Summer 2018 The LINKS LETTER

According to Wikipedia the definition of safety is the state of being “safe”, the condition of being protect-

ed from harm or other non-desirable outcomes. Safety can also refer to the control of recognized hazards

in order to achieve an acceptable level of risk.

Some safety practices are daily occurrences that we do without even thinking that we are practicing

safety, such as, ensuring the cars child locks are on, setting passwords on our cell phones, making sure

stove and ovens are off and knobs inaccessible, medications, cleaning supplies, and sharp objects are put

up high or locked, driving the speed limit and looking around while driving...not texting!

Safety practices imply that we have some control or influence on matters that affect our health and

well-being, our homes, our communities, our workplaces, our loved ones, our personal space, and the list

goes on and on.

So we learn and practice safety to lessen the chance that an accident or mishap occurs. Wikipedia

defines accident, also known as unintentional injury, as an undesirable, incidental, and unplanned event

that could have been prevented had circumstances leading up to the accident been recognized, and acted

upon, prior to its occurrence. Most scientists who study unintentional injury avoid using the term

“accident” and focus on factors that increase risk of severe injury and that reduce injury incidence and

severity.

This is why we will be spending time to focus on safety matters, because, safety matters.

Words synonymous to safety include freedom, security, shelter, refuge, assurance, and sanctuary. To

desire for our families to embody self-awareness, self-confidence, and self-determination we must teach

and train safety principles of all kinds so as not to leave them vulnerable, exposed, in danger or in jeop-

ardy. These are the antonyms to safety. Raising our families is finding that balance, that fine line between

protecting and supporting.

Inside this issue

Safety Matters ……………………….………………...……….….……. 1

Meet Me…………………………………………………..…..……………..2

Upcoming Events…………………………….....………………….…... 4

Special points of interest:

A picture is worth a thousand words…………….. 3 & 4

Join us on Thursday, August 23, 6-7 pm when Brent Forgey, Nixa

DARE Police officer, comes to teach us about INTERNET SAFETY.

Training will be held at the CC Links offices.

Join us on Thursday, November 15, 6-8 pm for FIRE SAFETY

training to be held at the Countryside Christian Church, 3350 W.

Jackson St. Nixa. Smoking Fire House will be available to tour.

Stay tuned for more safety training after the first of 2019.

About Us

In November of 2010, the Christian

County Board for the Developmental-

ly Disabled and the Department of

Mental Health entered into a

partnership whereas CC Links would

provide service coordination. The

goals of this partnership for individu-

als with developmental disabilities

in Christian County are:

to meet their needs in a timely and

efficient manner by having local

access to service coordination.

to provide quality services.

to develop a new funding resource

for services and supports.

Eligibility is determined through the

Springfield Regional Office. Eligibility

is defined by the State of Missouri as:

a mental/physical disability that

began prior to the age of 22, and

is likely to continue indefinitely, and

results in substantial functional

limitations in two or more of the

following areas of major life activi-

ties: living and working independent-

ly, communication, self-direction,

learning, mobility and self-care.

OUR PROMISE

To take an active role in planning

supports.

To take opportunities to share ideas

on how we can improve or change

our service coordination system.

To be an open door for questions,

concerns, or compliments.

CC Links

(417) 551-4901

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MEET JOSEPH BASS

“There’s no other feeling like reaching the top”, said Joseph. He isn’t

just talking about completing the end of The Reaper, the final

challenge to becoming a Marine which entails three days with little

sleep, hardly any food, constant physical and mental stress, clocking in

over 55 miles. He’s not just talking about a 20 km (16.5 mi) hike with

100+ pounds of gear as a final test to becoming a 0311 Rifleman. He’s

talking about the feeling of receiving his EGA...Eagle, Globe and An-

chor of the United States Marine Corps. Joseph graduated from ITB

Camp Pendleton in San Diego, CA, in the Delta 1075 First Battalion company in November 2018.

Joseph entered boot camp on November 6, 2017. He was part of a working platoon in a reserve

unit for the Marine Corps having signed up for the infantry as a rifleman. When asked, “Did

you ever wonder if you would make it?” Joseph responds, “Everyone does. When you step on

those yellow footprints you know you are in the “big boy club now.” Those footprints are

painted on the cement with heels together, toes pointed out, as one of the first lessons in

becoming a Marine!

Joseph attended and graduated from Nixa High School in May

2015 where his favorite subject was history. Joseph knew that he

always wanted to become a Marine but also knew that mentally he

was not yet prepared. Boot camp is mentally exhausting where

each person is stretched to their capacity in both their strengths

and their weaknesses. As a reserve, Joseph says he will likely see

active duty if he keeps up with his online studies. He wants to go

back to school and get his associates degree and eventually pursue

a college degree from Missouri State University possibly in criminal

justice and/or archeology (he does love history!)

Meanwhile, Joseph works for a plumber. He likes to read, watch

movies, exercise, be with friends and eat strawberry yogurt!

Congratulations Joseph and thank you for your service to the United States of America.

MEET ABBY ROBBINS, Service Coordinator

Abby was born and raised in Ozark and graduated from high school in 2004. Following high school Abby attended Missouri Southern State University in Joplin and graduated with a Bachelors in Juvenile Justice and Criminal Justice and an Associates in Law Enforcement. Abby has had several interesting jobs including working as a paraprofessional for the Ozark School District, a legal assistant for the Christian County Prosecutors office, a Family Resource Specialist for OACAC Neighborhood Center and the Rez-Girls home.

Abby’s life revolves around her 10 year old daughter, Kayleigh. At seven weeks, Kayleigh was diagnosed with a rare and little known diagnosis, Joubert Syndrome. Every day is a new day in the life of single parenting Kayleigh. Abby’s grateful for the support system she has in her friends and family.

Abby’s passions include maintaining her creativity, singing, advocating for her daughter, and spreading community awareness.

Her obsessions include sloths, alpacas/llamas and cacti!

CC Links is grateful for the gifts and insight that Abby brings with her to this work!

Tuesday, June 19, Missouri Mental Health Foundation Champions Award Banquet honored

our individuals Tabby Hedgcorth (nominee for Champions Award) and 5th Place winner in

Developmental Disabilities (DD) category of the 2018 Director’s Creativity Showcase, Kirsten

Wilham. Kirsten, Tabby and parents attended the evenings events as guests of the Christian

County Board for DD. It was a wonderfully inspiring evening of celebrating those who rise

above their developmental disabilities (DD), substance use disorders (SUD), and their mental

illness (MI) and those who support and champion the causes of these individuals.

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End-of-School Year CELEBRATION

7/31 – GAME NIGHT - OACAC will host the REALL (Reality Enrichment and Life Lessons) Simulation on behalf of CC Links individuals and families at the Countryside Christian Church on Tuesday, July 31. The REALL Simulation allows individuals to participate in real life scenarios. It’s a fun way to show individuals the importance of making good choices and decisions and helps to set a tone of “responsible” planning. Parents are always welcome and encouraged to participate.

8/23 - Internet Safety – Brent Forgey (Nixa Police Dept. DARE Officer) will address our individuals and families, 5th grade and up on Thursday, August 23 from 6-8 pm on the many issues surrounding the use of the internet and how best to protect our constituents. Held at CC Links offices.

9/13 & 27 – resume rehearsals of CC Rhythm at the Countryside Christian Church from 6-8 pm. Performances scheduled for 1st Annual Hispanic Arts Festival/Springfield (9/28), Community Conversations/OTC Richwood Valley (10/4), MACDDS Conference/Columbia (10/18).

9/28 - Building A Purposeful Life Transition Summit 2018 – will be held at the OTC/Richwood Valley campus this year on Friday, September 28 from 8:45 am to 12:45 pm. The Summit is designed to give individual students and their parents/guardians an opportunity to attend sessions designed to assist them through this transitional phase of life. Sessions for students will focus on self-determination, considering post-secondary alternatives, pre-employment skills, and leading your own IEP. Sessions specific for parents/guardians include: alternatives to guardianship and the ins and outs of social security income and Medicaid.

10/4 - Community Conversations – this event will be held at the OTC/Richwood Valley campus on Thursday, October 4, from 5:30 – 8:00 pm. A “community conversation” is a way to bring a diverse set of community members together to collectively brainstorm strategies and resources that can be used to address a challenge facing the community. In short, it provides a fun and creative way to find local solutions and new partnerships to address issues that matter in a community. Invited guests will include individuals from our businesses, faith, educational communities. Also invited will be representatives from our agency providers, CC Links individuals and parents/guardians.

10/30 – Annual Trunk or Treat – 6-7 pm

11/15 – Fire Safety – this event will be held at the Countryside Christian Church from 6-8 pm on Thursday, November 15. Fire Chief will address individuals and families on the importance of having a fire safety plan in place, the importance of practicing that with family members, checking to ensure all alarms are in place and always charged, etcetera. The Smoke House will be at the event allowing for individuals to go through it and more fully experience what it is to be in a house filled with smoke.

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728 N. 22nd St.

Ozark, MO 65721

(417) 551-4901

MISSION STATEMENT

To see people first,

to advocate passionately,

link individuals with

Developmental disabilities in

Christian County and their

families to community supports

to achieve the highest

quality of life.

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