GATEWAY SERVICES INC

COMMUNITY CASE MANAGEMENT INCLUDES UNITED WAY OF JOHNSON COUNTY'S ECONOMIC ASSISTANCE PLANNING FOCUSED ON REGAINING FINANCIAL STABILITY FOR FAMILIES IMPACTED BY JOB LOSS DUE TO THE ECONOMY OR OTHER DISRUPTING LIFE EVENTS. THIS SERVICE HAS CONTINUED THROUGH 2024 AND STRIVES TO COORDINATE SERVICES AND ACCESS TO RESOURCES FOR JOHNSON COUNTY FAMILIES WHO MAY ALSO BE SERVED BY A VARIETY OF UNITED WAY AGENCIES. THE FOCUS OF THE SERVICE IS INCREASED FAMILY FINANCIAL STABILITY. DURING 2024, OF 9 NEW REFERRALS, 9 NEW ELIGIBLE FAMILIES WERE ADDED, RECEIVING CASE MANAGEMENT AND ASSISTANCE IN REACHING THEIR INDIVIDUAL GOALS. AS THERE WERE CASES STILL OPEN FROM 2023, EAP CASE MANAGEMENT SERVED A TOTAL OF 11 FAMILIES IN 2024. NO PLACE TO CALL HOME, A PROGRAM FUNDED BY UNITED WAY OF JOHNSON COUNTY PROVIDES CASE MANAGEMENT AND FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE TO THOSE WHO ARE HOMELESS OR AT IMMEDIATE RISK OF HOMELESSNESS IN OUR COMMUNITY. THIS PROJECT INCLUDES COLLABORATION OF SEVERAL COMMUNITY AGENCIES TO PROVIDE A LOCAL NETWORK OF CASE MANAGEMENT SERVICES. DURING 2024, GATEWAY SERVICES PROVIDED CASE MANAGEMENT TO A TOTAL OF 22 FAMILIES (19 WERE NEW 2024 REFERRALS) TO HELP REACH THEIR INDIVIDUAL GOALS, INCLUDING THAT OF SECURING REASONABLE HOUSING. -COMMUNITY EMPLOYMENT SERVICES OPENED CASES FOR AND SERVED ANOTHER 37 NEW REFERRALS IN 2024 FOR VOC REHAB PLACEMENT AND TRAINING SERVICES. IN 2024, EMPLOYMENT CONSULTANTS WERE ABLE TO RECEIVE TRAINING IN DISCOVERY OR EMPLOYMENT SPECIALIST TRAINING. REFERRALS CONTINUED TO COME IN AND NEW STAFF WERE HIRED. SEVERAL ADAPTATIONS HAVE BEEN MADE TO ACCOMMODATE A DIVERSE TEAM OF EMPLOYMENT CONSULTANTS. MOST OF THE STAFF ARE PART TIME WITH VARIED SCHEDULES. ALL STAFF ARE PROVIDED WITH A LAPTOP AND CELL PHONE IF NEEDED IN ORDER TO PROVIDE SERVICES IN THE COMMUNITY. 34 INDIVIDUALS RECEIVED EXTENDED CAREER SUPPORT/'FOLLOW-ALONG' SERVICES, SUCCESSFULLY HOLDING THEIR COMMUNITY JOBS IN 2024. 132 INDIVIDUALS WITH DISABILITIES WERE ASSISTED WITH THEIR JOB SEARCH, NEW-HIRE TRAINING, AND/OR ONGOING SUCCESSFUL JOB RETENTION AND EMPLOYMENT/CAREER SUPPORT. THERE WERE 33 NEW JOB PLACEMENTS MADE, 2 BENEFITS INFORMATION REPORTS AND 7 PRE-REPORTS MADE IN 2024. OUR CERTIFIED BENEFITS INFORMATION SPECIALISTS TEACH CLIENTS HOW WORK WILL AFFECT THEIR BENEFITS, ENCOURAGING THEM TO WORK TO THEIR FULLEST POTENTIAL, AND ASSISTING THEM IN COORDINATING THEIR DISABILITY BENEFITS WITH WORKING, TO ALLOW GREATER INDEPENDENCE. GATEWAY IS A FEDERALLY-APPROVED EMPLOYMENT NETWORK AND DURING 2024, GATEWAY PROVIDED SERVICES TO 15 INDIVIDUALS UNDER TICKET TO WORK. 1 INDIVIDUAL STARTED FULL-TIME BENEFITTED POSITION; 4 INDIVIDUALS STARTED PART-TIME JOBS TO GET STARTED ON THEIR GOALS OF WORKING FULL TIME IN THE FUTURE. 2 INDIVIDUALS CONTINUE TO WORK FULL TIME AND ARE WORKING THEIR WAY OFF OF SOCIAL SECURITY BENEFITS. THEY ARE ALL TESTING THEIR ABILITY TO WORK BEFORE CONSIDERING FULL TIME WORK. -HABILITATION SERVICES PROVIDED IN 2024 TO INDIVIDUALS WITH DISABILITIES INCLUDED SERVICE COORDINATION (182); AND DAY PROGRAM (41) EMPHASIZING MEANINGFUL COMMUNITY PARTICIPATION, ACCESS TO COMMUNITY OPPORTUNITIES AND LOCAL RESOURCES, VOLUNTEERISM, HANDLING OF LIFE EVENTS WITH SUPPORT FROM STAFF, SKILL DEVELOPMENT, INCLUSIVE RECREATION/LEISURE ACTIVITIES AND EVENTS, AND PERSONAL ENRICHMENT. OUR LOCAL KIWANIS 'AKTION CLUB' CHAPTER, IN ITS 29TH YEAR CONTINUED ITS VOLUNTEERISM AND COMMUNITY SERVICE PROJECTS IN 2024. PARTICIPANTS, AS WELL AS OTHERS FROM THE COMMUNITY, WERE INVITED TO ATTEND PARTIES AND WORK ON COMMUNITY SERVICE PROJECTS SUCH AS GATHERING AND DONATING ITEMS FOR THE KIWANIS CARE-CART AT RILEY HOSPITAL, DONATING FOOD AND NEEDED SUPPLIES TO THE PAWSITITY PROGRAM AT JOHNSON COUNTY SENIOR SERVICES. COLLECTING BACK TO SCHOOL ITEMS FOR UNITED WAY FAST TRACK, AND MAKING UP SNACK PACK FOR LOCAL ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS AND KIC-IT. DAY PROGRAM CONTINUED TO OFFER COMMUNITY GROUPS IN 2024 AS WELL AS FACILITY ACTIVITIES SUCH AS MUSIC, COOKING, AND ARTS AND CRAFTS GROUPS. THE BOOK MOBILE COMES EVERY OTHER FRIDAY AND PARTICIPANTS CAN CHECK OUT BOOKS, MOVIES AND AUDIO BOOKS. PURDUE EXTENSION CAME IN TO GIVE PRESENTATIONS ON HEALTHY FOOD CHOICES AND COOKING. DAY PROGRAM ALSO OFFERED BINGO DAY ON THURSDAYS AND MUFFIN MONDAY AND ADDED A ZUMBA GROUP IN 2024. SUMMER ACTIVITIES TOOK PLACE AT AMPHITHEATERS, THE ARTCRAFT THEATER AND LOCAL PARKS.-RESPITE SERVICES PROVIDED CAREGIVER SUPPORT FOR CHILDREN AND ADULTS, WITH ALL THE NEEDED PRECAUTIONS, FOR 14 YOUTH AND ADULTS IN 2024 THROUGH 1,515 HOURS OF RESPITE CARE, SUPPLIED BY A GATEWAY TRAINED RELIEF CAREGIVER WHO THE FAMILY PERSONALLY CHOOSES FROM INDIVIDUALS THEY ALREADY KNOW AND TRUST. RESPITE IS PROVIDED BOTH IN THE HOME AND IN COMMUNITY LOCATIONS, OFFERING SAFE, GUILT-FREE TIME AND OPPORTUNITY FOR CAREGIVERS, ADDING TO THE QUALITY OF LIFE OF THE WHOLE FAMILY.