News
Comcare Opens New Homes
8-3-10
This summer Comcare is opening three new homes. Each home will serve four people who will be moving from Greene Valley Developmental Center. The opening of these homes represents the culmination of five years of determined and persistent work. The homes were originally built with HUD funds to house eight people. While the homes were the norm of care when they were built 20 years ago, times changed and eight-person homes are no longer in favor. Comcare found good three and four-person homes in other homes in the community for the people who formerly lived in the eight-person homes.
It was not as easy to convince HUD that the eight-bedroom homes no longer offered viable housing and needed to be reduced in size. HUD’s argument was that HUD is in the business to increase, and not decrease housing opportunities. After several years, it became clear that these empty houses were headed for the auction block and that there would be no interested buyers. However, the HUD office in Washington continued to persist that the number of beds should not be reduced.
With the advocacy of Thomas Rone in the Knoxville HUD office, Congressman Phil Roe and Senator Bob Corker, HUD in Washington finally agreed to sell the properties to Comcare and to allow each home to be converted from eight bedrooms to four bedroom suites. The second room of the suite is especially important due to the complex medical equipment, wheelchairs, standers, lifts and sidelyers, required by many of the people who will be living these homes.
In addition to securing the homes, it was necessary to obtain the funding to operate them. The State of Tennessee has a funding category under Medicaid known as Intermediate Care Facility- Mental Retardation (ICF/MR). This category of funding is reserved for people who have significant care needs. To obtain this funding, Comcare went through a lengthy application process with the State of Tennessee Health Services and Development Agency and was successful in obtaining a Certificate of Need for each home.
A third part of the process involved Eastern Eight Community Development Corporation, a non-profit organization that is the business of providing low income housing. Comcare is in the service delivery business and not the housing business. Comcare has partnered with Eastern Eight on other projects and is very pleased that Eastern Eight agreed to purchase the eight-bedroom homes, renovate them to meet the new needs and lease them back to Comcare.
Finally, the last and most important piece of the process was to identify the people who would live in the homes. Individuals currently living at Greene Valley Developmental Center and who could benefit from living in a home in the community were identified. Transition meetings are currently underway to insure that the physical and staffing requirements of the new homes will meet the needs of each identified person. It will be the culmination of years of work and the contributions of many people when these people move into their new homes this summer.
Comcare's Annual Halloween Party
10-24-09
Ghouls, goblins, pinafores and circus acts were seen among the participants gathered for an evening of fun at the Comcare Halloween party.
Comcare's Annual Picnic
9-12-09
On September 12, 2009, Comcare hosted the Annual Picnic in our new facility. The theme was "Reaching for the Stars." More than 300 clients, family member and staff gathered to enjoy music, games and a meal. It was a great to see everyone and spend time together.
Click here to see more pictures
Comcare's First Annual Talent Show
6-26-09
On June 26, 2009 the Day Program hosted their first annual Comcare Talent Show. Clients and staff worked for weeks creating and perfecting their acts for the big days’ performance. A wide variety of talent put their skills to the test. We had solo artists, duets, trios, dance acts and even a hula hoop performance. The judges had a very difficult time picking the winners, but trophies were handed out to the top performers. Everyone had a great time and the top performances were showcased at this year’s company picnic.
Comcare Moves Into New Facility
9-25-08
On Thursday September 25 Comcare hosted a Greene County Partnership ribbon cutting to symbolize its move to a new facility located at 100 Pennsylvania Ave. A second ribbon cutting for families, staff and clients will take place at the annual picnic to be held at the site on Saturday September 27. Comcare purchased the former National Business Forms building in June 2007 and has been conducting extensive renovations since that time. The building will house Comcare’s day program services as well as administrative and management offices, training and conference rooms and the maintenance department. These programs were currently located in three different buildings on West Main Street. Training and conferences were being done off site due to space restrictions.
“We had outgrown our facilities and had a plan for expansion when the National Business Forms Building became available. It was an opportunity we couldn’t pass up. This campus atmosphere with its ample parking and this 70,000 square foot building is designed to meet the present and future needs of our clients. This building houses all the support functions for our agency as well as our day services program. The building will be in use 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.“ said Nancy Thiessen, Executive Director.“ Not only do we have more space we have a safe environment where clients can enter the building protected from the weather and away from traffic. The bathroom, lunchroom and heath services room have been significantly improved.
“We are also interested in promoting our business incubator opportunity. We have designated 17,000 sq. ft. of production space, additional shipping and receiving space and a loading dock for a new business start-up or a company wanting to start a new line. If we can attract an operation that will have some component where our clients can participate, we are willing to provide some support incentives. Interested parties can contact me more information,” said Thiessen
The Comcare Work Activities Center which is located in the building is the hub for a menu of day services.
• Supported employment
• Vocational training
• Developmental skills training
• Sheltered workshop
Many of the people in the day program assemble piece work for a local industry. They find this work to be very rewarding because they can work at their own pace while being productive and earning a paycheck. Others are involved in meaningful day activities including exercise, music, community activities and training in self care and safety.
25 people in the program have jobs in the community through the Supported Employment section of the day program. Each person has a job coach that supports them to do their job. These individuals are employed at McDonalds, Tusculum College, the Rest Area on the interstate, Comfort Inn, Hampton Inn, 4-H Camp, YMCA, Roberts Furniture, Gregg’s Pizza, Mama’s House, Fazolis and several cleaning jobs. Many of the individuals have held their job for more than 6 years.
Comcare, a not-for –profit agency, is in its 27th year of service to people with disabilities. The program began with five children who lived in the Susong home where Laughlin hospital now stands The residential program currently serves 100 people in 25 homes and 5 foster homes in Greeneville, Jonesboro, Erwin and Johnson City.
Comcare’s services have been given a three star rating by the state, an honor received by a small number of agencies across the state.
Ribbon Cutting for New Rental Housing Group
9-22-08
Eastern Eight Community Development Corporation and Comcare, Inc. conducted a Ribbon Cutting for four new rental housing group homes. The Event took place on Monday, September 22 at the development located at Willow Creek Subdivision, Mosheim.
The new affordable handicap-accessible homes were developed for residential service-recipients at Comcare, featuring three bedrooms and a fully handicapped accessible bathroom. Each home will house three individuals with 24-hour on site staff.
The project forged partnerships between Comcare and Eastern Eight. Comcare received a HOME grant from the Tennessee Housing Development Agency for the construction financing of the rental housing to serve qualified adults with developmental disabilities. Eastern Eight is the project administrator and will manage the rental units now that construction is complete.
Comcare, located in Greeneville, is a private agency serving adults and children with mental retardation and developmental disabilities. Comcare provides person-centered services in a variety of residential and day settings. Services are based upon individual needs. Comcare is a community 501 c (3) non-profit organization, governed by a volunteer board of directors.
The Ribbon Cutting is in celebration of Creating Affordable Housing Solutions for Northeast Tennessee. Any persons wanting more information should contact Eastern Eight at 423.232.5097 or Comcare at 423.638.3926.
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