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Causes: Birth Defects & Genetic Diseases, Centers to Support the Independence of Specific Populations, Health, Health (General & Financing), Health Support, Human Services
Mission: The mission of united cerebral palsy of southern arizona is to enrich the quality of life for people with disabilities and the elderly by providing services that enhance their independence, productivity, inclusion in community life, and by providing support to their families. Ucpsa accomplishes its mission by providing programs to people with disabilities and the elderly in pima and yuma counties. Each of these programs provides individuals with cerebral palsy and other disabilities and the elderly with opportunities to increase their level of independence. We serve infants, children, teenagers, and adults with disabilities, and over 65% of our clients have a developmental disability other than cerebral palsy.
Programs: The main emphasis/function of ucpsa is to provide home-based services for people with developmental disabilities, physical disabilities, and the infirmed elderly. These services allow people to remain in their own homes, living independently or with their families. Ucpsa also provides respite services to family members in order to give them time off from on-going, care-giving duties. Services are provided 365 days a year, seven days a week, 24 hours a day. In total, ucpsa provided services to over 800 people with a variety of disabilities in 2016. Some of the people we serve use more than one service. These services include:attendant care and personal care provides individuals with personal care such as hygiene, light housekeeping, bathing, and meal preparation. 324 individuals. Habilitation (hah) is provided in the client's home, and the purpose of this service is to increase the skills necessary for more independent living. Some examples of goals for children are to learn how to brush their teeth, how to shower, or even how to clean their room. Examples of adult goals would be to learn how to sort laundry, prepare meals and follow a budget. 164 clients. Habilitation (hai) is provided in individualized designed living arrangements (idlas). This service is provided to adults who live independently. The purpose of this service is to assist and teach the client skills required to live in their own house. For instance, ucpsa providers help the clients plan healthy meals, make grocery lists, cook, do laundry, manage money, and learn how to use public transportation. 23 clients. Housekeeping is generally provided to clients who are able to manage their own personal hygiene but not able to perform household cleaning chores. 87 clients. Respite care provides parents and caregivers an opportunity to take a break from regular care giving. This service can be performed in the home or in the community thus allowing the family member(s) time outside the house. 387 clients. The workability and employment services program was launched in the beginning of 2014. It is an individualized and supportive employment program dedicated to teaching and preparing people with disabilities for integrated and sustainable work opportunities. The program also places participants in competitive employment opportunities. 167 clients. Ucpsa collaborates with the sunnyside school district and the department of developmental disabilities to underwrite and staff the yo si puedo summer program. The program's main purpose is to strengthen communication skills, including the use of augmentative communication devices. The participants are divided into groups by age, type of disability, and actual communication skill level. Each group then is responsible to write a skit and to perform it at the end of the program. The participants also go on a field trip out into the community to practice with their augmentative communication devices. 62 participants. Tucson/pima county services delivered:january - december: purchased lifeline monthly service for a client in order for him to remain in his home. March: sponsored piece the puzzle autism walk/run. April: purchased mobility scooter for client. May: sponsored veterinary care for client's cat. June: sponsored a portion of a purchase for a mobility van for a family. June: purchased medication lock box for client june: paid $1,200 stipend for siblings to attend yo si puedo. July: paid for family to stay in hotel when their home's air conditioning broke during the summer. November: purchased over $1,150 of grocery cards for thanksgiving dinners for families who might not otherwise been able to have a thanksgiving meal. November: purchased several gaslight theatre tickets for clients' fun activity out in the community. December: paid for plumbing maintenance at client's home. Yuma/yuma county services delivered:hah as defined and described above. 28 clients served in 2016. Respite care as defined and described above. 142 clients served in 2016. Attendant care as defined and described above. 119 clients served in 2016. Employment services as defined and described above. 4 clients served in 2016. June: purchased summer movie tickets for clients. September: purchased dentures for client that would otherwise not be able to afford. December: purchased a gift card for holiday dinner for client. Finally, we would like to thank the circle k corporation, southern arizona region, for their continued support of ucp of southern arizona. The 100 plus circle k stores in southern arizona each have money collection canisters on their counters designated for ucpsa. This accumulation of small change results in several hundred thousand dollars for ucp of southern arizona over the course of the year. Circle k also organizes an annual fundraising golf tournament that benefits ucp. We are very grateful for this support, as it helps us to maintain a high quality of service delivery for our many clients in tucson and yuma.