Hello again, Clinton County readers. As you may have read in a previous issue of The Express, my name is Andrew McCune and I'm currently an intern at the Clinton County United Way.
I'm writing a series of focus pieces to highlight the actions of your United Way and its partner agencies. It's taken some time to get this project off the ground, but you can expect to hear from me on a regular basis.
Today I'll be talking about Clinton County Community Connections.
Scott Moore, director of Clinton County Community Connections (CCCC) for the past 18 years, and Cindy Love, a 22-year veteran of the human services field had a lot to say.
Community Connections is a licensed non-profit organization based right in town, and has been a part of the community for decades. A qualified provider, CCCC "does right by the people," providing needed support for adults living with developmental disabilities (mental health/intellectual disabilities). With a proven history of personal success stories, Community Connections continues to expand, upgrade and revamp the services they offer.
The people at Clinton County Community Connections take an active, person-centered approach, offering a unique blend of opportunities that enable people to live successfully and independently. Every experience is tailored to specific interests and desired personal outcomes, where CCCC devotes its resources to developing skills necessary to reach short and long-term goals.
Emphasizing community habilitation and transitional work services, Community Connections provides for and maintains:
r Haven - a transitional work services program that concentrates on the skills needed for job readiness and maximizing someone's abilities in the community.
r The newly established 4C's Cafe- where employment skills learned in the Haven program translate into real-world experiences. Located at STEP, Inc., on Walnut Street in Lock Haven, the 4C's Cafe is open to the public from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Monday through Friday, and allows participants to put their skills to the test.
r Life Sharing Program - overseen by CCCC, this new program grants participants the option to live, to learn, and to grow with their neighbors out in the community.
r Pathways - this Community Habilitation Adult Training Facility has been serving the community for 45 years, and is currently working with 39 people. Welcoming adults 18 and older into a stimulating but comfortable atmosphere, this program works with abilities, not around disabilities. Pathways provides for the development of personal and social skills, independence and self-esteem, communication skills, and health maintenance. Sensory stimulation, music therapy, exercise programs, and recreational activities such as picnics, bowling, and trips to local attractions are among the tools employed by these professionals.
True to its name, Community Connections communicates and collaborates with a variety of outside organizations including Lock Haven University, Clinton County Women's Center, Anne Halenbake Ross Library, Lock Haven Area YMCA and Horses of Hope, to name some real world instances of people helping people.
As a partner of the Clinton County United Way, you can be sure that everyone is working to meet the needs of the community, be it through the amazing hands-on work done by agencies like Community Connections, or through the fundraising efforts of your United Way. As with most good things, however, costs quickly become an issue. This year, the United Way was able to allocate funds that subsidize the costs of Community Connections outings to the YMCA and Horses of Hope, taking advantage of the therapeutic services offered by both organizations.
Clinton County Community Connections is located at 10 N. Washington St., Lock Haven, and those looking to help or to learn more should call (570) 748-9006.
I'm looking forward to finding out more about the work done by your local United Way and its partner agencies, and will let you know all that I learn in my next piece. Keep an eye out.
