Senator Tim Huelskamp (left) and Executive Director David Jasper

Mosaic's Day at the Capitol

Mosaic representatives from all over the state of Kansas gathered on March 2 in Topeka to advocate for individuals receiving services from their Mosaic agencies. Nearly 30 legislators from the House and Senate attended the Mosaic hosted luncheon held at the Dillon House, next to the capitol to hear what they had to say.

Mosaic representatives from all five agencies in the state including Ellsworth, Winfield, Garden City, Liberal and Kansas City -- traveled to Topeka to express concern about the recent 10 percent cut to the Medicaid waiver reimbursement rate. Since Medicaid is the primary source of funding, estimated to be 95 percent, the rate reduction was anticipated to be absolutely devastating, reporting a $1.4 million loss to the Mosaic agencies across the state. Legislators were asked how it is possible that the state can expect a specific set of standards for quality of care, cut the reimbursement rate and diminish our budgets, and charge these agencies with the responsibility to provide quality care to those receiving services and to retain quality personnel.

While advocating at the Capitol, news spread that a portion of the most recent 10 percent cut to the Medicaid waiver had been restored. Advocacy work did not stop there for these agencies. Legislators still need to know that in order to provide the quality of services that are expected by the state, future cuts to this already fragile budget must not occur.

On the following day, Mosaic agencies in Kansas also participated in the events held by InterHab, an advocacy organization for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Mosaic representatives trekked through the capitol's renovations and knocked on the doors of their legislators to spread the word about Mosaic and advocating for people in the intellectual and developmental disability community. They were able to greet them, shake their hands, and pass along a plastic color-changing cup representing Invisible Kansans along with a certificate for a free smoothie.

Mosaic across Kansas encourages all people to advocate to to
their legislators about the rates that affect the people in their own communities for whom they provide services. It was an exhilarating experience for the representatives of Mosaic in Kansas to see and hear first-hand from legislators who make decisions that impact the people Mosaic serves.

Nathan playing checkers on his computer.

Nathan is on the Fast Track with Mosaic

Nathan joins Mosaic with contagious enthusiasm for life, so contagious that it begins to run within each person who comes in contact with him, which has been a positive affect on our agency, people served, and staff. Nathan is fascinated with auto racing, where the cars are enhanced by nitrous oxide. He has a need for speed in much of his interests including video games, watching the Drifting Series races, and in a few of his dreams and aspirations. "I would like to drive on the Autobahn in Germany someday!" Nathan said. "You can go as fast as you want!"

Mosaic has offered Nathan a sense of ownership in his independence and has provided him opportunities to reach for self-growth and achievement. Through Mosaic, Nathan has found the octane boost for his own life and will be enrolling in the High School Diploma program at the Colvin Learning Center in Liberal this summer. Nathan is currently studying to take the Kansas driver's license test so he may acquire a Kansas driver's license.

Nathan's story is Mosaic's mission and that is what Mosaic does -- providing a life of possibilities for people with intellectual
disabilities.

Does our Quality Measure Up to Your Expectations?

Learn how we measure the quality of our services -- Basic Assurances

Mosaic creates its culture of quality through the measurements of the foundational elements of health, safety, welfare, and personal security for each of the people we serve. It is not required by the state, but these measurements -- called Basic Assurances -- lead Mosaic to the forefront as being a data-informed and learning organization. Since these measurements offer solid evidence and clear understanding of areas for growth and improvement, our Quality Enhancement Plan goals are established from these findings. Validation for Basic Assurances are done twice per year.

The main topics for the Basic Assurances are called Factors. There are 10 Factors encompassed by the Basic Assurances.

• Factor 1: Rights Protection and Promotion - People learn and exercise their rights and receive the support required to make personal choices.
• Factor 2: Dignity and Respect - People with disabilities are treated as people first and are not referred to by their disability.
• Factor 3: Natural Support Networks - People have natural support networks that help them to realize their identity, security, and close loving relationships, while enabling and encouraging them to deepen and develop their own lives.
• Factor 4: Protection from Abuse, Neglect, Mistreatment, and Exploitation - People are not subjected to abuse, neglect, mistreatment, or exploitation of any sort.
• Factor 5: Best Possible Health - Health care services and supports enable each person to have the best possible health based on his or her unique health situations.
• Factor 6: Safe Environments - Organizations have the responsibility to ensure environments where people live, work, and recreate are safe and free of avoidable hazards.
• Factor 7: Staff Resources and Supports - The organization recognizes the importance of staff competency. The quality of the services provided is reflective of the quality of the interactions between the organization and the employees.
• Factor 8: Positive Services and Supports - People's wants and desires determine the supports for these choices and goals.
• Factor 9: Continuity and Personal Security - The organization structures itself so as to provide people with a sense of security and encourage people to influence the changes in their life.
• Factor 10: Basic Assurances System - Agencies must have a process by which their Basic Assurances data are  instrumental in evaluating their strengths and opportunities for improvement.

Within each of the Factors listed above, there are 46 Indicators that define the expectations for each of the Factors. Furthermore, within the Indicators, there are nearly 180 Mosaic Core Probes that assist in determining the presence or absence of the Indicator within an agency or system. The probes are used to evaluate how well the agency meets each Indicator.

In our most recent validation done in March this year, 74 percent of the indicators were present with a 98 percent reliability score, which is an improvement from previous scores. We will continue to implement systems to continue the upward trend in the quality we provide.

	Randy Grisham proudly displays his card from the National Weather Service.

Mosaic Clients Pursue Dreams of Storm-Chasing with Training from the National Weather Service

One of the highest priorities at Mosaic is to provide the people receiving services with meaningful days. It is a very big part of our ongoing goals in our Quality Enhancement Plan (QEP), and we are always looking to perfect it in our Basic Assurances. As such, when a person receiving services meets for a Person Centered Plan (PCP), staff look carefully to make sure that particular individual has opportunities for meaningful experiences in their life, and Mosaic provides support so they may act on those opportunities.

Recently in Randy Grisham's annual PCP, support staff discussed how Mosaic could support Randy in his goal to learn more about severe weather and storm chasing. Arthur, one of Randy's residential staff, stated that he too was interested in learning more about severe weather and storm chasing. To our surprise, the National Weather Service out of Dodge City, Kan. notified local media they would be making an appearance in Liberal to provide training to people who were interested in becoming storm spotters
for Seward County. What a match! Arthur agreed to attend the training with Randy at the Seward County Activity Center and both became a part of the training sessions that were held. Randy has a card that he keeps in his billfold about him attending the training to become a weather spotter for Seward County. He is quite proud of the accomplishment and shares it with others.

One of the Personal Outcome Measures in our Basic Assurances is "People Realize Personal Goals." It is clear that Randy indeed realized one his personal goals on this day!

Youth group members from First Baptist Church and First Southern Baptist of Liberal stand proudly in front of their handiwork at one of Mosaic's group homes.

Garages at Mosaic Homes Get a New Coat of Paint

Mosaic in Liberal has partnered with the First Southern Baptist Church and the First Baptist Church of Liberal as their youth groups come together to serve the community. The two groups
spent two Saturdays giving the garages at all four group homes a new coat of paint with the help of their youth directors, Kevin McCloud and Jeremy Durig.

Mosaic is excited that the groups approached them with the opportunity. "It helps out more than you realize," said Executive Director David Jasper. "These homes, just like your home, have to have regular maintenance, and we have one part-time employee who performs the maintenance on all properties. When an opportunity like this is presented to us, we almost always can find something for them to do!"

Mosaic would like to thank the two groups for reaching out to Mosaic and its mission.

	Amanda Stout with Tom Laing and Matt Fletcher from InterHab after a Ways and Means Committee Hearing for the State SRS Budget.

What is a Community Relations Manager?

In August 2009, a new position was created to assist the agency in promoting brand awareness and community involvement as Mosaic pursues its mission in Liberal. Amanda Stout was hired to take on the duties as our Community Relations Manager (CRM).

As the CRM, Amanda handles the public relations, marketing, advertising and promotional campaigning, broadcast media interviews, the upkeep of the local agency web site, event planning for fund raising, relationship building within the community, brand awareness, grant writing, and donor relations. Amanda will share with the community ways in which they can provide a life of possibilities for people with intellectual disabilities, build and maintain relationships and partnerships in the community of Liberal, and develop creative sources of funding for the local agency through fund raising, friend raising, grant writing, and donations. She will be working on providing a bridge of communication between the agency and the families and guardians of those receiving services from Mosaic.

Amanda works with the community to find links for people receiving services to create meaningful days in their lives. As Amanda grows into this position, there will be many opportunities for feedback and volunteering in the community as she shares Mosaic's mission and asks for support from our community.

If you want to be involved with some of the initiatives that Amanda does, please let her know by contacting her at 620.624.3817 x33 or amanda.stout@mosaicinfo.org.

Students Help Support Document Destruction

The students from the Students Involved in Free Enterprise (SIFE) Business class at Seward County Community College / Area Tech School have presented the Mosaic agency in Liberal with the gift of a grant from Sam's Club that they received during the spring semester. The students' objective was to use the grant funds to help organizations in need to develop a business that will help them become more independent while at the same time promote the "Go Green" attitude. The group decided to use some of the funds to help Mosaic expand their Document Destruction business. The funds will go toward the purchase of a new shredder. Mosaic looks forward to increasing the amount of document destruction service we offer that will provide more employment for the people receiving services from Mosaic. Mosaic would also like to thank the group for thinking of them and for their initiatives to promote a greener community in Liberal.

If you are interested in participating in our Document Destruction business, please contact David Jasper at our Liberal office at 620.624.3817 for a quote and to schedule a pick up.