Author Archives: Amy Zuck

Christian Opportunity Center (COC) has felt the strain of a staff shortage for several months and the shortage has now reached critical levels. This shortage is most evident in the need for Direct Support Professionals (DSPs). DSPs offer around-the-clock support for individuals with disabilities. Their work allows the people COC supports the opportunity to live the life they choose to live.

The turnover rate for DSPs has been affected by non-standard working hours and pay that is bound by state and federal funding. Since the pandemic began, the staff shortage has intensified. Competing with other local industries offering higher pay and better hours makes it particularly challenging in recruiting new employees.

In the past year, COC has made many efforts to recruit and retain staff, including offering a higher sign-on bonus, utilizing temp agencies to fill the need, and increasing DSP wages. These efforts have all been enhanced with support from Staff Enhancement funds from the COC Foundation Fund. The Staff Enhancement Fund is designed to reward and provide incentives to staff members to continue their service with COC. Even with all the extra efforts made over the past year, COC has not been able to meet our staffing needs. To fill the gaps, COC administrative staff have been working many hours during this crisis an average of 300 direct support hours per week agency wide.

COC has 26 residential programs in Pella, Knoxville, Oskaloosa, Indianola, and Des Moines, several of which have been critically short staffed for an extended time. The continued stress on COC’s workforce has forced COC Leadership to make some hard decisions to ensure the quality of the services we offer and to ease the burden and workload for current staff. Because of the ongoing staffing crisis, the decision was made to close a few of our residential programs that have been the hardest to staff, and the impacted people supported and their families have been notified of these closures.

Closing programs is a last resort in an attempt to downsize COC’s programs to more closely match the workforce available to staff these programs. We are keenly aware that the lives of people supported and their families are disrupted by these closings. We are doing all we can to assist those affected in finding alternative services. We continue to believe in the importance of our mission of integrating Christian values in empowering individuals with disabilities to realize their full potential, and we encourage others to join us in that mission by applying for a job at COC. For more information on job opportunities that are available at COC, please visit our website at www.christianopportunity.org or contact our HR department at 641-628-1162.

Christian Opportunity Center has been awarded a Three-Year Term of Accreditation from the Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities (CARF) for its Community-Based Employment and Life Skills programs in Indianola, Oskaloosa, and Pella.  This latest accreditation is the 14th consecutive CARF accreditation that has been awarded to Christian Opportunity Center (COC).

CARF is an internationally recognized, nonprofit accreditor that sets standards of excellence for human service organizations. Those programs who meet CARF’s standards have demonstrated a commitment to being among the best available.

An organization receiving a Three-Year Accreditation through CARF has voluntarily put itself through an extensive internal review process and has then demonstrated to a team of expert practitioners during an on-site survey that it conforms to the rigorous CARF conditions and standards. Due to Covid precautions, the survey for COC was conducted virtually on September 11-15, and COC was notified of the accreditation award on November 1st. 

Disability services in central Iowa is a highly competitive field, and often people with disabilities have several options for services.  Having an accreditation through CARF is a sign of quality that can be a useful tool for individuals with disabilities and their families when choosing a quality disability services provider. 

Charlotte stepped outside of her comfort zone and did a courageous thing. She applied for a job.
Applying for a new job may not seem like a big deal, but it is something to be celebrated for all of us at COC. You see, Charlotte had only worked in COC’s Sheltered employment program since she moved to Marion County. She had never held a job in the community. With encouragement from staff and family, she applied for a job that interested her that became open at COC, the Kitchen assistant. Charlotte competitively interviewed alongside many other people, and COC offered her the position. That was 15 years ago.

Today, Charlotte still holds the same position and is still loving her job. She says, “It’s fun working in the kitchen at COC. I really like my co-workers, and I get to see my friends.”
Congratulations, Charlotte! We are so happy that you stepped outside of your comfort zone and applied for that job. You are a joy to work with every day. Thank you for your years of service to COC

Christian Opportunity Center (COC) is excited to announce the COC Golf Classic will be taking place on June 11th at the Bos Landen Golf Club in Pella. This is the 19th year for the COC Golf Classic; it remains COC’s most significant fundraising event.  In 2020, COC canceled the Golf Classic twice due to Covid.

This year’s event will look a little different compared to years past events. One such change is that there will not be a dinner after the tournament has ended.  Instead, golfers will have boxed lunches provided for them before the tournament.

The Golf Classic committee has also added a new option that will allow golfers to “Support from a Distance” if they are not ready to participate in a group event.  Golfers who choose the “Support from a Distance” option will receive a gift certificate to Bos Landen for 18 holes, a Calloway Golf shirt, and a gift bag.  These gift certificates must be redeemed during the summer of 2021. “It will be a great way for people to continue to support COC, have fun, but do it when they are comfortable,” said Amy Zuck, Golf Classic Committee chair.

A silent auction will coincide with the Golf Classic, and this year’s auction will be online only.  Anyone in the community will be able to participate in the silent auction.  Details of the silent auction will be announced on COC’s social media pages the week before the event.  COC is still accepting silent auction items. 

“We are excited to get back a bit of normalcy to our organization and experience a day of fun and fellowship as we celebrate COC.,” said Amy Zuck.

If your business wants to sponsor this year’s Golf Classic or provide a silent auction item, please contact Amy Zuck. Registration is now open for golfers at https://christianopportunity.org/giving/golf-classic/ or by contacting Amy Zuck directly at 641-628-1162.

Christian Opportunity Center was recently awarded two separate grants by the Warren County Philanthropist Partnership and the United Way of Marion County. Both grants focused on teaching vocational skills to individuals with disabilities who are employed in the community. The grants allowed Community Based Employment (CBE) staff to purchase iPad and the Work Autonomy application. The I pads and app will enable individuals with disabilities more independence at their jobs. They will be able to check schedules, request time off, communicate with managers and co-workers, and keep motivated as they work.
COC thanks the Warren County Philanthropist Partnership and the Marion County United Way for their continued support.