www.nhtc.org | Spring 2018
New DirectionsNHTCNorthern Hills Training Center
To enhance lives and achieve dreams.
Art Exhibit
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Seven people supported recently had the ex-citement of exhibiting their artwork to familyand friends. Sarah Hoffman, Sheila Davidson,
Todd Fossen, JC Barba, Kaylene Rost, Melissa Heckel,and Diana Treadway took part in a five-month long artclass, developed and taught by Elizabeth Mattson, DirectSupport Professional.
The students determined what they wanted to learn and were involved in every project decision.The class began in June as the students developed their drawing skills by studying technique, compo-sition, and color application. Throughout the class, the students learned how to work with media thatwas unfamiliar to them, how to apply color in har-monies and compliments, and how to view theirsurroundings with new perspectives, embracingtheir unique styles in the process. These sessions ledinto the fall, when students developed their paint-ing skills and built off techniques covered earlier inthe drawing unit. During one class, the group wentto a park and picked up sticks, paper, bottle tops,one plastic fork, and other objects to incorporateinto a piece of work. The class culminated with agroup painting project and art exhibit.
CommunitySupervisedArt Class
Artists and their project.
Northern Hills Training Center New Directions U www.nhtc.org2
Start of the Legislative Session and changesto Vocational Services are on the horizon!
Northern Hills Training Center (NHTC) and the other members of the SouthDakota Association of Community Support Providers (CSPs) are beginning theannual push to lobby our South Dakota State Legislature for more funding. Thisyear we met with the Division of Developmental Disabilities in an attempt to haveour need for increased funding included in the Governor’s statewide budget. De-spite our best efforts, this request was not included in this year’s budget. CSPswere told that a lack of revenue, along with the Governor’s preference for the StateLegislature to award any additional funding, were the reasons for this decision.
Currently the federal government will be reimbursing states through Indian Health Services, for thoseof Native American ethnicity, who receive Center for Medicare and Medicaid (CMS) Services. Thiswill be a cost savings to the entire system. We will advocate to legislators to reinvest those savingsback into CSPs, rather than placing those savings in the state General Fund or other programs. Thereare also legislative bills being proposed that may generate potential revenue that could be used to in-crease funding to CSPs, such as a proposed Tobacco Tax Bill. CSP agencies will continue to supportany of these forms of legislation that could potentially increase funding for the people we support,and increase wages for and retention of, our dedicated support staff.
On June 1, 2018, the Division of Developmental Disabilities will implement a statewide change inrules for employment of people with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities. Many of the peoplewe serve at NHTC will not be affected; however, some who work under our current 14c SubminimumWage Certificate will see changes. There will be time limitations of 18 months from the date of theirISP, for people working in sheltered workshops, with the potential for some extensions. The changeswill not affect our job crews; these changes only apply to facility based work. Preparing individualsfor work in the community is the goal of CMS; however, we realize that one type of employment op-tion does not fit all that we serve. Therefore NHTC’s Day Services Department is strategizing optionsto effectively offer work and recreation opportunities that ensure people have productive and mean-ingful days. We will continue to work closely with individuals and their teams, to determine the bestoption for those we serve. Treasures Thrift Store, our woodshop, job crews and assembly work willcontinue for the immediate future, but over the next two years, there will be gradual changes in theemployment options that we will be permitted to offer, under changing federal and state rules onemployment. If you have any questions about these pending changes, please contact myself or ourDirector of Vocational & Day Services, April Galea.
Richard S. Mulholland, CEO
If you would like to receive our newsletter electronically, sign up at www.nhtc.orgIf you are a member of Facebook, view the NHTC Facebook page
by searching for Northern Hills Training Center.
From the CEO
Blue Diamond Award Winner2017 Fourth Quarter: Elizabeth Mattson
Tori Anderson Elizabeth Mattson Lisa Spraitz
Nominees:
Congratulations are in order…
Simply the BEST…
3Northern Hills Training Center New Directions U www.nhtc.org
New Directions is published three times ayear for friends of Northern Hills TrainingCenter, a nonprofit organization that pro-vides vocational and independent livingservices to empower adults with disabilities,encouraging all to strive for their ultimatepotential in all aspects of their lives. Permis-sion to copy articles is granted, when appro-priate credit is given. NHTC does not givelegal or tax advice. For this information,contact your attorney or tax advisor.
NHTC Board of DirectorsGreg Kruskamp, President
Dana Sneesby, Vice PresidentJane Klug, Secretary / Treasurer
Russ Graesser, Josh Horak and Tracey Steinbach
Rich MulhollandChief Executive Officer
Sandra NelsonChief Financial Officer
Delana MoserDirector of Nursing
Cheryl Rohlf and Amy MackDirectors of Residential Services
April GaleaDirector of Vocational & Day Services
Ryan AalbuDirector of Human Resources
Deb LeigeDirector of Support & Quality Services
Chris DavisCommunity Relations Coordinator
Gary PummelProgram Manager, Tinton
Dean ReuerInformation Technology
Monte BercierMaintenance & Transportation Officer
Lynn GronvoldAdministrative Assistant
Joan KirschmanOffice Manager
Administration, Workshop625 Harvard Street
Spearfish, SD 57783-1897605-642-2785 Fax: 605-642-5069Email: [email protected]: www.nhtc.org
NHTC Connections625 Harvard Street 605-642-2785
Treasures Thrift Store714 N. 5th St. 605-722-1046
Housing730 Harvard 605-559-0201Cypress Suites 605-559-0141
1005 Canyon Street 605-717-10051015 Canyon Street 605-717-1015
King Street Apartments 605-559-6503815 34th Street 605-717-81501620 Ryan Road 605-717-1620
Hill Street Main Floor 605-717-7287Hill Street Supervised 605-559-0363
NHTC NORTHERN HILLSTRAINING CENTER
10 YearsDarcy Bryant
5 YearsTeri RuzickaRobin PearceLaTisha WendtAimee Tyler
Rabecca Lauer
1 YearAshley Hall
Bayli TalkingtonMary RootLisa SpraitzAllanah HareLaura Nord
Caroline Mcvey
6 MonthsJerred TraceyKellie KephartKayse Labine
Jay FossLynn GronvoldSamantha JamesPeggy BrungardtShannon ZwetzigRebecca Bradley
6 Months continued
Whitney SchnaibleJosie HeinbaughHailey NewmanAubrey BeattieAndrea SipeDalton ErskinNickie ColeShaile Litzel
Madeline KurtzDan DziadekBillie Jo Kester
Samantha RobertsDeb Fritz
Morgan BlakemanJackie KuhnAngel BrittonKris LarsonTysha Muller
Years ofServiceNHTCNorthern Hills Training Center
Patty Davidsonand Amanda SailorPatty received the Excellence in Service Award for NHTC.
4
Halloween Party
Northern Hills Training Center New Directions U www.nhtc.org
Top: Room view Above: Treat line
Left: Ring Toss Right: Dressed for the party
Haunted house Tray of treats
Christmas Party
Northern Hills Training Center New Directions U www.nhtc.org 5
Coming to the party
Helpful reindeer
Mrs. Claus and friends
Brandi and Vonnie
Above: Santa’s Room
Left: Gingerbread house construction
UpcomingEvents
April 7AwardsBanquet
June 27Blood Driveat NHTC
October 16Chili Feed
Visit our website to find these buttons.
You may also donate directly to NHTC throughPayPal and the DONATE button on our website.
6 Northern Hills Training Center New Directions U www.nhtc.org
continued from page 1 ART
NHTC now has two ways that you cansupport us when shopping online:
Help savepostageandprintingcosts!Receive NHTC’snewsletter, “New Directions,” by emailor read it on-line. Either option is available by visitingwww.nhtc.org. Besure to let Joan know if you nolonger wish to havethe newsletter sent toyou at your postal address. [email protected] 605-642-2785, Ext. 201.
Elizabeth says,“Each student’s workis very unique and Iwas delighted to getto know new thingsabout everyone asthey talked abouttheir work. I am soproud to see howthese artists havegrown and learned.They all started outthe class having a fewart skills and finishedthe class with even more skills than they expected they were capable of.It was such a joy to see them try new things and for them to realize thatthey are able to achieve whatever they set their mind to with a little de-termination and teamwork. These artists became a tight knit group asthey encouraged each other and rejoiced in everyone’s success.”The art class is tentatively scheduled to resume in the fall.
Todd and his visitors.
Kaylene and her art pieces.
Thank you to our donors:October 25, 2017-January 9, 2018
Thank You forThinking of NHTC
and Donating to NHTC and Friends of NHTC Foundation
Northern Hills Training Center New Directions U www.nhtc.org 7
Builder ($1000-4999)Robert & Neely FoxSpearfish Walmart
Robert & Carmen Dolen
Sustainer ($500-999)Spearfish Electric & HeatingSteve & Lea Anderson
Our Savior’s Lutheran Church
Advocate ($150-499)Black Hills Federal Credit Union
Edwin BakerFirst Interstate BankSpearfish WalmartGreg & Cheryl LindJ.L. HarknessBoyd Waara
Friend ($50-149)Georgia Feist
Richard & Alice VoorheesMarcella GundersonGene & Diane Haivala
William JordanSCCC Ladies
John & Berna Dene BaumannHoward & Elaine Perry
Noah Hines
Neighbor ($1-49)Bruce & Connie EllingsonTom & Judy Hodson
Our Savior’s LutheranChurch Quilters
Awards Banquet42nd ANNUAL
Northern Hills Training CenterCordially Invites You to the
Registration and photos in the lobby begin at 11:30 a.m. Lunch served at noon.
Yes! I /we want to attend the Annual Awards Banquet Saturday, April 7, 2018 at 11:30amNHTC will make reservations for your NHTC-supported family member.
MEAL ORDERS WILL ONLY BE MADE FOR MEALS PAID FOR IN ADVANCE.
Name ________________________________________ Meal Choice: ___Roasted Turkey ___ Three Cheese Tortellini ___Baked Chicken (regular meal) (vegetarian) (special diet, no seasonings)
Address ________________________________________________________ City _____________________________ State _________ Zip ________________
Saturday, April 7, 2018 ~ Spearfish Holiday Inn & Convention Center
Reservation
s
may also be m
ade
online at…
www.nhtc
.org
And pay w
ith Paypa
l
625 Harvard Street | Spearfish, SD 57783-1897
Non-Profit OrganizationU.S. Postage
PAIDPermit No. 51
Spearfish, SD 57783
Are We Connecting?Please let us know if we need to correct or deleteyour address on our mailing list. Contact Joan at605-642-2785, ext. 201 or email your addresschanges to: [email protected]
This transit agency is committed to providing non-discriminatory service. To request more information or to file a discrimination complaint, contact this transitagency or the South Dakota Department of Transportation at (605) 773-3574.
This institution is an equal opportunityprovider and employer.
To enhance lives and achieve dreams.New Directions
NHTCNorthern Hills Training Center
Please reserve _______ seats for me.
Enclosed is payment of $__________ (number of seats x $17.00)
Please RSVP by Monday, March 12 to:Joan Kirschman, Northern Hills Training Center625 Harvard Street, Spearfish, SD 57783