Services

Breckenridge Village of Tyler

A faith-based residential community for individuals with mild to moderate developmental disabilities.

Residential Programs

BVT has 6 residential homes for individuals with developmental disabilities. Two homes are classified as Intermediate Care Facilities and four homes are Assisted Living Facilities. Each home provides 24/7 care by professional staff, as well as a full-time registered nurse. Each resident enjoys their own private bedroom and semi-private bathroom.

Day Program and Vocational Training
The Day Program at Breckenridge Village of Tyler offers multiple opportunities for personal growth and continuous development. Through routine daily activities and optional enrichment activities, residents participate in such varied experiences as making candles, delivering Meals on Wheels, singing in a choir, going bowling, arts and crafts, photography, and learning computer skills. Day Program activities help meet our residents’ basic human needs: to be safe, to be healthy, to be productive, to have friends, to help others, to feel appreciated, to develop spiritually, to make choices, to be accepted, to have fun, to be creative, etc.

Spiritual Development
Spiritual Development begins with BVT staff members interacting with residents in a manner that is consistent with Christian values and principles. House Parents conduct Bible studies and have devotional times in each home. Residents pray before each meal. Residents attend a daily chapel service Monday through Friday. Residents also attend Sunday church services with transportation and staff supervision provided to Green Acres Baptist Church or with transportation arranged by family to the church of the resident’s choice. The BVT choir sings periodically in area churches and nursing homes and before senior citizen groups and community gatherings. Residents are not coerced into any specific belief system but rather are nurtured and encouraged to develop their own personal faith. Staff is respectful of the religious diversity of our residents.

Community Service

Community Service opportunities for residents include:

Regular volunteer work with Meals on Wheels East Texas Food Bank
Green Acres Baptist Church

Residents benefit from the experience of serving others in need, gain a sense of productivity, and take pride in their accomplishments through frequent involvement in a variety of community service projects. Through community service, the residents of BVT experience the joy of giving of themselves by helping others in need.

Health & Medical Screening

Health and Medical Services include daily administration of all medications, transportation to health care appointments, and monitoring of health concerns. These services are rendered through the capable BVT medical team consisting of two fulltime Registered Nurses on staff and a local physician who serves as Medical Director (consultant on medical policies and procedures). The RNs train all direct care staff in administering medications to residents, provide routine assessment of residents’ health needs, coordinate health care information with families and physicians, and manage the campus clinic. All BVT staff members receive emergency response and CPR training annually.

Individual Counseling

Individual Counseling is provided as needed by in-house professionals for those residents capable of participating productively in the counseling process. The length and depth of the counseling is based upon the resident’s ability to benefit from such intervention. When a resident is experiencing difficulty due to grief, separation from family, anxiety, or concerns about relationships, BVT staff provides a listening ear, constructive feedback, encouragement, and options for coping more satisfactorily with the stresses of life.

Recreation and Exercise
Recreation and Exercise are integral parts of residents’ routines. BVT has a well-equipped physical fitness room where residents exercise for one hour a day, four days a week. BVT also has a fully-fenced, constant-depth swimming pool for regular use during the day program and for leisure use at scheduled times. Water aerobics, walking and other organized activities encourage residents to stay physically fit. Residents bowl each Monday afternoon in the family life center of Green Acres Baptist Church of Tyler. Residents also enjoy frequent community outings such as shopping, going to movies, and taking field trips to area attractions such as museums, the Tyler zoo, the Athens fish hatchery, and other sites of interest. Community outings occur most frequently on Fridays or Saturdays.

For more information, contact Jane Ann Morrison at 903-596-8100 or at jmorrison@bcfs.net.

The Andrews Center

For mental health and mental retardation services call 903-597-1351.

Home & Community Based Services (HCS)
In Home & Family Support (IHFS)
Outpatient Clinics
Group Homes
People Share (support group)

For Physical disabilities services contact:

Department of State Health Services
Medical Social Workers: 903-533-5255 or 903-533-5249
Joann Cliver, joann.cliver@dshs.state.tx.us
Melinda Mezayek, melinda.mezayek@dshs.state.tx.us

For the Transportation Program:

Monday-Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. call 1-800-374-7340, voice mail box 530

For Non-Medicaid Individuals you must call at least 3 working days in advance before your appointment.
For Medicaid Transportation you must call by 3:00 p.m. the day before your appointment.

To schedule call and leave your name, address, phone number, destination, date and time of appointment.

East Texas Center for Independent Living (ETCIL)

ETCIL is:

A non-profit agency in Tyler, Texas providing services to the one in five East Texans who have disabilities, as well as education to the community on disability related topics.
Governed and staffed by a majority of people with disabilities who bring a wide range of knowledge and experience to their work in assisting others with disabilities.
Funded by contributions from foundations, corporations, and individual donors as well as federal, state and local grants.
One of over 400 such Centers in the United States.

ETCIL assists people with:

mobility impairments such as amputations, spinal cord injuries, arthritis, multiple sclerosis, muscular dystrophy, post polio, spina bifida, and cerebral palsy.
mental, cognitive, or developmental disabilities such as traumatic brain injuries, depression, mental retardation, and learning differences.
hearing impairments
vision impairments
Most services are offered free of charge.

For more information on ETCIL:

Local telephone: 903-581-7542
Toll free long distance: 866-567-8918
Local TTY: 903-581-4615
Toll free TTY: 866-246-6424

Trinity Mother Frances Respite Care Program

Respite Care Program

A Time to Refresh, Restore, and Renew

Respite is the provision of short term care for families of a person with a disability. Respite Care is an important part of the overall support system families need to maintain quality care for their disabled loved one in the home. The Respite Care Program is funded through a grant with the Department of State Health Services, Children Special Health Care Needs program. The Respite program is sponsored by Trinity Mother Frances Hospitals and Clinics.

Saturday Respite

The Saturday Respite Program provides specialized care to children who have a special health care need in a center based setting. The children experience the warm, loving, fun environment provided by the specialized trained Respite Care staff. LVN nurses on staff provide medical care.

Respite Care Center - Tyler, Texas

Offered 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on the third Saturday of each month
Available to families of children with special needs ages 3 months to 18 years who reside in the family’s home
Application is required
Must have a reservation

Respite Care Center - Mineola, Texas

Offered 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on the second Saturday of each month
Available to families of children with special needs ages 3 months to 18 years who reside in the family’s home
Services are free
Application is required

In-Home Respite

Assistance in finding and training a Respite Care provider
A more flexible option to Respite Care
48 hours of respite care at no cost to the family
Application is required

The Respite Program provides assistance in identifying, screening and training potential respite care providers.

Respite Care Provider Responsibilities

Must be at least 18 years of age and may not reside in the same home as the family receiving care
Must complete criminal background check and TB skin test
Must attend CPR and First Aid made available through the Respite Program

Other Programs Offered

Medical home and coordination of medical services by a specialized and trained RN special needs nurses
Respite Care for special needs children
Mom support group
Sibling support group
Community networking
Resources and training for parents of special needs children

For more information, please contact Stephanie Hacker: (903) 595-3942, ext. 255.
Email: hackers@tmfhs.org

Community Work Force of Texas (CWFT)

Mission Statement: To promote the expansion of opportunities for disabled/challenged individuals to participate fully in the life of their community.

Day Training Center and Pre-Vocational Services

CWFT provides a full range of day training and pre-vocational services. This helps individuals with special needs develop skills and learn functional roles within their communities. Program participants have access to a wide range of resources including:

Vocational Assessments
Application and Job Training
Resume' Development
Career Planning
Ongoing work support
Access to employment opportunities and search resources
Personal growth and increased participation in community life

Supported Employment:

CWFT provides support for employers looking for trained, reliable and productive employees. Employers may be eligible for tax incentives when hiring individuals with disabilities. Employer partner resources through CWFT include:

Pre-screening of potential employees
Reduced training costs
Tax reduction incentives
Motivated workforce
Improved employment matching through vocational assessments
Potential reduction of turnover through committed employees

Community Work Force of Texas
2050 Shiloh Road
Tyler, Texas 75703
903-579-8260