2012-2013 Working with Communities & Systems I

<-- 2012-2013 MCH Competency Reflections

Melva Gooden-Ledbetter, Chief Professional Officer, and Jack Snook, Director of Centre Services, presented on the mission and core values of United Cerebral Palsy/Community Living and Support Services (UCP/CLASS), and the various services and programs provided by this major rehabilitation agency. UCP/CLASS’ mission of “working toward the community where each belongs” and the agency’s principles of holistically supporting the dignity of each person through community inclusion, advocacy, and education align with MCHB’s competencies.  Specifically, the competencies of Policy and Advocacy, Working with Communities and Systems, Interdisciplinary Team Building, Communication, and Family Centered Care are addressed through UCP/CLASS’s core values. 

Family Centered Care is the driving force to provide individual services, which can be done though Communication and allowing individuals to express their needs.  Advocacy and Working with Communities can be seen throughout all of UCP/CLASS’ services.  Advocacy from this organization is not just tailored for the individual, but for the entire community of individuals with disabilities.  They are actively involved in trying to pass bills and laws that affect individuals with disabilities at the local, state and federal levels. UCP/CLASS leverages their relationships with other organizations, as well as with the individual and their family to provide services that address every aspect of life. If an individual within the program is receiving services through another organization then they try to coordinate care so that complementary programs can be provided. They also work closely with the individual to address what goals they specifically have in mind to accomplish and create unique opportunities to allow the person achieve them.

Like so many other agencies, UCP/CLASS is experiencing challenges with providing proper services while dealing with a decreasing budget.  As a result, they have become creative with their advocacy, community inclusion, and education services.  To remain true to their mission while operating on a tight budget, they have divided services into different smaller agencies; all operating under the parent agency of UCP.  Approximately 88-89% of their funding is government provided; however, UCP continues to try to diversify their funding in order to prolong their services.  UCP’s ambition, creativity, and passion for community inclusion, advocacy, and education will help them through these tough economic times, and hopefully prosper overtime.