On the Horizon

More documents

Recommendations

Info

8Moving Forward with the “Green Lightfor Mobility” LA Metro GrantIn 2011 when the East Los Angeles and Tri-County RegionalCenters requested that New Horizons be added as a vendor theywere recognizing the high level of supported services the agencyprovides to clients through such programs like Supported Living.Our expansion into regions beyond the North San FernandoValley was seen as a huge step by many, while others wonderedwhere we would go next.In receiving a $1.4 million Los Angeles Metro Grant this pastyear that question has been answered.New Horizons has always had a history of leveraging its capabilitiesto the best of its ability. Now through the Metro Grant,which creates the “Green Light for Mobility” transportationtraining program, New Horizons has the opportunity to translatewhat we do on a daily basis to a much larger population. Thoseoutside of the agency will benefit from this project because NewHorizons’ proven experience with training our clients to usepublic transportation is a part of our high level of supportedservices. Through the years the agency has successfully taughtclients how to get back and forth to work, to and from theagency, and to other locations around Los Angeles. Our effortshave been highly successful. We have received many accoladesfor the training that goes on in our Job Club and SupportedEmployment and Living programs.Where New Horizons goes next is clearly up to us with this newgrant. We have been given funds as well as the opportunity tointroduce new areas to our agency. The Los Angeles Metro Grantputs New Horizons on the move to places it has never beenbefore, and a chance to ask once again... where will we go next?
New Horizons Extends Itself through REACHA little more than a year ago after recognizing a need for additionalsocial learning opportunities for New Horizons clients,Case Manager and Outreach Coordinator Patricia Davidovichcreated REACH (Receiving Education in Adult Challenges inHabilitation), a program that could be described as not onlyDavidovich’s brain child, but also her heart.From its inception in October 2011 the mission for REACHhas been to teach basic adult living skills to individuals at NewHorizons who may or may not have any other way to learnthem. But what began as a social hour where our clients playedBingo and ate pizza while learning about consumer rights froma local advocacy attorney group, soon became a vital outreachprogram that not only serves the New Horizons community butalso the community at large.“I started noticing how REACH integrated the New Horizonscommunity with the general community. Our topics and subjectmatter, which were highly varied throughout the year, not onlyserved those with special needs, but also anyone in need of goodpractical information, such as voting rights,” says Davidovich.9REACH introduces New Horizons to those who might neverstep foot on our campus for any other reason by consistentlyproviding a series of good, well delivered educational courseson topics ranging from health, safety and well-being, to citizenship,volunteerism and ways to access free community resources.Meetings are held twice a month on Thursdays in New HorizonsSam’s Café from 3:00-4:00pm and again from 5:30-6:30pm.Presentations are lively, often including activities like Bingo,word games, and group quizzes to help support the material.There is always some form of refreshments, a give-away or two,and time to socialize. The best part is it’s free; open to our clients,their family and friends, and yes, the community.For information on upcoming REACH Program classes, go towww.newhorizons-sfv.org. Announcements can also be found onTwitter and Facebook leading up to and on the day of the events.Other Ways New Horizons “Reaches” OutIn October 2012 the North Los Angeles County Regional Centerhosted a “Meet the Candidates Night” in Sam’s Café. A numberof city legislatures were invited to meet their constituents andspeak on the November national elections. In regards to theevening Chris Ward, New Horizons board member and SantaClarita Valley Field Representative, said: “The best part was thatyou saw people, who may not have believed their voice counted,learn how to advocate on behalf of themselves with local, stateand federal level electives.” She went on to state that on the otherside of the table, these same electives were learning about NewHorizons’ programs and need for funding.
Page 1 and 2: On the HorizonA publication of New
Page 3 and 4: 3A Tale ofTwo BrothersMike Wilson f
Page 5 and 6: A Conversation with Gene SicilianoC
Page 7: 7Achievement Center ExpansionMakes
Page 11 and 12: 11Board of DirectorsOfficersGene Si

On the Horizon

Create successful ePaper yourself

Delete template?

Save as template?