Date:   Saturday, October 20, 2012

Time:   Event begins with the 10K race at 9:00 a.m.

Place:   Heritage Park, 3447 Lambros Rd. SE, Los Lunas, New Mexico

What:   Lots of activities for everyone in the family to enjoy!  10k run, 5k run/walk, one-mile family fun walk, silent auction, children’s jumpers, face painting, food and drinks, music entertainment including a performance by the New Mexico Special Orchestra, and much more!

Contact:  Contact Adria Duran at adria@lvfnm.org or 865-4651 or Katie Otero at katie@lvfnm.org or 565-1614 to find out all the ways you can help La Vida Felicidad in this event.

Register online at www.active.com/running/los-lunas-nm/jog-for-joy-10k-5k-and-family-fun-walk-2012.

Donations are needed for our silent auction! If you are interested in supporting La Vida by becoming a Corporate Sponsor, please contact Adria Duran or  Katie Otero.  Click here to see the benefits of becoming a Corporate Sponsor.

La Vida’s Early Childhood Services Department also   held an Open House on December 16, 2011.  Thank you to all of you who came to visit our child care center and meet with our Early Intervention and Child Care staff.

Visitors learned about services La Vida offers, toured the child care center, and were entertained by the children with some holiday songs!

Shown from left to right: Jill Barker, La Vida's Development Specialist; Ignacio Perez, La Vida's COO; Beverly Bien, La Vida's CEO; Christine Morrell, BCBSNM Manager of IHS Operations

BlueCross BlueShield of New Mexico values giving and strong community involvement by supporting local nonprofit organizations with a similar focus.  In November 2011 La Vida Felicidad was honored with a generous donation from BCBSNM for its service to children, adults, and seniors with developmental disabilities or delays.

The mission of La Vida, for over 28 years, has been life quality for children and families, adults and seniors, through advocacy and individualized services in collaboration with community partnerships.

“We are just delighted to be recognized and honored by BCBSNM in this fashion; it is our vision to be the provider of choice for people with disabilities,” said Beverly Bien, CEO of La Vida.

The majority of La Vida’s services are provided in Valencia and Socorro Counties, but the organization also offers targeted services in Bernalillo, Cibola, McKinley, and San Juan Counties.

“In everything we do, we seek to help all individuals, regardless of their age, physical capabilities, cultural background, or income level, to live full and productive lives,” said Ms. Bien, “and it is through the gracious support of individuals, businesses, and organizations like BCBSNM that we are able to accomplish these goals.”

La Vida has been providing early intervention services – family-centered services for infants and children with developmental disabilities or delays, or those who are at risk for developmental disability or delay, and their families – since 1983.  Last fiscal year we provided early intervention services to 400 children and families in Valencia County.

La Vida would like to warmly welcome our newest employees and most especially, the children and families receiving services in Cibola and McKinley Counties.

For more information on early intervention services in Cibola County, please contact Susie Rhoderick at 505-287-5118.

For more information on respite services, please contact Cheryl Rogge at 505-565-1614.

We would particularly like to thank the following donors for their support:

• Daniels Fund awarded La Vida with funding for our Early Intervention program.  The overall goal of Early Intervention is to reduce the impact of developmental disability or delay on young children and their families.  Bill Daniels, a pioneer in cable television known for his kindness and generosity to those in need, established the Daniels Fund to provide grants and scholarships in Colorado, New Mexico, Utah, and Wyoming.  For more information, please visit www.danielsfund.org.

• The United Way of Central New Mexico also awarded La Vida with funding for our Early Intervention program to provide family-centered services to a most vulnerable population: infants and toddlers who have or are at risk for developmental disability or delay.

• The BNSF Foundation recently awarded La Vida’s Early Intervention program with funding to provide services to infants and toddlers with or at risk for developmental disability or delay.

• The Carl C. Anderson Sr. and Marie Jo Anderson Charitable Foundation awarded La Vida with funding for our Homecare/Personal Care program.  The purpose of this program is to assist in preventing abuse, neglect, and exploitation of elderly and/or disabled adults and to meet their needs in aging well at home thereby preventing or postponing nursing home placement.

• We would also like to recognize our local Los Lunas Wal-Mart Distribution Center #6084 for donating to our Homecare/Personal Care program through the Local Community Contribution/Hunger Outreach Grant Program.  This will provide additional homemaker/personal care services to frail, elderly, or disabled persons who currently receive minimal home care services.

• Thank you to the PNM Fund, a division of the PNM Resources Foundation for awarding La Vida Felicidad with a PNM Reduce Your Use grant.  Funds from this grant will be used to replace our old appliances and printers with Energy Star rated appliances and printers.  We are committed to taking steps to become more energy efficient and environmentally friendly.  This funding will help us save money which will go towards services for the vulnerable population we serve, and we can help do our part in protecting our environment.  For more energy saving tips for homes or businesses, visit www.energysavers.gov

Each quarter we review where we’re at with regard to several key indicators, and then La Vida’s Quality Assurance Team summarizes the results of our reviews into a quarterly report.

This report is also summarized into a One-Page Summary to give an overview of what the Team has looked at.  This quarter’s report (3rd Quarter Report FY2011) includes:

• File audits
• Critical incident management
• Grievances and complaints
• Health and safety committee activities
• Agency suggestion box
• Staff training and development
• Workers compensation claims
• Contract utilization
• A review of all external audits and reviews

The purpose of La Vida’s Quality Assurance Program is to implement an effective and efficient system for ongoing monitoring, evaluation and continuous improvement of services.

We have been providing Family Living services in Valencia, Socorro and Bernalillo Counties since 2002.

Family Living services are a 24-hour service provided in a natural home setting in the community that assists adults with developmental disabilities.

The services help participants access different resources and support systems, while fostering as much independence and self-advocacy as possible.

To learn more, please view our Community Living services page or contact us for more information.

Some of the areas we look at are:

• Cultural competence of our many employees
• Client satisfaction with the cultural sensitivity of their provider/staff/coordinator
• Satisfaction with training courses
• Attendance at day programs
• Frequency of contact with clients
• Use of technology
• Number of volunteers
• Degree of teamwork
• Financial health

If you’d like to learn more, please view our full Focus on Excellence report.