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VITA RECEIVES
$75,000 FROM TRILLIUM FOUNDATION
In 2002, VITA Community Living Services received a grant in the amount of
$75,000 from the Ontario Trillium Foundation. The Ontario Trillium
Foundation, an agency of the Ministry of Culture, receives annually $100
million of government funding generated through Ontario's charity casino
initiative. The Foundation allocates grants to eligible charitable and
not-for-profit organizations in the arts and culture, environment, human
and social services, and sports and recreation sectors. The monies received
have been used to purchase and install an elevator at 4301 Weston Road.
This will ensure that VITA's new Head Office and Day Program are fully
accessible.
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ABOUT VITA
In 1978, a "Special Children" Parent Relief Programme was initiated
by Villa Charities as a way of providing weekend day respite for children
with autism and developmental disabilities. In response to the growing
success of the programme and the increasing demand for culturally sensitive
residential and day services, the Ministry of Community, Family and Children
Services requested that Villa Charities expand services to assist adults with
developmental disabilities. Services for adults began in early 1986 through
the opening of a small day programme and two group homes. VITA's initial
residents were persons repatriated from a closing institution for the
disabled and individuals living with their family in the community. In 1987,
Vita Community Living Services was incorporated and began to operate as an
independent organization under the Villa Charities umbrella.
Over the 90's, VITA continued to expand services and respond especially to
those individuals who faced barriers in accessing support as a result of
additional physical, medical, psychiatric or behavioural needs. VITA
continues to advocate for the closure of all institutions and in the
provision of supports to individuals returning to the community. VITA
believes that all individuals, regardless of need should have the choice of
living in the community.
Today, VITA supports hundreds of individuals with developmental disabilities
and their families within both the Toronto and York Region communities.
MISSION
STATEMENT
“VITA is a culturally sensitive organization, committed to facilitate,
support and empower individuals with developmental disabilities to achieve
their optimum quality of life as equal members of society.”
OUR VISION
As members of the VITA family, we strive towards:
- encouraging
individuals with developmental disabilities, families, staff, volunteers
and community to share in the pride of a progressive, caring
organization
- empowering
clients, families, staff, volunteers and the community to plan and
provide innovative services and programs
- sharing
responsibilities amongst clients, families, staff, community, other
organizations and government.
OUR VALUES
- Individuals
with developmental disabilities and their families first
- Quality
of life for individuals with developmental disabilities and their
families
- Respect
for individual rights
- Treat
everyone with dignity, honesty and compassion
- Objective
caring and professional organization
- Progressive,
innovative and adaptive staff and management
- Promote
the achievement of individual choices, dreams and aspirations
- Italian
Canadian heritage
- Staff
and volunteers are integral in achieving VITA's mission
SERVICES AND SUPPORTS:
RESIDENTIAL SERVICES
Residential support is provided for adults 18 years of age or older. A
variety of community group and independent living arrangements are offered
that best meet the resident's need and living choices. Residential options
include homes, apartments, condominiums, triplexes and townhouses. Staffing
support varies from a few hours per week to 24 hours per day and can include
live-in staff support. Several locations are especially designed for those
requiring barrier free access. The location of residential sites also varies
from both rural to urban settings.
VITA supports adults who have very diverse residential needs. These include
individuals who are considered to be medically fragile, physically disabled,
dually diagnosed, have significant behavioural difficulties or those with a
criminal justice history. VITA operates a treatment home for adult males who
have made serious social mistakes within the community.
Currently VITA supports over 120 individuals in residential services.
DAY PROGRAMMES
VITA provides day supports to over 170 adults 21 years of age and older
through a variety of both center based and community settings. Instruction
and support in areas such as life and social skills, prevocational skills,
supported employment, literacy, recreation, sensory stimulation, drama and
music are available to all participants.
All programmes are fully accessible and support both community participants
and those that live within VITA's residential programmes.
VITA continues to work in cooperation with Villa Colombo in providing a
unique Seniors Day Programme for individuals with cognitive disorders as a
result of a stroke, Alzheimer, or a developmental disability.
RESPITE SERVICES
Respite is the provision of temporary planned care for a few hours to several
weeks in order for parents to have a break from their care-giving
responsibilities. This service is offered at both residential and day
programme locations to individuals 16 years of age and older. Residential
Respite is provided in four of VITA's homes, three of which are fully
accessible. Each home has a separate bedroom that is used exclusively by the
respite user. Day Respite is offered seven days per week in either one of our
day programme settings or at any of our residential programmes.
During summer and spring school breaks, day camps are provided for youth and
young adults. In addition, as relationships develop between the respite user
and residents at VITA, invitations to attend planned vacations or special
outings as a way of increasing respite opportunities are extended to the
family. VITA is able to also provide temporary crisis placement in the event
of an emergency or sudden illness.
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