CP of Colorado

Program name
Citizens for Patient Safety Last updated 5/19/2010 by Mark McNett	details
Creative Options for Early Education	details
Employment Works Last updated 9/29/2008 by John Farnam	details
Empower Colorado Last updated 9/29/2008 by John Farnam	details
Faith in Action Last updated 9/29/2008 by John Farnam	details
Guardianship Alliance of Colorado Last updated 9/29/2008 by John Farnam	details
Infantile Scoliosis Outreach Program Last updated 9/29/2008 by John Farnam	details
Parent to Parent of Colorado Last updated 9/29/2008 by John Farnam	details

Citizens for Patient Safety

Citizens for Patient Safety (CPS) formerly Colorado Citizens for Accountability (CCA), consists of individuals, families, professionals and business owners who are dedicated to patient safety, committed to providing equal access to the justice system and educating themselves and future generations to take action to protect individuals’ health and safety.

Definition of short-term success

Definition of long-term success

Program success monitored by

Examples or evidence of program success

Creative Options for Early Education

Creative Options provides educational enhancement opportunities for children ages birth to five and their families. Through best practice classroom curricula, as well as, family and literacy activities, Creative Options makes certain that children living in neighborhoods characteristic of low-income, low-education and high crime elements, are guaranteed an opportunity to transition into Kindergarten at or above grade level. By preparing children and their families for transition into elementary school, families are able to realistically hope for academic achievement in these areas, often deemed as low-performing academically. Creative Options provides infant, toddler and pre-school classes operating normal school hours throughout the academic school year. In addition, family and parent training classes include literacy, nutrition, healthcare and other resource related activities that promote intergenerational strength throughout families.

Definition of short-term success

Short and long term success are very similar. All successes are ongoing.

Definition of long-term success

Results of evaluations show gains or proficiencies in all subject areas each year. Children transition easily into the public school system and succeed. Children with special needs are helped enough to enter mainstream classrooms and their classmates stand up for them. Behavioral challenges are corrected. Parents become better parents to their children in high risk families. In short, all lives are better and children become positive, productive citizens.

Program success monitored by

CP of Colorado’s management information system measures services and outcomes for all programs. For the early childhood programs, the agency measures achievement of children and families, solicits community input and undergoes an extensive, ongoing self assessment and improvement process. Based on ongoing assessment/monitoring systems and evaluation results, plans are revised for training and resources to help meet objectives and outcomes. The leadership team and core staff review interim and year-end outcome and qualitative data to make service adjustments, reallocate resources and seek new tools.

Examples or evidence of program success

A few recent outcomes for Creative Options children and families during the 2006 academic year are as follows:
93% of 3-5 year olds demonstrated gains in math and literacy proficiency;
-453 Father figures participated in activities
-85% of children have a consistent physician
-96% of children provided enhancement services demonstrated improvement in their behavior
-435 Families participated in literacy activities

Employment Works

Employment Works (EW) serves youth and adults with physical and mental challenges who are seeking job placement, training and education. EW operates the Work Incentive, Planning and Assistance Program for individuals receiving SSI/SSDI benefits with the eventual goal of no longer needing federal assistance. Last year, over 4,100 individuals received services through direct employment seeking activities, work incentive planning and outreach events. Of those obtaining employment, 75% retained employment for 90 days or longer. Of those receiving work incentive planning assistance, 25% utilized a work incentive to accelerate the potential of finding opportunities for earned income. In addition, Employment Works operates a youth program helping young people gain skills and confidence via community and business interactions, utilizing volunteers and other community leaders.

Definition of short-term success

Short term success will occur via the job placement and retention of employment of its target population. In Colorado, 99,151 individuals are currently receiving disability related benefits, with thousands more 17 year olds lining up. Over the course of the next five years, Employment Works intends to make a serious dent in this number and help direct individuals away from benefit dependence and towards independence. Employment Works intends to directly influence 7,000 of these individuals with job placement and retention services.

Definition of long-term success

The overall intention of this program is help individuals with disabilities and other barriers to employment engage in fulfilling activity, both financially and emotionally, that results in overall self-sufficiency and independence. In addition, a philosophy of inclusion helps to envision a society where working alongside individuals with disabilities is no longer unique or triumphant, but standard. Employment Works strives each day to progress society towards full equality and inclusion.

Program success monitored by

Monthly number reports are provided to the Employment Works personnel. However, great focus centers on the success behind the numbers. Success is not considered reached until individuals have moved all the way to the top of the Pyramid to Independence. This means learning about their benefits, taking advantage of work incentives, developing job seeking skills, obtaining employment, retaining employment and finally witnessing a purposeful reduction of benefits due to earned income.
The Employment Works Program performs evaluations based on the number of people served, goal/objective achievement and qualitative surveys of employers, people with disabilities and their families.
Based on ongoing assessment and monitoring systems and evaluation results, plans are revised for training and resources to help meet objectives and outcomes. The leadership team and core staff review interim and year-end outcome

Examples or evidence of program success

Last year, 3,800 individuals received services from Employment Works. This number is divided as follows:

759 sought individualized employment plans
336 utilized a benefits related work incentive in going back to work
8% of individuals receiving follow-up contact reported a purposeful and welcomed reduction of their benefits. (The nationwide average is less than 1%)

Photos

Empower Colorado

EMPOWER Colorado is a program created by parents and families to Education Movement: Parents Offering Wisdom, Encouragement and Resources for parents and families of children with mental health issues (brain disorders). EMPOWER provides face to face support groups, a statewide e-mail listserve, education classes and resources for families.

Definition of short-term success

Definition of long-term success

Program success monitored by

Examples or evidence of program success

Faith in Action

Faith in Action firnishes transportation for elderly and disabled individuals so they may get to their doctor, dentist and chiropractor appointments. The program also matches people for leisure activies in the community and participates with several thousand volunteers on community based painting and imporvement projects. Faith in Action volunteers contributed more than 63,000 hours of service last year.

Definition of short-term success

Definition of long-term success

Program success monitored by

Examples or evidence of program success

Guardianship Alliance of Colorado

The Guardianship Alliance of Colorado is committed to improving Colorado's adult guardianship and conservatorship system and to promoting alternatives. Adults who lack decisional capacity as a result of debilitating illness such as Alzheimer's Disease or similar dementias, stroke, developmental disabilities, mental illness and traumatic brain injury, need a guardian if they become incapable of caring for themselves. Guardians are appointed by the court to make personal and medical decisions.

Definition of short-term success

Definition of long-term success

Program success monitored by

Examples or evidence of program success

Infantile Scoliosis Outreach Program

The Infantile Scoliosis Outreach Program (ISOP) is pivotal in connecting families of children with progressive infantile scoliosis to resources and information needed to make the best choices possible in the care of their child.

Definition of short-term success

Definition of long-term success

Program success monitored by

Examples or evidence of program success

Parent to Parent of Colorado

Parent to Parent of Colorado is a statewide group of families who support each other on the journey of parenting our sons and daughters with special health care needs or disabilities.This is accomplished by providing emotional and informational support, resources and by matching parents seeking support with a support parent. It is our vision that parents and their sons and daughters are integral, valued members of society with a voice in shaping their chosen community.

Definition of short-term success

Definition of long-term success

Program success monitored by

Examples or evidence of program success