 0 Comments

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Family has always been important to Christy Bowser. She has a picture of her mom, who has been gone for 20 years, next to her bed. She worries about her aging dad, who lives in Florida with her sister Michelle. While her mom and dad are important to her, it’s her sister Michelle with whom she is the closest. Christy lights up when she talks about Michelle, who has made it a priority to ensure for Christy’s health and well-being. Long before the term “autism” was widely used, Christy was diagnosed with a mild intellectual disability as a child. Christy describes...

17 Nov - The Norman Family

Posted at 14:39h in Client Profile, New Hope Stories 0 Comments

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For a majority of her life, Courtney, who was diagnosed with Cerebral Palsy as a child, was cared for by her dad, stepmom and grandparents. Her dad Rick knew that as he and his parents aged, he needed a long-term plan for Courtney’s care. A friend told him about New Hope and after checking out the residential program, Rick knew Courtney could get better care from those who are trained to do so. He also liked that she could attend Day Services and be more active. However, moving Courtney into her new home brought concerns. Rick was understandably anxious about...

26 Oct - Four Decades of Loving Care

Posted at 10:27h in Mission Minute, New Hope Stories, Service Spotlight 0 Comments

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by Ken Rose, Manager of Capital Operations Anyone who knows New Hope’s Transportation Coordinator, Dorothy Nowlin-Love, knows how much pride she takes in maintaining our fleet of over 40 vehicles. She works tirelessly to ensure our vehicles remain safe, clean and in excellent shape, and has done so for the better part of her over-40 year career at New Hope of Indiana. Recently, the oldest vehicle in our fleet, a 2002 Ford E-350 van equipped with a wheelchair lift and equipment to safely transport people who use wheelchairs, known as van 329, needed a minor repair. Dorothy took it to a local repair...

28 Sep - Thank You Notes for our DSPs

Posted at 14:57h in Mission Minute, New Hope Stories, Service Spotlight 0 Comments

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Celebrating DSP Appreciation Week, September 12-18, 2021 "A great big thank you to everyone at New Hope. I hope you all know how very much my family supports you all. Without each and everyone of you these residents could not be the happy people they are. You all are the best and may God bless you." "Thank you so much for all you do!" "Words are not enough to express the gratitude I feel to the NHI DSPs- you are the heart and soul of NHI!" "We would like to send a huge thank you to the DSP’s and staff of Justin home. They...

31 Aug - Voices of New Hope

Posted at 16:10h in Client Profile, New Hope Stories 0 Comments

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Marrie Dollahan, known around New Hope simply as Marrie Lou, has lived in Indianapolis her whole life. She loved school as a child but learned to be tough in her large, blended family as one of 15 children! While she has struggled with many medical issues over the years, her time at New Hope has been great. Marrie Lou really appreciates the DSPs and other caregivers who help her look pretty and take her to her favorite places including New Hope’s Day Services program. She loves puzzles, games, baby dolls and traveling. Her dream trips are to Paris and Disney World....

27 Jul - Aktion Club Hosts Reunion

Posted at 13:09h in Community and Corporate Partners, Events, New Hope Stories 0 Comments

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This July, New Hope's Aktion Club enjoyed its first in-person event since February 2020. The group hosted its reunion cookout with the help of volunteers from Kiwanis Club of Northwest Indianapolis. Despite some rain, the group enjoyed being together for the first time in well over a year. The meeting took place thanks to Kiwanis advisors and support from New Hope associates. While most of the club's business was pushed to the next meeting in order to make room for fellowship and fun, the group was excited to discuss plans to host the annual Fall Festival at New Hope in...

27 Jul - Voices of New Hope

Posted at 09:48h in New Hope Stories, Service Spotlight 0 Comments

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by Moon Ndiaye, NHI Team Leader I grew up in the Capital of Senegal called Dakar, in West Africa. Dakar is a great place to live, and is the most developed city in Senegal, offering many amenities. As a child, I went to a private Catholic school for elementary and to public school for middle and high school. I graduated in 1992 and pursued my education to College St. Michel where I graduated with my Bachelor's degree in Computer Science Programming and graduated for my Master's degree in Economics and Finance in 1998 at University Cheick Anta Diop Dakar. After getting...

27 Jul - Caring for the Disabled in the Pandemic and Beyond

Posted at 09:34h in New Hope Stories, News, Service Spotlight 0 Comments

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By Gay Murry, Direct Support Professional (DSP), New Hope of Indiana The pandemic did so much to shine a light on the tough jobs of frontline workers. Yes, my work caring for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities in a New Hope of Indiana home was difficult. It was even scary at times. We had to mask up, social distance and take many other precautions. We couldn’t go on our usual outings with clients to help them feel part of the community and their social isolation was devastating to watch. But there were some amazing things, too. Life-changing things. I hope...

28 Jun - From Haiti to New Hope

Posted at 15:21h in New Hope Stories, Service Spotlight 2 Comments

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by Kenaze Navarre, SLP Team Leader I grew up in a small rural town called Desdunes, Haiti. It was awesome to live there. As a kid I did not have any electricity up until I was 12 years of age. It was all fun living there. There was such connection with nature and family. Haiti is best known for being fierce and unafraid as well as for its good cooking. I miss the sea, the rivers, walking, and seeing old distant family members. As a child, my dad was the school principal and he taught me at home. I didn’t go to...