CLIENT SERVICES include Evaluation, Community Living, Vocational Evaluation, and referral

Community Living services are individually designed so people can live in homes of their choice, which may include private or family homes, transitional-living apartments, or supervised residences. Based on identified needs and abilities, community and personal living skills are developed and may include help in finding affordable, appropriate housing, budgeting, shopping, accessing recreational opportunities, cooking and personal care tasks. Transportation is provided with training available for those who wish to make their own transportation arrangements. Within their homes, wherever they live, people have decision-making responsibilities, freedom of choice and individual possessions and decorations. Age-appropriate materials and activities are provided consistent with patterns of life of individuals without disabilities. All supervised residences are designed, furnished, and maintained in a manner compatible with other neighborhood homes.

Vocational Evaluations, usually conducted by LifeQuest staff, provide the majority of assessments for people at RENEW. After evaluation, a person may be given choices of Work Adjustment, Work Services, or Supported Employment. Work Adjustment is transitional, time-limited training which helps people understand the meaning, value, and demands of work. This time may also be used to learn or re-establish skills, attitudes, personal characteristics, and work behaviors which may lead to competitive employment.

ORGANIZATIONAL Employment services are offered at Sheridan, Gillette, and Newcastle production sites and include  recycling,  manufacturing, assembly, auto detailing, and subcontract processing. All work areas provide realistic work environments which facilitate development of appropriate work skills, performances, and behaviors. Adaptations at workstations provide employment opportunities for individuals with a variety of disabilities.

Community Employment provides opportunities in Sheridan, Gillette, Newcastle, and Buffalo. Identified needs provide program focus which may include job development, placement, and one-to-one pre-placement and on-site coaching.

EXPANSION OF SERVICES: For many years RENEW provided services for people with non-developmental disabilities. Yet the perception  remained that RENEW only served the DD population. To make services more readily available to people with a variety of disabilities, LifeQuest was created, became operational January of 1994, and is housed in a neighborhood location. Treatment Services,  Evaluation, Community Living, Speech, Skilled Nursing and Vocational Services as well as referral to other service providers are offered. The staff includes Employment Specialists, a Psychologist, a Vocational Analyst, a Treatment Coordinator/Counselor, and an Occupational Therapist. For some time children in Newcastle receive in-homed case management. Then, in 1994, in response to requests from the community, a local service center was open. Case Management services, in-house Vocational Services, a recycling operation, auto detailing, supervised residential and Housing Services are currently offered. Throughout RENEW, more services to children are being provided. Alternative funding is also sought to assist in providing needed services to those on the waiting list. In August 1993, retirement-related services were made available to those in Sheridan who, due to age,  chose not to work. The focus of Senior Day Habilitation, and all RENEW services, is on individual choice and quality of life. People who have chosen Senior Day Habilitation may also chose to live together where their days are paced and structured differently than those of others served by RENEW. Some who receive Senior Day Habilitation services participate in integrated activities at Sheridan Senior Center; most take trips, pursue hobbies, and perform community service; several are involved with wellness activities. 

ADMINISTRATION: Currently over 240 full and part-time employees are involved in providing services for nearly 200 people in Sheridan, Gillette, and Newcastle. As services and employees were added to RENEW, the importance of employee orientation has received state-wide recognition and will serve as a model for other, similar organizations. The RENEW Board of Directors are dedicated volunteers who guide the operation, growth, and future of RENEW. A foundation also functions to help meet the needs of persons with disabilities. The RENEW Foundation Board assists the organization with gifts for client services through planning and implementing fund raising and development. Both boards work to ensure the long term health, well-being, and future of RENEW. We invite you to call, write, or e-mail us with specific questions and welcome you to visit us at any time.