To provide treatment, support, advocacy, and linkage to individuals enrolled in the Personalized Recovery Oriented Services (PROS) Programs, Home and Community Based Services (HCBS), Community Oriented Recovery and Empowerment (CORE) in an effort to empower individuals to become more involved in their personalized recovery goals.  The Behavioral Health Clinician- Professional will also provide education and advocacy to individuals and family members as directed by individualized treatment. This position is a supportive member of the interdisciplinary team.

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In close collaboration with the assigned Executive Management Team (EMT) liaison, provides leadership and support to ensure assigned areas of responsibility are Mission Focused, maximize operating performance, adhere to sound business and quality practices, and are in compliance with all applicable regulations. Assists EMT liaison with outcomes planning, supports the development of policies and procedures, ensures a healthy work culture and positively represents the organization at all times.

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Responsible for the routine daily assistance needed by the individuals when transported by the Centralized Transportation System.

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To assist the Residence Manager in the effective operation of the residence. In conjunction with and/or in the absence of the Residence Manager, provides supervision to direct care staff and ensures the implementation of individualized programming for each individual who resides at the residence.

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The achievements of people with disabilities and the efforts of those who support them will be showcased when The Resource Center holds its 36^th Ability Awareness Awards Celebration on Thursday, October 30.

The luncheon will be held at the Chautauqua Harbor Hotel in Celoron from 11:30 to 1:00.

The awards recognize people with disabilities who have made significant accomplishments, as well as area residents and businesses that have improved the lives of people with disabilities. This year’s award recipients are:

• Advocate of the Year – Keith Martin
• Business/Employer of the Year – Target in West Ellicott
• Community Partnership Award – Culture Care Senior Living/Tanglewood Manor
• Bruce Walford Community Service Award – James Haick
• Health Provider of the Year – Kimberly Scoma, RN
• Carl Cappa Humanitarian of the Year – R. Erik Seastedt
• Lifetime Achievement Award – Suzette Smith
• Edwin Roth Mental Health Award – Christopher Mattison, RN
• Outstanding Achievement Award – Matthew Olson
• Personal Success Award – Patricia Peck
• Elmer Muench Volunteer of the Year – Sharon Richards
• Special Event Volunteer of the Year – Heather Courtney

In addition, Stephanie Davis will receive an award for being honored by New York State Industries for the Disabled. NYSID is a non-profit organization that advances employment opportunities for people with disabilities and veterans by supporting The Resource Center and other rehabilitation agencies in obtaining government contracts. NYSID selected Davis for recognition through its annual Outstanding Performance Award Program.

Members of The Resource Center, people with disabilities, TRC staff and volunteers, and the general public are invited to attend the Ability Awareness Awards Celebration. The event is being sponsored by TRC, Kinetic, Southern Chautauqua Federal Credit Union, and NYSID.

The cost to attend the luncheon is $30. Reservations are due by October 21. For more information, phone Victoria Trass Bardo, Development and Event Manager, at 716-661-1477.

For those wishing to make a donation in honor of one of the award recipients, your contribution will be directed to The Resource Center’s TRC Excellence Awards Fund at the Chautauqua Region Community Foundation.

Movies spotlighting the experiences of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities will be shared when The Resource Center presents the Sprout Film Festival on Wednesday, September 24.

The free festival takes place at 7:00 p.m. in the Reg Lenna Center for the Arts at 116 East Third Street in Jamestown. The Sprout Film Festival features short movies that celebrate the diverse lives and creativity of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. The films seek to challenge assumptions and break down stereotypes about people with disabling conditions.

A still image from the film, Rudely Interrupted

Sprout is a traveling film festival, and each host community selects the films that will be screened locally.  For this year’s festival, organizers have chosen 12 films from seven countries. The longest film is 14 minutes, while the shortest is under two minutes. The total running time is about 88 minutes.

Most of the films are documentaries. Several of them focus on people who are on the autism spectrum. All of this year’s films are new to the Jamestown festival except the finale, Get Closer, a fan favorite from the 2015 festival in which the main character invites people to embrace differences with a hug.

A still image from the film, Get Closer

Sprout organizers are glad to again bring the film festival to Jamestown.

“We are excited to be presenting the Sprout Film Festival for the ninth year. This year’s selection of films is both entertaining and thought-provoking,” said The Resource Center’s Kevin Anderson, one of the festival’s lead organizers. “I encourage people to come out to The Reg. Whether you have attended every year or this might be your first, you won’t be disappointed.”

“The Sprout Film Festival is always an enlightening, powerful and joyful event,” added TRC’s Beth Jermain, who also helps organize the festival. “We are very excited about this year’s films. Everyone who comes will leave with a smile.”

Admission is free thanks to a grant from Filling the Gap, Inc., which works with The Resource Center to improve the lives of people with disabilities in Chautauqua County. Money for the grant came from The Resource Center Laurel Run Fund at the Chautauqua Region Community Foundation. Sprout also is made possible thanks to support from corporate sponsors Southern Chautauqua Federal Credit Union and Kinetic.

Doors to the theater will open at 6:00 so moviegoers can have time to look over the items that will be available in a prize drawing. Money raised from the prize drawing will benefit the Step Up for Autism event that is put on by Filling the Gap and The Resource Center. The Resource Center also will be conducting a membership drive before the movies begin, and people who become TRC members will be entered into a prize drawing.

For more information about the Sprout Film Festival, phone 716-483-2344 or visit https://resourcecenter.org/sprout, where visitors can also view the festival trailer to get a feel for some of the films.

A still image from the film, The Fine Art of Being Zion

Provides supervision and assistance to staff in cases in which English is a second language (ESL) and ensures implementation of individualized programming for each individual who resides at the residence.  Performs assigned supervisory duties and works on behalf of Residence Manager(s) to ensure facilities are operating smoothly during shift. Provides direct input in the assessment, as well as, the design and implementation of individual behavior management programs.

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To provide secretarial support services for a department or work site, serving one or more employees.  This employee may be responsible for a variety of office tasks within the assigned area.

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Responsible for the day-to-day operation and management of the residence.  Provides supervision and assistance to residence staff and ensures implementation of individualized programming for each individual who resides at the residence.  Assists the Residence Coordinator in the development, monitoring and updates of residential habilitation plans.   Provides direct input in the assessment, as well as, the design and implementation of individual behavior management programs.

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Dr. Dawn Columbare was elected the Chair of The Resource Center’s Board of Directors during our General Membership Meeting, held at TRC’s administrative office building on Dunham Avenue in Celoron.

Also elected as officers for the Board’s 2025-26 term were Dr. Todd Jacobson, Vice Chair; Lisa Goodell, Secretary; and Marie Carrubba, Esq., Treasurer.

Elected to two-year Board terms were Mary Alison Burt, Richard Erickson, Scott James, and Kristie Peppy. Dick had served the previous three years as Board Chair, while Scotty had been appointed to fill a Board vacancy in December. Alison and Kristie are joining TRC’s Board for the first time.

Elected to the Nominating Committee for The Resource Center’s 2026 election were Kathy Field, Laurie Goold, Dr. Jessica Gugino, Mary Jo Hamilton, and Rebecca Hamlet Kapple.

Richard Erickson passes the gavel to Dr. Dawn Columbare after she was elected Chair of the Board of Directors.

In his final report as Chair, Dick said it had been a privilege leading the Board for the past three years. He thanked his fellow Board members, and he praised Executive Director Denise Jones and TRC’s leadership team for maintaining the agency’s finan­cial stability. He also commended TRC’s employees for the excellent supports they provide.

“It’s been a great three years. It’s been wonderful. This place has changed me,” Dick said.

Flanked by Dawn and Denise, Dick holds a painting he received in appreciation for his three years as Board Chair. The painting was created by a TRC service recipient whom Dick knows. Susan Gutierrez, TRC’s Art Teacher, supported the artist in creating the painting.

In her treasurer’s report, Marie noted that for the 10th straight year, The Resource Center ended 2024 with a positive financial result that included no audit adjustments.

In her report, Denise highlighted some of the successes that have been realized across TRC.

The meeting began with a presentation about TRC’s Health Homes Programs given by Kait Curtis, Director of Behavioral Health and Care Coordination, and Thad Lund, who manages the programs. A woman who attended the meeting with her guide dog spoke about the posi­tive impacts Health Homes has had on her.

The meeting was the final one as a Board member for R. Michael Goldman, Esq. He had served on the Board for 21 years and was Chair from 2016 to 2019.

Mike Goldman wears the gift he received in appreciation for his Board service.