Resources for Independence, Resources for Independence, VisaliaVisalia

►NameName: : Resources for Independence Resources for Independence Central Valley, VisaliaCentral Valley, Visalia

►Location/mailing addressLocation/mailing address: 220 N. : 220 N. Santa Fe Ave. Visalia, CA 93292Santa Fe Ave. Visalia, CA 93292

►Website addressWebsite address: : http://www.ricv.org/index.htmlhttp://www.ricv.org/index.html

►Type of OrganizationType of Organization: Non-profit: Non-profit

Resources for Independence, Resources for Independence, Central ValleyCentral Valley

►Resources for Independence, Central Resources for Independence, Central Valley is made up of 5 branches Valley is made up of 5 branches throughout the Central Valley and has throughout the Central Valley and has been serving individuals with been serving individuals with disabilities since 1976.disabilities since 1976.

►Kings, Tulare, Merced, Madera and Kings, Tulare, Merced, Madera and Fresno County.Fresno County.

►RICV partners with individuals and RICV partners with individuals and the community to encourage people the community to encourage people with disabilities to be in control of with disabilities to be in control of their lives and to live more their lives and to live more independently through a diverse independently through a diverse range of choices and opportunities.range of choices and opportunities.

►Resources for Independence, Resources for Independence, Central ValleyCentral Valley

Mission StatementMission Statement

Vision StatementVision Statement

►The board of directors holds a vision of The board of directors holds a vision of what will be different for people with what will be different for people with disabilities as a result of RICV’s disabilities as a result of RICV’s resources.resources.

►This “vision” is comprised of 6 goals, This “vision” is comprised of 6 goals, each with certain objectives that must each with certain objectives that must be met in order to reach those goals.be met in order to reach those goals.

Vision Statement GoalsVision Statement Goals

Goal 1- Goal 1- ►People with disabilities will be fully equal People with disabilities will be fully equal

and naturally accepted in a world where and naturally accepted in a world where all people are considered natural and all people are considered natural and accepted. We will partner in all civic accepted. We will partner in all civic activities across the Valley with full activities across the Valley with full inclusion and equality. Disabilities will be inclusion and equality. Disabilities will be seen as a part of life by both people with seen as a part of life by both people with and without disabilities.and without disabilities.

Vision Statement GoalsVision Statement Goals

Goal 2-Goal 2-►Technology is designed to be used and Technology is designed to be used and

will be accessible, available and will be accessible, available and affordable for everyone (universal design).affordable for everyone (universal design).

Goal 3-Goal 3-►Employment is key to independence. The Employment is key to independence. The

employment rate of all people will be employment rate of all people will be equitable, with fair pay and without bias.equitable, with fair pay and without bias.

Vision Statement GoalsVision Statement Goals

Goal 4-Goal 4-►Children with disabilities and their Children with disabilities and their

families will be treated with respect by families will be treated with respect by their peers, and community. Self esteem their peers, and community. Self esteem is “under construction” here.is “under construction” here.

Goal 5-Goal 5-►Persons with a disability in the Central Persons with a disability in the Central

Valley and in our larger communities and Valley and in our larger communities and society will have high self-esteem and society will have high self-esteem and live enriched, self-directed lives.live enriched, self-directed lives.

Vision Statement GoalsVision Statement Goals

Goal 6-Goal 6-►The Central Valley will truly be fully The Central Valley will truly be fully

accessible, with full implementation of accessible, with full implementation of civil rights by business, local civil rights by business, local governments, schools and other governments, schools and other communities.communities.

Programs and ServicesPrograms and Services

► Systems Change Advocacy- Systems Change Advocacy- Systems change advocacy Systems change advocacy addresses issues related to individuals with disabilities including, but not addresses issues related to individuals with disabilities including, but not limited to: Housing, Transportation, Access, Employment, and Health.limited to: Housing, Transportation, Access, Employment, and Health.

► Assistive Technology- Assistive Technology- Assistive technology are the tools and Assistive technology are the tools and resources used by individuals with disabilities to help improve their quality of resources used by individuals with disabilities to help improve their quality of life and live more independently.life and live more independently.

► Client Assistance Program- Client Assistance Program- The Client Assistance Program informs The Client Assistance Program informs persons with disabilities about procedures and services, and assists them in resolving persons with disabilities about procedures and services, and assists them in resolving difficulties that may arise while receiving Rehabilitation Act funded services.difficulties that may arise while receiving Rehabilitation Act funded services.

► Creative Careers-Job Development- Creative Careers-Job Development- Creative Careers is Creative Careers is vendorized by the Department of Rehabilitation to provide job development services for vendorized by the Department of Rehabilitation to provide job development services for individuals with disabilities. Creative Careers has a high success rate with an ever individuals with disabilities. Creative Careers has a high success rate with an ever increasing number of consumers in its case load. The Counselors at the Department of increasing number of consumers in its case load. The Counselors at the Department of Rehabilitation have been outstanding partners to help us move this vital service forward.Rehabilitation have been outstanding partners to help us move this vital service forward.

► Communication Access- Communication Access- American Sign Language (ASL) interpreting is American Sign Language (ASL) interpreting is available, by appointment, when receiving RICV services. Additionally, all information at available, by appointment, when receiving RICV services. Additionally, all information at

RICV is available in alternative formats.RICV is available in alternative formats.

Programs and Services Programs and Services Cont’dCont’d

► High School Transitions-Bridges-High School Transitions-Bridges-► BBuilding uilding ► RRelationships, Reaching Goalselationships, Reaching Goals► IIndependence ndependence ► DDeveloping Skillseveloping Skills► GGuiding Studentsuiding Students► EEmpowermentmpowerment► SSelf–Advocacyelf–Advocacy

► Housing Resources-Services Provided: Housing Resources-Services Provided: ► Information and ReferralInformation and Referral► Landlord/Tenant AdvocacyLandlord/Tenant Advocacy► Home Modification ResourcesHome Modification Resources► Apartment Referral ListApartment Referral List► Homeowners/Renters AssistanceHomeowners/Renters Assistance

► Information and Referral-Information and Referral- RICV has a broad range of disability-related information and RICV has a broad range of disability-related information and resources that relate to the following topics:resources that relate to the following topics:

► Adult Day Cares CentersAdult Day Cares Centers► Crisis HotlinesCrisis Hotlines► Specialized TransportationSpecialized Transportation► Utility AssistanceUtility Assistance

Programs and Services Programs and Services Cont’dCont’d

► Financial AidFinancial Aid► Food ProgramsFood Programs► HousingHousing► Legal ServicesLegal Services

► Peer-SupportPeer-Support- Throughout the month, peer-support groups will be held - Throughout the month, peer-support groups will be held throughout the Valley at a variety of locations in order to discuss the following:throughout the Valley at a variety of locations in order to discuss the following:

► Life issuesLife issues► Learn computer skillsLearn computer skills► Learn about Assistive TechnologyLearn about Assistive Technology► Independent Living SkillsIndependent Living Skills► Disability rights awareness, etc.Disability rights awareness, etc.

► TransitionsTransitions- The project is intended to assist people with disabilities in relocating - The project is intended to assist people with disabilities in relocating out of a skilled nursing facility and into independent living.out of a skilled nursing facility and into independent living.

► To be eligible for this project the person must be on Medi-cal and have been living To be eligible for this project the person must be on Medi-cal and have been living in a skilled nursing facility (hospital, nursing or subacute care facility, or an in a skilled nursing facility (hospital, nursing or subacute care facility, or an intermediate care facility) for 6 month or longer. intermediate care facility) for 6 month or longer.

► The project can assist in several ways including providing a deposit, initial stock of The project can assist in several ways including providing a deposit, initial stock of personal and household items, home modifications, assistive devices, and other personal and household items, home modifications, assistive devices, and other items necessary to transition into independent living.items necessary to transition into independent living.

Work Incentive Planning Work Incentive Planning AssistanceAssistance

►Work Incentive Planning Assistance Work Incentive Planning Assistance (WIPA)- The WIPA program assists (WIPA)- The WIPA program assists individuals who are receiving SSI or SSDI individuals who are receiving SSI or SSDI benefits and are interested in returning to benefits and are interested in returning to work. The qualified staff show the work. The qualified staff show the individual how their benefits will be individual how their benefits will be affected when working. WIPA services affected when working. WIPA services puts emphasis on helping beneficiaries puts emphasis on helping beneficiaries plan for employment, access services and plan for employment, access services and supports needed to make employment supports needed to make employment possible.possible.

Who is Served?Who is Served?

►Persons with disabilitiesPersons with disabilities►Family members of persons with Family members of persons with

disabilitiesdisabilities►Friends of individuals with disabilitiesFriends of individuals with disabilities►Disability information is also available to Disability information is also available to

employers, professionals and employers, professionals and organizations.organizations.

►Certain programs provided may have Certain programs provided may have specific eligibility requirements.specific eligibility requirements.

Governance and AuthorityGovernance and Authority

►Board of Directors (9)Board of Directors (9)►Board members must be comprised of Board members must be comprised of

51% individuals with a disability. Every 51% individuals with a disability. Every decision that is made about policy must decision that is made about policy must be approved by the Board of Directors. be approved by the Board of Directors. Other members are individuals who are Other members are individuals who are interested in issues relating to interested in issues relating to disabilities.disabilities.

►Executive Director (1)Executive Director (1)►Director (1)Director (1)

Multicultural DevelopmentMulticultural Development

►51% of the board members MUST have a 51% of the board members MUST have a disabilitydisability

►Programs are culturally appropriate given Programs are culturally appropriate given the current client demographics, however, the current client demographics, however, this agency does want to do more this agency does want to do more outreach for those participants that live in outreach for those participants that live in rural areas.rural areas.

►Agency policies do support multicultural Agency policies do support multicultural developmentdevelopment

►The agency currently does not do as much The agency currently does not do as much outreach as they would like, due to outreach as they would like, due to transportation and budget issues.transportation and budget issues.

Social Justice within RICVSocial Justice within RICV

►The RICV staff direct their efforts The RICV staff direct their efforts toward the goal of freeing people with toward the goal of freeing people with disabilities from institutional living, disabilities from institutional living, while educating the community on while educating the community on accessibility issues. With the proper accessibility issues. With the proper support system from the community, support system from the community, people with disabilities can live where people with disabilities can live where they choose and pursue their dreams they choose and pursue their dreams just as any other individual does. just as any other individual does.

QuestionsQuestions

►What are the barriers within RICV?What are the barriers within RICV?►What is RICV’s mission statement?What is RICV’s mission statement?►Which population does RICV serve?Which population does RICV serve?