|
 Agency wins best place to work award
July 21, 2010
The agency won the Cincinnati Business Courier's Best Place to Work Award for the first time, which was announced at a luncheon November 11. Winning in the Grand category for employers with over 600 employees, competition included Fifth Third Bank and Christ Hospital. "Awards like this don’t just happen," said Cheryl Phipps, Superintendent, "It takes all of us working together to accomplish a very important mission...which we do everyday by providing exemplary service to people with developmental disabilities."
 Rost School welcomes new administrators
July 21, 2010
Margaret B. Rost School will welcome a new Principal, Duerk Zinn, and Educational Administrator, Kim Martindell, for the 2011 school year. Zinn has been with the agency for seven years, first as a Behavior Support Specialist, then as Director of Beckman Adult Center. He has a masters degree in Special Education from Xavier University. “Duerk and Kim are great additions,” said Kim Hauck, Director of Children’s Services. “Their varied ex¬periences will bring something new to the school.” Martindell has been an instructor, most recently at the Reading Hilltop Satellite classroom, since 2002. She has a masters degree in Educational Administration from Xavier University. “I am excited to be at Rost,” said Martindell, “I can’t wait for the start of the school year!”
 Coming Together Conference a success
July 13, 2010
Coming Together, a conference about supporting people with co-occurring mental health issues and developmental disabilities, was held on June 29 at Vineyard Church. Nearly 300 people from five counties attended the conference, which featured keynote speakers Tonier Cain and Scott Osterfeld. "It was a great source of information," said Preston Bartlett, Behavior Support Specialist, "I was glad to see so many agencies coming together to learn more about people with co-occurring mental health issues and developmental disabilities." The conference also featured break-out sessions about trauma and brain development, autism and co-occurring issues, the legal system and people with co-occurring issues and more. More than ten mental health and developmental disabilities organizations worked together to plan the conference, which was sponsored by a grant from the Mental Health/Developmental Disabilities Coordinating Center of Excellence in Columbus. The committee plans on continuing the event next year.
 Ohio PATHS Graduation
June 01, 2010
Ohio PATHS, a direct support and self determination training and credentialing program, held its yearly graduation May 27. Emceed by Scott Osterfeld, Operations Administrator of PATHS, attendees enjoyed the graduation luncheon at St. Joseph Home. Superintendent Cheryl Phipps spoke during the ceremony and two people served by the agency, Annie Callan and Jenny Crowe, received Certificates of Initial Proficiency, along with several others from provider agencies. To learn more about PATHS, visit www.ohiopaths.org
 Lamont Taylor joins board
May 17, 2010
Lamont Taylor of Kennedy Heights is the newest board member for Hamilton County Developmental Disabilities Services (HCDDS). He was appointed by the Hamilton County Commissioners in mid April. Lamont is the Employee Relations Representative at Frisch's. In addition to his work, he has served with various groups throughout Cincinnati, including most recently as chair of the Cincinnati Metropolitan Housing Authority, and as a board member for Southwestern Ohio Regional Transit Authority. He has also served with Cincinnati Empowerment Zone, the Hamilton County Community Action Agency, Cincinnati Works, Corryville Community Development Corporation, and Corryville Community Council. In 2004, Lamont was in the Cincinnati Business Courier's 40 Under Forty class and received the Hamilton County Community Action Agency's Bridge Builder Award. These are just two of many awards he has received for distinguished community service. Hamilton County DD Services provides educational, vocational, and residential supports, programs, and services to more than 8,500 children and adults with disabilities in Hamilton County. The Board meets monthly, except July and August, on the second Tuesday at 5 p.m. at the agency’s administrative offices at 1520 Madison Road, Cincinnati, 45206.
|