Published: November 24, 2009 04:51 pm      

United Way agency helps developmentally disabled flourish

DANVILLE — Kim Foreman loves to paint. She once designed a Christmas card for Sycamore Services here that was sold to the public. As a youngster, she attended Sycamore’s preschool and now is part of the organization’s work center and an employee at its print center.

“It is great,” Foreman said of Sycamore, an organization that mentors and trains individuals with developmental disabilities. “I like everything (about it).”

So does Patrick McCool. As Sycamore’s service coordinator, he works closely with participants who are honing their vocational and living skills. The transformation is often amazing.

“Some people when they first come in might be kind of quiet and shy,” McCool said. “After working with the staff and socializing with their peers, they increase their relationships and build confidence, become more outgoing.”

It’s that kind of hands-on relationship McCool missed when he left Sycamore for another job. He returned almost three years ago.

“I had always had that interaction, seen the progress of working on goals,” he said of Sycamore’s participants. “When I went to my other job, I didn’t see them as much and that was difficult. Just knowing you’ve taken the time to work with somebody and see them improve (is personally gratifying).”

McCool isn’t the only employee to have left Sycamore only to come back. Some have a habit of turning the place into a revolving door.

“They’ll retire four or five times, but keep coming back,” McCool said.

Given the fact Sycamore also offers various therapies for children at risk of developmental delays, some participants can be part of the organization for much of their lives. Sycamore is a fee-based program, meaning it’s privately reimbursed or through government programs like Medicaid. However Sycamore also relies on outside donations. The organization is affiliated with United Way of Central Indiana.

“What we use fundraising for are extra things we can’t normally do,” said Marcia Lynch, Sycamore’s director of community relations. She cited items like program materials and new equipment, as well as funding for staff training.

However, children’s services really depends on fundraising.

“The funding sources for it are not as great as they are for some of the other services we provide,” Lynch said. “But the need is ever-growing.”

She says more and more children are being diagnosed with developmental delays and disabilities.

“We want to continue those services, but without the outside funding it does make it difficult,” Lynch said.

Sycamore coordinates its own fundraising efforts, including its annual Tiki Time event in the summer. They also sell Christmas cards designed by their participants. This year’s, a color drawing of Santa Claus, was created by Sandy Mitchell. To order call 745-4715 or visit the website www.sycamoreservices.com.

“Early intervention is the key,” Lynch said of the work Sycamore Services does. “If you can get children into a program early on, they’re going to be more successful by the time they reach school-age and adult-age.

“With outside fundraising and the United Way, we can offer services to people who couldn’t otherwise afford it and are still waiting for those services.”



wade.coggeshall@flyergroup.com