What's New At Mosaic

Mosaic is standing strong, looking ahead

#
Mosaic employees in Arizona used T-shirts to graphically illustrate the 10 percent cut in funding from the state.
The economic recession has created challenges to Mosaic and other disability service providers as states try to balance budgets by reducing Medicaid responsibilities, the major funding source for Mosaic. But a quick response that focused on three areas -- efficiencies, expansion, and donor growth -- will ensure that Mosaic remains strong.

"Mosaic is financially strong and we are taking the actions necessary to stay strong," said Linda Timmons, Mosaic President and CEO. "Good decisions made in the past, combined with generous donor support and estate gifts, have helped place us in a strong position to weather this storm. Our ministry will not only survive these challenging times, but will come out stronger."

Creating efficiencies

To create efficiencies and trim expenses, Mosaic began making changes at the beginning of 2009. On the national level, Mosaic restructured regions, eliminated open positions, reduced some employee benefits, froze salaries for senior leadership and made many additional changes. Together these changes trimmed more than $4 million in expenses for fiscal year 2010, which began July 1, 2009.

Read the whole story.


Speech Device changes man's life

#
Jeff Winks' excitement shows at newly found ability to express himself.
Finally feeling that he was being heard, Jeff Winks' life has changed dramatically through committed Mosaic staff members and the technology of an augmentative speech device.

Anxiety, combined with disability, made Winks, 25, withdraw from others, socialize infrequently and avoid personal interaction unless necessary. Staff members who worked with him, however, knew that he loved movies and music, and was a trivia buff so they set out to find a way to help him get past his anxiety and feel more comfortable with himself and others.

"One idea was to get Jeff involved in speech," said Elizabeth Grabowski, Direct Support Manager. "We believed that if he could communicate his wants and needs more easily, perhaps he would want to interact more often."

Read the whole story.


Open house held in new Omaha and grand Island nebraska homes

#

Mosaic will host an Open House in Omaha on April 28 and in Grand Island on May 5 for guardians of prospective residents as well as state service coordinators and other state workers and office holders. According to Mosaic's Nebraska Regional Vice President  Tammy Westfall, the open house is a good opportunity for people to see what the state's partnership with Mosaic has created for people with intellectual disabilities.

The homes, located in Omaha at 5806 S. 147th St., and in Grand Island at 1517 Hope St., are the first of the newly-constructed homes Mosaic is opening in Nebraska communities as community-based living options for people who are currently residents of the Beatrice State Developmental Center.

Westfall called the project "a great opportunity to give people more options to choose what they want for their own lives and to frame their own dreams."

Additional homes will be built later in Omaha and Grand Island, as well as in York and Norfolk.

Learn more about Mosaic's expansion in Nebraska.


A thriving 3-year-old thanks to Mosaic's help

#
Logan is making great progress

Watch out or he'll roll you down! That's the way it feels to watch little Logan (who is 3 years old) get around his home. He rolls to get where he wants to go, and he is quick.

Logan has not hit the developmental stages that most children do by his age -- he is not walking or talking. Yet his mom, Kristin, is thrilled with the progress he has made, especially after doctors offered little hope for the child born almost three months premature with serious problems.

"They basically sent him home to die," Kristin said. "It was extremely hard to think that when you go to sleep at night you might not wake up to your child in the morning."

Read the whole story.



Mosaic receives a refreshed look

#
Welcome to the refreshed look of Mosaic's online site! You'll find the same information and commitment to mission we've always had, but we decided it was time for a new look. We've chosen a distinctive look for the photos we'll use to represent Mosaic across all of our materials, so those of you who receive our mailings will notice a difference in those as well.

While you're here, take the time to view some of the stories of the people we assist, their family members, and Mosaic employees. They are the best witnesses to what Mosaic is and does.

We're also revealing our new tagline: A life of possibilities for people with intellectual disabilities. It is exciting to watch the ever-expanding possibilities that present themselves to the people we assist. Our tagline reflects that, and it tells who we serve -- our primary mission is to help people with intellectual disabilities, and we're doing that in many ways. As you explore this site, you can learn more about our programs in 14 states, as well as our advocacy and outreach efforts.

Whether you're here as a donor, volunteer, client, family member,  employee, or seeking to learn about Mosaic -- Welcome!

Framing Dreams in Nebraska

Mosaic is Framing Dreams in Nebraska as it expands with 11 new homes. Learn the latest news and take a virtual tour of a new home as well as hear from guardians and parents about Mosaic services.

Learn more about Framing Dreams here.


An attitude of serving others

Many people Mosaic supports like to serve others. You'll find them bringing meals to senior citizens who cannot get out of their home, giving their time at local food pantries, helping pick up trash in public areas, and working with animals in humane shelters.

There are thousands of people with intellectual disabilities across the country on lists waiting to get into a home that fits their needs, waiting for the skills training to get a job, waiting for the chance to be included in all the good things that life has to offer. Those are the things that we make happen at Mosaic.

Visit www.wouldyouhelp.org and view videos of people we serve talking about helping others. You'll also find out how you can help. Please check it out!