Jayne Tschirhart-Short

 Owner / Executive Director

I have supported people with developmental disabilities for the past thirty years. My original plan was to be a school teacher and I was actively pursuing that career/degree. I vividly remember sitting in one of my classes watching a film about people with disabilities. It was one of those rare moments in life when you just know, without a doubt, what you are supposed to do. I left the class, walked down to the counseling office and changed my major. I knew I wanted to support people with developmental disabilities. I graduated with a Bachelor of Science Degree in both Rehabilitation and Related Services and Psychology. I have also completed some course work towards my Master’s degree in Business Administration.

 

I began my career the minute I stepped out of college (1980) as a Direct Care Staff in an Intermediate Care Facility supporting people with developmental disabilities. Within a short time, I was promoted to a Program Manager position, supervising the direct care staff and maintaining some of my direct services to individuals as well. I was then promoted to a QMRP (Qualified Mental Retardation Professional) in the same facility. In this administrative role, I missed direct care services; however, had a greater voice in the overall care that was being provided at this facility. After three years, I opted to leave this facility setting and was hired as a Program Coordinator for a Community Based Agency, where I developed and coordinated programmatic services for several communities. This was a far better philosophical match for me, as I was a firm believer in community based settings and individualized supports. Within a year, I was promoted to the Executive Director of this companies Denver based program. I remained in this position for the next thirteen years. During those years, I was honored to also assist the company with certain Regional responsibilities on as needed basis. These were crucial years in my career, as many of us in the field of developmental disabilities worked diligently with deinstitutionalization. It was simply a joy to assist people to leave institutional settings and be successful in community based programs.   

 

During these same years, specifically 1990, I developed Community Support Services, Inc. The specifics of the development of Community Support Services, Inc. will be found throughout this website.

 

Throughout my career, I have received numerous management and service awards, including National Certificates of Excellence for Outstanding Manager. In addition, the years are filled with many certifications and trainings including Outcome Based Performance Measures and Essential Lifestyle Planning. My training in Essential Lifestyle Planning includes certification as a Facilitator. In 1997, I was the Executive Director of an agency that was honored with the Award of Excellence from the Council on Quality and Leadership in Supports for People with Disabilities.  

 

When people ask me about eventual retirement plans, I tell them the thought of retiring some day breaks my heart! I want to do everything I can possibly do to ensure that people with developmental disabilities live fulfilling, satisfactory and happy lives! When I wrote our Agency’s philosophy, specifically: “Providing opportunities for people to grow, learn, experience and enjoy life”, it came from my heart. It is simply a joy to provide supports to people with developmental disabilities. I learn something new from the people we support, each and every day!

 

This is my passion. It is what I love to do!

 

 

Christine Gagnon

 Administrative Director of Advocacy Services

For the past 20 years, I have worked in the field of Developmental Disabilities. I began my career as a direct care staff person at an Intensive Care Facility for the ARC of Essex County in upstate New York. After moving to Albany, New York, I worked in two group homes for a company called Living Resources. In 1995, I moved into the Denver metro area and worked as a Manager of an apartment setting where 12 individuals with developmental disabilities lived. Soon after, I was promoted to a Director and supervised the staff and Host Home Providers to monitor the safety and well-being for the individuals in the comprehensive Residential Apartment and Host Home Programs as well as those we supported in a social emotional group home. After being a Director for two years, I joined Jayne in 1998 to expand CSSI’s Comprehensive Services program. Today, I continue to meet with individuals and their families who are interested in screening CSSI to provide services and supports to their loved ones in a Residential Apartment or Host Home setting. Education…….. My career has been both challenging and rewarding. I find people interesting- how they communicate, what is important to them, how they see the world, and how they impact those around them. At the end of the day, I like to go home and know that I have helped someone have a better quality of life and they have made it one step closer in reaching their hopes and dreams. While working in this field and in establishing relationships with the people we support and the many people involved in their lives, I’ve come to believe that everyone has something to offer others. What they have to offer does not depend on how much education or friends that they have but that they touch someone differently every day.

 

 

 

THE PROGRAM SERVICES & SUPERVISION DEPARTMENT

  

Ada Elkhahi

 Administrative Director of Program Services and Supervisior

My name is Ada Elkhahi and I am the Administrative Director of Program Services and Supervision here at Community Support Services, Inc. I have a Masters Degree in Social Work from Arizona State University. I am TEFL (Teaching English as a Foreign Language) Certified. I have had a career in the field of Developmental Disabilities for the past seven years which includes Child Welfare and most recently, supporting adults with developmental disabilities here at Community Support Services, Inc. Prior to this, my career entailed twenty years in Social Services with various focuses including incest, child abuse, domestic violence, sexual assault and adoptions. In addition, I started a sexual assault hotline for Spanish speaking women in Phoenix, Arizona and was part of a team of women who found the necessary financial resources and ultimately opened up the first battered women’s shelter in Phoenix, Arizona. I also truly enjoyed teaching English to adults from Russia in Boston, Massachusetts. I am enjoying the field of Developmental Disabilities. I enjoy seeing the fruit of our work in the progress made by the people we support. I truly enjoy supporting and spending time with people with developmental disabilities and being around other people who work in this profession. When asked what I find most rewarding in my profession, I find that the simple kindness and honesty displayed by so many of the people we support as they strive to be the best they can be is most refreshing and uplifting!

 

Kathy Frank

Site Monitoring & Services Coordinator

My name is Kathy Frank and I am the Site Monitoring and Services Coordinator for Community Support Services, Inc. I have worked in the field of developmental disabilities for over 19 years. I have a Bachelors Degree from the University of Northern Colorado in Communications with an emphasis in Human Relations and a Minor in Psychology. My goal upon entering this field was to support people in enriching their lives and reaching their individualized goals. My career entails both direct care and management positions throughout these nineteen years. I have provided direct care support to young women with social emotional challenges in a residential dorm type setting; I have supported adolescents who were medically fragile in a group home setting; I have been a Program Manager of two group home settings, supervising direct care staff and writing individualized programs; I have provided direct care support to adults with social emotional challenges in a group home setting as well as supporting individuals in apartment and host home settings; and I have supported individuals in Supported Living Services, assisting them with locating resources in their community in order to enhance their life. I continue to enjoy my career very much. It has been rewarding for me to assist people to enrich their lives, reach their goals, and obtain a quality life! 

 

 

 THE QUALITY ASSURANCE DEPARTMENT STAFF

 

Adrianne Boyd

 Administrative Director of Quality Assurance

My current position is Administrative Director of Quality Assurance. I have worked in the field now for 19 years. I graduated from the University of Colorado-Denver-with a Bachelor of Arts Degree-Psychology. I started out doing direct care as a Residential Counselor in a Group Home, and then was promoted to Residential Manager, and managed the Apartment Program for 13 Adults with developmental disabilities. From there I was promoted to Direct Services Coordinator. I was also a Host Home Provider for a year. I have chosen this field to work in simply because I find it to a rewarding and fulfilling field to work in. I value being able to work with a great Team of people and to share ideas and insight that ensures that the people we serve have a quality life. What I find most rewarding about working with individuals with developmental disabilities is that when I am able to assist a person to first realize their potential for success no matter how great or small it may be, and then to see them reach that goal, it truly warms my heart, and I feel so Blessed to have been a part of helping someone realize their potential.

 

Stan Gregg

 Program Quality Assurance Coordinator – Programmatic Services

My name is Stan Gregg and I am a Program Quality Assurance Coordinator for Community Support Services, Inc. My 14 years of experience in the field of Developmental Disabilities includes being a Host Home Provider for fourteen years, providing direct care support in group home and day program settings and coaching different Special Olympic activities. In addition, my work history includes approximately seven years experience as a lab technician in the gold mining field. I completed some college coursework. I chose the field of developmental disabilities to help people lead rich and fulfilling lives and to be a mentor and a friend. I find my work both rewarding and fulfilling. When considering my many experiences over the years, what stands out as most rewarding is seeing the smile and pride on someone’s face when they have achieved a personal goal. These goals have ranged from choosing the home they want to live in, to learning how to cook, to living on their own, to saving for and going on vacations, and even marriage! When asked about accomplishments that I am proud of, what comes to mind is two things. First, it has been very rewarding to be a Host Home Provider to two individuals for the past fifteen years while supporting them to live a fulfilling and meaningful life. Second, it has been rewarding to be recognized for my strengths in this field and to be promoted into positions where my strengths can be utilized to improve the quality of services to people with developmental disabilities.

 

Jamie Cranfill

 Program Quality Assurance Coordinator – Programmatic Services

As one of the Program Quality Assurance Coordinators at CSSI, I focus on the programming of behavioral services and supports. I have worked in the Developmental Disabilities field for about six years.  I am a High School graduate and have completed various college courses.  I graduated with honors from the Defense Language Institute while serving in the US Army, as well as completed many other Army training programs. I began my experience in this field as a direct care provider for a day program in Midvale, Utah. After about a year, I was promoted to the position of Assistant Manager.  I relocated to the Denver area in November of 2008 and was hired by CSSI as a Program Manager in January, 2009. After a recent restructure, I transitioned into the Program Quality Assurance Coordinator position.  I originally started working in the field of Developmental Disabilities because I thought working at a day program sounded like a fun job that I could do well.  Within a short amount of time I realized that I had fallen in love with the job and with the clients I worked with.  I’ve chosen to remain in this field because I can’t imagine finding anything else that I would love this much. The most rewarding part of my job is seeing the sense of accomplishment that people have when they reach their goals.  It’s an amazing feeling to have played a role in empowering someone to have a more rewarding life.

 

Becky Bartels

 Administrative Director of Financial Services

I have worked in the field of Developmental Disabilities for 32 years and been a part of the CSSI team for 13 years. My experience began while I was in high school when I worked at an institution in Nebraska providing direct care to people with disabilities. When community based programs emerged in the early 1980s, the institution that I worked for expanded its services to community based programs in other states. I transferred to Denver, working for the newly expanded community based program for the next 14 years. I received a Bachelor of Science degree in Criminal Justice and Corrections from Metropolitan State College of Denver. Every day is a new challenge and no two days are alike. It is so rewarding to see the people that we support continue to grow and enjoy life.

 

Jennifer Skufca

 Consumer Accounts Coordinator

In 1994 I graduated Cum Laude from Western State College of Colorado with a BA in Art and Biology.  I wanted to be an artist for biology publications, but found my way into the hearts of people rather than text books.  I’ve worked in this field for over six years: first providing direct care to individuals in Supported Living Services and the Residential Apartment programs, and most recently, administratively within the Financial Services department.  I enjoy working with consumer financials and benefits. This field of work is challenging and rewarding.  Working together to increase the quality of life to those we serve is invaluable.  Being a part of an agency whose job is to serve is where my heart is, and I’m proud to be a part of CSSI who has raised the standard of quality care and equal opportunity. It has been my joy to work with people of all walks of life.  To extend a lending hand or a hug or simply to listen.  To give ear to someone who feels they are not being heard is the most precious gift you can give.  As far as I’m concerned we are all God’s children; so that makes everyone my brother and my sister, and my heart especially goes out to the one who for whatever reason is sitting quietly alone. Commendation Award in 1998 for the successful act of using First Aid, Heimlich Maneuver, in joint effort of saving a life.

 

Linda Albaugh

 Financial Accounts Coordinator

I find my work as the Financial Accounts Coordinator very rewarding and fulfilling. While I am new to the field of Developmental Disabilities, I have 9 years of experience in banking and finance. My background and training has been valuable in my current position. I love working with numbers, balancing debits and credits, and fulfilling my responsibilities at CSSI. I work with a great staff at CSSI. It’s been very satisfying getting to know the people we support and assisting people with special needs.

 

 

 THE HUMAN RESOURCES DEPARTMENT STAFF

 

Melanie Mortimore

 Administrative Director of Human Resources

I’ve been working with people with disabilities since 2004. While completing my Bachelor’s Degree in Recreation and Tourism at Colorado State University, I interned for the Manager of Recreation for the City of Fort Collins. During my internship I worked within various Recreation departments, one of them being the Adaptive Recreation Opportunities (ARO) therapeutic recreation program. Following my internship, I was hired as an Activities Facilitator for ARO and my career has since been working directly or indirectly to support adults with disabilities. After exploring what other options were available in this field, I provided direct care to adults in Supported Living Services (SLS) and later became a Program Manager for both SLS and Comprehensive Services. I have worked with CSSI since October 2005.  My background has greatly benefited me in my current role at CSSI as the Administrative Director of Human Resources. One of the attributes of our agency that I truly admire is our ability to provide a fun, monthly event for the people we support and the staff and Host Home Providers that work here. These events give us time to step outside of our normal daily roles and get to know the people we support and our co-workers and Host Home Providers on a different level. I love meeting new people and being in Human Resources at CSSI has really afforded me an opportunity to surround myself with people who constantly remind me not to take for granted the simple pleasures in life and to select candidates to join our team that share the same philosophy in helping people reach their goals and dreams in life. I am passionate about the people we support and believe that in each of us our potential is great regardless of what our disabilities may be. 

 

Ida Perry

 Administrative Assistant