October 26, 2012: Important Announcement!

2012-10-26T00:00:00

Lehigh University has been providing excellent services for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities for over 20 years as a component of their program within the College of Education. When the University recently decided to discontinue providing services, they sought a provider organization that shared the people first values and high quality service that they had consistently demonstrated. We are honored that Lehigh’s research led them straight to SPIN.

This past summer, SPIN was asked by Lehigh University to consider assuming responsibility for the provision of services effective July 1, 2013. In the time since, SPIN leaders have spent time at Lehigh and Lehigh leaders have spent time at SPIN. We have done a great deal of analysis to determine whether this is a good decision both for SPIN and for the individuals currently served by Lehigh, their families and their employees. We have determined that SPIN providing these services in the Lehigh Valley is the right decision. Yesterday we met with family members, employees and Supports Coordinators at Lehigh University to inform them of the transition plan. Families were also reminded in the meeting that they always have the right to choose another provider.

Over the next eight months SPIN and Lehigh will work toward transitioning responsibility for programs for 60 individuals effective July 1, 2013. The current services offered at Lehigh include Residential (16 people), Community Choices (26 people) and Transition & Employment (18 people). We have been extremely impressed with the quality of Lehigh’s services and employees. SPIN intends to hire many of the existing Lehigh employees for positions that are similar to roles they are currently performing. Responding to unmet needs, we also expect to further expand services in the Lehigh Valley. It is hoped that this growth will offer new services to benefit people in this region, new opportunities for SPIN employees and will ultimately strengthen SPIN.

Thanks to all SPIN employees, the SPIN Corporate Board and SPIN members for making SPIN the kind of organization that others believe in and choose to be a part of. It is because of your commitment to SPIN’s mission to support a life of possibility for everyone that SPIN remains strong and is sought after during these challenging times.

Please stay tuned to the SPIN Portal and website for the latest information on this and other important happenings at SPIN!