Rainbow Acres

Finding a long-term living solution for a loved one with developmental disabilities is a significant milestone, and often an emotional undertaking. The overriding goal of Rainbow Acres is to provide a wonderful alternative to families facing this choice: a Christian community that empowers persons with developmental disabilities to live to their fullest potential with dignity and purpose.

Our residents, called Ranchers, are valued as individuals. Our goal is to help every Rancher learn cognitive, vocational, physical, spiritual and social skills they can utilize on a daily basis as valued members of the community. Each Rancher is important, well known by Caregivers and staff, and supported to live a happy and full life. Ranchers live, work and socialize with their peers in a safe and loving community at a place they call home. Ranging in age from 18-20 and 80+ years old, each Rancher is empowered to find meaningful work, discover personal interests, and find purpose in their lives. Rainbow Acres is anchored in the core values of love, hope, compassion and faith. These values define our culture and manifest in an authentic, friendly community that is filled with remarkable joy and growth.

Rainbow Acres is a thriving community that continues to grow and flourish in response to the needs and desires of its residents. Our strategies can be viewed through the exceptional programs at Rainbow Acres that develop the whole person (cognitive, vocational, physical, spiritual and social) in a manner that best fits their interests and abilities. A life of purpose also includes having friendships, activities, recreation and hobbies.

Here are some of the strategies that Rainbow Acres employs to enrich the lives of the Ranchers:
– Daily interaction with many circles of friends
– Employment opportunities on and off the ranch
– Volunteer opportunities in the local community
– Lessons in core subjects of math, language arts, science and social studies
– Workshops on social skills, self-care skills and other life skills
– Artisan craft studios (weaving, beading and stained glass)
– Computer lab with 16 work stations (instruction, games and communication)
– Physical fitness (walking, gym, aerobics, basketball, hiking, bicycling, swimming, dance)
– Spiritual development opportunities
– Choir with performance opportunities
– Interacting with volunteers and mission groups
– Professional Fine Arts instruction
– Yamaha Clavinova piano instruction
– Greenhouse gardening and landscaping
– Cooking in our commercial kitchen
– Special Olympics participation
– Equine riding and learning
– Animal care and education
– Dances, BBQs and talent shows
– Sporting events and theater outings
– Field Trips to Sedona, State Parks, museums and other attractions

Through living at Rainbow Acres, Ranchers and their families often feel that they have accomplished more than they ever imagined possible. The strategies engaged by Rainbow Acres provide ample opportunities to empower persons with developmental disabilities.

Rainbow Acres is a non-profit 501(c)3 organization that provides a fully licensed, private-pay assisted living community for individuals 18 years and above with developmental disabilities. Rainbow Acres employs over 70 people, including caregivers, administration, program staff and support staff. Licensed by the State of Arizona Department of Health Services, Rainbow Acres is governed by an independent Board of Trustees and regulated by state and county health, environmental and transportation agencies.

Surrounded by five Arizona State Parks in the heart of Arizona's Verde Valley, Rainbow Acres offers a unique, peaceful environment full of nature and beauty on its 10-acre grounds. Residential facilities include 12 homes, each with 10 private bedrooms and a Caregiver suite, and 8 one-bedroom apartments that allow a greater degree of independence for Ranchers who meet rigorous requirements of self-management.

The Palmer Community Center is a marvelous blend of beauty and practicality at the heart of the campus. A complete commercial kitchen with professionals at the helm is where all foods are ordered and most are prepared. Congregate meals are served at midday in the dining area and for special evening events, while most evening meals are prepared in the kitchen and then catered to the Rancher houses to be finalized and served family style. Several staff offices are in the Palmer Center, as is the popular Roadrunner Fitness Center. Rancher talent shows, movies, dances, classes, meetings and performances by various entertainers also take place in the Palmer Community Center's large Rainbow Hall and smaller Celebration Hall.

In addition, the Rainbow Health and Wellness Center is a hub of activity where a team of nurses and our medical records coordinator take care of appointments to various doctors and specialists, oversee nutrition and weight goals, and manage the overall physical and emotional health needs of each Rancher.

Other facilities accommodate activities, hobbies, communications, recreational activities:
– The Worden Lifelong Learning Center, with a classroom, a teaching kitchen, a painting studio, an onsite radio station, and a computer lab
– The Daehler Building, with multiple craft rooms, a recreation room, and a sleeping loft for mission groups
– A fitness room with free weights, strength machines, stationary bikes and treadmills
– A modern, well-equipped barn with stables, a round pen for training, and a riding arena
– Trails for walkers, bicyclers and experienced horseback riders
– Three greenhouses and a small orchard

Rainbow Acres determines success through a number of indicators. First, customer satisfaction surveys, occupancy rates, resident turnover rates and staff turnover rates all serve as positive indicators from our key stakeholders that Rainbow Acres is on the right track. Rainbow Acres staff regularly attend a variety of industry meetings to learn about best practices from our colleagues in the assisted living field. We enjoy an excellent relationship with the Arizona chapter of the Assisted Living Federation of America (ALFA), which provides us with an excellent window into the world of caring for developmentally disabled adults. Through these relationships and training opportunities, staff are able to gauge our strengths and weaknesses, as compared to similar facilities. Using what we have learned, our Continuous Quality Improvement (CQI) and our All Staff meeting processes enable us to implement new ideas throughout the Rainbow Acres system.

Rainbow also has built significant relationships within the United Methodist Association and its EAGLE accreditation process. Through the EAGLE commission, we have gained valuable insight into similar organizations. With this insight we have educated Rainbow's senior staff about trends and patterns within our industry, and assisted Rainbow toward our pursuit of service excellence and total customer satisfaction.

In regard to “what's next" for Rainbow Acres, we have traditionally implemented a five-year planning process, with yearly updates made by staff and a committee of the Board of Trustees. The Strategic Plan enables Rainbow Acres to focus on those priorities that will have the greatest impact on the quality of life for the Ranchers. The Board approves the Strategic Plan and monitors the progress of the CEO, who in turn directs the senior staff on the plan's goals and objectives. Staff members align their priorities to the key criteria for enhancing performance and how they can assist in achieving the goals of retaining current Ranchers and attracting additional Ranchers to join Rainbow Acres and become part of the campus community. Rainbow Acres will undertake this year's long-range planning effort at the April 2019 board meeting.