Kennedy Center
Programs and results
What we aim to solve
Our programs
What are the organization's current programs, how do they measure success, and who do the programs serve?
Residential Services
The Residential Services Division includes: 16 Residential Group Homes, 19 Supported Apartment Living programs, Family Support, Respite, Home Health Care and the Caring for the Caregiver program.
Rehabilitation Services
Rehabilitation Services Division provides: individualized employment planning, career counseling, job development & community placement, working interviews, and on the job training; recovery oriented employment planning & placement and peer mentoring supports; job club series; school-transition services including vocational exploration/training and community independence training; acquired brain injury support services including prevocational skill redevelopment, independent living skills training, and community reintegration.
Kennedy Industries: Employment
Kennedy Industries Division- Employment provides: Stamps and Stuff Mailing Services, Frameworks Framing, Kenn Kleen Cleaning Service, Soups and Such Catering, Cutting Edge Lawn Services, Supported Employment, and specialized job training.
Kennedy Industries: Services
Kennedy Industries Division- Services provides: Mobility Services, Travel Training, Transportation, Art Therapy, 26 Community Experience Programs, Behavioral Health Services, Alzheimer’s program, and Senior Options.
Kennedy Industries : Therapeutic Services
Kennedy Industries Division- Therapeutic Services provides: The Autism Project, Birth to Three, Therapeutic Recreation, Parent Aide Services, Teen Activity Centers, After School/Summer programs, and Parent/Child Support groups.
Where we work
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Login and updateAccreditations
Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities (CARF) - Adult Day Services - 1 year 2013
Awards
External reviews
Photos
Goals & Strategy
Learn about the organization's key goals, strategies, capabilities, and progress.
Charting impact
Four powerful questions that require reflection about what really matters - results.
What is the organization aiming to accomplish?
Please note: The listed goals represent only a few of The Kennedy Center's goals and objectives for the last fiscal year.
G.1. Increase collaboration and communication among consumers, staff, service provider’s families and the community to empower consumer choice, self-determination and decision making.
G. 2. Expand outreach to include other geographic areas, school districts, underserved individuals and people of diverse cultures and needs including individuals with Autism and Alzheimer’s disease.
G.3. Expand job opportunities and choices as well as social, educational, residential, recreational and therapeutic supports to all eligible persons requesting services within their community.
G. 4. Develop and enhance resources for consumers, parents, families and/or guardians of persons with disabilities.
G. 5. Advocate for and develop housing opportunities for persons with disabilities to live in their own communities.
What are the organization's key strategies for making this happen?
G.1. Strategy 1: Hold meeting with key committee legislators.
G.1. Strategy 2: Develop two program enhancements to include, culturally diverse and innovative activities as expressive arts, music appreciation, pet therapy, dance and therapeutic message.
G. 2. Strategy 1: Using the bus safety skills training video develop in partnership with Project STRIVE, reach a minimum of 100 transitional high school students in the state to facilitate a discussion on safe travel skills and public transportation options.
G. 2. Strategy 2: Increase referrals within the monolingual Spanish population to a minimum of 10 individuals served through BRS Stamford, Bridgeport, and Waterbury Offices.
G.3. Strategy 1: Secure at least two additional grants for the rehabilitation division.
G.3. Strategy 2: Obtain funding to continue the CVS-ISTPP program.
G. 4. Strategy 1: Hold a family roundtable meeting with parent and family member to discuss funding and services.
G. 5. Strategy 1: Work with the Grants and Projects Manager to identify and pursue at least two new DDS funding opportunities for Community Housing or Supported Living.
G. 5. Strategy 2: Work with the Grants and Projects Manager to submit and obtain funding for the Family Support/Respite programs.
What are the organization's capabilities for doing this?
People send their loved ones to The Kennedy Center because of its long-standing reputation for excellent and compassionate care. Our management and administrative teams have developed extensive networks and enduring relationships with local town, state and private entities. Our public relations outreach ensures that the community remains aware of the crucial services and supports that we provide. President and CEO, Martin D. Schwartz, has a thirty-five year tenure with the agency. He previously served as Chair of the Trumbull Chamber of Commerce and currently serves as a Board member. He was the past President of the Connecticut Community Providers Association and currently serves on its Board of Directors. Our president, along with three other executive staff are surveyors for CARF International (Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities). Val Reyher, V.P. of Rehabilitation served as President of the Business Education Initiative in Trumbull and is currently a Board member. She has also served as the former V.P. of the Association of People Supported in Employment First where she remains as a current Board member. We have numerous staff embedded in the Greater Bridgeport Mental Health Center, and we are members of the Bridgeport Regional Business Council. In turn, we have garnered the support of the community, which has been highly instrumental in the achievement of our organizational goals.
There are numerous other core assets that also contributed to the long-term success of The Kennedy Center. Volunteers remain a key component of our success. The agency was founded over 60 years ago, through the committed efforts of loyal and hardworking volunteers. It continues to thrive largely because of their efforts in the provision of our program services. Over three hundred people volunteer for The Kennedy Center. Thanks to the excellent financial administration of our Board of Directors and Executive Management teams, the agency has ensured our operating costs remain low without negativity impacting the quality of our services. As this prolonged difficult economic time continues and many nonprofits are forced to close their doors, we are grateful for our endowment that has safeguarded our continuous success. We have over 750 highly trained and dedicated staff that provide key programming to the individuals we serve. Our service models are based on current research trends, as well as feedback and input from our stakeholders, family members, and participants. Stakeholders are encouraged to express their ideas, offer suggestions and collaborate with our agency to create new and innovative service models. Furthermore, throughout the history of the agency it has been the advocacy of our families and ordinary people, who sincerely care about individuals with disabilities that have contributed to The Kennedy Center’s overall success and remain one of our most valuable assets.
What have they accomplished so far and what's next?
G.1. Progress 1: Achieved. Held a Legislative Breakfast with 16 other nonprofits. Over 100 supporters and 9 area Representatives and Senators were in attendance.
G.1. Progress 2: Achieved. The Senior Café was opened this year, offering home cooked meals with menus corresponding with the countries studied. The expressive artists organized an art show for all consumers to show their art work. The expressive artists also produced a play, which included all to the Senior Options program consumers.
G. 2. Progress 1: Achieved. Reaching well over 100 transitional students, the bus safety skills training video was used as a tool to help discus traveling safely in the following counties: New Haven Hartford, Middlesex, Litchfield, and Fairfield.
G. 2. Progress 2: Not Achieved. The Placement department served 5 monolingual Spanish individuals. Unfortunately, the department lost two Spanish speaking staff, thus we could no longer accept Spanish monolingual referrals.
G.3. Progress 1: Achieved. The Grants & Projects Manager secured a grant for iPads for our students, a Work Readiness Training grant, and a grant from the Trumbull Chamber of Commerce.
G.3. Progress 2: Achieved. The Placement Department is on the DORS Approved ISSTPP Vendors list. DORS-BRS has said they will continue to fund this program as a Fee-For- Service Model.
G. 4. Progress 1: Achieved. The agency Grants & Project’s Manager worked in collaboration with ARC to host the Families to Families Campaign.
G. 5. Progress 1 : Achieved. Five DDS residential home funding opportunities were identified and pursued.
G. 5. Progress 2: Achieved. The agency received funding for the Caregiver program from SWCAA.
Financials
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Operations
The people, governance practices, and partners that make the organization tick.
Connect with nonprofit leaders
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- Analyze a variety of pre-calculated financial metrics
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Connect with nonprofit leaders
SubscribeBuild relationships with key people who manage and lead nonprofit organizations with GuideStar Pro. Try a low commitment monthly plan today.
- Analyze a variety of pre-calculated financial metrics
- Access beautifully interactive analysis and comparison tools
- Compare nonprofit financials to similar organizations
Want to see how you can enhance your nonprofit research and unlock more insights? Learn More about GuideStar Pro.
Kennedy Center
Board of directorsas of 05/07/2019
Mr. Daniel Long
Newtown Savings Bank
Term: 2016 - 2017
Michele Macauda
Retired
Brian Csizmadia
Aquarion Water Co. of CT
Kwamie Dunbar
JF Welch College, Sacred Heart University
Lisa Ellis
Consumer
Anne Foley
Previous Consumer’s sister
Peter Gavey
Goodnow Investment Group, LLC
Barbara Green
Green & Gross, P.C.
Herbert Moorin
Pullman & Comley LLC
Ronald Noren
Brody Wilkinson P.C.
Vincent Santilli
Consulting
Robert Scinto
Scinto, Inc.
Benjamin Strong
US Coast Guard
Diane Thompson
Wolfman Productions, Inc.
Kevin Walsh
GE/Energy Financial Services
Mary Brown
Pietro Andres
Robert Chessin
Joseph Dennin
Randye Kaye
Jack McCullough
Stephen Smith