THE RICE COUNTY ACTIVITY CENTER WAS ESTABLISHED IN 1963 AS A NON-PROFIT CORPORATION, WITH INTERST AND WELL BEING OF HANDICAPPED, DEVELOPMENTALLY DELAYED, MENTALLY DISABLED AND CEREBRAL PALSIED PEOPLE.
THERE WERE 2 STAFF AND A BUDGET OF $6,000.00 (66% DONATED).
REFERRALS CAME FROM HEALTH AND MEDICAL PROFESSIONALS, PARENTS, WELFARE, CLERGY, SCHOOLS, TESTING AGENCIES AND CONCERNED INDIVIDUALS.
PROGRAMS INCLUDED:
PRE-SCHOOL FOR CHILDREN TO LEARN TO INTERACT WITH OTHERS AND TO DEVELOP MOTOR COORDINATION, SELF HELP AND SOCIAL SKILLS. THIS LATER GREW INTO A NEED FOR PLACEMENT FROM PUBLIC SCHOOL.
ACCOMPLISHMENTS:
25 STAFF THAT INCLUDED:
11 TEACHERS HOLDING COLLEGE AND ADVANCED DEGRESS
3:1 CLIENT/STAFF RATIO
THERE WAS A WIDE RANGE OF PROGRAMS OFFERED IN THE CENTER SUCH AS:
COOKING, WOODWORKING, DAILY LIVING SKILLS, COMMUNITY TRAINING SKILLS AND MANY MORE.
WITHIN THE 10 YEARS OF OPERATION THE CENTER WAS ABLE TO PLACE 22 INDIVIDUALS IN THE COMMUNITY AT A FULL TIME CAPACITY OF EMPLOYMENT. MANY STUDENTS WERE ALSO PLACE ON YEAR- ROUND PART TIME JOBS.
TODAY THE CENTER IS ABLE TO HAVE 78 INDIVIDUALS ENROLLED AT ONE TIME. THE 3 PROGRAMS OFFERED AT THE CENTER CONSIST OF LIFE ENRICHMENT, SENIORS AND WORKSHOP.
THE CENTER STAFFING CAN CHANGE BUT NORMAL STAFF COUNT IS 20 OR MORE STAFF ON DUTY.
THE CENTER HAS BEEN ABLE TO UPGRADE THE FACILITY BY HAVING NEW FURNACES INSTALLED (5 TO BE EXACT), NEW CENTRAL AIR UNITS ON THE ROOF, NEW WINDOWS THROUGH OUT THE FACILITY, NEW FLOORING, AN UPGRADED STAFF/CONSUMER KITCHEN IN THE AUDITORIUM, FRESH LANDSCAPING DONE (STEPPINGSTONES COMPLETED BY CONSUMERS AND STAFF) AND NEW PAINT THROUGH OUT THE CENTER. (TAKE A LOOK AT THE PICTURES TO SEE THE TRANSFORMATIONS)
THE RICE COUNTY ACTIVITY CENTER LOOKS FORWARD TO MOVING FORWARD AND COMPLETING MORE PROJECTS AROUND THE GROUNDS IN THE NEAR FUTURE.