Open Door Center

AGENCY PICNIC: Open Door Center held its annual picnic at the Pavilion in Chautauqua Park with several hundred people in attendance including individuals we serve, staff, board members, family and friends. We were able to recognize staff for years of service and present awards.STAFF RECOGNITION: We held a DSP appreciation week where we served lunch and snacks during the week, held daily drawings for prizes and also had various games and contests with prizes awarded.BENEFITS: Each year staff can donate up to 20 hours of their PTO to a reserve account. Those hours are held for employees to use if they must be away from work for an extended period of time for major illness or medical related issues.OPEN HOUSE: Open Houses were held at Thunderbird/Amberland Foods and Eagle's Nest bookstore. Eagle's Nest also participates in the annual community coffee/cocoa crawl and has a booth at the local Wintershow event center. Thunderbird/Amberland Foods attended 3 different vendor shows throughout North Dakota to showcase our products that are made by the individuals we serve. The Open Door Center choir sang at many events during the holiday season.COMMUNITY WORK: Many individuals of Open Door Center rang the Salvation Army Bell for Christmas. The Work Activity Center also donated to Special Olympics events and competitions. Many staff volunteer their time to coach various teams and help run the events. The Center participated in Winter Show events and helped pick up litter from the streets. They fold the newsletter for the local Eagles Organization and volunteer at the Chamber of Commerce. Many people attend church and assist with various church activities. The Children's Program waters the flowers and plants on the city streets and assists with clean up at the City Golf Course. We have individuals that help out with Sheyenne Valley Friends of Animals to help promote adoption. LISBON PROGRAM: They participate in the parade, deliver meals on wheels and help with church activities and several other city activities including the local fair. The Thrift Store is providing jobs and vocational learning opportunities for our individual which include running the cash registers, hanging and sorting clothing and offering customer service. Clothing that doesn't sell is recycled into rags that we use for cleaning. PROPERTY IMPROVEMENTS: We have made several improvements to make sure our facilities are kept clean, safe and up to date. We updated flooring and cabinets in an apartment. New carpet, flooring and bathroom renovation in our work activity building. Thunderbird/Amberland foods was able to upgrade one of their production rooms and add new equipment to offer more job opportunities.Lisbon Thrift Store was able to finish their parking lot improvements that would allow for better parking and moving of the dumpsters to the rear of the building.We were able to trade in some older vehicles and replace them with newer vans to use for transportation to appointment and events for the individuals we serve. All vehicles are installed with tracking chips to monitor the driving behaviors of our staff.TRAINING: HIPPA, CPR, First Aid, Infection Control and Abuse, Neglect and Exploitation, Medication Administration are all offered on a continual basis as mandated training.Fire Safety training was held for individuals and staff. Non-Violent Crisis Intervention training is required for all staff.Several staff attended the NDACP annual conference in FargoDr. Gulkin, clinical psychologist, offers counseling to several individuals as well as consultation with staff twice a month. He also provided an in-service on the subject of "Power Struggles." Nutritional consultant, Sharon Buhr provided staff training as well as consultation with individuals. Great Plains offers assessment and repair for mobility devices that are crucial for individuals who do not walk. They schedule monthly visits.AGENCY OWNED BUSINESSES: Eagle's Nest Bookstore continues to provide vocational opportunities for people who have a Traumatic brain injury. It sells new and used books and gift items. It has participated in Crazy Days, Welcome of VCSU students festival, Holiday open house, the North Dakota Winter Show, Fall Festivals and Coffee/Cocoa crawl. This provides an awareness of Open Door Center services and the bookstore.Thunderbird Ranch Gourmet Foods offers training and employment for the individuals in the areas of packaging, mixing, crimping and boxing of soups, breads, dips, meat rubs and wine frappes. Thunderbird has added a new soup and dip this year. Amberland Foods/Dakota Seasonings continues to offer employment /training opportunities for the individuals we serve to make syrups, jellies and a BBQ sauce, soup, dips and meat rubs.OTHER ACCOLADES OPEN DOOR RECEIVED A 4-YEAR ACCREDITATION WITH DISTINCTION FROM CQL! The Executive Director continues to serve as a board member of the Barnes County-Valley City Economic Development Group, the Executive Board of NDACP and a board member of On-the-Move and she is President of the Church Council. Valley City State University re-elected her to the position of President of the VCSU Foundation. She has articles published regularly in the local newspaper on issues related to people with disabilities.The Human Resources staff person participates in the Human Resource Committee of North Dakota Association of Community Providers (NDACP) and the HR group in Fargo. She was most recently elected to the Valley City School Board.