Located right on Marble Avenue in the heart of Pleasantville, you will find Select Human Services (SHS) – a division of New Hope Community, Inc. A place where young adults with developmental disabilities can gain independence, friendship and a wide variety of services. I recently spoke with Lauren Iglesias, Waiver Services Program Director and Carleen Miller-Verna, Self Direction Program Director about the organization’s services as well as their upcoming expansion in the Pleasantville community.
Select Human Services was founded in 2010 and partnered with New Hope Community in 2020. Under the direction of Debra McGinness, New Hope helps to empower the lives of individuals with developmental and intellectual disabilities. SHS supports over 700 individuals through its services. It has allowed New Hope to expand into Westchester County from its homebase in the Catskills, giving people a greater choice of support services and the opportunity to implement dynamic change.
Lauren Iglesias started with SHS in 2015, providing waiver services through both Community Habilitation. It is designed for individuals to stay at home longer after graduating school, instead of living in a group home, and Respite which is a safe supervision for an individual, providing relief for the caregiver. Hires, knowns as Direct Support Professionals (DSPs) are sourced through the Office for People with Developmental Disabilities (OPWDD) and matched with families after going through extensive training. 1:1 service is personalized to the individual and their disability and a care plan, known as a Life Plan, is put in place to identify goals and the best way to work with each individual. “We want quality, not quantity with our staff. The last thing families need is a revolving door in their house – we send one support person who fits so that their services can flourish.”
A New Path of Service – Select Connects
Since 2020 there has also been a shift in the ways services are being expected. In the old model, individuals graduated high school, went into a day program and moved into a residential setting. Parents wanted to break that mold and push for a different model. “Based on family feedback, we created Select Connects which is extremely different from anything we’ve done”, says Lauren. Opened in 2023, Select Connects is a site-based respite program which supports 24 people per day in a 9 a.m.-3 p.m. program. It’s for those individuals that can be successful in a 1:3 staffing ratio. Most people in Select Connects come a few days a week on days where they’re not doing something else such as working or attending another program. There are a wide variety of activities offered through skilled workers such as music therapy, yoga and recreational therapy. There are also outings and day trips to places such as the JCC in White Plains for swimming and gym time, Lasdon Park and more. As Lauren stated, “Everyone’s capabilities are utilized. We want to be out in the community and for them to see us. It’s like a big family.”
The R&R program (Recreation & Respite) allows those still in school and beyond to enjoy a variety of group activities and outings such as social nights, bowling, art, fitness and more. It provides them with a safe space in which they can have fun and be engaged – especially during times when parents may have to work, such as during the summer and school breaks.
Working closely with Lauren is Dominique Baptiste, Waiver Services Public Relations Manager. She has a caseload of people she services and has strong community ties to Pleasantville. Her fundraising and community outreach efforts are vast, working with the Chamber of Commerce and setting up events such as a recent ribbon-cutting ceremony, paint night and the upcoming inaugural Select Prom in April. As Lauren says, “We’re relatively small, but large when it comes to the service we provide and outreach in the county.”
Self Direction – Keeping Young Adults Independent
As Self Direction Program Director, Carleen Miller-Verna manages the Self Direction program which oversees 217 individuals with disabilities. It helps to empower them and their families to design a service plan based on their needs and goals. Their support team can include family members, Care Manager, Broker, Fiscal Intermediary (both chosen by the individual) and others they would like to include in their care. Many people in this program work part-time jobs and attend day programs and community classes. Twenty-three of the individuals live independently with support. As Carleen says, “Self Direction is trying to give that person the highest level of independence they can safely achieve. A huge piece of what we’re trying to include in Self Direction is interaction and inclusion.” Five individuals in the program are enrolled in college programs – some at Syracuse University in their InclusiveU program which allows for students to live on campus, taking classes in subjects such as organization and scheduling.
SHS has recently purchased a new building in Pleasantville right down the street from where they’re currently located and are hoping to move into the space in April. Says Lauren, “It’s important to stay in Pleasantville – we have strong collaborations with the school district, police department, etc. They’ve gotten to know us, and we feel comfortable working with each other. Pleasantville is very near and dear to Debra McGinness – she knows the importance of staying here with all there is to do in the area.”
“But then I remember thinking that I wanted to bring something different to the table,” Alamgir said. “I wanted to talk to them, provided I could keep their attention, about banking and checking accounts and savings and stuff like that. And I tried to make it as fun as possible.”