Supporting Alternative Solutions joins Home of Guiding Hands to Strengthen Services to Those with Developmental Disabilities and Their Families
Press Release
For Immediate Distribution
Press Contact: Mark R. Klaus, (619) 938-2850 or markk@guidinghands.org
Supporting Alternative Solutions joins Home of Guiding Hands to Strengthen Services to Those with Developmental Disabilities and Their Families
San Diego, CA September 15, 2011— On November 1, 2011, Home of Guiding Hands (HGH), which provides quality services, training and advocacy for people with developmental disabilities, their families, and others who will benefit will assume the operations of Supporting Alternative Solutions (SAS), a local agency that serves developmentally and behaviorally challenged infants, children, adolescents, and adults through a variety of programs. Mark R. Klaus, HGH Executive Director, and Ana Parra, SAS Executive Director, announced the merger today. The Board of Directors of both agencies recently approved the acquisition, which will allow SAS to continue the outstanding care it has provided to children and adults with developmental disabilities since its founding in 1999 and to expand the scope and breadth of support services that HGH has been providing to San Diego County for over 40 years.
With this merger, Home of Guiding Hands will employ more than 550 staff and support over 800 individuals with developmental disabilities and their families in San Diego and Imperial County.
HGH Executive Director Klaus said, “Our goal is to make the transition as smooth and seamless as possible for the individuals and families supported by SAS and their employees. Given the challenges and devaluing of services by the State of California, it makes sense for us to partner with SAS. They have an exceptional reputation for providing quality support, and we are thrilled that Ana Parra will be joining the management team of HGH as the Director of Community Support Services. The SAS staff brings a wealth of expertise to HGH; providing excellent support to children and young adults in their residential program as well as respite services and early childhood developmental intervention services. Expanding educational, vocational and community based programs and support will be valuable for the people we serve.”
Ms. Parra states, “The entire SAS organization and our Board of Directors are thrilled with the opportunity to become a part of HGH and to work to enhance the services we have been proud to provide to our residents and their families for almost 12 years. This is a perfect fit for both SAS and HGH. It’s also a homecoming of sorts for me as I had the pleasure of working for HGH for a number of years when I first started my career; I am excited to be able to work with Mark Klaus and know that HGH is committed to providing person-centered support and creative solutions to meet the needs of our community.”
Also joining the HGH management team will be Stacey Brown, Residential Administrator, and Mary Moser-Cooper, Director of Early Childhood Developmental Services, both of Supporting Alternative Solutions.
The organizations will be combined and the programs will operate under the umbrella of the Home of Guiding Hands.
Social Networks:
Leave a Reply