Welcome to Bridges of Indiana's Blog!

Welcome to Bridges of Indiana's Blog!

Founded in 2000 by a mother who has a child with autism, Bridges of Indiana is an agency that provides services for individuals with disabilities as well as the aging population. These services include residential services, community habilitation servicse, respite services, music therapy, recreational therapy, behavioral management, and employment services. Bridges of Indiana primarily performs these services in the home and in the community. Dedicated to providing quality services, this agency believes in individualism and independence.

This blog will be used in several different ways; to update the disability population on Indiana legislature, provide informaiton to Bridges of Indiana employees, give insight into the agency, along with several other important information.

Monday, June 27, 2011

An Insightful Tale

A woman walking along the shore looked down the beach and saw a human figure moving like a dancer. As she got closer, she noticed that the figure was that of a young man, and that what he was doing was not dancing at all. The young man was reaching down to the shore, picking up small objects, and throwing them into the ocean. She came closer still and called out "Good morning! May I ask what it is that you are doing?"

The young man paused, looked up, and replied "Throwing starfish into the ocean."

"I must ask, then, why are you throwing starfish into the ocean?" asked the somewhat startled woman.

To this, the young man replied, "The sun is up and the tide is going out. It won’t be good from them if someone doesn’t help."

Upon hearing this, the wise woman commented, "But, young man, do you not realize that there are miles and miles of beach and there are starfish all along every mile? What possible difference can you be making?"

At this, the young man bent down, picked up yet another starfish, and held it up while preparing to toss it back into the ocean. To the wise woman he replied, "I feel like I’m making all the difference in the world…to this one."

This story is attributed to an anthropologist, Loren Eiseley (1907 - 1977). I always passed it along to new employees during orientation. As the company has grown and more orientations are conducted, I’ve been unable continue this activity. We still find ways, whenever possible, to express that our work with others occurs "in the moments" of the day; that right here, right now is where we want our Bridges of Indiana  employees to be. Leaving our worldly problems (and egos) outside the door to be present to give what is needed, when it is needed…that should always be our goal.

Charlie Brooks, Bridges of Indiana Regional Director

Wednesday, June 15, 2011

Intake

Hey all! My name is Rick, and I am the Intake Specialist for Bridges of Indiana. I want to take just a moment to tell you a little about what it is I do. I work hand in hand with Case managers as well as agencies that work with the elderly and people with disabilities. All of us work together to focus on assisting in meeting your needs. My roll is to meet with potential consumers, explain our services, and do an assessment to make sure that we can appropriately satisfy your needs.

The first step in doing that is for a Case Manager or yourself to make a simple phone call to me at 812-881-1220 and schedule an intake interview. At that time I will go over all of the services that Bridges of Indiana has to offer. We will discuss topics like what it is you enjoy doing, things you want to have help accomplishing, and places you might like to go out in the community. I will take that information and share it with the Director of the office that serves your area. When you decide to choose our agency, the Director will call you to introduce himself and tell you who your Service Coordinator (SC) will be. Your SC will then be in touch with you to discuss setting up an interview for you to be introduced to possible staff that will be working with you. At that time you are given the opportunity to speak with the staff and conduct your own interview to see if that person is someone you would feel comfortable working with. If you feel that it is a good match you will let the SC know and the hiring/training will begin.

It is the desire of Bridges of Indiana to make sure that all of your needs are being met on a friendly and trust worthy level. We want you to be comfortable and feel safe with the individual that is going to be spending time with you. We also hope that you will have the opportunity to enjoy the things that you have wanted to do. A chance to build relationships and build bonds and friendships. So, it is my hope that you will give Bridges of Indiana the opportunity to help make your life more fulfilling and meaningful. Once again, if you have any questions, please contact ME at 812-881-1220.

Looking forward to hearing from you,
Rick Spaulding

Monday, June 13, 2011

Fundraising Events

Good afternoon and happy Monday to you all :)

Bridges of Indiana is SO excited about our upcoming fundraising events to raise money for the 2011 Walk Now for Autism Speaks! Over the past 3 years, our agency has brought in SEVERAL thousands of dollars for this event.  From our fundraising events last year along with sponsorship money, we contributed around $10,000!!  This year we want to bring in even MORE!

Please join us for the following fundraisers. For more information on any of these events, please contact ME at 812-249-5039 or marketing@bridgesofindiana.com
  • Yard Sale for Autism- July 15 from 7:00 AM to 2:00 PM at the Terre Haute office (21 N. 11th St.)

  • Applebee's Dining to Donate- July 27 at the 3rd St. location in Terre Haute (must have flyer- contact  ME to get one!)

  • 2nd Annual "Cruise In to be a Piece of the Puzzle" Car & Truck Show to benefit Autism- Please see our "News" section at http://www.bridgesofindiana.com/ for more info!


  • Have a great day :)
    Tiffany Smith

    Wednesday, June 8, 2011

    Humility and Humor At The Office

    At Bridges of Indiana, we have all had days at the office when the busy nature of our work reminds us of the need to keep humor and humility on the front burner of our mental ovens. We are constantly learning and growing. As learning is sometimes a process requiring the learner to modify or abandon existing knowledge, I believe a thoughtful approach includes proceeding carefully and humbly. I have found that employing humor to raise the curtain exposing our human tendency away from humility can be attitudinally healthy. The following true story illustrates: 

    Dr. Emmet Fox was sought by a parishioner new to the church who wanted to meet Dr. Fox behind closed doors to become acquainted. At the appointment time, the man introduced himself in the entryway of Dr. Fox’s study and began telling of his many political and business associations about town. When the man took a breath, Dr. Fox said, “Well, have a chair then.” But the man apparently didn’t feel that Dr. Fox was as impressed with him as he should be, so he continued! The man explained that he was also on the board of this prestigious organization and was the recipient of countless awards from a long list of named admirers, to which Dr. Fox responded, “Well, have two chairs then.”

    Helpful involvement in the lives of others requires effort and time. I believe I should be as available as possible to nurture that process. Giving time, then, is paramount. The importance of attentiveness during this time is perhaps best illustrated by the phrase medical doctors have used to advise medical students: “Don’t just do something, stand there.” I have found that working with people is not a casual affair – that involvement in others’ development is inexorably intimate and consuming. I have been best served by attempting, however falteringly, to summon enthusiasm, humor, compassion and eclecticism to guide me during each interaction with others.  

    I also benefit from humor. I believe that many of the most comical situations just occur – that they cannot really be invented. One of my favorite pieces of humor comes from my friend, Mark. During his undergraduate work in communications, he worked at USI's A.M. radio station. As the station house was a small building in the woods, he'd sit alone on the late shift playing music. Cognizant that it was a small school with a small station (and that it was an A.M. signal), he often felt that he wasn't getting out very far on the airwaves. The school's call letters are WSWI ("WissWee"). He told me of a time when he was tempted to say on air, "W-S-W-I, WissWee - WissWee had some Wisteners!"

    Many of the family members I talk with will always take time to share a good story or two. Thanks to all of you for sharing your thoughts and memories with us!

    Best Regards,
    Charlie Brooks, Regional Director

    Tuesday, June 7, 2011

    A Special Opportunity for the Special Olympics

    Over this past weekend, Bridges of Indiana and Child Adult Resource Services (C.A.R.S.) teamed up with the Terre Haute Children’s Museum to sponsor a unique opportunity for the athletes of the 2011 Special Olympics Indiana Summer Games. Each athlete received a card for one free admission into the Terre Haute Children’s Museum during the Games, which took place in Terre Haute June 3-5. Each pass was also good for the admittance of a chaperone so that no one will have to miss out on all of the fun.

    Bridges of Indiana and C.A.R.S. are agencies that provide services to individuals with disabilities as well as the aging population, so we were honored that the Indiana Special Olympics program allowed us to offer these passes.  This was a great opportunity for these athletes to get more involved in the Terre Haute community and experience the new Children’s Museum at no charge.

    On Sept. 24, 2010, the Terre Haute Children’s Museum moved from a 3,000-square-foot building to a new 26,000-square-foot facility located at the corner of 8th Street and Wabash Avenue in downtown Terre Haute. The Museum is focused on giving children exciting ways to learn about math, science, technology and health, and some of the exhibits that can be found in the new Museum include a two-story tree house, an energy exhibit, a dinosaur dig, an agriculture exhibit, a water table, a seashell exhibit, health exhibits, and exhibits about airplanes and flight. "The Terre Haute Children’s Museum believes that learning through play is the right of every child, regardless of ability, background, or income," said Lynn Hughes, executive director of the Terre Haute Children’s Museum. "We are proud to join Bridges of Indiana and C.A.R.S. to ensure that all of the athletes visiting Terre Haute will have an opportunity to visit the Museum and experience the safe, welcoming, place for play, learning and fun that this community has created!"

    For more information about Bridges of Indiana, visit www.bridgesofindiana.com. For more information about C.A.R.S. visit www.cars-services.org. For more information about the Terre Haute Children’s Museum, visit www.thchildrensmuseum.com.

    Monday, June 6, 2011

    Get Involved in the Process

    For this blog entry, I would like to use the column to impress upon you the importance of your continued participation in the State of Indiana’s political process as well as your fight for people with disabilities. It is crucial for you to recognize the need for you to get involved.

    This year, all of us have gone through another rough budget season at the State House.  The only good news that has come about is that the results could have been much worse if all of you had not participated in the political process. By contacting your Senators and Representatives to ensure further cuts did not go into the 2011 budget, you did make a difference.  I know this is not too comforting as many of you have either experienced cuts in your annual budget or will be experiencing cuts later this year. However, now is not the time to give up, now is the time to act by building relationships with your local Representatives and Senators.  I want to encourage you to talk to them and tell them your story.  Tell them what the waiver does for you or how it has made an impact on your loved ones. These people need to know your story.  Your story is the real reason the services are needed. Your story shows them that it is worth the effort for the State of Indiana to continue to care about people with disabilities and make them a priority.

    Lastly, this is a marathon not a sprint.  There will always be another budget year, another new way of doing things, and another evaluation tool to be implemented. It is you and your stories of how these programs positively impact your lives which end up changing things for the good in the long run.  To get involved, please go to www.INquietcrisis.org or visit our Facebook page to "Like" us in order to receive notifications on important events or actions so that you may have an impact in the services for all individuals with disabilities.

    Sincerely,
    Jonathan Burlison

    Re-Introducing Bridges of Indiana's HR Department

    Bridges of Indiana’s Human Resource Department would like to take a moment and explain to our highly valued employees what role we play in their employment.

    The Human Resource Department is responsible for the following:
    • Payroll
    • Wages
    • 401K
    • Insurance
    • FMLA
    • Employment Letters
    • Unemployment
    • Work Compensation
    • Personal Time Off and Sick Time

    The Human Resource Department is always available to answer any questions that you may have regarding employment. Bridges of Indiana wants to ensure that you know who to contact when a question or issue arises. This will allow you to get the answer needed in a timely and efficient fashion.

    Here is how to Contact Us!
    Toll Free Human Resource Telephone Number: 1-800-998-0724
    Dana Lewis, Human Resource Manager
    Email: humanresources@bridgesofindiana.com
    Melissa Taylor, Human Resource Analyst
    Email: hranalyst@bridgesofindiana.com