Koinonia Homes Expands Residential Services Into Summit County
INDEPENDENCE, Ohio, June 8, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Koinonia Homes, a leading provider of residential services, day programs and employment services for adults with developmental disabilities, was selected by 23 families to provide disabilities services in four group homes in Summit County that were previously managed by Evant Inc., as well as one additional home formerly managed by Arbor Home Health Care.
Two of the homes are in Akron, two are in Hudson, Ohio, and one is in Stow, Ohio.
This spring, two group-home operators for people with disabilities, Evant Inc. and Arbor Home Health Care, separately announced they would cease all operations. Soon after the announcements, Koinonia began working with the Summit County Developmental Disabilities Board to provide services in five of the effected homes and retain nearly all the 23 original staff members associated with those homes. The move marks Koinonia's first residential expansion into Summit County.
"Sudden adjustments in life can be challenging for anyone," said Patti Matzinger, director of Waiver Services for Koinonia. "But for people with disabilities, who typically manage four or five critical health issues, change is overwhelming and can put their well-being at risk."
"The people with Summit County DD were amazing to work with," Matzinger said. "The residents were put first and foremost in all their transition plans."
To maintain seamless continuity of care, Koinonia offered existing employees retention incentives, honored their current pay rates and provided personal time off.
"Retaining as many of the current staff as possible was critical to us," said Diane Beastrom, Koinonia president and CEO. "The support staff has decades of valuable experience in these homes, and we knew that keeping them in place was essential for the residents. They know these individuals, their medical histories, and they have been trained on health-care coordination by qualified nurses."
"The fact that Koinonia stepped in to help with these homes in such a short period of time was very reassuring to the residents and their families," said Drew Williams, director of Community Supports and Development for Summit County Developmental Disabilities Board. "Having Koinonia expand into Summit County creates more options for individuals and their families."
In addition to its recent expansion into Summit County, Koinonia also provides services in Geauga, Lake, Lorain and Medina counties.
About Koinonia Homes
Koinonia (coin-o-NEE-yah) is a leading 501(c)(3) organization in Northeast Ohio that provides residential services, day programs and employment services to adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Its service portfolio includes 21 licensed group homes and more than 50 supported living arrangements, transportation services and shared living options in safe and healthy settings. For more information, visit https://koinoniahomes.org
News Media Contact:
Joe Mosbrook
(216) 375-2141
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SOURCE Koinonia Homes
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