Brunswick Center Services

At Brunswick Center we offer personal supports on the basis of an individualized integrated plan that fully considers a person's dreams, gifts, and needs for personal well-being. The resources of Brunswick Center include staff that will provide community learning and support, functional life skills, social work and psychological services, nursing services, Occupational, Physical and Speech Therapies, and transportation services. Our staffing ratio, including support staff is 1 /2.5 program participants. Significant to the staffing ratio is the stability of our staff group, with nearly half our staff having between 5 and 10 years of professional experience. In fact, since our early years in 1982-84, we have maintained seven staff (back then we only had about 15 staff). This staffing pattern offers a solid nucleus of experienced staff that when combined with our relatively new people offers the best of both worlds -- innovation and change balanced against a solid foundation of ARC tradition and achievement.

The cornerstone of our services however, is the agency values that remind us to keep the person we support in the center of our focus. Our agency has made a strong commitment to pursue the outcomes of person-centeredness. While this is not easy, these values challenge us to never take our work or the people we serve for granted. In fact, as we learn about the application of these values, we have come to recognize that the people we serve are not our "consumers", but rather our partners in the work of community building. This is the work of Rensselaer County NYSARC and Brunswick Center.

 

Goals of Brunswick Center
BCS exists to be of service to the people of Rensselaer County, and our goal is to serve each individual in a way that will enable him/her to have a more fulfilling and enjoyable life. We hope that this can occur through:

  • Teaching work and community life skills that lead to real employment possibilities and community participation;
  • Introducing individuals to the resources of the community;
  • Enabling individuals to experience the cultural assets of the Capital Region;
  • Offering opportunities for supportive and enjoyable retirement programs;
  • Providing a comprehensive network of clinical supports to meet an individual's every day needs.

     

    What Services are Available at Brunswick Center?
    Some of the services offered at Brunswick include:

  • Vocational Training
  • Basic Academics
  • Domestic Skills Training
  • Personal Care Training
  • Speech Therapy
  • Seniors Services
  • Community Experiences
  • Occupational Therapy
  • Physical Therapy
  • Recreation and Leisure
  • Social Work Services
  • Health Maintenance
  • Psychological Services

    Who is Served at Brunswick Center Services?
    At present, nearly 100 citizens of Rensselaer and Northern Albany Counties receive services at Brunswick. Many of these people live in Community Residences, Family Care Homes, and Intermediate Care Facilities. We also serve many people who live with their families.

    What are the admission requirements?
    Admission requirements include:

  • The person must be over 21 years old
  • The person must be formally diagnosed as having Mental Retardation
  • The person should need the type of supports available at BCS
  • The person must want to participate in BCS

    How are services paid for?
    Brunswick Center is primarily funded by Medicaid, although the organization as a whole engages in fundraising activities to help cover expenses that are not covered by Medicaid. Eligibility for Medicaid is not a condition for admission to the program.

    Transportation Services
    Transportation to and from our site at Brunswick is provided through ARC and is paid for through Medicaid. ARC also provides transportation for individuals participating in community activities.

    For more information about Brunswick Center Services contact Ed Martin at 518-279-4723 or e-mail at emartin@renarc.org.

     

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