Congrats, VRS graduates! Page 3

July
2020
INSIDE Wallace Steps into Role as
Director of Early Childhood Services

Purcell Outlines the Way Forward for SCDD COVID-19 pandemic response inspires changes to how we work

SCDD continues to work through some	able to complete their job	COVID-19 pandemic. Many of very difficult circumstances due to the	tasks remotely, there are a	our departments will maintain COVID-19 pandemic. After discussing our	select few that aren’t able.	some form of a hybrid model of current situation and our vision into the	Between now and Aug. 1,	delivering services. This is due future, regarding what we want to look like	the leadership team will be	to a couple of reasons. First, operationally under this new normal, the	assessing what is needed	we have found these remote Leadership Team and myself have and	as far as frequency and	opportunities to be extremely will continue to work on a phasing-in plan	duration of work schedules	useful and effective. Second, we are actually currently implementing.	for these staff members.	it is my belief that by allowing SCDD’s plan will be rolled out in three	We will adhere to the	flexibility our staff will feel valued
SCDD
phases:	orders of the Governor’s	Matt Purcell and thus will improve morale PHASE I – NEEDS ASSESSMENT	Office as to building                                                and productivity.

Superintendent
This phase actually began June 1. The	capacity and all required	Vern Riffe School will operate first phase consisted of the department	safety measures to ensure                                       according to the rules, laws, heads assessing their respective depart-	we maintain a safe and                                            and regulations set forth by the ments to determine what essential needs	healthy work environment.                                        Ohio Department of Education were not being met and could not be met	In this phase we will continue to limit face       and may differ than the rest of the SCDD by remote means. The department heads	to face meetings/visits to only those tasks      departments. When information related to were given full autonomy on how they	that can’t be completed through technolog-     VRS Opening becomes available it will be brought certain staff members back (it had	ical or remote means.                                shared with school staff, students, families, to be determined necessary and essen-                    PHASE III – REOPENING               and all other stakeholders in the timeliest tial), to what degree they brought them            This phase is migratory in nature and           fashion possible.
back under (limited schedules, rotating,	really is fine-tuning, revamping, and other-	Obviously, this plan is subject to change etc.). It is important to note that due to the	wise improving the practices we set in mo-     depending on guidance received from the diverse nature of our organization, these	tion in Phase II. Keep in mind, Phase II is       Governor’s Office, the Centers for Disease decisions differ department by department.	the “reopening” phase, and we only have       Control, the Ohio Department of Health,
PHASE II – STAFFING	Phase III, because we know there will	Scioto County Health Department, and This phase is scheduled to begin Aug.	need to be revisions to Phase II. Once this	the Portsmouth City Health Department. If
1. In this phase all employees including	phase is complete it will be what Scioto	we feel it is necessary to modify, extend, those whose job duties are not considered	County Developmental Disabilities will look	amend, or otherwise change this plan, workable remotely will be brought back to	like into the future. It needs to be pointed	it will be communicated in the timeliest their work environments that will enable	out that although we will be 100 percent	fashion possible.
them to complete their assigned duties.	operational, the organization is likely to	(Purcell is SCDD superintendent. SCDD serves Although the majority of our employees are look much different than it did prior to the       more than 700 individuals and families.)

Wallace Steps into Director Role at Carousel Scioto County Developmental Disabilities has a new Director of Early Childhood Services

Scioto County Developmental Disabilities has a new Director of Early Childhood Services.
Erica Wallace, who took over the position on July 1, has worked as a Developmental Specialist and for SCDD for several years has moved into the job, which is based at the Carousel Center. Wallace worked with retired director Tammy Nelson for nearly a year to transition into the position.
Early Childhood Services encompasses Early Intervention for babies and children living in Scioto County who have been diagnosed with developmental disabilities.
“I want to thank the staff and give them my full appreciation for being so flexible and being willing to step outside their comfort zone and serve families during this time,” Wallace said. “I’m excited to see what the next years bring for all of us together.”
Nobody could have foreseen such a change in personnel and what services might look like under the shadow of the COVID-19 pandemic this time last year. While technology has long been an import-ant part of the offerings to families, it has become crucial as the delivery of services to our community’s youngest children is ever-changing.
“What we used to do when I came into the program was we used to take a bag into the homes and we’d call it our bag of tricks,” Wallace said. The model has
evolved to a coaching method for families using items already in the home, which means children can more consistently learn skills and hit developmental markers with the help of their families.
“Over the last probably four or five years, we’ve shifted our whole model to a coaching model to empower families to be
the best play partner they can be,” Wallace said. “We train them with the coaching model. We have really seen that blossom over the years.”
One trend Wallace and the rest of the Early Childhood Services staff see is the uptick in diagnoses of autism and Neona-tal Abstinence Syndrome. Both recently

became qual-ifying diagno-
children living
ses, meaning	“I’m excited to see what the next with these                                        years bring for all of us together.” developmental

disabilities	Erica Wallace
automatically	Director of Early Childhood Services are qualified

for services
through SCDD and Early Childhood	aside, and passion to drive the force of Services.	making sure that you’re doing everything
“Those two diagnoses are at the top,”	possible in those early years. We all know Wallace said. Formerly, the top diagnoses	that’s really when brain development is for children were Down syndrome, cerebral optimal. We miss that chance and that’s palsy, and spina bifida. “We still have	when the child pays for it,” Nelson said. those, but autism and NAS are the majority “Families come first and we really work
of the diagnoses we see now in our area.”	hard to make families as happy as they The staff at Carousel are constantly	can be with the challenges they’ve been
undergoing professional education, and	presented.
Wallace looks to improve the use of tech-	While Nelson is looking forward to nology as a tool Developmental Specialists     gardening, reading, and spending time
to conduct virtual visits with families and	with her family, Wallace has hit the ground children. Virtual visits were also available	running with virtual services and interagen-to medically fragile families during flu sea-	cy partnerships.
son, but the usage expanded widely during	“I want to thank the staff and give them the COVID-19 pandemic. The option is          my full appreciation for being so flexible available to all families served by Early          and being willing to step outside their Childhood Services, and has been a huge      comfort zone and serve families during this success in being able to continue those         time,” Wallace said.
important face-to-face coaching sessions	Scioto DD Superintendent Matt Purcell between Developmental Specialists and        said he is appreciative of the contributions families.                                                  of both Wallace and Nelson. Both have
Wallace worked closely with former	worked toward improving services to local director Tammy Nelson for nearly a year	families and children while staying atop an in order to make the transition a smooth	evolving system of approaches.
one. No one could have predicted it would	“Tammy has been a proven leader with have happened during a global pandemic,      many successes in our Early Childhood though.                                                   Services program. As mandates and
“Nobody planned, and I certainly wouldn’t	methods evolved, so did the approaches at have chosen to have the last three months	the Carousel Center,” Purcell said. “Tammy of employment working from home,”	and the Early Intervention team made Nelson said. “We’ve worked very closely	continuing education a priority and that together over the last year. She’s as ready	has made all the difference in the lives of as she can be, I think she’ll do fine.”	Scioto County children with developmental
The thing about Early Childhood Ser-	disabilities and their families.
vices, and Early Intervention in particular,         “I know the dedication and commitment is how closely the staff work with families.      to local children and families will continue
“It takes a special person to be a Devel-	under Erica’s leadership.” opmental Specialist. Empathy, judgement

JACEE YEARWOOD

MADDI GRASHEL

JUSTIN SANFORD

ALEX SHORTRIDGE

JACEE DANIELLE YEARWOOD

Jacee is the daughter of William and Christina Yearwood of Portsmouth, Ohio. Jacee has participated in the VRS school vo-cational program, Girl Scouts, VRS Book Club, Special Olympics: cheerleading, volleyball, bowling, basketball, track and field. She is an avid reader! She has participated in summer community youth work experiences. She enjoys singing, karaoke, listening to music and learning about other cultures. Following graduation Jacee plans to obtain employment in the community and partici-pate in day programming at STAR, Inc.

ALEXANDER CHRISTIAN SHANE SHORTRIDGE

Alex is the son of Kristi Ramsey and Shane Shortridge of Ports-mouth, Ohio. Alex has participated in Special Olympics bowling, basketball, track and field. He enjoys music, Pittsburgh Steelers, building things, sharing with friends, singing, dancing, Fortnite and spending time with cousins and family. Alex loves to go to Myrtle Beach. Following graduation Alex plans to participate in day programming at STAR, Inc. and to obtain community employment.

JUSTIN KALEB SANFORD
Justin lives with his family Jenny, Aubry and Marsha Gulley in New Boston, Ohio. Justin has participated in the VRS school vo-cational program, Boy Scouts, VRS Book Club, Special Olympics: basketball, volleyball, bowling, track and field. He enjoys dancing, singing, karaoke, drawing, hanging out with his friends and he loves to vacation on a cruise ship! Following graduation Justin plans to participate in day programming at STAR, Inc.

MADISON JORDAN GRASHEL
Maddi l is the daughter of Amanda and Matt Chabot and the late Tom Grashel of Portsmouth, Ohio. Madison has participated
in the VRS vocational program, Girl Scouts, VRS Book Club, Special Olympics: cheerleading, bowling, track and field. She has participated in summer youth community work experiences. She enjoys swimming, camping, music, dancing, movies and using her IPad. She loves to vacation at the beach. Following graduation Madison plans to participate in day programming at STAR, Inc.