News
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- Letter from the Executive Director
- Jump on the Jumpy Monkey bandwagon
- Midwest Regional Conference
- Get involved with Mosaic
- Making dreams come true
- Host Homes
- Mosaic Track and Field Day
- Expressions is on the move
- Upcoming events
- Free resources for vacation bible school or Sunday school
- Discover the possibilities with Mosaic
- Find us on Facebook
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Letter from the Executive Director
As many of you may know, Mosaic in South Central Iowa assumed residential and vocational services in Chariton, Iowa in July 2010. This doubled the number of individuals receiving supports from our agency. While the transition went smoothly, Mosaic quickly realized that it would take time to establish a standard of quality that could work equitably in both communities. I would like to share our system and our findings after this first year.
Locally, our agency is accredited through The Council on Quality and Leadership. Each Mosaic agency assesses quality twice a year through an internal self-assessment review called Basic Assurances and annually with a national validation review. The review assesses quality under 10 factors:
Rights, Protection and Promotion
Dignity and Respect
Natural Support Networks
Protection from Abuse, Neglect, Mistreatment and Exploitation
Best Possible Health
Safe Environments
Staff Resources and Supports
Positive Services and Supports
Continuity and Personal Security
Basic Assurance System (quality review process)
The Basic Assurances review is divided into four levels of assessment:
Probes -- assesses specific areas for a sample of individuals supported, staff and sites
Systems -- assesses policies and procedures
Practices -- determines if the systems are followed consistently through all service areas
Indicators -- these are only present if both the system and practice for each area is met
Mosaic continues to have strong medical support systems for individuals supported 24-hours a day.
It is more difficult to ensure the same medical supports for other individuals since we are not always
the party responsible to take them to appointments. To help with this, Mosaic has implemented Health
Screening Assessments to help all individuals know the American Medical Association recommendations.
Mosaic is continuing to assist individuals to realize when they have made accomplishments (big or small). You should be seeing more communication regarding your family member's accomplishments, so you too can help them celebrate!
Mosaic also is continuing to help individuals increase their personal support systems. This could mean enhancing relationships with additional family members, developing friendships and outreach to others. We are working on setting up Skype in homes to communicate with family members and friends who may not be local. If you would like to utilize this service with a family member or friend who is supported by Mosaic in South Central Iowa, please let us know.
For several years, Mosaic has also used CQL's Personal Outcome Measures (POM) to assess our quality. The POM assesses each individual's satisfaction (outcome) and staff supports in 23 areas.
In summary, Mosaic in South Central Iowa is continuing our goal of providing high quality service. If at any time you feel we are not meeting a high standard of quality, please call me at 641.342.6015 x222 or contact us.
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Jump on the Jumpy Monkey bandwagon
Mosaic in South Central Iowa sells Jumpy Monkey coffee at our gift shops, Expressions by Mosaic, at 143 S. Main St. in Osceola and 245 E. Grace in Chariton. The coffee is packaged and labeled at the Osceola store and can be purchased either ground or whole bean in a variety of flavors. With your purchase of Jumpy Monkey products, not only are you receiving a quality product, but you are also assisting in providing meaningful employment for people with intellectual disabilities supported by our agency. Stop by one of our gift shops or one of our partners listed below to purchase a bag of this great coffee.
Mosaic in South Central Iowa Jumpy Monkey Coffee Partnerships:
Fareway -- Osceola
Hy-Vee -- Osceola
Hy-Vee -- Chariton
Expressions by Mosaic -- Osceola and Chariton
Frontier Trading Post & Lucas Co. Welcome Center -- Chariton
Gifts Galore -- Lucas Co. Health Center Gift Shop
Amish Country Store -- Lamoni
Looking for a great fundraiser for your group or organization while simultaneously creating meaningful employment for people with intellectual disabilities? Fundraising opportunities are available with Jumpy Monkey coffee. For more information, call 641.342.3633 or contact us.
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Midwest Regional Conference
On June 23 -- 24, 14 staff members from Mosaic in South Central Iowa joined staff from other Mosaic agencies for the Midwest Region Training Event. This inaugural event allowed more than 100 staff members from across the region to hear some fabulous speakers and to share and learn from each other. One of the highlights of the conference included a keynote speech by Shirley Paceley, founder and director of Blue Tower Training in Decatur, Ill. Shirley shared a number of real life stories from her 37 years of experience learning from people with disabilities about what is important to them.Get involved with Mosaic
Donate -- Your gift can provide activities and items that would not otherwise be possible. Many of the people we assist rely on limited government funding. Some are left with as little as $50 a month, which must take care of all of their personal expenses such as haircuts, social activities, clothing and personal care items. Options include immediate gifts, planned gifts or in-kind gifts. For more information on how you can give to Mosaic or to make a donation, call Stephanie Gehlhaar at 641.342.6015 or contact us.
Mosaic in South Central Iowa's Wish List
Picnic tables
Frequent flyer miles
Movie passes
Admission to Blank Park Zoo and other area attractions
Nintendo Wii games
Sensory items
Couch or loveseat
Rocker or recliner
Blankets
Board games or yard games
Restaurant gift cards
Wall art (photography, abstract, etc.)
Swim Passes to AmericInn in Osceola
Volunteers for day service sites (teach a skill, share a hobby, etc.)
10 tickets to Iowa Cubs game
Knoxville Recreation Center Passes
Volunteer -- Do you or anyone you know have a talent you would like to share such as art, crafting, reading, music, or special interests such as cars, farming, woodworking or carpentry? You can help build connections between the people Mosaic supports and the community. Mosaic welcomes individuals and groups who would like to share their time and talents. To learn more, call Karen Irwin, Community Relations Manager at 641.342.6015 or contact us.
Advocate -- Mosaic Allied Voices (MAV) volunteers inform elected officials at local, state and national levels of the needs and rights of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. When you become a Mosaic Allied Voices (MAV) volunteer, you help promote public policies that ensure a life of possibilities for people with intellectual disabilities in our community and around the world. Your time commitment is minimal. When issues that impact people with intellectual disabilities are identified, you will receive an email alert asking you to contact your elected official. You can be the voice of a person who would otherwise not be heard.
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Making dreams come true
On June 28, Mark and others from Mosaic traveled to Boone, Iowa to ride on the Boone & Scenic Valley Railroad. Mark is fascinated with trains and loves to watch them from the marsh near the Mosaic building in Chariton. The joy on Mark's face spoke volumes that day as he enjoyed riding in a 1920s-era coach car while watching for wildlife in the Des Moines River Valley below. Although Mark had ridden the train once before with family members, one of his dreams was to return, a dream that Mosaic helped come true.Host Homes
Having a family to love and a place to call home is important for everyone. In several states, Mosaic provides host home services. Mosaic in South Central Iowa is expanding our services to include the host home opportunity. As a host home provider, you receive support and guidance from Mosaic to provide services to people with disabilities in a family-like or roommate-style setting in the host's home. Host home providers are not Mosaic employees but are independent contractors with Mosaic. Providers receive ongoing training and support from Mosaic to help build the skills needed for success. In addition, they have respite care available for emergencies or time off. There are many benefits for the person supported and for the provider.
Benefits for
people served:
Individualized staff supports
Family-like environment
Increased consistency in support
Increased opportunity for community involvement
Benefits for host home provider:
Ability to improve the life of a person with a disability
Ability to be at home to support your own family while earning an income
We offer clear contractual agreements. You will know you made the right choice with Mosaic when all of your questions are fully understood and the answers are in writing.
For your convenience, we offer direct deposit for compensation and electronic documents so you can easily work from home.
Comprehensive training and education is provided at no cost to the provider.
Mosaic offers competitive rates. In addition, Mosaic's compensation to you is tax-free!
These are only a few of the
benefits of working as a host home provider with Mosaic. To learn more or to become a host home provider, call Stephanie Gehlhaar at
641.342.6015 or contact us.
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Mosaic Track and Field Day
Thanks to all of the staff, family members and friends who attended our Track and Field Day on June 15, 2011. We appreciate your support. Congratulations to all of the athletes who competed!
View the results
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Expressions is on the move
Osceola Work Services and Expressions Gift Shop will be relocating to our new location this fall! Renovations to the former Alliant building on the northwest side of the square in Osceola are taking shape. We will be having a Return to Basics theme for our gift and coffee shop. The gift shop will feature items made by individuals supported by Mosaic such as our Simply Soy by Mosaic candles and lotions, hand-woven rugs and Jumpy Monkey Coffee. We will also have a private label line of green cleaning products, which individuals supported by Mosaic package and label. Several other new projects are in the works, including a heat press business. Look for more information in the coming months about the exciting changes in Mosaic Work services. Currently, the Mosaic work site supports 25 people with developing work skills on site in Osceola and supports five people with employment in the local community. |  |
Upcoming events
Second Annual Murder Mystery Dinner TheaterThe Mafia Murders
Expressions and Work Services building
209 W. Washington
Osceola, Iowa
Saturday, October 15, 2011
5:30 -- 9 p.m.
Show starts at 6:30 p.m.
Tickets, including dinner and the show, are $20 in advance, $25 at the door. There will be a limit of 120 tickets sold. Doors open at 5:30 p.m. for appetizers and a tour of our new gift shop and coffee bar. The show will be at 6:30 p.m. Tickets can be purchased in Osceola at Mosaic, Expressions gift shop, Osceola Chamber of Commerce, Hy-Vee, Great Western Bank, Clarke County State Bank and American State Bank. In Chariton, tickets can be purchased at Mosaic, Chariton Chamber of Commerce, Midwest Heritage Bank, Community 1st Credit Union and Pipers. To get involved, purchase tickets or for more information on the Murder Mystery Dinner Theater, please call 641.342.6015 or contact us.
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Free resources for vacation bible school or Sunday school
Children's educational materials are available for free to churches from Mosaic. There is a four-week lesson plan along with a 20-Day Awareness activity guide that features Duncan the Duck and would be a great platform for children's programming.
Materials include coloring books, coin banks, an animated story on DVD and Bible study lesson plans, all of which feature Mosaic's children's mascot, Duncan.
Learn more about how you can receive these educational materials for free.
Contact us when looking for temple talks, guest speakers or children's programs, as well as further information about admissions, volunteering and giving opportunities.
For more information, please call Karen Irwin at 641.342.6015 or contact us.
Discover the possibilities with Mosaic
We are excited about a new friend and fundraising initiative at Mosaic. We'll be using a mission-centered approach to sustainable funding that builds relationships with donors who truly support our work. The goal will be to raise sufficient sustainable donor funding that decreases our reliance on state and federal funding. The initiative will create many opportunities for people in our community to help in our mission of advocacy for people with intellectual disabilities.At the present time, we are recruiting volunteers to serve on our fund raising team. For more information about these opportunities, please call Karen Irwin at 651.342.6015 or contact us.
