Easter Seals Disability Services

Community Living Services

TEAM DECLARATION:
We, the members of the CLS managment team, are deeply committed to making a substantial difference in the lives of the people we serve in the following ways:

We will listen to the dreams and aspirations of the people we serve and add our voices so that their dreams are not only heard, but are realized.

We are responsible for meeting the needs of each person we serve. This will be done with compassion, competence, and care. We will be tireless advocates for the rights and dignity of those we serve.

We are committed to integrity in our work. We are a team that is adaptable, punctual, and reliable as evidenced by our communication, training, and follow-through.

We will give employees opportunities for professional and personal growth by providing the tools and support they need to achieve excellence. We will strive for excellence in training our employees through persistence and teamwork. We are committed to assuring that our homes are places where we would be proud to have family members reside.

We are committed to the pursuit of knowledge. In our quest for excellence, we will seek out educational opportunities. Additionally, we will be generous and forthcoming with our information and will share our knowledge with other service providers.

We are dedicated to meeting the challenge of being leaders in our community. We will be role models for other special needs service providers as well as for each other. As leaders, we will be professional, courageous, and steadfast in all of our endeavors. Our voices will be heard.

This declaration is read at the beginning of all CLS and staff meetings and is included in the new employee interview and training process.  We are proud of this declaration.  It has become a source of ongoing inspiration for each of us.

WHO WE ARE / HOW WE OPERATE:

The Community Living Services team creates and operates a variety of home settings for individuals with special needs.  Each home has its own style.  Each client's room is personallyized to reflect his or her preferences.  Whether it be the paint on the walls or family photos or art work or activities, the goal is to help each client create his or her own 'space'.

Our administrative offices are located at 717 S. Alvernon Way in Tucson, where the Management Team meets on a weekly basis.  Our focus is on strategic planning, quality control, education, problem solving, team work, information sharing, and events planning.  The Management Team also holds an annual working retreat where members assess the successes and challenges of the current year and develop projects and opportunities for the year to come. Each Home Manager also conducts bi-monthly mandatory staff meetings with Support Staff. 

Community Living Services Homes:

Clear River - Serves four women whose ages range from 20 to 62 
(DDD licensed -established in 1993)

Desert View - Serves four women whose ages range from 34 to 71
(DDD licensed -established in 1993)

La Cholla - Serves four men whose ages range from 26 to 36 
(DDD licensed -established in 1994)

4th Street - Serves two men whose ages range from 46 to 49
(DDD licensed -established in 1997)

Calle Noche - Serves two men whose ages range from 25 to 30
(DDD licensed -established in 1996)

Aurora - Serves two women whose ages range from 28 to 30
(DDD licensed -established in 1994)

Independence - Serves three adolescents whose ages range from 13 to 17
(DDD licensed -established in 1995)

Tonner Circle - Serves four women whose ages range from 39 to 57
(DDD licensed -established in 1997)

Beverly - Serves two women whose ages range from 20 to 52
(DDD licensed -established in 1999)

Columbus Lane - Serves three women whose ages range from 25 to 45
(DDD licensed -established in 1998)

Jusnic Circle - Serves four men whose ages range from 23 to 55
(DDD licensed -established in 2001)

Glenn - serves three women whose ages range from 18 to 22
(DDD licensed -established in 1998) ???

Koralee - Serves three men whose ages range from 28 to 63
(Pima County Health licensed home established in 2002)

Alvernon - Serves two men whose ages range from 19 to 22
(DDD and Behavioral Health licensed home established in 2004)

Carr View - Serves three men whose ages range from 23 to 45 - in the Sierra Vista area(Cochise County Health licensed home established in 2002)

Carmelita - Serves three women and one man whose ages range from 36 to 52 - in Rio Rico (DDD licensed home established in 2000)

Jojoba - Serves one 20 year old man - in Rio Rico
(Behavioral Health licensed home established in 2004)

24th Street  - Serves two men and one woman whose ages range from 45 to 76 - in Safford
(DDD licensed home established in 1994)

Fuller - Serves three women whose ages range from 35 to 55 - in Thatcher
(DDD licensed home established in 1995)

Staff Retention:

Community Living Services places a great deal of value and effort on staff retention. We recognize work in this field can be challenging, and have established a number of practices that we believe value our employees and reduce turnover.

New employees are assigned their own guardian angel, a management staff member that is available to them their first 90 days.

Every employee receives a personalized birthday card with a small gift certificate. Employees also receive gifts every year on the anniversary of their hire date. These gifts increase in value with years of service. More than ten of our employees have celebrated 10 year anniversaries.

More than 25% of our staff have been here more than 5 years, 38% have been here for 3 years, and 42% have been here 2 or more years.

Parent Advisory Group:

In 2002, the Parent Advisory Group was established. Members hold quarterly meetings with an open format, although the focus is always on problem solving, centering on the individuals served by CLS. Input from the Parent Advisory Group has provided many creative solutions, such as assuring that everyone served by CLS has access to dental insurance and implementation of the recreation technician program.

Special Events:

Our division holds a variety of annual events. Most of these are social event parties for residents, staff, and family members.

Rummage Sale/Raffle/Bake Sale - Agency staff, local businesses, and members of the community donate items to be sold or raffled, including products and services. Local businesses donate beverages and agency staff and residents bake snacks available for a small donation.  This truly is a fun fundraiser!

Donate to the Community Living Services Rummage Sale! 
Call us at (520) 792-2636 or drop items off at 717 S. Alvernon Way. For monetary donations, please contact Lynn Serra, Director of Community Resources, at (520) 327-1529.

Spring Picnic - This event is held annually on the Saturday before Easter at a local park. It includes games, piñatas, Easter related activities, and plenty of food.

Summer Social - Held in July at Nicholson Hall in St. Cyril’s Church, this pizza party has plenty of food, beverages, music, and dancing.

Direct Care Worker Day Established by Governor Janet Napolitano in 2004, September 19th is set aside to honor our on-line staff. The management team puts together and serves a picnic style lunch for all of our 120+ on-line staff.

CLS Management Retreat - This annual event was inaugurated more than 10 years ago with the goal of setting aside time specifically for strategic planning for the upcoming year.

Halloween Party - Held at a local park, this event includes games, costume contest, music, and dancing. Hamburgers and hotdogs are provided.

Holiday Party - Established in 1994, this catered event is held during the month of December at St. Cyril’s Church in Nicholson Hall. Ceremonies are held to honor Employees of the Month, Management Team Member of the Year, and The Connie Award for the top staff person of the year (named in honor of long-time Blake staffer Connie Cusack). Door prizes for all residents and many staff are part of the fun. This is our largest social event of the year.

Special Olympics Throughout the year, all interested residents are encouraged to participate in different sporting events. Current events include bowling, and athletics (track and field). This program continues to expand.

CLS Newsletter:

Established in 2001, this quarterly publication is developed by the management team to keep everyone informed about events and to highlight accomplishments within the department.  The newsletter is designed to be educational, informative, fun and inspirational.

To learn more, contact us.