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Opportunity Center named Outstanding Service Provider by ContinuUs

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The Opportunity Center, of Prairie du Chien, recently received the Outstanding Service Provider award from ContinuUs, a program that offers long-term care support through service provider network to adults with disabilities enrolled in Wisconsin’s Family Care program. The Opportunity Center is the first employment provider ever to win this award from ContinuUs’ 21-county region. Accepting the award from Angie Young (center), of ContinuUs, are (from left) Angie Engrav, Nicole Read, Karen Cooper and Pam Ritchie. (Submitted photo)

By Correne Martin

The Opportunity Center has been recognized with a quarterly Outstanding Service Provider award by ContinuUs, formerly Southwest Family Care Alliance, for the excellent quality of service it provides for adults with disabilities.

Since 1965, the Opportunity Center has been creating opportunities for people with disabilities to develop their full potential in society.

According to Ashley Trautsch, a Prairie du Chien area ContinuUs supervisor, the Opportunity Center was nominated and chosen for the award for many reasons.

“Their huge advantage is the advocation that comes from here. They do a great job of getting the clients out into the community. And their job development program has helped to get clients off the work floor and into community employment,” Trautsch said. “They have many staff who are long-term here, and they are great at troubleshooting what’s best for each individual member and his or guardians. They specifically include the members in decisions about their long-term plans. They do a great job overall.”

Sheila Swatek, a case manager who has worked at the Opportunity Center for 41 years, since the organization’s current facility was built on North State Street in Prairie du Chien, proudly spoke about why her employer is deserving of this recent award.

“We try to provide what they want us to provide, along with doing what’s best for our clients,” Swatek commented. “I really enjoy being around the clients. They work so hard and are so proud of what they do. We give them a reason to get up and get going every morning.”

“I think we’ve made giant strides, especially considering the government’s expectations and laws, and I think this award shows we’re headed in the right direction,” added Kari Kossman, community services coordinator who has worked at the Opportunity Center for just over one year. “It’s important that we take the clients out into the community. I think it helps us surpass the stigma of what mentally handicapped meant 20 to 30 years ago or more.”

Kossman said some of the most popular community activities adults with disabilities from the Opportunity Center have experienced are the mini rec programs at Hoffman Hall in Prairie du Chien. “People are so accepting. Everyone always leaves there with a smile on their face,” she said.

When they’re not out directly interacting with their fellow community members, Opportunity Center clients are busy on the production floor, sorting, counting and packaging products for local industries such as 3M.

Nicole Read, production supervisor/client services specialist who has worked there for eight years, oversees the daily duties performed by the clients.

“I’m pleased we can help them with having a job,” she said. “We’re providing them with an accomplishment. We also believe that, from a job aspect, they’re an essential part of this process and our community. When somebody’s not here, we feel that.”

“And it’s real work. They have goals, just like we do,” Swatek remarked. “They work hard for their paychecks and when they get that money, they’re overjoyed because it’s something they’ve earned themselves.”

For the clients not working in production at the Opportunity Center but as employees for other community businesses, they appreciate that opportunity just as much.

“We really work with them so they can go out and be presentable and face certain workplace and social situations. We teach them how to handle themselves in public,” Swatek said. “They’re very proud of that work too.”

When it’s not work time or community activity time, Opportunity Center clients enjoy plenty of fun incentives as a group as well. Read said, they relish in birthday cake days, holiday meals, special dances, Halloween haunted houses, treat days, Brewers game days, swimming at the on-site pool, movies at the theater, parades and much more.

“We plan to do more of that kind of stuff,” Kossman said.

“We are a big family,” Swatek added. “We all have our important jobs but we come together for the betterment of everyone. It’s definitely a team effort around here.”

“It really is like a family. This is the most rewarding job I’ve ever had,” Read stated.

Swatek also noted that if anyone from the public is inquisitive about what the Opportunity Center does or how it operates, they would be welcomed to learn more.

“We want people to know more about what we do,” Kossman said, “and that our clients aren’t any different than anybody else.”

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