Accessibility Plan 2010

Children's Sanctuary, Inc. is an equal opportunity agency and does not discriminate in policy or practice according to race, creed, color, national origin, age, handicap, or military service

Children’s Sanctuary, Inc. (CSI) evaluates accessibility of its offices and foster homes weekly and monthly through various levels of review.  The agency solicits information from staff, foster parents, foster children, the public custodial agency, and other identified stakeholders.  The agency obtains information through assessments, service reviews, surveys, advisory councils, and home visits.  By ongoing evaluation and review and attention to problems and potential problems, the agency maintains high standards of accessibility for its consumers, foster parents, biological parents, public custodial agency workers, staff, and community stakeholders.

The CSI Safety Committee reviews accessibility barriers quarterly and makes recommendations to the Executive Director.  Children’s Sanctuary develops an Accessibility Plan each year that addresses eight potential problem areas: Architecture, Environment, Attitude, Finance, Employment, Communication, Transportation, or other barriers identified by staff, foster parents, and community stakeholders.

In 2010, Children’s Sanctuary made the following improvements based on the expressed needs of its employees, clients, and stakeholders:

ARCHITECTURE: CSI offices meet code requirements for handicap accessible.  CSI will maintain first floor meeting rooms for training, group counseling, and visitation to insure accommodation for all persons served.   

ENVIRONMENT: CSI maintains smoke alarms and fire extinguishers at in all offices and meeting rooms.  All CSI offices are smoke free.  The agency provides an outside smoking area at least 20 feet from any building entrance for staff and visitors who smoke.

ATTITUDE: CSI leads a collaborative training resource team to provide training for staff, foster parents, and the community.  Training topics included pre-service and in-service training in behavior intervention, cultural diversity, and other topics identified by the team.

The agency maintains excellent working relationship with the schools and community by effective intervention by staff and foster parents when problems arise.

CSI encourages staff, foster parents, and clients, when appropriate, to participate in service projects in the community.

FINANCE: CSI completes annual independent audits and ResCare Best in Class quarterly.  CSI publishes the results in its bi-annual Quality Control Initiatives Report.  These audits and reports are available for review by the community and other stakeholders on the web and at the CSI office located at 3711 Rupp Drive, Fort Wayne, Indiana.

EMPLOYMENT: CSI maintained adequate treatment staff at all times.  The agency fills vacancies as soon as possible.  Openings are posted on the agency website, in local newspapers, and with ResCare, Inc.

COMMUNICATION: CSI maintained an effective on-call system for evenings, weekends, and holidays.  A supervisor or the Executive Director was available for emergencies.    Emergency numbers are available via answering service 24 hours 7 days a week.

TRANSPORTATION: CSI foster parents or staff members transported clients as needed.  The agency and its manager, Res-Care, Inc. maintained automobile liability insurance for all staff.  Foster parents had to show proof of auto liability insurance prior to certification and annually thereafter.

The agency performs a vehicle records check on all staff and foster parents annually.  CSI adheres to Res-Care’s Risk Management policies for vehicle safety, accident reporting and investigation.  If a staff member’s or foster parent’s driving record falls below CSI or Res-Care standards, he or she is required to complete a Safe Driver’s Course in the community.

OTHER: CSI staff, foster parents, stakeholders, or the community did not identify any additional barriers to accessibility in 2010.