All-volunteer Board of Directors Overview
and Mission The agency is a 501(c) (3) not-for-profit organization, and is also a member of the Frederick County United Way. Community Living serves:
Community Living, Inc. was founded in 1979 in Frederick, Maryland as a not-for-profit agency providing residential and support services for people with developmental disabilities in Frederick County. Prior to 1979, these services were provided by The Arc of Frederick County. But with a number of parents clamoring for full residential services for their children, and with the good of the community as a whole as a goal, staff at The Arc realized the need for a separate, new agency to provide residential services on a scale larger than they could handle. Thus, Community Living was spun off from The Arc, and while the two agencies are no longer formally affiliated, they maintain a close relationship. Community Living began with two homes owned by the State of Maryland, each with six to eight residents. These people moved to agency homes from their Frederick-area families or the Rosewood Center and Henrytown institutions outside of Baltimore (residents of the latter were selected based on having family in the Frederick area). Originally, Community Living residents had the option of attending one of only two day programs offered in this area - the Scott Key Center, then housed at Rock Creek School, or the Jeanne Bussard Workshop, working from an old school on Ice Street. All day program services have come a long way since then. Today Community Living still maintains one of its original two homes as a residence for three gentlemen. The agency maintains 28 homes throughout the City of Frederick, and takes it as a compliment when neighbors says they never realized agency homes are "special" or different in any way from others in the neighborhood. The agency has had just four executive directors during its tenure. Staff now numbers over 100 serving the needs of the agency's more than 90 residents. Community Living still depends on state funding, but has joined forces with the United Way of Frederick County, the Department of Housing and Urban Development, and its own core of volunteer fundraisers to financially maintain a high standard of living for its residents. Community Living prides itself on high quality homes maintained so that residents live in a family-style atmosphere. The agency’s 28 homes vary in design from ranchers to bungalows to apartments to split-levels. No home has more than three residents, and the manner in which these residents are chosen as housemates is extremely personal, with all due consideration as to personality, abilities, interests, health needs, etc. All of Community Living’s residences are located within or near the Frederick, Maryland city limits. Each of Community Living’s residents is qualified to receive support and services from the State of Maryland’s Developmental Disabilities Administration, which also oversees all aspects of resident care. Some residents require "light" supervision only a few hours a week, and this supervision may include assistance with finances, housekeeping, job training, etc. Others with profound and/or multiple disabilities will have round-the-clock staff companions who provide full support for all the minute details of daily living at home and in the community. Most of Community Living’s residents, though fall somewhere in the middle of these two extremes, and with staff assistance, make choices that support independence through individuals strengths and desires. All CLI residents work a regular job, attend day programs, or are retired and involved in the agency’s Retirement Our Way day program. Community Living carries out its name in that all of its residents participate as fully in their community as abilities allow. This means these folks are on the go! With staff help as needed, residents do their own shopping, go to public events, walk in the park, attend worship, cheer on their favorite teams, and picnic at the playground. They like the treats of going to McDonald's, the movies, getting a haircut, and playing bingo at the senior center. And at home, time goes quickly. Meal planning and cooking, videos, personal housekeeping, gardening, sometimes fighting with a housemate, craftwork, soaking in the tub, and just hanging around…there’s never enough time to do it all. Residents maintain and decorate their own rooms. This involvement establishes personal pride and independence. Helping with all-house chores also builds a great deal of pride, and residents often invite community members to their homes for meals or picnics because they are so proud of where they live. The Community Living staff provides assistance ranging from drop-in visits of a few hours a week for residents requiring a minimum of assistance to 24-hour coverage for those with difficult problems requiring constant care and monitoring. Staff members are fully trained for all medical, behavioral, household, nutritional and other needs. Community Living strongly adheres to the belief that each individual has the right to live in the community, and will continue to develop and implement new ideas and programs to make this happen. CLI employs 110 people, three-quarters of whom provide support for our residents. Many of our employees have a strong background in human services work and full-time, part-time, and weekend employment opportunities are available (see Employment Opportunities for more information). Because of the nature of direct care work, and because we are dealing with people, and not industry or government, staff schedules are extremely flexible. The primary funding source for the agency is the State of Maryland’s Developmental Disabilities Administration. We also conduct various fundraising activities throughout the year. All individuals interested in applying for services provided by Community Living should contact the office and request an application form. The application is attached to a brief program description. Community Living staff will assist individuals, when necessary, to complete applications and obtain required records and reports that are needed to be considered for admission. Upon receipt of an application for services, an appointment will be arranged to meet with the applicant and/or his or her family or representative in order to answer questions and review the application. The applicant may visit homes and meet other agency residents. All applicants are encouraged to visit at least one agency home when applying for residential services. To be eligible for services, an applicant must:
Board of Directors of Community Living, Inc. Community Living is inspired by its all-volunteer Board of Directors. Members are selected by a nominating committee composed of current Board members, and commit to a five-year term. Terms may be consecutive, and three CLI Board members are serving their third term. Board members
commit their time, money, expertise, policy-making abilities, and
community connections in order to personally support Community Living’s
residents.
Members of the Board of Directors of Community Living: President Vice President Treasurer Secretary Steven R. Cohen (Steve) Bob Deiuliis Marilyn Dolbeare-Mathews David B. Epstein Harvey Levy, D.M.D. Douglas E. Maddox (Doug) Albert A. Radcliffe, III (Lee) Janet Raibourn Dolly Rock
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