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DMDISO Audit
Beaufort County Developmental Center
reports great news
from recent audit!
No non-conformances! Just Great! These were only a couple of the phrases/praises used when Jennifer Edwards, Lead Auditor with AQA International, conducted her exit conference with Beaufort County Developmental Center’s (BCDC) Management and Production Teams.
Beaufort County Developmental Center believes that a quality management system is a necessity for any organization. With that belief in mind, BCDC adopted the ISO 9001 method of quality management three years ago.
SO 9001-2000, the most widely adopted management system in the world, promotes the adoption of a process approach when developing, implementing and improving the effectiveness of a quality management system, to enhance customer satisfaction by meeting customer requirements.
The ISO system is used to evaluate the Subcontract Packaging and Assembly Services, which is a component of the Adult Developmental and Vocational Program, renamed “VOICE” by BCDC employees. VOICE (Vocational Opportunities in Community Employment) is designed to teach adults with developmental disabilities, ages 16 and over, marketable job skills and industry accepted work habits, as well as communication skills and social competencies, which enhance the individual’s ability to live and work independently.
The ISO approach emphasizes the importance of
- understanding and meeting requirements,
- the need to consider processes in terms of added value,
- obtaining results of process performance and effectiveness, and
- continual improvement of processes based on objective measurement.
ISO accountability requires the methodology known as “Plan-Do-Check-Act” (PDCA) be applied to all of the processes. A proper following of this system maintains continual improvement of the quality management system. Each step of the process reverts back to satisfying customers – the requirements set forth by the customers and BCDC’s responsibility to maintain customer satisfaction.
In the exit conference, Edwards praised BCDC staff for the efficiency exemplified in producing the documentation required to conduct the audit. Edwards said, “Your product traceability is outstanding!” Product traceability is ensuring that the customer product is tracked from start to finish – double checking and ensuring that BCDC is meeting quality standards established by each customer.
She clarified this statement by saying that the records and the staff at BCDC were so efficiently organized that she plans to write a waiver reducing the on-site visit to one day rather than the normal one and one-half days. Edwards directed her attention to Chief Executive Officer Chris Kiricoples and said, “I have conducted a lot of audits, but I’ve never written one of these waivers before!” She concluded her remarks by saying, “Two surveillance audits, within the four year accreditation period, with no non-conformances is a tremendous feat!
Board of Directors
Beaufort County Developmental Center
Board of Directors
elects Pittman as Board Chairman
The first item of business for the Beaufort County Developmental Center Board of Directors, at their last meeting, was to introduce new officers. Lynn Lewis, retiring board member and chairperson of the board for the past two years, handed the gavel over to Allen Pittman. Vice Chairperson Pamela Pippin, Treasurer Carol West and Secretary Pam Shadle join Pittman as officers for 2008. Other members of the board include: T. Dalton Elks, Charles Edwards, Jr., Peggy Simpson, Judy Meier Jennette, Jane McCotter and Austin Thomas. In addition, the newest member of the board, Kristen Smithwick, was approved at the meeting. The agency’s Chief Executive Officer, Chris Kiricoples, has been with the organization since 1997.
Newly elected Chairman Allen Pittman, said, “I am excited about the opportunity to serve as chairman of the Beaufort County Developmental Center Board of Directors. The Board and I will continue working with the BCDC staff to increase awareness in the community of the services that BCDC has been providing for children and adults with developmental disabilities since 1974. I look forward to an eventful year.”
BCDC was established in 1974 to serve residents of Beaufort County with Developmental Disabilities. Services have grown to include two group homes and nine apartments, Adult Developmental Activity Program, transportation services, supported employment, a CAP/Medicaid waiver program, Child Development Center and in-home early intervention. BCDC also is the operator of the Beaufort Area Transit System, which provides county-wide transportation services for 14 other human service agencies and to members of the general public. The mission of BCDC is to empower citizens with developmental disabilities through service alternatives.
Pictured front row left to right:
Charles Edwards, Jane McCotter, Peggy Simpson, T. Dalton Elks, Carol West, Allen Pittman and Austin Thomas
Not pictured: Judy Jennette, Pamela Pippin, Pam Shadle and Kristen Smithwick
United Way
Beaufort County Developmental Center
employees complete another successful fund raising drive
The Beaufort County Developmental Center Inc. (BCDC) recently finished another successful drive to fund the BCDC Endowment.
Fund raising efforts were completed in conjunction with the United Way drive. Chief Executive Officer Chris Kiricoples said, “Donations, from our employees, speak volumes in terms of their commitment to our community, as well as their belief in the mission, programs and future of BCDC. They have continuously supported the efforts of United Way and the BCDC Endowment Fund drives. This year is no exception, with 31% of employees donating to United Way for a total giving of $1,459.59 and almost 60% of employees supporting the Beaufort County Developmental Center Endowment Fund by contributing $2,773.50.
The BCDC Endowment Fund is a component of the NC Community Foundation. Establishing the endowment enables BCDC to receive important financial support from its many contributors by providing a source for permanent funding through the interest earned from the endowment. Anyone wishing to make a donation to the Beaufort County Developmental Center Endowment Fund can call 252-946-0151.
HORSE
Beaufort County Developmental Center
and
Fitness Unlimited host
3rd Annual HORSE Basketball Shoot-Out
Beaufort County Developmental Center (BCDC) and Fitness Unlimited hosted the 3rd Annual HORSE Basketball Shoot Out recently. The event, held annually at Fitness Unlimited, is a fundraiser for BCDC.
The object of the game is to not accrue the five letters in the word “horse”. Player #1 is allowed to shoot from anywhere on the court and, if he/she makes the shot, then player #2 must duplicate the same shot from the same position. If player #2 misses, he receives the first “letter” from the word “horse”. A player is knocked out of the game once he has enough letters to spell out the word “horse”.
About twenty-five players came out to test their basketball skills. Jakob Pernov, shot his way into first place followed by Austin Thomas in second place. Third and fourth place winners were Josh Shiflett and Mark Hendrix respectively.
Sponsors for the event included: Beaufort County Hospital, Howdy and Jones DDS, Hardees, Wachovia, King Chicken, Aaron’s, Seiler, Zachman and Associates PA, Beaufort County Mental Health Association, BCDC Board of Directors, Edward Jones - Rod Cantrell, Morris Insurance Agency, Inc., St. Clair Trucking, First South Bank, Paul Funeral Home, Taylor Coleman - Northwestern Mutual Insurance, Kean Chiropractic, Ace Paging, The Telephone Connection, Standard Insurance, F. Ray Moore Oil Company, Inc., Frank’s Pizza, Inc., Fitness Unlimited, Down on Mainstreet, Angie Dieterich, Choco Service Center, Cinema, Woogie’s Family Restaurant, Wilson’s Cleaning Service, Anne Crumpler and Washington Pediatrics.
Proceeds from the event will benefit citizens in Beaufort County with developmental challenges. This year the Senior’s Program will be the direct beneficiary of the proceeds. The Beaufort County Developmental Center, Inc. (BCDC) has been providing services to people with developmental disabilities since 1974. As the largest, private non-profit organization in Beaufort County, BCDC has established itself as a leader in services for people with developmental disabilities. The organization is one of the largest employers in the county and provides services to over 300 citizens with disabilities. BCDC’s services have grown to include Residential Services (two group homes and nine apartments), Adult Developmental Vocational Program, Transportation Services, Supported Employment, a CAP/Medicaid waiver program, Child Development Center, Community Based Work Adjustment Services, and in-home early intervention.
Beaufort County Developmental Center Chief Executive Officer, Chris Kiricoples, poses with winners of BCDC’s 3rd Annual HORSE Basketball Shoot Out. Pictured left to right: Mark Hendrix (4th place), Jakob Pernov (1st place), Josh Shiflett (3rd place) and Austin Thomas (2nd place).
BATS Training
Beaufort Area Transit System
Conducts Training
Beaufort Area Transit System (BATS) drivers recently conducted training as part of an on-going process of ensuring safe transport of passengers. Safety training is held on a monthly basis with accompanying hands-on drills occasionally. It is extremely important that drivers have hands-on training in dealing with emergency situations that can occur. Drivers are trained to always recognize the danger that surrounds them while transporting passengers. Core elements of on-going training include driver/employee selection and training, drug and alcohol abuse awareness, vehicle maintenance, safety data acquisition/analysis and security.
The most recent training was a mock emergency evacuation procedure for a standard van evacuation. BATS staff first viewed an emergency evacuation video and then driver Donald O’Neal was assigned the task of coordinating a training event and reenactment similar to what was seen in the video. This drill was performed as if it were an actual emergency with the exception of placing an emergency call to the BATS office dispatcher.
O’Neal’s scenario, presented to BATS driver Ray Northern, was that a truck had collided with a van from the front, leaving the van with heavy smoke inside the vehicle. Other BATS drivers became accident victims with injuries including fractures, head injuries, broken arms, contusions and one blind passenger with minor injuries. Northern quickly took a leadership role by calmly directing the evacuation of the vehicle and relocating the injured passengers to a safe place away from the vehicle. BATS drivers participating in the drill included: Matthew Reddick, Mamie Cobb, William Godley, Brenda Albritton, Donald O’Neal and Ray Northern.
The Beaufort Area Transit System (BATS was established to meet the need of the general public, special needs of the elderly, and persons for whom mass transportation services are unavailable, insufficient or inappropriate. BATS was developed through a partnership between Beaufort County and the North Carolina Department of Transportation, when the Beaufort County Developmental Center agreed to serve as the county’s lead transportation agency. The system provides rural residents with access to employment, education, social events, medical and recreational activities.
Beaufort Area Transit System drivers recently participated in training designed to educate them in an emergency evacuation situation. In this photo they are discussing the safest, most efficient method to evacuate a victim through the rear of the vehicle.
Beaufort Area Transit System drivers, Matthew Reddick, William Godley, Ray Northern, Donald O’Neal and Mamie Cobb discuss the evacuation scenario.
Ricky Gardner
Read the article posted in the Washington Daily News
Disability Mentoring Day
Local Agencies Partner in
Mentoring Day
Millions of people are either born with disabilities or become disabled at some point in their lives. Generations of young people with disabilities are growing up in North Carolina – graduating from high school, going to college and preparing to participate fully in the workplace and in their communities.
According to the Census Bureau, about 53 million Americans of all ages have disabilities. More than 1 million people with disabilities have entered the labor force since the passage of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) in1990, and as taxpayers, consumers and workers; they are contributing to our society and their fulfillment of the American dream.
Historically, the month of October has been designated “Disability Employment Awareness Month”. The goals of Disability Mentoring Day are to:
- Increase internship and employment opportunities for people with disabilities;
- Dispel employers' fears about hiring people with disabilities;
- Promote disability as a central part of diversity recruitment for a more inclusive workforce;
- Serve as a launching point for year-round efforts to foster more career-oriented mentoring opportunities; and
- Expand employment opportunities and eradicate perceptions that obstruct those living with disabilities from gaining employment.
Disability Mentoring Day not only benefits people with disabilities, it also benefits employers by providing an excellent opportunity to gain access to a pool of potential future employees.
Chris Kiricoples, Beaufort County Developmental Center's Chief Executive Officer, said "People with disabilities are like any other employee: They want to do a good job, they appreciate constructive supervision, and they enjoy new challenges and want to get ahead.”
Governor Michael Easley joined representatives of national organizations, such as the American Association of People with Disabilities, the US Department of Labor’s Office of Disability Employment Policy and the Ability-One Program, in making the public aware of the potential of people with disabilities. Governor Easley's proclamation mentions several Executive Orders such as: Executive Order 13078, (March 13, 1998) which established the National Task Force on Employment of Adults with Disabilities to reduce employment barriers for persons with disabilities; Executive Order 13164 (July 26, 2000), which promoted a model for workplace that provides reasonable accommodations for people with disabilities, and Executive Order 13187 (January 10, 2001) which established the President's Disability Partnership Board stating “the State of North Carolina recognizes the enormous potential of individuals with disabilities, and encourages everyone to work toward their full integration into the workforce and community.”
Locally, Beaufort County Developmental Center's Coordinator of Marketing and Development, Pamela Daw served as Beaufort County's local coordinator and worked cooperatively with Janet Loving, Business Relations Representative, of the local unit office of the North Carolina Division of Vocational Rehabilitation Services, to plan an event for local citizens. The proclamation, signed by Jay McRoy, Chairman of the Beaufort County Commissioners, encourages all citizens to recognize the enormous potential of people with disabilities and to work toward their full integration into the workforce. Participants from Beaufort County Developmental Center, Vocational Rehabilitation and Beaufort County Schools participated in Mentoring Day at the Washington Wal-Mart. During the day participants gained insight into career options by spending part of their day in the workplace "shadowing" an employee as he/she went through a normal day on the job.
Local Coordinator, Pam Daw said, "Wal-Mart is one of the lead national corporate sponsors for Disability Mentoring Day. We are very appreciative of our Washington Wal-Mart and its employees who agree to serve as mentors for us. Georgia Torres was extremely helpful in placing our consumers in departments where they had expressed an interest in working."
Beaufort County Developmental Center (BCDC) believes that people with disabilities have a right to live and work in their community and is dedicated to providing the support they need to make this possible. North Carolina Vocational Rehabilitation's (VR) vision is that North Carolinians with disabilities will live and work in the communities of their choice with economic and other supports available to help them achieve and maintain optimal self-sufficiency and independence. For more information please call the offices of BCDC at 252-946-0151 or VR at 252-946-0051.
Thelma J. worked in the housewares department of WalMart and also had the opportunity to tour the receiving department during Mentoring Day. Thelma is very interested in applying to work at Wal-Mart. She said she enjoyed herself and it was familiar to her because of her past experience working at K-Mart.
Jessica P. worked in the Electronics Department and said she learned how to stack things on shelves and how to better communicate with others. Jessica said that she enjoyed DMD and that she would do it again.
Lee W. worked in the frozen food department. He said that even though his department was very cold - he enjoyed the experience. Lee's favorite part was helping out the mentor that he worked with.
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