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News and Events Archive
Please note that the staff listed as contacts on these archive pages may not be current. Please check our staff listing for current staff contacts. News & EventsGrand Opening for Mobile Dental Van Currently located on site as it completes its outfitting and staff training, plans are to launch it into the community soon. This beautiful van, equipped with two dental suites, will enable WIHD to expand services to those having difficulty accessing dental care. Our goal is to ensure that individuals with developmental disabilities in the Hudson Valley region receive quality oral health services.
Candidates ForumCome and meet the candidates for New York State Office. Hear their views and let them hear yours! Sunday October 17th, 2004 WIHD - Cedarwood Hall Sponsored by GROW Mobile Dental Van Survey for Community AgenciesThanks to the generous support of Senator Nick Spano, we have recently purchased a Mobile Dental Van with two dental suites. It is on the production line as we speak and hope to begin operation in late Summer of 2004! This outreach project will enable us to expand our services to those having difficulty accessing dental care. Our goal is to ensure that individuals with developmental disabilities in our geographic region attain excellent oral health. Services provided through the dental van will be open to the public, but we expect to serve primarily individuals with developmental disabilities and their families. We need your help to ensure that the Mobile Dental Van reaches those who need the service. Please complete the survey, either directly through this link, or you can download a copy to complete, and mail or fax back to us. We welcome any comments, suggestions and ideas you may have that will enhance our new Mobile Dental Van outreach program in your area. NOTE: The survey deadline was June 11, 2004. We offered the survey as a downloadable and printable pdf file or an online fillable form.
WIHD Celebrates National Women's Health Week In the afternoon, a roundtable discussion was held with health care providers from many disciplines at WIHD, including primary care, neurology, nursing, nutrition, behavioral health, and dental. The lively discussion included such areas as improving access to care, educating parents on the importance of health screenings for their adolescent daughters, and recent recommendations for screening alternatives for breast and colon-rectal cancers. It was attended by staff of community health agencies and proved to be very enlightening. Benefit for Technology Loan Program for Infants, Toddlers & Preschoolers at WIHD
The Armonk Center for Dance will be holding a benefit dance concert for the Technology Loan Program at WIHD on May 8, 2004 in the Cedarwood Hall (WIHD) auditorium. The Armonk Center for Dance, under the direction of Heather and Alan Conway, perform annually to benefit one community organization. The dancers are members of the Junior and Senior Companies who compete on a regional level. These dedicated dancers will perform two shows on May 8, one at 12:00 and the second at 2:00 pm. There is no charge for tickets, but there is a recommended donation amount of $20.00. All ticket purchases and monetary donations are tax deductible! The Technology Loan Program will also hold its First Assistive Technology Sale that same day, from 10:00 am to 3:00 pm in the lobby of Cedarwood Hall. Equipment that is no longer being used by the children we serve will be available for purchase for a fraction of its cost. Come see the adapted toys, augmentative communication devices, software, and seating and positioning supports we'll have for sale! Throughout the day, baked goodies and raffle tickets for some super prizes will be available. Please come to support this essential program. Contact BHeyd@wihd.org for more information.
Notice of Availability of Federal Funds subcontracted under the New York State Developmental Disabilities Planning Council (DDPC) Formula Grant Program Professional Development in Positive Behavior Strategies for School-Based TeamsThe Westchester County Health Care Corporation (WCHCC), which operates the Westchester Institute for Human Development (WIHD) is announcing the availability of funds to support local professional development agencies (LPDAs) in conducting intensive training programs in the area of Positive Behavior Strategies (PBS). This project is sponsored by the DDPC, which has contracted with WCHCC to have WIHD serve as the lead agency in implementing a professional development program in PBS. The full description of the project, and instructions for completing the proposal are available in PDF format for downloading. Download project description and proposal instructions NOTE: You need to have Adobe Acrobat® Reader to view the PDF file. If you don't have Acrobat Reader you can download it from http://www.adobe.com/products/acrobat/readstep2.html For further information, please contact the project coordinator. Philip Smith, Ph.D. Email: PSmith@wihd.org
A Valentine's Day Message for Friends of WIHD First, we are still here! Our medical, clinical, and community training services are as busy as ever. We are here for both old and new friends, making appointments and accepting new patients. Second, we plan to be around a whole lot longer. WIHD is in the process of establishing itself as an independent, not-for-profit agency. Our dedicated staff will continue to serve you in our same location. This is a complicated process, but we are well underway and we hope to complete this by July. Third, we are working with the Medical Center, the State, and the County on the financing plan for the new entity. We already know, however, that our clinic rate will not cover all of our expenses. We will have to rely on private fundraising for at least some financial support. We hope we can count on many of you for your help in that regard. Fourth and finally, we have you—a community that has been so supportive. From the rally in October to the hundreds of letters, phone calls, and emails, the outpouring of support for WIHD has been truly amazing. We think of WIHD as a unique resource for people in our community. You let us know that you think so too. We thank you and want you to know that we intend to be here for you. The staff at WIHD wish the entire community a Happy Valentine's Day. Ansley Bacon
Update from Westchester Medical Center on Status of WIHDWestchester Medical Center has developed a plan to save the services of the Westchester Institute for Human Development (WIHD) and help the Institute separate from Westchester Medical Center as an autonomous, independent agency. "Understanding that the Westchester Institute for Human Development is a needed resource for people with disabilities and their families in the seven-county Hudson Valley region, Westchester Medical Center is working to provide whatever it can to support WIHD in its efforts to separate from Westchester Medical Center and become an independent not-for-profit agency," said Edward A. Stolzenberg, President and CEO of Westchester Medical Center. "We asked the administration and staff at WIHD to develop a break-even budget for 2004, which they have done, so that they can prepare to become more self-sufficient. Now the work begins to actually develop WIHD as a separate, self-supporting organization, which we have committed the staff and resources to help them do." Stolzenberg said that the Medical Center will continue to support the operations of WIHD for the next six months, through an affiliation agreement with New York Medical College. During that time the Medical Center will monitor WIHD operations to ensure they continue to operate on a breakeven basis, and will provide financial oversight for the restructuring initiative and to ensure the financial targets are met. At the same time, the Medical Center will support WIHD's efforts to become a separate, independent 501(c) 3 entity, including engaging an outside professional to assist with any regulatory requirements. WIHD administration has committed to seek the start-up capital necessary to become an independent entity from outside third parties. The Westchester Institute for Human Development is one of the few University Centers for Excellence for service, training and research in developmental disabilities, serving children and adults with developmental disabilities and their families. Through a dedicated team of professionals representing more than 17 disciplines, WIHD offers comprehensive outpatient services, including medical, dental, behavioral health, rehabilitation, and speech and hearing services. Each year, more than 5,000 people with disabilities, such as mental retardation, cerebral palsy, autism, learning disabilities, communication disorders, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, spina bifida and inherited metabolic disorders receive services at WIHD. |
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Westchester Institute for
Human Development
Valhalla, NY 10595, U.S.A. Main Number: 914.493.8150 Copyright © 2002-2008 Westchester Institute for Human Development. All rights reserved. |
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On Wednesday, October 13th, WIHD staff, family, friends, and
community members celebrated the grand opening of the new mobile
dental van. 
On
Monday, May 10th, the WIHD Adult Health Department hosted a
National Women’s Health Check Up day. Women with disabilities
and staff from community agencies from an eight county region
were invited to participate. Over 40 women, including WIHD patients,
parents, agency escorts, and WIHD staff were offered screenings
for blood pressure, blood glucose levels, and oral cancer. In
addition, educational materials were distributed regarding the
importance of routine cancer screenings such as Pap smear, colonoscopy,
mammography, self breast examination. Two participants were
found to have hypertension and were referred for care. 
It
is well known that until recently, women were not included in
all screening and prevention programs. Women with disabilities
continue to have difficulty accessing the same prevention and
screening services readily available to women without disabilities.
The National Women’s Health Week provides an excellent
opportunity to offer education and screening to women with disabilities,
including them in a myriad of programs appropriate to their
age and disability that are being offered in their communities.
The success of this offering has encouraged the WIHD staff to
provide and expand this program for next year. 
This
is a note to thank you for your caring and support over the
last six months. We also want to let you know a bit about what
is happening at WIHD.