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Foothills CAN Strategic Priorities

Foothills CAN Strategic Priorities…

Employment / Jobs

Goal Statement:

Increase employment opportunities for individuals with disabilities.

Priority Objectives:

  1. Identify employers who currently employ individuals with disabilities.  Ask for help from these employers with our Lunch and Learn activities to help educate other potential employers for our cause.
  2. Make it easier for employers and job seekers to navigate and access the vast array of employment services available.
  3. Promote a business culture which understands and values the importance of individuals with disabilities in the workplace.

Transportation

Goal Statement:

Create a system wherein individuals with disabilities may have easy access to the destinations of their choice.

Priority Objectives:

  1. Work with All transportation entities (including churches) within our counties to be sure they understand our objectives and see how they may help us.
  2. Work with members of our legislative system to be sure they understand our problems and see how they may be able to assist us.

Awareness

Goal Statement:

Lead collective advocacy efforts to influence policy and resource allocation at the local, regional, and state levels to cultivate communities of empowerment and inclusion for individuals with disabilities and their families / support team.

Priority Objectives:

  1. Identify advocacy or education issues to address all areas of our concerns with specific emphasis on employment, transportation, and awareness.
  2. Work with educational systems within our counties to help educate, not only individuals with disabilities, but also the general public.
  3. Target a planned delivery of timely and accurate information to present to educational personnel, students, parents, and community partners.
  4. Ensure the implementation of quality transition services through cooperative planning, commitment of resources, information sharing, service coordination, training, and advocacy.
  5. Increase awareness of services and resources available by improving communication among providers throughout our communities and beyond.
  6. Identify and implement strategies to ensure individuals with disabilities have access to mentoring relationships.  Mentors may be individuals with or without disabilities.
  7. Increase peer-to-peer support for parents, caregivers, and individuals with disabilities.
  8. Identify and implement strategies to support parents and caregivers of a child with a new diagnosis, or an individual with a newly acquired disability.
  9. Hold monthly / quarterly Lunch and Learn programs.
  10. Create a means for provider representatives to easily seek and share resources in a timely manner.
  11. Provide opportunities for networking.
  12. Establish a system for information and referral organizations to share knowledge of existing resources with each other.
  13. Identifying gaps and deficiencies in services.

Having Fun / Entertainment

Goal Statement:

Help individuals of all ages and abilities to have access to and be engaged in a comprehensive (and quality-consistent) array of recreational, arts, and enrichment activities.

Priority Objectives:

  1. Increase afterschool and summer enrichment activities available and accessible to children with disabilities.
  2. Increase recreational and arts activities for individuals with disabilities of all ages.
  3. Increase access to events throughout the year, to include Special Olympics and Night to Shine.
  4. Work with local schools and churches to see what facilities are available for individuals with disabilities.
  5. Work with local equestrian centers to see what programs are available.
  6. Net / net——-have an open mind when it comes to ANY RESOURCES available.

Housing

Goal Statement:

Help individuals with disabilities have safe, affordable, and accessible housing suited to their needs and level of independence.

Priority Objectives:

We plan to grow into this area and will work in this area in the future.

Lunch and Learns:

Each of the counties of Anderson, Oconee, and Pickens will plan periodic (monthly or quarterly) luncheon meetings wherein various employers or educators (an other individuals) will share what they are doing to help individuals with disabilities.  Hopefully these Lunch and Learn meetings will help educate other potential employers and the general public about the abilities of individuals with disabilities.

Foothills CAN Support Group

  • Anderson County DSN Board
  • Pickens County DSN Board
  • Arc of Oconee
  • Vocational Rehab for Anderson, Oconee, & Pickens County
  • The City of Anderson
  • Clemson LIFE
  • SC Works Worklink
  • Concord Baptist Church
  • Tri-County Technical College
  • Anderson University
  • Southern Wesleyan University
  • Clemson Outdoor Lab
  • Dr. Dale Treash
  • AnMed Health
  • Walgreens
  • The City of Seneca & Oconee County Council

Contact Us:

Foothills CAN:  If you have questions, need additional information, or would like to be involved, please contact Mike Cannon at michaelcannon@charter.net.

CAN for your Community:  If your community would like to learn more about how to start a CAN initiative, please contact Mike Teachey at mike.teachey@greenvillecan.org.