We Got Creamed … While Raising Awareness And Funds!

On March 26th, LifeROOTS gave the community the opportunity to have some fun, and to show "management" how they really feel ... by throwing a pie in the face of several different LifeROOTS Managers, CEOs and even an attorney, who all volunteered to be part of the first ever "Throw a Pie In The Face of Management Event" held at Village Inn on San Mateo. 

Paul DiPaola, Regional President of US Bank and Cristin Heyns, Corporate Counsel and Director of Human Resources at Blake's Lotaburger, were great sports as they "got creamed" for a great cause ... helping to raise money, and raise awareness, of the work LifeROOTS is doing in the community.  In addition to Paul and Cristin, the event also featured members of the LifeROOTS Board of Directors, managers of different divisions within LifeROOTS and our very own LifeROOTS CEO, Kathleen Cates. 

In conjunction with the day's "Throw a Pie in the Face of Management" event, customers who visited the Village Inn that evening had the opportunity to have a percentage of their bill donated to LifeROOTS.  For each customer who mentioned that they support LifeROOTS, the Village Inn donated 10% of their bill directly to LifeROOTS.

"We came up with this idea as a really fun way to engage both our employees and the community as we work to raise money for LifeROOTS to help us enhance our programs and services that we provide to those with disabilities throughout central New Mexico," said Kathleen Cates.  "The concept of throwing a pie in the face of management is something that we think takes on a very timely angle in today's workforce and a fundraiser that has never been done with local companies here in Albuquerque. We thought it would not only be an event that all will enjoy, but a very successful way for us to raise money for LifeROOTS."

The event also featured a variety of other activities for employees and attendees at the fundraiser; including a pie-eating contest, and special relay races where participants make and carry pie boxes around the restaurant.  We also arranged for an on-site LifeROOTS information booth providing information to customers about LifeROOTS programs and services.

This first-ever event was a success in many ways ... and we're looking forward to building on this successful event as we begin thinking about next year's "Throw a Pie in the Face of Management" Event.   We've already received interest from local business leaders in the community eager to get involved in helping to raise money for LifeROOTS through this fun and unique event ... and we have a feeling that even more pies are going to fly in 2016!

 

If you want to be a part of the “Throw a Pie in the Face of Management, 2016" email Lucy Rosen at Lucy@smartmarketingcommunications.com

Mother’s Day Plant Sale At LifeROOTS

We have an upcoming fundraiser that is sure to bring smiles both to all the moms out there, as well as our LifeROOTS clients! 

Our clients are busy at work in decorating beautiful Mother’s Day Flower Pots – a perfect gift for moms, grandmothers, aunts, sisters and all of the special people in your life.  Each one of these handcrafted flower pots – made with love from clients in our Day Habilitation program –are individual and unique.  Clients will plant a flower in each decorated pot, and they will be sold for $25.00 each.

For more information about the LifeROOTS Mother’s Day Flower Pot sale, call Lily at 505-255-5501 for more information about how to pre-order.

LifeROOTS Early Intervention Program Recognized by the State!

LifeROOTS Invited to Participate in Two Pilot Programs Over the Next 3 Years

We are thrilled to announce that

LifeROOTS has been recognized by the State for our quality services in our early intervention program, and invited to participate in two exciting pilot programs that will be of value to both our staff and our clients. It is an honor to have been selected for these two pilot programs, and we’re excited to be part of both of them over the next few years.

In the first program, which is training, we are being provided with video cameras and min iPads for five of our providers so that they may learn how to video tape for providers who cannot be sent into the field. Not only is this a great skill to have, but the equipment is a very valuable investment into our organization. For the second program, we are one out of only 8 agencies selected (from 38 in the State) for a pilot program related to IFSP (Individual Family Services Plan) development. In noting why LifeROOTS and the other seven organizations were selected, FIT Program Quality Assurance Manager Patti Ramsey noted each organization’s reliable data and strong leadership - a great testament to the skills and hard work of our early intervention team.

For more information about the LifeROOTS Early Intervention programs and services, click here >>>

How Does Our Garden Grow?

With the Help of Our Friends and Supporters!

As many of you know, we have been hard at work in creating the LifeROOTS Community Garden - a beautiful outdoor garden where our clients can not only eat and interact with eachother in a communal environment, but will learn nutritional information and absorb practical gardening techniques through hands-on experience working in the garden. We are excited to offer our clients the opportunity to be active participants and work together in the gardening process - where they will learn the skills of planting and cultivating vegetables and learn nutritional benefits and ways to prepare vegetables for healthy consumption .. and even more excited for them to experience the joy we know they will find as they watch the garden grow due to their efforts ... and have the opportunity to eat the fruits of their own labors!

The garden is almost complete and we are excited for our goal of having it ready this Spring ... but we still need some help. Through previous donations from the Anderson Foundation and General Mills, the construction of the community garden has been accomplished. However, in anticipation of completing this project, we still need to purchase handicap accessible furnishings including outdoor tables and chairs and waste disposal units. We are seeking contributions from our supporters to help us complete this last step, and are trying to raise $3,000 to complete this beautiful garden for our clients. LifeROOTS will be recognizing all sponsors with a special tile in their name on the wall of the community garden.  

We hope you will consider joining us in making our LifeROOTS Community Garden a reality for our clients ... who are all eagerly awaiting the opportunity to make a difference in their lives, and the lives of others, through their work in our Garden. For more information about how you can become a supporter of the LifeROOTS Community Garden and donate to this important project, call Kathleen Cates at 505-255-5501, or click here for more information about how you can donate.

Important News Surrounding the DD Waiver!

There was recently some important news and developments surrounding the DD Waiver!  As many of you know, the Supports Intensity Scale (SIS) has resulted in many individuals with disabilities being denied services that they need simply through this one assessment.  However, an important development recently occurred, with the federal district court issuing an opinion granting a preliminary injunction in favor of the Plaintiffs in the case of Waldrop v. the New Mexico Human Services Department and the New Mexico Department of Health -- a case which is bringing to light the many problems associated with how NM has used the SIS. 

 

According to the order  "The services and benefits afforded to New Mexico DD Waiver recipients must be returned to the status quo ante preceding the initiation of the SIS assessment process."   This means that it appears as if everyone who had received a SIS has to have their DD Waiver services restored to the services that they were receiving before they had a SIS assessment. 

 

This is important news and a promising development for those with disabilities and their families who have faced service cuts due to the SIS.  Call us if you have any questions surrounding service cuts due to the SIS and these new developments – and keep checking our website and Facebook page for additional developments on this issue and other timely issues facing individuals with disabilities and their families.

Kathleen Cates Appears on KKOB-AM “Performance Excellence USA” to Discuss Pinon Recognition For LifeROOTS

Kathleen Cates was recently a guest on KKOB-AM’s “Performance Excellence USA” radio to discuss LifeROOTS and our programs/services.  The radio show is designed to showcase “Best Practices” from organizations throughout the US committed to performance excellence, and was the result of LifeROOTS once again being honored with Pinon recognition from Quality New Mexico in the New Mexico Performance Excellence Awards.

LifeROOTS was one of six organizations receiving Pinon Recognition this past year from Quality New Mexico.  Modeled after the Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award, QNM’s process is based on the time‐tested Baldrige Criteria for Performance Excellence® which provides a framework and criteria to guide improved performance. Piñon Level Recognition means that an organization shows evidence they are in the early stages of using systematic processes as a foundation to attain improved outcomes.

We were excited to be recognized at the Governor’s Residence for this honor on December 3^rd,  and are looking forward to formal recognition at the 2015 Quality New Mexico Learning Summit & New Mexico Performance Excellence Awards Ceremony being held at the Isleta Resort.  Check back for photos and more information about the Ceremony in our next issue!

To hear Kathleen’s interview on KKOB-AM’s “Performance Excellence USA”, click here.